OUTSTANDING EVENT FOR ENJOYABLE DANCING MADNESS!…read more SIT-REP *DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!* [NO. That is not a command with the KLAXON HORN alert indicating that a SUB is SUBMERGING, but rather the heads-up that we have entered the "DIVE BAR" ZONE! - Translation: "A GREAT TIME is AHEAD!"] CLUB GOSSIP resides on 2nd Saturdays inside THE CAT CLUB, one of the most awesome dive bars that I patronize and love. CLUB GOSSIP is one of the best "WOW!" I mean "WOW!" experiences. This is truly one of the few EVENT-VENUE combos I really enjoy, which is why it is extremely nice for me to take my FIRST "YELP"-opportunity to write about it. THE SET-UP First came to CAT CLUB back in 1994 (that I actually remember - it may have been as early as 1990 when I first clubbed in SF, but as a passenger I was usually a bit discombobulated to actually know "where" I was since i trusted to my friends to get us around in those early days of my clubbing). The CAT CLUB is a DELICIOUSLY DIVY bar with wooden floors and walls in the SOMA (South Of Market Area) district of San Francisco. It is basically two separate rooms that permits two separate DJ-dance parties to go on simultaneously. It has vaulted ceilings (which are more pronounced in the front room) and has an air of spaciousness. So though DIVY, it is NOT claustrophobic. THIS adds to the place's charm. CURRENT CLUB GOSSIP DJ-FUN CLUB GOSSIP plays Synthpop, Goth and Electro in the front room & 80's Video Classics in the back. CLUB GOSSIP (2nd Saturdays) is propelled by the awesome DJ MELTING GIRL and DJ DAMON BOYLE, playing the best Dark Wave 80s, EBM and Industrial-lite that you will enjoy! If you want get the latest updates on their TRIBUTE-THEMED nights, then send an email to: clubgossip-subscribe@topica.com and DJ Damon will keep you in the loop! BAR & SECURITY STAFF In sum: BEST in the business! RANDY MAUPIN is an outstanding Bar Manager and makes us all feel like we at an incredibly fun house party. With him in the front and ALTHEA in the back, great coverage. LIESL remains my favorite bartender in SF, possibly WORLD - I love this gal like nobody's business! MICHAEL CHESTNEY, STEVE WASHINGTON and their team are best security guys you'lll ever meet. [I have to take a moment for my friend STEPHAN WILSON who passed away from medical complications at a young 40 this past year. I first met him here at the Cat Club, though I've had the privilege of meeting him at other venues he also worked at. He was a fun presence wherever he was and we, his friends, will miss him terribly...] THE LOWDOWN You are bound to have an incredibly fun time at CLUB GOSSIP and THE CAT CLUB!

Situated inside the beloved Cat Club (see my other Yelp review for the venue) is Club Gossip, a…read moredance night centered around New Wave/synthpop/80's music that's held once a month, every second Saturday. I particularly like Club Gossip because they tend to host a lot of tribute nights for a particular artist (ie: Madonna) or artists (Joan Jett vs. Pat Benetar). The last night we attended was the David Bowie & Prince tribute night, which they apparently plucked from my dreams of best dance club themes. The front room spun the biggest danciest hits of Bowie, glam rock and synthpop, while the back room bounced with Prince, funk and 80's music. Both rooms played accompanying music videos or movie clips featuring both artists. There was a vendor booth selling amazing jewelry and gifts, and around midnight there was a dance troupe performance in the back room headed by an amazing Prince lookalike. I seriously can't remember the last time I danced so much- we were completely sweaty by the time we left! Club Gossip is well worth the drive to SF, every time!

