Thai Food
Marnee Thai San Francisco
Marnee Thai San Francisco
Marnee Thai is an elegant and beautiful Thai restaurant in the Inner Sunset. It is family owned and operated and the pride this family takes in their business shows. Chef Chai is an award-winning Thai born and bred chef, who dreamt of bringing the delicious foods of his culture to the States. His dream became reality in 1986 and has been going strong and growing ever since.
This establishment really typifies elegance and relaxation. This is a perfect place to take a date. The lighting is soft and flattering, the music is demure and the place smells like what I would imagine heaven’s kitchen smells like.
The crowning jewels in the menu of Marnee Thai include any of the curry dishes, the pad Thai and the pad se-ew. The mango fried rice is simply fantastic, perfectly balancing sweet and salty in a normally unexciting dish. Teh noodle soups are heavenly and I have yet to have a bad one.
The place is small and fills up quickly, but is worth the wait. It is an excellent place to come in out of the cold and get warmed up. Stop in and see what all if the fuss is about!
Below is a link to Google Maps, you can easily get to the Inner Sunset via the N – Judah train via Muni if you are looking for a way to get there on foot.
Folsom Street Fair
Folsom Street Fair
San Francisco is well known for its Folsom Street Fair, as you may have guessed its located on Folsom St. which is located in SOMA (South Of Market Area). This street fair is not just for gay men, this is one of the largest Leather Fettish fairs in the world. The city of San Francisco shuts down a very large portion of Folsom St and several streets leading up to the fair. If you are not aware San Francisco is a very difficult place to find parking at any time, day or night. This fair causes massive traffic problems getting in and out of the city.
If you are flying in to SFO and want the fastest route in during the fair, take BART. BART is our Bay Area Transit System, trains depart directly from the international terminal at SFO. Cabs are plentiful, however if you take one be prepaired for a VERY expensive trip. BTW, if you hate bad drivers stay away from the cabs, NYC cab drivers are tame compared to the lunatics that drive in SF. When you get to the BART station, which is interconnected via the airport tram. Just head to the International terminal which also says BART, there are 2 stops, pay attention or you will get off on at the wrong station. The train fair is about $10, which has doubled due to our lovely Union operated train system which is already poorly maintained. You would figured at the prices they charged they could at least have a cleaning crew through the day. Watch where you sit or you could be sitting on gum, or who knows what else? Although if you are easily grossed out, I would suggest avoiding this fair.
Just a few years back the city health department shut down one of the most disgusting parts of the fair down. The worlds largest cum rag, I am not joking. Down one of the side streets, guys would do their thing from the balconies above on a giant cloth.
As a reference, different colored leather or vinyl means different fetishes. Red, which I didn’t know any better means you like to get fisted! I will never do that again. Yellow, you can probably guess means you are into water sports or for the folks who do not know means you like to get urinated on and or urinate on other people. Trust me, straights are into this as well. Golden Showers are another commonly used term for this is Golden Showers. I just got a little queazy writing that. But wait, Brown means well you either like to receive or give a number 2 or take a dump on someone, otherwise known as SCAT. I am grasping to not loose my lunch to finish this. I know there are other colors, however I really just don’t want to know about it. If you come unprepared and want to dress up, the largest leather store in the city is Mr S leather, located just a few blocks south on 8th St on the left hand side. They can outfit you with a custom harness, you better not be shy about someone grabbing your privates in order to size it around your loved ones.
For the GLBT community, please patronize the businesses that have spent serious money to put up booths. NONE of the food is operated by gay companies, many gay owned businesses in SF and around the bay area donate part of their proceeds to very important charities that help disabled people and those who are living with HIV or advanced AIDS. The pharmaceuticals are getting rich on the medications. For example one medication called costs about $1,500 a month without insurance. I have personally paid for several desperate young men’s prescriptions, I was horrified. Unlike most gay men in San Francisco, I think of others before myself and unless they are Meth addicts I will help them. Meth addicts will lie and use the money for more Meth and not the drugs that will keep them alive. Don’t let any of them fool you. A close personal friend of mine, John McLaughlin an openly recovered meth addict and a gay actor in Hollywood. He opened my eyes to what the drug does to people, he has a film about his struggles with it and I am SO genuinely proud of him and what he has done for the gay community. The group GLAAD (Gay and Lesbians Against Anti-Defimation), which I used to donate to on a regular basis until they treated me like SHIT as a volunteer who donated many thousands of dollars to them. But their management is to blind and full of themselves to see who really makes a difference in our community.
