In what's likely to be a classic, only-in-San Francisco juxtaposition, Reichard expects a passel of playa-goers to convene in the significantly more straight-laced climes of Feinstein's at the Nikko not long after the Burn.

The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Foundation's annual costume, drag and talent gala, Runway, took on a "Quest for the Pearl" pirate theme for its thirtieth edition, held August 25 at The Herbst Theater.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think someone would hear my music coming out of a loudspeaker at a Wingstop in Jakarta," singer-songwriter Joey Dosik, still wide-eyed at the memory of a message he received from a fan.

Help is on the Way, the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation's 24th popular concert benefit series, held August 19 at the Herbst Theater, welcomed many favorite returning singers and musicians.

Over the past few years, downtown Los Angeles -known as DTLA- has emerged as a new nexus of Southern California queerdom; home to a hipper, grittier, more diverse nightlife, an appealing bounty of cultural offerings, and a pioneering spirit.

On Wednesday August 22 the 23rd annual Drag King Contest comes to the Oasis. This year's show, dubbed "Salty Swaggering Sea Men," invites audiences to man the torpedoes full speed ahead for a nautical-themed show with seamen, mermen, sailors.

On August 23 the single-named Aish will take to the stage of Rickshaw Stop to perform songs from Mother, his debut album. The album, now available, features an eclectic mix of sounds: haunting vocals, strings, harp and electronics.

Northern California's Pride events continue on past June. These festivals may not have the big name entertainment or famous Grand Marshalls like San Francisco, but at their cores are groups of volunteers with big dreams and even bigger hearts.

DJ collective BAAAHS (Big Ass Amazingly Awesome Homosexual Sheep), known for their gigantic sheep bus, held a fundraiser on August 9 for the annual BAAAHS trip to Burning Man at Driftwood.

Guy Branum is the zaftig Sontag of comedy. His brainy magpie's nest of a book, My Life As A Goddess: A Memoir Through Unpopular Culture, has just been released, and it presents a more prickly, philosophical and intellectual POV than we usually expect.

At iCandy, one of the weekly events at The Café, the Castro District's upstairs dance club (with an accessible elevator) draws a fun and diverse crowd of club kids, queens and cuties.

Next weekend, the west end of Golden Gate Park plays host to the eleventh edition of Outside Lands. While Sunday night closer Janet Jackson is an obvious draw for queer audiences, we went panning for pink and came up with a few golden choices.

The free flow of lateral thinking, a sense of artistic freedom, the time to refine one's craft: these are among the elements that make for a fertile scene, says Kim Nalley, the acclaimed Bay Area jazz vocalist, who performs at Feinstein's August 2-12.

The festive and colorful Flagging in the Park flowed forth at the National AIDS Memorial Grove on Saturday afternoon, July 28.