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OUTBOUND: San Francisco, still Gay after all these years

OUTBOUND: San Francisco, still Gay after all these years
by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer Need a place to spend that holiday bonus? A city to shop for new threads? Maybe a weekend getaway for good food, or to self-indulge? Well, there's always San Francisco. The city became an international Gay mecca in the 70s and 80s, and today it's still one of the most open-minded havens anywhere on the globe. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco in late winter or early spring, or perhaps in September for the Folsom Street Fair, here are some tips to consider. GETTING INTO SAN FRANCISCO Flying is the most efficient way to get to-from San Francisco. If you don't like to fly and don't mind a longer trip, I suggest Amtrak. The 24-hour journey from Seattle to the Bay Area winds its way through Southwestern Washington, Western Oregon and into Northern California, where you'll de-board at Emeryville and transfer to a chartered bus for a ten-minute ride to San Francisco's waterfront. If you can afford it, I recommend booking a sleeper cabin, which can accommodate one to two people in a single or up to four people in a deluxe. Business class on Amtrak is far less glamorous than on airlines, although every meal is included, plus showers, pillows, blankets, bath towels, morning coffee, daily newspaper, and turn-down bed service. Don't expect four-star pampering or gourmet dining, but for extra space and an all-inclusive, no-hassle trip, book a sleeper. On-board movies and bar are available for each passenger, including those in coach class, but do take reading material, laptop, personal DVD player, and a ready-to-chill out attitude, if traveling alone. Visit www.amtrak.com for reservations and fares. LODGING AND RELAXING The Mosser Hotel (54 Fourth Street) You can't ask for a better location in San Francisco than The Mosser Hotel. Nestled in the heart of the city, just two blocks from Union Square and a five-minute subway ride to the Castro District, this petite Victorian-style property is the perfect base for serious shoppers and energetic nightcrawlers. Old Navy is across the street, Virgin Mega Store is a block and a half up, Macy's is minutes away, and a brand new mall (Westfield Centre) with over 400 stores, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and a huge food court on the basement level, is around the corner. Built in the 1910's and restored four years ago, The Mosser Hotel is vintage San Francisco sprinkled with contemporary add-ons. The property's elevator is currently being renovated and due to the inconvenience, it's offering very low rates for guests through March. The service is exceptional, helpful front desk personnel drew maps to nearby places of interest and tracked down a Fed Ex envelope for me. Rooms are reasonably sized, beds are comfy, bathrooms have an IKEA-like feel, and the wall-mounted CD player in each room is a nice touch for pre or post-shower listens. For musicians, The Mosser has a built-in recording studio named "Studio Paradiso" that can be rented out, in the lower level. Grammy winner Ludacris made use of the studio last month. For an unbeatable location, current low price and a taste of San Francisco from back in the day, stay at The Mosser. Visit www.themosser.com for availability and rates. DINING, COCKTAILING & SNACKING Roosevelt Tamale Parlor (2817 24th Street, Mission District) In the Hispanic-populated Mission District, one can find dirt-cheap piñatas, cervezas, and a slightly bad pedicure. But, the traditional Mexican grub in this section of town will have you dancing La Bamba, with or without a sombrero. I was raised on made-from-scratch Mexican food, so I'm more critical of restaurants serving south of the border fare. The enchiladas and burritos at Roosevelt Tamale Parlor, hand-assembled by a resident chef of twenty years, were packed with meat and smothered with spicy, tangy sauces. As for the tamales, the trademark of this plainly decorated place - they'd definitely give my grandmother's recipe a run for its money. Bring your appetite because the portions are platter-size. Orphan Andy's (242 Church Street, Castro District) If you can snag a seat and control your hunger during the wait time, you'll come to love what many San Franciscans swear by for late night food. Orphan Andy's has been around forever, at least since the first disco ball spun at nearby