Join the Gay & Lesbian Times and Rocket magazine for an evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres with Frank the wine guy on Monday, March 20, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Crush wine bar.

Let Frank Marquez, wine columnist for the Gay & Lesbian Times, and other industry experts teach you about the fine wines you’re drinking, and enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Crush – all to benefit the Youth Housing Project, a 23-unit transitional housing facility designed to stabilize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and HIV-positive youth.

The Youth Housing Project is a collaboration of The Center, Walden Family Services, YMCA Youth and Family Services, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego and Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center. The project aims to help GLBT, questioning and HIV-positive 18-24 year-old youth successfully transition from homelessness.

The facility has already opened its doors to these youth, and will officially open in the spring.

All proceeds benefit the Youth Housing Project. Admission is a minimum donation of $30. Participating wineries include Toad Hollow Vineyards, Rancho Zabaco, Tobin James Cellars and Purple Wine Company. Adventures in Wine will provide several mixed cases.

Crush is located at 530 University Ave. in Hillcrest. Call (619) 331-7103 or e-mail editor@uptownpub.com for more information.

Mark Davis passed away Monday at San Diego Hospice after surviving more than 20 years with HIV. He was 43.

Davis was born in San Rafael and grew up in Grass Valley, where his family still resides. He is survived by his parents, Patricia and Irwin, his sister, Terry, her husband, David Lavagnino, and his nieces, Briana and Janae.

Davis graduated from Nevada Union High School and went on to University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he received a football scholarship. He subsequently attended San Diego State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Davis had many careers, but felt that contributing to his community was most important. He worked with AIDS Project L.A., Special Delivery, PAWS, HNRC, AA’s central office and Stepping Stone. He volunteered in many ways for these organizations, and walked and rode in multiple fund-raising events to assist those struggling with AIDS and addiction.

Davis’ sobriety date, Nov. 25, was more important to him than his birthday. Having had almost 10 substance-free years, Davis had this to say: “I express my eternal thanks to the program and fellowship of AA for not only giving me my life back, but more so for providing me with a life that I could not have even imagined in my wildest dreams. May [this] stand as proof that the steps of AA do work.”

Davis wanted to express his thanks: “My deepest thanks to Midtown Church … for providing a safe space for me to seek out my own God and spiritual path. Thank you God, that God within, within me and within every living, breathing entity, that has empowered me through the successes and setbacks of my life. I rest having peacefully achieved the ultimate surrender to the next level.”

Davis demonstrated to all of us the courage and strength to handle the many challenges that life brings our way. He is now – and will always be – an inspiration to those who knew him, the people he sponsored, his family and, most of all, his friends.

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Davis on Sunday, March 19, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Midtown Church in Hillcrest. The Rev. Angela Geary will preside over the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, Davis requested donations be made to Special Delivery, located at 4021 Goldfinch St., San Diego, Calif. 92103.

More than 100 wig-clad women and men will celebrate life and hair at Hotel Solamar on Saturday, March 18, to raise money for the BCause Fund at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation. Wigfest ’06 is a fund-raiser for the BCause Fund, which strives to reduce the incidence of breast cancer among lesbians and others in the GLBT community by providing grants for programs that educate, raise awareness and provide support to those in need.

“There’s something about wearing a wig that brings people out of their shells,” said Peggy Walkush, one of the BCause Fund founders and a breast cancer survivor. “We witnessed this effect last year as party-goers danced full throttle until the DJ stopped.”

Wigfest attendees wear wigs in honor of those who have lost their hair during chemotherapy.

The first Wigfest took place in October 2003 as an end-of-treatment celebration for Walkush’s family and friends. “I figured if I had to wear a wig for six months, my friends and family could wear one for one night,” Walkush said.

In late 2004, Walkush and her partner, Jan Tisdale, along with several other women formed the BCause Fund at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.

“Evidence suggests that lesbians are at higher risk for breast cancer than heterosexual women due to higher rates of risk factors such as obesity, alcohol consumption, nulliparity [having never given birth],” said Walkush. “Our goal in creating the BCause Fund was to provide grants for programs targeting lesbians and the rest of LGBT community to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in our community and help ensure early detection, which greatly improves survival rates.”

The fund currently has a balance of over $12,000 and will be making its first grants this fall for breast cancer awareness and support programs aimed at the GLBT community. Wigfest raised $5,000 for the fund last year, and organizers are predicting this year’s Wigfest will raise close to $10,000.

The event takes place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Hotel Solamar, located at 435 Sixth Ave. downtown. The evening includes dancing, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and prizes for the best wigs. Tickets are $65 per person in advance and $80 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sdhdf.org or contact Alex Sanchez at (619) 291-3383 or alex@sdhdf.org.

The fourth annual California Walk for Recovery takes place Sunday, March 26. The event is a 3-mile walk benefiting dozens of mental health organizations and alcohol and drug rehab programs throughout Southern California.

Sponsored by Mental Health Systems Inc., the walk route will include entertainment stops featuring cultural and traditional music, marching bands, rock climbing, cheerleaders, bagpipes, fiestas, dancers, clowns and more.

Live bands, a community resource fair, celebrities and noted community leaders will participate in the festival, and over 10,000 walkers of all ages are expected.

The walk begins at 8:00 a.m. at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street. Adult registration is $25 and $15 for children. For more information or to register, call (858) 573-2600 or (866) 910-2600. Online registration is available at www.walkforrecovery.org and closes on March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Salon D’Esprit’s third salon-style fund-raising event, the theme of which is inspired by the performing arts, takes place Sunday, March 26. Guest speakers include theater critic and arts writer Pat Launer, actor and director Rosina Reynolds (who is directing Twilight of the Golds at Diversionary Theater, which runs from March 18 to April 9) and Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, founder of Moxie Theatre and director of Pulp!, a lesbian comedy appearing at Diversionary Theater from May 13 to June 11.

The event takes place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the home of Crystal Weathers and Susan Atkins, and is sponsored in collaboration with The Center. All guests are encouraged to join The Center by making a contribution of $35 or more. Door prizes are available for those who join The Center. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Women’s Resource Center. For more information, contact Jennifer Jones at (619) 692-2077 ext 204 or visit theatresalon.kintera.org to RSVP. Directions will be sent upon RSVP.

The Newsom Leadership Advisory Council will host a private lunch fund-raiser honoring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson on Thursday, March 23, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at Martinis Above Fourth. Join honorary chair and District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins with co-hosts City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, Robert Gleason, Ira Lechner, Kevin Tilden and City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez.

The suggested donation for the event is $500 per person. Personal, corporate or PAC contributions are accepted. Those who have previously donated $250 or more to Newsom for Mayor must subtract the amount given from the $750 limit to arrive at their ticket price for this event.

Martinis Above Fourth is located at 3940 Fourth Ave. RSVP to Mike Montgomery at (415) 279-9042 or mike.montgomery@-gmail.com.