Spiral into relaxation

In a First Friday field crowded with attractions and events, it’s hard to decide where to start.

We vote for City Pulse First Fridays at Spiral Video and Dance Bar in Old Town, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

That’s when Spiral manager Darren Canejo sets aside the usual throbbing dance beats and puts together a laid-back cocktail hour for the chill-after-work crowd.  He’s also set aside the cover charge: Admission is free.

All of Canejo’s famous martini list will be available (with $4 specials), but the rare chance to see hot local singer Kim Sorter — who played Rihanna at Spiral’s New Year’s Party and has also impersonated Britney Spears and Tina Turner — “do” herself is a strongly competing draw.

Sorter, a Central Michigan University philosophy graduate from South Branch, has sung in all kinds of places, from churches to Carnegie Hall. She’s well known to Spiral audiences for diva performances on Saturdays. 

“A lot of times when she’s here, she’s impersonating someone,” Canejo said. “She’s one of the two local girls I actually allow to sing live on our stage.”

This time, Sorter goes back to her training in show biz by singing covers of show tunes and classic songs.

“It’s not going to be the upbeat, wild Britney Spears stuff,” Canejo said. “People can sit back and enjoy it.”

“So You Think You Can Drink?” brings pits three local celebrities — local attorney Doug Meeks, Lansing Civic Players’ Tony Sump and New Citizens Press publisher Rina Risper — against each other in a bartending competition. They will compete for tips, but all the money will go to the 2011 Michigan Pride Festival.

Each of the guest bartenders is preparing a skit for the end of the evening, although the details are unknown, even to Canejo.

The second half of the night, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., continues Spiral’s successful Fusion Fridays series. DJ Sammy Top 40 and Alabama, one of the radio hosts on WJIM-FM (97.5), will be giving out prizes and overseeing the dance contests.

City Pulse First Friday

5-8 p.m. Friday, May 6

Spiral Video and Dance Bar

1247 Center St., Lansing

No cover charge, free hors d’oeuvres 

(517) 371-3221