Our annual City Fest will be held once again this Sunday and though Hillcrest is considered the heart of the GLBT community, let us not forget that we are indeed everywhere, from the South Bay to North County… in every neighborhood… especially Azalea Park. I just love these people!

Wow! What a weekend… it started for me with a pre-Pride party at the beautiful home of Bill Beck and David Huskey, and just about everyone was there… My mom and brother came into town Friday afternoon and checked in at the Prava Hotel in the Gaslamp… My mom and brother then had lunch at Antico Toscano and they both loved this Italian cuisine. We arrived late to the annual Stonewall Rally in Balboa Park, where all the outpouring of kindness and love started by so many of you to my mother, from Mayor Dick Murphy, Councilmember Brian Maienschein and Assemblymember Chris Kehoe to total complete strangers… it very much touched her and especially me, all of your kind words and making her feel so welcomed. I do urge the Pride board to cut speakers down to about three, and some of the introductions to the speakers were just too long. Our keynote speaker while she was on this day OK and gave about an average speech… at this, our 30th anniversary, Chris Kehoe would have made a far better keynote speaker. But we all should be proud that San Diego is one of the very few cities in the nation that still has these important rallies. What can I say about the parade … I was, yes, humbled to be named grand marshal, but even more so by the outpouring of affection to my mom and I during the parade… I’ll never forget it. To see Bill and David holding a sign that said, “We love Nicole and Mom too” touched me deeply. After the parade and feeling very tired, my mom and I took very long naps… Later I had dinner at California Cuisine with my pal, Atty. Bruce Abrahms, who gave me a complete rundown on his trip to Boston and the Democratic National Convention. Sunday, I walked the whole festival ground with State Assembly candidate Tricia Hunter, who got a really great response from everyone (she stayed until closing even though she was exhausted from riding in the parade). It was good to see our former and current police chiefs in the parade as well as Congressmember Susan Davis, State Assembly candidates Lori Saldana and Patty Davis, Chris and Toni of course. San Diego City Council candidate Phil Thalheimer, State Senator Dede Alpert and Tricia Hunter all rode in their vehicles, too. This year’s media coverage was very good, with a lot of focus on our GLBT voter registration drive (great job, Frank Sabatini, Jr.). This was one of our best Prides ever with over 185,000 people participating during our Pride weekend. Bravo to the outstanding job of the Pride staff, including Suanne Pauley, Terry Bishop, Jerry Garrett, Cindy Uybungro, Denise Kreeps and all of the hundreds of volunteers. Also, bravo to the entire Pride board, including co-chairs Joe Mayer and Debra Self… and you should all thank these people, too.

One last message to our hard working Pride board… please invest some money for a professional and complete study on the financial impact GLBT Pride makes on the City of San Diego… this is long overdue and very important and will return money and more sponsorships back for future Prides… thank you.

While I have seen and read countless business directories and guides all over the United States during my travels… finally there is one that I read front to cover in one sitting… it’s the HillQuest Urban Guide and it’s outstanding. It includes fold-out maps, historical milestones and profiles… neighborhood walks, local fun trivia, everything you want to know about Balboa Park and other popular spots and a complete guide to where to shop and eat in Hillcrest… No wonder the owners of HillQuest Urban Guide were voted “Outstanding Businesswomen” last year. Congratulations on a great guide, Ann Garwood and Nancy Moors… and just please a constructive and positively given suggestion to our GSDBA directory – why not make some changes and additions in your popular directory including the history, as I suggested some columns ago.

For the first time in 30 years, our community has come together on a major voter registration drive…under the umbrella of our Center, it’s called LGBT San Diego Delivers the Vote!. Among the many organizations behind this most important campaign are the San Diego Democratic Club, GLBT Vote 2004, Log Cabin Republicans, Equality California, the Victory Fund and many more. So take the “pledge” to vote on Nov. 2… it was great to see so many people lining up to register to vote during this Pride weekend… this coming election will be the most important election of our lives… please register to vote. Call (619) 692-2077 ext. 212 for more information, or stop by The Center and sign a pledge card.

Thirty-three years ago, popular businessman Darl Edwards founded the Imperial Court de San Diego – in three decades now, the Imperial Court has raised over $2 million, with this year’s XXXII Reign giving out $85,000 in community grants. So please come by and show your appreciation by attending this Saturday’s (Aug. 7) Coronation Ball, “A Military Affair”, at the beautiful Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel at 7:00 p.m. give your thanks to Emperor Robi, Empress Cristina, the XXXII Court, board president Linda Childers and all the board members of the Imperial Court for an outstanding reign. We hope to see you all there… for tickets, tables and info: (619) 303-2384.

After many years, the Mustang Spa is closing, as their lease was not released by the owners of the building… to be honest, the place had gone down and wasn’t considered the cleanest place in town. Sad to say that the owners of the Mustang Spa in well over a decade hardly every made any financial contributions to AIDS agencies or GLBT causes.

What a difference a new owner can make! Popular and well-known San Diego and Palm Springs businessman Bob Smith has been given the lease to the spa and will open the new 2200 Club (2200 University Ave.). Smith will be remodeling and cleaning up the place to its old spotless self… as for that Olympic-size pool, it will be replaced with new rooms and suites. Bob Smith is well known in San Diego, having several businesses including the Ball Express, the biggest San Diego disco in the 1970s. In Palm Springs, Smith also owned the biggest resort in the desert and the biggest dance club, Choices. Bob Smith also has a well-earned reputation for always making big financial contributions to our Center and AIDS causes and also in Palm Springs… Smith has been honored with community service awards in both cities.

Saturday, Aug. 7: The 33rd annual Imperial Court Coronation Ball at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel at 7:00 p.m. Info: (619) 692-1967.

Sunday, Aug. 8: City Fest 2004 in the heart of Hillcrest, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 19: Dine Out for Equality at participating restaurants.

Saturday, Aug. 21: Ebony Pride, from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 22: Gay Day in South Bay, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Heritage Park. Info: Family Matters, (619) 298-5431.

Tuesday, Aug. 22: GLBT reception for Tricia Hunter for State Assembly at 5:30 p.m. Info: (619) 303-2384.

Thursday, Aug. 26: Bourbon & Blue Velvet annual Mama’s Kitchen tasting event at Bourbon Street from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Info: (619) 233-6262.

Be sure to attend the official campaign kickoff for our next state senator, Christine Kehoe, taking place this Saturday, Aug. 7, at her headquarters located at 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 101 (just west of Highway 163). For more info: (858) 715-1830… everyone is invited!

On the first three Fridays in August – Aug. 6, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 – Ashley Matte will perform at Bourbon Street from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lauded by critics as a cross between Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan, Matte has just released her new album, Colors. Check her out this Friday!