Over 600 guests attended The Center’s Gala celebrating thirty years of community service. The event had that relaxed, casual feel and allowed guests to just enjoy a lovely evening with friends and community people. Entertainer Chad Michaels performed as ’70s Cher, ’80s Cher and ’90s Cher. There were four food stations offering a variety of tasty fare and no one seemed to mind the long lines. There were also two separate dessert stations with superb bananas foster. I especially enjoyed the outdoor area where a short program was held. The main room of the otherwise cold-looking convention hall was very nicely spruced up with various screens — some projecting Center images, others showing movie and TV clips from the past 30 years. Congratulations to all the honorees and to all who worked so hard to make this celebration a fun evening. My only lament is where was everyone else for whom our Center provides direct or indirect services? Is it because of the admission price, or is it because this type of event just does not appeal to the other segment of our community. It is important that each of us makes an investment in our Center, and be grateful that we have one. The Center should not be a place only in time of need. Take a moment to imagine what our lives would be like without the people who make The Center possible. Thirty years is a big deal; let us not for a second take this for granted. I challenge everyone who did not make it to The Center Gala to send in a contribution. The amount does not matter. What matters is knowing that you are out there and you care.

Halloween — a sacred queer holiday — is right around the corner and what? You don’t have a thing to wear? Forget about getting a stuffed toy white tiger wrapped around your neck, I bet there will be dozens of you. Besides, Roy is still in the hospital and it’s not a nice thing to do. Some of you feel compelled to do drag at least once a year. If you are one of them and have never done drag before, here is one tip you must keep in mind. COMFORT. Start with sensible, comfortable shoes. Face it sister; women’s shoes are not made for your more ample size and body weight. They are usually too narrow and do not come in your size. So what’s a big girl to do? Your women’s shoe size is usually your men’s size plus two. (i.e. men’s 8 = women’s 10) Payless and Ross do carry some large sizes (up to size 12) but you can also go online — Queenfashions.com has some outrageous boots. If you are a novice, please stick with sensible low heels. What good are your fuck-me-pumps if you can’t stand in them after the first five minutes? Trust me on this; a good pair of sensible shoes is going to be your best investment.

Now for hair, a good wig will last you through several drag-o-ramas. So invest in a good one. The best place in town is Granada Wigs on 12th & E St. A good, styled wig can set you back around $80-$100. And remember, bangs are back. Look at Jennifer Aniston. Granada Wigs will also re-comb your old ones for about $25, but please don’t insult them by bringing in those ratty, dead hairs from the novelty shops. Those are one-night only hair, just like your last trick — you wear them, you throw them away.

Once you’ve got your hair and shoes in place, you are almost there, girl. For starters, know your dress size. If you wear a size 15 shirt, you are probably a size 10-12 dress. If your shirt size is 16, you are probably a size 14-16 — keeping in mind a man’s ribcage is usually wider. While a stretch fabric is useful, spandex is definitely not for everyone. Lane Bryant in Mission Valley is a plus size store, but the styles are more Doris Roberts than Sarah Jessica. Your best bet are the bigger stores (no pun intended), which usually have a plus size section. Nordstrom, Ross and even Robinsons-May have decent selections that are inexpensive. And don’t think you’re so clever that you can wear it once with all the tags intact and return it the next day. It’s been done before, and unless you’re a refined woman like me who never sweats, you’ll get busted. There’s also Buffalo Exchange, Wear it Again Sam and Flashbacks in Hillcrest. Don’t even bother with Fredrick’s of Hollywood. I know most of you would rather look like tramps, but their thongs are just not wide enough to keep it all in. And don’t be embarrassed about shopping for undergarments. I’ve hit all of these stores and have paved the way for you to shop without intimidation.

Now for make-up, I shall repeat my usual advice. Unless you are planning a career in drag, you really do not have to shop MAC, although the MAC Foundation has given a lot of money for AIDS services. Your drug store variety make-up will do just fine. Use a heavy foundation base that gives maximum coverage, like Max Factor Panstick. And if you are the type who gets a beard shadow an hour after you shave, try covering your beard area with a red base first before applying foundation. Always powder after the foundation, before applying other make-up, and powder again when you think you have reached perfection.

Now if all this seemed complicated, don’t get frustrated. It really isn’t that bad. But if you are throwing your hands up in the air right about now and you happen to have a platinum card, call me and I’ll take you out shopping.

Since you have spent money and time planning your Halloween costume, you might as well do the circuit and compete in the many different contests all around town. I will be hosting the Graveyard Costume Contest on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Bacchus house for the early birds. On Halloween night, the Center’s Nightmare on Normal St. costume contest will be hosted around 9:00 p.m. by the Evil Queen Nicole, who will then move on to Bourbon Street for their contest ($500 cash/prizes), Bacchus House’s contest is around 11:30 p.m. ($600 c/p), and Babette Schwartz presides at Rich’s at 12:00 midnight. If there is one guarantee in life, it’s that there is a costume contest in every bar on Halloween night.

If you want to get away from the traditional Halloween scene in San Diego, get yourself to Palms Springs next weekend for Palm Springs Pride. But you can’t escape Halloween completely, you’ll just be with a different group of people. The parade steps off at Alejo St. and Palm Canyon Drive on Sunday at 11:00 a.m., and the Pride Festival is over at the Palm Springs stadium Saturday and Sunday. Be sure you book a room early; you do not want to end up staying in a Motel 6 in Hemet. The place to be is at the All World’s Resort. Otherwise, find a trick with a room and stay over for the weekend treat.

The following weekend is PS Leather Pride (Nov. 6-9). This is a hot weekend of demonstrations (and I’m not talking about cooking) and seminars, pool and play party, vendor market, a formal leather dinner and the selection of Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2004. This is the place to be if you are looking for that ultimate leather daddy, or just like the smell and feel of leather rubbing against you. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes and click on this column for a link to their web site.

Equality California holds their third Annual San Diego Event on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park, honoring the LGBT Legislative Caucus and its five members — Christine Kehoe, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, John Laird and Mark Leno. Other honorees include AJ Davis-DeFeo of The Center and Nicole M. Ramirez. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Ron Rydzewski at (619) 283-3190.

Nominations for the 2003 Sandies Awards are being accepted online at until Nov. 7. Visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this column for a link to their web site. You can also pick up a nomination form at Obelisk bookstore. This year, the awards will be held on Monday, Dec. 1, at The Prado in Balboa Park, with a silent auction benefiting the Hillcrest Youth Center. So hurry and vote for your favorite bartender, restaurant, hair salon, bar theme night, etc. The Sandies seek to recognize the fab people and places that make living the gay life such a joy in San Diego. So mark your calendar, I want to see you all there.