Morrissey & Smiths Tribute Is One Of The Best New Wave Nights…read more SITREP New Wave City (NWC) is the longest-running club event in San Francisco. I've been a regular to NWC) since it's first year in 1994. Every month is a treat, and often is a special "tribute night". In fact, this most recent past Saturday was the monthly club night for December and it was a tribute night for Morrissey & The Smiths. The energy of this crowd was kinetic and made for a great dance night! BLACK CARD The longevity of loyal followers has it's benefits and on the 5th anniversary of my coming to New Wave City (1999), I was presented with the rare NWC BLACK V.I.P. CARD which I've kept in my wallet for 15 years, proving the adage, "Membership Has It's Privileges" - my guest & I are treated to free entry into all NWC events. SET-UP New Wave City is now sited at The Cat Club (1190 Folsom Street, SF), but was once much more of a revolving-venue club, enjoying being sited different months at different places, including: the KING STREET GARAGE, the TOWNSEND, 550 BARNEVELD, BIG HEART CITY, THE CHERRY BAR, the GLASS KAT, and most recently, the DNA Lounge. SPECIAL EVENTS NWC always promoted special galas and incredible "80s Prom Nights". With the Cat Club, NWC still is able to maintain two (2) separate rooms of music, each specializing in a different format, and with revolving door of talented DJs. NEW WAVE DANCING Dancing is what we come for and a stellar dance-environment is what we are provided. You can't ask for any better, and with the Go-Go Boxes in the back room, there is always ladies & gents who enjoy being a bit - how shall we say? - a bit EXPRESSIVE & OUTGOING in their dancing on the box, in front of the mirrors, and losing themselves in the music! THE LOWDOWN NWC remains the best ongoing club night and truly keeps keeps the momentum of the New Wave movement going strong!

I've been dancing like Molly Ringwald at NWC since I was in my 20's...and that was more than 20…read moreyears ago now...So, yes we've aged together! The music is fun. The two rooms at the Cat Club let you bounce between scenes (I have always hated Depeche Mode, so this is important as DM is on heavy rotation sometimes). I always have a great time and the crowd is friendly and always weird just like New Wave was and still is. Recently I went after a long hiatus and danced my a off like my a hasn't seen in a while. My favorite moment was Shriekback "Nemesis" followed by Echo and the Bunnymen "Never Stop" Yes, I was the superfan dancing like a maniac, maniac, on the floor, Dancing like I've never danced before.

Aunt Charlie's is AMAZING! If you're looking for a night full of laughs, excitement, and…read moreunforgettable entertainment, look no further. Drinks: Cheap, strong, and delicious ($6 cocktails?! Yes please!) Atmosphere: Small, unapologetically gay, and full of personality. Drag queens: Incredible, stunning, hilarious, and unforgettable. This was my very first drag show, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. They took the time to explain how drag shows work, welcomed all the newcomers into the family, and immediately made us feel like we belonged. I was a little nervous going in, but within minutes I felt completely at home. Special shoutout to Olivia Heart--my favorite drag queen and our waitress. She'll make sure you're very well taken care of and might whisper a few sweet nothings that leave you questioning everything. An absolute icon. If you're in San Francisco, you HAVE to go. And if you can, catch the Friday or Saturday drag show--just be sure to call ahead for a reservation because it gets busy. And bring cash, because it's Cash Only! They have an ATM. Thank you, Aunt Charlie's, for an unforgettable night. I'll definitely be back!

This was my first visit to San Francisco with my partner and we had such a fun time at this little…read morespot. Oliva was the Hostess with the Mostess. She went around taking drink orders as well as making the experience very memorable. The place is very intimate and when I say intimate it is nuts to butts but we like both lol. The wall has side by side seating and there are stools in front of the bar. The performers werk up and down the main aisle entertaining. It is a cash only place which was perfectly cool with us. We happened to catch their drag show. They do offer small little snacks like chips and peanuts. Drink prices were very reasonable and with good pours thanks to bartender Pete. Thank you everyone for such a great show.

My husband and I visited Power House on Saturday and, as always, had a fantastic experience. From…read morethe moment we arrive, everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming, creating an amazing atmosphere that makes us feel right at home. One of the highlights is the backroom, which is always a lot of fun and adds to the unique energy of the venue. We consistently have a great time whenever we visit, and the service is excellent every time. Power House is a place where we always enjoy ourselves, and we look forward to coming back again and again. Highly recommended!

I've been to PH twice once was after a Horsemarketsf event and during Rubber Weekend in April 2025…read more Had a great time, love that the SF bars still allow so much "personal contact"! Great old school vibe and I will be be back!

Stopped by The Cafe again after 10+ years and it brought back so many great memories! My friends…read moreand I would go to this place often and The Cafe was always one of our go to spots when we would go to the Castro. We would especially make sure to make a stop here during Pride day. The drinks and music are still as great as I remembered. Cynthia makes the best drinks! My friend and I intended to stay an hour but ended up staying until 1am watching the dancers, drinking at the bar and just enjoying the atmosphere. The Cafe is one of those places where you plan to stay for a bit but end up staying much longer bc the vibes here are just so much fun! The crowd here is really friendly and you could tell everyone goes here to just have a great time. It's a welcoming place for everyone. The night we went, we ended up making a bunch of new friends from all over. Good times!

