Check the free weeklies such as the San Francisco Bay Guardian and San Francisco Weekly for listings of events and happenings around town. The Bay Area Reporter is a gay paper with comprehensive listings, including a weekly community calendar. All these papers are free and distributed weekly on Wednesday or Thursday, and can be found stacked at the corners of 18th and Castro streets and Ninth and Harrison streets, as well as in bars, bookshops, and other stores around town. Also check out the rather homely but very informative site titled "Queer Things to Do in the San Francisco Bay Area" at www.sfqueer.com, or www.gaywired.com for more gay happenings.
Heklina Reviews Every Gay Bar in the Castro
As of this writing, roughly 25 of the city's 40+ gay bars are in the Castro. We asked legendary drag queen Heklina to give quick takes on all of them for you. For more on Heklina, visit www.trannyshack.com.
- Twin Peaks: This legendary Castro bar, long derided as "God's waiting room" because of its older clientele, is actually the best bar on Castro Street for people-watching. Great martinis.
- Trigger: Slick addition to the Castro at the site of the late, great Detour. Popular Sunday Latin event "Leche."
- Midnight Sun: Longest running video bar in the Castro. The two-for-one happy hour is responsible for many, many hangovers.
- Moby Dick: Castro institution, famous for its 250-gallon saltwater fish tank above the bar. Daily drink specials.
- Blackbird: Extremely trendy (as in, recently opened), great ambience, great drinks. Perfect for before-dinner drinks.
- The Pilsner: A slightly off-the-beaten-path neighborhood bar. Pool table, patio.
- 440 Castro: "Booze, Music, Fun" is the slogan for this Castro bar, and they live up to it with their infamous five, four, three, two, one drink specials.
- Harvey's: Location, location! On the gayest corner on earth, 18th and Castro. Stop here for a bite to eat before seeing a film at the Castro Theater or heading off to a more interesting bar.
- The Mix: Very laid-back, unpretentious. Pool table, jukebox. Spacious outdoor patio site of numerous fund-raisers and drag shows. Quintessential Castro bar.
- Last Call: Formerly known as Men's Room, perfectly located 2 blocks away from Castro Street. Close, but not too close if you want to get away from the insanity. Cozy is the word, it even has a fireplace.
- Toad Hall: I confess I have not given this one much of a chance, but if you think this is something more than yet another faceless, soulless new bar to pop up in the Castro, please convince me otherwise.
- Badlands: I much preferred the old, seedy Badlands of lore (hay on the floor, pinball machines, country vibe). The sterile "New Improved" version (now going on 10 years old) could be Anywhere, USA. Still, it's very popular, especially if you're into twinks.
- The Edge: Popular neighborhood bar. Numerous charity events are produced here, sometimes featuring performances on a comically tiny stage.
- Q Bar: Castro Street bar with a younger crowd. Mondays (Wanted) and Wednesdays (Booty Call) are the most popular nights. Can be twink heaven.
- Café Flore: Beloved cafe in the heart of the Castro neighborhood. Outdoor seating available for people-watching. Popular Sunday brunch location.
- The Lookout: Centrally located with a wraparound balcony perfect for people-watching. Great food, especially the pizza. Don't miss "JOCK" Sundays, from 3 to 9pm every week.
- The Café: Another in a long line of formerly great bars that underwent a remodel and had whatever character and personality it possessed stripped away . . . but hey, that's just my opinion.
- Lime: Trendy restaurant with a younger clientele. Sunday brunch is not-to-be-missed . . . bottomless mimosas!
- Lucky 13: Not a gay bar, but in the Castro, so if you wander in by mistake enjoy the free popcorn, smoking patio, and great jukebox.
- Bar On Church: Pointlessly remodeled bar on the cusp of Castro. Karaoke on Mondays, with other themed parties ("The Party" on Fri, "VICE" on Sat).
San Francisco Drag Shows
If you're out on a Friday night and looking for something to do that's definitely off the straight-laced path, head to the Cinch for its weekly Charlie Horse drag show, hosted by the sassy Miss Trannyshack 2005, Anna Conda. Every week is a different theme, such as "Valley of the Dolls Night" based on the scandalous Jacqueline Susann novel, or "What Is Your Take on Old School," where the "ladies" of the evening masquerade as their favorite divas such as Dolly Parton or Joni Mitchell. There's no cover charge, no drink minimum, and the performance is free. An added bonus: The show comes with complimentary popcorn.
If you prefer your drag queens with a slice of quiche, Harry Denton's Starlight Room hosts a weekly Sunday's a Drag brunch performance, where divas perform female impersonation acts and lip-sync Broadway tunes. The "brunch with an attitude" has two seatings every Sunday at noon and 2:30pm. The price of brunch is $45 per person, which includes entertainment, brunch, coffee, tea, and fresh juices. For reservations call tel. 415/395-8595 or e-mail reservations@harrydenton.com.
