Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride coming June 12-20, 2010; 20+ events planned

[Update, May 28: corrected the location of the youth Pride dance to Kenney (not Fuller) Park.]

The folks behind this year's Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride have outdone themselves and scheduled 20+ events for this year's celebrations. There's bound to be something (if not many things) to get everyone involved, so get these all on your own calendars, now!

There's a "fan page" on Facebook if you'd like to follow the news, or as usual, I'll cover developments, here on The Valley's Other Fruit.

Additionally, Saturday, June 5 (10a-2p) there's a carwash fundraiser at Compadres to bring in money to fund all these amazing rainbow events.

Saturday, June 12

• 4p-9p: Tee Up Your Pride at Vintner's Golf Club
  
• 7p-11:30p: Youth Pride Dance at Pelusi Building/Kennedy Park
  

Sunday, June 13

• 9:30a-10:30a: Reconciling Sunday Service, "Creating Sanctuary for All" at First United Methodist Church
  
• 12p-4p: Pride Family Picnic at Fuller Park
  
• 4p-5:30p: "Fish Out of Water" film Screening, God & Gays, Some Perspectives at First United Methodist Church
  
• 4p-9p: Ben & Jerry's Fundraiser
• 6p-9p: Panchas of Yountville invaded by Guerilla Gay Bar
  

Monday, June 14

• 11a - 10p: Mary's Pizza Shack PFLAG Pfundraiser

Tuesday, June 15

• no events yet planned, visit napavalleypride.com for late breaking updates

Wednesday, June 16

• 2p-9p: Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet Relay for Life Fundraiser

Thursday, June 17

• The Napa Valley Toy Company 10 & 10 Day, fundraiser for PFLAG
• 5p-9p: Chef's Market Pride Night
• 7:30p-9:30p: Downtown Joe's invaded by Napa Guerilla Gay Bar

Friday, June 18

• 6p-midnight: "You Can Leave Your Hat On!" Pride celebration, dance, food at Made In Napa Culinary Centre
  

Saturday, June 19

• 10:30a-2:30p: Pride Hike at Skyline Park
• 7p-10p: Family & "Family" bowling night at Napa Bowl
• 11p-1a: Mamma Mia sing-a-long at Cameo Cinemas

Sunday, June 20

• 10a-1p: Recovery Brunch at Characters, Napa Valley Marriott
  
• 4p-9:30p: Art Show and Poetry Reading, "Showing Our True Colors" at Bloom
  
• 4p-sunset: Ibiza Chill-Out in the Napa Valley at Bardessono
  

Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar goes to Characters (in the Marriott), Fri, Sept 18

Just a couple days ago, I got a short, to the point email from our friends at the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar, our local, "make a place gay for the day" traveling gathering:

After a brief late-summer hiatus the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar returns!

Join us when we invade Characters Sports Bar & Grill at the beautiful

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa
3425 Solano Avenue in Napa
(just north of Trancas/Redwood, just west of Highway 29)

Friday, September 18, 2009
any time after 6:00 pm until closing

This event is open to all ages!

...and that was it. Short, to the point, and unexpected. (I had thought that the AIDS Walk dinner/fundraisers were going to be the only events for this month, but I guess I though wrong.) Anyone been to Characters before? Who's going this Friday?

Reminder: Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar tonight in Yountville, May 1

May day! May day!

In case you missed our first announcement, tonight's edition of Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar will be held at Pancha's in Yountville. Click through for more details.

Remember to wear red so we know you're one of us.

So, Who's going?

[Side note: Ooopsy! Apparently somebody read the original post on Guerrilla Gay Bar's blog and was offended at a not-so-kind comment included about the bartender at Pancha's. I checked in with the Guerrilla Gay Bar's organizer and confirmed that indeed, it was a typo. The snippet in question was mixed in with a section of reviews copied and pasted for the original post on their site, intended to give a down-home flavor of what we can expect for tonight. Truthfully, the reason Pancha's was chosen for tonight was because we've heard positive things and it seems it's a must to experience this Napa Valley institution. He promises next time to copy, paste and link extra carefully so as to avoid any similar confusions.]

