Liberation Publications Inc. (LPI), and PlanetOut Corp. announced the termination of their previously announced letter of intent to merge the two companies. In the joint announcement on March 8, the companies said that during the period of time in which the letter of intent was in effect, the companies had made substantial progress in plans to integrate their resources. • However, the changes in the investment environment and the subsequent announcement of the merger of PlanetOut with Online Partners (Gay.com) caused both LPI and PlanetOut to first put their merger discussions on hold, and now to formally terminate them. "Offering quality media and services to our customers is our main goal, and we believe that working with LPI in a variety of ways continues to make sense in furthering that goal," said Megan Smith, CEO of PlanetOut. "While our current priority is a successful merger with Online Partners, we intend to continue working with LPI so that we all benefit from our shared mission of serving the gay and lesbian community." • In the meantime, LPI and PlanetOut will continue to work together on a number of fronts, such as providing The Advocate’s headline news content to PlanetOut, and various cross-promotion and joint-marketing efforts. Liberation publications distributes more than eight million copies of its magazines a year. Its titles include The Advocate and Out magazines as well as other magazines, books, and websites. PlanetOut, an Internet media and service company, receives over 1.7 million visitors per month and has more than a million registered users.

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors kicks off spring with its annual "A Spring Full of Open Houses." Coldwell Banker United sales associates from each of the 12 offices in and around Houston will be holding literally hundreds of homes open on Sunday, April 8, and Sunday, April 22. "This event has proven to be a great opportunity for us to bring home buyers and sellers together during the real estate high season," said Wallace Perry, president and chief operating officer for Coldwell Banker United, Realtors. "This year we’ll have approximately 200 Coldwell Banker open houses in Houston, Galveston, and Lake Jackson for potential buyers to preview during this year’s ‘A Spring Full of Open Houses.’" Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, a d.b.a. of Richard Smith Company since 1986, has 12 offices in the Houston and surrounding areas. Richard Smith Company is the second-largest Coldwell Banker affiliate in the nation. For more information on home locations in the event, call 281/895-5714.

In May, Houston’s gay club scene will collide with a meteor, creating a new evolution in the Houston club scene. Or at least that’s what Andy Pathos and Frank Luccia hope to achieve with their new club Meteor. • "It’s happening. All over the country, our communities’ bars are shedding the darkness of the past and striding into an age of pride, self-confidence, and enlightenment. Now it’s Houston’s turn," they say. Incorporating elements of renowned gay clubs like G in Manhattan, Sidetrack in Chicago, and ManRay in Seattle, the owners are seeking to create a cosmopolitan design, unique unto itself. "Meteor pledges to provide Houston’s gay community with an upscale, vibrant venue in which to relax, sip expertly-made cocktails, enjoy the latest in music videos, visit with friends, and make new ones." • Located at 2306 Genesee (where Fairview curves and becomes Tuam Street), the club will feature state of the arts audio systems for the best in sound and video, a triple capacity air-conditioning and ventilation system to keep the air as clean and smoke-free as possible. And most importantly they say, "Meteor has been created for Houston’s gay community. It isn’t another one of those bars marketing itself to the gay community for one ‘special’ night of the week. Meteor will be your place seven nights a week, all year long!" So brace yourself, Meteor hits Houston this May.