Some of our community’s most prominent and outstanding citizens celebrate their birthdays this weekend: Al Best, our city’s first openly gay candidate for City Council; Craig Morgan, our community’s top auctioneer and fund-raiser; Rick Ford, businessperson and philanthropist; and Linda Childers, co-founder of the GLBT Community Children’s Easter Egg Hunt. These are four special people in our community, and I love them all. We are a better community because of them!

Longtime GLBT activist and civil rights pioneer Jeri Dilno will be inducted into our city’s prestigious Women’s Hall of Fame on March 25 at the University of California, San Diego. Not many lesbians from our community have received such recognition and high honor. (Last year, Jeri was inducted into the GLBT community Wall of Honor.) There will only be six women honored this year, among them Ashley Walker of the Human Relations Commission.

Congratulations, Jeri, on this well-deserved honor, and know that your community and city are proud of you!

This past Tuesday night, the historic home of Richard Fischer (which is one of the most beautiful estates in the city) was the site of a special reception in honor of Deputy District Attorney David Rubin, a leading candidate for Superior Court judge. Democrat and Republican movers and shakers packed the place, including Councilmember Toni Atkins, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, former Congressmember Lynn Schenk and numerous judges and civic leaders.

By the way, David Rubin will have the honor of throwing the first football for the opening of the American Flag Football League’s sports season this Saturday morning at San Diego City College.

You’re all invited to a GLBT luncheon in honor of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom next Thursday, March 23, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at Martinis Above Fourth. The handsome and bright mayor will be in town for only one day for the $500-a-plate luncheon, which will also be the official kick-off for the charter members of the Newsom Leadership Advisory Council. So make your reservations today to meet Newsom, a future governor or president! For more information, phone (415) 279-9042 or (619) 692-1967.

San Diego businessperson and philanthropist Rick Ford was honored by the GLBT community in Long Beach and proclaimed “honorary emperor of Long Beach” for founding San Diego’s Imperial Court over three decades ago. Almost 30 San Diegans traveled to Long Beach to witness the ceremony.

In Hollywood, Rick Ford was honored with the GayVN’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. J.C. Adams wrote of Rick Ford in Gay Chicago Magazine: “The publicity-shy mogul was convinced to attend the show and receive his award in person, itself a remarkable achievement. His presence at the podium actually caused some carousing partiers who had abandoned the awards presentation to temporarily pause in their revelry and gawk at the famed producer.”

Over the years, Rick Ford has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to countless San Diego GLBT organizations, AIDS and cancer causes and civil rights campaigns, etc., and is past Emperor de San Diego. He so richly deserves all the recognition he receives, and not only do we offer our congratulations, we also wish him a happy birthday, which Rick celebrates this weekend.

San Diego’s oldest and longest-running GLBT publication, Update, will celebrate its 27th anniversary this Saturday, March 18, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at The Center. This should be another packed community event, with great hors d’oeuvres provided by some of our city’s top restaurants. Update will also hand out their annual Crystal Heart Awards. As a former writer for Update and a fan of the publication, I offer my congratulations to publisher Tom Ellerbrock and editor Erik Siwak, as well as to Ren Petty, Jennifer Bandrup, Tzarina Norman and the entire Update staff. See you all on Saturday!

Mark your calendars for the top-notch, fun “Spring Fashion Show 2006” produced by the famed Runaway Brandit, Inc. at the Abbey on Sunday, March 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will include a champagne brunch, an art auction and a classy fashion show directed by the one and only Angelo Coronell, with Q Television star Honey Labrador appearing as a special guest. This should be the event of the season, and it’s all to benefit our community’s Family Matters. Get your tickets today.

For further information on this men’s and women’s fashion show (with hot models, of course), contact (619) 298-5431 or visit www.runawaybrandit.com.

Saigon on Fifth (located at 3900 Fifth Ave.) has instantly become one of Southern California’s most beautiful and classy restaurants. They serve the finest Vietnamese cuisine I’ve ever tasted.

I went to a private pre-tasting this week along with Tom Felkner and Bob Lehman, and, boy, were we wowed. Saigon on Fifth is absolutely beautiful, and will most likely win awards for its food, its interior and its beauty.

I highly recommend the 360 Degrees Beef or their Coconut Shrimp, which is actually baked and then served in a fresh, whole coconut! Their Orange Duck is to die for, and their Imperial Rolls are the best in the city. The entire lunch and dinner menu is world class – I’ve found a permanent home and so will all lovers of top Asian cuisine.

Stop by Saigon on Fifth before the whole town finds out about this place, as this will most certainly be rated a five-star restaurant. There is free underground parking. Take your taste buds on a great adventure they’ll never forget!

Time is ticking away and soon Easter will be upon us, which brings the fourth annual GLBT Community Children’s Easter Egg Hunt to Trolley Barn Park on Easter Sunday. With 400 children attending last year, there is great need for community support for this year’s event. Organizers need Easter baskets, stuffed bunnies, toys, etc. – you can buy them at places like Rite Aid and Longs Drugs. Please help out. You can drop your donations off at The Center. Phone (619) 692-1967 for more information. Thank you!

The 2006 San Diego American Flag Football League will host its official kick-off party this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 17-19, full of fun events, ceremonies and games. Don’t miss the Flicks party on Saturday night from 9:00 p.m. to close. There will be $300 in cash prizes for the winners of the Wet Underwear Contest and Best Butt Contest, both of which are open to both the football players and bar patrons! See you there!