Yes, the Flame has been sold and yes, the new owners are gay.… Look for another bar to be sold soon….

This past Saturday’s 20th anniversary celebration of the Alano Club was a great success because of so many people and a caring community, which made this event the Alano Club’s biggest fundraiser ever. Among the many VIPs in attendance were: Alano Club honorees District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, businesswoman Carla Coshow and keynote speaker San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Congressmember Bob Filner, State Assemblymember Chris Kehoe, Superior Court Judge Ted Weathers, City Attorney candidate Mike Aguirre, former Chief of Staff to the Governor and State Assembly Candidate Vince Hall, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi, City Commissioner Robert Gleason, Dr. Bill Beck and David Huskey, Rev. Tony Freeman, Ben F. Dillingham and the list goes on.… I was honored to be the chairperson of this 20th anniversary dinner and wish to most sincerely thank my hardworking committee: Paul Somerset of Ono Sushi, Wayne Tibbetts, Frank Lechner (vice chair), Brian Garity, Robi Cox, Wesley Shaw, Michelle Mazzarese, Jesse San Roque, Noel Guanzon, Wayne Back, Richard Britton of Numbers, Kevin Choate, Big Mike and my co-chair Carla Coshow, and Tim Holmberg.

A very big bravo! And a heartfelt thank you to Bill Hardt of Powerhouse and Quantum Productions whose artistic brilliance turned The Center into a beautiful and elegant ballroom. Thank you to the always giving Rick Koenig of ROK Enterprises (beautiful coffee mugs). My love to my co-M.C. Joyce Marieb (GSDBA) Fifi, The Center Staff, Michael Portantino and the Gay and Lesbian Times, Ben Dillingham, Gene Burkard, Frank Stiriti of Vulcan, Chris and Doug of Hamburger Marys, Nick and Frank of Numbers, Bart of Rich’s, Tom and Bob of Bourbon Street, the Imperial Court, Hairspray, Terra, Ono Sushi, Indigo Grill, Hash House A Go Go, Bacchus House, In Achord, the Red Hot and Gay cast, Ric Henru, Jeffrey Rockwell, Leigh Scaritt, Park Manor Hotel, Limodudes.com and especially Jona Briggs, who raised $10,000 in about eight minutes during the event!!! Thank you again to everyone who made this event such a success.