The theatre opened in 1922 and is the crown jewel of the neighborhood. It's also home to several independent film festivals: San Francisco Silent Movie Festival, San Francisco Film Festival, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, Berlin and Beyond Film Festival, SF DocFest, SF Indie Festival, Frameline46 LGBTQ+ Festival, and many others.

The Castro Theatre is the cultural center of the Castro and San Francisco. This is where I got to see one of my favorite movies, in a California Baroque building with leatherette ceilings (the last in the US), plush theatre seats, an ornate interior, and an organist playing the famous Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ before the premier.

When you're in the Castro, take a chance, visit this theater, watch a movie, and you'll definitely see something eclectic.

Hot Cookie is a famous bakery in the Castro where you can have some of the best cookies and admire men's underwear at the same time.

The bakery claims that they like:

Putting Something Sweet in Your Mouth.

Established in 1997, it's the Castro icon and they're famous for their selection of freshly baked Penis and Vagina cookies as well as for their signature underwear.

It's a great place to take some photos and send them to your boyfriend, girlfriend, ex-wife, mom, boss, parole officer, grandma, high school sweetheart, personal trainer, anyone really.

Your trip to the Castro isn't complete if you don't see a nude guy or two. Nudity is socially accepted here; no one is ever surprised by that.

A common sight here is a couple of nude gentlemen strolling around Castro regardless of how cold it is outside. Only once I've seen them "dress up," and that was for Christmas. They added cute Santa Claus hats to their "outfits."

But it's not just nudity. In my opinion, one of the best things to do here is to watch people. Some of the most unique, unconventional, free-spirit, gay, weird, and cool people live here.

So I'd get a table outside or by a window, grab a coffee, beer, ice cream, cookies, dinner, talk with a stranger, and make friends.

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. After moving to San Francisco in the early 1970s from New York, Milk established himself as a leading political activist for the gay community.

Harvey Milk is a real legend in the Castro. He was loved and admired in the Castro. And so his images are never too far away.

Did you know he used to own a small camera shop right on Castro Street? You can still see him there in the window if you look closely.

I actually had no idea that this place is a Michelin-star restaurant. I thought that was just a low-key mom-and-pop place. But apparently, Anchor Oyster Bar has a star from Michelin Guide USA. And well deserved.

So if you're craving some seafood and a cold local beer, come here. In fact, I think I just started craving oysters again, so I think I know what I'll be having later tonight.