Party and enjoy/buy art Saturday in Pioneer Square for a good cause.

First the party part and then the cause...

The party and exhibition/art auction is called Art Orgy. It starts at 7 pm and continues all night long with four bands and five DJ's to entertain on two floors of a huge space at 1016 1st Ave [get directions] next to Taboo Video that has been transformed into a one-night nightclub/gallery.

Oh... and there will be body painting, indie movies, spoken word, food, snacks, and drag performances. And -- oh yes -- there will be go-go boys dancing in the window and sexy ladies on roller skates handing out condoms and (or so we're told) "dum dum suckers" on a silver platters. (And, no, I don't know what "dum dum suckers" are, and I don't think I've ever met one that would fit on a silver platter.)

And -- get this: No cover.

Jackie Hell is hosting along with Aleksa Manila.

The event is a kickoff fundraiser for a new group called The Backpack Project. The website (which doesn't yet seem to be finished) explains the group this way:

The Backpack Project will provide backpacks to homeless/transitional youth. The backpacks will contain clothing, food, toiletries, art supplies and a one stop shop book that outlines in detail resources regarding: LGBT health, meth issues, jobs, housing, counseling, doctors, food banks and a wide array of resources for all youth.

But it sounds like they aren't just handing out backpacks filled with stuff. There are, in addition, ways to earn more:

After receiving a backpack, youth can return to the Backpack Project office and receive a stipend pay to help stuff backpacks, do outreach to youth on the street and work in the office. This project also will bring together youth activists of all kinds to network and share ideas, and to enable them to effect change.

I'm way far from the target audience, but I had a bit of trouble understanding what all that means. As I interpret it, "receive a stipend pay to help stuff backpacks" means "get paid for helping us stuff new backpacks."

The group's credo (literally):

We believe we are united in our passion and desire for a just and sustainable world. We believe that we can work together toward that common goal, not by homogenizing the movement or subsuming ourselves to one cause or campaign, but by sharing resources, embracing our diversity of creeds and methods, and working in solidarity with one another.

But, whatever you might believe, the Saturday party could be fun and there's no cover charge to get in, so check it out and bring along a backpack to donate or something to stuff them with.

The Backpack Project will be run and operated by a youth Board with an at-large board representing the agencies and organizations participating in this program.

The event is produced by Action Northwest for the new group. Seed funds for this event were raised by Action Northwest through last year's Queen City Cruise. (This year's Cruise motors out of Pier 55 on August 9.)