In a grand effort to avoid the famed "all Asian, mostly hip hop music" type parties this weekend (particularly Tribeca where the women bear no shame in going to extraordinary lengths to look like complete sluts), Simon and I went on a quest to check out some lounges we had never been to before. Soluna by civic center was the first. Real nice inside. Unfortunately it was a special funk event so there was a cover ($5) and the only people in there sported mile-high afros and retro aviator sunglasses (you'd think an unlikely pair). The place looked classy, velvety and comfortable, but pretty empty. Will defintely need to go back there with more friends another time.

Next stop Vertigo in an area some call the Tendernob. Basically Bush and Polk I believe. We managed to sneak in when the door guy went in to take a leak so we saved on the whopping $2 cover. It was definitely a neighbourhood bar type place. Cheap drinks e.g. $4 sour apple martinis, and a small dance floor. Mostly white with a somewhat generous smattering of Asians. Definitely a mixed crowd in terms of sexual orientation. Gay couples were gettin' their groove on right alongside the often mixed race heterosexual groups. If it weren't for the terrible music and lack of trendy hipster types, I'd say the place defined the diversity that is San Francisco. Get a real DJ and some people with some fashion sense who aren't completely tone deaf and you'd have yourself a great party.

We left Vertigo after our first drink and headed down the block to Lush Lounge. Incidentally they also had a $4 special on sour apple martinis. Fancy that! Unfortunately, Winston ordered a round of Cable Cars. Quite a nasty concoction that I would not have been able to stomach if it weren't for the sugar and cinnamon lining the edge of my martini glass. The music was quiet and it seemed that most customers were there to sip a drink and engage in conversation with friends (new and old). ie. there was some low key macking going on. We got a nice spot by the window with a great view of Club Divas, which I found out later is a club for the transgendered folks. Um yeah, we were kinda wondering why the women coming out of there were so...uh how do you say...manly. Lush was where we ended our little lounge hop. There are so many places in SF to explore, it's a shame we don't do this more often.