Quick Clicks: February
This month, we celebrate Presidents, love and Black History. By all accounts, February is short (28 days,) sweet and to the point. Still, all around San Diego, there’s a plethora of new and exciting events and activities to quench both your social and intellectual gayborhoodian thirsts. Check out these Quick Click picks of the happenings that make February, well, fabulous!
Pearl Hotel's Dive-In Theater
Weekly – Wednesdays: San Diego’s ‘coolest’ movie experience, Dive-In Theater, happens at the chic boutique Pearl Hotel in Point Loma. The free, weekly cinema social features an eclectic selection of blockbusters, indie hits and film noir cult classics projected on a large 10’ x 13’ screen overlooking the hotel’s oyster-shaped courtyard pool and lounge. Enjoy food and drinks form the restaurant while lounging pool-side in a hammock. Or, grab a group (six or more) and reserve a cabana. 2/10 Can’t Buy Me Love – 2/17 Blades of Glory – 2/24 Romancing the Stone. Flicks begin at 8PM sharp and swimming is free (for hotel guests) or for Dive-In guests with a minimum one drink purchase.
Weekly – Saturdays: The divas deliver at Bourbon Street every Saturday at 8:30PM for the second weekly San Diego stop on their popular Dreamgirls Revue tour. Hysterical host Ladonna Monroe sets the tone for a night of fabulous and fierce drag performances from some sassy sistahs. No cover ever, but arrive early…the small space fills up fast.
Weekly – Sundays: Hip and handsome Billy Nordmeier (former GM of Universal) is debuting a new club night, Circuit Sundays, at the uber-swank downtown hot spot SideBar. Launching Valentine’s day, the weekly alternative night is being billed as the ‘other side of the Gaslamp’ where guests are invited to explore their inner-freak. Circuit Sundays will feature local and mainstream house music, edgy performance art and offerings from other like-minded partners. Whether you’re a voyeur, an exhibitionist or just plain curious…bring your dancing shoes and an open mind, because Sundays will never be the same again. 8PM-1:30AM
February 6 – Bears. Beats. Booze. Beads. Bacchus House’s popular Bear Night celebrates the short month, Nawlins-style, with a Mardi Gras-themed den of dancing complete with Go-Go Bears throwing beads and shakin’ booties. $5 cover and loads of drink and shot specials all night long.
February 7 – It’s Super Bowl, baby! And what better way to celebrate than with…sushi. Huh? WTF you say? But seriously, Chris St. Pierre and Bo Andras are hosting the Sushi Super Bowl party at Bamboo Lounge + Sushi Bar in Hillcrest. Something different that celebrates the diversity of football fans around the gayborhood. $8 bottomless mimosas, $15 bottomless sangrias, three (3) hand rolls or Happy Hour rolls for $12 and buy one-get one specialty sushi rolls all day. And, get in on the home run – I mean touch down – action with a free football pool featuring prizes from Pride Card partner businesses.
February 7 – Family Health Centers of San Diego recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day during Black History month with a health fair and testing event taking place in the Rite AID parking lot (1735 Euclid Avenue.) The day-long event, that includes free HIV testing, on-site support, information booths, giveaways and more, strives to raise awareness about the disproportionate rate of HIV infection in the African American community.
February 9 – Bamboo Lounge is at it again, this time playing host to Code Red! Join the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for their red-themed event to benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. Starting at 7PM, don your favorite red outfit and enjoy live entertainment, raffle prizes and both drink and food specials throughout the night.
February 9 – The gay & gay-friendly business and social networking group, Gentleman’s Martini Night, heads downtown for their latest soiree. Hosting the 6-9PM event is posh new Italian ristorante, BICE (pronounced bee-chay.) Mind your manners and leave the sneakers in the gym bag as GMN enforce some strict codes of conduct relative to their mission of providing gay men the means to access resources that facilitate their social and economic interests.
February 10 – All Things Royale is heading back to the Vin de Syrah Spirit + Wine Parlor wonderland for a special event benefiting San Diego’s Make A Wish Foundation. Impress the honey with some Valentine’s treats including men and women’s clothing, accessories, body products, photography, art, sweets and more. Doors open at 6PM for this free event, so arrive early and wind down with a #winewednesday glass of red or white, a complimentary massage and nibbles. All proceeds from purchases made go to help a child’s wish come true.
