The Bar On Castro

i’m not sure i really understand what is going on with this place in regards to it closing down/​moving to church? but i’ve frequented the bar quite a bit when my gay friend has been up in town and i’ve always had a blast! we actually went about an hour or so before we watched milk at the castro theater and still managed to squeeze in a little fun party time as we watched the lines for the movie curl around the street. there’s great dance music (although not so much in the early hours of the night), good people, and fairly strong drinks — thats about as much as i can ask for during a night out.
i’ve heard that the bar is pretty much staying the same despite the name change and change in ownership and then i also heard that the «boc» is moving to church st. so i’m not sure which spot is going to be the one to go to but i think it’s worth it to check out the old stomping grounds and see how they’re holding up.

One of my favorite venues in the city, but you HAVE TO get there on the right night. I avoid it on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s just too packed and crowded, you can’t even move, much less dance, or even, breathe.
The servers aren’t the friendliest in town. Even when slow, none of my friends or I have really conversed much with anyone working here, and that’s unusual because we’re on a first name basis with servers and bartenders all over the city. But here, they just don’t seem to want to be bothered.
Sunday nights, however, earn this place it’s fourth star. $ 10 all-​you-​can-​drink happy hour, 5:00pm-8:00pm. Awesome. Gogo dancers that night too, and somehow, even though this is pretty much the least expensive option in the city on Sundays, it’s busy but not jam-​packed. We like it. A lot.

I think I got hit on…
But after drinks at Bourbon & Branch and a long alcohol induced dinner at Harris’ I don’t remember much.
Or whether it was a girl or a guy.
*sigh* straight girl hearts Castro

–Great DJs
–Strong drinks
–Indoor/​outdoor smoking section makes it easy to air out after working up a sweat
–Good mix of people ‘cuz I can be really particular
and,
–It’s totally okay to dance on the tables… though it’s a tight squeeze usually on the floor, w/e…I’m a more-​the-​merrier kinda girl!

Woohoooo!!!
Hip hop Thursdays.
Stiff Drinks… Danced my ASS off!
Need I say more?

I def enjoy BOC, the music, the people the overall vibe. The caveat being, $ 6 for a well drink is above market price in SF. While in the drink line I’ve heard numerous people express their displeasure with the increased prices. Add on top of that there is cover almost every night of the week and the sound of money flying out the wallet is getting might loud.
Thankfully I a) have a VIP card so don’t have to pay the cover and b) stick to going on booty call night when there are $ 3 svedka specials.

Only go there if you wish to be stepped on, ignored and pushed. The BAR on Castro is full of drunk puking children pretending to be Britney or Ms. Hilton…
The bar is very small, why do they even charge a cover?
Last night I had drinks at the BOC with my friends and at 9:35pm I went to the entrance to check on my friends and the mean stupid creature — Door Man– told me that I would need to pay a cover charge to get back in, after he let us all in initially for FREE! WTF??? It was not enough that we all spent $ 150 on BAD cocktails, not to mention the $$$ we all have spent there in the past. Possibly this was a random event on a bad night, but either way we were all very disappointed and can only give them ZERO stars!!!
DON’T go on Friday nights if this mean DOOR Man is working!!!

The Bar on Castro. Aside from creating confusing for those new to the area («I’m at the Bar on Castro!» «Which one?» «THE Bar!») The BOC is one of the more popping bars on any night. Monday’s are particularly packed for 80s night, where the 80s theme not only is heard in the music but with the drinks (drink specials are 80-​cents all night)
Even more popular is drag queen Juanita More! and her Wednesday night event, «Booty Call» which promises the «Hottest Gogos» and «Fiercest Trannies.» The music on these nights are a toss-​up as guest DJs make their rounds every week, but count on some funky lounge or electro-​dance. Booty Call also provides «private photoshoots» in the back room. Every week, a different set is created, and the boys line up to have their picture taken, solo or en masse, and their photo will be up on MySpace in a few days. Who would have thought that a photoshoot would be what the gay boys are lining up for in the back room. Hasn’t Queer as Folk taught us anything?
Regardless, it’s hard to not find a night that the BOC is not packed. It doesn’t help that the BOC is about as big as a college dorm room, meaning that put only a dozen people in it and it looks packed, but still, it’s for a reason. Just don’t expect to be able to perform your practiced dance routine to Depeche Mode’s «Personal Jesus» without spilling everyone else’s drinks.

One of my favorite bars in the Castro! Yes, this place is too small and will have you packed in there like sardines. And many times if a particularly popular song comes on, you’ll get hit on the dance floor a few too many times by flailing arms and elbows (I just hit back and feign ignorance, but don’t tell anyone that. Sshhh.). Aside from that, the drinks are great and I love the vibe here. It’s very «hipster» and «bohemian», as opposed to many of the Abercrombie & Fitch («Abercrappy & Bitch») clones who frequent nearby Badlands and The Lookout. Also, a healthy dose of ethnic men here (Asian, Black & Latino) is a refreshing change from the predominantly-​White clubgoers of the other nearby clubs.
One star off because of that one time when a 40+ guy pulled his pants down and took a steaming dump on the dance floor. His excuse was that he’d eaten some bad cheese and couldn’t get to the restroom in time. Let me tell you, peeps: that dance floor cleared out quicker than a whore in a limousine after a blowjob.

