bartabsf.com
June 2012
ON THE
TAB! JUNE EVENTS
PARADE
TALES!
PRIDE-
ALICIOUS EVENTS!
GRIN &
BEAR IT!
CYNDI
LAUPER!
ingredients ★ June 2012 ★
Pride-alicious Events
Page 4
Cyndi Lauper
Page 6
On The Tab
Pages 10-28
BARchive: Before The Parade
Page 30
Read more stories online at www.bartabsf.com
✶ On the cover: Bear pals enjoy yet another fun Bearracuda, at Holy Cow. Photo: Georg Lester
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Editor: Jim Provenzano Art Director: Kurt Thomas Designer: T. Scott King General Manager: Michael Yamashita
Advertising Sales: Simma Baghbanbashi, Colleen Small, Scott Wazlowski Contributors: Ray Aguilera, Matt Baume, Heather Cassell, Coy Ellison, Michael Flanagan, Dr. Jack Fritscher, T. Scott King, Michael McAllister, Sal Meza, David Elijah-Nahmod, Adam Sandel, Ronn Vigh Photography: Biron, Marques Daniels, Don Eckert, Lydia Gonzales, Rick Gerharter, Jose Guzman-Colon, Georg Lester, Dan Lloyd, Jim Provenzano, Rich Stadtmiller, Monty Suwannukul, Steven Underhill BARtab is published by Benro Enterprises, Inc. Publisher: Thomas E. Horn Benro Enterprises, Inc. 395 Ninth Street • San Francisco CA 94103 (415) 861-5019 Member of the National Gay Newspaper Guild National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863
Bearrucuda dudes at Holy Cow.
PRIDE-ALICIOUSd by Ronn Vigh
Georg Lester
I
have attended many Pride celebrations across the country, even once finding myself at the Omaha Pride Parade. The parade consisted of me and two very angry bull dykes running down the street dodging corn and bullets. Some folks in less liberal areas look forward to their much coveted once a year opportunity to come together and celebrate. San Francisco is quite the opposite. While we have a vibrant and active queer community year round, the month leading up to Pride is jam-packed with more LGBT events then imaginable. There are conferences, comedy shows, drag shows, festivals, fundraisers, book readings, marches, rallies- by the time Pride weekend rolls around, I’m not proud. I’m tired! Here’s a look at just some of the notable events leading up to and taking place Pride Weekend. Comedy weaves its way in and out of the festival right up to Pride Weekend when Marga Gomez presents her yearly Pride comedy show. This year, Marga and The Babes will feature Marga Gomez and special guests in an edgy and delicious night of laughs. While competing events are plenty, Marga has continuously held sold out shows on the Friday before Pride and this year should be no exception. “I’ve presented gay comedy every Friday before Pride with the hopes of drawing men, women, trans people together in a room to laugh our asses off before we all go off to our separate parties!” Marga and The Babes takes place at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St. on Friday, June 22 at 8pm.
4 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Marga gets excited by the variety of events but says she always looks forward to the Dyke March, “ which she calls “the best in the world, and I go whenever I’m in town. It starts off in beautiful Dolores Park and ends at a gas station in the Castro. How symbolic!” This year’s Dyke March takes place on June 23. A beer bust fundraiser for the march will be held at The Lexington Club, 3464 19th St. on Sunday June 10 at 4pm. While San Francisco gay bars outnumber lesbian bars, the ladies are very well represented in Pride festivities. Miz Chris has created the Eden in the Bay Weekend for women, which she says was born out of necessity. “In 2009, after attending my second Pride in San Francisco, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an event that traversed the entire weekend of Pride for women and our friends/allies? A weekend that offered a plethora of events that literally walked them through each day, about where they could go, what they should see and where they could stay.” From June 21-24, Eden has events that include a fashion show, comedy show, block party, a Human Rights Campaign benefit brunch, popular DJs and much more. Info’s at www.edeninthebay.com. One day before the Dyke March, the Trans March will originate at Dolores Park, on Friday June 22. “This year’s Trans March hopes to bring together trans elders and youth to celebrate our diverse history and unify our community,” says Danielle Castro of SF Trans March. There are also a variety of events leading
leading up to Pride Weekend up to the Trans March this year. including Hot and Healthy Matt Mikesell is the with Garza on June 9 at Cafe creator and promoter of Flore, 2298 Market St. and the these events, “First and Trans March Fundraiser on foremost, we’re a bear dance June 13 at The Buck Tavern, party, but Bearracuda has a 1655 Market Street. wide spectrum of people that The LGBT Center is a safe attend,” notes Matt. “The one space and pinnacle of the thing most of the guys have LGBT Community where are in common is facial hair, but all welcome to come together. you’ll also see a few clean This year the LGBT Center at shaven faces here and there.” 1900 Market St. is throwing This year, Bearracuda will their 7th Annual Pride Party have a party at the beginning which is also doubling as the Eden in the Bay gals. of the month (Saturday, June center’s 10 year birthday bash. 2) at Holy Cow, 1535 Folsom The celebration takes place on June 9 in the afternoon and will feature Margaritas Street. The underwear night features DJs Medic and 50 on the center’s rooftop deck, DJs, silent auction, an Pound Note. Bearracuda’s main event on Pride Friday, art show, live performances and films. Tickets can be June 22, will be at PublicWorks, 161 Erie St. Matt notes, “We had nearly 1000 people last year purchased at www.sfcenter.org. DJs can often be heard spinning from the street in and this year we hope for the same!” With all the front of most Castro bars. The volume will keep getting nighttime events, Matt is also looking forward to some daytime events during Pride. “The first day event is the turned up as we approach Pride (Sunday, June 24). Joshua J. is known for his parties and events around Show of Pride block party on Saturday w/Christeene town and will keep the boys busy with beats and parties outside Truck Bar at 15th and Folsom. The second I’m looking forward to is the massive Hard French throughout June. “On June 20, Juanita More and I will celebrate party on Sunday with a colossal line up of DJs and at our annual Pride Kick Off Party at Booty Call performers at SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street.” Finally, one of the biggest clues that Pride weekend Wednesdays at Qbar, 456 Castro Street,” exclaims Joshua J. “This night will also feature a very special DJ is here, is the closure of Market and Castro Streets to set by Gavin Russom of the bands The Rapture and make room for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s, Pink Saturday party! As a celebration for over 20 the Crystal Ark.” As Pride weekend rolls around, Joshua J. is ecstatic years, Sister Selma Soul reinforces that the event is about his Stallion Pink Party, “This is one of the alcohol-free on the streets, but there is an addition of wildest night of the year, with hundreds of guys spilling welcoming Off the Grid to the festivities. “With ten food trucks, we’ll have the added benefit into the club before and after the Castro’s Pink Party,” he said. “We party til 4am, so the club stays packed even of offering something that will help folks moderate their alcohol consumption and encourage wellness after the other bars close!” Bearracuda is described as a fun, friendly party and safety during the weekend’s festivities.” And that’s just some of Pride month’s ways for you for bears, cubs and other wildlife. Usually throwing monthly events, Bearracuda will have a big presence to eat, drink, dance and be Mary. ✸
1
2
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 5
Cyndi Lauper
SUDDENLY CYNDId
Pop star Cyndi Lauper performs at the Black & White Ball • by Jim Provenzano
G
ays of a certain age grew up with Cyndi Lauper, the pop music star who continues to diversify her look and sound since her now iconic early 1980s start in the days when MTV actually played music videos. Lauper answered a few questions in advance of her appearance at the annual San Francisco Symphony’s Black & White Ball, in the midst of her work for the True Colors fund, and along her Memphis Blues tour. Q: You were recently in Washington, D.C. lobbying for funding for homeless youth services. How did that go, and tell our readers a bit about the True Colors Fund. Cyndia Lauper: It went really well. It was big learning experience, it was kinda fish out of water territory for me. But, we had some great meetings with members of Congress, like Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator [John] Kerry, about increasing funding to help homeless youth, adding protections for LGBT youth at federally funded homeless youth shelters and other services, and to pass the Reconnecting Youth to 6 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Prevent Homelessness Act, which would help families accept their gay and transgender kids in the hope of keeping them in the home. This visit was just the beginning of where we are taking the work of the True Colors Fund next. In late June we will be launching a new national program to raise awareness about LGBT youth homelessness that we have been working on for the past year. People are not aware of the fact that up to 40% of all homeless youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. That is unacceptable. These kids are on the streets primarily because of family rejection. We have to change that. So, we will be working to engage everyone to do what they can to help them. The Black & White Ball raises funds for music in schools programs in San Francisco. As a musician who also started a foundation to aid youth, this must be a nice combination for you. Yes it is. I know it sounds like a cliché, but our kids are our future. So we need to love and support them
