San Francisco - Alison Bing [180]
PILSNER INN Map
415-621-7058; www.pilsnerinn.com; 225 Church St; 10am-2am; F, Church St
A long-standing fave of gay-softball leagues, the Pilsner is the classic neighborhood bar, with a big smokers’ patio, pinball and pool. Good meeting point if your group is splitting in two directions, SoMa and Castro.
POWERHOUSE Map
415-552-8689; www.powerhouse-sf.com; 1347 Folsom St; 4pm-2am; 12, 19
Thursdays through Sundays are best at Powerhouse, an almost-rough-trade SoMa bar for leathermen, shirtless gym queens and the occasional porn star. Draft beer is cheap, and specials keep the crowd wasted. Smokers feel each other up on the (too-smoky) back patio, while oddballs lurk in the corners. Don’t bring girls.
QBAR Map
415-864-2877; www.qbarsf.com; 456 Castro St; 4pm-2am Mon-Fri, 2pm-2am Sat & Sun; 24, 35, F, Castro St
Baby 20-somethings pack shoulder-to-shoulder to shout over ear-splitting pop and dance on a tiny dance floor. Occasional go-go boys add spice; smokers pack the front room. Wednesday’s Booty Call is a staple. ‘Too many girls!’ declare old-timers, who stay far away.
STUD Map
415-252-7883; www.studsf.com; 399 9th St; admission $5-8; 5pm-3am; 12, 19, 47
The Stud has rocked the gay scene for over 40 years, but it’s hit-and-miss and as of this writing had few weekly parties worth writing about, except Monday-midnight’s weird drag show Tiara Sensation, and Tuesday’s Pink Slip, a gay-kids’ dance party. Check the website.
TRUCK Map
415-252-0306; www.trucksf.com; 1900 Folsom St; 11am-2am Mon-Fri, 4pm-2am Sat, 2pm-2am Sun; 12, 14, 47
Truck is relentlessly clique-ish, with local artists, out-of-face drag queens, off-duty DJs and underground celebs, but draws a happy crowd and serves burgers and fries. Suppositori Spelling hosts Sunday’s always-odd drag show. Other nights vary: think neighborhood bar. Dirty boys: get the password for Tuesday’s speakeasy (no girls).
TWIN PEAKS TAVERN
Map
415-864-9470; www.twinpeakstavern.com; 401 Castro St; noon-2am Mon-Fri, 8am-2am Sat & Sun; 24, 33, F, Castro St
Don’t call it the glass coffin. Show some respect: Twin Peaks was the first gay bar in the world with windows opening to the street. The jovial crowd skews (way) over 40, but they’re not chicken hawks (or they wouldn’t hang here), and they love it when happy kids show up and join the party. Ideal for a tête-à-tête after a film at the Castro, or for cards, Yahtzee or backgammon (BYO). Expect impromptu sing-alongs if Judy Garland starts playing. Learn, child, learn…
WILD SIDE WEST Map
415-647-3099; 424 Cortland Ave; 1pm-2am Mon-Sat, to midnight Sun; 14, 24, 67
Grrrlfriends make out in the overgrown garden, while others pony up to the noisy saloon bar. The paint’s peeling, but to fix it would ruin the place. Dig the pin-up-girl art, then flirt with the crafty gals at the sewing-machine table by the fireplace. Best on weekends.
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CAFES
CAFÉ FLORE Map
415-621-8579; www.cafeflore.com; 2298 Market St; 7am-midnight Sun-Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat; 24, 33, F, Castro St;
You haven’t done the Castro till you’ve lollygagged on the sun-drenched patio at the Flore – everyone winds up here sooner or later. Weekdays present the best chance to meet neighborhood regulars, who colonize the tables outside. Weekends get packed. Great happy-hour drink specials, like two-for-one-margarita Tuesdays. Pretty-good food, too. Wi-fi is available on weekdays only.
JUMPIN’ JAVA Map
415-431-5282; 139 Noe St; 7am-8pm; N;
Alterna-dorks hunch over MacBooks and trade passing glances at the Castro’s quietest café, nicknamed ‘Laptop Library.’ Nobody talks. Bring a computer or be bored. Packed weekends. Fun fact: this chapter was penned here.
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THE ARTS
BRAVA THEATER Map
415-641-7657; www.brava.org; 2781 24th St; 9,