During the week just after Chicago Gay Pride in late June, the legendary Second City Chicago is offering a week-long immersion course at its acclaimed Second City Training Center that aims to teach aspiring comic scribes the fine art of gay humor. This new course, "Writing GLBT Comedy," is led by the head of Second City Training Center's writing program, Andy Eninger, whose developed a following for his work with GayCo Productions--this summer he's also appearing in a cheeky new production, Steamworks! The Musical, at Chicago's Annoyance Theater. Eninger's course runs from June 25 through June 29, 2012, from 10 am until 1 pm each day. This is a pretty cool opportunity to train with the improv-based sketch-comedy company from which such talents as Joan Rivers, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Farley, Steve Carell, Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Jack McBrayer, and Tina Fey (to name just a few) have graduated.

For more on Gay Pride weekend in Chicago, read my preview of this hugely popular event. Second City is located in the Old Town Triangle neighborhood, a couple of miles southeast of the city's most celebrated gay neighborhood, Lakeview, and about 5 miles south of hip and GLBT-popular Andersonville - check out our guide to these two lively neighborhoods, as well as the more general Gay Guide to Chicago.

You can view a carefully curated collection of some 200 garments designed by legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent at "Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective", running now through July 8 at the highly regarded Denver Art Museum. Saint Laurent, who died in 2008, reached the height of fame during the '60s and '70s, as his daring creations of haute couture dovetailed perfectly with the Sexual Revolution. The designer made up half of one of the most celebrated gay couples of the era, with romantic and business partner Pierre Bergé. This critically acclaimed show at the Denver Art Museum presents designs spanning his entire career, from the late '50s to the early 2000s. If you're in the area this spring, also check out a couple of additional notable exhibitions at the museum: "Focus: Robert Motherwell" is on through May 27; and "Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection" runs through June 17.

A couple of gay-popular Denver hotels are offering special deals in conjunction with the Saint Laurent Retrospective. The funky Curtis Hotel-A Doubletree by Hilton, which is within easy walking distance of the art museum, has created the "Curtis Couture - Make it Work!" package, which includes accommodations, a bottle of champagne and a fashion mag on arrival, buffet breakfast for two, self or valet parking, and two VIP "break the line" tickets for the Saint Laurent exhibition, all starting at $199, and available through July 8.

A short drive from the museum in the fashionable Cherry Creek retail and entertainment district, a hub of high-end shopping, the elegant JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek is offering the "Cherry Creek Couture Getaway". Beginning at $359 per night and also running through July 8, the deal includes accommodations, two VIP tickets to the exhibition, a $100 gift card for shops at Cherry Creek North, free valet parking, and a $25 credit at the on-site restaurant, Second Home Kitchen + Bar. For more ideas on where to stay in Denver, visit my Denver Guide to Gay-Friendly Hotels and B&Bs.

Spring and early summer are beautiful times to visit vibrant Denver, which hosts its huge Denver Gay Pride celebration the weekend of June 16 and 17. Check out my Denver Gay Gallery for advice on gay bars, cool restaurants, and top attractions.

Arguably the capital of LGBT parties and fundraisers, Miami Beach will host the 13th annual Aqua Girl weekend from May 2 through May 6. This five-day blow-out raises enormous amounts of money each year, with 100% of proceeds going to the Aqua Foundation for Women, which funds wellness and rights for lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders through a variety of grants, scholarships, and other efforts. The party comes on the heels of a busy April for the LGBT community in Miami, which featured Miami Gay Pride as well as the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the latter event actually wrapping up the same weekend as Aqua Girl (ending on May 6).

Aqua Girl events include a Spotlight Film and After Party on Wednesday, May 2; the Traffic Jam party on May 3 at Dream Nightclub; a Splash Pool Party at the Surfcomber Resort on Friday, May 4; a comic performance by Jessica Kirson on May 4; the Havana Nights party on May 4 at Nikki Beach; the Beach House party during the day of May 5 at the Surfcomber, the Odyssey Party on May 5 at Grand Central in Miami proper; a Brunch Serenade on Sunday, May 6 at the Hotel Victor; the Aqualicious Tea Dance on Sunday; and a closing Afterglow party at Score Nightclub in Miami Beach.

The fab Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel is the host venue for the weekend, and special rates are available there, as well as on American Airlines.

Home to one of the largest Gay Pride events in the country, Long Beach, California has two great new events in store for this year's Pride weekend festivities on May 19 and 20. The legendary ocean liner the Queen Mary, which for many years has been docked permanently in Long Beach as a distinctive hotel, is hosting to GLBT parties. The biggest gathering, the Poseidon party, takes place on the Saturday night (May 19) of Pride weekend in the ship's three-story event space, which has been fashioned out of a former boiler room.

On this night, from 7 pm until 2 am, the Poseidon party revs up with music by DJs Manny Lehman and Scotty K, as well as hot go-go dancers, aerial performers, and a live concert by pop star Amannda, known for her hit "The Only One." Tickets to this party cost $50.

On Sunday morning, the Queen Mary will host a Pride Sunday brunch, with music by DJ Kimberly S, from 9 am until 2 pm - the cost is $24.95, and this includes a buffet meal, and gratis bloody Mary or mimosa.

You can stay on this grand old ship, enjoying the GLBT parties, by booking the Proud Mary Pride Weekend package, which includes two nights' accommodations, and tickets to Saturday's Poseidon party and Sunday's Pride brunch - rates begin at $229, and you can tack Sunday and Monday nights for just $79. Here's more information on the famed Queen Mary.