so the world can be a better place. The Black & White Ball outdoor stage is set in the middle of a blocked off street with City Hall in the background. It’s become an iconic local setting. What’s the most unusual performing space where you’ve sung? Oh you don’t want to know. I’ve sung at some of the most breathtaking places around the world and some of the ugliest. Your support of the LGBT community over the years is outstanding, and finally, even our president has made waves with his clear support of marriage equality. What’s it like to have been doing this kind of work for so long, to see so much progress in the past few years? For me, it has been about standing up for my family, friends and fans in the community. We live in the greatest country in the world, a place where everyone is supposed to be equal. I have tried to do all I can and will continue to do what I can to make sure that is a reality. I’ve seen you perform at big stadiums (Yankee Stadium, 1994 and Chicago’s Wrigley Field, 2006, both at Gay Games) and intimate nightclub settings. Which is your performing preference these days? I love to perform, period. I love playing in front of huge audiences and I love playing in front of small audiences. I don’t feel like they are hugely different, though. It’s all about reading the audience and giving them what they want. Watching “Change of Heart,” one of your early music videos, on YouTube, brought back a lot of sweet memories of the 1980s. You became one of the iconic pop stars of the early MTV generation. Do you feel pressure to re-invent yourself with each new phase of your career? I honestly don’t think about it. I just think, ‘Are you honest about your art?’ If you just chase fads, it will sound hollow and you will fail anyway.
You’ve been doing some acting on the TV show Bones and elsewhere. Has that been fun, or a challenge? I love it! I’m not great, but I love it. I hope I get to do more. Bones is a dream job. The cast and crew are all so nice, it’s hard to even explain. I just finished a new episode last month in LA, and I hope to be invited back next season. I love the character I get to play, and being on the set is like being with this big noisy fabulous family that invites you over and treats you like one of their own. Your fashion style, as in the 80s music videos, helped define the look of an era. Your iconic rainbow Statue of Liberty gown is also amazing. And your classic look for the Memphis Blues tour showcased a mature classy style. If you had to choose one of your “looks” to be featured in, say, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which would it be? That is so hard to say. I love fashion and I love different outfits and styles I’ve had for different reasons. Right now my mind is going a million miles an hour trying to pick. Can I get back to you on that one? Sure thing. What can your fans expect in the future? I’ve been writing songs for a new Broadway show called Kinky Boots. Harvey Fierstein wrote the script. It opens on Broadway in early 2013. I’m so excited for people to hear those tunes. It’s a new landscape for me, so it’s exciting. It’s been a crazy time. I just finished my autobiography and have a new docu-series with Mark Burnett that will premiere on the WETv network in the fall. I’ll start writing and recording a new album soon too, so it’s a busy creative mad time right now. ✸ Cyndi Lauper performs at the Black & White Ball, Saturday June 2. For tickets ($250 and up), go to www.sfsymphony.org
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 7
e~ Pride Pics f ~ by Steven Underhill
★
8 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
eOn The Tab~f ~June 2012 ★
Huichica Music Festival @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Sonoma
Two days of music concerts at Sonoma’s oldest winery. $75-$240. www.huichicamusicfestival.com
Joe @ The Lookout
Shots, drinks and DJed fun. $2. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Kinky Beats @ Café Flore
Sergio’s weekly DJ night at the popular café-bar. 2 for 1 martinis! 9pm-1:30am. 2298 Market St. 621-8579. www.cafeflore.com
Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland
Dance club (eight bars, more dance floors, lounge) hosts the largest gay Latin night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
The Loved Ones @ Metreon
Peaches Christ hosts a midnight showing of the prom slasher film, with a costume contest for fans. $9. 101 4th St. 369-6201. www.peacheschrist.com
Serving Fish @ Deco Lounge
Kylie Minono’s drag show with the Ladies of Fantazia. Drink specials and ticket giveaways for their June 24 party. 10:30pm show. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com Jer Ber Jones peforms at Ho-Down @ Thee Parkside. See Fri 1
Fri 1➠ Barbara Cook @ The Rrazz Room
Broadway icon performs an intimate concert of classic songs. $50-$60. 8pm. Thru June 10; various times. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 3803095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Some Thing @ The Stud
Weekly drag show with unusual acts. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com
Sat 2 ➠
Bearracuda @ Holy Cow
Ursine Undies night, with DJs Medic and 50 Pound Note. Clothes check, snacks and bears. $6-$8. 9pm-2am. 1535 Folsom St. www.bearracuda.com
Club Vogue @ Raven
1990s videos and a fun crowd; DJs Porter, Granny, Sparkle and Panic. No cover. 9pm-2am. 1151 Folsom St. www.clubvoguesf.com
Friday Nights @ de Young Museum
Weekly parties, live performances and quick art installations, paired with current shows, including the Jean Paul Gaultier couture/costume exhibit. Free-$18 (tickets required for exhibit entry). 5:30pm-8:30pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.deyoung.famsf.org
Ho-Down @ Thee Parkside
New monthly queer music night, with wild comic and unusual acts; Jer Ber Jones, MC Crumbsnatcher, Vain Hein, Rodney O’Neal Austin, Mini Pearl Necklace, DJ Dingbat; plus drinks and food. $15. 9pm. 2am. 1600 17th St. 21+. www.theeparkside.com 10 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n’t performs at The Bi-larious Show @ LGBT Center. See Sat 2
Black and White Ball @ Davies Hall, City Hall. See Sat 2
Beef Bar @ Truck
Shower guys, furry friends, DJ Brian Maier. 8pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. 252-0306. www.trucksf.com
Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-7pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.holeinthewallsaloon.com
The Bi-larious Show @ LGBT Center
Julie Cohen, Nick Leonard, Jennifer Dronsky, David Hawkins, Tammy Powers and drag artists Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n’t perform at a comedy night with bisexual themes. $12. 7:30pm. 1800 Market St. www.Qcomedy.com
Black and White Ball @ Davies Hall, City Hall
San Francisco Symphony’s annual huge fundraiser, with food, drinks, concerts in tents and in arts buildings of Civic Center. Paul Simon headlines the Davies Hall concert, and Cyndi Lauper headlines the outdoor stage. More than a dozen other bands (Janelle Monae, The Drifters, Avance, Notorious) in various lavishly designed area of the War Memorial Opera House and other venues. $250, $350 and up. 6pm-1am. www.sfsymphony.org/ball
La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland
DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland’s premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Weekly hip hop and R&B night. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 510 17th St. www.bench-and-bar.com
GLAAD Media Awards @ Marriott Marquis Hotel
Page 12
▼
23rd annual San Francisco edition of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s awards show, with celebrity host Dianna Agron ( Glee ), guest presenters Mario Lopez, Sean Mayer ( Firefly), Zach Walls, Thomas Roberts, Chandler Massey and others. $325 and up. 5pm-11pm. 55 4th St. www.glaad.org
eON THE TA~B f ~from page 11
★
Flagging in the Park @ National AIDS Memorial Grove
The popular outdoor flagging party returns. 12pm-4pm. Bowling green Drive at Middle Drive East, Golden Gate Park. www.aidsmemorial.org
Honey Soundsystem @ Holy Cow
The cool Sunday music mix crew plays groove-adelic sounds for a hip, diverse crowd. 10pm-2am. 1535 Folsom St. at 11th. www.honeysoundsystem.com
Jock @ Lookout
Weekly fundraiser for various local LGBT sports groups. $2 cover. Drink specials. 3pm-9pm. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Jockstrap Bust @ Kok Bar
$8 stripped down, $10 not; all you can drink Bud Light or Rolling Rock. Weekly. 5pm-9pm. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Salsa Sundays @ El Rio