Enough of me bitching about the empowered gay’s and how poorly they work well together.
Folsom has many closed booth’s where they demonstrate different fetishes, including whips and other instruments of pain for pleasure. I have met many of my straight friends in the fair, their curiosity to what goes on in this fair. So if you are straight and are interested in seeing whats going on, don’t be affraid. No one will push you to do anything you don’t want to do.
Most of the gay bars within the confines of the street fair cater to the “Daddy/Leather/Bear” segment of the gay community. I have attended at least 6 of these street fairs over the years and have always found those bars are packed to the gills. The whole smelling like a poorly maintained high school locker room is revolting to me, however I will not criticize any part of the community.San Francisco for the most part is safe, but if you have not been here before. It’s important to know that there are some not so great areas and getting mugged is a possibility especially late at night. Always watch where you are walking, don’t play with you phone while walking. Especially if you have an iphone, I have heard countless times from friends that they where mugged and stole their phones. Just stay aware, I have personally NEVER had a problem that I couldn’t get away from, and have lived in the city many years. I pay attention, that’s the only difference.
If you are staying in Union Square, you can walk to the fair in 10-15 minutes. I would suggest walking, taking a cab can be a fruitless effort with all of the traffic. There is always crazy traffic during the fair. Just walk down 5th St and you will run right into it, the fair ends at 12th st. It’s a huge event, many thousands of people will go through it.
Folsom St. between 5th and 12th St.
Gay Spots in SOMA - All links are to Google Maps, the exact location of each Business.
Gay Sex Clubs
The city of San Francisco requires all sex clubs to provide condoms and require their staff to look to make sure you are using them. There is no private rooms of any sorts, to find that you will need to go over the bridge to Berkeley to Steam Works.
Blow Buddies - 933 Harrison St. Just a short walk away.
Shops
Mr S. Leather – By far the largest leather & fetish shop in the city, also very close. 385 8th St.
Restaurants
Mars, a good 15 minute walk is worth the walk and has many gay events. Mars has a broad menu, American Fair at high quality, great brunch with outdoor seating 798 Brannan.
Basil Canteen is an amazing Thai Restaurant, if you like Thai food, make sure to try them. 1489 Folsom St.
Custom Burger is an amazing burger with the finest selection of meats and vegetarian options. 121 7th St.
King and I Thai Restaurant St. Louis
King and I Thai Restaurant St. Louis
Most of us get the occasional hankering for Thai food now and then, so if you’re in St. Louis and you get that hankering, the King and I restaurant is there for you. Located on South Grand Ave, this is the oldest and most popular Thai food in St. Louis making it a must eat. I tried the pad Thai as my usual yardstick and ended up cleaning the plate. The King and I passed all tests including good service and ample space in a bank’s parking lot across the street. The only bad news is that it can get crowded, but many of the diners were Asian, which I look for as a sign of good Asian food.
3157 S Grand 413.771.1777
Spice Chelsea
When visiting Chelsea, Spice is a great Thai Restaurant that has some very cool and funky dishes. I don’t exactly recall the name of the dish, but they have a Volcano something chicken that is brought out on fire. It’s quite a spectacle to look at and is also very tasty. This place is really small and can be a bit of a wait from time to time. But if you have the chance to eat here, I highly recommend it. NYC is well known for restaurants closing and new ones opening all the time. This place has been here for years and is just as good as when I tried it for the first time 5 years ago. Spice is near 23rd St. on 8th Ave.
