It’s so good to be in America’s Finest City for the month of January. Besides taking a few trips out of town for the sneak preview of Dreamgirls (yes, I’m gay and black), most of my time has been spent enjoying some of what San Diego has to offer.

The producers of the Ms. San Diego Leather Contest are gearing up for their first fund-raiser, “Sugar and Spikes.” The dessert auction and kinky fashion show will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Rubber Rose on Ray Street. There will be yummy desserts and even yummier auctioneers and fashion for you to enjoy. It’s sure to be an evening of fun, with hot men and women to look at and drool over. You can bid on the desserts and get a hot and hopefully hung man to serve you. The Ms. San Diego Leather Contest will take place on March 8, and there will be more details on that later.

Since we’re talking about eating, the Lumberjack Grille continues to feed hungry bears on Thursday evenings, and any place that can deal with those appetites has to be good or at least have huge portions. Speaking of the Lumberjack, does Mike ever go home? And why is he always so pleasant? Restaurant owners are supposed to be difficult, arrogant, demanding queens. Come on, Mike, throw a plate or something already.

For all your leather needs, you can’t beat Pleasures & Treasures. There’s new stuff, stuff on consignment, an art gallery and they rent slings. What more could you want? P&T is located next door to the soon-not-to-be bathhouse. This is going to be my “how I love San Diego” article, so I won’t go off about the closing of another place men can have sex in San Diego except to say fuck!

The San Diego Eagle is still the premier leather bar in San Diego, and a big congrats to Sir Nicolas and the staff for putting up with bitchy, cranky, unpleasant, impossible to please, never-have-anything-good-to-say leather and non-leather people. Non-leather equals drag queens, drag nuns, fag hags, men in flip flops or anyone else who makes you want to drink more than you should. The Redwing Bar & Grill on 30th St. has been doing its thing under the heavy hand of Adam Latham. Adam is another one of those titleholders who never goes away and is involved in everything “leather.” He’s also a “top’s top,” so go over to Redwing and have him pour you “girly” drinks with umbrellas and sugar on the rim. He loves that! Really, he does!

You can’t spend a weekend in San Diego without experiencing Pecs. The layout is a bit funky and if there’s more than a few bears in there – it’s too crowded. Also, they have pizza on Sunday night after The Hole, so you know they’ll be more than a few bears in there – which means it’s too crowded. Just get there early, stake out your spot and pray you don’t have to take a piss. If you do, save yourself the lines and find a bottle or a yellow hanky.

Of course, there’s L.L. Bear on the third Saturday of the month at Rich’s. According to that skinny chick on “The View,” dancing is the best way to stay in shape. Some of the bears and leathermen have obviously taken this to heart and have been bumping and grinding themselves into a sweaty mass of fur month after month. A few more nights at Rich’s and we’ll all look like a 240-lb. black ex-football Hall of Famer.

Speaking of the hall of fame, the San Diego Leather Awards are coming up on Feb. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arts & Entertainment Center, which is located at 3026 University Ave. San Diego has so many people who work hard in the community year after year and never get thanked. Sometimes you have to just know you’re loved and appreciated and take part in celebrating the newer people who followed your lead and are now being recognized.

The San Diego Eagle Mr. Leather Contest will follow the awards on Feb. 3 at the Eagle. Mr. Eagle will go on to represent at the Mr. San Diego Leather Contest on March 17. The Eagle has produced some great leather folks in the past years, so go in and talk to one of the staff if you’re up to the challenge of playing a leadership role in your community.

Continue to enjoy the new year, and I hope you’re all over the cold, flu, allergies, tricks or whatever you may have picked during the holiday season.

Remember, my deadline is two weeks before the issue hits the stands. You can write me at inthepitsd@aol.com. I’ll look for the hate mail from the “non-leather” folks – starting now!