A birthday party at The Abbey to remember…

I gotta get faster at posting photos to the site. I’m a week late with these but you know what they say, better late than never. I celebrated my b(earth)day on April 22 at The Abbey in West Hollywood (that’s me, pictured above with my favorite bartender, Matt) and thought I’d post some pics from the party which was attended by some really great friends who I wanted to introduce you to.

GAY MAFIA: Not everyone at the party was gay,. obviously, but we were well represented by this group of wonderful guys: (L-R) Jim Key, communications director for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center; Derrick Shore, a terrific broadcast journalist (and Jim’s boyfriend!); Greg Hernandez, editor and publisher of Greg In Hollywood; Ted Johnson, managing editor of Variety and author of the must-read Wilshire & Washington site; Michael Finnegan, political reporter for the LA Times; and (center) Mark Kellem, former editor of ValleyNews.com.

LADIES NIGHT: There were some pretty formidable ladies there too! (L-R) Sue Doyle, transportation writer for the LA Daily News; Julia Scott of the terrific Bargain Babe blog; and investigative reporter Beth Barrett who broke the story about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s extramarital affair while at the Daily News and is now a contributing writer to LA Weekly.

AN ARRESTING GUY: The handsome dude in the green shirt is Brent Hopkins, a wonderful friend who I worked with closely at the Daily News for six years. He left the paper a year ago to join the  LAPD! Yes, Brent went from being a reporter to a cop! Whatever he does, he does with class. Ditto his wife, Rebecca Hopkins, who is a teacher.

LIFE GOES ON: This is my pal Rachel Uranga who is also a former reporter from the Daily News. She left last fall to take a job as a spokeswoman for the ACLU. Rachel recently wrote a really terrific piece for Curbed Los Angeles about moving back in with a parent during these tough economic times.

THE GANG’S ALL HERE! (Top Row L-R) Alejandro Guzman, communications manager at L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce; Beth Barrett; publicist Harlan Bol, whose clients include Carol Channing, Florence Henderson and Tippi Hedren; photographer Brian Putnam who is at the epicenter of the West Hollywood social scene; (Bottom Row L-R) Sue Doyle, Ted Johnson, Greg Hernandez, Julia Scott; my buddy Evan Pondel who I sat right next to at the Daily News for five hilarious years; and (center) Karen Ocamb, the best reporter in the business when it comes to LGBT politics.

MISS TAYLOR WATCHES OVER US: I love the portrait of Elizabeth Taylor that hangs in The Abbey. Here she is in another group shot (I think you know who’s who by now!) BTW, the acting legend and AIDS activist does drop by the Abbey from time to time. I just hope I’m there next time she does it!

PARTING SHOTS: Above are Derrick Shore and Jim Key, not only a smart and good looking pair, but also very sweet guys (below) my pal Alejandro Guzman who is not afraid of a close-up!