Castro District, San Francisco

CASTRO San Francisco is a gay mecca as one says. It’s no surprise. The gay rights movement was huge here and the victory of Harvey Milk as an openly gay councilman fueled further the movement. Today there are many organizations still promoting gay rights but there are also plenty of celebrations all around in the Castro. There are several attractions in the Castro: The Castro Theatre is a host to many film festivals. Be entertained by the the pipe organ playing before the screening. And what else would you expect but a museum dedicating to Barbra Streisand. Opened just in 1996 the Barbra Streisand Museum features life-size mannequins in costumes from her films. 549A Castro Street. Admission is $3. Most of all, Castro is known for its two huge parties: one in June during the celebration of Gays and Lesbian Pride month and the other on Halloween, October 31st. Both events attract huge crowds of people and it gets quite wild. You’re warned: be very open-minded when you go to these events! When you’re there be sure to check out Café Flore, a bustling cafes that is popular among the locals. For nighttime go to The Café. Entrance is free and so many beautiful men that women can’t have! And the music is just fantastic!

(NB: The picture is not in the Castro but it was taken after the Gay Pride Parade)

Castro is the San Francisco gay district located almost at the end of Market Street. You can note it because there's a huge Rainbow Flag at the entrance (Market Street / Castro Street). Many gay and lesbian people live here and you'll find restaurants, cafes, shops… adressed to them but of course opened to straight people.

If you are able to visit San Francisco during the summer I recommend to attend the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration. They do an unique parade in Market Street and then a party at the Civic Center. Usually it takes place the last week of June.

After a dinner @Delfina by Mission Delores, I always walk a few streets west to Castro, one of my favorite SF neighborhoods.

This is a fun, wealthy area you pass through on the way to Twin Peaks. It felt like quintessential California to me.

Castro is the gay district and it is a very nice neighborhood also, full of colors and nice victorian houses :-)

We toast to the weekend's festivities......the joys of summer.........and just living in one of the most uninhibited cities in the world!

You can't beat summers in San Francisco!