On Thursday, Aug. 26, Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit delivery service dedicated to providing nutritious meals 365 days a year to San Diegans affected by AIDS, and Bourbon Street present their ninth annual wine tasting event. All proceeds benefit the home-delivered meals program to those living with AIDS throughout San Diego County.

“Bourbon and Blue Velvet” will feature the cabaret music of the Blue Velvet trio, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres from Prego Ristorante, California Cuisine, Ono Sushi, The Abbey Café and Twiggs Tea & Coffee and Bakery. Southern Wine and Spirits will sample four different types of wines throughout the evening.

Bourbon and Blue Velvet begins at 6:00 p.m. at Bourbon Street, located at 4612 Park Blvd. Tickets are $35. For information, call (619) 233-6262.

Fraternity House, Inc. invites the community to dine in style, while simultaneously making a difference in the lives of men and women living with HIV/AIDS. As San Diego County’s only nonprofit organization licensed to provide residential care facilities for the chronically ill, Fraternity House, Inc. presents its fifth annual Fraternity Feasts series, a sequence of elegant dining experiences designed to raise funds in support of the vital services Fraternity House provides. Guests enjoy sumptuous meals, beautiful homes and gardens and inspiring people. Each host has agreed to underwrite the cost of the evening so that the full proceeds from the dinner ticket sales go straight to the support of Fraternity House residents.

The first in the dinner series is “A Midsummer Night’s Garden Feast” taking place on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6:00 p.m. Patrick Anderson and Les Olson will host the dinner. Guests are invited to partake in a twilight stroll through the hosts’ renowned gardens, followed by hors ‘d oeuvres and cocktails in the grand hilltop pavilion. After sunset, the group adjourns to the house for a dinner accompanied by fine wines. Space is limited to 12 guests and tickets are $100 per person. To make reservations for the feast, contact Abby Schwartz at (760) 736-0292 ext.103.

Robert Gormley, general manager of W San Diego, has announced that the hotel will serve as host of this year’s AIDS Walk San Diego “Activation” kick-off party. The event, designed to activate community members to raise money for the walk, takes place on Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Activation attendees will take over the hotel’s exclusive rooftop Beach bar to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages along with a live performance by recording artists from Elektra Entertainment Group. AIDS Walk sponsor Clear Channel Communications will also be on hand to deliver special items to all those who register or sign up for a team at the party.

The Activation party is a free event, open to all who wish to support AIDS Walk 2004. Participants will have the opportunity to win several prizes, including spa treatments, massages, concert tickets and more.

The 15th annual AIDS Walk/Run takes place Sunday, Sept. 26. Registration fees for both the run and walk is $20 per person, though participants are encouraged to raise as much money as possible. For more information contact Megan Blanek, AIDS Walk project manager, at (619) 291-WALK.

Mr. Ebony Universe Ronnie Miranda and Ladies Over Forty present the first annual Mr., Miss and Ms. Black Elite California Pageant on Aug. 14 and they are looking for contestants. Categories include presentation, swimwear, eveningwear, talent and question and answer. The pageant takes place at Elks Lodge #598, located at #6 Hensley in San Diego. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; show begins promptly at 8:00 p.m. Call Ronnie Miranda at (619) 808-3571 or email him at anothony12@yahoo.com for more information.

It’s here! The only live talk show dedicated to celebrating amazing women in the diverse LBT community. Once a month (second Wednesday unless otherwise noted) Coffee and Conversation With Cool Women features a different inspiring woman and gets to know her. This month’s special guest is Carolina Ramos, regional director of Bienestar Human Services. Marie from woman-owned coffee shop Sip This will provide complimentary coffee. Donations benefit the Women’s Resource Center. To find out more or to suggest a cool woman to profile, contact Claudia Lucero at (619) 692-2077 ext. 206.

This month’s program starts at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and will be held in the Women’s Resource Center at The Center.

Equality California (EQCA) invites the entire community to help with their new Family Media Project. EQCA is seeking out families to participate in creating a booklet of stories explaining why marriage access is important to kids; the stories will be shared with the public, elected officials and other fair-minded, non-gay people. EQCA is asking families and children to send letters explaining things that children of gay parents have said about the issue of same-sex marriage, including testimonials and drawings that depict the real life struggles and joy of their families.

Along with any poems, letters and drawings, EQCA is asking for a picture of the family to be included. For more information, contact Marina Gatto, intern coordinator for the EQCA Family Media Project, at marina@eqca.org.

The Center announced it is moving its North County location to Oceanside. The Center currently provides services two days a week in Oceanside and will move there full time beginning Sept. 1.

The Center’s Oceanside facility will be in the Being Alive North County Resource Center, located at 804 Pier View Way. This site will offer mental health services, meeting spaces for groups, the opportunity to connect with other GLBT people and resources and access to a range of HIV/AIDS services.

Volunteers will be needed for the Oceanside location. For more information on how to become a Center volunteer, contact Twyla Perry at (619) 692-2077 ext. 108.

In an effort to offer better healthcare to the San Diego community, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is opening a low-cost community acupuncture clinic Sept. 9.

The community clinic will conduct treatments in a group setting and will focus on specific disorders, such as back pain, headache and asthma. The community clinic will be available to local businesses, employees of local companies and those who have few affordable health resources available to them.

The community acupuncture clinic will take place every Thursday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the college’s Mission Valley campus. The cost for appointments will be approximately $15 per treatment.

For more information about Pacific College’s new clinic or to make an appointment, call (619) 574-6932.

Family Health Centers of San Diego is having an open call for its “HIV Stops With Me” campaign. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and to acknowledge the powerful role that people who are positive have in ending the epidemic. It does this by featuring HIV-positive individuals talking about important issues. The campaign deals directly with sex and condom use, and raises important themes such as responsibility, communication and disclosure of status. Family Health Centers is currently seeking HIV-positive Latino gay males to join the endeavor. If you or anyone you may know would like to take part, contact Felipe Garcia at (619) 515-2447.