San Francisco - Alison Bing [179]
LEXINGTON CLUB
Map
415-863-2052; 3464 19th St; 3pm-2am; 14, 26, 33, 49
To get past the cliquishness at SF’s long-standing grrrrl bar, don’t just think you can get a crew cut, don a black T-shirt, shout ‘Power to the Pussy!’ and buy everyone $4 beers. Be strategic: compliment someone on her skirt (she made it herself) or tattoo (she designed it herself) and casually mention you’re undefeated at pinball, pool or thumb-wrestling. When she wins (because she’s no stranger to the Lex) pout just a little, and maybe she’ll buy you a beer.
LONE STAR Map
415-863-9999; www.lonestarsaloon.com; 1354 Harrison St; noon-2am Mon-Fri, 9am-2am Sat & Sun; 19, 27
Ground zero for bears who go ‘Woof!’ like dogs, the Lone Star is dedicated to big guys with fur. Don’t miss the back patio. Busiest Thursday through Sunday.
LOOKOUT Map
415-431-0306; www.lookoutsf.com; 3600 16th St; 3:30pm-2am Mon-Fri, 12:30pm-2am Sat & Sun; F, Castro St
To hook up with locals, attend one of Lookout’s drag or sports-team fundraisers. Hot rugby players come Sunday afternoons for Jock; happening dykes come Thursday nights for Les Ladiez ($2).
MARTUNI’S Map
415-241-0205; www.martunis.citysearch.com; 4 Valencia St; 2pm-2am; F
Slip behind the velvet curtains to see who’s tickling the ivories at the city’s last piano bar, where gay and straight, graying regulars seem to have committed the Great American Songbook to memory.
MIDNIGHT SUN
Map
415-861-4186; 4067 18th St; 2pm-2am Mon-Fri, 1pm-2am Sat & Sun; 33, F, Castro St
A favorite of khaki-clad suburbanites who aren’t entirely comfortable socializing unless there’s something specific to divert attention, Midnight Sun is a video bar. The Dynasty era marked its heyday, but crowds still come for American Idol, and it remains a reliable place to…well, watch TV. Neighborhood gay boys sometimes anagram the velcro letter-board sign outside the club (management hates this).
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DRAG ROYALTY
The SF drag scene is at the leading edge of contemporary performance art – for a taste of local talent, search YouTube for ‘Silencefiction Lipstique.’ To find what’s happening now, look for these names on posters, flyers and gutters outside clubs.
Anna Conda (on Facebook) Think coked-up sorority girl; see Cinch, Click here.
Downie (‘Tiara Sensation’ on Facebook) High-concept and stupid at once.
Fauxnique (www.fauxnique.net) Ballerina for Bauhaus, in toe shoes.
Gina LaDivina (www.thehotboxxxgirls.com) The $65,000 Silicone Wonder.
Glamamore (‘David-Glamamore’ on Facebook) Legendary – the Queen.
Heklina (heklina.org) SF’s best emcee, of Trannyshack fame.
Juanita More (juanitamore.com) Kick-ass parties; Latina glam.
Kiddie (www.myspace.com/badkiddie) Looks like she’ll cut you but won’t.
Metal Patricia (www.myspace.com/metalpatricia) Hot rocker-bitch drag.
Mrs Vera (www.queer-arts.org/johnstone/) In a comic-book world alone; the drag queen you want your children to meet.
Peaches Christ (peacheschrist.com) See the boxed text.
Precious Moments (www.partywithprecious.com) Aka pornstar Michael Soldier.
Putanesca (Google her) Siouxsie Sioux meets Shiela E.
Suppositori Spelling (on Facebook) Aka Spaz; see Truck, opposite.
Vickie Marlane (www.thehotboxxxgirls.com) World’s oldest living drag queen.
Vinsantos (www.vinsantosmusic.com) Tattooed goth macabre snob.
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MIX
Map
415-431-8616; www.sfmixbar.com; 4086 18th St; 6am-2am; 33, F, Castro St
The last Castro bar to open at 6am, the Mix is a must on a pub crawl. We like the low-ceilinged pool and bar area, but prefer the open-air back smokers’ patio (no joints or they’ll throw you out). Expect gal-next-door baby dykes, 20-something gay boys, trannie pals (more FTM than MTF) and the odd stumbling drag-queen mess. Wednesday is chick night, Monday free pool.
MOBY DICK
Map
415-861-1199; www.mobydicksf.com; 4049 18th St; 2pm-2am Mon-Fri, noon-2am Sat & Sun; 33, F, Castro St
The name overpromises, but