Are you now or have you ever been a girlie girl? Are you a dude and simply into girlie culture?
Then you might very well enjoy “Forever Fest,” the Alamo Drafthouse’s girlie, pop-culture fest, now in its second year.
Here is how ticketing works: For $100, patrons can reserve a seat at almost all of the festival events, which will take place at the Alamo South Lamar and
the Highball. However, tickets for most individual events are on sale now.
At 7:30 p.m. Friday, the fest hosts a tenth anniversary screening of “Mean Girls,” presented as a Quote-along and followed by a live Q&A with Jonathan Bennett (Aaron Samuels), Daniel Franzese (Damian) and Daniel DeSanto (Jason).
This will be followed by the “Spring Fling” at the Highball. “Come dressed as your favorite ‘Mean Girls’ character and party like you just won the Mathlete State Championship!” is the fashion request, and who are you to turn them down?
On Saturday, there is a 10 a.m. “Nails Y’all” Workshop on nail art and “DIY-fancy” designs. This is an individually ticketed event; check out drafthouse.com/movies/forever-fest-nails-yall-workshop/austin for details.
There’s an 11 a.m. hoppy hour, essentially an adult petting zoo brought to you by Tiny Tails, and a noon “Cute Brunch” clip show.
However, you should be most excited about the 2:15 p.m. panel “Meme Girls: Women on the Internet,” which will feature Hello Giggles editor-in-chief Jennifer Romolini, Hairpin contributing editor Jazmine S. Hughes and the almighty Mallory Ortberg, co-creator of the Toast and author of the new book “Texts From Jane Eyre” (Henry Holt, $23).
If you are not reading the Toast and especially Ortberg’s work on it, put down the paper (or open a new tab on your browser) and check it ou
t. We’ll wait.
See what I mean? Ortberg is one of the very few humorists you could legitimately call one of the funniest people on the Internet (or in America in general, frankly) and not look like a complete idiot. As a friend put it, ” How is she so perfectly in tune with the ridiculousness of right now?”
Her teenage dirtbag series (“Dirtbag Little Women” is just astonishing), her riffs on art (“Women Rejecting Marriage Proposals in Western Art History,” “Why I Think I Would Make an Excellent Vestal Virgin and You Should Consider Me for the Position”) and general worldview are unlike anyone else’s in comedy right now.
Ortberg’s stuff is that weird kind of excellent, where you don’t even get jealous of her talent. You’re just happy the lady is writing.
She’s also a powerful personal essayist. Check out “On Deciding What Counts: Elizabeth Ellen and What Makes a Victim,” on sexual assault and feminism, and this stunner, on her break with a religious upbringing.
There’s Danceoke at 4:30 p.m. and the Austin premiere of “Amira and Sam” with stars Martin Starr, Paul Wesley, Dina Shihabi and director Sean Mullin in attendance. There is also a 10 p.m. pajama party at the Highball. And a “Wild Brunch” clip show that salutes “Hollywood’s hottest men with this sexy clip show” is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The whole weekend sounds like a mess of girlie fun. But seriously, Mallory Ortberg in Austin? A must-see.
