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Gina LaDivina performed Barbra Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade” to cap off the 1960s “cowboy era,” while Fauxnique, perhaps the city’s original “faux-queen,” vamped to Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” to wrap up the new wave 1980s.
“It marched in the Pride parade, and during the [AIDS] epidemic, people would throw flowers into it as they marched in the street.”
As DJ Steve Fabus filled the side room with sleazy, glamorous disco, Stud collective member Marke Bieschke found a moment to relax after having put in weeks of physical and mental labor.
Other good bets along Folsom Street include the ultra-cruise-y Powerhouse (http://powerhouse-sf.com), with such creative theme nights as Nipple Play and Kink Salon, and the venerable Hole in the Wall Saloon (holeinthewallsaloon.com), which has long billed itself "a nice little queer bar for filthy bikers and loudmouth punks." Nearby, the Lone Star Saloon (http://lonestarsf.com) is a beloved neighborhood bar with a good-size patio, great happy hour drink specials, and a furry all-ages crowd.
11th Street between Folsom and Harrison has gradually become SoMa's hippest bar-hopping block, with a slew of notable restaurants, lounges and clubs, including the gay nightspot BeatBox (http://beatboxsf.com), an eclectic space for dancing that offers everything from country music on Tuesdays to Tea-Rex T-dances on Sundays; and DNA Lounge (http://dnalounge.com), a huge dance club and live-music venue with a mixed crowd and an adjacent pizza restaurant that's handily open 24/7.
Nearby, the massive 1015 Folsom (http://1015.com) nightclub has some highly popular circuit-style parties and raves (check the calendar for details).
A third major wave crested between 1978 and 1983, and included the Black and Blue, the Arena, the Trench, the Cave, Headquarters, the Stables, the Eagle, and Chaps.
Historical Essay
by Gayle S. Rubin
SOMA Leather Bar 1978
Photo: Crawford Barton, Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California
Folsom Gulch, c.
According to Neven Samara, a member of the Stud collective, it was donated by an older patron whose ex-partner created it for public display. Donna Personna, a trans activist and former member of the pioneering 1960s troupe the Cockettes (opens in new tab), was also present.
The atmosphere was carnivalesque, almost bordering on relief.
The empty streets gave privacy and safety to men whose sexual activities drew hostility and sometimes physical attacks in more populated areas. The crowd these days is a catch-all: queer and straight clubbers of all ages, from college students to some who may very well have been here on opening night four decades ago. In the early sixties, rents were low and buildings cheap.
The renowned San Francisco Eagle (http://sf-eagle.com), which shuttered for a time and was nearly redeveloped as an upscale restaurant (causing a huge community kerfuffle), reopened early in 2013 and is as invitingly dark and saucy as ever, if less strictly leather-oriented than it used to be. These aren't your typical fondues - try the Quick Draw (Manchego cheese, white wine, roasted red pepper, roasted garlic) or High Noon (white chocolate with balsamic-strawberry puree).
Its walls were covered with murals by artist Chuck Arnett, whose work graced many other leather institutions over the years. It even began to attract heterosexual and lesbian sadomasochists and fetishists, who began to occupy the margins of the more established gay male leather world. Located South of Market, it was wildly successful and became a focal point for a burgeoning community.
Next door is Kimpton's other SoMa property, the dapper Palomar San Francisco (http://hotelpalomar-sf.com), which has a decidedly plush and modern vibe, its rooms outfitted with gourmet minibars and iPod docks.
Down closer to gay nightlife are several mid-range chain properties, the best of which are the Holiday Inn San Francisco-Civic Center (http://ihg.com) and the retro-decorated Best Western Plus Americania (http://americaniahotel.com).
At night when the local businesses closed the streets were fairly deserted. Several other galleries are located along Howard and Folsom streets in this part of the neighborhood.
Restaurants
SoMa's upper reaches abound with noteworthy restaurants, many of them located in the upscale hotels mentioned below. A culinary high point is Radius San Francisco (http://radiussf.com), a stylish high-ceilinged storefront space specializing in gorgeously plated, locally sourced California cuisine and fine regional wines; on warmer days, dine on the patio.
But it actually feels as trashy and as cozy as the Stud.”
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Also legendary is The Stud (http://studsf.com), which is nearing its 50th birthday and is justly famous for its Meow Mix gender-bender Tuesday variety shows and is fun for dancing on weekends too.The neighborhood has long been one of the world's leading hubs of gay leather culture - it plays host to the infamous Folsom Street Fair (http://folsomstreetfair.org) each September as well as the Up Your Alley fetish fair in late July.