Flagging in the Park @ National AIDS Memorial Grove. See Sun 3
Stallion @ Rebel
Porn daddy Spencer Reed guest-DJs at Joshua J’s weekly night; DJ David Harness and Joey Jinks spin tunes while sexy gogo guys shake it and offer lap dances. $5-$8. 21+. 9pm-4am. 1760 Market St. at Octavia. www.joshuajpresents.com
This Side of Paradise @ Hillside Gardens, Mill Valley
Litquake hosts a stylish fundraiser, A Great Gatsy Garden Party, with 1920s styled cocktails, food, all at a lovely mansion estate, with hosts Amy Tan, Joyce Maynard, Don Novello and Tiffany Baker. $75 and up. 4pm-7pm. 425 Sycamore Ave. www.litquake.org
Sun 3 ➠
Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Sonoma County Pride @ Guerneville
Gay by Nature Pride parade 11am, Main Street celebration 12pm-6pm, with live music by Adonisaurus, Bobby Jo Valentine, The Del Mars and others. Plus, a party at the Guerneville Lodge, 15905 River Road. www.sonomacountypride.org
Sunday School @ The EndUp
T-dance and beer bust at the famed disco. Enjoy the sunny/heated patio (depending on the weather) and grooves by DJ Hawthorne and the Ghetto Disco crew. $5 cover. $3 drinks. 3pm-8pm. 401 6th St. www.theendup.com
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550
The popular country western LGBT dance night. $5. 5pm-10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org
All-Male Amateur Strip Show @ Deco Lounge
Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room
Beer Bust @ 440
Mon 4➠
Ruby Holiday and Diva LaFever cohost the weekly night of newbies gettin’ nude. $100 cash prize. DJ Lambchop spins tunes. Contest 10:30pm. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. 346-2025. www.decosf.com $8 a cup and good times at the popular Castro bar. 3pm-8pm. 440 Castro St. www.the440.com
Beer Bust @ Truck
Beer, and lots of it. $10. 4pm-8pm. Ice Queen Sundays, a new drag show, follows. Shows at 9:30 and 11pm. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com 12 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.harrydenton.com
Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Specials on drinks made with “Cock and Bull” ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pmclosing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.holeinthewallsaloon.com
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy @ The Rrazz Room Russian exiled princess (J. Conrad Frank’s drag alterego) performs classic and contemporary tunes with a vodka-infused edge. $30. 8pm. Also June 5. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.therrazzroom.com
Monday Musicals @ The Edge
The renovated bar now shows fun musicals each week. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s
Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com
Supernova @ Truck
Trivia show at the lil gay bar, with DJs Pork Sweats and Jimmy Swear. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com
Jose Guzman Colon
Funny Mondays @ Deco Lounge
Victor Torres hosts a comedy open mic night. 7pm9pm. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
Karaoke @ The Lookout
Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Tue 5 ➠ 13 Licks @ Q Bar
Weekly women’s night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com
Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s
Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com
Page 14
▼
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy @ The Rrazz Room. See Mon 4
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 13
f eON THE TAB ~ ~ from page 13
★
Wed 6 ➠ Bear Bust @ Kok
All-you-can-drink Bud Light, Rolling Rock draft. 8pm-12am. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Booty Call @ Q Bar
Juanita More and Joshua J’s weekly night packs the intimate stylish bar with grooves and a groovy younger crowd. $3. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.juanitamore.com www.QbarSF.com
Bubba @ Truck
Good ole boy drinks, specials and Bubba bartenders. 9pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com
D’lysh @ Deco Lounge
Isa Manzanita hosts the weekly drag show at 10:30pm. No cover. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. 346-2025. www.decosf.com
Mary-Go-Round @ The Lookout
A fun weekly drag show with Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro and Ginger Snap. $5. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Pit Stop @ Kok
Hamisi DJs the popular happy hour, 6pm-9pm, where fun continues later. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio Ricky Sinz @ Nob Hill Theatre. See Fri 8
Women’s burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. $5$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Wolf @ The Watergarden, San Jose Golden Wheel Awards @ War Memorial Bldg. Green Room
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s annual awards gala and fundraiser, with drinks, nibblies, auction items, and complimentary valet bike parking. $75 and up. 6pm9pm. 401 Van Ness Ave. www.sfbike.org
Meow Mix @ The Stud
Weekly drag and variety show. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com
Rookie Idol @ Nob Hill Theatre
See new performer try out their stripping talents $20. 8pm-11pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Queer Night @ Easy Lounge, Oakland
Weekly LGBT electro space jam night with DJ Dr. Sleep, organic cocktails, patio, chill vibe. No cover. 8pm-close. 3255 Lakeshore Ave. www.easy510.com
Sex and the City @ Rebel
Heklina and her crew do drag parody performances of episodes of the HBO series. $20-$25. 7pm & 9pm. Also June 12, 18, 19 & 26. 1760 Market St. www.trannyshack.com
14 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Monthly event for furry men on the prowl, at the South Bay private men’s bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com
Thu 7➠ Be Scene @ W Hotel
SF Pride’s swanky fundraiser, with hors d’eouvres, cash bar, sponsored comp drinks, and schmoozing fun. $50-$1000. 7pm-10pm. 181 3rd St. W San Francisco, www.sfpride.org www.wsanfrancisco.com
Club Temple @ White Horse Bar, Oakland Weekly DJed music night. No cover. 6551 Telegraph Ave. (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Comedy Bodega @ Esta Nocha
The new weekly LGBT and indie comic stand-up night. 8pm-9:30pm. 3079 16th St. at Mission. www.comedybodega.com
Garrin Benfield, David Gans @ Frieght and Salvage, Berkeley
Gay folk-rock singer and his friend perform at the popular coffeehouse. $20. 8pm. 2020 Addison St. www.garrin.com www.freighandsalvage.org
The Monster Show @ The Edge
Fuzzz @ El Rio
Shirts Off @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Hard @ Q Bar
$1 off any drink if ya doff yer shirt. 8pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.holeinthewallsaloon.com
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550
Diverse crowd for an eclectic queer-friendly dance night with different themes. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com Electro pop dance night at the intimate Castro bar-club, with DJ Haute Toddy. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com
The popular country western LGBT dance night. $5. 6:30pm-10:30pm with lessons from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Also Sundays 5pm-10:30pm with lessons from 5:307:15 pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org
Lick It @ Powerhouse
Fri 8 ➠
Men in Gear @ Kok
Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club
Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. All drinks being served up by the fabulous bartending duo of Tanya and Amy. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 863-2052. www.lexingtonclub.com
Cubcake @ The Lone Star Saloon
Bears, beer and cupcakes; second Fridays; DJ Medic. 9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. 863-9999. www.lonestarsf.com
Lance Holman hosts the monthly kinky party, with “lickable” gogo guys and general sleazy fun. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. 552-8659. www.powerhouse-sf.com New special leather-latex, kink-harness gear night. No khakis! 3rd Fridays. 10pm-2am. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Rarebits @ Truck
Unusual music mix night; 2nd Fridays, 6pm-10pm. 1900 Folsom St. 252-0306. www.trucksf.com
Ricky Sinz @ Nob Hill Theatre
Tattooed, muscled, bisexual (really!), porn stud performs live. $25. 8pm & 10pm. Also June 9. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Page 16
▼
Cookie Dough’s weekly raucous drag show with hot gogo guys and DJ MC2. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 15
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 15
★
Dance, you animals! $3-$7. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison www.neonbunny.com/frolic www.studsf.com
Hot & Healthy @ Café Flore
Garza’s monthly (2nd Sat) benefit, raffle, show and HIV outreach night at the popular café-bar. 2 for 1 cosmos! 4pm-2am. 2298 Market St. 621-8579. www.cafeflore.com
I Just Wanna F*ckin’ Dance @ Beatbox
Dance music night at the newest SoMa nightclub. $5$15 ($35 VIP). 10pm-2am-ish. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com
Love Will Fix It @ Hot Spot
DJ Bus Station John’s intimate monthly (2nd Saturdays) retro disco night with an R&B focus, re-decorates the cozy dive bar into a cool dance hangout; popular with a gaily diverse crowd. $5. 9pm-2am. 1414 Market St. at Polk.
