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The Holidays Come to the Castro
By Jaime San Felippo
On Dec. 1, the Castro transformed into a winter wonderland – sans snow, of course – when over one hundred holiday revelers braved the chilly night air to see the 30-foot tree light up in front of Bank of America at 18th and Castro streets.
The San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Band and the Metropolitan Community Church Choirs were on hand to lead the crowd in Christmas carols while Energy 92.7 FM’s Fernando and Greg emceed the event for the third year in a row.
“This was the best one yet,” said Fernando. “Because it didn’t rain like the last two years and there was more people than we’ve seen before.”
According to Steve Adams, president of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC), the group that sponsors the event each year, this may be the 30th year the ceremony has taken place, but “nobody is really sure if it started in ’78 or ’79.” The event aimed to encourage shoppers to patronize the neighborhood this season. Adams addressed the issue of keeping Christmas shopping local as did Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who lamented the closing of All American Boy, a retail clothing shop that closed the weekend before after 32 years of business on Castro Street.
“This has been a very challenging year, economically,” said Dufty, holding his daughter, Sidney. “The Castro is a beloved community and we have hope coming in the new year with (Barack) Obama as our president. I really love working for all of you.”
Armistead Maupin, author of the “Tales of the City” series was also in attendance with his husband, Chris Turner, creator and owner of DaddyHunt.com. Shortly before the ceremony they were checking out “Passionate Struggle,” the newly opened exhibit by the GLBT Historical Society, at 499 Castro St.
“It brings back a lot of memories,” said Maupin, who was a friend of Harvey Milk in the 1970s.
Turner said they tend to enjoy a more low-key Christmas by going to the mountains for the holiday, but Maupin noted that they do all their shopping in the Castro.
“Of course I do my shopping here,” said Maupin. “Its my neighborhood. Plus its so ‘Christmas-y’ here, even in June. In fact, we’re off to Cliff’s (Variety) to buy some Christmas lights.”
The rest of the neighborhood donned its festive apparel with Christmas lights framing store windows, candy cane striping decorating parking meters and seven different colored, brightly lit Christmas trees on display in the Cliff’s Variety window.
The spirit of giving is definitely alive and well in the community and no one knows that better than Steve Gibson, director of Magnet, the gay men’s health outreach center at 4122 18th St., which recently received a $50,000 grant from the new Levi’s store that opened close by.
“We want to be supportive of the GLBT community as much as we can,” said Erica Archambault, spokeswoman for Levi’s. “We’re happy to help because we have such a strong relationship with the Castro.”
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