OASIS - 364 Photos & 252 Reviews - 298 11th St, San Francisco Top 10 Best Drag Bar in New York, NY - July 2023 You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Truly gifted and magical. D'Arcy Drollinger is the owner and Artistic Director of OASIS, San Francisco's internationally acclaimed drag show nightclub / cabaret. That naturally brought a lot of people into the bar. Every Wednesday Club Papi is throwing you the best Latin hump day fiesta in the Castro! We have just closed an era of drag in San Francisco that well never see again. I said goodnight to Marlena. For forty years, Wild Side West has welcomed queer women and those that love them to their authentic tavern and lush outdoor patio. I mean, I met my partner at Marlenas six years ago. A lot of people died from that earlier era. Homophobia, racism, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, or harassment of any kind. Marlena: We did a big show that night. You cant really stop someone from selling a bar. I hadnt been to Marlenas before I started performing there. Fifty-Plus and Fabulous? A Homo Disco Circus hosted by Adriana Roy with the Bay Areas best drag queens and Rupauls Drag Race performers! McLain, now 78, began dressing as Marlena one Fourth of July 40 years ago. Marcia Gagliardi (founder and editor, Tablehopper): Whether you were gay or straight, you were welcome there, and theyd cheers you with Marlenas infamously enormous mugs of booze. It just depended on what you need the bar for. 22,590 were here. Bell: Marlenas, the feel of it, didnt change at all over the years for me. About Oasis NightClub & Drag Legend D'Arcy Drollinger OASIS OASIS offers an unforgettable San Francisco nightlife experience where ALL are welcome in an 8,000 square foot converted gay bathhouse with a unique and rare roof-deck patio. Ive got a roommate. Galilea: People would come in and see all her Santa Clauses. Photography: Harry James HansonFloral Styling: Devin AntheusAssistant: Deb LealExecutive Producer: Sasha Velour. I always hate to see local, indigenous places close. What a Drag: Finocchio's to Close / Cross-dressers have - SFGATE At these. We offer the best of gay culture and an unforgettable San Francisco nightlife experience in our 6,000 square foot venue. Leave your girlfriends at home; this spot is where the boys go to play. It became a place I wanted to go because it reinforced a feeling of togetherness and joy during the AIDS years. Beaux SF This riot inspired early resistance on the part of queer and trans youth in the TL. Chablis: I think Marlena sold all the Santas after she closed down the bar. With any luck, regular dance parties and drink specials, as well as epic karaoke not once but twice each week (Mondays & Tuesdays), will keep this unassuming dive bar stocked with classic video games, a pool table, and a lax smoking policy thriving for the next 90 years. Big, meaty men gravitate to this self-styled Bear Bar inSoMa. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Club events such as Saturday night PRINCESS are general admission, standing room only. Oasis is located at 298 11th St (at Folsom) in San Francisco. There were so many Santas.". The bar was called The Overpass* before I bought my stake in it, which was one-third. One was the Trannyshack drag scene. Please note that most tables seat 4, meaning that parties of 3 or fewer may be sat with other small groups and share tables. The decorations usually went up just after Thanksgiving, around early December. For drag purists, it is Oasis weekly Saturday revue, Mother, that really kills. It was almost a peaceful transition of power. Marlena: For our Saturday night shows, we had a stage on the wall and wed just fold it down right on top of the pool table. Thank you Fairmont! Doors open 1 hour before the show. 298 Eleventh St. San Francisco,CA94103(415) 795-3180info@sfoasis.com. Remembering Finocchio's, the North Beach club that arguably - Hoodline 2023 Cond Nast. Though Li Po rocketed to fame when the late Anthony Bourdain deigned to grace it with his presence, it's always been a shabby, boozy establishment worthy of a special trip to Chinatown. Once upon a time, El Rio was a Brazilian Leather Bar. Try another? Preferably a pretty sleazy one. It became a time when we figured, we better say goodbye to our neighborhood gay bars, because theyre going. READ MORE: The Drag Queen Who Accidentally Broke the . She was an older drag queen, so she didnt look like anything like the RuPaul girls. Is this helpful? Click to reveal Please enter a valid email and try again. OASIS opened New Years Day 2015 in the heart of San Franciscos SOMA district, and offers an unforgettable San Francisco nightlife experience in an 8,000 square foot converted gay bathhouse. Although there is seating in our front room and lounge, you can not view the stage from those seats. Book now at Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar - Fairmont San Francisco in San Francisco, CA. But there was a wonderful community of people of color back then. What Aunt Charlies Lounge lacks in location (it is tucked away in the Tenderloin), it makes up for in character. $9 Long Islands all night long ~~~~~ Mercedez Munro presents US every 2nd & last Saturday of the month starting at 9pm, celebrating BIPOC queer excellence and featuring stars from RuPaul's Drag Race "Big Top" Sundays . Chablis: The neighborhood was different then. Fifty