New Wave City @ Cat Club Scott Silverman peforms at Comedy Returns @ El Rio. See Mon 11
Werk @ Deco Lounge
Tori Balenciaga’s night (2nd Fri), with drag acts, gogo guys, and dance music. $5-$10. Show 10:30pm. 510 Larkin St. www.decosf.com
Sat 9➠ Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com
Bloody Mary Bar @ Pilsner Inn
Build your own nutritious beverage with a zing. Every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm. 225 Church St. www.pilsnerinn.com
Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge
Weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time’s assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th st. at Harrison. www.BootieSF.com www.DNAlounge.com
Club Gossip @ Cat Club
Mixed gay-friendly goth-electro-retro-ish club night; monthly (2nd Sat.). $8. 21+. 9pm-3am. 1190 Folsom St. www.sfcatclub.com
Cockblock @ Rickshaw Stop
Lesbo-rific queer homo dance night each 2nd & 4th Saturday. $5-$7. 21+. 10pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com
Frolic @ The Stud
Monthly costume dance party (2nd Sat) for Furries and friends, with DJs Ikkuma, Smashwolf, Neonbunny. 16 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Synth night and tribute to New Romantic bands (Adam Ant, Duran Duran), with music videos and DJs Skip and Shindog. $7-$12. 9pm-3am. 21+. 1190 Folsom St. www.newwavecity.com
Odyssey @ Deco Lounge
Monthly dance night (2nd Sat) with DJs Robin Malone and Sergio Fedaz. $5. 9pm-3am. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
Pride Kick-Off Party @ LGBT Center
10th anniversary party for the Center, and fundraiser, with rooftop margaritas, live performances, DJs, films, silent auction and arts lounge. $30-$60. 21+. 1800 Market St. www.centerprideparty.com
Sun 10 ➠ Beefcake Comedy Show @ Deco Lounge
Charlie Ballard hosts a special edition of the Hella Gay Comedy Show, with straight but gay-friendly male comics performing shirtless! Saw Dem Eyes, Anthony Medina, Rajeev Dhar, Ryan Papazian, Sam Weber, Danny Dechi, Roman Leo, Matt Gubser, Rolf Skar. $10. 8pm. 21+. 510 Larkin St. 346-2025. www.charlieballard.com www.decosf.com
Bijou @ Martuni’s
Cabaret show with hostess/accompanist Mrs. Trauma Flintstone, and guest vocalists Moms admitted free! $7. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.
Jockstrap Bust @ Kok Bar
$8 stripped down, $10 not; all you can drink Bud Light or Rolling Rock. Weekly. 5pm-9pm. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Bear T-Dance @ The White Horse, Oakland Second Sundays for the fuzzy set and their pals. 5pm10pm. No cover. 6551 Telegraph Ave. (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Beefcake Comedy Show @ Deco Lounge. See Sun 10
Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Specials on drinks made with “Cock and Bull” ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pm-closing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.holeinthewallsaloon.com
Comedy Returns @ El Rio
Scott Silverman and Karen Ripley perform at the GLBT comedy night. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. 522-3737. www.koshercomedy.com
Funny Mondays @ Deco Lounge
Sunday music mix crew plays groove-adelic sounds for a hip, diverse crowd. 10pm-2am. 1535 Folsom St. at 11th. www.honeysoundsystem.com
Karaoke @ The Lookout
Jock @ Lookout
Monday Musicals @ The Edge
Weekly fundraiser for various local LGBT sports groups. $2 cover. Drink specials. 3pm-9pm. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550
The popular country western LGBT dance night. $5. 5pm-10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org
Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room
Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.harrydenton.com
Mon 11➠
B.O.O.B.S. @ Martuni’s
New monthly cabaret show with the witty musical trio (Leanne Borghesi, Jessica Coker and Soila Hughes). $10. 7pm. 2nd Mondays. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.boobs-cabaret.com
Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com The renovated bar now shows fun musicals each week. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s
Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com
Tommy Igoe Band @ The Rrazz Room
Accomplished drummer welcoems guest stars. $25. 7:30pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Tue 12 ➠
Ben Vereen @ The Rrazz Room
Broadway legend performs his hit touring show, Steppin’ Out. $45-$50. 8pm. Thru June 17 (4pm). 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 3803095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
2
Page 18
▼
Honey Soundsystem @ Holy Cow
Victor Torres hosts a comedy open mic night. 7pm9pm. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 17
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 17
★
Booty Call @ Q Bar
Juanita More and Joshua J’s weekly night packs the intimate stylish bar with grooves and a groovy younger crowd. $3. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.juanitamore.com www.QbarSF.com
Comedy Wednesdays @ George’s, San Rafael
Ben Vereen @ The Rrazz Room. See Tue 12
Marga Gomez MCs and does stand-up with her “funny lady friends” Karinda Dobbins, Amy Miller, Lydia Popovich and Shazia Merza. 8:30pm. 842 4th St. San Rafael. 226-0262. www.georgesnightclub.com
Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge
Retro-classic drag show (2nd and 4th Wednesday) at the classic Tenderloin bar, featuring Collette Ashton, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Davida Ashton and Joie de Vivre. No cover. 10pm. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com
The Iron Maidens @ Yoshi’s Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s
Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com
Meow Mix @ The Stud
Weekly drag and variety show. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com
Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre
Clothing-optional event at the historic strip joint; includes entry for shows, arcade and refreshments. $20. 8pm-11pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Wed 13➠
Blowpop @ Blowfish Sushi
Bob Mould DJs, along with electro duo Painted Palms, art the trendy sushi restaurant. 6pm-9pm. 2170 Bryant St. www.blowfishsushi.com
All-female Iron Maiden tribute band rocks out. $22. 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com/ sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/2787
Pit Stop @ Kok
Hamisi DJs the popular happy hour, 6pm-9pm, where fun continues later. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio
Women’s burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. $5$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Thu 14 ➠ Big Freedia @ Public Works
Hard French DJs back up the “bootie queen” rap pop lady-butt-crazy sissy bounce New Orleans sensation. $16. 21+. 9pm-2am. 161 Erie St. at Mission. www.ticketfly.com/event/82325/
Club Temple @ White Horse Bar, Oakland Weekly DJed music night. No cover. 6551 Telegraph Ave. (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Comedy Bodega @ Esta Nocha
The new weekly LGBT and indie comic stand-up night. 8pm-9:30pm. 3079 16th St. at Mission. www.comedybodega.com
Frameline Film Festival @ Various Theatres
36th annual San Francisco International LGBT film Festival, with opening and closing night screenings at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro St.), plus parties and other events throughout. Thru June 24. www.frameline.org
Fuego @ The Watergarden, San Jose The Iron Maidens @ Yoshi’s. See Wed 13
18 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Weekly event, with Latin music, half-off locker fees and
Big Freedia @ Public Works. See Thu 14
Latin men, at the South Bay private men’s bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com
Go Deep @ El Rio
Man on man lube wrestling in the pit (an inflatable mini-pool), porn guys, drag queens, clowns, Boylesque performances, DJ Drama Bin Laden and Cajun food! 2nd Thursdays. 8pm-12am. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com
LGBTQ Mingle @ El Rio
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s gay schmooze session, with complimentary bike parking. Learn about riding in the Pride march with the Coalition. 6:30-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.sfbike.org www.elriosf.com
