A good friend of mine and I recently came to a relationship revelation – as the character Roger says in the Broadway musical The Producers, when it comes to dating and relationships, “keep it light, keep it bright, keep it gay!”

Now that may seem like common sense, but I’ve seen most of my friends rush into relationships faster than you can say “codependent.” I’m not suggesting treating relationships like yesterday’s garbage. I am suggesting we should stop to smell the poppers – I mean roses – and enjoy every moment with realistic expectations.

When it comes to dating, relationships and, for that matter, life keep things fresh, fun and fantastic in the month of May!

Each year, I look forward to wandering the streets of Little Italy and checking out ArtWalk, San Diego’s largest and best-known arts festival featuring some of the finest painting, sculpture, glasswork and photography from Southern California, Arizona, and Mexico-based artists.

Now in its 24th year, ArtWalk 2008, a free event, returns on April 26 and 27 from noon to 6 p.m., and will feature 400 visual and performing artists, as well as a child-friendly interactive program called Kids Walk, painted wood benches to be auctioned off for the ArtReach Bench Project and silent auction, and a celebration of Mexican artistic excellence with the bi-national showcase.

ArtWalk spans 14 city blocks with artists showcasing their artwork between Beech and Fir streets, with India Street and Kettner Boulevard as the main thoroughfares for the event. Stop by to pick up a trinket or two, enjoy some local music and munch on some good eats!

If you can’t get enough of Little Italy’s neighborhood and missed out on Taste of Hillcrest this month, then don’t miss the first ever Taste of Little Italy on May 14 from 5-9 p.m. Appetizers, desserts and specialty beverages will be offered from some of the area’s best restaurants, including Indigo Grill, Rice at the W, and the Spicy Pickle (yes, that’s the name of a restaurant).

Advance tickets are $35 for individuals and $60 for a pair; the day of, tickets are $40 for individuals and $70 for a pair. Ticket prices include all tastes and can be purchased at the Taste of Little Italy office on 734 W. Beech St., Suite 100. For more information, call 619-615-1093 or e-mail info@tasteoflittleitalysd.com. Bon appetit!

For anyone aside from the good church goin’ folk, it can be a nuisance to get up bright and early on a Sunday morning. If you can, though, and want to get that blood flowing, get set for the Navy’s 22nd Original Bay Bridge Run/Walk on May 18 at 8 a.m. The four-mile course starts in the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown and continues over the bridge to Tidelands Park in Coronado. What other chance do you have to cross the Coronado Bay Bridge on foot?

Individual adult entry is $35 before May 3 and $40 afterward; if you decide to run as a group, a five-person competitive running team entry is $180 before May 3 and $205 afterward. Race entry also includes a Padres game ticket to Petco Park for the May 25 game at 1:05 p.m. against the Cincinnati Reds.

Proceeds benefit the MWR Quality of Life for Navy personnel. For more race information and to register, visit www.mwrtoday.com or www.active.com.

After the Coronado Bay Bridge race, stop by the 12th Annual North Park Festival of the Arts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This free event takes place along University Avenue between 30th and 32nd streets.

Along with the plethora of art, stop by 150 specialty booths or one of four music stages. If you crave an alcoholic beverage, stumble over to the CityBeat Festival of Beers on 30th Street between University Avenue and North Park Way from noon to 6 p.m., where you can enjoy tastes from 16 different breweries. Advance tickets are $15 and give you five taster tickets and an event T-shirt. For more information, visit www.sdcitybeat.net/home.html.

Proceeds from the festival benefit North Park Main Street, a nonprofit organization committed to the revitalization of the North Park Business Improvement District. For more information, visit www.northparkmainstreet.com.

What month would be complete without something delightfully gay? Check out Rich’s on April 26 for the Voltage anniversary party, bound to be a night full of electrifying treats! Listen to the beats of DJ Nikno and if you’re lucky, get a free Voltage CD. Drink some complimentary champagne in the front room between 10-11 p.m. Watch the sexy go-go boys shake their derrieres all night long and look for special performances throughout the night. Last but not least, get frisky with free body painting and temporary tattoos.

Voltage at Rich’s always delivers, so don’t miss out! Rich’s is located at 1051 University Ave.

In keeping with all things gay, the 2008 Nicky Awards return on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the beautifully-restored Birch North Park Theatre. The Nicky Awards, started by the one and only Nicole Murray-Ramirez, honor the individuals and businesses that make the greatest impact on the GLBT community.

Attendees can enjoy a VIP dinner at the impeccable Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge at 5:30 p.m. prior to the awards ceremony. An auction will also be held and proceeds from the 30th Nicky Awards will benefit The San Diego LGBT Community Center, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Children’s Summer Academy and the Imperial Court de San Diego.

The Board of Governors is still accepting donations for auction items, so please contact Michael Mack at michaelmacknsd@aol.com or 619-602-9453 if you are interested in donating.

The Birch North Park Theatre is located at 2891 University Ave. and Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge, which is connected to the lobby of the theater, is located at 2895 University Ave.