THIS WEEK AT 6°: Come to 6° Lounge this Thursday, home of the Sam Houston Hotel's winner for best drink (you'll see his Banana Splitini featured on their menu) none other than our very own Julian Ritchey. Jules (my favorite mohawked vegan) and I will host our premiere quarterly MARTINI MIX-OFF Challenge Event on Thursday August 11th, beginning promptly at 9PM. Hey, bartenders out there, do you have what it takes? We've extended the deadline to enter. The contestants' drink creations will be judged on taste, appearance and originality of recipe. We will award prize packages to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and the winner will also have their recipe on our Fall Martini Menu. To register as a contestant, contact Kim at 281-795-3137. The prizes are a big, fat, hairy combination of things you WISH you could have! Come cheer your favorite contestant on to victory and savor the flavor of our new Thursday DJ's sexy beats. The competition will be heated because some of the city's favorite bartenders are competing. Our new Thursday DJ, Brandon Silva, will be here. Make plans to attend our new SHIFT Thursdays Launch Party on August 18th featuring Brandon and a sultry Erotic Cabaret Fashion Show choreographed by Bella Productions.

The Queen loves Passion Parties, and I recommend that EVERYONE should host their own. Hostesses earn FREE products by having a Passion Party and right now my favorite Passion Party Consultant, Emilie Reinertsen, is offering a free toy for anyone who books a party in August or September. Don't want to throw a party? Then head to her web site at www.purepassion.net and check out her summer catalog specials. There will be new catalogs on September 1st, so check back again then, as well! You may also call Emilie to book a party or order merchandise at 281-550-3165. Congratulate her on her latest passion product, baby Pressley.

I met a guy named Phil at a www.houstonnetworkingnews.com event and have run into him several times since then. He owns Copy Concepts International. His company rents, sells and services all major brands of copiers, fax machines and printers. They offer same day service, too. If you need his services or products, email him at CopyConcepts@ev1.net.

ALSO THIS WEEK: On August 12th 77002.COM and DISCO PRODUCTIONS will present #36 rated DJ in the world Bad Bill Boy (in the house, understand? If you've heard him you do) with Steve Smooth (rated #277 in the world) along with local legends Surain, Randall Jones and Sean Carnahan ant M Bar the MAIN place on Main Street.) Doors open at 10PM. Get your discounted presale tickets online at www.77002.com (one of my favorite web sites.) Up for another party the next night, August 13th? Once again, 77002.COM and DISCO PRODUCTIONS will welcome Ian Pooley (ranked #344 in the entire world) at Ultra. He is an amazing rare House DJ Producer and he is coming to play at the university block of Main Street, at 108 Main Street. The pre-Pooley party is at 6° Lounge at 911 Franklin, book your table reservation now, through me at kim@sixdl.com.

In the last issue I recommended categories you dear readers should vote for in the Ultimate Awards with the Houston Chronicle, and your votes are most appreciated. The voting ends TODAY, so you have one last chance to make your voice heard. Vote at

http://www.chron.com/banners/images/ult_form_2005/form.html

and the secret is you don't have to fill it all out, just skip to the categories you want to vote in, and submit the ballot. One last request, vote for 6° as best happy hour and place to see and be seen and Julian Ritchey, of 6°, as best bartender. Without your support 6° and this newsletter wouldn't be here. For that, I hope you know how grateful I am!

NEWS IN THE BIZ: I love a new newsletter written by the darling Monica Danna a.k.a "Monnie Mo." It's called the "Mo-Down on H-Town." We have become great friends via email and she came struttin' into 6° Lounge not long ago with a posse of gorgeous gals and when I met her in person, I was so happy, I got weepy! Am I a doofus or what? Hell, I think her newsletter is even better than mine! Shoot her an email to subscribe and tell her the Queen told you to sign up, monica.danna@ellayess.com. I also need to give her props for venturing out to blogland and creating her own, http://www.modown.blogspot.com/. Am I the only living creature who hasn't gotten into blogging (is that a word?) Also in the booze biz, if you know what's up, you read ENVY magazine, it's my favorite local 'zine. On page 11 of the August issue you'll find the best Ultra ad I've seen so far, however, the smear tactic in the ad doesn't fool me and I, as well as many others, know the photo was taken at 6°. How odd is another bar using a photo from a bar that is not their own? It is most flattering. I guess I need to thank Ultra for giving us props in a full-page ad. THANKS, ULTRA! That is very neighborly of you. Renee Pederson has left the Whiskey is now living large as the prettiest waitress at the Sam Bar. Nick Ozuna can be found bartending at the Flat (brand new place, owned by Ziggy Morrow,) Ultra, the Whiskey and occasionally at 6°. Happy Birthday this week to one of my favorite femme fatales (and purse lush!) Celise Keller.