The Valley's Other Fruit's Blogoversary: Celebrate one year with us!

photo by Embrace Mystery

So here's the deal. On Monday, April 6th, it'll be one year since The Valley's Other Fruit's very first post. I'll spare you (for now) most of the details of how far we've come in one year's time and get right to the details of our celebration...

On Monday, April 6, 2009, we'll gather at Compadres Rio Grill at 8:30pm and celebrate until we can't take any more margaritas (let me just say that I can hold my liquor, so we'll be there a good while). Here's the additional good part(s):

• Napa's Guerrilla Gay Bar is helping lead the celebration (and we're right after the Unity League's monthly mixer across the street) so we'll be a good sized group to celebrate AND you're almost guaranteed to meet someone new!
  
• Some friends are bringing baked goods and treats (feel free to bring some, too!) so they're be dessert!
  
• It's Margarita Monday's so $5 get's you a back bar or top shelf cocktail

Spread the invitation! Here's the link to the invite on Facebook, we'll get one going on MySpace soon, too.

Compadres Rio Grill is located at 505 Lincoln Ave, Napa, CA 94558, just east of Wal Mart between Soscol and Silverado Trail.

Guerrilla Gay Bar (Napa Edition) coming this Friday

And the new LGBT/gay bar in Napa is...not really a (as in one single) place.

Since the Depot and it's Rainbow Room closed a few years back, the Valley has seen a dearth of LGBT exclusive places (Black Cat is a whole other animal). Since God only knows how soon we'll get our next, full-fledged, family friendly, queer bar, why not create our own?

Enter scene: Guerrilla Gay Bar. In it's own words:

Every week or so we'll pick a new local bar, pub or eatery and make it and our community fabulous with our presence.

The point? Have fun, spend time together and support the businesses in our community.

So, how do you find out about our next mission? (we are, after all, a "guerilla" organization!):

• Visit our new blog (in fact, why don't you bookmark us right now?)
• Join the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar group on Facebook
• Send us (Guerilla Gay Bar) an email and we'll send you weekly updates
• Watch for updates on our favorite local blog - The Valley's Other Fruit

Alright . . . ready for our first mission?

Here it is: FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009

It’s a Double Header! First, it’s a Patio Party at BarBersQ from 4 pm to 7 pm. Kelly & Stephen will be serving up all kinds of goodies, including Grilled Oysters ($1.25 each), Q Beef or Lamb Burgers ($3.00 each) and their delicious ribs for a buck a piece. BarBersQ is located in Bel-Aire Plaza at Trancas & California in Napa. Once you’ve had your fill there it’s time to move on to...

Henry’s Cocktail Lounge! From 5:30 pm to “whenever” we’ll be making this “Casual Dive” at 823 Main Street in Napa fabulous!

From conversations with the Guerrilla Gay Bar (Napa Edition)'s organizer, it looks like there are plans for a weekly (or so) casual gathering at different spots and potentially bigger bashes once a month. It'll only work if we show up...AND if we talk about what's not working so hot and what's absolutely fabulous. Share in the comments.

R-Bar Vallejo closing? Not so fast...

[Update: R-Bar has since closed. Details here.]

I heard a rumor, via the Fruit's tipline, that R-Bar in Vallejo ("Vallejo's only LGBT Bar", "longest happy hour, Tuesday - Friday, 6-9p) might be closing within the week.

The economy sure isn't helping, and now with the internets (with easy, safer organizing and easy, not-necessarily-so-safe online hookups) it looks like Fortune magazine's prediction might be coming true.

I got the scoop from an anonymous source connected to R-Bar:

"Well...it's all kind of up in the air right now. They are looking at 3 more months for sure as of now. They have several interested parties that are looking in to purchasing the bar and keeping it running. They are trying their damnedest to keep it going as those who work there love it and the loyal customers. If it comes to a time when they know they are closing they will make announcements and possibly plan a closing party.... They are not looking at moving at this time, it would be a final close =(.

Say a prayer, cause R-Bar needs it!

Thanks!"

Remember, folks, support your local LGBT friendly hang-outs if you want them to stay around! As much as I love the online community building, there's something to be said for meeting real life people--in real life--and also the affect it has on the rest of the community when they see us as real and vibrant and contributing to our community just as much as the rest of the neighborhood (if not more).

