The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (The Center) is excited to announce its third annual “Unofficial” Oscar Party on Sunday, Feb. 29, starting at 5:00 p.m. San Diego’s GLBT community and friends are invited to join the event in The Center’s auditorium at 3909 Centre Street. The live satellite telecast will be shown on a 12’ x 16’ projection screen and broadcast in surround sound. This special, limited seating engagement, hosted by The Center in collaboration with OutFest San Diego and the San Diego Film Festival, includes a delicious buffet-style dinner catered by The Abbey Café and a full no-host bar. Cost per person is $35 in advance, with proceeds benefiting the various programs and services at The Center.

Arriving guests at this year’s party will be greeted by living Oscar “statuettes”, while walking down the red carpet and into the auditorium for the pre-show festivities, which start promptly at 5:30 p.m. Once inside, guests will have the opportunity to win fabulous prizes, donated by some of Hollywood’s biggest studios, by participating in The Center’s Oscar Trivia quiz. Highlighting the evening, the guest who predicts the most Oscar winners with their “unofficial” Oscar ballot, will receive a valuable prize package of DVDs, music, books and other great items.

For more information call Shawn Ingram at (619) 692-2007 ext. 204.

The Greater San Diego Business Association is accepting registrations from prospective exhibitors and sponsors wishing to take part in this year’s second annual “Gay to Z” business exposition, titled “The Growing Gay Market”.

The tradeshow event, which will encompass nearly 100 display booths and feature guest speaker Deepak Chopra, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 29, in the Atlas Ballroom at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in Mission Valley. The program also features six workshops, a luncheon and late-afternoon mixer, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

Marketing experts from both in and outside the GLBT community will discuss everything from advertising strategies and business partnerships to slogans and messages that carry the highest impact on today’s GLBT consumers and business owners. The deadline for exhibitor registration is March 19. Those interested can call the GSDBA for forms at (619) 296-4543.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride has begun accepting nominations from the community for its annual awards, which are designed to honor local individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on San Diego’s LGBT community. Nomination forms are available by calling or visiting the Pride office, 1807 Robinson St., Suite 106. The deadline for submissions is March 24. Award recipients will be publicly introduced at Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., July 30, at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The rally will mark the start of San Diego Pride’s 30th celebration, which continues on July 31 and Aug 1 under the theme “30 Years of Pride: Strength in Numbers.”

“This is a great opportunity to get your favorite unsung heroes in the community recognized,” says Suanne Pauley, executive director for Pride. “We will review every nomination received by the deadline.” The office, she adds, is also accepting written suggestions for prospective grand marshals, which can be submitted by fax, e-mail or drop-off. The fax number is: 619-260-3096. And the e-mail address is: director@sdpride.org.

In addition to Pride’s summer anniversary celebration, San Diego Youth Pride will celebrate its second anniversary on April 30 and May 1, at the LGBT Center. For further details, call the Pride office at: (619) 297-7683.

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, the City Council began implementation of its City of Villages plan with the designation of five pilot projects, two of which will be located in council district 3. The selected projects include the Boulevard Marketplace at I-15 and El Cajon Boulevard and the North Park Transit Village, encompassing downtown North Park.

With the Pilot Village designation, project proposals will be eligible for a variety of incentives to encourage their successful completion, including expedited permit processing, prioritization of scheduled water, sewer, and utility under-grounding projects, as well as assistance in applying for state, federal and private foundation grants.

The Family Pride Coalition and COLAGE (Children Of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere) are pleased to announce they are now accepting applications for the 2004 Lee Dubin Scholarships.

The scholarship provides up to $1,000 for as many as five college students who are the children of GLBT parents, and who have demonstrated a commitment to creating change in the GLBT community. They are named in honor of Lee Dubin, a gay father and one of the founders of the Family Pride Coalition. This year will mark the 11th year of the scholarship program. To date, more than $19,000 in funds have been distributed

The scholarship applications are available on both the Family Pride Coalition and COLAGE websites www.colage.org and www.familypride.org. Applications must be postmarked by April 16, 2004.

Keith Borden, a singer/actor/entertainer from Hollywood performs a one-man show every year called A Cabaret of Hope. This year, he is bringing his highly successful show to San Diego for the first time.

Portions of this performance go to benefit the San Diego LGBT Community Center, but the rest of the proceeds go to benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation, an organization that helps children who are terminally, critically or otherwise chronically ill.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 950-9474 ext. 116, or by contacting Brian Terczynski at (619) 887-0357.

Family Health Centers, of San Diego’s Gay Men’s Health Program, will host its third relationship and empowerment retreat in Julian, March 12-14. This free retreat is designed to give gay men the chance to talk openly about gay relationships without pressure or stigma. They provide an environment that will allow gay men to implement positive change in their community through empowerment. The retreat breaks down stereotypes and opens up issues for discussion in a safe and supportive environment.

If you would like an application or more information, please send an email to baileym@fhcsd.org or call (619) 515-2578 ext. 2913.

San Diego’s All Worlds Video has garnered the most nominations of any studio for the 2004 GayVN Awards with 19 nominations. “There Goes the Neighborhood,” a sexy spoof of the 1960s Beach Blanket Bingo, received the most nominations of any video with 10 nominations including Best Video, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Supporting Actor, Best Director and Best Sex Comedy among others.

Local military adult video director, Dirk Yates, received nominations in three categories for Best Bisexual Video, Best Director-Bisexual and Best Alternative Video.

Other nominations include two nods for Dear Dick, for Best Sex Comedy and Best Actor. Emperor Rafael’s controversial video, Sins of the Father, is up for Best Ethic-Themed Video.

The awards ceremony will be held on March 11 in West Hollywood. For information regarding these and other All Worlds Video productions call (619) 523-9500 ext. 10.