This place? This place rocks. Fantastic DJ. Decent beer selection — really, GREAT for a gay bar. Cool decoration, great A/​C.
Really, it’s tiny, and it was packed like a sardine can, but I found myself bumpin’ and grindin’ on the air (my friends didn’t dance) next to a pillar near the bar, grinning like an idiot on crack because the music was so awesome. MUSIC SNOB STAMP OF APPROVAL. Yes, that’s an official seal. The music is just that good. I don’t know who the DJ is, but he should get signed.
I love this place, and I will definitely be returning.
This place RAWKs. Comes highly recommended!

The B.O.C baby!
Why did I wait so long to go in? It’s like a whole ‘nother world and the music is so off-​the-​hook. The people are friendly (and I do mean friendly, ha ha!) and the drinks are cheap. You can’t help but shake somethin in this place.
An über fun place to hang with the guys or girls and forget about the real world.

I was careening down a Boston street the other night in the back of a cab. The driver had just turned up a dance remix version of «Bleeding Love» to full blast and the two of us were belting out the lyrics.
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Folks in cars near us shot raised eyebrows in our direction but we paid them no mind and kept on singing and dancing. When we reached my hotel after what was surely the BEST.CAB.RIDE.EVER all I could think was that this was probably the closest I could get to dancing with my boys at The Bar On Castro — without actually being in San Francisco.

Let me tell you… I know how to make a great impression on an unofficial first date. Call me Classy with a capital ‘C.’
The night started off with a Volunteer Appreciation Night, which was amazing. Free booze shared with a bunch of awesome women with a sprinkle of men. Hells yea.
So I came into this space with a nice buzz. We decided to hit up The Bar because well… the night was still young.
We get a drink. I don’t remember what it is but it was fruity and slushy and I just drank it up like water. He dances, I dance, we dance, I dance with men and women… you know the deal. We’re having a kick ass time. Sooner or later the room is slightly spinning but I kind of like it because I think it makes me move my hips better.
Perhaps I was making a fool of myself but I remember getting led towards the front door by my date. Suddenly, I have this taste in the back of my mouth. One that I hadn’t experienced since freshmen year in college, which was a good 7 years ago.
I spot the trash can and it all just comes out… and continues to come out for the next hour.
But hey… what can I say?! I must have made quite the impression because we’ve been together since. ;)

I hate Highway 101. One morning you could be scrambling to get back to the house from SF and not make the bed or forget about unloading the dishwasher or hurry taking the dog out and it’s 720am all you can think about is how late to work you’ll be and next thing you know it takes you 20 minutes to get home.
THEN a morning you decide to take your time and its 720am and you’ve been awake for a while and oh well it’s time to go and BAM traffic up to wazoo.
It’s the same thing at night. Last week I was meeting up with my gbf (gay boyfriend) at Frisee but he wasn’t ready until 8pm, and lo and behold I was in the Castro by 630pm (I get off work at 6, I work on the Peninsula). Oh, and parking took about 5 minutes. So what did I do? Called my straight gay boyfriend Adam M., and told him to get his ass down and meet me for drinks.
Adam: Let’s go to the Bar on Castro!
Me: Can’t we just start drinking at Frisee?
Adam: No. The Bar on Castro! They have smoking there…
Me: Awww… dammit. I’m not allowed to smoke :(
Adam: Quitcherbitchin!
I arrived a couple minutes before Adam did, so I had to contemplate what I was going to order. Hmmm… Cherry Coke? That has alcohol in it… right? I’m not 12. I’m 21 and borderline alcoholic. Plus, my innocence is shot to hell after Power Exchange. The bartender who made my drink was sassy and fun. When I asked if there was any alcohol, he poured the drink in front of me and I barely saw any coke/​grenadine go in. I tasted vodka. Woo! Panda’s happy.
When Adam got there, the pompous ass ordered his usual gin martini (I love you Adam! :D) and we sat on the deck/​patio area sipping our drinks while he took my cigarettes.
I learned that if you sit next to the street, you’re going to meet an odd group of individuals. There was the homeless guy who said he hadn’t eaten in 3 weeks. Then there was AJ, a homeless kid who was going to Heald College to be an airplane technician and joining the Marines. The guy just made eye contact with me (note to self wear sunglasses more often) and came over and shook my hand. Then there were the couple of hot lesbians that walked by I tried to make eye contact with, because really, even though I’m straight I appreciate hot women with short haircuts. I appreciate them even MORE when I’ve been drinking, coining my nickname «Ok Ms. I want to make out with you when I’ve been drinking but straight as an arrow sober».
Oh and don’t forget about all the fine looking gay men in their hot d-​squared fuck me jeans (tm Darin I).
I love the Castro. And this bar. And Adam for taking me. And the fact that my drink was only 2 dollars and I went to Frisee completely trashed. How classy.

