Several of Hillcrest’s most popular businesses – including Fido & Co. Canine Country Club; Hash House A Go Go; and Monsoon Indian Cuisine – have been chosen in their respective business categories as the “Best of San Diego” by the subscribers and editors of San Diego Magazine. They will have booths, presentations, free food and drink at the Best of San Diego Party, Aug. 28, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Liberty Station’s Legacy Plaza in the NTC Promenade. The Best of San Diego event is expected to be one of the biggest celebrations of the year, with more than 25 restaurants, six bands and a wide variety of other “Best of” winners for 2009.

Hillcrest’s Fido & Co. Canine Country Club has won over the hearts of local San Diegans as “the best place to primp your pooch.” One of the most luxuriously posh doggy daycares around, Fido & Co. provides services ranging from daycare and in-home pet sitting, to spa services and birthday parties for you and your pup. It will be unveiling its Doggie Boot Camp, where dogs and their owners work out together. Hash House A GO GO and Monsoon Restaurant, two other local community “Best of San Diego” restaurant winners will also be at the event.

Tickets are $35 for general admission or $50 for VIPs, who will receive gift baskets and an exclusive VIP-only event section for food sampling, specialty drinks and entertainment.

Tickets can be purchased at the event or at www.bestofsandiego2009.com.

Urban Mo’s and Baja Betty’s recently announced the creation of Battle Of The Bar Queens: Tantrums &Tiaras. The premise of the “fun-raiser” is simple: hold a camp drag pageant executed in such a way that it’s a spoof of Miss America. Battle of the Bar Queens will take place at the Birch North Park Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., 2009. All proceeds from the event will benefit Mama’s Kitchen.

Since 1990, Mama’s Kitchen has been delivering three nutritional meals a day, seven days a week, at no charge to men, women and children living with AIDS or other critical illnesses throughout San Diego County. It provides food, compassion and hope to more than 1,500 people annually. “We feel that supporting an organization that does so much to support our community is critical, especially in times like these,” said Urban Mo’s and Baja Betty’s owner Chris Shaw.

“Our goal for Battle of the Bar Queens is to create an annual community event that is everything but what you’d see at a traditional drag show,” adds Urban Mo’s Manager Matt Ramon. “We want to raise upwards of $50,000 for Mama’s Kitchen and at the same time, watch a bunch of non-performing ‘queens’ with little to no experience in drag try to strut around the stage in stilettos and not fall over. It’s going to be a blast.”

Also working to help ensure the success of Battle of the Bar Queens is highly accredited celebrity make-up artist Brian Bond of Foxxy Roxxy Make-Up. Bond has worked in all mediums of make up, creating a name and style of his own. With a portfolio ranging from print to celebrity red carpet, he’s also credited with doing the make up for the July 2009 wedding of Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson. Bond and his team are committed to ensuring all contestants looks their best.

“The next big event Foxxy Roxxy Make-Up Artistry will be doing in San Diego is Battle of the Bar Queens. We just shot the Battle of the Bar Queens poster and are very excited to be a part of this event,” said Bond.

Ticket prices will be announced in the upcoming weeks. For more information, call 619-491-0400 or visit urbanmos.com.

Can you write the next “We Shall Overcome” type of theme for the upcoming March For Equality that will debut at the march in Washington, D.C., on Oct 10-11?

If you are a singer/songwriter/musician and are interested, visit the Equality Across America Web site and link to the “Song Idol Contest” for rules and regulations. Deadline is Sept. 15.

Those spending Labor Day weekend in Hillcrest will quickly learn that, although the summer has come to an end, the party is far from over. On Friday, Sept. 4, Urban Mo’s will be kicking off the summer farewell with Into the Wild. This costume-themed event will kick off at 6 p.m., run ’til close and will feature Mo’s own DJ Taj. There is no cost to attend.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, Mo’s will once again feature the community favorite Margarita Madness. Taking place from 2 to 7 p.m., all house margaritas will be discounted $2 and all other margaritas will be discounted $1. Those wanting to add a little country to the weekend should be sure to stick around for line dancing. Taking place inside Kickers, line dancing will take place from 3:30 p.m. until close, with free dance lessons offered by Lee from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 6, be sure to stop by early to check out Mo’s infamous champagne brunch. Beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m., $18.95 will get you bottomless mimosas and unlimited access to the best brunch buffet offered in Hillcrest. If you find yourself needing to head home for an afternoon nap, remember to set your alarm clock so you don’t miss the Jungle Party. Taking place from 5 p.m. until close, DJ Taj will once again be behind the turntables. There will be a $5 cover to attend.

Finally, on Monday, Sept. 7, the weekend will officially wind down with the Recovery Monday Tea Dance. Taking place from 2 to 9 p.m., this wall -to-wall packed event will feature DJ Taj, hot men, and will be a guaranteed good time. After the Tea Dance, stick around for the Latin-themed dance party Noches Calientes with DJ Fariba. There will be a $7 cover to attend.

Urban Mo’s is located at 308 University Ave. in Hillcrest. For more information, call 619-491-0400 or visit www.urbanmos.com

In anticipation of the merger in January 2010, the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego (GMCSD) and the San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) are now planning their joint Holiday Concert, featuring more than 100 men’s voices in a spectacular concert of great jazz and swing holiday favorites. Accompanied by a 10-piece swing band, the concert features classic tunes, such as “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” the Andrews Sisters’ “Jing-a-Ling,” Bing Crosby’s popular “Little Jack Frost,” Patti Page’s “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” and some hilarious novelty hits, such as “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

Interested singers as well as non-singing volunteers who want to join either GMCSD or SDMC families are invited to attend this combined Info Night community event on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Beginning at 7 p.m., Info Night is held inside the University Christian Church, located at 3900 Cleveland Ave., right across the street from the Hillcrest Post Office and DMV. Regular chorus rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. beginning on Monday, Sept. 14.

Info Night is a fun evening of music, food, merriment, prizes and surprises. New members will learn about the history of both choruses, meet current members, and hear samples of their sensational sounds. Artistic Director/Conductor Gary Holt will lead the informal musical introductions as he has the opportunity to learn how each voice fits together to create a cohesive sound.

The two choruses, which have long and rich legacies throughout the San Diego region, will present a joint Holiday Concert at the historic Balboa Theatre on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 12.

GMCSD and SDMC will then fully join forces in 2010 as a new, combined chorus featuring more than 100 men’s voices. The name of this newly formed group will be chosen from among the suggestions submitted via an online contest, open to members of both groups and the entire community.

In addition to planning and conducting the upcoming Holiday Concert, Gary Holt has been named artistic director of the New Chorus, effective Jan. 1, 2010. “I am deeply honored to have been asked to serve as artistic director of this exciting new chorus,” said Holt. “Our raised voices will reach a broader audience, with a richer and more diverse palette of choral artistry. An important part of our vision for the new chorus is to entertain our audiences at the highest level, while at the same time solidifying our commitment to community outreach and the creation of new music. Creating a unified chorus will have exciting impact for the people already a part of our two choruses, new members looking for a fulfilling artistic and social experience, the LGBT community, and San Diego audiences as a whole.”

For questions or additional information, contact the choruses directly at 619-57-GMCSD, www.gmcsd.com or 877-296-SONG www.sdmc.org.