THE CASTRO - SAN FRANCISCO

THE CASTRO - SAN FRANCISCO

Published: 09/26/2009 by D Travel

The Castro is indisputably the best known LGBT (lesbian/ gay/ bisexual/ transgender) neighborhood in the world. Although ‘the Castro’ as it is most often referred to is technically located on Castro Street between Market Street and 19th Street, many of its citizens live in the surrounding residential areas such as Corona Heights, the Mission, Noe Valley, Twin Peaks and Haight-Ashbury. Nearby Duboce Triangle and Dolores Heights also contribute to the LGBT presence.

Following the Haight-Ashbury ‘Summer of Love’ (1967), the Castro began to become the predominantly gay neighborhood it is so well-known for. Thousands of free-spirited youth from middle America descended on the area, finding a multitude of large Victorian houses at low rents or with low down payments as the houses’ former owners moved to the suburbs. Most of the Victorian homes have been beautifully restored and lavishly maintained, and their residents wield fairly strong political and economic clout in the City (as it is typically called). When Harvey Milk established his political foundation as a gay activist in 1973 while simultaneously opening Castro Camera, the Castro embraced its new identity with a passion. Nightclubs such as Twin Peaks, the Midnight Sun, the Elephant Walk (now called Harvey’s) and Toad Hall became extremely popular hangouts.

This is truly one of San Francisco’s most vibrant, colorful and cohesive communities. Throngs of curious, serious party-down revelers and others have made the pilgrimmage to the Castro from all over the world. Although the neighborhood is pretty much a 24/7 type of place, it really comes alive at night when the bars start to fill up and the neon marquee at the Castro Theatre lights up. Even though the Castro has remained predominantly gay, it’s a relatively safe place after dark for women, lesbian or otherwise, and there are plenty of places for them to go and enjoy the night as well.

If Halloween is to the Castro what New Year’s Eve is to the straight world, then the Castro Street Fair would be the 4th of July. San Francisco is known for its many diverse neighborhoods and the street fairs that celebrate them, but the Castro Street Fair is the longest-running street fair, started by Harvey Milk. It typically features drag shows, parades, comedy, costumes you simply can’t believe, and plenty of food, drink and well, merriment. You haven’t seen it all until you’ve ducked out of the way of a 6’3” rainbow-colored ringletted clown in tight britches with a shocking amount of cleavage prancing demurely down Castro – and that’s just for starters.

For the more intellectually inclined, the SF International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is the most exciting event of the year. For ten bustling days, filmmakers from around the globe attend premiere screenings, and the parties that follow, all in celebration of LGBT film.

If you just want to see and be seen, the place to unwind is Cafe Flore at the corner of Market and Noe Streets. For a trendy twist on comfort food, Blue has some superb views of the action along Market Street. Also to be found in the Castro are Thai, Sushi, seafood, Mediterranean, Italian, and Mexican restaurants and cafes, higher-end clothing boutiques and plenty of other upscale shopping.