The Texas Dragon Boat Association will present the 2nd annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta on October 22nd and 23rd at Clear Lake Park near NASA's Johnson Space Center. The 2005 Regatta is officially sanctioned as the 2005 USDBF Central Region Championships & ADBA International Festival. Top U.S. Central teams will compete for the title of Central Region Champion in various divisions and classes. For more information and a complete event schedule visit www.texasdragonboat.com. I got all this information from Annabelle Ruch, who I met when was working for Slainte and the Ruby Room (that seems like YEARS ago, when I worked there.) Special thanks to Jeff Siebert (pimp/bartender at Slainte) for introducing me to her. Mollie and Brittany, my favorite Yorkies, think Jeff is a swell dude and I have to agree. He's PRIME in the Queen's eyes, even if he did set the bar on fire (literally) one night at 6° Lounge. That was a hall-of-fame spectacle.

The Second Annual Houston Press Halloween Parade will take place on Saturday, October 29th, in the Downtown Entertainment District from 6 to 10PM. This year's event, featuring the theme "Haunted Hollywood," will include a parade, a costume contest featuring prize packages worth more than $10,000 including Continental Airline tickets, celebrity judges, live entertainment from The Band Not Formerly Known As KISS, the ultimate Kiss tribute band and MUCH more. For info, go to www.deda.org.

This Friday, the Society for Performing Arts presents the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at Wortham Center's Cullen Theater with the after-party at 6° Lounge, M Bar and Opus. For information, click on

http://www.spurdigital.com/clients/SPA/email/email.html

October 21st is also the one-year anniversary party for 6° Lounge, so don't miss it!

The Meridian (1503 Chartres) will have Social Distortion on Sunday, October 30th with Mest and the Dead 60's, and then the Bartender's Halloween Ball on October 31st with Supagroup (from New Orleans,) Dixie Witch (Dallas,) Drunken Thunder (Houston/Austin,) Hognose (San Marcos) and the Blacknovas (Austin.) There will be a burlesque show and a costume contest with cash prizes for most original, most slutty, and most gory. The cover is $10.00 for 21+, and $15.00 for 18-20 year olds. I have extra invitations that get you in free entry and FREE BOOZE! Email me if you want one, my supply is limited, so hurry. Email the Queen, Click Here. More Halloween events later in this newsletter.

Saffron's One-Year Anniversary Party is on Wednesday October 26th from 7 to 11PM at 2006 Lexington. The lovely Sahira will give belly dance lessons followed by a belly dancing contest. First place wins a dinner for six in the Kasbah Room. There will be a $10 cover at the door. Saffron will be offering complimentary mojitos, sangria, pompars and a delicious buffet of the most popular items on the menu. On the patio, shop the Moroccan Bazaar. Accessorize with jewelry, purses, belts, sashes, shirts and much more to add that extra touch to your Moroccan costume, or get in the mood with a henna tattoo. RSVP by calling 713-522-3562. Citysearch gives Saffron a fat, juicy 9.7 rating, so that's means the place is EXCELLENT! The Queen loves it too. Kisses and hugs to Ryan, Pamela, Julio and Rebecca!

NEWS IN THE BIZ: Mia Bella and Saffron owner, Youssef Nafaa's newest concept, Coco's Crepes and Coffee is located in Midtown at 218 Gray. Come savor the flavors from Europe's finest palate with a hefty boost from Houston's boldest Espresso Roast, CoCo's Espresso. Joel Hernandez, a QOC reader, said that The Sky Club and Bar at 2710 Richmond is a cool sports bar. I haven't been yet, but will put it on my "to-do" list, here's their link so you can sign up for event notices www.theskyclubandsportsbar.com. Need to buy ads in the Houston Press? You'll be well taken care of if you contact Angie Pete at 713-280-2457 or angie.pete@houstonpress.com. DJ Surain spins at M Bar on Friday and Saturday, at Berryhill (Montrose location) on Sunday, and hosts his Loft Project Party once a month. I was reading some of those interesting, but worthless fun facts and did you know turtles can breathe through their butts? Interesting.

