It’s pretty much impossible to confuse the Castro with any other part of San Francisco. The rainbow banners hanging from the streetlights help identify it immediately. Then, of course, there’s the occasional nude guy ambling by, as well as the scores of signs overhead advertising double-entendre business names (for example, there’s a laundry called Sit & Spin). It’s all part of the local culture, committed to pride for its identity and the freedom that is indelible from love. EZ San Francisco Junk Removal
The Castro District has something for everyone, from glorious Bay views to scores of stores with locally made goods and sing-along musicals in one of the oldest movie palaces still operating in the city.
Things to Do
Explore the LGBTQ History
If you want to learn more about LGBTQ history in San Francisco, The Castro is the place to do it. San Francisco had a reputation as early as the 1940s as a city of tolerance. Many members of the LGTBQ community, including dishonorably discharged veterans, moved here after World War II, and several ended up settling in The Castro District thanks to its affordability at the time. Civil rights activist Harvey Milk, who owned a camera store in The Castro, ran his electoral campaign here before becoming the first openly gay elected official in California. The success story has a sad ending, though — he was assassinated shortly after his election. You can visit the location of his camera store and his former home, now the Human Rights Campaign Action Center, operating as a small museum and gift shop.
Castro Theater
The Castro Theater is the city’s last remaining movie palace. It’s also one of the beating hearts that unites the neighborhood. New and newish movies play regularly, but the Castro Theater is at its best when putting on one of its signature special programs. The Midnight for Maniacs series, for example, shows weird and obscure flicks that variously confound and titillate. Double and triple features regularly play on the weekends, and the theater hosts several of the area’s top film festivals.
Located at 429 Castro St, San Francisco, California
Drink Your Night Away
There are some notable LGBTQ spots, too, including one of the first openly gay bars in the country, Twin Peaks, and San Francisco’s only gay sports bar, Hi Tops. After a night of hitting the town, you can refuel at Hot Cookie, where you can fill up on freshly baked cookies until 2 a.m. on weekends. The next morning, perk up with some java at specialty coffee shop, Réveille Coffee, which started out as a truck in San Francisco.
Address: 2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA
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