Castro Courier

The Castro bar scene now is one bar larger. Former Oracle engineers Rob Giljum, Tim Eicher, John Bellemore and Jeff Eubanks opened the new Q Bar at 456 Castro St. in February.
Giljum and Eicher own the Rainbow Cattle Company in Guerneville since 2005 and were determined to use some of the same policies that made their Russian River resort a success in their new business. Chief among those is the belief that Q Bar be an open and accepting place for everyone. Indeed, by day the bar is a comfortable neighborhood watering hole before morphing into a high energy dance club at night.
In addition, Giljum says that an important part of the Q Bar philosophy is giving back to the community. They are currently exploring ways to work with the SF AIDS Foundation and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and presently sponsor two softball teams, the Players and the Bulldogs.
Giljum sees the dance bars as a very positive re-energizing of the Castro bar and club scene, which now minimally includes Badlands, Toad Hall, Q Bar, the Café and Trigger, all in a 2-3 block area. While different communities tend to predominate in different bars, Giljum said, you can generally tell what a bar is about by its staff, and in that regard Q Bar is committed to being open and available to a broad cross-section of people.

San Francisco Native Plant Garden Tour: Sunday, April 5, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. The Yerba Buena Chapter of the California Native Plant Society presents its fifth annual tour of 20 private and public gardens. Self-paced. Free. Visit www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/gardentour for a list of the gardens and a map.

Castro Community Benefits District (CBD) Board of Directors Meeting: Thursday, April 9, 6-7:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and are wheelchair accessible. Contact Andrea Aiello at execdirector@castrocbd.com for more information or visit www.castrocbd.org. Castro Community Room, above the Bank of America building (501 Castro St.) at 18th and Castro St.

Cabaret Benefit: Monday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. The combined casts of the Broadway musicals Wicked and Grease are joining together to present a one-time, one-night only benefit to raise funds for The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Cast members from both touring casts will perform song selections of their choice as part of an evening of music, dance and comedy. A limited number of tickets are also available for a dessert party with the cast at nearby Joey & Eddie’s Restaurant at 1652 Stockton St. Tickets range from $25 to $100 and are available by phone by calling the Beach Blanket Babylon box office at (415) 421-4222. Dessert tickets are an additional $20 per person. Club Fugazi. 678 Green St.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Amateur Astronomers’ Lecture Series: Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. Astrophysicist Andisheh Mahdavi will explore how unseen forces in the universe have led to the rise of stars, planets, and carbon-based life. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way. (off Roosevelt above 14th and Castro Street).

Eureka Valley Promotion Association (EVPA): Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. The EVPA is the neighborhood group for Eureka Valley since 1881. See us on the web at evpa.org. Castro Community Room, above the Bank of America building (501 Castro St.) at 18th and Castro St.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Birding the Hill:’ Friday, April 17, 8 a.m. Explore Corona Heights Park with Audubon experts. Birders will visit several habitats, each of which is enjoyed by different bird species. The east canyon, the south cliffs, the north forest, and the hilltop grasslands will all be explored. Beginning birders are welcome. The walk lasts about two hours and includes several stairs and a steep path to climb. Ages 5 and up. Kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Free. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

Confronting Napoleon: European Culture at the Crossroads: Friday, April 17, 8-10:15 p.m. and Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A two-day program of lectures, discussions, and musical presentations exploring Napoleon Bonaparte’s far-reaching influence following the French Revolution. Single tickets for the Friday program are $45 orchestra/grand tier and $30 balcony; single tickets for the Saturday program are $65 orchestra/grand tier and $40 balcony; single tickets for both days are $100 orchestra/grand tier and $55 balcony. Special student/teacher tickets are available at $20 balcony for single day admission. Order from City Box Office at (415) 392-4400 or www.cityboxoffice.com. Herbst Theater, War Memorial Veteran’s Building.

Castro/Upper Market Community Clean Team: Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. Celebrate Earth Day by helping beautify the neighborhood with other volunteers. Come prepared to paint and fill tree wells with decomposed granite. Sponsored by the S.F. Department of Public Works. Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro MUNI Station).

28th Annual Northern California Book Awards: Sunday, April 19, 1–2:30 p.m. The 28th annual Northern California Book Awards recognize the best regional published works of 2008. Nominated books will be for sale by the Book Bay San Francisco Main Public Library. The event will be followed by a reception and book signing in the Latino/Hispanic Community Room. Admission is free. Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Main Library. 100 Larkin Street.

San Francisco Zen Center’s Sixth Annual Benefit: Sunday, April 19, 5–9 p.m. The “Most Important Thing Award” will be presented to religious studies scholar Huston Smith and cultural anthropologist, educator and consultant Angeles Arrien. The event will feature a Sunday supper with the awardees, a reception and an auction. Tickets are $200 for the reception alone and $350 for the reception and supper and may be purchased by phone: (415) 354-0445. Greens Restaurant, Landmark Building A, Fort Mason Center, on the San Francisco Bay between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Natural History Lecture Series:’ Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. Join historian Gray Brechin for an evening discussion about San Francisco during the Great Depression and how the programs of the New Deal helped the City reclaim some dignity. Brechin will share his insights and make some comparisons to what the City is experiencing today. Free (donations encouraged). Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Bug Day:’ Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Learn how important the huge variety of bugs is to the earth and our survival here. Families can make their own bug-related crafts to take home. Live entertainment will be provided. Bring a picnic lunch. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $3 suggested donation. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Wild in the City:’ Extended through November 28, 2009. Learn about the various wild animals that live right among us in the heart of the city. Learn about this wealth of wildlife through interactive exhibits and even a few live creatures hidden throughout. Admission is free. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

Volunteer Opportunities for Ages 55+: RSVP of San Francisco & Alameda Counties matches adults over 55 with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Our services include information about our more than 100 non-profit partners, as well as follow-up once you’re on the job. If you’re 55+, please contact Barbara Marre at (415) 474-7787 or bmarre@ncphs.org to find out more.

The Randall Museum’s ‘Poetry Rocks the Randall: View Point Vistas:’ Thursday evenings. Perfect for teens and adults. The audiences will be invited to partake in dialogue with featured poets and authors. Admission is free. Randall Museum Theater. 199 Museum Way

Drop-In Family Ceramics Workshop: Saturdays, 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. $5 per person. Randall Museum. 199 Museum Way.
Drop-in, hands-on art and science workshops: Saturdays. On-going workshops are available anytime from 1-4 p.m. $4 per child and $6 per parent-child combo. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

Meet The Animals: Saturdays, 11 a.m. A selection of over 100 animals that can no longer survive in the wild will be available for kids and families to view up close. Free. Randall Museum Theatre. 199 Museum Way.

Buena Vista Park Gardening: First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. Richard Magary BVNA@ix.netcom.com.

Park Police Station Community Forum: Second Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. Park Station Community Room. 1899 Waller St.

Diabetes Support Group: Second Thursday of each month, 6-8 p.m. Listen to an expert speaker, then participate in a group discussion facilitated by a certified diabetes educator. Open to people with type 1 or 2, pre diabetes and their family/support. California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). Enter off of Duboce Avenue between Castro and Noe streets. Level B in the Davies auditorium of CPMC.

Panhandle Gardening: Second Saturday of each month, 9-12 a.m. Panhandle Residents Association. E-mail home@prosf.org or call 346-1448. Stanyan and Fell.

Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Days: Second Saturday of each month, 10 a.m.-noon. Duboce Park.

Alamo Square Gardening: Third Saturday of each month. 10 a.m.-1p.m. Contact Lisa Bastick at lbastick@yahoo.com or call 921-3109

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