START PLANNING FOR HALLOWEEN: Next week's issue will feature more Halloween events. DJ Lucky LaRue shared this fun virtual pumpkin-carving site with me, so check it out: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/sabotage/pumpkin_carve.asp. After you finish reading my newsletter, visit www.theambassadorsclub.org for more scoop about the 9th annual Halloween Gala with DJ D'Lux. This year's spectacular event will be at the Hilton Post Oak (new venue, no longer at Clyde Drexler's place.) This party has always supported the Toys for Tots, which is one of my favorite charities. The Red Lion Pub will host their annual Halloween Bash on October 29th. This year's theme is Vicars and Tarts, with a $100 cash prize to each best Vicar and Tart costumes, see www.redlionhouston.com. Hey, for more details about Halloween events, you should also go to last week's newsletter on my web site and see what I told ya'll about in that issue (if you missed it.) There's a Halloween Contest and Costume Ball on the 29th at Club Havana (818 Travis) $300 cash prize will be awarded to the first place winner in guys or girls categories. DJ TGray will be at the wheel. Havana is a Latin themed club that features dark woods, high ceilings, colorful walls and the odd bongo strewn for the effects. It's very relaxed, yet upbeat as well. There is plenty of room to dance, drink and there are two V.I.P. rooms. It has a magnificent sound system that will blow you away. As far as the service goes, there are 8 bartenders, 3 huge bars and 3 fabulous cocktail waitresses for your convenience. For more details about the Halloween Bash at Havana, click to www.HaladayBoyz.SmugMug.com. Crome (2815 Shepherd) is hosting a HOGGS AND HOES Halloween Party on the 29th. The place is AMAZING, see www.cromelounge.com. Here's MY pick for HalloweenSWANK AND SPANK at 6° Lounge (911 Franklin.) Suggested attire is Fetish wear (that's the spank) formalwear (that's the swank) or Halloween costumes (that's a given!) Entertainment will include two performances by Concrete Rose Cabaret and of course, DJ 606 will be in the mix! The monthly SPOILED BOYZ after-hours party starts in the wee hours after the festivities on the 29th, at Hue. The Spoiled Boyz parties are supreme, see www.spoiledboyz.net. Promoters and bar owners out there, send me details on your Halloween events for the next issue. Send to kim@sixdl.com.

There is a V.I.L. Party (Very Important Ladies Night) at Next on Thursday, October 20th. They have giveaways from Carrabba's, H2O Car Spa, Thairapy Salon and Spa, and many others for the ladies that night. Also, all ladies present can register to receive a Ladies Only VIP card for the club, which will be good on any night of the week except special events. And all cardholders can take advantage of nightly drink specials specially exclusively for them. All unescorted ladies receive free valet all night long, so go to Next (2020 McKinney) to get the royal treatment, ladies. From 10PM to 11PM on the 20th, all the ladies will receive complimentary cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose L'Orange and Swift Productions.

The Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction, which will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, will be on November 10th from 6-9PM at Live Sports Bar (405 Main.) Jason is my favorite doorman there, so give him a hug for me when you see him. He usually has a tobacco dip in his lip, so don't try to smooch with him, ladies. If you would like to be auctioned off for this vital charity fundraiser, then please contact one of the coolest society newsletters in town, the Goch Gazette (www.gochgazette.com) and Lisa or Andrea will put you in touch with them and you might be added to the list. Plan on coming by LIVE on November 10th to watch the fun and bid on some great bachelors, bachelorettes and silent auction prizes. The finest independent Access TV Talk Show host, my newsletter sponsor, cutie-pie Charles Snider will emcee the event.

Watch football every Sunday at Sliders (1424 Westheimer) and enjoy $2.00 drafts, $3 daiquiris and $2.75 wells along with Mark Eric's 4-pepper hot salsa. Who doesn't love that Marc Eric? EVERYONE DOES! Doors open at 11:45AM.

Like music? Check out a quick four-minute presentation here http://www.linkcore.com. This is about www.burnlounge.com. If interested, you may want to navigate through an example of what your sight will look like if you participate, at www.burnlounge.com/yoj. Email what you think about Burn Lounge to Donny Smith at dws1978@excite.com.