San Diego: beautiful people, sandy beaches, amazing weather – and flakes. And I’m not talking about snowflakes or cornflakes or even dandruff flakes. It seems that part of the laid-back San Diego experience includes coming in contact with people who don’t seem to have any sense of time or value the importance of keeping a date with someone. Almost everyone I meet around town tells me the only thing they hate about living here is the “flake factor.” Being a native San Diegan, it has really never bothered me much until recently. As much as I hate to admit it, I have been guilty of flaking on a number of occasions.

My friend Adrian brought this topic up recently after his experience planning a big graduation party for our mutual fag hag, Monica. The Sunday affair included an afternoon of eating, drinking and merriment at Urban Mo’s, followed by a trip to Rich’s for their huge Memorial Day event. The whole crew was invited, and we were all excited about our Sunday night plans. But then my boy-toy of the week and I decided to plan a last-minute jaunt up to San Francisco, which put us on Adrian’s “flake list.” By Sunday morning, 10 people who had originally confirmed had flaked.

I felt terrible for Monica, so I put together a big group of people to take her out to Bourbon Street and Rich’s for their Voltage party the following Saturday. (No one flakes on the Barfly.)

But while at Bourbon Street that night, Adrian and I got to talking. We realized that almost everyone we know, including ourselves, flakes on at least one person each night out. You know you’ve done it too, by double or triple booking your evening. Your “kind-of-fun friend” calls and says, “Hey, let’s go out to Flicks tonight.” You’re not sure if you’re feeling the Flicks vibe – you might want to go dance, you might want to go downtown, you just can’t decide – so you tell him you’ll meet him at 9:30. Then your cute, straight girlfriend calls and says: “Oh my god, we’re gonna party it up with these hot dudes at Belo downtown tonight. You have to come!” You think, “Hmm, hot straight guys, fun straight girls who think you’re the cutest thing around, and a different scene for a change.” So you tell her: “Sure, why not? I’ll meet you there at 10.” And then your whore friend calls and wants to party all night long, and that sounds fun too. You’ll meet him at 11, you decide.

But then evening comes around and it’s time to choose. You’ve got yourself into such a quandary that you almost want to just ignore everyone’s calls altogether. So you flake on two of the three. You choose the whore (of course), meet him at Club Montage and ignore the calls of the “kind-of-fun friend” and the straight girl. They drunk dial you in the middle of the night cussing you out, but you had to do it! A good gay boy has to keep his options open. Moral of the story is: Everyone says they hate flaky San Diego boys. The problem is we all do it!

And now that summer has officially hit, things get even flakier, but it really is the most fabulous time of the year to be in San Diego. As we hit the Fourth of July weekend and approach Pride, our bars and clubs are bursting with fun, sexy events.

Speaking of sexy events, Club Papi is coming back to San Diego. Not only will Papi be hosting a “Super Sexy and Special Pre-Fourth of July Papi Party” on Tuesday, July 3, at Club Montage, but it will also be introducing a weekly club night in San Diego. San Francisco’s No. 1 weekly Latin party, “¡Pan Dulce!” will now be at Bacchus House every Friday night starting June 22. ¡Pan Dulce! will include sexy Papi dancers, music, drink specials and complimentary appetizers from Baja Betty’s. This will be the newest Latin night to hit the San Diego scene, and will certainly be one of the hottest! Check it out at www.clubpapi.com.

And since we’re on the topic of sexy Latin clubs, be sure to check out the grand opening of Tijuana’s hottest spot, Fusion Club, on Saturday, June 23. The legendary Club Extasis has “fused” with neighboring Bar Caguamamas to bring you a whole new concept! Opening night will include the “Cirque du So-Gay Show,” two dance floors, the super-sexy strippers and go-go boys, the popular darkroom and maze that we’ve all heard so much about (be careful in there, boys), a drag show and much more. Take the short trip south of the border and check out the new Fusion Club!

Also on my agenda is the upcoming One Year Reunion party at Club Montage. Yes, the new Club Montage has been open for one year! This very special night will be held on Saturday, June 30, with a live performance by Simone Denny, with DJ Scotty K. on the turntables. The evening will also be a fund-raiser for San Diego’s Youth Housing Project. So come out, celebrate and support this very worthy cause! More information about Club Montage can be found at www.clubmontage.com.

Speaking of anniversaries, Redwing is celebrating its one year anniversary this Saturday, June 23. Congratulations Redwing!

And I could certainly keep going! Have fun this summer, play safe and don’t be such a flake! Contact me via editor@uptownpub.com.