Last week was the 10th Annual Christmas Wreath Auction at the award winning restaurant/nightclub, Martinis above Fourth in Hillcrest. For ten years, the owners and outstanding staff have been putting on this holiday charity event which has resulted in more than $180,000 being raised for the Queen Eddie Conlon Youth Fund administrated by our GLBT Community Center and the Imperial Court of San Diego.
The late Nathan Garcia and I founded this fund some decades ago and it assists GLBT and non-gay youth with school supplies, clothes, food, etc. Every year it is this event that provides the fund with its major donation and we are so grateful and so are the hundreds of youth we have assisted. A special thank you and love go to former club owners Dale, CKaz and Johnny who still participate and donate in every benefit.
Martinis Above Fourth current popular owners, Jim Simpson and Dor Tifui have graciously continued this holiday tradition and last week’s $28,000 broke all records for the auction. This is a real team, community and yes, patrons, staff, customers’ effort. Thank you to manager, Devon Neubauer and the great staff. I had a great time and so did our interim mayor, Todd Gloria as well as our new school board president, Kevin Beiser. Wreath Boy, Pedro was the hit of the evening and his smile alone brought in thousands. Lots of love and appreciation to community activist Bob Leyh who has supported this event every year and as always is the No.1 bidder. This year, the Imperial Court Board of Directors will be giving the annual grand Queen Eddie Conlon Community Leadership Award to both President Reiser and Bob Lehy at the 42nd Annual Coronation Charity Ball in February.
The evening’s emcees, the one and only Empress Ajax and Ian of The Center were super fabulous – $180,000 benefitting our youth.
God bless you all especially the loyal patrons and everyone at Martinis Above Fourth.
San Antonio, Texas
Yes, I am sending this column in from Texas where I will be for almost a week with my close friends Dr. Rosie Valdez and her nurse sister, Norma Jeanne. They are trying to teach me about my diabetes of which I am still trying to get a handle on. This past Tuesday, Dr. Rosie hosted a benefit fundraiser for the International Jose Julio Sarria Scholarship Program which I founded a few months ago.
More than $4,000 was raised by the outstanding community of San Antonio. I have always loved Texas and have been coming here since the 1960s. The late Gov. Ann Richards actually made me an Honorary Texan and I do cherish the award. Yes, I will be visiting my city of La Villita which San Antonio mayor, Julian Castro appointed me Mayor of La Villita last year. It’s considered the oldest town in old Texas and is where General Santa Ana surrendered.
More about my Texas visit in my next column.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last six mayors of San Diego. He is also a national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation and chairman of the International Court Council of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com