One Direction, Olly Murs @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland
Popular boy band and the cute UK singer (all popular X Factor contestants) perform live. $29.50-$59.50. 8pm. 2025 Broadway. www.paramounttheatre.com
Shirts Off @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
$1 off any drink if ya doff yer shirt. 8pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.holeinthewallsaloon.com
Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge
Retro tunes and retro cruisy crowd, each Thursday; DJ Bus Station John plays records. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com
VIP @ Club 21, Oakland
F
Page 20
▼
Grand opening of VIP Thursdays; Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest host Sasha with DJ Val G and DJ Speedy. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 19
★
Dancing Ghosts @ The Cat Club. See Fri 15
before 11pm. Odwalla drinks at the bar. 314 11th St. www.facebook.com/chaossf www.beatboxsf.com
The Drowning Men @ Bottom of the Hill Cool folk-rock band (think The Killers, with more guys in beards) performs; Also, River City Extension, Wed Leslie and his Deadly Medley, and Ben Henderson. $10-$12. All ages. 8:15pm. 1233 17th St. 626-4455. www.bottomofthehill.com
Fruitcake @ The Stud
Queer dance party for all; third Saturdays. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com
Pulse @ The Turf Club, Hayward
Fri 15 ➠ Dancing Ghosts @ The Cat Club
Monthly darkwave dance party; 3rd Fridays. This event will pay tribute to the band Dead Can Dance and the 4AD record label, with special guest DJ John Fryer (This Mortal Coil, Dark Drive Clinic). $3-$7. 21+ 9:30 pm to 2:30 am. 1190 Folsom St. www.sfcatclub.com
Gay Wine Weekend @ Sonoma Wineries
Out in the Vineyard’s annual fabulous wine weekend, with tastings, dinners, champagne brunch, parties, a performance by Katya Smirnoff Skyy, a T-dance and winery tours. Single events $20 and up; $75, $125 and up. Host hotel El Dorado offers $199 a night. Thru June 17. www.outinthevineyard.com
Joe @ The Lookout
Shots, drinks and DJed fun. $2. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland
Dance club (eight bars, more dance floors, lounge) hosts the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. $6 cover before 11pm with text message. Sign up online. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Salsa Club @ Cafe Cocomo
Same-sex dancing and lessons with a live band. 21+. 8:30pm-12am. 650 Indiana St. www.QueerBallroom.com
Sat 16 ➠ Beatpig @ Powerhouse
Juanita More spins saucy grooves and dudes cruise at the eclectic music, drag and kink night; each 3rd Saturday. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. 552-8689. www.beatpigsf.com www.powerhouse-sf.com
Chaos @ Beatbox
Tristan Jaxx and his pals DJ the hot dance night, with special guest Justin Ryan. $15. 10pm-3am-ish. Free 20 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Enjoy hot gogo studs, prizes, tiki bar cocktails, a friendly atmosphere and the biggest outdoor gay bar patio in Northern California; third Saturdays. 22519 Main St. www.wfturfclub.com
Spring Gala @ Terra Gallery
Reason to Party’s gala affair, with a speakeasy-themed third anniversary party; Carmen Marc Valvo hosts, complimentary cocktails, DJ tunes, Alotta Boutte sings; proceeds benefits The Colon Cancer Alliance. $30-$750. 9pm-2am. 511 Harrison St. www.reasontoparty.org/spring2012
Top Shelf @ The Rrazz Room
R&B band performs the musical show Uptown, Downtown, Motown Madness. $25-$30. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Sun 17➠ Beer Bust @ 440
$8 a cup. Good times at the popular Castro bar. 3pm8pm. 440 Castro St. www.the440.com
Beer Bust @ Truck
Beer, and lots of it. $10. 4pm-8pm. Ice Queen Sundays, a new drag show, follows. Shows at 9:30 and 11pm. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com
Big @ The Stud
Monthly dance party for big men and their friends (3rd Sundays). $5. 6pm-11pm. 399 9th St. www.phattestevents.com www.studsf.com The Drowning Men @ Bottom of the Hill. See Sat 16
Matthew Martin @ The Rrazz Room
All Singing, All Dancing, All Dead! , the local drag crooner’s tribute to divas past; with The Tom Shaw Trio. $30. 7pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Royal Closet Ball @ Turf Club, Hayward Alameda Ducal Court’s ball and candidate announcements. 4pm. 22519 Main St. www.wfturfclub.com
Salsa Sundays @ El Rio
Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Scissor Sisters @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Bloody Mary Bar @ Pilsner Inn
Build your own nutritious beverage with a zing. Every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm. 225 Church St. www.pilsnerinn.com
Daytime Realness @ El Rio
The fun open-air drag show returns, with hostess Heklina, DJ Carnita, Stanley Frank, and drag acts, plus chicken and waffles! 3rd Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com
Debauchery @ White Horse Tavern, Oakland
3rd Sunday dance and cruise fun. No cover. 6551 Telegraph Ave. (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Jockstrap Bust @ Kok Bar
$8 stripped down, $10 not; all you can drink Bud Light or Rolling Rock. 5pm-9pm. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room
Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.harrydenton.com
Mon 18 ➠ Funny Mondays @ Deco Lounge
Victor Torres hosts a comedy open mic night. 7pm9pm. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
Karaoke @ The Lookout
Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Monday Musicals @ The Edge
The renovated bar now shows fun musicals each week. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Page 22
▼
Scissor Sisters @ Fox Theater, Oakland. See Sun 17
Popular funky R&B rock band, with the cute gay front man Jake Shears, returns to the beautiful theatre. $39.50. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph Ave. www.apeconcerts.com www.thefoxoakland.com
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 21
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 21
★
Piano Pi i B Bar 101 10 01 @ M Martuni’s t i’ i’
Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com
Tue 19 ➠
Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s
Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com
Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre
Enjoy strip shows in the comfort of your skivvies, or less. $20. 8pm-11pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Sharon McNight @ The Rrazz Room
Veteran songstress performs Men of Note, music by male pop, rock and folk composers. $30. 8pm. Also June 20. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Wed 20 ➠ Bi Night @ Café Flore
Bisexual gathering; 7pm-10pm; each 3rd Wed. 2298 Market St. 621-8579. www.cafeflore.com
Booty Call @ Q Bar
Juanita More and Joshua J’s weekly night packs the intimate stylish bar with grooves and a groovy younger crowd. $3. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.juanitamore.com www.QbarSF.com
Come To My House @ Deco Lounge
Early evening (5pm-9pm) monthly (3rd Wed) fundraiser for the Trevor Project, with host Angelina Josephina Manacotti. $5. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. 346-2025. www.decosf.com
Indigo Girls @ Slim’s
Folk-pop duo returns to touring, and playing music from their new CD, with the five-piece back-up and opening band The Shadowboxers. $31. $56 (with dinner). 8pm. 333 11th St. 255-0333. www.indigogirls.com www.slims-sf.com
Laura Hayden @ Martuni’s
I Didn’t Mean to be a Virgin in the 80s, the solo performer’s retro comic show, with food and drink specials. Prizes for best retro costumes. $10. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.laurahayden.com
Pit Stop @ Kok
Hamisi DJs the popular happy hour, 6pm-9pm, where fun continues later. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com 22 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Indigo Girls @ Slim’s. See Wed 20
Thu 21➠ 80s Thursdays @ Cat Club
DJs and VJs take you back to the MTV era with music from the 1980s. $6. 9:30-2am. 1190 Folsom St. www.sfcatclub.com
Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre
Porn daddy Michael Brandon shares his big… talent in the Underground Playroom of the strip joint. $10. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Color of Funny @ Julia Morgtan Center, Berkeley
