Friday’s highlights include ITLA Opening Ceremony, authors at Outwrite and Charis, yacht party at Stone Mountain, and tons of nightlife

The arrival of the weekend means Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride, which got underway on Wednesday, will really heat up with dozens of events.

In the Life Atlanta, the non-profit that organizes cultural and community events during the annual holiday, holds its opening ceremony tonight, as well as the Fire & Desire Mini Ball and the always steamy SpeakFire erotic poetry reading.

Atlanta’s LGBT independent bookstores get in on the action with author readings, and there are multiple nightlife events — from bar nights to a yacht cruise on the lake at Stone Mountain — to get your weekend going.

Here is a list of Friday’s events, organized by promoter.

In the Life Atlanta
www.inthelifeatl.com
Loews Hotel
1065 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30309

• Black Pride Marketplace, 10 a.m. - midnight
• Opening Ceremony, 8 p.m.
• Fire & Desire Mini-Ball, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
• SpeakFire erotic poetry, 11:59 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Charis Books & More
Sizzling Summer Poetry Party
7:30 p.m.
Featuring Meredith “Miz” Avakian and Tamesha S. Hawkins
1189 Euclid Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
www.charisbooksandmore.com

Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse
991 Piedmont Ave.
Atlanta GA 30309
www.outwritebooks.com
Dwayne Vernon signs “Roman,” 7:30 p.m.

Traxx Atlanta 'Pure Heat'
www.traxxatlanta.com
Welcome reception
7-10 p.m.
Loews Hotel Buckhead
65 Peachtree Walk NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Sponsored by Traxx Atlanta, Traxx Girls, In the Life Atlanta and National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Inc.

Traxx Atlanta and ITLA’s Black Pride Mini Ball
10 p.m. at Mercer Ballroom
Loews Hotel

Traxx Atlanta and Traxx Girls’ Friday Night Live at Atlanta Live
11 p.m.-6 a.m.
3595 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30319
Jazmine Sullivan performing live

Black Pride Marathon Block Party
“Keeping the Block Alive”
10 p.m. at Spring 4th Center
728 Spring St., Atlanta, GA 30309

Traxx Girls 'Pure Heat'
www.traxxgirls.com

Jazmine Sullivan performing live
10 p.m.-5 a.m.
Atlanta Live aka Mansion Elan
3595 Clairmont Road, Atlanta GA 30329

Pretty in Pink
Grown Folks Take Over Breast Cancer Party (21 and older)
10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. at Club Miami
3011 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Xplosion Entertainment's 'Peach Fever'
xplosionentevents.thelimelounge.com

Pandora Yacht Party With Party Bus Tour of Atlanta Stone Mountain Lake
Pickups start at 6 p.m.
Ride from 9 p.m.-midnight
Open bar all night on bus and yacht
Pickup from host hotels
Hosted by Eazy of Tomboy Fresh

Wassup N ATL 'Manual Labor'
www.wassupnatl.com

Cyber Mix
5-9 p.m. at Loews Lobby Bar
1065 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Hosted by Whatsthet.com

FlavaMen Blatino Awards
8-11 p.m.
Club ATL
3365 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30329
Co-hosted by Raz-B, Shanell, D-Woods and CJ Wright

ManHunt Fridays
11 p.m.-4 a.m.
Club ATL (Peachtree Ballroom)
Performances by Kelly Rowland, Fantasia and Dondria
Live performance by Dondria
Underwear fashion show by BlingUnderwear.com

Fortify Fridays
11 p.m. at Steel
950 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309

Girls in the Night 'Femme-Nomen-Non'
www.girlsinthenight.com

Women of Foreplay Fridays present The All Black Affair: The Little Black Dress Part II
10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Compound
Performance by Fantasia, Kelly Rowland
1008 Brady Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Black attire recommended

Pride Breakfast
3 a.m.-6 a.m. at Straits
493 Juniper St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

The Lion's Den 'Southern Xplosion'
www.southernxplosionatlanta.com

Welcome to Atlanta Reception
7-10 p.m.
The Atlanta Marriott Buckhead
3405 Lenox Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
Hosted by Shay Baby, MC Big Daddy

Jensen Atwood’s Birthday Celebration
2011 Official Calendar Release Party
10 p.m.-3 a.m.
Club 595 North Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318