HIGH GEAR/JANUARY 1978

Page 9

DOING AMERICA

WITH

BOB

DAMRON

As the first in a series of travel articles, I have chosen our Nation's Capitol, Washington, D.C.

In general, the District of Columbia is not nearly as dull as the last four occupants of the White House. It is a beautiful city, particularly during the spring and autumn months. From a tourist standpoint there is much to see, and if you are a first-time visitor, it is advisable to make a daytime reconnaisance.

The city was originally laid out to confuse the British, and today it confuses almost everyone, especially if you drive during the heavy peak hour traffic. Taxis are cheaper than anyplace in America. But try to find one when you need one! With the closing of the Manchester Inn, there are at present no Gay hostelriesa real pity. Several Holiday Inns and Howard Johnson's are OK, but I prefer the Quality Inn Capitol Hill or the new Washington Hyatt-Regency. Both are centrally located (on New Jersey).

Super discos come and go but the Lost and Found at 56 "L" Street seemingly will go on forever, thanks to intelligent management, a good restaurant and constant renovations. The nearby Pier Nine also gets a young party group that likes to boogie. Wall to wall bodies on the week-ends.

The D.C. Eagle at 904 9th St. N.W. is one of the most popular leather 'n levi cruise bars on the East Coast. This complex also includes a good restaurant and leather rack clothing, located upstairs. Last year, the D.C. Eagle acquired the Eagle in Exile across the street, catering to some of the same crowd, with disco dancing thrown in.

With the demise this year of the once great Georgetown Grill, a complex located at 9th and Pennsylvania becomes the oldest (and perhaps tiredest) spot in town. Included is the Hideaway, Louie's Spartan Lounge, and the inappropriately named Barn (above Louie's) where week-end drag shows are featured.

Some of the more promising new cruise bars and restaurants are the Court Jester, Cy's and Mr. P's (all located in or near the Georgetown area). Many D.C. Ms's go to the Club Madam which is OK if you can hack the undependable Madame-Daughter team. Of the two baths, the C.B.C.'s Club East II at 20 "O" St. S.E. is preferable to the old Regency, but the Olympic Baths opening at 1405 "H" Street should be a winner.

HAWA!!

Looking for a lei? You can certainly indem

anywhere in our fiftieth State. A lei, of course, is a necklace of fresh orchid petals or other native flowers, strung together and worn around the neck and shoulders. In less complex times, every visitor arriving by boat or plane would receive at least one. Today, unless you are met by friend, you will need to go to a lei-stand situated near most airports and buy one. This traditional lei is almost synonomous with the unique Hawaiian word, aloha, which means both hello and goodbye.

Now, if it is another kind of 'lay' you had in mind ... that is quite possible too, but somewhat more complex. Honolulu, the capitol, is one of America's most beautiful cities. With a mixed population of nearly half a million Hawaiians, Polynesians, Japanese, Chinese and Caucasians, it actually seems much larger. Most of the 'action' is centered on a small but very expensive piece of real estate known as Waikiki Beach. Here are most of the restaurants, bars, discos, shops, beaches, hotels and high rise condominiums.

Beneath blue Hawaiian skies (subject to frequent tropical downpours) are the beaches of Waikiki, ideal for swimming, surfing, sailing canoeing and looking! Along the beaches you will spot some of the most beautiful people in the world ... unless one includes the luxury restaurants where many of them work at night. Finding them in the gay clubs is not all that easy. Despite the humpy humbers, Waikiki is not really a 'bar town' except for weekends when things pick up considerably.

If 'they' are out, chances are you will find them at Hula's, located across from the Kuhio Theatre at 2103 Kuhio. Hula's has a large open air patio "under the Banyan Tree," indoors bar, disco dance floor, and leistand. Eighteen year olds can hula here, as elsewhere, but prefer to "boogie". It closes at 2 a.m., as do all bars except the Tomato, and the Blowhole which have cabaret licenses and are open until 4 a.m.

The Tomato, at 240 McCully and Ala Wai, gets a pretty mixed bag with something for everyone. It has disco dancing, a game room and outdoor patio ... and no competition between 2 and 4 a.m. If as rumor has it, tho Blowhole decides to drop their cabaret license.

The Blowhole 124 Kapahulu, just off the main drag, Klakaua, is more of a cruise bar. Recently expanded, it now includes a back room, complete with bar and cruisy jacuzzi, which, 'picks up as the beach clears out.

Weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Locker $2, Room $4.25

Mon. & Wed. Youth Nights (25 & Under): Locker $2, Room $4.25

Regular Weekend Rates: Locker $4, Room $6.25 $6.75

CLUB COLUMBUS

1575 EAST LIVINGSTON AVENUE

COLUMBUS OHIO

914 252-247 A

CUM NOWS AROCURESG

SUNDAY AND MONDAY, JANUARY 29 AND 30 ONLY

"A VERY NATURAL THING" & "LUMINOUS PROCURESS"

LUMINOUS PROCURESS

(X) 8:00

A pay, West Coast Satyricon, centering around a madam fig ure. Pandora, leading two innocents on a fantasy journey through a dream-world labyrinth of Felinesque dimensions Directed, written and photographed by Steven Arnold, feat uring San Francisco's Cockeltes (1975)

The Cocktail Center (C.C.') opposite Ala Moana Shopping Center, at 435 Atkinson is a friendly neighborhood type bar, which at times can include some interesting visiting Australian seamen and airline personnel. Not too far away is a new restaurant, Yours N Mine, at 1700 Ala Moana. It has potential, but, from all reports, should get their kitchen squared away as soon as possible. Red Bamboo, at 412 Lewers is another new place which needs to get its act together, but if plans for everyday brunches, dinners, shows and entertainment pan out, could be a winner.

Steam Works (baths) on the second floor at 307 Lewers is as

A VERY NATURAL THING (X) 9:30 The first feature film on homosexuality made by an overt homosexual which has achieved commercial distribution. It is a story of a young Manhattan school teacher (Robert Joel). a former priest, who falls harder than he realizes for a young advertising executive (Curt Gareth). Duected by Christopher Larkin (1974)

HEIGHTS 2781 EUCLID HEIGHTS 938-5955

'hot' as it's name implies, especially Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesday which is free beer night. Roxy Baths at 2270 Kuhio is new but looking up. Try it on a weekend. If all else fails, try the Screening Room (Book Store with Peep Shows, etc.), at 2162 Kalakua or the very active Kuhio Beach Park public john and showers directly across the street from the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Beretania offers much promise, and does collect some older levi and leather crowd.

Oahu is not the largest island in the Hawaiian archapelogo, except for population. Maul, Kauai, Hawaii (the 'big' Island) and others have much to offer in the way of natural scenic beauty, peace and tranquility. There are some mixed bars, restaurants, and cruisy areas (see the Address Book for complete details) but none worthy of a special trip. While in Honolulu pick up a copy of The Paper, a free monthly publication that will keep you posted on current changes in Oahu.

Downtown Honolulu has several mixed bars, frequented by the armed services on weekends, but dead otherwise. These include Tahiti, Loraine's and the Glades, which has a tired 'drag' show. Only the Question Mark, at 45 Question Mark, at-438 Continued on Page 16