years later, the fight for self-determination and survival of marginalized bodies continues in San Francisco. Wish I still lived nearby (again, so much regret). There were more than a thousand St. Nicholas dolls, running the gamut from life-size to Lilliputian, hovering over you as though you'd stepped into a gayer, slightly unsettling version of Santa's workshop. Galilea: You really never knew what was gonna happen those nights at Marlenas, either. You had to compete against 1,000 Santa Clauses. Inside it can be slow on weekdays but wend your way to the rear, past the pool table, past the DJ booths and bathrooms, down the hallway lined with decades of gay memorabilia, to find the crowd chomping cigars and sharing cigarettes on the outdoor patio. Weekends brunch fare like fried egg sandwiches and chicken and waffles pair perfectly with bottomless mimosas.. This year, the closing event was a "Pride and Drag Show" featuring popular performer "Peaches Christ," who was scheduled to perform Tuesday at LGBTQ+ bar Beaux in San Francisco to "wrap up this . House music meets disco, and everyones turning a look. newsletter, 12 William Saroyan Pl, San Francisco, CA 94133. . I just love people. There were a lot of faces of regulars missing over the years. !more, Okayas my bf and I entered the door. Emerging from the rubble of the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, it established itself as a queer oasis for Hayes Valley, a now-gentrified neighborhood that had historically been devoid of dedicated public spaces for queer people. While the ambiance isnt dive-y, its refreshing to get buzzed in an unpretentious, lax environment on the East side of the city. Nob Hill. In Defense of Having One ChildAnd One Child Only. A space where youll find renowned DJs, special guestmore, I lived near here for over a year and SO regret never coming until later. Bieschke: I moved here five years after the earthquake, when Hayes Valley had already become this precious boutique neighborhood. The audience was trailing off a little bit, and Brass Tacks, which has replaced Marlenas, is super popular among young, white yuppies. Kris Lippincott, a.k.a. 80,572 were here. And it was Marlena who truly owned the bar, one that became the most Christmassy drag baror the draggiest Christmas barin San Francisco, and perhaps the world. To this day, the ICS continues to hold regular drag shows to. Youd also witness a diverse assortment of patrons guzzling vodka-crans, baby queers who'd just moved to San Francisco rubbing shoulders with older folks whod lived in the city for decades. Thursday and Friday nights Jolene's kitchen serves satisfying comfort fare with plenty of veggie options. But not here. Saturday, though, I was a disaster. They took their time with your orders. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. These queens have all continued the legacy of drag performance at the liminal margins of the city, where new arrivals take up the mantle of the craft. "Come [the holiday season], though, there wasnt a space of wall that you could see. 18 Best Gay Bars in San Francisco Galilea: On Saturdays, wed all get dressed downstairs, bar hop, and then come back and get ready for our show. Tanqueray Sevilla Orange, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, spritz of soda and tonic, garnished with an orange peel. Cazadores Reposado Tequila, triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, Aperol float, garnished with a lime. Now, Hayes Valley is very sanitized and white. It was just so emblematic of what was happening to Hayes Valley. Flying the blue, pink, and white flag while chanting and cheering . (415) 862-0545 info@gingers.bar Every other place is just a bit too packed in. This Tenderloin bar is named after an English elbow-rubber in 1800s San Francisco who stylized himself as the Monarch of Montgomery Street. The faces of frequent patrons may have disappeared, either to other bars, other neighborhoods, or other cities, as many San Francisco residents have due to inflated costs of living. This legendary biker bar is especially known for its Sunday afternoon beer busts when dozens of revelers pack cheek-to-jowl on the massive outdoor patio to get sh*tfaced on $15 all-you-can-drink beer. Bell: Her decor was over the top year-round. An enormous Kraken Rum light-sign-advertisement thing is hung outside the bathrooms. So professional and on point. Show at 9:30. Oasis is a queer and drag cabaret space and nightclub in San Francisco SF Oasis | San Francisco CA It felt like I had walked into this gingerbread candy house full of leathermen and drag queens who could drink me under the table. Queer Performance & Dance Club Calendar OASIS Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. They were characters who you felt that this was the only place they could be. This friendly neighborhood bar is one of the most low-key options in the Castro. Join hosts Melanie Sparks & Hera Wynn on Fridays for the viewing of RuPauls Drag Race: All Stars Season 8 at 8pm. Cool off at this vibey bar after a pricer Patxis pizza or cocktails from Anina. Everybody knew your name. The bartenders are stylish and terrific. And that was perfect. Chablis: Marlena was a grande dame. Join the newsletter for more info. Marlena became famous for having 1,400 Santas or some insane number like that. 3.0 . 