It’s been one hot summer. From the unofficial kick-off on Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, Pride, CityFest, and more, it’s been quite the party! San Diego certainly is one of the best places to be during the summer: beautiful beaches, perfect weather, a multitude of cultural and special events, the parks and outdoor activities, and of course… the boys. With a constant flow of summer visitors, coupled with college boys home for summer vacation, there’s always plenty of fresh faces to choose from. As the summer comes to a close, it means it is time for one last mega-party – Labor Day!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day is a “national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” And so, as most people are off of work and school on that first Monday in September, the bars and clubs are hopping on Sunday night! As it’s the unofficial end of summer, the parties should be in full swing all weekend long. Enjoy the final fling of the summer, before fall sets in.

Speaking of summer nights, one of my favorite nights of the week around town is Wednesday. Yes, hump day. The day where you have already made it through a few days of work but the weekend still seems like it is 10 days away. Luckily, our bar and club owners have really been banking on this mid-week slump of a day for a number of years. And Wednesdays are even more fun in the summer! With our college boys out of school and so many people in a “summer vacation” mentality, Wednesday nights always seem to be more packed in the summer. Of course, Flicks’ popular “Welfare Wednesdays” night, complete with $1 well drinks and a screening of the popular animated series South Park, has been drawing crowds for years. To add to the fun, within the last couple of years Rich’s has opened its doors on Wednesdays for “Mischief.” The best place to be after getting liquored up at Flicks is the dance floor at Rich’s! There is no cover, but there is hot music and a “Hot Boy Contest” at midnight. The best part is that Rich’s is literally just doors away from Flicks, so even the drunkest of boys can stumble down the block for more Wednesday fun.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Wednesday night without Bacchus House’s Musica y Pasion Latina Latin night. San Diego’s hottest Latin night starts with a fabulous show directed and hosted by Francheska, followed by the hottest Latin remixes in town. There is even a free nacho bar compliments of Baja Betty’s. This night is always packed, so get there early!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Certainly, there are a number of other bars and clubs around town, just waiting to celebrate hump day with you. Wednesday is a great night for drink specials, and other promotions, so keep your eyes open, and I promise to continue reporting them as they come in!

And before we close, Nick from Rich’s has asked to me to tell you about a very special event coming to his club this Saturday, Aug. 25. Justin Smith and Big Mike are hosting a masquerade ball at the club, and you are invited! The best part is that the event is a benefit for the Hillcrest Youth Center (HYC). The suggested donation is $10, and Rich’s will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the HYC. On top of that, Nick will match whatever amount is raised at the door. The goal is to get at least 500 people through the doors, which would mean that the HYC would get a donation of at least $10,000! DJ Nikno will be spinning that evening, and the club will be decked out. Costumes and masks are encouraged, but certainly not required. As I always say in this column, our bars and clubs are some of the greatest contributors to our community and the wonderful organizations that serve us. Please continue to support these events – your alcohol dollars might as well go to a good cause! For more information about the masquerade ball at Rich’s visit www.richssandiego.com.

Soak up those final days of summer, have a fling or two, and always be safe! Contact me via editor@uptownpub.com.