Make your plans today for the upcoming Hillcrest Mardi Gras… always a fun and outrageous event on Fat Tuesday – and this time there will be no rides!

The world is rightfully mourning the loss of this great lady, great civil rights leader and world-peace advocate. This was a great loss for the GLBT community as well, because for decades Ms. King has spoken out for full GLBT equality. She has supported us and stood shoulder to shoulder with us when other civil rights leaders have refused to. I had the great honor of meeting and talking to Ms. King about three times over these last 40 years, and I always found her to be so gracious, genuine and kind… so very articulate and moving. I know she has joined her husband in heaven. I thank God for giving her to this world of ours.

The Live and Let Live Alano Club’s third annual gala dinner was a smashing success, with fabulous food (Chef Axel, you’re outstanding and should be on the “Iron Chef America” show!), as well as great auction items and top-notch entertainment performed by local rising star Chuck Rite. The mistress of ceremonies was the very beautiful and fun Mrs. Gail Stewart, who brought along her handsome husband. Gail’s outfit, by the way, was gorgeous.

Hats off to the dinner’s co-chairs, Carla Coshow and Andrew Galligan. I remember when I helped start the first Alano dinner, and it’s great to see how far it has come.

Our popular District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was well received, and looked smashing! Congratulations to the well-deserved honorees: Cheryl Houk, Kustom Bookkeeping and our very own Gay & Lesbian Times publisher Michael Portantino. All three have supported the GLBT recovery community for decades. A big bravo to Bill Hardt and Quantum Productions/Powerhouse Productions, who did an unbelievable job of turning The Center’s auditorium into a La Jolla hotel ballroom. It looked awesome. Great job also to Eric Samuelson and the loveable Wayne Back. A big thank you to the hard-working volunteers, and thank you especially to everyone at the Alano Club for 22 years of changing and saving lives.

You know, I get pretty tired of reading these stupid letters (last week it was Jim Chambers’ turn) from individuals who can’t stand me or my column, and write in to complain and call it (and me) every name in the book.

Listen, you idiots, don’t read my column if you don’t like it. Turn the page. Use my column for toilet paper for all I care. Yes, I’m controversial; yes, I have a healthy ego; yes, at times I’m self-serving – but isn’t it strange that for over 35 years I’ve been an award-winning columnist in this community, and GLBT surveys prove that I am one of the most read columnists in the city? I don’t expect you to agree with my opinions, and I don’t mind letters to the editor that express a different opinion, but my column is entitled “Conversations with Nicole,” so just hang up if you don’t like the conversation or who is doing the talking.

But the truth is, love me or hate me, you can’t stop reading this old queen’s column. Maybe some of you should form a recovery/support group to help stop your addiction to my column. Let me know and I’ll find a place for you to meet, and maybe hold a benefit for you!

Our beautiful and diverse GLBT community truly reflects a rainbow, and it’s good to hear about our GLBT Native American brothers and sisters re-establishing the local Nations of the Four Directions organization. Bravo to longtime activist Karen Vigneault for her leadership in helping this organization get back together. I urge all GLBT Native Americans to join and help build up this organization. For more information, e-mail kumeyaayindian@hotmail.com.

The annual Prince and Princess Royale Gala is coming up this Saturday night at The Center. It will be a night of fabulous entertainment (some performers from out of state) that will feature a catered buffet, all for $15 tickets (purchased in advance). The Imperial Court supports countless benefits every year, so now is your chance to support the court in return. I hope to see many of the people and organizations the Imperial Court supports at this event on Saturday night.

Prince Royale Adrian Rodriguez and Princess Royale Regina Styles will regally step down on Saturday night. For more information or to purchase tickets, phone (619) 741-1042 or (619) 293-0162.

Trust me, Being Alive’s signature event, Soulplates, will become one of our community’s must-attend events. Mama’s Kitchen Executive Director Alberto Cortès and I had a great time at this second annual event, and the auction items were top notch – especially ones made by Elizabeth Taylor, Ellen DeGeneres, etc. The Balboa Park Club’s room, which looks like a huge, empty union hall, was turned into a beautiful, dark green garden. The event featured delicious hors d’oeuvres and a fresh-made carnitas taco station by Baja Betty’s.

Being Alive is in excellent hands with its executive director, Shannon Wagner, and its hard-working board of directors. This respected AIDS agency serves more than 3,000 San Diegans annually!

Soulplates is just a really wonderful event, and I urge all of you to mark next year’s event on your calendars.

She is beautiful, classy and one of the funniest comedians in the world. Yes, I’m talking about Kate Clinton, who I just love. She is on her 25th anniversary tour, which will hit 50 U.S. cities. Kate has received rave reviews from The New York Times, the Boston Herald and others.

Sherman Mendoza (of The Caliph) and I caught her show at the Lyceum Theatre after brunching at the Westgate Hotel. The fabulous San Diego Women’s Chorus sponsored the show, and Kate, as usual, had me laughing my ass off!

For four years now, Bourbon Street’s award-winning Fabulous Bingo has been a fun weekly happening every Wednesday night from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight. With color TVs, microwave ovens, CD/DVD players, cash and other prizes given away, it’s always a wild, fun and crazy night that features an insane, colorful host (hmm… who could that be?). So mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 22, when Bourbon Street will give away four $100 bills on four games throughout the night, with a lot more surprises and fun. Remember, there is never a cover charge and Bingo is free. One card per person – it’s not Barona, ya know!