1st Tuesdays: Host Hera Wynn & DJ Frida Joy, 4th Tuesdays: Host Melanie Sparks & DJ Stanley Frank Sensation. But it always had this nice patina of being the place where interesting, good, local things started. Marlenas being in Hayes Valley felt like such an outlier. Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar - Fairmont San Francisco Aunt Charlies, established 1987, is a downright institution, and one of San Franciscos few LGBT joints outside of the Castro. Photo by Ryan Curran White, courtesy of Hoodline. All the performers got paid. Maybe they've died. 5. Been here twice now and DOES NOT MISS the bartenders have been so nice and MAN domore, a themed dance party with a live DJ, & on Saturday, Mother, a themed Drag show, & dancing to a livemore, I dragged them along for a day trip through the city, and we ended the day with -- you guessed it --more, Gay BarsDance ClubsCocktail Bars$$Duboce Triangle, This is a very fun show as long as you know what to expect - it is a drag show in a bar and not amore, The staff was quick and friendly, and the drag show was lively and fun.more, Came here for SF restaurant week because we thought the food looked good, but then the drag showmore, An amazing and historical place. One customer has been coming for so long they have a nameplate at their reserved seat. San Francisco claims countless timeless fixtures for finding a stiff one: the Missions 500 Club and Docs Clock are winners; the Tenderloins Ha-Ra Club is an absolute vibe; and the Outer Richmonds Tradr Sams is no stranger to a long, weird night or two. Top 10 Best drag queen bar Near San Francisco, California. Main Menu. 3600 16th St. @ Market San Francisco CA 94114 info@lookoutsf.com events@lookoutsf.com . One of the few San Francisco gay bars outside the Castro or SoMa neighborhoods, the Cinch is equal parts dive bar and dance club. The bar would be kind of empty and desolate around 9 or 9:30 PM. 16 Excellent Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco, Take a Look at San Franciscos Most Beautiful Restaurants, 15 Primo Italian Restaurants in San Francisco, Dives are that special egalitarian breed of bar for anyone and everyone. Drag plays a rich part in San Francisco's history, beginning with Finocchio's, the North Beach club that featured cabaret-style drag shows from 1936 until the club's closure in 1999. Get . OASIS is your place for a unique San Francisco experience. One of the few San Francisco gay bars outside the Castro or SoMa neighborhoods, the Cinch is equal parts dive bar and dance club. The back of the bar is dominated by a pool table and photo booth. These days, a mixed crowd of bears and sexy guys in tight tees cant get enough of this black-box video bar, cueing up nightly for happy hour two-for-one drinks until 9pm. One of the first lesbian owned places, first to have windows instead of walls to the outside. A rally and march in San Francisco on Saturday protested a wave of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation being passed nationwide. VJ Lu playing all the best music videos. Makers Mark Bourbon, apple juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cinnamon reduction, and a splash of ginger beer. The whole time, though, she kept performing. Chablis (Absolute Empress XXXVI of San Francisco, Stage Manager of Marlenas): Marlenas was the hub of the Imperial Court, basically. OASIS opened New Years Day 2015 in the heart of San Francisco's SOMA district, and offers an unforgettable San Francisco nightlife experience in an 8,000 square . The Mission is home to several botanicas and storefront churches, and the neighborhood itself is named after the mission system, the chain of Spanish Catholic settlements that dot the California coastline and initiated the state's long history of colonization. Thanks for subscribing! Marlena. Oasis is a zero tolerance space against hate. What are people saying about gay bars in San Francisco, CA? Marlena: During Christmas, wed obviously have a lot of Christmas music. OASIS IS A 21+ VENUE FOR ALL EVENTS. That came out of the queer punk scene, so a lot of the performances were connected to indie rock or electronic rock. On Sunday afternoons, the Lone Star is the default second-choice destination for those in search of an afternoon beer bust. Despite having more than earned a sense of peace after lifetimes of struggle, the threat of erasure looms large as ever. The audience caught herit was kind of a stage dive, just not planned. At theseLGBTQ spots,San Francisco nightclubsand only-in-SF fetish fests, genders, and sexual orientations of all stripes are welcome. Ospital: Marlenas was the United Nations of ages and ethnicities. So professional and on point. Mercedez Munro presents US every 2nd & last Saturday of the month starting at 9pm, celebrating BIPOC queer excellence and featuring stars from RuPauls Drag Race. The Cinch | San Francisco CA - Facebook The Oldest Queer Bar In San Francisco Closes Its Doors : NPR Which Gay Bar San Francisco Features Regular Drag Shows? Gagliardi: Every year, I like to get together with a friend or two for my holiday spirits tour, hitting up places in various San Francisco neighborhoods that go all out for the holidays, from festive decor to making superior eggnog to serving Tom & Jerry cocktails in vintage T&J cups. With Marlenas, I could tell Marlena just didnt want to own a bar anymore. READ MORE: This Indian Restaurant Is Secretly a Gay Bar. and only-in-SF fetish fests, genders, and sexual orientations of all stripes are welcome. The bar fit 100 people in there. We did our last show that Sunday. Self-styled as San Franciscos cruise bar, the Powerhouse is the place to be if youre looking to pick up. When we walked to Marlenas from my apartment a few blocks away, we would always go in a pack of people because it was dangerous. Marlenas was this weird, gay fairy tale that felt so San Francisco. I had over 500 gowns in my own dressing room. Seating will be based on party size, arrival time, and is up to the discretion of the management. Id go there and buy two or three. 