I hosted a White Lotus-themed private birthday party here, and it was absolutely perfect from start…read moreto finish. I coordinated everything with Jeffrey, and the process could not have been smoother. Jeffrey created all of the visuals for the theme, connected me with a decorator, and even arranged for his DJ and bartender to come early for my party. (This saved me hours of searching for outside vendors!) Before the food arrived, we enjoyed the roof open, which was gorgeous. Since the restaurant downstairs isn't open yet, I used City Smokehouse for catering, and the setup and cleanup were effortless. I didn't even anticipate needing a storage area, but the staff (Chadwick) handled everything they even loaded my car at the end of the night! The bartender Daniel was gorgeous (no other word for it!) and the drinks were SO reasonably priced. From the first email to the last goodbye, the entire team made me feel like family and brought the spirit of my 40th birthday to life. It's worth mentioning that The Café recently entered a new chapter under co-owners Louis and Jeffrey. Louis has been with The Café since 1992, starting as a floor person, then barback, bartender, and eventually general manager for over two decades. Their vision is to honor nearly 50 years of history while bringing new life to the space. When the club opened to the public after my event, it was incredible to see such a diverse crowd. Young and old, friend groups, all genders, everyone just in community with each other. I can't recommend this venue enough for private parties or corporate events. Jeff and Louis do so much for the community and are absolute pillars of hope and strength in the Castro. Give them a follow on Instagram @thecafesf to see what's coming up (they're open until 5 AM on Halloween!) and check it out for yourself!

Did my stand up comedy debut there pre-COVID. Literally last night prior to shut down! Yeah it was…read morea mess and I was a mess. The stage way too tight, and the DJ set would be right behind you as a performer! It's a lovely space, Britney the bartender was so nice and very knowledgeable about her drinks! She can think on her feet! Like they don't have all the ingredients for my mixed drink but she made me a better one with a great sub! And the Security thought his name frank came out to be that it's Mike I've had the wrong name in my head though out COVID! Mike was willing to work with one of my supporting audience and eventually let him in!

I recommend trying out the Diva Royale drag show at Luv nightclub in San Francisco. The…read moreneighborhood is good, and it's possible to get street parking. There are VIP seats and general admission is standing only. I stood by the bar, which was a good vantage point to watch the show as well as to dance along to the music. The bartender and other staff were friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming. The check-in process was awkward and late, but I believe the performers were a little late in being ready. Understandable, at it looks like it takes a lot of time and work to transform into beautiful queens. I had fun, as this everyone in the audience.

Vintage and modern ballroom dances, costuming and performance…read more Re-creations of historical works of dance, music and theater with an emphasis on audience interaction. Research into the performing arts of the past, and their role in history and literature. PEERS features a live, mostly acoustic band, friendly people who love to dance, a beginning dance lesson, light refreshments and performances. Attire in the specific theme of the ball is encouraged but not mandatory.

October 5-8, 2006 in Burlingame, CA. is the best West Coast Swing dance competition in the US…read more Usually on the Columbus day, holiday weekend of October. 1200 WCSwing competitors and social dancers come from across the US, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Scotland and France to compete, take workshops and social dance on a 5200 sq. ft. dance floor. Four days are allotted for WCS dancing and socializing. There is also a second ballroom for Lindy dancers. If you want to see the best West Coast swing in the country, come out on a Saturday or Sunday night and see the best of the best compete, it is awesome to see. If you love partner dancing, love dancing to top 40's, R & B, Motown, Blues and Jazz, this is the dance for you. The 3 day event pass covers watching the competitions, social dancing, 10+ workshops and Saturday buffet. There are one day passes and evening passes avail for those who just want to check it out. Nearby to other restaurants, Max's Opera Cafe, Elephant Bar and a movie theater.

Came here for their early bird class (marching orders from my West Coast Swing prof at ccsf)…read more First off, it's rather expensive to park in their parking structure (charges by the hour - my final tally was around $14 for a little more than 2 hrs), so look for some on the street - should be plenty within a couple of blocks. The lessons and the dance were just $10. I've never taken a class that had 200 students in it! It is a spectacle to see so many pairs of wcs enthuasiasts, all their slots lined up in parallel - there were four rows of maybe 50 people each running across the entire dance floor, which was held in the main conference room. As we rotated partners, I think I barely got through one row to the other side of the floor. The teachers, Kyle and Sara, were fabulous, complementing each other as they gave commentary and critique in rapid-fire succession. And of course, there was a free dance afterwards, where all the convention competitors took to the floor and lit in on fire. Literally.