Artist Nate Padavick drew this precious map showcasing 12 of the Castro's most popular bars. And he drew it on a cartoon man's abdominal six-pack. It was unleashed last year around Gay Pride season, but, in classic San Francisco fashion, we just discovered it now. Anyway, it's fun. Even if it is a bit dated, information-wise. (Daddy's is called 440 and The Bar has been Q Bar for four years.)
Map: 12 Gay Bars In The Castro, Drawn On Cartoon Man's Abdominal Muscles
Lady Gaga Drops In On SF Bar for Surprise Pre-Show?
Possibly as a small thank you to the gay community who helped give her a leg up in '08 while she was still touring around in semi-obscurity, Lady Gaga allegedly dropped in on venerable gay oldster bar Twin Peaks last night to perform a couple of songs, in advance of her sold-out two-night engagement at Bill Graham Auditorium starting tonight. We're not sure why the lady, or her handlers, chose Twin Peaks -- and we're fairly certain that much of the clientele was confused as to who this strange young lady was with the long bangs and kooky fashion sense, and why was she interrupting their martini time? Any confirmation and/or photos of this appearance in the Castro would be much appreciated.
Playboy Names Orphan Andy's in Castro One of Nation's Best Late-Night Diners
As many San Franciscans know, getting food after midnight in this town is no easy feat. We still have our share of late-night diners though, like the Grub Steak, Sparky's, Lori's and Mel's. Only one made the cut in Playboy magazine's A-list of the Top 10 Late-Night Diners in the country that "truly embody the late-night experience," and that's Orphan Andy's on 17th Street in the Castro.
Punk-Drag Party Charlie Horse Killed By Neighbor Noise Complaints
The expanding War on Fun has taken another life, ladies and germs. Marke B. over at the SFBG reports that punk-politico drag queen Anna Conda has decided to call it quits on her weekly Friday party Charlie Horse at the Cinch after complaining Polk Street neighbors brought the bar before the Entertainment Commission. Rather than "take a break" and try to tone down the often raucous drag night (where it was likely the noisy smoking porch out back and the spillover out front that brought the complaints) Anna has decided to put a bullet in the head of this five-year-old party and pursue other ventures.
Afternoon Palate Cleanser: A Trauma-tic Halloween
Here it is people: the Trauma episode we've been waiting for. On Monday night, the Halloween episode of the SF-based helicopter drama will be airing, and all the drag queens in town who responded to the drag queen casting call a couple months back will be watching the show at a viewing party hosted by Heklina at The Lookout (Noe & Market). We gather that Lady Bear had her own trailer and some actual lines, and maybe Heckles did too? The video above leaves a little to the imagination insofar as the drag queen/nightclub scene that was shot at Great American Music Hall, but hopefully that $3 million-per-episode budget is at least going to yield some good gay television.
A Folsom Street Fair/Leather Week Preview
You may not be into leather or the BDSM scene, but if you live in San Francisco you've probably breezed through Folsom Street Fair once or twice. Call it what you will, but it is the largest event of its kind in the world, and the third largest single-day outdoor event in California -- behind SF Gay Pride and maybe Long Beach Pride? (We think these numbers are hard to nail down, but suffice it to say the gays like to party outdoors.)
Castro Bar Owner Dies of Swine Flu
In a truly sad note this morning, Doug Murphy, co-owner of Moby Dick and, most recently, Blackbird, died Friday due to complications from the H1N1 virus, better known as swine flu. He was 41 years old, and was in Palm Springs at the time of his infection, and he had not been traveling abroad, according to business partner Shawn Vergara.

