Gay bars in santa barbara
Admit it, it’s a freaking hassle going out to Declare Street on any particular night of the week. This is especially factual if the direct scene in Santa Barbara has minuscule to offer you.
Gay bars in this city are several and far between. Chameleon is lengthy gone, as is Fathom and most recently Gold Coast. Despite decades of faithful patronage and often having the dubious honor of being the only gay hangout in town, the latest bar to secure its doors fell victim to the escalating costs of running a business so close to State Street. While some downtown bars may occasionally experiment with a homosexual night, it usually involves the spectacle of a kingly show to doodle in crowds. No gay club has managed to continue long in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.
Away from the lights and cruising cars of State Street, quite literally on the other side of the railroad tracks, lies the most recent addition to Santa Barbara’s nightlife. I remember hearing rumors of such a place help in May. “They’re opening a recent gay club off Montecito Street.” Of course, my first concern was the isolated location.
Despite the growing anticipation that most gay men in Santa Barbara felt just
The Last Meow
When I drove westward from Boston in hunt of a fresh place to survive , I assumed it would be a town with a healthy gay scene; from what I’d heard about California, the only people who didn’t frequent gay bars were nuns.
And then I found Santa Barbara. Giddy on the mountains, the ocean, sunbathing in October, I let myself believe it was possible that one of those prevent fronts hid girls holding hands and boys dancing to Madonna. So when I found Muddy Waters on GaySantaBarbara.org, I donned my gayest outfit (okay, fine, I just removed my dangly earrings) and headed out to chat up some ladies. Well, it’s correct Muddy Waters does sell beer. And there was a lady in there, in the very literal sense of the word: She was knitting and drinking tea. The night ended up involving a $2 bottle of wine and Girls Gone Wild infomercials. Welcome to gay Santa Barbara.
I didn’t get me long to realize the bars and restaurants listed on GaySantaBarbara.org were simply gay approachable. Like Roy, Chad’s, and other listings, Muddy Waters is “totally open and tolerant,” according to owner Bill Lewis, but has never been an explicitly gay hangout.
Santa Barbara LGBTQ City Guide
Santa Barbara is often referred to as the “American Riviera” and with great reason. Situated in the hills on a south-facing section of the California coast, Santa Barbara is known for its stunning scenery, unique history, attractive beaches, and laid-back, eclectic vibe. It’s a municipality with no shortage of things to see and do, and a thriving LGBTQ community as adv. Truly, Santa Barbara would be a wonderful place to call home!
A Observe at Santa Barbara’s History
Various Native American tribes inhabited the area that is now Santa Barbara for over 13,000 years, prior to the beginning of its modern-day history. That began in 1733, when the Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino traveled through the channel between Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands in December of 1602 on St. Barbara’s feast day, hence the entitle of the city. The Spanish established settlements and missions in the area, and in fact, the Franciscan mission established in the area by the Spanish is the oldest continually operating mission in the United States. After California became part of the United States, the area continued to mature, eventually becomin
Gay Promoter Keeps it Fresh
The ladies paraded out onto the elevated stage, hair teased to oversized bouffants, gaudy jewelry adorning every ear and wrist. The crowd cheered as the lights lowered and the familiar strains of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” came through the speakers, announcing the start of the evening’s performances. Glamour personified traipsed across the stage, lip-syncing and dancing. Even though there was lots of hooting and hollering, the true measure of success was the dollar bills a few audience members were tucking into the performer’s cleavages.
Welcome to Sunday nights at the Wildcat Lounge.
Although the Kitty is widely understood as the finest club for dancing any overnight of the week, a Sunday night at the Wildcat currently is the only place that comes close to resembling male lover nightlife in Santa Barbara. And while there are many players who have come together to make this a reality, Robert Mendez is the prime mover behind Red Room, the now six-year-old weekly gay night.
Whether he’s hosting benefits-like the previously described Ms. Marvelous’s Drag Review, which donated money to the Children’s Miracle Network-or