Happy Chinese New Year! It’s the year of the rat, and those born under this sign tend to be leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are also charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. William Shakespeare, Mozart and Ben Affleck were all born under the year of the rat.

Chinese New Year celebrations revolve around family and usually last about two weeks. So, if you do business with companies in China or Hong Kong, good luck. Many businesses close down during this time. Families gather for banquets, dine on noodles, which represent long life, and enjoy New Years cakes, which represent prosperity.

Red is the color of the day. It symbolizes “fire” to drive away bad luck, and many wear the color red during the celebration. Red, money-filled envelopes are given for good luck to younger family members. Fireworks, a tradition during the celebration, are rooted in an ancient custom. Chinese people used to light bamboo stalks, and believed the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits. The celebration typically ends with the lantern festival, the highlight of which is the dragon dance, which parades around villages visiting homes and business to bring luck, and drive away evil spirits. The dragon dance troupes are rewarded with red envelopes filled with money.

I will be hosting a special Valentine’s Day event at Bacchus House tonight, Feb. 14, with a special guest, Playgirl model Adam Killian. Adam will have a sexy layout in an upcoming issue of Playgirl, the original nudie magazine for women and gay men. For those single guys looking for a hot date, we’ll be hosting speed dating at 10 p.m., sponsored by Manhunt.com. You can register online at www.bacchushouse.com. We’ll also have a “Hot Single” contest later in the evening with fabulous prizes. So arrive in your sexiest outfit to have fun with us.

If you are up to making the drive to LaLa-Land, join Barry Manilow for an evening of music at the Staples Center, with special guest Brian Culbertson. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. “Her name was Lola …”

Leslie Jordan, our favorite Southern Baptist sissy from “Will and Grace” and “Ugly Betty” informed me that his new series with Lily Tomlin is slated to hit HBO in March. So far, there are six full episodes in the can, and a total of 10 are expected to air.

Leslie just returned from Shreveport where he shot 12 episodes of “Sordid Lives: The Series” for Logo channel. The series will air this fall. And, darling Leslie shared with me that he is “about to begin rehearsal for [his] new one-woman show, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet,” which hits bookshelves June 30, followed by the 30-city tour. I’m attending the world premiere in San Diego at the Birch North Park Theatre on March 22. There you have it – fresh from the sissy’s mouth!

It is pathetic, the reclusive life I live in Los Angeles. You see, I’m a cocktail lightweight, so I don’t hang out in bars, and there aren’t any T-bars left in L.A.

Craigslist is full of flakes and picture collectors, so I’ve given up on the Web. Recently, though, I’ve ventured out like a tourist to discover the city. I finally made my way to the Getty Villa in Malibu, and it was a great little day trip. Getty has a large collection of Greek and Roman statuaries surrounded by beautiful gardens. (Speaking of gardens, the famous Chinese Garden at the Huntington is scheduled to open soon, so I’m going to get my ass over there this spring.)

In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of attending socials and fund-raising events at Paramount and Sony Studios. Recently, former Gay & Lesbian Times columnist Travis Bone invited me to movie night at 20th Century Fox, where he now works. I got the grand tour of the Fox studio lot and was instantly nostalgic walking down “New York” street – the outdoor set reminiscent of old brownstones in New York City. We went to see 27 Dresses with Katherine Heigl and James Marsden.

A few weeks ago, Travis and I also made an appearance at the lavish birthday party for underwear designer Andrew Christian at Jimmy’s Lounge in West Hollywood. On hand for the soiree were “Ugly Betty’s” Alec Mapa, “Big Brother’s” Marcellas, and almost the entire pool of models from Oxygen’s “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.” There was also a bevy of hot go-go dancers wearing (what else?) Andrew Christian underwear. Oh, and the party had incredible gift bags.

Speaking of underwear and Janice Dickinson, San Diego’s own Doug and Hobert of Rufskin Jeans were seen on a recent episode of “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.” What a treat to watch those self-proclaimed straight models on the show squeeze their butts into sexy, low cut Rufskin jeans and underwear. What a cool marketing and publicity coop. Way to go boys!

My favorite TV trans-celebrity and friend from New York, Candis Cayne of ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money,” has started a weekly show at the beautiful Eleven restaurant in West Hollywood. There will be two dinner shows (7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.) every Saturday night at the new hot spot, where a mean shrimp scampi is served. Disco dancing kicks in after 11 p.m.

Joan Rivers’ A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress is celebrating its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse from now through March 30. Set just before Hollywood’s biggest awards pre-show, Joan’s four-character, autobiographical play takes an introspective look at aging, life’s ups and down, and what it means to be a woman in Hollywood. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to see the legendary comic icon up close and personal – well, maybe not that close! Tickets are available at www.geffenplayhouse.com

Tony Award winner and one of Broadway’s most acclaimed musical comedy stars, Faith Prince, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, makes her cabaret debut at the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center from Feb. 14 -17. Tickets are available at www.ocpac.org.

The GayVN Awards, the Oscars of gay porn, will be held at the Gift Center in San Francisco this Saturday, Feb. 16. I’m predicting that Chi Chi LaRue’s LINK: The Evolution will sweep the awards. The twisted Lady Bunny hosts the awards and some tickets are available to the public. For more information, visit www.gayvnawards.com.

The Oscar party for the Trevor Project will be hosted at the Here Lounge on Sunday, Feb. 24. A hosted bar, hors d’oeuvres, raffles and an Oscar ballot contest with a grand prize will all be available. This is a great event to meet hot guys. For tickets, visit www.thetrevorproject.org. It’s a leap year, so remember: You’re allowed to party to the fourth degree!