February 10 – With just one official event under its belt, IPlay4Charity has already amassed almost a cult-like following. And, its ingenious creation, thanks to the Pride Card’s Bo Andras and local good guy Daniel Crews, is proof that “coloring outside the lines,” is the best, most fun way to gain attention for worthy causes. The IP4C crew meets at Dave & Busters at 6:30PM on the second Wednesday of every month to play games and give back by pooling the tickets they acquire together at the end of the year and redeeming them for toys that are donated to Family Matters, Toys for Tots and other local children’s organizations.
February 14 – Wrestlers hit the mats for the San Diego Wresting Club’s Annual Freestyle Wrestling Tournament over the President’s Day Holiday Weekend. Stop in to the San Diego LGBT Community Center to see the local Bulldogs compete against teams from Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and New York. Admission is $5 and the sweating commences at 1PM.
February 16 – There may be a grand party in the Gaslamp, but the gayborhood is where Tuesday gets PHAT! Absolut’s Hillcrest Mardi Gras has become a West Coast phenomenon of sorts, an authentic nod to our sister city’s (New Orleans) internationally renowned week of celebrations before the Lenten season (fasting) begins. Starting at 6PM, expect 3,000+ people to pack University Avenue between Fourth & Front Streets and spill into the parking lots, bars & restaurants within the perimeter, all clamoring for a piece of the bead-throwing, drink swilling, carnival-esque action. $15 gets you through the gate, but it’s 21+ so bring your ID and get ready to laissez les bon temps rouler!
February 17 – At 7PM, the ladies of Chinquapin Parish take to the screen at the Birch North Park Theatre for a special Film Out San Diego viewing of the beloved feature film Steel Magnolias starring Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley McLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah. General admission is $10. Post-screening, attendees can venture off to Bourbon Street for the event’s festive after party.
February 20 – Think you got what it takes? The crew at hot karaoke hangout Redwing Bar & Grill in North Park is looking to crown their Mr. Redwing 2010. Join emcee supreme Sister Hecate of the Bodacious TaTas as she puts contestants to the test in this testosterone-laden competition of the fiercest proportions (…pun intended.)
February 22 – California State University San Marcos continues its month-long celebration of Black History with a special event, “Women, AIDS and Poverty in Uganda.” The discussion, presentation and lecture event features food, music and an African jewelry sale all in support of BreadforLife, a program dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and helping its members who are women with HIV/AIDS and refugees from the war in Northern Uganda.
Ophelia Later
February 23 – Two Cents, the new interactive ‘talk show social’ with moi (Aaron Heier) arrives a week later this month so friends can enjoy the Fat Tuesday festivities. February’s special guest is Rick-y Walker aka the incomparable Ophelia Later. Grab a seat, relax, have a glass a vino and some Gossip Grill grub while getting up-close and personal with this truly fascinating activist, rodeo queen, drag diva, popular event personality and all around charitable do-gooder. This free event, open to all, starts at 7PM at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
February 26 – San Diego’s LGBT community is full of Heroes, Pioneers & Trailblazers and the Lambda Archives plans to honor several during their 2010 Awards and Fundraising Event. Join the archives at the San Diego LGBT Community Center at 6PM for a fabulous evening of food, entertainment, a live auction and the opportunity to mix and mingle with this year’s honorees: Toni Atkins, Frank Buttino, Jeri Dilno, Judy “The Beauty” Forman, Cheryl Houk, Mel Merrill, Big Mike Phillips, Sandra Ramirez and the Gomez Family. Tickets available for purchase online starting at $55.
February 27 – Just like a scene out of Grease 2, Pink Ladies and T-Birds alike will hit the lanes for HRC San Diego’s Second Annual Bowling for Equality event. The bowl-a-rama starts at 1:30PM at Kearny Mesa Bowl to raise money to aid the organization’s ongoing fight for LGBT equality around the globe. Tickets start at $35 for individuals. Local comedian Jaime Salita will keep bowlers entertained while they nibble on vittles from sponsors Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill and Urban Mo’s.
