Time Again to Say May <i> Oui</i> to Clubs

Those of you in club land can thank your lucky celestial bodies for May. Besides trumpeting the end of spring semester for many college-age movers and shakers, it’s when promoters finally start rolling out events worthy of our time, money and fancy footwork.

Start by inking in the Empire Ballroom’s first anniversary weekend fest. The festivities will span two nights--Friday and Saturday--though the party will probably begin on Thursday with the unbelievably popular Disco 2000.

Fans of D2000’s promoter and vinyl master Beej Ryan can catch him during the weekend event spinning alongside KRLA’s Manny Pacheco. A diet of old school dance is obviously on the menu, so come ready to shake your groove thang.

If you like a side of punk with your disco, go Friday for a live performance by Hed. With this mix, it’s no shocker that local eye-wear makers Black Flys are co-hosting the event.

On Saturday, Irvine fashion house Mossimo takes over as sponsor. The night should be Studio 54 with a generous dose of camp, courtesy of Sweet Polyester & the Platforms. It’s a band, but you’re encouraged to don the stuff too.

Cover both nights is $10, but flyers that let you get in two for the price of one are available at the Mossimo store in South Coast Plaza, and the House of Flys, next to Rock N Java in Newport Beach.

(Empire Ballroom is at 640 W. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (714) 722-6100. Cover is $10.)

*

The Los Angeles and Orange county scenes will unite on Memorial Day weekend for a celebration of life, heroism and raging.

While Memorial Day is set aside to remember this country’s war heroes, one battle that continues daily today is the fight against AIDS. Manny Rodriguez and deejay Eddie X of the Temple in Hollywood present their first Heroes Weekend to pay tribute to the individuals in the community who’ve made their mark in the entertainment, arts and sports worlds and have helped in the battle against AIDS.

Olympic gold winner Greg Louganis and the late David Coles of C&C; Music Factory (who made his fame, among other roles, as producer for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan and Martha Wash) are among this year’s heroes. Surprise honors will also be extended to local artists on each evening.

The fete unfurls May 27 at the Temple with a live show by Wash, an old school pop diva. The after-hours gig coincides with the Temple’s third annual skirt party, where everyone--male and female--grapples with the hemline issue.

Locally, Roxbury South will stage Night 2 on May 28. The “Out to Sea” theme spurs guests to go nautical or, at the very least, dress as you would on a sultry day at the beach. Rodriguez promises “a steamy time.”

The evening should be a hot one with deejay Manny Leeman and Eddie X, go-go dancers and those theatrical Klub Kids that always make the scene.

Benefiting from all this conviviality--and the $15 cover--is event co-sponsor LifeBeat, an organization that knocks on the music industry’s doors to donate talent, money and other resources to raise money for AIDS research and services.

(Roxbury South is at 2 Hutton Center, Santa Ana. (714) 662-0880. Event hot line is (213) 243-5221. Cover is $15.)