Adios, Rita! We survived! I was cooped-up in the house with all four of my animals for four days. I didn't gas-up on my way home from work Wednesday night and I couldn't get gas ANYWHERE on Thursday to get to my dad's house in Tomball. My cell is off temporarily and I had no internet at home, so I talked my poor pets ears OFF. I was scared and lonely. On top of that, I had NO food, just dog and cat food, so I lived on condiments, diet coke, energy drinks and Camel cigarettes until Saturday when I found a little convenience store open, and FINALLY got gas on Sunday and returned to work. I feel lucky and fortunate, though. I hope all of you are back at home, safe and sound. God bless our friends in Galveston and other affected counties, as well as Louisiana, who weren't as lucky. If you are ever in a pinch and stranded, I can recommend Seafood Sauce as a good meal.

THIS WEEK AT 6°: The after-party is at 6° Lounge, but the BEFORE-party is the Stand-up Comic Relief! Expeditus Promotions and the Main Street Improv present a hilarious, side-splitting night of stand-up comedy. Join the crew for a unique blend of in-your-face down home comedy hosted by Carlos Silva featuring a line up of comics from around the country. The lineup includes: Christina Lopez, Chris Mata, Tony Munoz, and Larry and Regan. There are only 200 seats available, so purchase your tickets fast. The show is at the Main Street Improv at 2915 Main Street (Midtown) on Thursday, September 29th, at 10:00PM. Show your ticket stub from the show at 6° and enjoy $4 wells (you will receive a wristband to wear and show the bartender to get the drink special.) It will be great fun. For details or to buy tickets, email expediti_promotions@hotmail.com. The CD release party and fashion show slated for September 22nd will be rescheduled for October 13th, and you all will receive invitations via email. We are so proud and thankful for you guys rockin' the vote for 6° over on the www.citysearch.com site. We're ranked super- high in the running in nine categories and we keep moving up. You can vote every day until October 5th, so keep on clicking and help us prove that quality is just as important as quantity!

I promise you a HUGE victory party when the fat lady sings. If you haven't made it in to see and sample our new Fall Martini Menu yet, view the menu online and it will make you want to RUN to 6° at 911 Franklin to try our new creations. The next Martini Mix-off competition is on Thursday November 3rd, and our Winter Martini Menu Launch party will be on Thursday December 1st. Come watch the Mix-off! Click here to see our new menu: http://www.sixdl.com/martinis.html.

NEW DATE: Ready to rev-up your engines and celebrate party #50? One of Houston's most successful and longest-running dance party series celebrates their 50th After-Hours Event. Beyond Entertainment's SPOILED BOYZ (www.spoiledboyz.net) will host the Dukes of Hazard inspired DUKES OF HOUSTON After-Hours Party late night Saturday, October 15th at the hot, new NEXT Dance Club (www.whatsnexthouston.com) located at 2020 McKinney @ Chartres (behind the GRB Convention Center). LA's renowned Remix Artist and after-hours expert DJ DAWNA MONTEL will be driving the party into the wee morning hours. Daisy Dukes & Rebel Country attire encouraged. Doors open 3:30AM. Advance Tickets available at M2M Fashion.

It's only September, but it's already time to start booking your holiday parties. 6° is available for private rental for any of your corporate or personal events. We can host groups from 25 to 250 and we work with a fabulous caterer, Jeffrey George of Catering By George, so believe me, when I say we can throw a spectacular party, I mean it. You may also pick the restaurant or catering company of your choice for your food selections. Please email me at kim@sixdl.com for more information or to reserve your dates. We are offering Monday dates in November and December to our friends in the industry for your holiday staff parties. There will be NO ROOM RENTAL FEE for our friends in the industry for Monday parties and we will offer happy hour prices to you during your party. Call if you are interested, I do have some dates left.

NEWS IN THE BIZ: The results are in for the Chronicle's Ultimate Houston awards. Congrats to all the winners and nominees. See the winners, both reader's picks and the chronicle's picks: http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/05/ultimate/index.html. Cory Eckstein is now working at Chaise Lounge. Tanya Stauble can be found working and being ADORABLE, as always, at Hue (202 Tuam). My buddies Celise Keller and Kristen Fortenberry are planning events for Slainte and the Ruby Room, and doing a FABULOUS job, I might add. Don't forget Ryan Echiverri's Industry party at NEXT this Tuesday. NEXT is at 2020 McKinney. Send me news of where all your favorite staffers are if they aren't where they used to be.

DETAILS is hosting the Perry Ellis 25th Anniversary Celebration featuring live music by Houston musician, Tody Castillo. It's an excellent opportunity to enjoy cocktails and the sounds of the 2005 Houston Press best DJ, DJ Sun. The event is on Wednesday, September 28th from 6:30 - 8:30PM at Foley's in the Galleria III (5135 West Alabama.) You may RSVP via email or phone, olivette@olivettepr.com or 713-862-1293.

Houston Single Source is throwing a huge end-of-Summer blast and you are invited. The party is on Thursday, September 29th from 6:30-10:00PM at D'Wine Restaurant, 4304 Westheimer at Mid Lane. There will be dancing to tunes created by Body Language. Happy hour will be until 8PM, with the wine happy hour extending until 10PM. This party is FREE for all Houston Single Source Members. Not a member? Join today for only $9.95 a month and get one month FREE. Non-members are welcome to attend the event, for $10 at the door or pre-purchase your tickets for $8. RSVP or purchase your tickets online at www.houstonsinglesource.com or call 713-630-0546. A portion of the proceeds donated to Houston Food Bank.

Three cheers for www.myspace.com! For those MySpacers out there, I'm logged in as kim@sixdl.com and Gary's on there too, as gary@sixdl.com. Send us mail, suggestions, feedback, ideas, whatever. For those of you who don't know about that site yet, what are you waiting for? IT ROCKS! Hours of free fun! Check it out and join at www.myspace.com. Look for a My Space or yours party at 6° in October. I started a group for us to chat about EVERYTHING! http://groups.myspace.com/houstonqueenofclubs. Send me your emails so we can be friends on my space.

MORE HELP FOR VICTIMS OF KATRINA: Don't forget the upcoming fundraiser at the Meridian on October 8th, for the 411, visit www.neworleansreliefcrew.com. If you are looking for contacts to help New Orleans musicians get work, living arrangements, borrow equipment, schedule gigs, generally get on their feet while in Houston or help with efforts to get them back to New Orleans. "Noah Leans," is a great resource. Visit the site online at http://www.tiannahall.com/NOAHcontacts.html. Another helpful musician-aid site is www.Katrinaspianofund.org. Watch this tear-jerker of a video and see if there are things you can do to reunite families with their pet or perhaps provide foster care for some of the animals rescued after Katrina. My dad is a veterinarian and I have pets instead of kids, so have been doing my best to aid the Houston SPCA, you can too, at www.houstonspca.org. I cried when I saw this: http://www.forpitssake.org/katrina.html. More pet/animal help info is at www.helpkatrinapets.com. Here is a site to help reunite families with their missing friends and family members http://www.helpunitepeople.com. Please send me other information and fundraiser events that you know of. Let's all do whatever we can to help these folks get back on their feet.

Welcome to the world, Jessie Tyler Lane! She was born on September 8th to one of my dearest friends since we were young whipper-snappers, and her wonderful husband. Just think, Jessie, in only 21 years, you'll get to go out on the town with Auntie Kim.