So it looks like Halloween just ain’t going down in the Castro this year. Bummer. I remember my first Halloween in the Castro (long before I was a San Francisco REALTOR®)… I think Foster’s Beer had sponsored it that year or something because I remember drinking many cans of the stuffs and it wasn’t (still isn’t) a beer that I go out and drink by choice.
I don’t remember police barricades, or stabbings, or shootings. But I remember some awesome costumes, including a whole JFK scene complete with a cardboard version of the Lincoln Continental he was shot it and Jackie O holding in Kennedy’s brains. Yes, it was unpleasant to look at, but damn, was it ever creative and well executed!
Sorry, I think I’m digressing. The point is, I had an awesome time. Halloween in the Castro had a great vibe back then… I think the worst thing that happened that year was that I accidentally pulled off the tail of someone’s badger costume. (If you’re the badger this happened to and you’re reading this today, I swear, I’m still sorry).
But after several years of stabbings, shootings and general violence at the formerly awesome, this year, the City of San Francisco has adopted a “Zero Tolerance” policy. In a leaflet from Gavin Newsom’s office, the message is reiterated as:

• no party
• no fun
• no tolerance for bad behavior
• no reason to come

Several business will be closed in the Castro this Halloween, so while I’m sure some rebels will still try to hit the streets, there seems, at least in theory, like there won’t be too much to do there. But, the City has been kind enough to provide all of us with a list of things to do instead this Halloween, and I thought I’d share it here with you.
As for me, I’ll be working (San Francisco real estate doesn’t stop for holidays)… I’ll be reviewing offers for my listing on Gardenside (offers due by 5pm that day if you’re interested).
But for the rest of you looking to party, here’s what the City has to offer:

Love
It
Wednesday, October
31, 9:30pm – 2am
Icon Ultra Lounge
www.iconloungesf.com

Lucifer’s Hammer presents Metalween
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm
Elbo
Room
www.elbo.com

The Magic Flute
Wednesday, October
31, 7:30pm
San Francisco Opera
sfopera.com

Marlena’s Halloween II: The Darkside
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm start
Marlena’s. 488 Hayes St.

Menopause the Musical
Wednesday, October 31, 7:30pm
Pier 39
www.pier39.com

The Metamorphosis of Karaghiozis
Wednesday, October
31, 7pm
Union Square
www.shadowlight.org/slp

Mixtape Wednesday
Wednesday, October
31, 8pm
Skylark Bar
www.skylarkbar.com

Monster Masquerade Party
Wednesday, October 31, 9pm
Madrone Lounge
www.madronelounge.com

Monster Mosh
Featuring Triple Cobra
Wednesday, October 31, 9pm
12 Galaxies
www.12galaxies.com

No Anunciar! Remembering a Mexican Homeland
Wednesday, October 31, 9am – 8pm
San Francisco Public Library
http://sfpl.lib.ca.us

Opera
Preview Lecture
Wednesday, October 31, 12 – 2pm
San Francisco Public Library
sfpl.lib.ca.us

Panache Magazine Presents
Wednesday, October 31, 9:30pm
Hemlock Tavern
www.hemlocktavern.com

The Phenomenauts

Wednesday, October
31, 9pm
Annie’s Social Club
www.anniessocialclub.com

Pioneers
Wednesday, October 31, 11am – 6pm
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts
www.wattis.org

Polyphonic Spree and Rooney
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
The Fillmore
www.thefillmore.com

Popaganda III
Wednesday, October 31, 10pm
The Element Lounge
www.elementlounge.com

Pop-Halloween: Escape the Castro
Madness
Wednesday, October 31, 9pm
The Endup
www.theendup.com

Pure Faith
Wednesday, October 31, 8am – 10pm
Jewish Community Cener
maven.jccsf.org

Queer Youth Photo Project
Wednesday, October 31, 4pm – 6pm
SF LGBTQ Community Center
www.sfcenter.org

Qool
Wednesday, October 31, 5pm – 10pm
111 Minna Street Gallery
www.111minnagallery.com

The Romane
Event
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Make-Out Room
www.makeoutroom.com

Salsa Wednesdays
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Café Cocomo
www.cafecocomo.com

SF Jazz Festival — Willem Breuker Kollektief
Live Jazz + Silent Film: Faust
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Palace of Fine Arts
www.sfjazz.org

San Francisco Symphony – open
rehearsal
Wednesday, October 31, 10am
Davies Symphony Hall
www.sfsymphony.org

San Francisco Symphony –
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Davies Symphony Hall
www.sfsymphony.org

SF Team Halloween Costume Fundraiser
Wednesday, October 31, 6pm
LGBTQ Community Center
www.sfteam.org

Satellite
Wednesday, October
31, 10pm – 2am
Anu, 6th Street
www.satellitesf.com

Six Degrees of Separation
Wednesday, October
31, 8pm
San Francisco Playhouse
www.sfplayhouse.org

Solar Rip
Wednesday, October
31, 8pm
Ireland’s 32
www.irelands32sanfrancisco.com

The Soul of India: A Personal Journey
Wednesday, October 31, 2pm
Jewish Community Center
maven.jccsf.org

Sound Tribe Sector 9
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
The Warfield
www.livenation.com

South Beach to North Beach
Wednesday, October 31, 9pm
Dragon Bar
www.dragonbarsf.com

Stars and Garters Halloween
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm
Amnesia
www.amnesiathebar.com

The $3 Bill
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Red Devil Lounge
www.reddevillounge.com

Thriller Scare
Wednesday, October 31, 10pm
The Cellar
www.cellarsf.com

Tide – works of Matthias Geiger
Wednesday, October 31, 12pm – 6pm
SF Camerawork
www.camerawork.org

Tied Up in Knots
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
Stray Bar
www.straybarsf.com

Teatro ZinZombie’s A Macabre
Ball
Wednesday, October 31,
5:45pm reception, 6:15pm seating
www.zinzanni.org

Tin Cup Serenade
Wednesday, October 31, 7pm
Le Colonial
www.lecolonialsf.com

TrannyShack & Midnight Mass Halloween Party
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm doors, midnight show
Hosted by Heklina & Peaches Christ
www.trannyshack.com

Trannsylvania
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm
Ruby Skye
www.rubyskye.com

Truck Stop Hookers
Wednesday, October
31, 9pm
Truck
www.trucksf.com

Venni, Vetti, Vecci Halloween Party
Wednesday, October
31, 10pm
Club Six
www.clubsix1.com

Virtual Unreality
Wednesday, October 31, 10am – 5pm
The Exploratorium
www.exploratorium.edu

Warped
Wednesday, October 31, 5pm – 2am
The Stud
www.studsf.com

Wet Wednesdays – Grub and movies
Wednesday, October 31, 7 – 11pm
The Riptide
www.riptidesf.com

Wipe Me Down Wednesdays
Wednesday, October 31, 8pm
El Rincon
www.elrinconsf.com