AdamSandel

All Madonna all the time

The only place to really dance in the Castro, Badlands is hopping every night of the week. Whether or not you like the video music, or the somewhat nervous gay boys and the girls who love them, or not, is up to you...

Hole. In the wall.

Need I say more...?

Local, fun, low-key

You wanna go where everyone knows your name...

Poor fish

Do you know anyone who looks good in blue or green lighting? I don't. And the aquarium fish look so unhappy....

Look at me, dammit!

I didn't wash and dry my tight jeans on HOT so you people could watch television! The non-stop music and TV videos make the clientele stare up at the screens like turkeys in the rain.

Badlands II - without the nervous twinks

The atmosphere resembles Badlands (with the non-stop videos), but there's more variety, and a more casual feel here, especially on the smoking-optional patio -- which can be quite friendly... A decent place to dance -- before it gets too crowded.

40+ crowd, but what's that smell...?

Big strong drinks, which might help to counteract the well-worn crowd and that funky smell...

Great location -- food and service, not so mcuh

On the corner of Castro and 18th, Harvey's is SF gay ground zero. But food and service leave something to be desired.

Cruising for a bruising...

Nice, friendly local hangout for the 40+ Levis crowd. Monday is underwear night, decent DJ music, but it's not always pretty. On weekends, everyone I meet is from New Jersey!

You can be naked if you want, but no bar

This is a quiet, secluded, clothing-optional gay resort with a pool. But some of us could use a cocktail! A bit of a walk to town and the gay hot spots.

Formerly known as Fife's

The new management has forsaken the gay clientele that was once Fife's, in hopes of attracting a straight crowd for weddings, etc. But the breakfast / brunch menu is quite gourmet.

Quiet, convenient housekeeping cabins

While not a gay-owned establishment, the Riverlane Resort is a gay-friendly, centrally-located collection of cabins (with full kitchens), with a pool and jacuzzi (season-permitting). It's a basic, nice place to stay that overlooks the Russian River -- and 1/2 block from Safeway. Many units have patios, BBQs and views of the river. Walking distance from the gay hot spots, but a quiet place to retire for the night.

Naked if you want it

The Woods is a very low-key, quiet, gay-friendly place to stay. You can choose from multi-room suites with kitchens to the budget-priced bunkhouse rooms (totally acceptable). The large pool is clothing-optional (I option for Speedos myself) and it can be a nice break from the Triple R scene which can be more lively and noisy. Great, friendly staff.

Great pizza but not Liza's idea of a cabaret

This is a local standy for pizza, gringo Italian food and cheap wine, but the live music can vary greatly in quality (mostly local performers). Still the only place in town for pizza and the street-side seating is fine in warm weather.

Old school roadhouse food with all the fixins

Right between the Triple R and The Woods resort is a Guerneville institution called Buck's. If you're in the mood for a steak, seafood and pasta place where soup, salad, bread and entree are all included, check out Buck's. The prime rib dinner is great, and few items are more than $20. Even the top shelf cocktails are ridiculously under-priced. Nice, friendly, local waitstaff.

Good music, pool and those Long Island Iced Teas!

The oldest gay bar in Guerneville, this is a spacious, friendly space with great Happy Hour specials and Long Island Iced Teas served in Mason jars (sip them slowly). Play pool, pinball or shuffleboard, hang out in the smoking patio, and unless I've been there recently you may stand a chance to score at the Entertainment Trivia game.

Where everyone knows your name

The Triple R bar is the gay epicenter of the Russian River. Whether you stay at the Russian River Resort or not, this is the place to hang out. Poolside service during the day makes it very convenient and the Bloody Marys are first rate. Evenings are non-stop karaoke (heavy on the Country Western tunes), except for the special events and performances which are a lot of fun, from Bruce Vilanch to Shirley Q. Liquor, drag shows and comics. Arthur (the boy toy bartender) is a doll, but the bodybuilder bartender with the pony tail (does he need a name?) is my boyfriend, so hands off! (Just kidding.)

Sunday afternoon madness

It's busy and loud on Sunday afternoon (get there before 3:00) with just as many hags as f--, oops, gays.

Nice place!

Nicely renovated, non-trendy and comfortable bar where you can actually carry on a conversation. Had a nice Sunday afternoon there, looking forward to checking it out at night.

Spacious, friendly and genuinely retro

There's a great, friendly, community vibe at this mixed age place (20s-50s) that's been a gay bar for 30+ years. Two spacious bars, huge strong cocktails, kitchen open 'til midnight 7 days and no cover. Happy Hour ('til 8:30) is especially popular.

Dark and narrow

A dark, cozy but narrow 2-level place with a pool table, DJ (but no dance floor), no-smoking patio and $3 cover (on Fri-Sat and for special events). Kinda sad.

Leather lite and dance place

A large, open, casual and friendly complex with a mixed age crowd, leather shop and shoe shine. The big adjoining dance bar (closed Mon.) alternates between karaoke, country western and high energy dance nights ('til 3 AM on Fri-Sat). Like most Seattle bars it has a non-smoking patio (due to WA laws) and the $5 cover is reasonable.

Not edgy, just grungy

Kurt Cobain is dead and I don't pay no $8 cover for a run-down place like this.

$7 cover charge?

Multi-level, young-ish and trendy, but $7 to walk in the door? I don't think so.

Friendly sports-themed bar

A very spacious sports-themed bar with a mixed age / race crowd, pool, darts, and a nice community feeling. No cover.

A touch of class

This is a high-end, comfortable piano bar. Great for hanging out with friends (you can actually hear each other) before or after dinner.

Lots of hookers, but what margaritas!

This is a friendly, low-key hangout for older men and the hookers who admire them (or vice versa) but the cheap margaritas are big and strong!

Strippers and hookers

This used to be a gay bar with strippers dancing on the bar, but now the strippers hustle the crowd very aggressively for drinks and a "private visit" upstairs. Great place for photo ops though...

Great casual lunch place

Very comfortable indoor/outdoor cafe with inexpensive roast chicken, burgers and salads.

Small and pleasant

This small gay place is pleasant in a glorified motel sort of way. Close to restaurants but a bit of a walk to the gay beach.

Go for the rooftop parties but skip the hotel

While it's at the epicenter of gay Vallarta, the hotel itself is over-priced and not well-maintained. The nightly sunset rooftop parties and drag shows are fun, but you get more room for your money elsewhere.

Affordable, relaxing and convenient

This gay-friendly condo complex is just up the steps from the Blue Chairs Beach and is much more affordable than the Blue Chairs Hotel. The large pool area provides a nice break from the noise down on the beach and the staff treats everyone like family. The condos all have full kitchens and balconies with great views of the ocean. They range from very basic to nicely decorated, depending on who owns them. Floors 1-4 are the most quiet; higher-up than that you may get some traffic noise from the street above. It's an easy walk to the gay clubs, bars and restaurants.