A-LISTS community spotlight by david vera
PILLAR OF PRIDE - CHRIS SHAW
You don’t have to have been born here in order to know what community pride
really means. Having lived in San Diego since 1967, business owner and Pride Board Member, Chris Shaw feels like a native—and in many ways he truly is. “I have been with my life partner Doug Snider for 27 years (with whom I am still
madly in love). We have lived in the same house for 27 years and have had the same business for 18 years (Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill)…I love my life, I love the people I work with and I love Hillcrest.” Most of us share at least this last sentiment, but Shaw is a firm believer in giving back to his community—not only in monetary support but also with time, energy and sharing knowledge. “We all have to do our part if we want to live in a great community. You can’t just
sit back and wait for it to happen. My first San Diego Pride event was back in 1980 (yes, 30 years ago). We served beer all day at one of the very first Pride festivals. Volunteering gives you a sense of satisfaction…But why just take my word for it? Only you have the power to benefit the community with your time, knowledge and resources.” The San Diego Pride Parade and Festival is a perfect example of this and, accord-
ing to Shaw, it gives all of us an opportunity to collectively “come out” and show our distinction. “We all stand as one, proud of who we are, acknowledging how far we have come and be part of creating a better future. For me, it’s a very emotional event. My heart fills with so much gratitude and appreciation for who I am and where we have come from. When you volunteer for Pride you get hooked. Most of the volunteers come back year after year…and once you meet Cheli, the Director of Volunteers, you will know why. She is amazing; she not only makes it extremely rewarding, she also makes it a lot of fun. Give her a call at 619.297.7683 and see if you can be a fit for any of the volunteer positions that are available.” As far as other cities’ Pride festivities, it’s hard not to wonder how San Diego compares. “Some of my favorites are S.F., L.A., N.Y., Palm Springs, Long Beach…but San
Diego’s is the best, of course. You can’t beat the location, Balboa Park is the perfect setting and I love the way the parade ends right at the festival site. It’s a seamless transition from parade to festival. You get it all: food, entertainment, great music, dancing, shopping, beautiful people everywhere—what more can you ask for?” One of the best ways to stay up to date on the entertainment lineup at the Pride
festival is to become a fan on the official Facebook page. “Make sure you buy the two-day pass,” said Shaw. “You will not want to miss
anything. Advance tickets are $15 for a one-day pass and $25 for a two-day pass. You can get them online at
sandiegopride.org. Buy them early because they go up to $25 for the one-day and $30 for a two-day pass the day of the event.” First-time visitors at Pride might find the events schedule to be a bit overwhelm-
ing, but just imagine what our man, Chris, has to oversee every time this season rolls around. He’s not JUST a volunteer, you know! “I will probably be juggling my time between the restaurants (Urban Mo’s Bar
& Grill, Baja Betty’s and Gossip Grill) and the Pride events. This is the busiest time of year for the restaurants so I will have to spend a lot of time assisting them plus there are so many things happening at the festival that I want to see, so it’s going to be a FUN weekend.” It’s often customary to ask what a hard-working individual does to relax and get
away from the stressful daily grind. But Shaw simply doesn’t see his job that way. “I absolutely LOVE what I do. I have an INCREDIBLE staff and I’m always surrounded by so many great people. It doesn’t seem like work, it’s more like going in for a play day. My life motto is ‘Life is Good.’ On my off-time, Doug and I are avid boaters; we have a power boat that is always on the move exploring new places. It’s currently in Vancouver B.C. and we plan on spending most of the summer (after the Pride events, of course) up in the Alaska area.”
For more information on this year’s San Diego Pride parade and festival, visit
sandiegopride.org.
14
RAGE monthly | JUNE 2010
“For me, it’s a very emotional event. My heart fills with so much gratitude and apprecia- tion for who I am and where we have come from.”
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