The Martini Mix-off #4 at the Ruby Room last week was a huge success. Congrats to the top three winners Jennifer from Slainte, Brad from St. Pete's and LeaErin from the Ruby Room. Special kudos to the rest of the competitors, Kyle from Milan, Gary from 6°, Nell from 6° and Market Square and Denver from Lonestar. Brittney and Kristen were supreme bartendresses and DJ Thumpa rocked the house. The next competition will be in June at Milan (809 Congress) and I'll start talking about it with more details very soon.

Gimme a BREAK! The Society for the Performing Arts (S.P.A.) is bringing the world's best to Houston, the sensational hip-hop dance ensemble of BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular, Friday, April 28th at 7PM in Jones Hall. Back by popular demand, BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular returns to Houston with its impressive crew of talented dancers. The cast members perform unconventional and fresh movements backed by various types of music including funk, rap, hip-hop and soul. BREAK! explores the history of hip-hop dancing over the last 30 years with such styles as break-dance, lock, electric boogaloo or popping, bucket drumming, DJ-ing, power tumbling and spinning (on heads and hands). Colorful backdrops, stage designs and props create a specific atmosphere and environment for each dance segment, making for a hip-hoppin' theatrical experience for the whole family to enjoy. I'll be at the show. The company's electrifying performance has received standing ovations across five continents. These talented performers have worked with such artists as Madonna, Janet Jackson, 50 Cent, P. Diddy, Ringo Starr, and several have appeared on the big screen in the movie "You Got Served." Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org or by phone at 713-227-4SPA. For groups of 15 or more call 713-632-8113 and speak to Michael Coppens.

Get "RETROactive" every Friday night at Fusion Fridays at Rich's (2401 San Jacinto.) Marc Nicholson, is a DJ here in Houston who has worked in clubs all over the city (1415, Milan, Union, etc.) He has also worked radio broadcasts (8-0 RETRO on 106.9 live from Drink Houston) and now he has a new gig on Friday nights at Rich's for 80's music fans like me! He mixes it up with current club tracks to dance to. Click to this link for all of the details: http://richs-houston.com/community.html.

Bayou City Outdoors is hosting the "Houston is Too Cool, Bike Ride Part One" is on May 7th. Houston is a city of really nice and really unique people. Plus, the lack of zoning allows lots of people to express themselves. From houses made of beer cans to flower power, gigantic president heads to billionaire graves, art cars to movie studios, Houston really does have it all. This bike ride is part one of a three part series, because Houston just wasn't able to keep all this coolness to one little part. The group will meet at Diedrich Coffee (1901 Westheimer) Please park on the surrounding streets and be sure to check for parking/no parking signs. The group will meet on the bike friendly, outside patio at 8:00AM for coffee and then leave at 8:30AM and arrive back by 11AM. Look for the yellow Bayou City Outdoors table sign. Bring sunscreen & water! Free for everyone. Join BCO today and get your second month FREE, use CODE: HUE06. For details or to RSVP go to www.BayouCityOutdoors.com or call 713-524-3567.

Hiking is great exercise, and you don't have to drive outside of the city to find great trails. There are flat trails, hills, and woods to hike along sections of Houston's Buffalo Bayou. On May 13th, Bayou City Outdoors will maintain an easy to moderate pace, with snack and water stops (bring your own), bat viewing and art and sculpture viewing, the hike is approximately 6 to 8 miles long. At the end of the hike you will have worked hard, made new friends and discovered all sorts of secret Houston hideaways along the Buffalo Bayou in this Bayou city. The group meet at Cleveland Park on the north side of Memorial Drive. There should be parking along the park and street for free. Meet 8:00AM, leave at 8:30 and arrive back by 12:30PM. Look for the yellow Bayou City Outdoors t-shirt and sign, bring sunscreen and water. For details or to RSVP go to www.BayouCityOutdoors.com or call 713-524-3567.

MYSPACE NEWS: I'm kinda tired of Tila Tequila. She's a tiny bit over-rated. I'm not being a hater, either. Anyone else out there agree? But, hey, if she makes millions by being a self-proclaimed "myspace whore," more power to her, I guess. Here's my group, if you want to join: http://groups.myspace.com/houstonqueenofclubs. If you are not already my friend on myspace, click to my page and add me http://myspace.com/houstonqueenofclubs. Mark-Eric Cerda (resident hunk at Slider's) is FINALLY on myspace. Here's his link: http://www.myspace.com/fantastapotomous. I'm pimping him out so he can add friends and make up for lost time he wasn't on myspace. I also ran into an old friend on myspace, Vivian, who gets more beautiful each year, see http://www.myspace.com/missbig5. Viv also owns an agency called Texas Models, see http://texasmodels.net/.

The Upper Hand (River Oaks location) is having a Girls' Night Out and they want to invite all of the QOC reader to attend on Tuesday April 25th from 6:30 to 8:30PM at 1905 Westheimer (next door to Diedrich's Coffee.) You should RSVP by calling 713-520-0772. Light appetizers and drinks will be served. One lucky guest will receive the new Jan Marini Skin Research Age Intervention Eyelash product (valued at $160) that re-grows and even improves upon your own lashes. You can receive 10% off of any purchase you make during this Girls Night Out Event! Visit http://www.theupperhand.com/.

Use your marketing skills to make a difference in the life of an Exchange Student and in the life of a family. Recruit caring, volunteer host families for students to live with during their time in America. Coordinate with schools to gain enrollment for the students. Oversee students during their stay. This is a paid position for a non-profit organization working part-time from home. You also have the opportunity to earn an all expense trip to the annual conference. This year, the trip will be to Barcelona, Spain. To apply for this position, please email your resume to TexasCCI@aol.com. If you do not have a resume, email a little information about yourself, indicating your interest in the program.

April 19th: Alley Theatre Singles Group Happy Hour at St. Pete's Dancing Marlin 5:30PM April 20th: SKIN party at the Whiskey (inside the Icon Hotel, 220 Main) 9PM April 22nd: www.predating.com event at St. Pete's Dancing Marlin see www.predating.com April 22nd: DJ Triple G at Axis Nightclub in Katy. See http://axiskaty.com/ April 25th: 002 Magazine presents the Grand Opening of Vitalis Spa at 2513 W. University at 5PM. Complimentary appetizers by the Post Oak Grill, see www.vitalismedicalspa.com April 28th: BREAK! Presented by the Society of Performing Arts 7PM April 29th: Queen of Clubs Newsletter 50th edition party at 6° Lounge (911 Franklin) 10PM May 5th: The Grand Opening of El Patio (Club No Minors, too) at 2416 Brazos Street May 5th: Houston Single Source Cinco de Mayo Club Crawl (Twelve Spot, St. Pete's Dancing Marlin and 6° Lounge) 5PM-11PM, two hours at each spot, appetizers provided and drink specials. May 7th: Bayou City Outdoors Bike Ride see www.bayoucityoutdoors.com to register or get details May 10th: 8minutedating.com event at St. Pete's Dancing Marlin (300 Main) pre-register at 8minutedating.com. Direct questions to jesselyn.purvey@8minutedating.com May 12th: Barstool Magazine Issue Release Party at a38 (2204 Louisiana) May 13th: Crave Houston Urban Bus Adventure, see www.cravepartyhouston.com (I'll devote a paragraph to this event in next week's QOC edition.)