Don’t forget to get your tickets today for the upcoming “Springtime in Paradise,” taking place May 21 at the Shelter Pointe Hotel & Marina on San Diego bay. It is always a must-go-to, spectacular evening. For information, call (619) 291-3383.

The entire community is invited to San Diego’s gay Academy Awards show, yes, the annual Nicky Awards, taking place this coming Sunday night, May 15, at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel at 7:00 p.m. sharp. … Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and this will be an unbelievable night of entertainment and excitement, including one of the nation’s top comedians and a well-known dance troupe…. The set alone looks like it came right from the Oscars, and it promises to be a night no one will forget. Producer Jess San Roque and his committee have done an outstanding job, with many surprises and a red-carpet welcome. This annual community benefit has become bigger and better every year…. Get your tickets today by calling (619) 229-2822 or (619) 692-1967. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door ($80 VIP)…. See you at the Nicky Awards this Sunday night!

I completely agree with last week’s editorial by Gay & Lesbian Times Editor Russell O’Brien that this upcoming mayor’s election is one of the most important in our city’s history, and that the GLBT community and all citizens must vote for the best-qualified candidate regardless of whether he or she is a Republican or a Democrat…. We need a leader, and a smart financial individual to try to get us out of this mess. City funding of many important services are being cut…. For us GLBT voters, the top issue should not be gay marriage, but for every San Diegan, it must be voting for the right person for the job….

Let me make it very clear that I am not saying we should support a conservative, anti-gay candidate… but they do not have to be 100-percent right on all our GLBT issues…. The good news is that the top candidates thus far are supportive of our community.

All of San Diego’s GLBT Latinos are invited to a community town hall meeting taking place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, to plan this year’s Latin Pride festival. The meeting takes place at the Centro Cultural de la Raza, located at 2125 Park Blvd.

For more information, phone Franko at (619) 294-8430, or Carolina at (619) 692-2077 ext. 116…. I urge all Latinos to come and participate, and let your ideas and voices be heard!

The monthly meeting of the Log Cabin Republicans San Diego, whose membership are members of our GLBT community, takes place at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23, at The Abbey Café, located at 127 University Ave. All interested Republicans are invited. The guest speaker at last month’s meeting was District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. I have been asked to be this month’s speaker, and I am honored to do so…. I hope to see many of my Republican friends in attendance.

The Caliph, one of San Diego’s most popular entertainment/cocktail bars, is having a really fun and outrageous comedy night on May 14, with top comedian Retha Jones getting top billing and another great comedian as her opening act…. Don L. will play after their performance. Admission is free before 8:00 p.m., and only $5 after. Call (619) 298-9495 for more information.

Trust me when I say that House of Stapleton, located on the top floor of Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego, is an exciting adventure of antiques, art, furniture, etc., and they are going out of business and have cut their prices to almost nothing…. We are talking about unbelievable collection piles…. Get there as soon as you can, as it’s closing in a few weeks. Phone (619) 239-1707 for more information.

Hey, if you’re 21 to 61 years old, why not enter Body Idol, which begins every Friday night at 11:00 p.m. at Bacchus House! The winner receives $175 – the biggest cash prize for a go-go contest in all Southern California, sponsored by Bacardi, with co-sponsors Tan Line, Urban Body Gym and Salon Belle Jour…. In all, it’s $730 in cash and prizes every Friday night for the winner and two runner-ups. For more information, visit this column online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to Bacchus House’s Web site.

Flicks is looking for couples to participate in a stage version of “The Newlywed Game.” Couples will compete with other couples by answering questions about each other for a special prize package. Couples need to have been dating at least a month and up to four years (they also need to be at least 21). Winning couples will compete in the finals for a grand-prize vacation. Competition starts on Tuesday, May 17, and will run every other week. Interested couples should contact Nigel at (619) 297-2056.

Yes, ReBar is still open and the crowds are coming back. This great space with hot guys, leather daddies, pretty boys and a mix of everyone is still hosting its popular backrooms, plays great music, and is throwing a customer appreciation night on Friday, May 20, with giveaways, pizza, cheap drinks and a DJ.