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The Annex is a small dive that you can run to if you just wanna get away from the craziness of The Strip. Not the most attractive bar or clientèle (even by dive bar standards), and it's far from the best of its "genre", but this is as butch as it'll get in San Antonio. All of the bartenders are nice guys and are very good at what they do. The drinks are as cheap as they are strong. Plus, they've started doing monthly Gear Nights, which have been fun so far. Also, as expected, it can be a cruisy atmosphere at times. If you can manage to find something attractive to fool around with, this will be the place to get a bit "warmed up" before heading home. This is a bar that knows what it is and intends to stay that way. If you like an older, more laid-back crowd, this is the place to be. But please, if you have a Fag Hag, leave her at The Strip...this isn't the place for her.

When I first started going to Pegasus a couple of years ago, it had a vibe of aspiring to be a cool, "happening" place (despite not having a great appearance), but still was laid-back compared to your usual gay bar. There was something there for everyone, and that was what drew me to it over places like The Saint, Sparky's and The Heat. Fast-forward to this past Spring, and Pegasus has tried to completely make itself into a drag bar that appeals mostly to queens and their fag hags (like pretty much every other bar that I normally avoid on the strip), yet it still looks like a broken-down dive that smells like vomit and urine, cheaply covered up by Lysol. Not to say that Peg was ever an outstanding bar, but this identity crisis has definitely taken away a certain charm that the bar used to have, plus I usually avoid drag bars for a reason. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." With that said, the bartenders are still (for the most part) nice (especially Lonnie and Jason in the "country" bar...go see them!), and the drinks are still a bit cheaper than the rest of The Strip. So it's at least worth checking out for that. Thankfully, Pegasus hasn't touched the Sunday Beer Busts and they're still an awesome time...especially the Bear Beer Busts on the first Sunday of every month. I'd highly recommend attending those. But after 9 PM? Unless you love drag queens, and all the "loudness" that comes with them, that would be a good time to head somewhere else (like The Annex).

Visited Chicago and, inexplicably, held off on checking out Sidetrack until my last evening in town. Better late than never, though. It's a huge, very clean and nice-looking bar and their specialty drinks are as tasty as they are strong. It was pretty crowded and definitely seemed to be on the "clique-ish" side, but still a good time overall. I'd recommend checking it out.

Visited Touche on my first night in town for IML. Nothing mind-blowing or exceptional, but has pretty much anything would want from a cruise bar. Nice welcoming bartenders, cheap drinks (at least compared to the bars in Boystown), and good cruising. The back bar is, of course, a must. Had a few great times to get me nice and warmed up for a great trip. I'd definitely recommend it.