Favorite Valentine’s gift?
A friend’s special delivery one year. I opened my front door, and before me stood one of the best looking strippers I’d ever seen, holding a giant box of chocolates.
Did you enjoy the delivery?
Absolutely.
Flowers?
If you’re going to send roses on Valentine’s Day, send just one rose or two dozen, never just one dozen. Make sure the Ecuadorian roses are long stemmed with lemon leaves, to make them smell even better. And no baby’s breath, ever.
What about clothes shopping? Where does a boy find a perfect outfit to wear to the Starlight Room? And I don’t mean Abercrombie & Fitch!
There are some really fashion forward items at Rolo in the Castro, and of course many smaller specialty shops. Since I live downtown, I love a tailored suit or tux from Wilkes Bashford or the men’s department in the basement of Neiman Marcus in Union Square, that’s got everything from Armani, Gucci, and Prada, to tight-fitting t-shirts and designer denim. For bargains Loehmann’s has an amazing assortment of men’s underwear! If you have the time to sort through everything, they usually have eighty percent things I don’t want and twenty percent of things I just can’t live without! Cute boys abound here shopping on the weekend!
Once properly attired, the perfect Valentine’s Day date?
I’d take a date to dinner at Café Jacqueline on Upper Grant Street in North Beach for some of their savory and sweet soufflés as it’s one of my favorite places to eat in the city. After dinner, I’d head to Castro Theater for a show or perhaps your favorite nightclub or bar for some dry champagne. Of course, it’s always nice to stay at home with someone you love, light scented candles, turning the lights down low and dance to beautiful music.
What are your favorite Castro bars?
I love The Cafe, Lookout, Trigger & Badlands. I’ve heard Blackbird is one of the new hot spots, too, so I’m ready to pay it a visit! The hottest bartenders are at Trigger. When they take their shirts off it really makes me want to head to the gym.
And for dinner in the Castro?
Catch is my favorite place to dine in the Castro. They’ve got delicious seafood that’s not too expensive, and the heated patio is great for people watching! Come to think of it, the bartenders aren’t bad looking here either.
It’s interesting to note that the locals tend to stay in the Castro/Soma neighborhoods, while visitors love Union Square hotels, shopping, etc. Why don’t they merge more? Gay visitors and locals are a match made in heaven.
Yes, they are. But you have to understand that the Castro is truly unique. That’s why locals tend to stay there. Downtown and the Castro are just a bit too far away from each other for lots of mingling. Union Square is killer for shopping at places like Saks, Gumps, Tiffany & Co. Lots of gays shop downtown because of all the incredible shopping. Of course, the Castro has plenty of things to do (Books Inc., Café Flore, Hand Job (a spa)) and eye candy all over the place to keep any straight tourist thoroughly entertained.
I might add there is a lot of merging going on at the gay male nude revue theater downtown in Nob Hill called the Nob Hill Theater, which as far as I know is visited by just about everyone. Straight girlfriends of mine have had their parties there, and gay friends of mine went shopping there for, well, that’s another story. Luckily, the place is spotless.
And if you decided to go out on the town and money were no object?
Rent a long stretch black limo, eat breakfast at Dottie’s True Blue Café downtown, then after breakfast visit Tiffany’s in Union Square and buy diamond gifts for each other. Have spa treatments at the Huntington Hotel, then have a late lunch at Epic Roadhouse on the Embarcadero or at the Rotunda in Neiman Marcus. Then book the penthouse at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, have dinner in your room, and spend the rest of the night, how shall I put this, enjoying each other’s company. After all, romance and going a little wild is what Valentine’s Day is all about.
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