Multicultural comedy show with Maureen Langan, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, Yayne Abeba, Nathan Habib and Lisa Geduldig. $20. 8pm. 2640 College Ave at Derby. Also, June 22, 8pm at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St. Santa Cruz. (800) 838-3006. www.koshercomedy.com
Daddy @ Kok
Daddies and their boys enjoy drink specials and porn entertainment. 10pm-2am. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge
The classy drag revue (3rd Thursdays) has moved to a new location, and celebrates its 11th year; Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Maria Garza, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Daffney Deluxe and Ruby LeBrowne; dinner seating at 7pm. Show at 8pm. No cover. 124 Ellis St. 421-8700. www.fauxgirls.com
Jon Secada @ The Rrazz Room
Three-time Grammy-winning singer performs an intimate show. $45. 8pm. Thru June 24 (7pm). 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
The Monster Show @ The Edge
Cookie Dough’s weekly raucous drag show with gogo guys. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Dhaya Lakshminarayanan performs at Color of Funny @ Julia Morgtan Center, Berkeley. SeeThu 21
VIP @ Club 21, Oakland
VIP Thursday’s pre-Pride event; Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest host Sasha with DJ Val G and DJ Speedy. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Visiting Vintners @ Press Club
Weekly wine-tasting event, with by-the-glass offering and tastings. Prices vary. 6pm-9pm. 20 Yerba Buena Lane betwn Market/Mission (next door to Contemporary Jewish Museum). 744-5000. www.PressClubSF.com
Fri 22 ➠ Adam Killian @ Nob Hill Theatre
Energetic and talented porn star (and we don’t use that term lightly) performs live solo and duo nude shows. $25. 8pm (solo) & 10pm (duo show). Also June 23, 8pm & 10pm (with a $50 6pm private reception with VIP seating, champagne and food; limit 25 guests). June 24 8pm & 10pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 7819468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Bearracuda @ Public Works
Pride Friday big bear and pals dance party, with DJs Ted Eiel, Dabecy, Sleep, Robert Jeffrey. $10-$15. 9pm-3am. 161 Erie St. at Mission. www.bearracuda.com
Androgynous women, drag kings and more are featured at a nightclub fashion Pride event. $15-$20. 8pm-2am. 579 18th St. (510) 444-7474. www.thenewparish.com
Page 24
▼
Butterfly Kisses @ The New Parish, Oakland
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 23
★
performs a concert of original R&B-blues and hip covers of classic songs. $22-$26. 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.not-of-this-world.com www.yoshis.com
Sea of Bees @ Bottom of the Hill
Adam Killian @ Nob Hill Theatre. See Fri 22
Cool band operforms music from their new CD Orangefarben. Sister Crayon also performs. Jhameel opens. $12. 9:30pm. All ages. 1233 17th St. 626-4455. www.bottomofthehill.com
Vagabondage @ Starry Plough, Berkeley
Dark Cabaret/carnival accordion melodies with the band, plus Birdeastbaby, Victoria and the Vaudevillains/ $8-$12. 9:30pm. 3101 Shattuck Ave. (510) 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com
Werk @ Deco Lounge
Tori Balenciaga hosts the Jock contest, with $100 prize, at the monthly male underwear party (4th Fri). $5. 9pm-3am. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
Sat 23 ➠ Amy & Freddy @ The Rrazz Room Cornelius Washington
Connie Champagne @ The Rrazz Room
Judy Garland: After Dark, the local singer’s heartfelt tribute to the singing diva. $30. 10:15pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
David Shrigley @ YBCA
Opening night party for the artist’s exhibit of caustically witty sculptures and visual art; drinks, nibblies and a live set by local garage rock trio Blasted Canyons. Free-$15. 8pm-10pm. (artist lecture June 23, 2pom-4pm). 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org
Disney Prom @ Rickshaw Stop
Drag Yourself to Pride, a wacky drag dance prom night; come as your favorite Disney prince, princess, villian/ess or other character; win fabulous prizes. $5. 9:30pm-2am. 21+. 155 Fell St. 861-2011. www.rickshawstop.com
GAWK Party @ Tikka Masala
Jon Sugar MCs a night of music and entertainment with a queer edge. 7pm. 1668 Haight St. www.tikkamasalasf.com
Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland
Special Pride edition at the dance club (eight bars, more dance floors, lounge) that hosts the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Rahsaan Patterson @ Yoshi’s
Talented vocalist (who happens to be openly gay) 24 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Comedic musical duo performs. $25. 10pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Bears, The Baths and Beyond @ Steamworks, Berkeley
Special bear night at the popular private men’s gym and sauna, with music by DJs Robbie Martin and Frank Wild. $14-$45. Open 24/7. 2107 4th St. (510) 8458992. www.steamworksonline.com
Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com
Cockblock @ Rickshaw Stop
Lesbo-rific queer homo dance night each 2nd & 4th Saturday. $5-$7. 21+. 10pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com
Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Weekly hip hop and R&B night. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 510 17th St. www.bench-and-bar.com
Go Bang! @ Deco Lounge
The popular intimate disco dance night, with Residents Steve Fabus, Sergio Fedasz, welcomes guest DJs Carlos Torres and Mat Ba Uh Haus, and Marcus Jerard for a special Pride eidtion. $5. Free before 10pm. 9pm-3am. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.gobangsf.com www.decosf.com
Gameboi @ Mist Ultra Lounge
Asian pop, disco and dance music night with drink specials, gogo hotties and DJed tunes (3rd Sat). $25. 9:30pm-2am. 316 11th St. www.facebook.com/gameboisf
Gameboi @ Mist Ultra Lounge. See Sat 23
Show of Pride @ Truck
Enjoy a daytime block party in SoMa, with live bands, performers (including the crazy Christeene from Austin) and DJed music. $5. 12pm-7pm. 1900 Folsom st. www.trucksf.com
Vicci Martinez @ Hotel Utah
Vocalist and contestant on the hit TV show The Voice performs new songs. $15. 9pm. 21+. 500 4th St. www.hotelutah.com
Sun 24 ➠
Armageddon @ Mist
Drag queens, gogos and DJed tunes. $20-$25. 7pm2am. 316 11th St. www.fantaziasf.com
Beer Bust @ 440
$8 a cup; good times at the popular Castro bar. 3pm8pm. 440 Castro St. www.the440.com
Women’s Pride party, with DJ Rockaway, burlesque by The Twilight Vixens, food, drinks and dance music. $15-$20. 101 4th St. www.jillianssf.com
SF Pride @ Civic Center
Enjoy a less crowded afternoon of DJed and live music, beverage booths and other activities. 11am-6pm. www.sfpride.org
Hero @ Ruby Skye
Special Pride edition of the new monthly tea dance, with guest DJ/producers Freemasons and Moto Blanco. $35. 6pm-12am. 420 Mason St. www.industrysf.com
Honey Soundsystem @ Holy Cow
Sunday music mix crew plays groove-adelic sounds for a hip, diverse crowd. 10pm-2am. 1535 Folsom St. at 11th. www.honeysoundsystem.com
Page 26
▼
Almario Bonifacio
Inferno @ Jillian’s
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 25
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 25
★
JJock k @ Lookout L k t
Weekly fundraiser for various local LGBT sports groups. $2 cover. Drink specials. 3pm-9pm. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Juanita More Pride Parties @ Chambers, Jones
The event so popular it became two events. $25-$35. Chambers 12:30pm-6pm; 601 Eddy St. Jones, 3pm12am. 620 Jones St. www.juanitamore.com
Salsa Sundays @ El Rio
Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
SF Pride @ Civic Center
Enjoy a big day of DJed and live music, beverage booths and other activities. Parade travels from Embarcadero up Market St. to 8th St. 11am-6pm. www.sfpride.org
Sunday School @ The EndUp
T-dance and beer bust at the famed disco. Enjoy the sunny patio and grooves by DJ Hawthorne and the Ghetto Disco crew. $5 cover. $3 drinks. 3pm-8pm. 401 6th St. www.theendup.com
Massive @ The Stud
Pride party for the big, beary and ebullient. $5. 6pm2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com
Mo Butta Pride @ Brick & Mortar
