Not really the same layout, but the same problem I agree. I have a Meeting/Events forum, and I have a Universal Threads forum. The Universal Threads is a hack that allows any thread in the specified forum to show across all other forums just like an announcement would, however because it's a thread, people can comment on it. I also customized it so it shows broken out like a Sticky Thread.
Here is an example. This is my
General Forum. You'll see the Uni's at the VERY top of the thread listing with there own header, then Stickies, then Normal threads.
So, some events are general weekly, hey are we doing anything this weekend, those stay in Meetings/Events. But we have monthly meetings and special events that go in Universal Threads because those are bigger events then just a weekend hangout. I shouldn't have to use a 2nd calendar and that is just going to confuse people even more I think. I would like this hack to work as advertised.