Everyone is invited to the unveiling party for the new name for the restaurant formerly known as Margarita’s taking place Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the restaurant. Owners Chris Shaw and Doug Snyder celebrate their new name and recognize the grand prize winner.

Drink specials will be served and live entertainment begins after the winning name is announced at 6:00 p.m. The winner of the renaming contest will receive a drink named in their honor, a private party for 30 of their closest friends and a vacation for two to Puerto Vallarta.

More than 3,000 people called the restaurant names during the month of September. The name change was initiated by the Hamburger Mary’s franchise, which felt the names were too similar, but will not reflect a change in management, ownership, menu, prices or decor.

The newly named Mexican food restaurant and margarita bar is located at 1421 University Ave. Call (619) 269-8510 for more information.

The Center’s annual Halloween street party takes place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Normal Street between University and Blaine in Hillcrest. A $5 donation at the gate supports The Center’s programs. With over $1,000 in cash and prizes for costumes, live entertainment, a beer garden and go-go dancers, the event is always a treat. Contact Summer Morse at (619) 692-2077 ext. 247, or via email at smorse@thecentersd.org for more information.

To celebrate Halloween this year, the Kensington Talmadge Business Association (KTBA), a nonprofit community group, will be holding a Halloween Safe Night Out for all of the little “Trick-or-Treaters” in the community. Halloween night, Sunday, Oct. 31, and the week leading up to the big holiday, businesses throughout Kensington will be handing out treats from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Look for the participating-member pumpkin in the window of all participating businesses in Kensington.

November 5-8, the hills of Julian become the weekend home for 120 gay, bisexual and transgender men desiring an alternative to the “gay scene.” The California Men’s Gathering (CMG) began in 1978 in Northern California as an annual event, and has blossomed over the years to become three events: a spring gathering in Malibu, a summer gathering in Santa Rosa and a fall gathering in Julian. The CMG is now also a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is totally run by volunteers.

The weekends are a collection of community gatherings, workshops covering everything from creating art to deep personal growth, and social events such as a dance and a talent show.

For more information about CMG, call the 24-hour hotline at (619) 491-3949. Registration for the fall gathering is now open.

A celebration of life will be held for Imperial Court member Satin Styles on Nov. 7 at 3:00 p.m. at The Center. The celebration will be followed by a Tribute to Satin show; her mother, Mama Wheels, has asked that it be done in Satin’s style, and is encouraging guests to dress in bright colors and come with big hair. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to the Queen Eddie Youth Fund.

For more information contact Linda Childers at (619) 303-2384.

We Advocate Gender Equity (WAGE) hosts its fall meeting on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Malcolm X Library located at 5148 Market St. The morning session, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, will be open to WAGE members and invited guests only. A suggested $5 donation will cover the cost of the morning and afternoon session. There will be a lunch buffet held from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. and the cost is $10 per person. Mark D Allenyne, Ph.D., associated director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center, will give a keynote address on “Gender, Race and the Power of Myth in Higher Education” at the luncheon.

The afternoon session is open to the public and a $5 donation is requested from those who did not attend the morning session. The afternoon session will include a panel discussion on “The Impact of Gender and Race on the Evaluation of Women in Higher Education” with representatives from education and legal fields as well as the NAACP and NOW.

The WAGE Fall 2004 meeting is co-sponsored by the San Diego Branch NAACP, Malcolm X Library, NOW@SDSU and the Pat Washington Support Committee. For more information or to RSVP for the luncheon contact Pat Washington at (619) 582-5383.

Linda Martinez, 50, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in counseling, has launched a rare healthcare survey of aging lesbians. The survey, part of her current master’s thesis in a nurse practitioner’s program, runs through December.

Few healthcare studies of older lesbians exist because they remain one of the most closeted groups of individuals, according to some reports. The largest study to date of lesbians and women over 45 was conducted with only 100 women over the age of 60 in 1986.

Martinez hopes to exceed the number in the1986 survey and create a larger study of aging lesbian healthcare needs with the help of community groups, encouraging open attitudes and by using the Internet as part of the academic research.

Surveys are anonymous. For more information, call (770) 953-3154 or send for a survey copy: ASU Department of Nursing, Attn: Dr. Marianne McCarthy (women’s survey), P.O. Box 872602. Tempe, AZ 85287. You will not be asked to identify yourself.

HIV-positive youth are encouraged to attend the 12th annual Ryan White National Youth Conference on HIV and AIDS (RWNYC) in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 19-21. RWNYC is the only national conference dedicated to building the HIV prevention and advocacy skills of young people living with HIV, peer educators and activists, as well as adults who work in support of young people. Conference participants will attend workshops highlighting programs and intervention, providing comprehensive, youth appropriate services for those at risk for HIV and for those who are living with it. RWNYC is an opportunity to learn about what works, share challenges and successes, and network with others who seek to end the AIDS crisis for America’s youth.

The Positive Youth Institute is a daylong conference for HIV-positive youth on Feb. 18, the day before the conference begins. The institute is led by HIV-positive staff from the National Association of People with AIDS and is designed to build leadership and advocacy skills among young people living with HIV. The goals of the institute are to build a sense of self-awareness, to foster a connection with other HIV-positive young people and to lessen the feelings of isolation. There are no additional fees for RWNYC participants who attend the Positive Youth Institute. For more information, call (202) 898-0414.

Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit meal delivery service dedicated to providing nutritious meals 365 days a year to San Diegans affected by AIDS, is hosting its 13th annual Tree of Life Tree Lighting Ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hillcrest Retail Center located at 3965 Fifth Ave. The candlelight vigil honors those who have lost their life to AIDS and gives strength and hope to those currently affected. Personalized ornaments commemorating loved ones will be displayed throughout the month of December, and can be purchased for $10 each or two for $15 at the tree lighting ceremony or through Mama’s Kitchen. The event is free and open to the public. All proceeds benefit the clients of Mama’s Kitchen. Call (619) 233-MAMA (6262) for more information.

Tuesday bingo at The Center

On bingo nights, the doors of the auditorium at The Center open at 6:15 p.m. and the first game starts at 7:00 p.m. Admission for 10 games is $10 for a six-card game pad. Additional pads can be purchased for $5 each. Prizes for the first nine games are $50 and the last game played is $100.

There is also a Door Prize Dash, where 10 lucky attendees can win non-cash prizes, from free bingo games to items donated by various bingo sponsor merchants in the community.

Bingo at The Center is a seven-year tradition. During that time, bingo has raised over $100,000 for The Center and its programs. Bingo would not be possible without the weekly dedication of bingo volunteers. Volunteer responsibilities include auditorium set-up, entrance sales, pull-tab sales, extra game/money ball sales, calling games, cafe duty, verifying winners, collecting winners’ signatures and delivering their prize money. The bingo crew welcomes new volunteers and enjoys the camaraderie of working together each week.

Call The Center at (619) 692-2077 ext. 247 for more information.