GAY IE EVENTS
Palm Springs film festival announces screenings

A series of weekly film screenings in September will lead up to this year's Cinema Diverse, the gay and lesbian film festival in Palm Springs.

SEPTEMBER FILM SERIES

Thursday, Sept. 3: "The Ritz," starring Kaye Ballard, Jack Weston, Rita Moreno, Herry Stiller and Treat Williams.

Thursday, Sept. 10: "Waiting for Guffman"

Thursday, Sept. 17: "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"

CINEMA DIVERSE: THE PALM SPRINGS GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
The second year for Cinema Diverse presented by the Palm Springs Cultural Center promises 17 programs – features, documentaries and shorts.

The opening night double feature is "The Naked Civil Servant" (1975) and the movie's sequel "An Englishman in New York," starring John Hurt as the writer Quentin Crisp. "An Englishman in New York" focuses on Crisp's life after he moved to New York. The film, which was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival this year, also starts Cynthia Nixon, Denis O'Hare, Jonathan Tucker and Swoosie Kurtz.

WHEN: Sept. 24-27
WHERE: Camelot Theatre, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
ADMISSION: 1 p.m. screenings $10; 4 and 7 p.m. screenings $12. Opening night screening and official opening night party $75; closing night screening and official closing night party $25. Tickets and passes go on sale July 1 and can be purchased at the Camelot box office or call 760-325-6565
INFO: http://www.cinemadiverse.ning.com/



BUY GROCERIES, HELP OUTFEST

Helping gay cinema is as easy as buying groceries – almost.

Outfest, the Los Angeles gay and lesbian film festival, will benefit every time you shop at Ralphs if you register your Rewards card with the grocery chain’s Web site. Then sign up for the store’s Community Contribution Program and indicate Outfest as the organization to benefit. When you use your card at the store a percentage of the purchase is donated to Outfest.

Details on the program are on the Outfest Web site at http://www.outfest.org/affinity.html

GAY IE AIDS WALKS:
Inland Empire AIDS Walk is Oct. 3

Here’s the schedule for AIDS Walks scheduled for Southern California.

INLAND EMPIRE
The goal for 2009 is $25,000.
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 3
WHERE: Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount, Riverside
INFO: http://www.inlandaidsproject.org/

LOS ANGELES
AIDS Walk LA has raised $59 million for HIV programs and services in LA County since 1985.
WHEN: Oct. 18
INFO: www.aidswalk.net/losangeles

PALM SPRINGS
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31; 7:30 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. presentation, 9:30 a.m. walk steps off
WHERE: Ruth Hardy Park, corner of Tamarisk and Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs. The 2-mile walk will go through the Movie Colony area of town.
NOTES:
--Yes, the walk is on Halloween, and participants are encouraged to wear costumes.
--Pets on leashes are permitted on the walk.
--Lunch and entertainment will be provided following completed walk.
--Walkers receive a T-shirt, water bottle and bag with a minimum $25 donation; plus a journal and pen with a $150 or more donation; plus a pedometer with a $500 or more donation; plus a Sunday brunch invitation with a $1,000 donation.
INFO: http://www.desertaidsproject.org/aidswalk/index.php

SAN DIEGO
5K walk and 10K USA Track and Field sanctioned run
WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 27
WHERE: Balboa Park
INFO: http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=312098

GAY IE EVENTS:
Comedy Store goes gay on Friday nights

What’s so funny about being gay? Find out on Friday nights when LA lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender stand-up comics take the stage for Thank Gays It’s Friday at the Comedy Store. The show, wich opened in September, bills itself as the longest-running weekly LGBT show in Southern California.

WHEN: Midnight Fridays
WHERE: The Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
ADMISSION: $10, students $7
INFO: 323-650-6268

GAY IE CLUBS:
Micky's is back; Metro Q opens in the OC


Micky's has reopened in West Hollywood. The club closed after a fire in August 2007. Now the go-go boys are back, along with a bigger bar, DJs and a new restaurant. Micky's is at 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollwood.
INFO: www.mickys.com

Metro Q bar and restaurant opened at the end of March at Beach Boulevard and Garfield Avenue. Business partners Ida Vallez and Scott Forst opened the bar, apparently the first in the city, according to a report in the Orange County Register. The establishment features a jukebox, 50-inch plasma TVs and free wireless internet. The menu includes burgers, tri-tip, salmon, coconut fried shrimp and meatloaf. Metro Q helps fill the gap for a gay bar in Orange County after the Boom Boom Room closed in 2007. Since Metro Q is also a restaurant, patrons under the age of 21 are allowed.