R-Bar is at 437 Virginia Street, in Vallejo.

Club Papi Sacramento this Friday

This Friday, January 16, 2009, Faces Nightclub in Sacramento hosts Sac's Club Papi celebration. The club is big (4 rooms, 3 dance floors and TONS of bars, including a backyard swimming pool and patio) and I almost always have fun there. It must be amazing when Club Papi visits.

Glam Thursdays (Santa Rosa) Casbar now 18+

GLAM Thursdays used to be held at Infusions lounge in Petaluma, but have since moved to Casbar (the bar for the new Days Inn on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa). Maybe not 100% glamorous, but it is billed as the only weekly queer party in Sonoma County (I'll have to look into that to see what happened with Club Seven's Sweet. In the meantime:

BSquared Productions Proudly Presents GLAM Thursdays @ Casbar! We are now 18 and over starting this Thursday January 15th 2009! So grab your GLAM Squad and come on down to the Casbar, and party with us! DJLue and MissDJMoniKa will be throwing it down all night long! Cheap Drink specials, stipper pole, Amazing light shows, and a warm friendly staff are awaiting you! 21+ $5 Cover, 21 under $10 Cover WITH VALID ID ONLY!!

No on 8 Party @ R Bar in Vallejo this Saturday

Looks like Napa Billiards isn't the only spot in the North Bay hosting a No on 8 fundraiser this weekend...

If you're looking to pack your whole weekend with fun ways to contribute to the No on 8 campaign, here's an exciting possibility at R Bar, in Vallejo, for Saturday night:

No on Prop 8 fundraiser event on October 18th. The evening of the event we will have the following entertainment: Miss Asia Exotica, DJ Twin Spin, and go go boys. Furthermore, we will be working on voter registration by having people register our event participants. [RBar, via our myspace]

In addition to supporting No on 8--which needs it!--and which is being out-funded, to the tune of $10 million by the Yes on 8 donaters, it's great to check out R Bar and support the only full time gay bar in the area... If you go, let us know what you think! ...and tell R Bar you read about them on this blog.

Making gay news in Calistoga: Advocate says Solage the place to honeymoon

This blurb came from The Advocate online, in an article titled "The Honeymoon Phase" about great getaways to compliment your same-sex marriage. Calistoga gets the shout out this time. Thanks, Rick, for the heads up:

NAPA VALLEY -- EPICUREAN PARADISE
Calistoga, Calif.’s Solage is Napa Valley’s latest hot spot. With the largest champagne list in the area, the hotel’s restaurant, Solbar, is an ideal place for newlyweds to toast their nuptials. The simple but stylish 89-room resort feels relaxed and sexy, with young guests biking to the pool in bikinis, meandering to the spa in robes, or nibbling on fruit and toast poolside.

The free bike rentals make exploring the town -- prized for its healing spa waters -- a breeze. Don’t forget a visit to Copia, the nearby educational center devoted to winemaking and the culinary and visual arts (www.copia.org), where you can check out a myriad of herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens or the revolving cultural exhibits on food lore and history. [From, The Advocate, September 23, 2008]

I'm not sure about how they're recommending bikes for Calistoga and a trip to Copia in the same breath--that's a 28.5 mile bike ride! I'm sure some of us gays could handle it, but it's not exactly "breezy" as claimed. ;) Stick to bikes in town and tour the valley in a rental (or heck, go big and get a limo!).

I've also heard that Lavender Hill Spa is amazing, although I have yet to experience a treatment there. What other great honeymoon spots do you recommend in the Napa Valley?

Glam Thursdays in Petaluma going once/month

Just to update The Fruit's "records":

GLAM Thursdays @ Infusions Nightclub is NOW going to a MONTHLY Party... next party will be September 4th @ 9pm!

Find out more at Glam's Myspace.
Anyone dance the night away at Glam over the summer? What are your thoughts?

The Black Cat(s): private party doesn't mean you're not invited

Happy Friday everyone! I have a couple other guest-writing assignments, please contact us if you're interested in helping us to expand our knowledge of Napa's queer community by checking either one of these out (or, if you're already a regular, letting us know what you think). I've had word through our tipline that there is still a couple other queer establishments that we need to check out, and both are named the Black Cat. Both need a thorough review, we only know what people have shared with us.