dance clubs. Everything is good here, but high on the list are the diner's all-day breakfast plates and thick, juicy burgers. A piece of homemade cake or pie, with a tall glass of milk, is strongly recommended to seal the deal. For under ten bucks, you can eat well and overhear chatty queens run down their latest man-quests. Don't arrive starving because it takes about a half hour to get a table on the weekends. Golden Boy Pizza (542 Green Avenue, North Beach District) This place is so simple and small that you might walk by and ignore it, if it weren't for the aroma of fresh pizza seeping out each time the door opens, which is quite frequently. This is a neighborhood joint where locals stop by for an inexpensive, authentic slice of the Italian favorite en route to a movie or live show, or to finish off an active night of cocktailing. I had a hearty slice of pizza mounted with meat, veggies and just-chopped garlic, and a cold microbrew for only eight bucks. From someone who's been to Rome and Milan, this is one of the best pizzas I've ever had. TO-DOs & MUST-SEES Sunday's a Drag Brunch (450 Powell Street, Sir Frances Drake Hotel) Welcome to Sunday worship, of a different kind. Atop the Sir Frances Drake Hotel, in downtown San Francisco, is an elegant dining room that overlooks the city and where drag queens on Sunday afternoons embrace the torch songs, not hymns. The brunch, a marvelous feast for the tummy and eyes, was so divine that I thought Joan Carrington would come riding along on a white horse at any given moment. On the weekend I visited, the buffet included roast beef, halibut, eggs, potatoes, sausages, tomato and mozzarella salad, fresh pastries, fine-brewed coffee, and an array of sinful desserts. And that's only half of the spread. The main entrée, however, is the show. San Francisco's best drag performers take center stage and shimmy, and boy do they shimmy! When I was there, a bombshell named Cassandra Cass gave Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" a fabulous workout. She slithered from one end of the room to the other in a sexy, tight leather dress with high heels and turned heads from every Gay, straight, and still questioning guy in attendance. Two other starlets took turns performing Liza Minnelli and Lena Horne classics. The Liza impersonator had me fooled for a second with a flawless impersonation of a live "New York, New York" recording. In all, I counted six numbers. Combined with an all-you-can-eat meal, this is a well-spent $35. The brunch is emceed by area favorite Donna Sachet, who kept the audience in stitches in between songs. Harry Denton, a longtime San Francisco socialite, is the man behind the women of Sunday's a Drag Brunch. For reservations and show times, call (415) 395-8595 or email reservations@harrydenton.com. Beach Blanket Babylon (678 Green Street, Club Fugazi) A wacky good time in San Francisco takes place in the North Beach neighborhood, with the cast of the city's funniest, silliest, and longest running show "Beach Blanket Babylon". Celebrities are poked fun of, sexual innuendos are peppered throughout, and hair-raising costumes mimicking the rich and famous are just some of the shenanigans squeezed into this 90-minute truffle, which changes periodically to include recent events and Hollywood buzz. From tabloid magnets to political figures to C-list celebrities, no one is safe from a comical lashing by the Blanket ensemble. So popular is this show, that Prince Charles and wife Camilla Parker Bowles attended a performance on their San Francisco visit in 2005. For a night of giddy entertainment, visit www.beachblanketbabylon.com for reservations, show times and admission. San Francisco LGBT Community Center (1800 Market Street) At the foot of the Castro District, you'll come across an important landmark of San Francisco's thriving Gay community. The multi-level LGBT Community Center is a resourceful spot to get information about the neighborhood and to pick up fliers on community events, local plays, political rallies, film festivals, and artsy type functions. You can also grab a copy of the Bay Area Reporter (BAR), San Francisco's equivalent of the Seattle Gay News. Residents and visitors are welcome to a free hour of Internet, which comes in handy if you're traveling without a laptop. And, a café serving sandwiches, soups, sweets, coffee, and other goodies is located on the ground floor. From downtown, take the F-line streetcar and it will drop you off across from the center.


The Mosser