For five years now, young businessman Johan Engman has closed his restaurants (Fig Tree, Breakfast Republic, etc.), on Christmas Day to provide a complimentary gourmet dinner for military veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project. This wonderful event has grown so big that Engman, who has donated the bulk of the costs, needed some help and he called upon Big Mike who asked if the Imperial Court de San Diego could help and we did at the major sponsor level of $5,000. Sen. Toni Atkins also made a great donation and this year’s event will serve 500 of our nation’s Wounded Warriors and their families at the Liberty Station, which donated their ballroom.
The Imperial Court will also provide toys for the children in attendance. For 45 years our LGBT community has been supporting the Imperial Court’s annual “Toys for Kids” Campaign, blankets, clothes and food drives etc. So it is you, the LGBT community who is actually sponsoring these events and we most sincerely thank you.
People, politics and opinions
With new councilmembers, City Hall should be a most interesting place to watch. As I’ve said before, Georgette Gomez is the new Latina Donna Fry, and will be a strong voice for social justice issues. Barbara Bry is the new Todd Gloria, smart and a moderate; she has a secret weapon, Todd’s former chief of staff, Jamie Fox, one of the best brains at City Hall. Councilman Chris Ward has begun with a rocky start as the only councilmember out of nine to not get a chairmanship of a council committee.
In my last column, I endorsed Myrtle Cole for president and I am happy to say so did a majority of the council. David Alvarez lost his bid for mayor and now the council presidency and word is some top Democrats are thinking about running for the County Board of Supervisor’s seat that Alvarez is now coveting.
The four Republicans on the council are good moderates and strong allies of popular Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who goes into 2017 with strong public polling support.
About 100 people showed up for the Log Cabin Club’s holiday party at the home of Carl DeMaio and Johnathan Hale (their house belongs in a magazine!) I had the honor to be asked to officiate and swear-in the club’s new officers, and so I asked Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, Oceanside School Board Member Eleanor Evans and former Councilman DeMaio to join me.
Nicole’s quicky movie review
Miss Sloan – One of the best political movies in decades, right up there with The Manchurian Candidate; and stop telling me Miss Sloan reminds you of Miss Nicole.
Arrival – You can have all the Star Wars you want, this movie is a real possibility and believable.
Hacksaw Ridge – This is a true war story about the only conscientious objector in history to be awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor. It is outstanding but don’t forget to bring a box of Kleenex.
Collateral Beauty – This is a great and deep movie about love, time and death with an all-star cast that delivers.
Jackie – This is a historic movie about how Jackie Kennedy created Camelot and masterminded a presidential funeral grander than Lincoln’s. It is brilliant.
Nocturnal Animals – This is one of the best murder movies ever and yes, check out the outdoor toilet scene – I never thought a man taking a dump could be so sexy!
Trolls – You would rather have a cup of Kool-Aid from Jim Jones than see this movie.