From what we can tell...

• Black Cat, Penngrove: I had thought was a lesbian bar (am I wrong?), but according to their website is for gay and gay-friendly, too (in their words: . It's located in the small, country-ish community of Penngrove, between Petaluma and Rohnert Park.
  According to their website:
  

  We are lesbian owned and operated, queer friendly, freak friendly and straight/ not narrow friendly. Our dress code is a smile and our theme is respect for all. Our goal is to provide a space for folks to have fun, and to create a caring and tolerant community...We feature entertainment every night of the week...there is rarely a cover!
  

• Black Cat, Napa: is a bit more underground (they for sure don't have a website), and is downtown. Held (every?) Friday and Saturday, it's a "private party", but that doesn't mean you're not invited. (Anyone know how to get on the guest list?) Pitch in for the beverages at the door and take time to meet and greet (and maybe really get to know) some of the other attendees. Rumor is Friday nights have less clothing than others. [Update: tipline rumors say this is a mainly male event. Sorry ladies.]
  
  [Update 2: More info on the (formerly secret) Black Cat Club has come in. Get the dish, here.]
  

Feeling adventurous? Been already? Let me know about your experience of one or both... observant, humorous writing is a bonus, but not required. ;)

Photo by meantux

Best bets for Sat night, May 24: drag show, lounge, food and parking

The Valley's Other Fruit gladly got in touch with the folks at Napa Billiards and Cuvée to see what grand plans they had for this big gay softball weekend. We highly recommend checking both of them out on Saturday... (and we'll probably grab some quick bites at the Tacos Michoacán truck on the way between the two)

Best bets for Saturday night:

• Napa Billiards (& Special Drag Show!) 988 Lincoln Ave, Napa
  Cinco de Mayo sealed our recommendation--we went and had an amazingly fun time. What's not to love? Good people, friendly bartenders, mixed crowd, fabulous female impersonators and drag show, go with some friends and have a blast. Pool tables, beer, jukebox and a full-on special presentation drag show (to welcome our softball playing gays, 'natch) at 11pm. You're sure to run into a latin hottie.
  
  
  click image to enlarge or print
  
  
• Cuvée Lounge (with DJ!) 1650 Soscol Ave, Napa
  And you thought the food and ambiance was good in the restaurant? Cuvée is "rolling out the rainbow carpets": reserving a room and brining in a DJ...grab some drinks from the full bar, chat, flirt, dance and gay it up. Depending on the time you arrive, you could even order a bite to eat If the weather's warm, the outside patio will be perfect.
  
  
  

Late night eats:

• Nations Giant Hamburgers (1441 3rd St., Napa)
  Open til 2am on Sat. Huge, delicious hamburgers (ask them to go easy on the mayo), inexpensive menu, breakfast served all day. Pies and desserts.
  
• Cafe Cicero (1245 1st St., Napa)
  Open til midnight on Sat.
  
• Tacos Michoacan (Soscol @ 1st St., Napa)
  Open til 10pm-ish, great mexican taco truck, located downtown location on Sat. night.
  

Parking in downtown Napa:

• Parking isn't horrible in downtown at night, there's usually something relatively close by whatever your destination. Cuvée and Napa Billiards have parking lots (Napa Billiards is smaller, but overflow could be at RedRock across the street or along Lincoln). For downtown, try the garage on 2nd (at Main) or sometimes you'll get lucky at Wells Fargo at 1st and Main (but this is NOT public parking during the day) or across the street next to Downtown Joe's in the public lot. If you park downtown, Cuvee and Napa Billiards are less than a 15 minute walk.

Honorable Mentions:

• Stave Wine Lounge (1149 First St, Napa)
  32 wines on enomatic "tap", sparkling, beer, cocktails, FREE nibbles Sat. night for artist show opening, "Memories to Share" Dean Brittingham. Show/nibbles 6-9p, lounge open until 10p.
  
• Billco's (1234 3rd St, Napa)
  Regular old pool hall, but with 30+ beers on tap: Pliny the Younger, Franziskaner and all kinds of other yummy beers.
• Henry's (823 Main St, Napa)
  Local dive, cheap drinks.
  
