Whew. Talk about diversity on the weekend party circuit: There were big wigs and stiletto heels, big hats and cowboy boots, big hopes and cute kids.

        Big hair and hiiiigh heels were all over the place at Red, Hot and Flaming, a Valentine's Day party Thursday at the new and very hopping Hamburger Mary's. It was a benefit of AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati.

        Lots of red glitter — especially on the drag queens — sparkled on sunglasses, shoes, eyelashes, bangs, balloons, angel wings, devil tails and most everything else in sight.

        Most of the action was on the bar side of the room, where more than 100 guests chowed down on an appetizer buffet, danced to mushy music and clapped long and loud for a swimwear fashion show from DonRod Ltd.

        A success? Here's how you know: Bartenders were literally running to keep up with drink orders.

        Big hats, boots, black ties and glitter gowns were the ensemble du jour Saturday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center for You're Still the One, where 575 Kentucky Symphony Orchestra supporters paid $85 for dinner, dancing and a KSO concert led by director James Cassidy.

        Some concert, that: It was country classics, arranged by Terry LaBolt and performed by an ensemble plucked from the KSO — the KSO Boogie Band, they called themselves.

        Looking mighty Garth-y, these guys actually sounded like a bunch of Nashville session guys ripping through “Rocky Top,” “Friends in Low Places,” “Thank God I'm a Country Boy,” “Crazy” and 30 or so others.

        And yeah, it was a dancing crowd. Some traditional, a bit of line dance, even a clogger or two.

        It was all about hope Saturdayat Hearts of Hope, a Boys Hope Girls Hope black-tie do at Paul Brown Stadium Club East. About 300 paid $55 each for a cocktail reception, filet and crab dinner and dancing.

        Oh, and to meet the BHGH kids, 20 of them ages 9 to 18. The group provides homes, education and college scholarships because the kids' families can no longer provide for them.

        Cute kids, too, all gussied up in blue blazers and khaki trousers. They had a crowd of admirers gathered around them all night.

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