Club Night Review: Tipsy Tuesdays at Mix

Tipsy Tuesdays
Mix (4086 18th Street)
Last seen: January 6, 2008
Review and Photos by Crystal Akins
Better than: The TV sitcom Cheers--where everyone knows your name--because it's in the Castro.

With the tagline "The Neighborhood Bar" and a close-knit cast of regulars, Mix is a shoo-in for the real life SF version of a certain Boston-based sitcom.

"We call it 'everyone's bar,'" said bartender Paul Montwillo. "The crowd ranges from 21 to 70 years old and everyone gets along. It's mostly a gay crowd but we have a lot of straight clientele, too."

For the Castro, it's a cozy, quiet bar where many folks are on a first name basis -- a great alternative for those who seek to escape the hustle and bustle of the main Castro strip. Tipsy Tuesdays offers patrons $2 margaritas while serious sharks congregate around the pool table.

Upon walking in, the bar, said pool table, and a couple enclaves for seating, meet the eye. What more does one really need? There's a smoking patio, but it only remains open during certain hours, forcing you to stand near the men's bathroom by the closed off entrance if you must do the deed. If you're looking to get frisky and take someone home, a clear plastic box of condoms are prominently displayed at the end of the bar. Better safe than sorry, I suppose.

The night's token margaritas: are good! Don't let the bone-chilling weather deter you. For $2 you have the option of choosing between the standard or strawberry flavors.

If you really want to get in on the action, it's around the pool table. When was the last time you saw someone bring their own pool stick with a CASE? One player expressed sincere grief about "the f---ing pole" which happens to be a wooden beam near one of the corner pockets that gets in the way.

The girl-to-guy ratio was around 40:60 and fluctuated slightly throughout the night. Towards the end of my stay, men dominated the bar.

There's no DJ on Tuesday nights, but the bar has the most technologically-advanced jukebox I've ever seen. When you have thousands of songs at the tip of your fingers, you can be your own damn DJ.

For the future: on Wednesday the bar is hosting the Pink Porn Party where porn stars will be promoting their new film, and pink vodka shots, glow in the dark pink cups (basically all things pink) and a raffle will be part of the celebration. A radical change from such subtlety.

Personal Bias: I felt like an intruder with my camera--that's how tight knit this place is, but do those gay boys love to have their photo taken!

Random Detail: Mix also does various charity events and raised over $14,000 for the last AIDS walk.

By the Way: For all you early birds, this place opens at 6 a.m.