Manic Mondays!
Manic is right! I’ll do my best to recall some details, but truth be told, I was 9 drinks into the evening BEFORE we got here.
The place is small; could be cozy on a slower night, but was d@mn near suffocatingly crowded last night (80’s Night, St Paddy’s). From what I could tell, the décor is modern with what I think was a padded wall opposite the bar? Also, the front, open-​air «room» is a nice space for smokers, talkers, chit-​chatters, picture takers… Oh, and a coat check… every club/​bar/​jookjoint should have a coat check.
I don’t remember what two drinks I had; X picked a drink for the first round, E picked our drink for the next. But I do clearly recall reacting «Ph*ck! That’s cheap! And whoa, this is friggin strong!». After which I have holes in my memory with flashes of talking to a girl in the front room who giggled and looked upon me like I was a lost little puppy for being un-​gay in a categorically gay bar…
The music, maybe because I’m an eighties-​kid, was so retro-​cool! We had a fantastic time TRYING to dance in such cramped quarters, but it was difficult tapping out more than a two-​step when its back-​to-​back-​to-​chest-​to-​elbow-​to-​face-​to-​bewbies crowded (mmm…bewbies).
Worth another (somewhat sober’er) visit…
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
E. thought it might be dangerously inviting for me to wear my «kiss me, I’m irish» shirt, to which she would have had lots of fun protecting me. Nothing happened, of course, anyone can clearly see for themselves that I’m not Irish.

EDIT: They like to charge really random, expensive cover charges for no reason. Why are you charging $ 5 on Friday when every other bar around is charging $ 2? And you’re not even crowded!!! Get over yourself BOC. Minus one star.
Original:
THIS IS WHERE I GO TO GET MY SWERVE ON. I’m not entirely sure what «swerve» means but I figure with any applicable meaning it’s probably appropriate.
80s Night was once fun but has now gotten pretty rank. It’s SUPER crowded and everyone is 19 and drunk and GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME and eww vomit on the floor and really is it that hard to play a danceable 80s song because seriously that whole decade was like cocaine and dance music. Or was that the 70s? Anyways, pay a couple bucks more for your drinks and go to one of the other bars in the area on that night.
Wednesdays are Booty Call and it is FIERCE! And because that word is becoming overused I’ll try to refrain from using it in future reviews. But yeah, good music and lots of hotties and I’m probably drunk and making out with at least 3 of them. Goodtimes.
Oh and this bar definitely has the hottest bartenders in all of the Castro. And they put out too!*
*Not true.

Did you know that there are two sets of bathrooms?
WTF, I had no idea up until two weeks ago!
For YEARS I waited for the ONE stall that I guess is for females only. I think the accumulated time that I have spent waiting in the ridiculous line could have been spent doing something a little more interesting… like I don’t know… getting my swerve on. I don’t even know what that means, but that’s not my point. My point is that boys, there are three stalls on the other side of the DJ booth for you take care of yo bidness.
I wish it were darker cause I dance better in the dark.
Also, I like Thursdays best cause they play hip hop.

Slammed against the hot muscled body of a gorgeous guy while moving rhythmically has got the be the best solution to any girl’s bad day.
Damn these boys are hot! I love me some gays… they make me feel pretty too! I mean honestly, no straight man would tell you you’re hot without some hidden agenda behind it!
Dancing 80’s night at Bar on Castro… so much fucking fun!!! Well no… there was no ‘fucking’ for me there at all. I just don’t have the right equipment.

This bar is owned by the same guy who owns Jet in the Castro on Market St. The B.O.C. (Bar On Castro) has 80s night on Mondays. And guess what? Well drinks are only 80 cents. Amazing isn’t it?
About a year ago the B.O.C.‘s storage garage directly behind the club caught on fire. Luckily the bar itself and the surrounding buildings didn’t catch on fire. A story about the fire made it into one of the local newspapers.
On Sunday nights Chadwick is working the door and as the night gets later the B.O.C. is notorious for playing hip hop music and it is one of the more crowded clubs on a Sunday night in the Castro. If you see Chadwick tell him you are friends with Cynthia and he will treat you right. He’s the big strong white guy with the bald head.
The B.O.C. is 85% gay guys and 15% women I would say. I would say it is a more comfortable place for women to go to than 440 Castro, Moby Dick’s, The Men’s Room, or Midnight Sun.

I like to get my GAY on as much as the next person. So come Monday night at BoC, eighties night, when the drink are 80 cents a pop, I’m down to get both my drank AND my gay on. Go early and have backup plans. Lots of people like to get their gay on to 80 cent drinks and rocking 80s tunes. It will get crowded. It will get so crowded that you will wish you’d skipped those last 4 cocktails so you could hustle your newly gay ass out of there a little faster. It will get so insanely crowded that in your gay vodka haze, you will lose your friends and realize you are too drunk to dial your own phone.
Good times! Sweetie bartenders, cheap drinks, and good music are the draw for the not-​so-​gay patrons here. I fall in that category. I also don’t care to wear other people’s sweat, so I go early and leave early. With a strong buzz and a little gay in my heart. The smoking patio is just that: smoky. You will smell bad if you spend too much time out there. Skip it and go to the sidewalk.