SAN DIEGO -- French Impressionist painter Claude Monet created some of his most famous works of art depicting his gardens of Giverney in the 1890s. Many artists have been inspired by the images, and now San Diego Dance Theater choreographer Jean Isaacs is among them.

In creating work for the 11th annual Cabaret Dances, to be performed on Jan. 19-20, Isaacs is embracing the impressionist ethos that tries to capture an image that has only been “glimpsed” and is not detail oriented.

Rob Thompson, the popular and diversely-talented organic chemist/SDPIX and Rich’s cover model/go-go boy, will be having his big going away night this Saturday at Rich’s. Rob, aka Robsicle, aka Mr. Universal, is leaving us for a new life in Chicago. Naturally, we are sad … but we wish him all the best!

The theme for the night at Rich’s will be Popsicle, appropriately enough, with DJ Taj at the turntables.

Arrested opening night at Spin

I just returned from a vacation in Costa Rica, so I have an idea what Bloody Mary is singing about when she tries to get Lt. Cable to go to Bali Ha’i.

But Statesiders can visualize Bali Ha’i, inspect Bloody Mary’s handmade grass skirts and commiserate (or not) with the sailors and Seabees who long to be near a “girly, womanly, female, feminine dame” at the Welk Resorts Theatre, where Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic 1949 musical “South Pacific” plays through March 17. Joshua Carr directs.

Happy New Year everyone!

Now that 2012 is in the books, I thought it might be a good idea to reflect, take a look back and count down the Top 5 most popular Out & About columns from last year, based on the number of Internet “hits” they got. Starting with …

Number 5: “Huge gay guide to Halloween happenings”