Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [259]
FINDING LOCAL gay events
Several local publications concentrate on in-depth coverage of news, information, and listings of goings-on around town for gays and lesbians. The Bay Area Reporter (www.ebar.com) has the most comprehensive listings, including a weekly calendar of events. Distributed free on Thursday, it can be found stacked at the corner of 18th and Castro streets and at Ninth and Harrison streets, as well as in bars, bookshops, and stores around town. It may also be available in gay and lesbian bookstores elsewhere in the country.
For a good book selection, contact Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 ( 215/923-2960; www.giovannisroom.com).
LGBT Travelers If you head down to the Castro—an area surrounding Castro Street near Market Street—you’ll understand why the city is a mecca for gay and lesbian travelers. Since the 1970s, this unique part of town has remained a colorfully festive neighborhood, teeming with “out” city folk who meander the streets shopping, eating, partying, or cruising. If anyone feels like an outsider in this part of town, it’s heterosexuals, who, although warmly welcomed in the community, may feel uncomfortable or downright threatened if they harbor any homophobia or aversion to being checked out. For many San Franciscans, it’s just a fun area with some wonderful shops.
Gays and lesbians make up a good portion of San Francisco’s population, so it’s no surprise that clubs and bars all over town cater to them. Although lesbian interests are concentrated primarily in the East Bay (especially Oakland), a significant community resides in the Mission District, around 16th and Valencia streets and in Hayes Valley.
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA; 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; www.iglta.org) is the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, and offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses and tour operators.
Many agencies offer tours and travel itineraries specifically for gay and lesbian travelers. Above and Beyond Tours ( 800/397-2681; www.abovebeyondtoursllc.com) are gay Australia tour specialists. San Francisco–based Now, Voyager ( 800/255-6951; www.nowvoyager.com) offers worldwide trips and cruises, and Olivia ( 800/631-6277; www.olivia.com) offers lesbian cruises and resort vacations.
Gay.com Travel ( 800/929-2268 or 415/644-8044; www.gay.com) also owns Out Traveler, now online-only at www.outtraveler.com. Both provide regularly updated information about gay-owned, gay-oriented, and gay-friendly lodging, dining, sightseeing, nightlife, and shopping establishments in every popular destination worldwide. British travelers should click on the “Travel” link at www.gay.co.uk for advice and gay-friendly trip ideas.
The Canadian website GayTraveler (www.gaytraveler.ca) offers ideas and advice for gay travel all over the world.
For travel guides, try Spartacus International Gay Guide (Bruno Gmünder Verlag; www.spartacusworld.com/gayguide), or the Damron guides (www.damron.com), both with separate, annual books for gay men and lesbians. For more gay and lesbian travel resources, visit frommers.com.
Mail At press time, domestic postage rates were 28¢ for a postcard and 44¢ for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter of up to 1 ounce costs 98¢ (75¢ to Canada and 79¢ to Mexico); a first-class postcard costs the same as a letter. For more information go to www.usps.com.
If you aren’t sure what your address will be in the United States, mail can be sent to you, in your name, c/o General Delivery at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. (Call 800/275-8777 for information on the nearest post office.) The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (driver’s license, passport, and