• Downtown Joe's (902 Main St, Napa)
  Napa's microbrewery on the river.
  

Click here for a link to a map of these businesses and our other "Best of" recommendations for 2008.

Everything's gay to do this weekend!

Can you believe that there's actually going to be something to do in Napa this weekend?

I'm hoping that all of our readers understand that this weekend isn't just for our gay visitors...it's for us, too! So clear your calendars, change your hair appointments (or just arrange to go earlier so you can be looking GOOD) and make sure and shave your legs...

The Golden Bear Classic (gay) softball tournament isn't just bringing 1000s of gays to town, it's bringing lots of gay fun as well!

• Friday night the players arrive, so it's check-in, registration and cocktails at the hotel.
• Saturday day, everyone's invited to the fields at Silverado Middle School, Napa College/Kennedy Park, Harvest Middle School
• Saturday night needs a whole post to itself, but basically all of downtown Napa is going to be taken over by the gays for fun, with the hotspots and places to be being Napa Billiards (drag show at 11p, no cover!) and Cuvée Lounge (DJ and full bar!)
  
• Sunday day, back to the fields for more games
• Sunday day/afternoon everyone's invited to Kennedy Park for awards, picnic, barbecue, frisbee and fun
• Sunday night and Monday everyone will be doing their own thing, relaxing, enjoying Napa and the list of The Valley's Other Fruit's best recommendations

I've said it before, but I was talking to managers and owners again this afternoon, so it has me all excited: some shops aren't just welcoming shoppers, they're going to be PROUDLY welcoming with rainbow flags and specials. I'll post a list of which businesses are going the extra mile (and therefore which deserve our money) tomorrow. ;)

You joining us for any of the fun? Know of anything else going on or have any questions we can help clear up? Comment.

The Other Fruit Recommends: for our softball visitors

[This post is written as a special welcome for the thousand+ softball players and supporters that will be in town on Memorial Day weekend for the Golden Bear Classic tournament. This guide is not sponsored in any way, and is purely our compiled opinions from the editors, readers and friends of The Valley's Other Fruit.]

So you're gay, you're a softball player, and you're visiting the Napa Valley for Memorial Day Weekend. Napa doesn't really have any gay-only establishments. However, we do have gay-owned and gay-friendly...and God knows that us gays love art, wine, food, and anything over-the-top glamorous. Here's what we recommend...


View Larger Map

(bold = must go, the rest are additional recommendations)

For Breakfast/Brunch:

• ABC (Alexis Baking Company)
  Bright, cozy, delicious breakfasts, lunches, baked goods, slightly pricey but worth it.
  
• Gillwoods
  Excellent brunch and huge variety on the menu for breakfast and lunch.
  
• First Squeeze
  Relaxed, friendly, casual style, smoothie, juice bar and deli, great service, specials (and free coffee with the combos!).
  

Mexican Food:

• Taquería La Playita
  Always full of latino families and delicious mexican food. catch a novela or soccer game on the TVs.
  
• Tacos Michoacán
  Best taco truck in town, usually on Salvador @ ByWayEast OR Soscol @ 1st St.
  
• Villa Corona
  More americanized than La Playita, but amazingly delicious food (my favorite: special chile relleno burrito, also try the shrimp burrito).
  

Lounge/Bar:

• Cuvee
  stylish and comfortable lounge, full bar, great patio, worthy of the gays.
  
• Silverado Brewing Company
  For when you're done with wine and just want a cold beer, friendly service.
  
• Pacifico
  Food's not the greatest, but free mariachi every Fri (and Cinco de Mayo), mostly local Latino hang out, gays at the bar.
  

Touristy (But worth the trip & time):

• Castello di Amorosa
  Over the top, beautiful style, amazing architecture, good wine. Who knew this was in the Valley? ($30)
  
• Tram ride @ Sterling
  Great views, meander the roof-top terrace as you taste the wines. Tram ride included with tour ($10)
  

Winery:

• Mumm
  Who wouldn't enjoy tasting bubbly in their beatiful hilltop solarium/tasting room? Photography exibit on site as well.
  
• Artesa
  Wine is pretty good, but the views, unique architecture and grounds are worth it.
  
