BristowNorwich's Profile

I lived in New Orleans when the Good Friends opened in 88-89', and I enjoyed it immensely, because it was a gay bar where grownups could go and have a delightful happy hour. I admit I haven't been back to the City, until recently, since long after Katrina, and I really didn't know what to expect. But, when I recently arrived for early happy hour, I was taken aback, except for a few cosmetic change over the years, the bar was essentially as I remember it. The staff (which is the most important element of any bar) was on the ball & looking very nice indeed. And, the clientete was cleaned up, as well. I enjoyed my self wonderfully for the next 3 hours. Then I, in good "New'lans'" fashion, mosied on down to the "Pub", and beyond. This, until I hit my room at the Monteleone (another great tradition). I once knew a teetoteller, who lived in my building in the GD, so far as I know the man never left his apartment. In NO, what's a teetoller to do? It's all very sad to contemplate.. New Orleans, in general & the Quarter, in particular, are a precious jewels in the cultural & economic life of our country, and every effort should be made to help rehabilitate one of America's great treasures.

My goodness, does every gay bar have to cater to the young. I was going to the Numbers in the 70's, on Sunset, (when I was young) and I'm going to the Numbers now. All of these young people who complain about the Numbers, and the gentlemen of certain age, that inhabit the place, need to understand that we are the people who have succeeded in our lives & professions, and have, thank God, survived the plague of HIV/AIDS, and look, as hard as we might, for a bar/restaurant, that does not shun us, but imbraces us, as a mainstay of their business. Gee, what a concept. It's the misfortune of young men that they will one day be sitting at the Numbers bar, from 11:30 on, wondering - am I good enough? Yes, I most certainly am!!

Everytime I'm in West Hollywood, I drop in at Trunks, and have always been greeted by a hearty "Hi! Can I help you?", and a convivial environment. Trunks isn't much, it don't have a lot of stuff, or ambience. But, what it does have is a staff, and clientele who give the impression, at least, that they are sincerely glad to meet you, and is there anything we can get you, otherwise, please, just hang out. Sometimes, the WeHo experience can get a little intense, and Trunks is just the place to relieve that stress. Not much happens, there's no dancing, or much crusing, for that matter. It's just a neat place to calm down for awhile, which for busy guys is a rarity - a simple, uncomplicated good time. I enjoy Trunks immensely.

As I have previously mentioned, in other reviews, I lived in New Orleans in the late 80's (in the GD). My intention was to have my company purchase a restaurant & bar in the Quarter. As I was not prepared to have the negotiations at my home, I arranged to have all the discussions transpire at the only place that was suitable for talks about food & drink & plaster & gutters - The Monteleone Hotel. I can remember clearly how convivial these discussion were between me, the city (who were very please that someone else was picking up the tap), and the old landlords (ditto). Our discussion went very well (free booze is a wonderful thing). Ultimately, the deal fell through because of circumstances unknown, and beyond, all of our knowledge. But, I digress, this is a review of the Monteleone Hotel. If you are going to do anything of importance, or value, in New Orleans, do it at the Monteleone. The Monteleone is prevaded with the sweet scent of decay; of having done this a thousands times; of wheelling & dealing over a 100 years. If you're a businessman, or a lover, do your business in a place that has the history; the ambience; the rep, to give your moment it's true importance. The Monteleone is such a place. Drink at the same bar where Williams, and Faulkner slammed them down. (Well, maybe not Williams, he sipped his, but Faulkner sure did). Do love & business with panache, and the Carousel Lounge is as good a place as any in the world, to do it. But, this is my past, in the recent (post Katrina) months, I've returned to New Orleans, and thought about what I would see. My old house was a little beaten up, but the Quarter looked OK, and the Monteleone (where I stayed) looked it's regal self. In times of trouble & uncertaincy neighbors look to stability, and in the Quarter, the Hotel Monteleone, filled that roll. No G/D storm was going to take out this Lady, or her neighbors, Ever!! The Monteleone is not just at steely, but, gentleel symbol, a heroine of the new New Orleans, but also marveleous place to stay.

