Several Hillcrest and Mission Hills community organizations, including the Uptown Planners, the Hillcrest Business Association and the Hillcrest History Guild expressed their support of an ordinance that would create limits on the heights of developments in the Uptown Area, until a new community plan is approved by the City of San Diego. The current community plan is more than 20 years old.

The Uptown Independent Task Force was formed and worked to get an Interim Height Ordinance (IHO) created for the 92103 zip code, which includes Hillcrest and Mission Hills. The proposed IHO has passed through the city’s Land Use & Housing Committee, and the City Planning Commission. On Tuesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. the proposal will be heard and voted upon by the City Council during their regular meeting. The decision by the council is the final step in the process to approve this proposal.

Community leaders from various Uptown organizations are encouraging community members to express their support of the IHO by contacting their council member and attending the council meeting to speak in favor of the proposal.

The proposed IHO would limit structures to 65 feet on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, north of Upas Street; 65 feet on Washington Street and University Avenue east of Dove Street; and 50 feet on Washington Street from Dove to Ibis streets. The proposal also recommends a discretionary review of height proposals along Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, south of Upas Street in Bankers Hill.

The meeting will take place at San Diego City Hall Council Chambers, which is located at 202 C St., 12th floor, in Downtown.

Later that evening, the Hillcrest Town Council (HTC) will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. to reflect on the council’s decision. Area restaurants have donated refreshments for a reception to be held during the meeting. All community members are invited to attend. HTC will meet at the Joyce Beers Community Center located in the Uptown District Shopping Center.

San Diego LGBT Pride will present its popular Art of Pride exhibition at this year’s two-day Pride festival in Balboa Park, on July 19 and 20. The space serves as an annual showcase for the works of local GLBT artists in various mediums, such as painting, sculpture, pottery and jewelry.

This year’s expanded exhibition and juried show will feature two covered wings of display areas, plus additional room for festivalgoers to relax and socialize. The show is being organized by local artists John Keasler, Jennifer Phelps and Sarah Soto, in conjunction with San Diego LGBT Pride.

Covered spaces are available by contacting John Keasler at artofpride@sbcglobal.net. Submissions for the juried portion of the show are free and will be accepted electronically at artofpride@sbcglobal.net.

This year’s artist lineup features works by Larry Abgarian, Sara Abolhosn, Andy Bowen, Peter Geise, Robert Gould, Jae Hansen, Mandy H., Jody Mitchell, Irene Niehorster,Fergal O’Doherty, Nick Perez, Gil Pielaat, Jimmy Thibault, Ricardo Vela, Ann Wolf and Dennis Wymbs as well as the exhibit organizers. Creations of the Center’s Seniors Art Class and the Sister of Perpetual Indulgence will be shown at the Festival.

The Art Guild of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego will feature the works of GLBT artists in their Bard Hall Gallery from July 1-31. First UU will host its annual Rainbow Pride Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on July 13. The Bard Hall artists will be honored at a reception at 6:30 p.m. on July 15. Bard Hall Gallery receptions are followed by an artist roundtable discussion. The public is welcome.

First UU Church is located at 4190 Front St., near UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.

A preview of the Art of Pride show is scheduled from July 7 through Sept. 7 at Ricardo Vela Gallery, featuring works of Art of Pride Artists. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 12 from 6-10 p.m. The Vela Gallery is located at 2923 Upas Street in North Park.

Additionally, Filter Coffee will host a Pride Show of Art from July 15 to Aug. 15. Filter is located at 4096 30th St. in North Park

For more information, contact Art of Pride Coordinator John Keasler at 619-491-0779 or call the Pride office at 619-297-7683.

The publishers of the popular Hillcrest neighborhood guide, HillQuest, and its companion Web site, Hillquest.com, will celebrate the completion of the sixth edition of the guide by hosting the sixth annual Hillcrest Hop in the Hood on Sunday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Publishers Ann Garwood and Nancy Moors invite the community to attend the event which will include live music, entertainment, cake and the third annual Flower Power Parade. Participants in the parade decorate their bikes, wagons, and other non-motorized transportation devices and compete in the parade, which kicks off at 12:30 p.m.

