San Diego is celebrating its annual Fleet Week, where our city celebrates and honors the patriotism and service of our local military men and women… many who are gay, lesbian and bisexual… many who are serving in Iraq… let us keep them all in our prayers.

These are serious times for our City of San Diego…. Never in the history of our city have we been in such a financial crisis. And while, yes, gay marriage, riding in our annual Pride parade, etc., are important to our community, I believe that the most important priority for all San Diegans is to elect a mayor who will stop having so many “closed-session meetings.” All three candidates have supporters in our community with now Ron Roberts and Donna Frye garnering a majority of GLBT support… vote for the most qualified candidate, who you believe will put San Diego back on the right track.

The first annual Gay & Lesbian Times Holiday Guide will be coming out Nov.18. It will be stuffed with fun and useful information to make YOUR holidays merry! Our annual gift guide will be spotlighting products and services. To place an ad, call (619) 299-6397.

This past weekend, Big Mike and I stopped by the Little Italy Festival, and what a great and fun event. Especially the annual street mural paintings… such beautiful canvasses on the street. The smell of every type of Italian food filled the air and special entertainment included singer Frankie Avalon. I stopped by the historic Our Lady of Rosary Catholic Church, which was built in 1925 for the spiritual welfare of the Italian immigrants of San Diego… built in the Romantic-Genovese style, this church is very historic, with unbelievable large oil paintings by a well-known Venetian artist.

It was a great turnout for the GLBT reception for city council candidate (District 4) Tony Young at the beautiful home of prominent attorney Bruce Abrams. Many business people and community leaders were in attendance, including the new owner of Bourbon Street, Michael Weiss and his partner, Michael.

Tony Young is a former school teacher and counselor for abused children, and currently chief of staff in the District 4 office. Tony has received the endorsement of the mother and wife of the late, popular Councilmember Charles Lewis. The frontrunners in this eight-candidate race are the Rev. George Stevens, Dwayne Crenshaw and Tony Young. The special election will be Nov. 16.

It never ceases to amaze me how so many restaurants constantly give back to our community… time after time when they’re asked to donate and cater benefits, charity and AIDS fundraisers… and especially during this political season when countless fundraisers are being held for pro-gay candidates. We appreciate every restaurant who donates, especially the following, who always say yes and always donate: Hamburger Mary’s, Ono Sushi, The Abbey, Margarita’s and Taste of Szechuan… please support these restaurants who support your community… Thank you.

One of San Diego’s most popular and nicest bar owners in town is the one and only “Joe of Flicks”…. And its not every day that one celebrates his 65th birthday, so Nigel, Matt, the Flicks staff and I will be throwing a big 65th birthday blowout next Thursday, Oct. 21 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Flicks, and you’re all invited…. There will be special surprises, a buffet by Baja Fresh and lots of fun…. In lieu of gifts, the ever community-focused Joe has asked people to bring canned goods or a donation for the Grocery Hearts campaign, where 100 percent of everything goes to buy food for Mama’s Food Pantry…. See you all at Flicks next Thursday.

This Thursday, Oct. 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. will be the fifth annual Harvest Fest that yearly benefits Home Start, an outstanding organization that since 1972 has been devoted to preventing child abuse and family violence. Your host will once again be Big Mike, with special emcee, the very handsome and popular KSWB TV anchorman Dave Carlin…. There will be beer tasting, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and live entertainment, all at Bourbon Street…. See you all there.

This coming Monday, Oct. 18, is the last day that you will be able to register to vote for the upcoming Nov. 2 election…. Please, please register to vote and get everyone you know to register… thanks!

Congratulations to Mike Rocklin and his hard-working staff at the Lumberjack Grille on their first anniversary of providing great food! As a way to say thanks for all the great support they receive from the community, the weekend of Oct. 15-17 will be a bonanza of specials! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there’s reduced prices on imported and domestic beer. Saturday and Sunday morning, enjoy $1 mimosas. For those with a healthy appetite, chow down on prime rib on Saturday and Ahi tuna steaks on Sunday. Come on into 3949 Ohio St. and celebrate like a lumberjack!

Also, congratulations to Rich’s on their 13th anniversary, which they celebrated last weekend by unveiling their new look and having Simone Denny and DJ Barry Harris perform. This Saturday, Rich’s hosts L.L. Bear – “beer, steers and queers” – don’t miss it!

Dance, be in a movie and get paid! Club Montage, in association with CBS and Stu Segal Productions, will have an open casting call this Saturday, Oct. 16, at Club Montage from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. They’re looking for 70 hot guys to be extras in the movie Dorothy Surrenders starring Diane Keaton. Come in and sign up this Saturday. Filming will take place at Club Montage on a future date.