I make no apologies for the fact that I am a gay man of a certain age. That has obvious disadvantages in the "only young people matter" gay mindset, but I'm not offended, as I thought the same way in my day. Being older (and also a survivor) does, however, gives me certain privileges, and, most of all, perspective. From 88' to 90', I lived in New Orleans (in the GD), and spent alot of time in the Quarter, and there were a number of bars, restuarants, and other unmemtionalbes, that I frequented, with the Bourbon Pub, being the nexus, and center of all my activities. I would branch out from the Pub all over the Quarter. It may be just me, but I have an inclination to space, and the Pub provided space. You could walk around the bar, and have three different conversation going on, all at the same time. The Pub is set up for conversation, it's hard to just sit on a stool at 11:00 AM, and not want to talk. The action, surprisingly, is organizied around people speaking to people. And, of course, with all the video screen about, the excuse is even evident. But, of course, these are all remembrances of the good days, before Katrina, when everything changed. I returned to New Orleans, for the first time, on business some weeks back, and I was pleased that the Pub, was still there, doing what it has always done for generations - giving the Quarter a focus, and an excuse for a very good time. Be it during the day (for the older men), or in the evening (for the young people), the Bourbon Pub has always given the (gay) Quarter it's gentle center. The one thing that is so neat about the Quarter, is that you can just get up an walk around. In this, the Quarter is very much like it's Parisian mentors, you just move from cafe to cafe, and back again. The Pub has changed a little, and yet, it has remain exactly what it is - a Place for a Very Good Time.

I've lived in Las Vegas for about 13 years now, and have been in the Buffalo, at best, once or twice a year. Each time, I've always been coming from a dinner, or a business event of some kind, and am dressed in a suit & tie. I know full well that this is not their typical clientele's attire, but the staff, and indeed, the patrons have always treated me with great friendliness, and courtesy. That is probably because they feel sorry for this poor fool, who's obviously out of his depth, and doesn't know where he is. Anyway, the Buffalo staff & patrons have made me feel welcome, and that is always appricated. Everybody's money is good in Vegas.

For gentlemen of certain age, we've known about the Twin Peaks bar virturally all our lives. It was, it is, and it will remine wonderful. There isn't much to it, a deck, a bar space, an upper loft, that it. But, so many wonderful gentlemen and Ladies have sat before those wide windows, and seen their generations go by, some with indifference, some with nostalgia, some with pride. Anyway you look at it, the Twin Peaks have been at the nexus of our social evolement, whether it be in the Village, or WeHo, etc., all come together at those wide windows. I'm glad I am here it see them, and I glad I was around when they went up.

I'm a gay businessman, who lives in Las Vegas, and I come into Weho periodically. I also happen to be a member of the E/W Lounge. Some folks have difficulty with this bar, because they think that it's just another saloon along with Micky's, Trunks, Cantina, Rage and the rest. It was designed for an older, more mature & monied, gay clientele. It sounds pretensious, but very many guys grow out of Micky's, et al. and are looking for a quieter place, that surrounds them in the ambience that they have become accustom too. A very great deal of modern day business is not contracted in high rise office buildings, but in more informal environments. Because of it's position, the Lounge provides for that kind of informality, where relationships can be established, and friendship enhanced. For folks that just mosy on in, the East/West might not come across as an everyday kind of guys place, but it serves a real purpose in the broader economy of West Hollywood. Certainly there are many young people who enhabit the East/West, and without them, the place would starve to death. Maturity & youth have a good mix at the East/West Lounge.

I have to confess, I'm a man of a certain age, but, I have tried, as best I can to keep it all together. Everytime I'm in the City, and I hang out for a while at the MS. I remember when it was on Castro back in the 70's, and now on 18th, the genre has changed, but not it's over all good feel. For the young people who come home from downtown, the MS is a terrific haven for happy hour. For me it's wonderful to be surrounded by hot, intelligent, well-kept young people. For people watching it may not be the most comfortable, but it is exciting, and that's a good thing. Plus, the staff is as attractive & engaging as it's clientele, and that is always a very good thing. Frankly, staffing is the most important attribute a successful bar, and the MS has it.

I've been going to the Badlands for a very long time, and it's always been a neat place, I think, mostly, because it has room. It's one of the few bars in the Castro that has a good deal of space. Of course, late in the evening all that advantage goes away. But, I've always had a fine time there, both in the afternoon, and at night.