I know it’s a week late but what a fun Pride weekend I had. It was exciting emceeing the main stage with Nicole as the marchers and contingents stepped off the parade. I must congratulate the Pride committee because I thought it had the best looking float – it had great color and scale; it was well executed and it delivered a message.

There were other notable floats too, such as the gigantic one from Powerhouse Productions with all the hot boys; the foam machine from Bacchus House; and the W Hotel’s float, with two cute guys in bed. But I was most impressed with the large contingent (as opposed to the typical token presence in many other Pride parades) of our police and fire departments. And for that, I take my wig off to all!

Friends of Rob Benzon, who was a bartender at Flicks, have been celebrating pre-parade at Dan Ferbal’s home for the past nine years. The party has grown so much they decided to throw a much bigger shindig this year at the home of Robi Cox and Greg Scott. I’m guessing more than 500 people came and went all night. The amazing part for me was that this is a crowd of young and gorgeous people I do not normally see at big fundraisers. This is the next generation of donors. There were free-flowing cocktails courtesy of Bacardi and Pyramid Brewery at three separate bars, one of them tended by the delicious Reid, and food donated by Ono Sushi, Bite, Baja Betty, Lei Lounge, Bahia Hotel and Bamboo Lounge, among others. They even had a hot masseur providing free massages in the VIP area. This was one of the most organized house parties I’ve been to, with committees assigned to every conceivable duty, including welcoming guests, information, gift bags, food and clean-up. I heard that they raised almost $10,000 for the Rob Benzon Foundation, all of which will go back to the community. So kudos to the rest of the gang: Big Mike, Steve Miller, Robert Gleason, John Cashman, Michael Groch, Steve Hawley, Tony Machado, Mike Mance, Alan Zieg and Richelle Pizl. I had such a blast.

It’s campaign time and by the weekend, we will have a new Emperor and Empress. The Imperial Court de San Diego will be hosting coronation at the Westin Horton Plaza this Saturday as Emperor Robi Cox and Empress Norma complete their reign. Aspirants to the throne include two longtime, dedicated members Brian Johnson and Chantal, and two newer but very qualified candidates Daddy Don, bringing the leather community into the fold, and Lola, our girl about town who has raised quite a bit of money for the Court. It’s like Clinton vs. Obama, with crowns and scepters.

This weekend is also historic because Empress Nicole, as the new titular head of the International Courts System, will formally invest her Heirs Apparent in a royal ceremony. More than 24 Royalties from all over the United States and Canada will be inducted into the re-organized International Court Council, the policy and governing board of the International Courts System, founded by Empress Jose of San Francisco, with more than 68 chapters in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

There will be a special drag show on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Brass Rail featuring out-of-town performers. So this weekend, if you see a drag royalty who seems lost, let’s show them our San Diego hospitality.

It may be hot in Los Angeles, but it is also blazing with summer activities. There are a number of Broadway shows making their marks in the City of Angels. Wicked continues to play to full houses at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on an open run. The Tony award-winning Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons through music, and runs through Aug. 31 at the Ahmanson Theatre. There are a few other musical revivals in town including in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific starring Reba McEntire and Broadway’s Brian Stokes Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 3-5; Cole Porter’s Can-Can, set at the decadent Moulin Rouge in Paris in the late 19th century at the Pasadena Playhouse through Aug. 8; Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, about a group of friends conflicted by their successes, featuring songs such as “Not a Day Goes By” and “Old Friends” at the Theatre/Theatre on Pico Boulevard now through August 12; and Zanna Don’t. The title says it all, but if you are still curious see Zanna Don’t at the Lyric Hyperion Theater in Silver Lake through Sept. 2.

The one show I highly recommend is the entertaining Lady in Question, a splashy 1940s war spoof with evil Nazis and a fabulous drag pianist. I saw the original Off Broadway version starring the beautifully twisted Charles Busch, who has also written other outrageous plays like Lesbian Vampire of Sodom, Red Scare on Sunset and Mommie Dearest. Lady in Question runs through Sept. 2 at the Theatre Asylum (how apropos) on Santa Monica Boulevard.

AIDS Project Los Angeles will host its summer party on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. at The Lot in West Hollywood, featuring Thelma Houston and Tiffany. There will be dinner, silent auction, casino and dancing at Soundstage 7. Tickets are available at www.apla.org. Equality California will host the 2007 Equality Awards on Saturday, Aug. 11 at the Century Plaza Hotel, honoring the United Farm Workers of America and Ariana Huffington, with special performance by Eye of Newt Circus and Erin Hamilton. For tickets, contact traci@blueroomevents.com. L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center hosts Simply di Vine! wine tasting and auction on Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Harvey Mudd Estate in Beverly Hills. For more info, visit www.lagaycenter.org.

L.A. Gay Erotic Expo on Aug. 11 and 12 at the L.A. Convention Center. I will be staffing the Channel 1 booth with our porn studs Rascal Exclusives Blake Riley, Eddie Diaz and Cole Ryder, with a special appearance by Chi Chi LaRue. The stage show will be hosted by Jackie Beat with appearances by Barrett Long, Tiger Tyson and Tyler Saint. For more information, visit www.gayeroticexpo.com. Sunset Junction Street Festival is one of the largest and most fun neighborhood fairs. It is located at Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards. It includes two days of street events, Aug. 18 and 19, features three entertainment stages, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit www.sunsetjunction.org. The night before, Friday Aug. 17, get down and dirty at a private dungeon location for Meat Factory, presented by Tattoo Chris, with DJ Mike K and a porn performance by Tober Brant and Adam Faust. Tickets are available at www.tattoochris.com.

Bourbon Street presents the 12th annual wine tasting to benefit Mama’s Kitchen on Thursday, Aug. 16 from 6-9 p.m., with tasting provided by Southern Wine and Spirit, small bites from Chile Co, Lei and Ono Sushi, and a silent auction. Valet parking is available. For tickets, visit www.mamaskitchen.org.

San Diego Oceanaire’s Brian Malarkey skated through in episode four of Bravo’s Top Chef to stay another week. Because this show was taped in Miami months ago, everyone at Oceanaire’s is keeping mum. I couldn’t even bribe any staff member with my beauty. I’m rooting for the San Diego kid. Stay tuned. Speaking of chefs, San Diego’s Amy Findley won the Next Food Network Chef, beating openly gay Paul McCullough from Los Angeles. Can you say amuse busche?