• Hess Collection
  This "secret" is worth the way-off-the-main-roads trip. Good wine and free art gallery.
  

Relaxation/Spa:

• Indian Springs Resort
  After all those hard games, why not cruise upvalley and relax in the amazing waters and ambience of Indian Springs? Treat yourself and get a massage, too.
  

Foodie Find:

• Oxbow Public Market
  Napa Valley's answer to the San Francisco Ferry Building. (Not so cheap, but worth it) local gourmet from Taylor's Refresher, to Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, to RoliRoti...sip wine and enjoy a great plate of cheese, lunch or dinner on the river patio. 20+ merchants, daily produce stands.
  
• Dean & DeLuca
  Gourmet grocer features many local treats. Felicity is not currently employed.
  
• Model Bakery
  Long-time local bakery added Napa (@ Oxbow) to complement it's usual St. Helena location. Try the homemade english muffins! Or get a great lunch special.
  

Nature/Hike:

• *Napa River Trail & Promenade Downtown
  Beautiful and newly opened river walk links and opens 5 blocks of downtown Napa to the river.
  
• Napa River Trail (South of Imola)
  Eventually the River Trail will connect existing trails from Trancas (in N. Napa) to the marshes in American Canyon. For now, the most interesting part of the trail is from Imola to the South, past Napa College and out along the river and marshland out to Kennedy Park and the ball fields.
  

Coming Soon... (click here for the update)

• Best parking in downtown Napa
• Best quick bite to eat near the tournament fields
  
• Best bets for Saturday night
  

Chance for Cho @ Glam grand opening Thurs May 15 in Petaluma

Anyone going to Glam's grand opening at Infusions in Petaluma tomorrow night? Geesh, I'd go just for the chance to win Margaret Cho tickets!

Here's the details:

• Grand opening, Thursday, May 15 @ Infusions in Petaluma (146 Kentucky Street)
• 9p - 2a, 21+, $5 cover
• " Thanks to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts for tickets to Margaret Cho's show here in Santa Rosa September 13th. By showing up to GLAM's Grand Opening night this Thursday May 15th you will get a raffle ticket to win these tickets."
• Event will continue on every Thursday [update: Glam's gone once a month]
  
• Event flyers (click to enlarge):

I've never been to Infusions/Glam, but a Friend of the Fruit informed us, "Infusions is kinda small and normally bro-ish, but it's nice and it'd be cool on a gay night. I'd go and check it out for sure."

Gay Latin-club, Bench & Bar hosts multicultural "Playground"

By the way, this is what I was talking about when I said that Bench and Bar was expanding:Click image to enlarge

This Wednesday is the Grand opening of "The Playground": a multicultural night at the usually Latin-focused gay club, Bench and Bar, in Oakland. DowneFX, a queer Bay Area hip-hop dance company will be performing. (From DowneFX's myspace: "DowneFX is uniquely the only downe, gay, bisexual and lesbian dance company of color...")

It seems like, for this month anyway, this is done in partnership with La Clinica, AIDS Project of the East Bay, Asian Health Services, & Valentino Presents. The Playground is scheduled to happen monthly.

Bench and Bar is about 42 miles (and 55 minutes, without traffic) from Napa.

No wonder I'm having so much trouble finding a gay bar

Apparently, Fortune Magazine's yearly list of "10 Businesses Heading for Extinction" included gay bars this year. Great timing...just as things are getting more visible in the Valley for the gays, they start disappearing! You can read more in the excerpt, below, but as other "gay business" is getting bigger and bigger, the "gay bar" style of doing business is fading. I wonder if this phenomena is just in big cities or in rural towns, as well. NPR's take includes commentary that gays are instead more and more using the internet to meet each other and make connections. Am I stuck in the "old model" because I say we still need a community gathering spot? (Or would I be cutting edge because of using the internets?)

Here's the piece from NPR as quoted on Joemygod:

Every year, Fortune Magazine releases a list of 10 businesses it thinks are facing extinction. Some of this year's casualties? Record stores, crop dusting and telemarketing. Oh, and gay bars, too. That one caught our eye because gay business in general is booming. Stacey Vanek Smith has more.