199 8th Ave, 212-989-1116 New York City – Chelsea
Thaihouse Express Castro
There are only a few Thai Restaurants in the Castro, I have personally not eaten at this restaurant as of yet but I am a huge fan of Thai food so I am going to add this to my list of need to try soon. If you are in the mood for Asian food Thai is a great option as it is typically lighter and a better choice. Thaihouse Express is on the corner of 19th and Castro, a few steps away from Hand Job a nail salon and right across from the HRC store and the Buffalo Whole Food Market. I have not seen this place packed with a line so I am sure you can get a seat at most any time. San Francisco tends to starve a place to death if its not good and this place has been around for a while now.
This restaurant is located at 599 Castro St, 415-864-5000
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The Castro
The Castro
The Castro is well noted as the Gay hot spot of the world. The Castro is filled with some good shopping, great food and bars and clubs. I do not suggest trying to stay in the Castro as hotel choices are limited, there are some bed and breakfast options. The best hotels are in Union Square and its a 10 minute cab ride to the Castro or about 15 minutes via the MUNI, specifically the underground rail system in San Francisco.
Gay Friendly Hotels:
When planning on staying in San Francisco and your destination is the Castro plan on staying in Union Square or SOMA “South of Market Area” The Castro only has one hotel. My Favorite hotels in San Francisco are:
St. Regis - Ultra luxurious hotel in SOMA.
Within the Castro Beck’s motor lodge is your only choice.
GAY GYMS
Gold’s Gym – It’s a very popular gay gym, very cruizy. It has underground parking.
24 Hour Fitness – Small very busy, not very cruisy if that is what you want.
The Gym SF Castro - Small gym, haven’t tried them yet, but would love to hear from anyone who uses them.
There is only one paid parking garage in the Castro and it’s pretty well hidden, entry is on Noe St. just north of Market. Be aware this garage closes at Midnight. If you are looking for this place on any map program the address is on Market St. so it may be confusing to find.
Meters are STRICTLY enforced! The Castro is the single most enforced part of the city, there are more meter maids than any other part of the city. Watch your meter carefully and READ the signs very carefully. Some of the commercial spots are only for commercial vehicles until 4pm and may or may not be commercial on Saturday. Meters are free on Sunday, even commercial spots. Commercial spots are Yellow. Watch carefully for red meters, these are 30 minute meters. If you have a disabled placard, do NOT park in commercial spots when they are commercial, you will get a ticket. In California commercial plates are identified by having a single letter in them. For example 1×12345 is commercial, 1xyz1234 is not. These meter’s can be very expensive and most of the people I know have far less than $10 in quarters in their pocket, they sell cards that you can use for the meters around the city at a convenience store called Rossi’s Deli.
Look for temporary signs posted on the meters for events or construction, they will enforce these strictly. Look for chalk on your tires, if you keep feeding your meter past the allocated time you may get a ticket. The easy way to check is for a chalk mark on your tires that are street facing. Be aware that parking fines have increased by about 100% in 2010. I just looked at the SF MTA web site today and meter violations can be up to $100 and are very difficult to fight. Be very careful, fighting these tickets are very difficult. They have metal detectors at the MTA office with bullet proof glass, so just fill in the blanks about your chances of getting out of a ticket.
I do not know this for sure, but I have been told that a private contracted company takes care of the parking tickets. Once a ticket has been issued, there is no way for them to cancel it, don’t fight with them or you can wind up in jail. No kidding, if they feel threatened they can get you thrown behind bars! Many of these meter maids are very short tempered and do not put up with anything. It is in your best interest not to push them. You can attempt to fight a parking ticket, in my experience this is nearly an impossible thing to win. It’s worse than fighting a speeding ticket, but do what ever you want.
Be aware that the Castro Theater has 4 or 5 spots in front that at any time, at their discretion can become no parking, loading only zones. They will put out signs, again don’t try it, its really not worth it.
FYI, additional metered parking is available behind the Castro Theater, Naia, Sliders are right in front. Access to this lot is to the right of Naia. There is a second lot just off 18th st. behind Walgreen’s between Magnet, the STD testing facility.
The meters are expensive, $.25 will not get you but a few minutes at some locations. You can purchase a parking card in advance from the MTA website, the Montgomery MUNI station sells them during regular business hours.