Looking for a club closer to home? Here’s a list of gay bars in the Inland Empire:

RIVERSIDE
The Menagerie
Dance floor, karaoke, video and smoking patio.
WHERE: 3581 University Ave.
PHONE: 951-788-8000
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Located near downtown Riverside. Back to the Grind coffeeshop is next door.

VIP Nightclub
An age 18 and over club featuring dancing, pool, karaoke, drag shows and drink specials. Patio.
HOURS: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
WHERE: 3673 Merrill Ave.
PHONE: 951-784-2370
INFO: http://www.vip-nightclub.com/
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Close to the Riverside Plaza shopping center, which has a movie theater and restaurants.

SAN BERNARDINO
The Lark
Drink specials, music, video, pool, games, patio and karaoke. Dance floor on back bar features country and western, ‘80s and hip-hop nights. Smoking patio, Internet jukebox, free Wi-Fi. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. every day.
WHERE: 917 Inland Center Drive
HOURS: 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6 p.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
PHONE: (909) 884-8770
INFO: http://www.the-lark.com/

UPLAND
Oasis Nightclub
Dancing to hip-hop, trance, old school and Spanish. Birthday club, drink specials. Talent club at 10 p.m. Thursdays. Drag Idol 10 week contest at 10 p.m. Sundays through May 24 with finals on May 31.
21 and over Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 18 and over Thursday and Sunday.
HOURS: 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Dinner 6-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8-11 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: 1386 E. Foothill Blvd.
ADMISSION: Cover charge
PHONE: 909-920-9590
INFO: http://www.oasis-nightclub.com/

MURRIETA
Club Escape
Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill becomes Club Escape for an evening once a month with DJs, male and female go-go dancers, drink specials, pool.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month
WHERE: 24910 Washington Ave.
ADMISSION: $3

GAY IE RESOURCES:

Community center directory

RIVERSIDE
Jeffery Owens Community Center
The center sponsors monthly Excuses to Get Together, a monthly social event proceeded by a general business meeting. A meal is provided (donations accepted).
The JOCC Youth Council for LGBTQQ people 13 to 20 years old, family and friends. The Youth Council is co-sponsored by Jeffery Owens Community Center and the Rainbow Pride Alliance.
WHERE: 3845 10th St., Riverside
PHONE: 951-683-2032
WEB: www.jocc.org
EMAIL: info@joc.org

SAN BERNARDINO
Gay and Lesbian Center of the Inland Empire
PO Box 6333, San Bernardino 92412
PHONE: 909-882-4488
WEB: www.geocities.com/glcenter_ie

PALM SPRINGS
Desert Pride Community Center
Center offers HIV testing, cyber center, workshops, counseling and support, conversation groups, book club and monthly arts shows.
WHERE: 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 201, Palm Springs
HOURS: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday
PHONE: 760-327-2313
WEB: www.desertpridecenter.org
EMAIL: dpccinfo@desertpridecenterps.org


ELSEWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES
LA Gay & Lesbian Center
Health services and education, including HIV and STD testing and treatment, pharmacy, mental health, meth recovery. Services for families, seniors and homeless youth. Learning Curve programs and workshops, cyber center, career center, legal services, support groups. Art gallery and theater events.
LOCATIONS:
McDonald/Wright Building, 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles. Administration, clinic.
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 McCadden Place, Los Angeles. Cultural arts, workshops, conversation groups.
Jeff Griffith Youth Center, 7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.
PHONE: 323-993-7400
INFO: www.lagaycenter.org

LONG BEACH

The Center Long Beach

Information and education, health services, counseling and referrals, HIV testing, coming out support, legal counseling, youth mentoring, grief support, social and cultural activities.

WHERE: 2017 E. Fourth St., Long Beach

PHONE: 562-434-4455

INFO: www.cengterlb.org

ORANGE COUNTY
The Center Orange County
Youth group, discussion group, cyber center, counseling, support groups, HIV testing, hate crimes support, transgender resources, women’s health, Latino program, health education.
WHERE: 12752 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove
PHONE: 714-534-0862
INFO: www.thecenter.org

SAN DIEGO
The Center: The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center
Counseling and support, cyber center, discussion groups, youth center, HIV prevention and support, Latino services, senior services, speakers bureau, youth housing, womens resource center.
LOCATIONS:
Center Street-Hillcrest, 3909 Center St., San Diego.

PHONE: 619-692-2077
Hillcrest Youth Center, 3777 Fourth Ave., San Diego

PHONE: 619-497-2920
INFO: www.thecentersd.org