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Permission granted by author for anyone to distribute this
writing free of charge (including translation into any
language)...under condition that no profit is made therefrom,
and that it remain intact and complete, including title and 
credit to the original author.

Ezekiel J. Krahlin
http://www.gay-bible.org
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THE PENDULUM: BEST GAY BAR IN THE UNIVERSE
(A True Tale From The Castro. Eat your heart out, Armistead!)

© 2002 by Ezekiel J. Krahlin


March 7, 2002

Dear S.F. Bay Times Editor,

As a longterm resident and freelance gay activist of San
Francisco (since 1973,  to be exact), I have never been much
of a bar person; more of a coffee-house/street dweller. But I
do go into my "bar cycle" every six years or so, touching
bases with this important aspect of our gay community's
network. Usually, I spend an afternoon in a gay bar, having
coffee and chatting. Now, I am not easily impressed, and thus
have never felt any bar I've visited to be a particularly
valuable part of my social life. At least, not until I
discovered The Pendulum.

My most recent "bar cycle" began several weeks ago, and I
decided to try out The Pendulum, in hopes of meeting again, a
very attractive and gracious young man named David, who I know
frequents that bar. Well, days and weeks came and went,
without seeing him (boo-hoo); but in that time I grew quite
fond of the bartenders and customers at The Pendulum (located
in the heart of The Castro; and that makes perfect sense). In
fact, I have never been so impressed in my entire life, by the
gracious hospitality of bartenders and customers alike. Why,
in a short few weeks, I have formed new and lasting
friendships, which I never thought could happen in a gay bar
(for my kind of counter-culture personality, at least).

The extraordinary kindness and strong sense of community I
found at The Pendulum deserves public recognition, for it is
an achievement not easily gained by those devoted souls who
have rolled up their sleeves and put in the hard work it takes
to create such a magnanimous environment. Every single
bartender is absolutely incredible. And I already have
befriended at least ten regular customers who are (to say the
least) outstanding personalities in their own unique way. Now,
we each have a bartender "favorite", and I certainly have
mine! With no intention of demeaning the incredible grace and
professionalism of all the bartenders that work there, I want
to give special praise to the most charming and handsome
Enrique, who absolutely dazzles me with his brilliant spirit,
wit, charm, and drop-dead good looks. He is truly a "handsome
Jalisco devil", as I call him.

I sincerely recommend The Pendulum as an outstanding
neighborhood bar (and anchor) of our lesbian/gay
community...for both locals and tourists alike. This bar has
achieved an excellent multicultural mix, frequented by African
Americans, Whites, Latinos, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
This goes for workers as well as customers. The Pendulum also
has a night set aside just for our gay sisters; and has at
least one lesbian bartender (lovely Margarita).

It is only fair justice, then, that I return the favor of the
Pendulum for providing such a wonderful neighborhood hangout,
by praising this incredible achievement, and encouraging more
gay folk (and their supporters) to choose this excellent bar
as a frequent place for leisure and friendly conviviality. I
sincerely doubt that many other bars have attained such an
outstanding level of community service...though surely others
may disagree.

P.S.: I finally touched bases with David again, too...another
sweetheart regular of The Pendulum. It doesn't get any better
than this!

Sincerely,

Ezekiel J. Krahlin


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