Cruisin’ the Castro are celebrating 20 years of offering travellers and unique glimpse into the vibrant gay Castro area of San Francisco. Owner and guide Kathy Amendola has just added some new tours to the regular daily tour five days a week 10-12. I can highly rec0mmend the tours – they are fabulous and well worth adding to your list of things to do in San Francisco
The New Harvey Milk Tour
In memory of the 30th anniversary of the death of Supervisor, Harvey Milk, the “Harvey Milk Tour”, begins with Harvey’s immense presence in the Castro community moving on to his political progress at City Hall by becoming the first openly gay politician in the state of California in November 1977. Tour explores both the Castro neighborhood and the beautiful City Hall, where Harvey served and met his untimely death on November 27, 1978.
Also included in the tour is the new and exciting Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual & Transgender Historical Society’s “Castro Exhibit”!
Tour is Wednesday’s ONLY 10am-1pm $55 Adults & $35 Child (5-12yrs)
Four of us joined Kathy Amendola on her historical walking tour of what is surely the gay capital of of the world, in the centre of San Francisco. It was a fascinating insight not only into the history of this quintessentially gay area, but also into the history of San Francisco itself.
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The Gold Rush and how men coped without women – the lavender cowboys and the 'hanky code' (where you wore a hanky and what it meant – this might be more than some of you want to know!)
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the 'summer of love' and the formation of a gay community in the Castro when Harvey Milk and a few others moved in from Haight Ashbury
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Harvey Milk's influence on the business community and election to the position of Supervisor
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the rainbow flags that were first used to line the road when Harvey was taken down to City Hall by the community at the time of his election
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His murder 11 months later and the ongoing development of the Castro area and gay pride.
(Look out for the new movie called Milk, starring Sean Penn)
This tour is not just for gay and lesbian folk – but for anyone interested in a seldom told historical story. You can book on line and then all you have to do is meet at 10am under the rainbow flag (but of course!)
Afterwards a couple of -us enjoyed a clam chowder in the garden bar @ Luna on Castro – don't leave San Francisco without trying the clam chowder at least once
“Power Lesbians” (I took this to mean lesbians in business) meet at the Mecca on Market between Church and Delores on Thursdays between 6-11pm