The Hop in the Hood and Flower Power Parade will take place on the 3700 block of Seventh Avenue, between Robinson and Pennsylvania streets in Hillcrest. Musical lineup, schedule of events and participation guidelines for the parade are available online at www.hillquest.com.

The Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) Thursday Business Networking Group, along with Broadway San Diego and Napa Valley Grille invite community to participate in a “Phantom With Friends” evening on Friday, July 25.

Participants will gather at Napa Valley Grille in Horton Plaza at 5:30 p.m. for networking, light hors d’oeuvres and a no host bar. The evening will end with a production of the Phantom of the Opera at 8 p.m. at the San Diego Civic Theater.

A portion of the ticket price, which can be purchased online at www.broadwaysd.com, will be donated to The Center.

For more information, contact the GSDBA at 619-296-4543.

Diversionary Theatre is inviting openly gay and lesbian San Diegans who served in the military to participate in the art exhibition “At Your Service,” running in conjunction with the production of the new musical Yank! this summer.

Veterans are invited to drop off, mail or email a picture of themselves in uniform. Those participating are asked to provide the following information with their picture: name, rank, branch and division of service, theatre of operations (if applicable), honors/awards/commendations, year of the picture, age of yourself as shown in the picture, and any other information you’d like to share about the period of your service. Pictures will not be returned, so Diversionary requests to please send copies, or they can scan a photo if you come by during regular business hours.

Yank! is a love song to Hollywood’s “it takes one of every kind” platoon flicks and to 1940s Broadway. Suffused with period songs, the show explores what stories get told in wartime, and how WWII became the great catalyst in bringing gay men and women together.

Photos can be emailed to boxoffice@diversionary.org with the requested information. The exhibition will be shown in the Diversionary Theatre’s lobby from July 10 through Aug. 17.

For more information, call Diversionary at 619-220-0097 or e-mail boxoffice@diversionary.org.

Beginning in July, The Center’s Bingo program will be changing from a weekly to a monthly event. Beginning Tuesday, July 15, Big Gay Bingo will be held on the third Tuesday of every month, with the first game beginning at 7 p.m. Special Bingo theme nights and exciting guest callers will be featured each month. July’s Big Gay Bingo will feature the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Sister Iona Dubble-Wyde and Todd Klein of the Gay & Lesbian Times. The price is $15 for a one game pack, including progressive. Special games are just $1 more.

For more information, call 619-692-2077. The Center is located 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

Since its inception in October 2003, the Community Coalition Breakfast has become a monthly staple for members of San Diego’s LGBT leadership, politicians and candidates, and for organizations collaborating with The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Information presented at the Community Coalition breakfasts over the past year has made audiences aware of important issues affecting San Diego’s GLBT community.

The entire community is invited to come kick-off Pride weekend with the 2nd Annual All Community Pride Breakfast on Friday, July 18 at The San Diego LGBT Community Breakfast at 3909 Centre Street from 7:30-9:30 am.

This breakfast event will feature an omelet buffet from Abbey Catering with all the “fixins” and a champagne toast! The cost is $10 at the door, so be sure to bring all your friends for a fun and relaxing kickoff event for Pride weekend 2008.

The Hillcrest History Guild (HHG) is selling tickets for its second annual Toast to Hillcrest event, to be held Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event gives participants the opportunity to celebrate Hillcrest, named one of the top 10 neighborhoods in America in 2007, while enjoying wine, spirits and appetizers at numerous restaurants and bars throughout the area. A red double-decker bus will also cruise the neighborhood providing transportation for participants. All proceeds from the event benefit the HHG.

Tickets are $19 before Aug. 1 or $25 after Aug. 1 or on the day of. Visit www.hillcresthistory.org for more information or to purchase tickets.