Boom calendar launched at party

The “Men of Laguna Beach” 2008 Calendar will be “launched” officially at a party from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 20 at Stylistic Intervention, 381 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

Many of the calendar models will attend, including first-place winner Caleb King and second place-finisher Gustavo Marzolla, according to organizers.

“We are extremely proud of how well the calendar came out, especially because it was an all-volunteer effort,” said Fred Karger, founder of Save the Boom, stated in a press release.

Karger is working to keep the historic Boom Boom Room gay bar open in Laguna Beach.

Proceeds from the sales of the calendar will go to support the Boom effort, the Laguna Beach Resources Center and the Laguna Beach HIV Advisory Board.

More than 50 people volunteered to make the calendar possible.

The final 12 were selected from 35 men who tried out at an open casting of gay and straight men on July 7 at the Boom.

The field was narrowed to 20 and then to the final 12.

All 20 finalists appeared on AOL’s QueerSighted.com, which has had 1.5 million page views and 570,000 votes cast, as well as a vote in the Coastline Pilot.

A panel of judges then picked the 12 men, one for each month, and awarded the top finishers cash prizes.

The calendars are now on sale on line at www.menoflagunabeach.com and at select stores in Laguna Beach.