You can buy parking cards at both Rossi’s Deli, they are at 426 Castro St near the Diesel store at Market and Castro St. The other place I have bought the cards at is the Chevron, also at the corner of Market and Castro. They
only have the $20 cards.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
If you are looking for alternatives to get to the Castro, you are in luck. San Francisco has a great public transportation system, so you have plenty of options. During street fairs such as Gay Pride and the Castro Street Fair it may be easy to get a cab in, but getting one out is a mess. Forget about parking, you will have a very hard time finding parking. Many of the streets are temporarily shut down or are setup for no parking.
There is an above street cable car called the F line, these street trains go from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Castro. Typically this service ends around 11 or midnight. You can catch this service from Union Square, where most of the major shopping and large hotels are located. This is the slowest possible way to travel in San Francisco, other than walking. These cars are antiques and are very slow!
If you are coming from Union Square, the fastest way to the Castro is via the Muni train service which is located underground. To alleviate confusion, from Union Square you can enter at the Montgomery Station, Powell Street, or Civic Center. These stations are the closest to Union Square, Powell Street is the most central to Union Square. There is also a cable car stop and BART stop at Powell.
At the platform there are two directions, In Bound and Outbound. In Bound trains are heading towards the Embarcadero or heading West toward the bay. Outbound is heading East or towards the Castro for this example. Do not use the J, which heads to the Church St, it get’s close but is not the best choice. The N line heads to the Sunset district which goes all the way to the beach. It’s not even close to where you want to be, it does stop at the Church station, so you can walk from there. Both the J and N lines go out and above ground.
The Outbound lines that will take you to the Castro station are K, L and M. During weekday rush hour, there is an S or Castro Express line that skips many stops and is very quick. Don’t wait for it, at times between trains can be lengthy and I have waited for the S at Powell st to find it so full that no one could get on.
Do not lean on the door’s, I have heard stories of the doors suddenly flying open while these trains are moving at full speed. I am sure it will not be fun if you fly out. Do not attempt to ride the train without a valid pass, do not throw your pass out after you go through the gate. These trains have police that check tickets. They will give you a fairly nasty fine. I also would not touch anything on the train, some people who ride the trains are very un-hygienic!
Some evenings they shut the trains down early and switch to street buses, they will have the same letters as the trains. During the weeken
ds there are buses that run all night long down Market st. They don’t run that often, but its an alternative if you do not have cab money.
NIGHTLIFE AND GAY BARS:
The Castro has a nice long list of gay bars, you may think there would be more to choose from, however there is a strict limit on liquor licenses within the Castro so it’s nearly impossible to open more.
The Blackbird is a newer bar to the Castro, they tend to have a younger mixed crowd. It’s a bit of a walk from Market and Castro, but worth the effort. It’s the closest bar we have that’s lounge like and has a pool table.
Blush – A personal favorite is a very laid back, sophisticated wine bar, located in the heart of the Castro, near 18th and Castro St.
22-23 is both a bar and restaurant, so you can have brunch and get trashed all in one sitting. Good food!
The Cafe is a large bar and gay dance club located in the center of the Castro, lot’s of events each night.
Twin Peaks is a good sized bar for the Castro, it caters to an older crowd. Is also known as the Glass Coffin, so you can read between the lines.
440 Castro is a decently sized bar that tends to cater towards the leather crowd, they also have a few nights that are for younger guys and a very popular beer bust.
Bar on Church formally known as Bar on Castro, but after loosing its lease moved. The new place is really nice, the crowd is a mix but on the younger side in general. Just steps away from Gayway, or Safeway.
Trigger is a bar for the gay yuppie crowd, drinks are typically twice as much as anywhere else. I used to like it myself, but they have let it fall apart in my opinion. I even paid for their black card the first year, will never do that again.
Martuni’s is a gay piano bar, located on the out skirts of the Castro. They have very strong drinks and different events most nights, it’s a nice spot.
The Mix is another average sized gay bar with a nice outside deck off the back, they have some fun events and a pool table. It attracts a wide range of age groups, but I have met some very nice guys here before.