Women of color dance event’s 7th anniversary, with DJs Dice Dixon, Pernell Walker and others. $10-$15. 7pm1am. 1710 Mission St. 371-1631. www.brickandmortarmusic.com
Reach @ City Nights
Pride T-dance with DJs Andy Almighty, Wayne G and others. $20-$15-$25. 5pm-12am. 715 Harrison St. www.sfclubs.com
Mon 25 ➠ Funny Mondays @ Deco Lounge
Victor Torres hosts a comedy open mic night. 7pm9pm. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. www.decosf.com
Monday Musicals @ The Edge
The renovated bar now shows fun musicals each week. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s
Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com
Supernova @ Truck
Trivia show at the lil gay bar, with DJs Pork Sweats and Jimmy Swear. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com
Tue 26 ➠ Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s
Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com
Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre
Enjoy strip shows in the comfort of your skivvies, or less. $20. 8pm-11pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 781-9468. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Trini Lopez @ the Rrazz Room
Groovy guitarist-singer from the 60s performs. $40-$45. 8pm Thru July 1 (5pm). 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com
Wed 27➠ Bear Bust @ Kok
All-you-can-drink Bud Light, Rolling Rock draft. 8pm12am. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com 26 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge
Old-school drag show (2nd and 4th Wednesday) at the classic Tenderloin bar, featuring Collette Ashton, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Davida Ashton and Joie de Vivre!. No cover. 10pm. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com
Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio
Women’s burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. $5$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Thu 28 ➠
Andy Rourke @ Rickshaw Stop
Former bassist for The Smiths does a DJ set, along with Aaron Axelsen and Omar. $12. 10pm. 155 Fell St. at Van Ness. www.rickshawstop.com
SF Pride @ Civic Center. See Sunday, 24
Bubba @ Truck
Rick Gerharter
Club Temple @ White Horse Bar, Oakland
Good ole boy drinks, specials, underwear fun, and Bubba bartenders. 9pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com
Weekly DJed music night. No cover. 6551 Telegraph Ave. (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
D’lysh @ Deco Lounge
The new weekly LGBT and indie comic stand-up night. This week, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, Shawn Robbins, Simone Campbell, Marga Gomez, Jesse Elias. 8pm9:30pm. 3079 16th St. at Mission.
Page 28
▼
Isa Manzanita hosts the weekly drag show at 10:30pm. No cover. 510 Larkin St. at Turk. 346-2025. www.decosf.com
Comedy Bodega @ Esta Nocha
June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 27
f eON THE TAB ~ ~from page 27
★
FFuego @ The Th h Watergarden, W t d San S Jose J
Weekly event, with Latin music, half-off locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men’s bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com
Andy Rourke @ Rickshaw Stop. See Thu 28
The Monster Show @ The Edge
Cookie Dough’s weekly raucous drag show with gogo guys and DJ MC2. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550
The popular country western LGBT dance night. $5. 6:30pm-10:30pm with lessons from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Also Sundays 5pm-10:30pm with lessons from 5:307:15 pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org
Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge
Retro disco tunes and retro cruisy crowd, each Thursday; DJ Bus Station John plays records. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com
VIP @ Club 21, Oakland
New night, with hip-hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest Jessica Wild (RuPaul’s Drag Race ). No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Visiting Vintners @ Press Club
Weekly wine-tasting event, with by-the-glass offering and tastings. Prices vary. 6pm-9pm. 20 Yerba Buena Lane betwn Market/Mission (next door to Contemporary Jewish Museum). 744-5000. www.PressClubSF.com
Fri 29 ➠ Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club
Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 863-2052. www.lexingtonclub.com
Friday Nights @ de Young Museum
Weekly parties, live performances and quick art installations, paired with current shows, including the Jean Paul Gaultier couture/costume exhibit. Free-$18 (tickets required for exhibit entry). 5:30pm-8:30pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.deyoung.famsf.org
Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland
Special Jennifer Lopez tribute party at the dance club (eight bars, more dance floors, lounge) that hosts the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Some Thing @ The Stud
Wild weekly drag show with SF’s most unusual talents. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com
Strip @ Kok Bar
Take it off at the 4th Fridays stripping event with a Cheap Ass Contest, $100 winner. $5. 11pm contest. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com
Sat 30 ➠ Bears, The Baths and Beyond @ Steamworks, Berkeley
Special bear night at the popular private men’s gym and sauna, with music by DJs Robbie Martin and Frank Wild. $14-$45. Open 24/7. 2107 4th St. (510) 8458992. www.steamworksonline.com
Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon
Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com
La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland
Live bands, DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland’s premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Weekly hip hop and R&B night. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 510 17th St. www.bench-and-bar.com
Mr. & Ms. Alameda County Leather @ Humanist Hall, Oakland
Annual contest for leather titles in the East Bay. $30. 6:30pm. 390 27th St. www.humanisthall.net
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ To submit your July events, send by June 18 to BARtabSF@ebar.com
28 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
eBARchivef ★
BEFORE THE PARADEd Gay Pride’s Roots
by Dr. Jack Fritscher
T
he original Gay Parade started inside a bar the night of June 28, 1969, when drag queens ran out of Stonewall into the streets. Or did it? Seventy-four years earlier, in the parallel universe of June 9, 1896, old school San Francisco clubs and bars sponsored a “Cyclers in Gay Attire” parade of floats built on bicycles as reported in the San Francisco Call. It is archetype of our arche-tribe—and of our self-selecting Gay Identity Parade. At 8pm, the grand “Marshal of the Night” struck up the Souza band with a 4/4 beat, forecasting the decades-later disco floats with Sylvester and Jeanie Tracy, muscular DJs, and ripped dancers from Buzzby’s, the I-Beam, Oil Can Harry’s, and Trocadero. Those “Gay ’90s” revelers, led by mounted SFPD, marched up Market to Van Ness past cheering thousands drowned out by brass bands, floats, and flaming fireworks carts. They decorated bicycles, carriages, and wagons with “...lanterns, bunting, flowers and ribbons to make” the floats “gaudy and attractive.” Like us dragged up in the 1970s a la the casts of Hair, The Wild One, and Baby Jane, 1890s pre-Hollywood marchers costumed themselves in pop-culture “riding attire, some plain, some gorgeous, some comic and many grotesque. Some of the young men appeared [in drag] as the ‘New Woman’ and as the ‘Bloomer Girl,’ while others appeared as clowns... a gay and festive picture... [of] gayly trimmed bicycles.” “After the mounted police,” first “came the Alpha (ladies) Cycling Club,” like our Dykes on Bikes, followed by twenty city clubs predicting our own sponsoring bars, bike clubs, and organizations. The Olympic Club float featured “a Roman gladiator... extending the hand of fellowship to the modern cycler” prefiguring our go-go beef floats with leathermen rampant on the Brig’s flatbed truck, and original Cockettes camping aboard the Stud truck before creating their own 1978 “Children of Paradise” float. The Imperial Club’s “1896 SPCA Float” rocked “an immense elephant” signed “Don’t Tease the Animals.” 30 BAR★TAB • bartabsf.com • June 2012
Bulldog Bath House hunk in 1979.
