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Now It’s a smaller corporation, and that works out better, with less problems that I have to deal with. But we set up payment schedules, and I can proudly say that no one has lost a dime everyone has made a profit In the Watergarden. When AIDS hit a lot of them panicked and it was very difficult to try to make good their investments so quickly. How has AIDS affected your business?Ī: We started off with 64 investors when the Watergarden opened up. Q: You are probably best known in our community as the President of the Board of the Watergarden. South Bay Times met with Sal to discuss his views on AIDS, bathhouse closings, and some of the other political issues he has been involved with. Throughout the AIDS crises, his position on keeping the Watergarden open has raised controversy in our community. Sal Accardi is the President of the Board of the Watergarden bathhouse in San Jose. But now the time has come for her to sell the bar and move onto other projects. She brags that it was there before Splash and before it was known as the Qmunity District. After they had bought the building, John Croll had gone to an auction and had bought the entire bar furnishing for $500. in a 107-year-old building that she thought was intimate and similar to the old Mac’s. The building was later retrofitted and housed Brix’s gay bar and now the Continental bar.
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The adjoining business in the building, Sal and Luigi’s pizza, also had the close. The old Mac’s had to close in 1998 due to changes in building codes from the Loma Prieta earthquake. One of the many floats Mac’s had for San Jose Pride.The original location of Mac’s on 1st St.The interior of the original Mac’s Club location.“When we had the drag shows, everybody came.” “The outfits were beautiful, the make-up, the wigs. The drag queens and drag shows were always a highlight. It got to the point where she could no longer attend funerals. She estimates she lost 40 friends to the disease. Then there were the years of AIDS when so many people were dying. Whenever the police cleared the bar, it had an obvious effect on business. Once, there was an undercover agent who pretended to be a patron – who later turn people in.
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There were ongoing raids, intimidations, and arrests, all without legitimate reason. It was a privilege to be part of that,” she said. “Through the years, people would come in to be with their friends, enjoy themselves, and be part of the community. The Castle is only open on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30pm until 3am.Gail referred to Mac’s as a sanctuary.
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Creative cocktails match the eccentric atmosphere, and professional barkeep (many of whom have worked at The Castle for a decade or more) can mix up just about anything you like. The alternative crowd is fun-loving and non-judgemental, so this is a unique spot that any open-minded individuals can enjoy-gay, Goth, or otherwise. Events range from Steampunk nights to royal masquerades to trance parties (and costumes are always encouraged), so check the events calendar in advance to ensure the evening’s theme caters to your interests. The Castle attracts a fiercely loyal following of diverse clientele, but it is especially popular with “Goths” looking to sway to Industrial Dance music in a seductive and mysterious setting. Aptly named, this multi-level Tampa club boasts three separate music areas, each of which is perfectly moody: the dungeon bar, the saloon, and the courtyard area. While not technically a gay bar in Tampa, The Castle is a gay-popular, alternative dance club in the heart of gay Ybor City. Enigma is open daily from noon until 3 am. It’s a lovely area to stroll about for a bit before continuing your exploration of the best Tampa gay bars. You’ll find Enigma in the vibrant EDGE district, an eclectic area dotted with locally-owned businesses, swanky boutiques, and small painting studios. Prefer a laid-back pint to a pulsating late-night club? With its al-fresco seating and bright, airy feel, Enigma is just as enjoyable at 2 pm as it is at 2 am. Karaoke nights, guest DJs, and drag shows populate the events calendar, promising something to do most any night of the week. It’s perhaps thanks to this heralded industry experience that, upon opening, Enigma was an immediate success-and continues to attract a throng of stylish and sexy customers today. Enigma is the brainchild of Ed Gonzalez, formerly of the ever-beloved Georgie’s Alibi.
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But with its cosy dance floor, upscale ambience and chic sidewalk tables, no list of gay bars in Tampa would be complete without a shout out to this welcoming gay lounge. Okay, technically speaking, Enigma is located across the bridge in downtown St.