Recently, I went on a ride-along with San Diego’s Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol. The volunteer-driven organization patrols the Hillcrest and North Park area on weekend evenings, to be a second set of eyes for the police. The group has deterred crime in the area and works hard to keep us safe.

Riding in the patrol vehicle on a Friday night exposed me to the “other side.” I realized this: you’re loud! Straight girls (commonly referred to as “fag hags”) are the worst offenders. Drunks don’t seem to notice how far their voices carry. Sitting at a stop light I heard intimate details of a young woman’s bikini wax. From the look of the way she poured out of her super-sized jeans, I couldn’t imagine it was a pretty experience for whoever waxed her. A few stops later, I overheard two sexy young men describe what they planned to do to each other once they arrived at their apartment. I was tempted to ask if I could join in!

To top it all off, I witnessed the Hillcrest Shopping Cart Derby 2008. Around 2 a.m., on the north side of University, a group of 20-somethings approached an abandoned Henry’s Marketplace shopping cart. The token straight boy in the group hopped in. Ms. Fag Hag thought it would be super funny to push him into the McDonald’s parking lot and then let go while the gays cheered them on. A block later, another group of drunks came upon a Ralph’s cart. The crew’s glamazon (who must have been weighted down by his faux-hawk) climbed in the cart. His friends, kindly, pushed the cart back to the Ralph’s parking lot and took their friend for a spin until a security guard stepped in – only in Hillcrest, only at 2 a.m., only when drunk.

Remember: when you leave a club or bar at night, always leave with a group (you don’t have to take the group back to your bed), pay attention to your surroundings, and keep your loud, drunk voices down!

On to other topics … I’ve had to chart a new path for my evening jogs through my North Park neighborhood. My route formerly consisted of a straight line down University Avenue toward Hillcrest. With the renovation of Hawthorn’s Lounge inside the beautiful North Park Theater, I have had to detour back onto North Park Way (just south of University). You see, I’m pretty serious about my jogs (I need to shed some of those holiday pounds), and I’ve never been one to get all dolled up for my exercise routines. I just throw on an old T-shirt and some shorts or workout pants, and I’m good to go. Sometimes, I don’t even style my hair! But, with the stylish and sexy crowd that congregates inside Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge by the plate glass windows and on the sidewalk dining area, I just don’t feel presentable enough to run by!

All in all, it’s nice to welcome Hawthorn’s to the neighborhood. The place was billed as “San Diego’s new gay hotspot,” and in the short week that it has been open, it lived up to the hype. Hawthorn’s, which operated as a restaurant in San Diego for 16 years, was recently acquired by Michael Mack and David Cohen. The transformation of the space has been gradual but exciting. Leading up to the anticipated grand opening Jan. 18-19, the club hosted a number of preview and tasting parties for members of the media, VIP guests and community leaders. The place was packed all week! The space also recently hosted a special event for JetSet San Diego, and a birthday party for Big Mike, which benefited the Lambda Archives. Hawthorn’s really has been the place to see and be seen this week, and it promises to continue to bring in top-notch entertainment, sexy crowds and more surprises! Check out Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge’s Web site at www.hawthornssd.com.

And, don’t forget to purchase your tickets for Hillcrest Mardi Gras 2008! This is one of my favorite events, and it is always a wild time. Drinks, hot people and beads – all you need to make a great party! Check out www.hillcrestmardigras.org for tickets and more information.

Until next time, have fun and be safe out there!