In 1975, Imperial Empress Doris, funded by Polk/ Tenderloin bars like the Kokpit, locked her legs around the neck of the rent-an-elephant she rode up Polk Street. Diverse before us, those 19th-century strutters donned “Continental costumes, [with] two pages [male] in full silver suits, Indians, colored [sic] and Chinese cyclers...and many riders in fantastic garb. A number of cyclers dressed up “as boats with full sail. Another [rider] in imitation of a flatcar had a banner on which” he had painted his cause: “This train carries bicycles free.” Another transportation activist, in this last decade before automobiles, pulled a coffin saying: “Killed by riding a [bike] wheel over the Market Street pavement.” This amazing deja vu news feature gaily concluded: “They came, the fantastic glittering phalanx... in carnival array with music and red fire.... They passed like colors and forms in the [rainbow?] kaleidoscope, leaving an impression of something beautiful and odd.” How odd? Parade awards went to “C. F. Harrison” as “the Tough Girl” in an age when liberated females coded gender through initials. Another float, assaying ethnicity, depicted Chinese culture similar to the muscular Pharoah on 1979’s golden “King Tut” float sponsored by the Castro Café. So strike up the band, the “boys” in it, and play on! In the 1960s, we GLBTs reinvented the word gay, claiming ownership on banners in 1970’s first parade populated by drag queens and Tenderloin transgenders who had acted up in the streets outside Compton’s Cafeteria in 1966. You don’t need a Gay Rosetta Stone, or frottage with a queer theorist, to know it takes 21st-century deduction to reveal legitimate 19th-20th-century
The N’Touch’s float in the early 1980s.
GLBT history hidden in the code words of factual texts and nonsexual topics, like the Call article, written years before our love dare self-identify with brilliant new vocabulary. Was the Call reporter, writing the word ‘gay’ four times, cautiously embedding his subtextual riddles about homosexuality? That very year one of San Francisco’s most flaming visitors, Oscar Wilde, a master dramatist of fluid identities, was famously in prison for being queer. In eerie hindsight, exactly ten years later, these 1896 paraders would suffer the 1906 Earthquake the way 1970s marchers would face AIDS. From SF’s first gay parade, June 28, 1970, the performance art in bars jumped like wildfire to floats in the streets. Gay bars provided funding and themes for the first “floats” which were basically convertibles filled with Polkstrasse drag queens and politicians sponsored by Tavern Guild activists like Ramrod co-owner Paul Bentley/Luscious Lorelei, partner of Bay Area Reporter founder Bob Ross. The Ramrod’s elaborate 1970 float, “Zodiac Signs,” has the distinction as winner of the first best float prize in the first gay parade. Peddling “curb service” with his low-budget 1974 Castro Camera “float,” Harvey Milk pushed a decorated Safeway grocery cart up Market selling Kodak film retail! Corporate sponsors have since made such local sponsors an endangered species. George Takei of Star Trek dancing on a Google float is hardly the same as grassroots Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White, the late owners of the beloved Bernal Heights women’s bolthole, Wild Side West, sponsoring prize-winning floats for thirty years. Gone with the wind are Buzzby’s star-spangled Bicentennial float, photographed by Gio Vitacolonna, and built by bar employees Don Barry, Ed Mendez, and Billy Fogelman. Gone are the Lion Pub’s “fern bar” float, Toad Hall’s flatbed of Castro stoners inhaling helium from their own balloons before Mylar was outlawed, and the Bulldog Bath’s signature Peterbilt truck bedecked with handsome bar flies. Gone is the 1970s steam-punk leatherman-in-livery Ed Linotti proudly driving his 1928 dark-blue stretch Lincoln in many a 1970s line of floats, chauffeuring bar stars like the famous redheaded poet Ron Johnson, the
Toad Hall’s balloon contingent in 1979
notorious manager of the No Name. At the height of orgiastic glory in the queer 1970s, the June 1979 parade stomped angrily up Market. It was only seven months after the assassination of Milk and Moscone. It was only one month after the White Night riot when the SFPD brutally beat dozens of customers inside the Elephant Walk at 18th and Castro. Defiant citizens, like angry villagers with pitchforks and torches, punched handwritten signs into the air demanding, “No more bloody Marys.” As a supporter of the Pride Parade, Drummer magazine, with its monthly bar coverage, was the go-to BARtab of its day (1975-1999). Gay bars kept Drummer alive with their ads, and it was the main publication of gay bar culture which it both reported on and helped create. During the years I was editor, we sent into the 1978 parade a couple guys wearing sandwich-board signs over their shoulders, front and back, emblazoned with a sentence from our health column “Doctor Dick” which I co-authored at that time with a 1970s primary gay health-care provider, Richard Hamilton, MD. It’s freaky now to recall the prescience of our message. In big letters, the signs warned: “Doctor Dick and the Committee to Halt the Advance of Sexually Transmitted Epidemics. Stomp Out Amoebiasis!” Marching our social-disease message into the glittering streets, Drummer was not trying to rain on the parade. Our goal was to create awareness and raise consciousness. Spun out of 1960s civil rights marches, the Pride parade is, in principle, all about messaging. We step off the curb. We stop traffic with strength in numbers. We reclaim the street as a primary gay public space. We celebrate as equals to all the other Irish, Italian, Hispanic, and Chinese identity parades. (Author’s note: As transparent back story to this San Francisco GLBT history, I discovered this 1896 San Francisco Call article about transportation and street use in 1979 while rummaging through the files of the SF Muni Railway for whom I worked as a writer and publicist for two years.) ✸ Excerpted from the book Gay San Francisco: Eyewitness Drummer. © 2012 JackFritscher.com June 2012 • bartabsf.com • BAR★TAB 31