Moby Dick’s is a fun small bar with a pool table and a nice big fish tank in the back ground. A popular spot for the gay sports teams to meet after a game.
Harvey’s is a popular iconic restaurant and gay bar located in the heart of the castro right off 18th and Castro, a must see for visitors.
The Edge is a bear’s bar, I have never been here but it’s usually crowded.
Toad Hall is a popular gay bar with a large outside patio, a mixed crowd with lots of youngsters to choose from. I call it Toad Vomit, but that’s my view.
Badlands is the most popular gay bar in the Castro, very young crowd with LCD screens all over. This is the main tourist trap to visit, very reasonable drink prices and a happy hour geared to kill people with alcohol poisoning.
The Mint, technically is outside the Castro but it is close to Martuni’s so worth a mention. This is your Karaoke spot of choice.
SHOPPING
Best in Show – A boutique dog toy store for your loved one, a well run store.
HOMELESS:
San Francisco is the homeless capital of North America. Tourists are the prime targets. I know you will feel sorry for them and they will tell you all sorts of crazy stories about their problems. If you give them money they will keep asking, once one see’s you give to one, the others will chase you down. As cold as this sounds, don’t make eye contact and just say no thank you and keep walking. If you give them a cigarette it opens you up for them to ask for money. The city provides them money, food and housing. They also have dozens of options for education, help getting a job and medical aid. They either have mental issues or choose the route of driving hard working people crazy.
RESTAURANTS:
The Castro has a great selection of restaurants to choose, all pretty easy to walk to. On the higher end you have Catch, a seafood restaurant which is really good, It’s located on Market St. Just at Castro. As well as Eureka, which is located on 18th, 3/4 of a block heading towards Delores Park from Castro St. One of the best new additions is Starbelly, at the corner 16th and Market. Both Catch and Eureka you can make reservations on Open Table. Starbelly, unless you have a really big group is first come first serve, expect a wait.
French
Bisou – This by far is my favorite French restaurant in San Francisco, hands down! Must try!
American – Gay Drunk Food
Harvey’s – This is a must try, for American fair the food is well done, they have a great bar and very friendly staff.
Home Restaurant – This is a great brunch spot, make sure to get a reservation and try their home made breads.
Cafe Flore – An indoor outdoor cafe, with a full bar and restaurant, nice on sunny days.
Orphan Andy’s – Classic American dinner affair, open 24 hours, they also have a very large low cal and carb section for the conscience drunks.
Chinese
Brandy Ho’s – One of my personal favorites as well, it’s Hunan style so can be spicy.
Nirvana – This is more of Asian Fusion – Noodles, very good worth trying. Great cocktails!
Sushi
Osaka Sushi Good food, great location, usually some pretty good fish options.
Indian
Kasa – Kasa is a great small unique Indian Restaurant, I have eaten here dozens of times and always loved it.
Mexican – Latin
Mediterranean
Cafe Mystique – A newer choice in the Castro and a nice change from the typical choices.
La Mediterranee – Haven’t tried it, but this is an option.
Italian – Pizza
Nizarios – Pizza sold by the slice and always good.
The Sausage Factory – One of my favorite Italian restaurants in San Francisco, a must try.
Escape From New York Pizza – A good place for a slice or if you need delivery.
Marcello’s Castro – Pizza by the slice..
Seafood
Anchor Oyster Bar – A great option for the Oyster Lover!
Catch – Fine dining, but one of my favorite spots.
Southern – Soul Food
Criolla Kitchen- A new addition to the Castro, this is a great restaurant with an excellent menu. Criolla Kitchen has taken over Bagdad Cafe.
Thai Food
Vietnamese
Zadin – A great Vietnamese restaurant, with a Gluten free menu as well.
Deserts – Coffee Shops
Castro Tarts A great small coffee shop, its a little hard to find so you may want to hunt this one out.
Hot Cookie – A small bakery that makes a few cookies that look awfully similar to the human reproductive system, but tasty, none the less.
The Cove Cafe – A small coffee shop with deserts.