Don’t forget to volunteer now for the upcoming primary election… a most important election to volunteer for progressive candidates.

In the last few years, Hillcrest Mardi Gras has been a good time, but this year, for the first time, it had the feel of a true Mardi Gras celebration. This year’s festival was the best ever. I had only planned to drop by, but I ended up staying two hours with Bob Lehman.

The talk of this year’s event was the huge Ferris wheel and the All Worlds dancer who got everyone’s attention with that humongous beer can… hmm.

The food was fabulous and the entertainment was top notch. The festival grounds were laid out perfectly, and the VIP tent was fabulous. Everything about this year’s festival was outstanding, with big crowds, lots of eye candy, great costumes and just plain wild fun. Hillcrest Mardi Gras can only get bigger, better and more wild. Congratulations to everyone involved, and also to all the volunteers. I can’t wait ’til next year!

Our leading candidate for Superior Court judge, David Rubin, is having a fund-raising reception next Tuesday, March 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the beautiful home of Richard Fischer. Let’s all support and vote for David Rubin for judge! For more information about the March 14 fund-raiser, call (619) 233-3085.

I headed to Tom Felkner and Bob Lehman’s home for a special Oscar party, and had a great time. I loved this year’s Oscars, and I thought host Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” was one of the best ever, with those clever clips stealing the show.

While I was disappointed that Brokeback Mountain didn’t win Best Picture, Crash, which is about racism, is another great “message movie.”

Best Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman was indeed Capote onscreen, and gave the best performance.

Finally, director Ang Lee mentioned the word “gay” in his acceptance speech. Brokeback Mountain winning the Oscar for Best Original Score was well deserved, as the movie score, written by a Latino man (Gustavo Santaolalla), is absolutely beautiful.

Now, as for Best Original Song going to “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”… I love rap, but this song was, to me, not as worthy of the Oscar win as Dolly Parton’s “Travelin’ Thru.” But I did think Eminem deserved to win last year.

All in all, it was a most entertaining event, and Brokeback Mountain was a winner in so many ways just by being made, and getting awards and global attention.

Plans are now underway for the 30th anniversary celebration of San Diego’s gay Academy Awards, the Nicky Awards. Plans are in the works to make the evening more fun, and have less speeches and politics, etc. So stay tuned for more information on the upcoming Nickys.

Everyone is talking about an exciting new exotic restaurant coming to our community. LEI will be opening soon right next door to Bourbon Street. The owners are the Weiss brothers and Michael Mack.

I recently had a tour of this new place and a peek at the menu, and I will be giving you a full report in my next column. But trust me, this restaurant will be like something San Diego has never seen. It will be the talk of the town. Stay tuned for next week’s column, where I’ll give you a preview of LEI.

You’re all invited to a special San Diego GLBT luncheon for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, March 23, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at Martinis Above Fourth. Admission is $500 per person, and this is your chance to meet and get a picture with a future governor, U.S. senator or president! You’re all invited, so call (619) 318-9220 and make your reservation today! Seating is limited.

Join Frank Marquez, wine columnist for the Gay & Lesbian Times, and other industry experts for an evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres to benefit the Youth Housing Project on Monday, March 20, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Crush wine bar (located at 530 University Ave.). The Youth Housing Project is a 23-unit transitional housing facility designed to stabilize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and HIV-positive youth, which aims to help these 18-24 year-old youth successfully transition from homelessness.

All proceeds from the March 20 event will benefit the Youth Housing Project, so come on by to sample a variety of excellent wines and munch on Crush’s fabulous appetizers. Admission is a minimum donation of $30 per person. The Imperial Court de San Diego has signed on as a $500 sponsor of the event already! Call (619) 331-7103 or e-mail editor@uptownpub.com for more information.