I was sipping my organic breakfast tea in Java Detour last night around seven o'clock when a couple of squad cars screeched up out front and two burly sheriffs began to shut-down traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Terrorists on the prowl? A sniper in our midst?
Intrigued, I sauntered outside - at which point - I spied a rag-tag band of motorcyclists in the distance making their way ceremoniously down the street in the distance.
Ah, the Dyke parade!
Each year, according to tradition, a band of spunky gay women jump on their choppers and flout their overt sexual outness through the streets of West Hollywood just at dusk before the big splashy weekend gets underway.
Whoa, some of those tooled-up wheels put the Hell's Angel's toys to shame!
As usual, a raucous crowd of enthusiasts strode along behind the rabble-rousers with a myriad of fanciful signs etched with ubiquitous "of the moment" slogans.
A handful were inclined to pump up their fists when a cheer shot up from the crowds on the sidelines.
Yes, this ballsy little event kicks off Gay Pride each year.
As the motley group wrapped up at the festival grounds across from the Sheriff's Department, boisterous girls were inclined to rustle up mugs of beer and go chug-a-lug.
As I strolled through the revellers - one middle-aged gent caught sight of me - and dashed up excitedly.
"Gee, you and I are the only two guys, here," he gushed.
True.
Dave Letterman would have been in hog heaven in this lesbo oasis, fer sure.
For the most part, the marchers consisted of a bevy of nubile young ladies, hot-to-trot.
As I headed off for a late-night snack, I couldn't help but notice last-minute preparations being made by shop-keepers around the neighborhood in anticipation of the gala extravaganza heading their way.
Quite a few city workers were dashing about constructing chain-link fences here and there in a bold-faced effort to ensure the "masses" would be coralled once they started to stream into Boys Town in the next few hours.
WEHO is a tony enclave that Bette Davis - once a penthouse resident just up-a-ways from the Director's Guild of America - was inclined to affectionately nick-name "Gay Gulch" years ago.
And, it stuck.
A new retail outlet (at San Vicente next to Rage) was putting a few final flourishes on a swimsuit boutique (featuring Aussie Baum) they're hoping will rake in big bucks this weekend.
Yes, over the next couple of days, an influx of cash is going to boost the local economy once the half-a-million or so party-goers in festive rainbow colors start storming the town.
For thrill-seekers and the uninitiated the experience is sure to be a "heady" one.
After all, both E-Entertainment and MTV have dubbed West Hollywood the "hippest two square miles on the planet".
Just imagine the trouble mischief-makers (and the sexually prolific) can get into over the next 36 hours!
Some pre-party excitement was going down at "The Abbey" last eve where a pride of go-go boys was gyrating in skimpy bikini-style skivvies with a glut of greenbacks hanging out.
In fact, all the sizzling hot watering holes on the strip were overflowing with efferevescent gays clinking cocktail glasses and dancing up a storm amid dazzling laser-light shows.
Of course, there was much to celebrate.
The California Supreme Court just upheld a ruling to allow gay marriage in the State.
Undoubtedly, a few couples will be out to toast each other in anticipation of the day they'll tie the knot mid-June, or so.
Meanwhile, a raft of players - without significant others - may be scouting the party landcape for potential mates.
No matter what the perspective, the diversity and pride of the dynamic gay and lesbian population in Los Angeles will once again be celebrated without hesitation during the 38th annual Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender PRIDE celebration.
June 6th thru the 8th
Produced by Christopher Street West (a non-profit organization), LA PRIDE is one of the largest Pride Celebrations in the United States for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Celebrating the culmination of its three-year theme - "Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE."- LA PRIDE 2008's focal point is all about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community and the world around you.
The Grand Marshall for the parade will be Stephanie Miller.
LA PRIDE 2008 will feature booths, food, exhibits, dance pavilions, and live entertainment.
After the big parade on Sunday (1/2 million folks are expected to join in) popular chanteuse - Olivia Newton John - will appear on the Main Stage. (June 8th)
The Festival continues to break new ground with an entertainment line-up on the WaMu® Mainstage and a myriad of LGBT community favorites.
Festival-goers will once again see the inclusion of a dozen or so Cultural Partners at the Festival, a myriad of incredible theatrical and amazing musical organizations who have joined in support of the LGBT community.
This year's Parade will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Channel 10 in West Hollywood and streamed on the web at LAPRIDE.org/webcast.
The broadcast will be taped at the new location at the Veterans Memorial triangle at Santa Monica Blvd and Holloway.
The Parade Grandstand will once again accommodate Honorees, LGBT leaders, officials, and VIP guests, set amidst the broadcast crew.
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