Thank god for Sen. Larry Craig. What would we have done otherwise on this long hot (really hot) Labor Day weekend? Britney and Lindsay must be celebrating that Craig high jacked the front pages. But I really do not blame Larry. (I feel I can call him by his first name since we have all become so intimate with him.) This undercover agent Sgt. Dave Karsnia is a hottie. I might have tapped my shoes as well. Larry seems to protest way too much that he’s not gay. In a way, I’d rather he was straight. We have enough self- hating, hypocritical closet cases as it is. Besides, no self-respecting homo would think of picking up a piece of toilet paper off the floor of a public restroom. Was he intending to recycle? And didn’t his mother teach him to flush? I see a porno movie coming.

The West Hollywood gay landmark, Mickey’s, was so hot it literally went up in flames a couple of weeks ago. This was the place to go for local and out-of-town gay boys, who enjoyed the hot bartenders, hopping dance floor and the cruisy outdoor patio. I’ve actually had the pleasure of hosting a couple of shows at the bar. What’s more sad is wondering where all the hot go-go boys will go now. Anna Nicole Smith’s designer groupie Bobby Trendy wanted to throw a fundraising event for the boys. There are many other cool WeHo bars ready to welcome displaced Mickey’s patrons. Rage next door seems to be the natural heir for now, but there’s always my favorite Here lounge and East West just a couple of blocks away. There’s the good ole’ Abbey. And if you do not mind venturing into the Silver Lake area, there’s always MJ’s – well known for really naughty go-go boys. Mickey’s will hopefully re-open before the end of the year.

The happening place in San Diego on Friday night is Club Papi’s Pan Dulce at Bacchus House. We’ve all enjoyed Club Papi’s monthly dance at Rich’s for a long time, but now we can pamper ourselves and have fun every Friday night. This hip-hopping production company from Los Angeles has all the ingredients for a hot party – the coolest DJs and the hottest dancers from Los Angeles. Pan Dulce (that’s sweet bread in English) is not just for Latinos; it’s for everyone who wants to have a good time. And don’t think you’re too cool to show up early. You might find a very long line in front of you. Check this party out.

Everyone’s favorite sissy Leslie Jordan returns to San Diego for Laughing Out Loud, a Stepping Stone event on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Marston Pointe Estate in Hillcrest. Leslie, a regular on “Will & Grace,” was last seen in San Diego when he did a back-to-back performance of Sordid Lives and Southern Baptists sissies, and his one-man tour de force Like Dog on Linoleum. Also performing with Leslie Jordan are Judy Tenuta and Alison Arngrim, our favorite “Little House on the Prairie” princess Nellie Olson. Stepping Stone is the substance recovery agency that takes care of an important underserved segment of our community that really needs our help. Tickets are available online at www.steppingstonesd.org.

The following evening, Sunday Sept. 9, Leslie Jordan headlines another fundraising event in Los Angeles for Being Alive’s Spirit of Hope at the Silver Screen Theatre at the Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. This years’ Being Alive Spirit of Hope honorees include my friend and super hottie Dr. David Hardy, the HIV director at Cedar Sinai Medical Center; Jeffery Bowman, founder of the Legendary Bingo; Macy’s Passport, a partnership between Macy’s and the HIV community; and Stan Price as volunteer of the year. TV celebrity hunk Reichen Lehmkuhl will present the awards. For tickets, call Being Alive (310) 289-2551

If you’ve been to Palm Springs, you know that the stars shine brighter there than they do in the cities. And the McCallum Theatre promises even more stars in their upcoming season which begins on Sept. 27. For the past 20 years, this theatre gem in Palm Desert has brought some of the biggest pop stars, classical performers and Broadway favorites to the desert community. The McCallum Theatre celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a special appearance by the one-and-only Liza Minelli on Nov. 29. One of the theater’s most popular series each year is the Living Legends showcase. This year will be exceptional as the theater features the certified homo favorite Patti Lupone and Mandy Patimkin, their first appearance together since they played Eva Peron and Che Guevarra on Broadway. They are followed by another Broadway diva, Bernadette Peters, who wowed us with her acclaimed performances in Sunday in the Park with George (with Mandy Patimkin) and as Mama Rose in Gypsy. Other stars slated to perform in the upcoming season include Frank Sinatra, Jr., Dame Edna, Michael Fienstein, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. The McCallum will also showcase several Broadway shows this year including, Hairspray, Gypsy and Cats. Tickets for the 2007-08 seasons go on sale starting Wednesday, Sept. 5 by calling (866) 889-ARTS.

HIV Matters 2007: New treatment update for the community from the International Aids Society Conference presented by AIDS Project L.A., in partnership with Being Alive and the UCLA Care Center. The dinner forum will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium at San Vicente Blvd. RSVP is required by calling (213) 201-1529.

The Tom of Finland Foundation presents the 13th annual Erotic Art Fair on the weekend of Sept. 21-23 at the West Hollywood Park on San Vicente Blvd. The fair will feature sculptures, paintings, photography, digital renderings and more, with more than 75 artists from around the world. To learn more, visit www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org.

AIDS Walk San Diego steps off on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Quince Street and Sixth Avenue in Balboa Park. The 18th annual event features a 5K walk and 10K run and welcomes both individual and team participants. Last year’s walk raised more than $485,000 for various AIDS/HIV service providers in the San Diego County. If you can walk, consider volunteering or just donating to this great event. Find out how by emailing info@aidswalksd.org.

Also on Sunday, Sept. 30 is the annual Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. This is one of the largest leather and fetish outdoor events in the country and 100 percent of gate proceeds go to charity. The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Folsom Street, from 7th to 12th streets. For more info online, visit www.folsomstreetfair.org.