The Golden Gate Business Association will host its 12th annual Pride Business Expo Wednesday, June 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market Street (at 8th Street) in San Francisco.
The event will be a showcase of LGBT-owned businesses and those that are allied with LGBT equality issues.
The expo is expected to feature more than 70 businesses, as well as food and wine tastings, a silent auction, prizes, and much more.
Additions to this year's event include an online virtual trade show spotlighting all participating exhibitors.
While there is no charge to attend, GGBA officials note that a $5-$10 donation is encouraged. All door proceeds go to the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and charities that are supported by the Grand Ducal Court.
For more info, visit www.ggba.com or call (415) 362-4422.
B.A.R. editor wins press award
Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko took top honors in the non-daily columns category at this year's San Francisco Peninsula Press Club Awards.
Bajko, 38, won in the news-columns category for his Political Notebook column. His was the only winner in the category.
"This is great news for Matthew and the Bay Area Reporter," said publisher Thomas E. Horn. "Matthew is a very talented journalist, and we are very proud of him and grateful that he is being recognized by his peers."
Bajko has been with the B.A.R. since 2001.
SF Pride hosts kickoff party
The San Francisco Pride Committee and dot429, a gay and lesbian networking group, will host Be Scene, a fundraising reception, Wednesday, June 12 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the Spanish Suite at the Clift Hotel, 429 Geary Street.
Grand marshals BeBe Sweetbriar and Betty Sullivan will co-host the event, along with Jennifer Viegas, who is Sullivan's co-publisher at the Bay Times.
The evening will feature a cash bar, selected drink samples, and a raffle with amazing prizes, including two round-trip flight vouchers for Virgin America.
Tickets are $25 per person. More information is available online at http://sfpride.org/fundraiser/.
Al-anon meeting Sunday
Is someone's drinking bothering you? If so, consider attending a local Al-anon meeting that takes place Sunday, June 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Francis Lutheran Church, 152 Church Street in San Francisco.
Attendees will hear from individuals on how they apply the Al-anon tools of recovery to detaching from problem drinking. Meetings take place the second Sunday of every month. For more information, visit http://www.al-anonsf.org. The meetings are safe and confidential.
Community discussion for older lesbian, bi women
Doing It For Ourselves, a health and wellness program for lesbian and bisexual women, will host a community discussion for older sexual minority women Monday, June 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street. There is no cost to attend.
Organizers noted that many older sexual minority women complain that there is a lack of community for women in the city. As a result, this session will share ideas about community activities and events that would appeal to lesbian and bisexual women over 40 and strategies to build a sense of community for older women in a youthful city. The evening will be facilitated by Mickey Eliason, a professor at San Francisco State University, who is currently doing research on health needs and health programming for older lesbian and bisexual women.
For more information, contact Eliason at [email protected].
Commonwealth Club announces gay programs
It's Pride Month and the Commonwealth Club has lined up three gay-specific programs.
First up, sex advice columnist and author Dan Savage will be in conversation with Daniel Handler Tuesday, June 11 at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the program at 7, which is followed by a book signing.
Savage, a longtime gay activist and writer, is promoting his new book, American Savage.
Tickets are $25 for non-members and $15 for members. For priority seating with a book, tickets are $50 for non-members and $40 for members. Premium tickets, which include a pre-reception with an appearance by Savage and the book, are $80 for non-members and $60 for members.
The Commonwealth Club's LGBT member-led forum is presenting two programs, both of which will take place at the club's offices at 595 Market Street.
On June 13 officials from Out and Equal Workplace Advocates will talk about Executive Director Selisse Berry's recently released book, From Closet to Corner Office, which is an anthology chronicling the stories of executives who have come out and thrived at their companies. The program comes on the heels of an LGBT workplace report released by the organization.
There will be a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program at 6.
Toward the end of June, right before Pride, on Wednesday, June 26, the SF Pride speaker series will feature gay Supervisors David Campos and Scott Wiener, who will talk about the unique way the city hosts Pride for the world. A networking reception takes place at 4:45 p.m. followed by the program at 5:15.
Tickets for both programs are $20 for non-members, $8 for members, and $7 for students with valid ID.
For more information, visit www.commonwealthclub.org.
Gay day for Berkeley seniors
The city of Berkeley's Community Services Department will hold its 11th annual LGBTQ Gay Pride Celebration Tuesday, June 11 at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue (at MLK Jr. Way). The party takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. and will include entertainment, booths, food, and friendship. Everyone is welcome.
Pet hotel offers puppy socialization classes
Wag Hotels, a local pet resort, has begun offering free puppy socialization classes through its new training program called Wag University. The classes, which are offered on Saturday mornings at the hotel facility, focus on proper socialization for young puppies.
The process of exposing dogs to unfamiliar people, places, and animals, commonly referred to as socialization, has been proven to be extremely important to the development of a healthy dog. Many experts agree that puppies should begin socialization before 12 weeks of age because this is the time when they are most open to new experiences.
Wag Hotels has brought in experienced trainer Kris Kates, former executive director and president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and Amy Anner, honors graduate of the San Francisco SPCA Training Academy, to develop the training program.
The classes are held every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon at 25 14th Street. The classes are held in a safe and clean environment. Puppies must have proof of at least one distemper/Parvo vaccination and one deworming treatment. Reservations are required. For more information, call 1-888-924-5463 or visit www.waghotels.com.