Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 30th Black & White party set to show off some skin

For the 30th anniversary, Aid For AIDS of Nevada is bringing its annual Black & White Party to the Strip with a lineup of performers and a few technical advances at Aria, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

“Were going to try to elevate the party and bring it into the now,” said Garrett Pattiani, director of events for AFAN. “We’re bringing in new technology, including virtual reality and a DJ who uses projection mapping.”

The organization, which provides assistance for clients with AIDS and HIV and educates the public about the disease, has been using the extravaganza as its major fundraising tool for decades. Despite all the glamour, the organizers haven’t lost sight of the fact that it’s all about raising money and awareness.

Andrew Pounder, marketing director for AFAN, said that the list of entertainers set to perform at the event is still being finalized but it includes several big-name Strip entertainers.

“There will be a variety of Vegas-style acrobats, a magician, and more,” Pounder said. “We’re trying to keep some of it under wraps until the event because we want to surprise people.”

“There have been a lot of advances in medicine, and some people think that it’s no big deal now, and you can just pop a pill,” Pattiani said. “Of course, there are side effects. We haven’t quite reached the point where people can live a life that’s really easy.”

The party began as the Black & White party 30 years ago because it focused on a food drive, and participants were encouraged to bring cans of generic food in black and white packaging. Now, black and white refers to what the participants wear, or if they dare, don’t wear.

“People’s costumes are really what the party is known for,” Pattiani said. “People are encouraged to wear as much black and white as they can or as little as they can get away with. Many people come scantily clad or in sexy outfits. A lot of people think that our black and white party is like a black and white tie affair, but we want to reiterate that that’s not the case. You can dress up in a suit if you want, but the crazier the costume, the more avant garde, the better.”

The party is scheduled at 8 p.m. Aug. 20 but it is only the main event in what the organizers are calling “Black and White Weekend,” which kicks off with a wine dinner at Carbone in Aria and continues with afterparties at the Hakkasan group’s Jewel nightclub in Aria, and two of the group’s other Hakkasan properties at the MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and 1 Oak at The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Another afterparty at Piranha Nightclub, 4633 Paradise Road, is also planned. On Aug. 21, brunch is planned at Herringbone in Aria, and the Temptation Sunday pool party is scheduled at 1 p.m. at Luxor, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets to the dinner and brunch events on Aug. 19 and 20 are separate.

Unlike previous years, the majority of the events will take place in the same room with 10 of Aria’s restaurants providing food samples and a variety of top shelf liquors providing signature cocktails and other libations at stations throughout the room.

“We have more sponsors on board than we’ve ever had before,” Pattiani said. “That’s awesome. It shows solidarity throughout the community. We also have people like celebrity chefs involved, which is great for creating awareness because we can tag their social media.”

The organizers plan to have a silent auction in the hallway outside the ballroom. Many properties and other businesses have donated a variety of items for auctions, including shoes, purses, jewelry hotel packages and show tickets. Meet and greets with Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Olivia Newton-John and others are set to be up for auction along with tickets to shows featuring long time supporters of AFAN Penn & Teller, Frank Marino and Blue Man Group.

In case partygoers were in any danger of forgetting the cause that brings them together, they can simply talk to the charity’s clients, many of whom will be on hand at the event.

“It’s a cause that we hope to eradicate one day, and hopefully, we won’t have to have parties like this in hopes that we can raise money to cure HIV and AIDS,” Pattiani said. “In the meantime, until there’s a cure, we have to come together and raise money and awareness.”

Both Pattiani and Pounder are recent additions to AFAN and hope to focus on educating the public on the challenges their clients are facing and how to stop the spread of the disease.

“The cure does exist, through education,” Pattiani said. “Even though we don’t have a cure for the people who are already affected, prevention is the cure for this. If it doesn’t spread, it dies. It goes away. That’s the goal of our marketing.”

The $50 general admission ticket includes entrance to the official LGBT afterparty at Piranha Nightclub and Temptation Sunday pool party at Luxor on Aug. 21. VIP tickets are available for $125 and grant early entry at 7 p.m., as well as entrance to the VIP afterparties. Guests must be 21 or older, and black and white attire is required for admission.

A $125 per person cocktail party and wine dinner is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 19 at Carbone at Aria, and a $100-per-person brunch is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Herringbone at Aria. Tickets for all events can be purchased at afanlv.org, and proceeds benefit AFAN, HRC Las Vegas and The Center Las Vegas. For special room rates, visit tinyurl.com/bandwaria or call 866-359-7757 and mention group code “AFAN.”

To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.