Events like the Buff Man Contest, Studs & Suds and the Memorial Day Blacklight/Underwear night at The Garden are under new ownership. Scott Neasham, owner of the gay and lesbian nightclub for the past 11 years, has sold The Garden to Cy Stewart and Tony Zika, a gay couple in their upper 20s. Stewart is a former bartender at The Garden.

Neasham is moving to Chicago, where he is looking for space to eventually open up a business.

Second-chance theater at Fleur

Park your ass in the cheap seats as Fleur Cinema and CafŽ gives patrons a chance to see old movie favorites on the big screen once again for a meager $3. The Fleur's Cheap Seats Series, held at midnight on the last Saturday of every month, starts with Data and his Slick Shoes as "The Goonies" is shown on Saturday, May 28.

Future dates in the series include "Pulp Fiction" (June 25), "Fight Club" (July 30), "Animal House" (Aug. 27) and "Office Space" (Sept. 24).

Run to benefit cancer programs

Matthew Mason was a Des Moines child who passed away in November of 1998 after a battle with cancer. On June 11, the Sixth Annual Matthew Mason Memorial Run will honor Matt and benefit The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs, a non-profit organization that provides programs for recreation, education and family support for children with cancer.

The event will have a 10K or 5K event and a one-mile fun walk. These will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, at Water Works Park in Des Moines. A $15 entry fee is required for adults registered by May 31. Donations are also accepted, and all proceeds will benefit The Heart Connection.

Call The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs at 243-6239 or visit www.mattsrace.com for more information about the event and to register.

Art Center awarded $1 million

The Des Moines Art Center has been honored with a $1 million endowment from the Wallace Foundation for establishing audience-participation-building and enrichment programs in partnership with more than 60 community groups.

The center was one of six art institutions nationally to receive the Excellence Award, created to recognize organizations that have effectively built participation in the arts with imaginative efforts to broaden, deepen and/or diversify their audiences.

The grant will be used to expand the art center endowment to include a fund that supports activities such as the "Day of the Dead."

Actors, actresses needed for film

5490 Studios is looking for actors and actresses to fill roles in the upcoming independent production of the film "The Ride." Character roles needed are: an 18-year-old gay male; a twenty- to thirty-something transvestite; a 16- to 18-year-old girl; and various extras of all ages.

For more information or to submit your resume, visit www.5490studios.com/casting. CV

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