15 Lively Irish Pubs to Grab a Pint in San Francisco. 10 San Francisco Bars With More to Do Than Just Drink. Dark even in the middle of the day, this cowboy-themed spot with a pool table and patio is hung with erotic art, and, although its a little rough around the edges, the Cinch is as friendly as they come. But San Francisco still thinks about Marlenas. The history of drag in San Francisco - Story Studio This is San Francisco! Its owner was a divorc named Gary McLain, a man who had two grown children. The self-styled "safe space" is stylish and modern, with a large front room with booths, a pool table and plenty of bar seating, and additional tables in an alcove at the back. This was a time in San Francisco history when there were a lot of changes happening: It was during the first web boom. Bieschke: When you walked into Marlenas, you felt safe. Ospital: The city's gay high heel lost about an inch when Marlenas closed down. I had to do the Theme from San Francisco 15 times. The bars that exist in the city now are just bars. Get Tickets 30 Jun Sex and the City - LIVE! It was much poorer. Bieschke: The first time I really walked in was during the Christmas season. We reserve the right to ask any individual to leave an event. Big and juicy gourmet burgers, yummy apps, soups, salads and entrees, and an extensive bar menu featuring craft beers and cocktails. Galilea: Brass Tacks is gay-friendly, but its basically a straight bar. Join one of the bars two pool teams or just belly up to the bar for a drink, literally: shirtless men get $2 off all drinks every Thursday night after 10pm. You knew exactly what you were getting when you went to Marlenas. Seats are first come first served within your section, so get here early for the best seats! Kauffman: Theres no way to recreate that immersive atmosphere that was one part creepy, three parts fantastical, one part camp. Plus the patrons are just fab. To this day, Ive never gone back in there. GO.". The. The Riptide is the see-and-be-seen Outer Sunset dive bar, and its fostered a deep community among locals so much so that when it burned down some years ago, the whole neighborhood was distraught. Marlena looked at me and said, Good night. We both started crying, and I walked off. . Mutha Chucka only agreed to shoot with us after her Thoth Tarot deck affirmed our invitation. First opened more than 40 years ago, Midnight Sun rejoined the A-list after a makeover. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Visitors can. You couldnt move. Photos, fashion, and free cover what more could you ask for on a Tuesday night! Drag Bars in San Francisco, CA About Search Results Sort: Default All BBB Rated A+/A Coupons 1. Were a town of new ideas and free thinkers. Please, Save this event: RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World Tour 2023 at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Save this event: Lips & Lashes Drag Brunch. Bell: It was so dangerous back then. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Wednesday nights are for Miss Kitty's trivia, half comedy show, half competition. Its really only been in the past ten years that the neighborhood has switched over to a mostly white, high-earning class of tech- and design-derived professionals. And yet, theyre still holding space. Main Menu - Lookout It had its own niche in the community, and once that niche was gone, the community dispersed. Specialties: Oasis is a theater / cabaret / nightclub owned by D'Arcy Drollinger located in the heart of San Francisco's SOMA district. This former skating rink was a Bill Graham venue that . Coordinates: 374700N 1222439W The Compton's Cafeteria riot occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. For all Lost & Found, Coat Check, or Credit Card inquiries- please come to the venue during business hours and ask a staff member for assistance. On the weekends, events like Manimal Fridays feature platform dancing go-go beasts, $2 well drinks, and no cover before 10pm. San Francisco North Beach Once upon a time, there was a cabaret-style nightclub in San Francisco's North Beach that featured a cast of female. "Drag Race: All Stars 8 Viewing Party" Fridays. Beaux transforms from a craft cocktail lounge by day into a full dance club with revolving themed parties at night, a few being The Kiki Tuesdays, Pan Dulce Wednesdays, Manimal Fridays, and Big Top Sundays, which features the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race. San Francisco's oldest queer bar is closing after more than five decades. Beaux transforms from a craft cocktail lounge by day into a full dance club with revolving themed parties at night, a few being The Kiki Tuesdays, Pan Dulce Wednesdays, Manimal Fridays, and Big Top Sundays, which features the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race.