The Health and Fitness Plus Health Fair took place on Saturday, May 8, with a sampling of the most up to date health supplement products available, antioxidant level and body fat testing and the opportunity for the GLBT community to socialize about health concerns.

Health and Fitness Plus donated 30 percent of the proceeds from the health fair to The Center’s health services division.

To learn more about the health and fitness concerns of the GLBT community, contact Mark Neiber of Health and Fitness Plus at (619) 291-6161. Health and Fitness Plus is located at 3950 Fifth Ave., next door to the Corvette Diner and across the street from 24 Hour Fitness.

Looking to meet new people? Friends, activity partners, dates – it’s all possible at 5 Minute Man, taking place Sunday, June 6. Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Gay Men’s Health Program invites you to attend 5 Minute Man, a fun and interactive alternative to meeting guys in San Diego. Events are held at the Joyce Beers Community Center (by Trader Joe’s in the Uptown Shopping District) at 7:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. This is a free event and refreshments will be served.

For further information or questions, contact Bailey at (619) 515-2424 ext. 2913.

Ebony Pride San Diego hosts the second annual Ebby Awards on Saturday, June 12, at The Center from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. Tickets are $35 for individuals, $60 for couples and $260 for tables of eight. The entire community is welcome to come join in the fun. Tickets may be purchased from any Ebony Pride member or through ebonypride.org.

Lyric Opera San Diego broke ground Friday, May 21, on its renovation project that will re-open the North Park Theatre as a live-performance venue and restore it to its original beauty. Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Christine Kehoe were joined by project developer Bud Fischer, City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency Director Hank Cunningham, Lyric Opera San Diego General Director Leon Natker, and major theater donors Dr. Merle and Mrs. Teresa Fischlowitz, for the ceremonial groundbreaking, which drew over 70 community members and Lyric Opera supporters.

With the seismic retrofit of the theater completed, the City of San Diego will, within the next two weeks, officially convey the theater to the Lyric Opera.

Since purchasing the building in 1990 to ensure preservation of the theater, a historic landmark, the City of San Diego has committed significant financial and technical assistance toward the redevelopment of the theater. The $20 million investment of city redevelopment agency funds represents an investment in a project that will serve as a catalyst for future redevelopment and revitalization efforts in North Park.

The theater, which sits at the corner of 29th Street and University Avenue, has sat dormant for almost two decades. It is scheduled to re-open in late 2005 with Lyric Opera’s performance of “Cinderella””

GLBT Health Resource Guides now available

The GLBT 2004 Health Resource Guide, co-published by Priority Pharmacy and The Center, is now available. In addition to GLBT healthcare provider contact information, the guide contains 18 informational articles. The articles were provided by local GLBT health-related professionals and cover everything from traveling with medications to inflammatory bowel disease, chiropractics, Oriental medicine and transgender, women and senior health.

Community members can pick up a free copy of the GLBT Health Resource Guide at Priority Pharmacy, 3935 First Ave., between University and Washington. For more information call Priority Pharmacy at (619) 688-2230.

The Caliph is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a party on Saturday, June 5. Starting at 12:00 noon, the celebration includes a barbeque, an extra outside bar, drink specials, comedy and music. A complimentary banquet buffet starts at 6:00 p.m. L.A.’s finest comedians, courtesy of The Comedy Store, including Shawn Pelofsky, and featuring Claude Shires and Matt Bragg start at 8:00 p.m. and there will be a special performance by Blue Velvet. There is a $5 cover charge. The Caliph is located at 3100 Fifth Ave. Call (619) 298-9495 for more information.

On Saturday, June 12, Cubs Club of California will be celebrating its one-year anniversary with a day of fun and frolic in San Diego. Cubs Club of California is a social/spiritual service club for Bearcubs and their admirers.

The day begins with a barbeque/beverage bust and “Erotic Carnival” at Pecs bar, located at 2046 University Ave., from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The fun continues at Wolfs bar, located at 3404 30th St., from 9:00 to11:00 p.m., with a beverage bust, prize raffle and Wet Cub contest; all are invited to stay for Wolfs’ famous Backroom Night, beginning immediately afterward.

Proceeds benefit Cubs Club of California and San Diego Boys of Leather. For more information call (619) 281-1770.

Ms. San Diego Leather 2004 is sponsoring a standard first aid/CPR course instructed by Karen Yew at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 6, at the Bienestar office, located at 3020 North Park Way. This class is limited to 12 individuals and there is a $40 course fee. After costs of materials are covered, proceeds benefit Bienestar and the Ms. San Diego Leather Travel Fund.

This class is approximately six hours in length, with breaks in between. Upon completion of the course, members who pass a written examination will receive their Standard First Aid/CPR Certification Card.

Due to the limited number of students, participants must reserve a seat ahead of time by emailing Yew at MsSanDiegoLeather 2004@yahoo.com.

One of the most important events the Hillcrest Youth Center sponsors each year is the “Other” Prom. Held in The Center's auditorium, the Other Prom is a unique opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning high school students and recent graduates to experience a prom where they are free to be themselves without fear of harassment or discrimination.

The event is organized by and for LGBTQ youth and will take place on Saturday, June 19. Many LGBTQ youth experience enormous isolation in high school, as most high school social events, such as homecoming and the prom, are based upon a presumption of heterosexuality. For LGBTQ youth, the Other Prom will be the first time they can attend a formal event and dance with the partner of their choosing, whether that person is of the same or opposite sex.

This year, The Center is seeking donations to ensure that the Other Prom will continue to be a successful and memorable event for LGBTQ youth. To help make the Other Prom even more successful this year, consider making a donation by contacting Zac Mikles at (619) 692-2077, ext. 246.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride has scheduled another free float-building workshop to further support those taking part in this year’s 30th anniversary Pride parade on July 30.

In addition to the upcoming workshop at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 10, another is planned for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 10. Both will be held at the San Diego LGBT Pride office, located at 1807 Robinson St., Suite 106.

Mark Van Milligan of Reliable Parade Floats and Consultants will share creative ideas for acquiring colorful materials and utilizing them to build eye-catching floats.

Additionally, parade and festival vendor applications are available; call or visit the Pride office to obtain one. Parade applications must be submitted by June 30, and the first deadline for festival applications is June 11. Late fees will apply thereafter.

This year’s celebration, scheduled for July 30, 31 and August 1, is titled: “30 Years of Pride: Strength in Numbers”. For more information or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, call (619) 297-7683.