STACEY VANEK-SMITH: It's a busy weekend night at a gay bar in Los Angeles. Actor Jason Dottley says gay bars don't just cater to a gay clientele anymore. The scene has become a lot more mixed.

Jason Dottley: It's an indication of open-mindedness. I think it's a sign of progress.

But that progress has a left some older gay bars sounding like this . . . [sound of ocean waves crashing]. The Boom Boom Room opened in Laguna Beach in 1947. It used to be a favorite hangout of Rock Hudson's. But today the windows of the white, art-deco facade are papered over. Fred Karger started coming here in 1973.

Fred Karger: It's a magical place. It had a little, kind of loungey bar, and it had pool tables. They'd have this wonderful cabaret show on Wednesday nights.

The new owner plans to tear down the Boom Boom Room and build a luxury hotel. Gay bars all over the country have met similar fates: New York's Roxy, The Avalon in Boston, The Pendulum in San Francisco. But here's the weird thing: Gay business is booming. Gay spending power in the U.S. is worth an estimated $750 billion. So why are gay bars having so much trouble? Marketing expert Jerry McHugh says part of it is generational.

Jerry McHugh: Generation X people and Generation Y people are less concerned about gay-exclusive socialization, and they're more interested in a more-diverse environment.

McHugh says for gay boomers, bars used to function like community centers.

McHugh: When I came out it was the early 90s, and it was really helpful to go to these places.

Boston Globe writer Robert David Sullivan says a few years ago he noticed the number of gay bars in Boston had been cut in half. He says it was strange because they had been such a cornerstone of the gay social scene.

Robert David Sullivan: It was sort of structured that you could meet people that way, and you could say things and not censor yourself.

Sullivan says today young, gay men and women use the Internet, not bars, to meet people. And the older generation has graduated from late-night bar hopping to a mellow meal out.

Guess it's big news, even the food blogs are talking about it.

Also, it must come in fits and starts, because I also just heard that Bench and Bar (in Oakland) and the Cafe (in SF) are expanding nights and operations.

Would a new gay bar do well in the Napa Valley?

Photo by eqqman.

Care for another drag?

After work today I went by Napa Billiards to drop off some promo cards for the blog and to try and meet the owner. My coworker and I went in and ordered Coronas. It was a warm afternoon, and the bar wasn't packed, which was good because we got a chance to chat with the owner, Fernando.

We asked about the next drag show and he said there was probably one coming up very soon, and that to find out when it's happening and where, anyone can stop by and ask any of the bartenders. He was very friendly and also wanted to make sure everyone knew that even though the bar/pool hall is usually frequented by Latinos that it is always open and welcoming to anybody. Even the straight/gay mix of patrons get along better than my first take, he said.

As was stated in our original impressions, it's definitely worth checking out.

Over the Hills and Through the Woods: gay Sonoma County nightlife

Been getting some tips about where the gay nights are at bars around the North Bay, and so I thought I'd post them for you to check out instead of waiting for our full reviews. As far as I know, there aren't any specific "gay nights" at Napa Bars except for at Napa Billiards (which we covered last weekend). Sad, but true, we have to travel over the hills to Sonoma County to find any gay-bars with enough "guts" to hoist up the rainbow flag and welcome us. (Vallejo also has some gaity going on. And here.)

Keep in mind, though, readers, that Napa already has a DUI rate twice that of the State's average, so please designate a driver. Safety aside, you don't want to get published in the Napa Register, do you?

Here's what I've heard through the tipline, in order from closest to farthest:

Petaluma (26 miles from Napa, 44 mins):

• Thursdays: GLAM Thursdays (@ Infusions Nightclub)
  [update: Glam's gone once a month]
  

Cotati (33 mfn, 48 mins):

• Fridays: Yacht Club & Saloon

Santa Rosa (41 mfn, 56 mins):

• Mondays: Sweet (@ Seven Ultralounge)

Have any of you been to these bars/nights? We'd love your take. Look forward to full reviews from us as well...

[Note: we know the Sonoma County, City of Guerneville is a sort of Castro-in-the-North-Bay kind of town, but it's kind of far for "a night on the town" (59 miles and a 1.5 our drive). We'd be glad to cover day trips to Guerneville for Summer...any suggestions on what's gay that's also not-to-miss?]