Jolene's, the new queer bar in SoMa, opened last weekend to much local appreciation. A soft opening on Dec. 15 included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the return of Uhaul, now each Friday, marked the first week of events.

It's been a while, and it may be a while longer before Connie Champagne returns, but her subtle, witty and endearing portrayal of Judy Garland takes place to Oasis on December 15.

2018 was a rough year for almost everyone I know, even if there were hopeful moments sprinkled along the way. You might have noticed that we had an overwhelming number of success stories, too.

It's been 18 years since Aaron Lazar last passed through San Francisco on a Broadway tour. He's in 'Dear Evan Hansen' at the Curran through December 30, and has a solo engagement at Feinstein's at the Nikko on December 17.

October was cute, and it was sweet to end it with such gorgeous weather. My two monthly parties at Powerhouse have helped to raise great money for two organizations that I really care deeply about.

Litquake's 19th annual festival runs from October 11 through 20 at venues all over the Bay Area. Along with readings galore, and the last-night Lit Crawl, several LGBTQ authors promise plenty of fun for wordsmith fans.

He's only eleven years old, yet Desmond Napoles has already made a name for himself with appearances at New York's famed Wigstock, and cutting the opening ribbon at DragCon NYC with RuPaul.

This weekend brings two very different drag shows to San Francisco. At Oasis, tonight through Sunday, legendary comedienne Varla Jean Merman performs her latest solo cabaret act, the circus-themed 'Under A Big Top.'

When I first moved to San Francisco, one of my roommates sold a little coke and meth to help him make some extra cash while working his way through college. By that time, I had already made it through school as a devoted pot smoker.

When we think of entertainment in our bars, the chances are that we think of drag performances or DJs more often than live music. But from the 1960s to the 1980s at the Stud (then at 1535 Folsom Street), live performances often ruled the night.

Laughs will no doubt abound on September 21 when comic Lisa Geduldig returns to El Rio with her monthly comedy show, which, in various incarnations, will soon celebrate its thirtieth anniversary.

On Friday September 14, dozens of gay men will converge upon Guerneville for River Raid 2018, a weekend of partying by the Russian River. Book your rooms and tickets now, because no one wants to be stuck in the fog while all the guys are at the river.

Supporting small queer business means getting your shoes shined at your local queer-owned cobbler, flirting with the racks at that cute atelier down the street, and tossing back a Paloma with the regulars at your local gay watering hole.

This week I want to talk about fun; sheer, unadulterated fun. When you mention to those outside of the leather and kink worlds that the object of what we do and who we are is supposed to be fun, they nod and say, "of course!"