News :: Besties
Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day is October 8
News Is Out, a collaboration of six LGBTQ+ media representing more than 250 collective years of experience covering the community, is launching the first Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024 during LGBTQ History Month.
Welcome to the 2024 Besties
It's the dog days of summer so there's no better time than to celebrate favorite LGBTQ-owned establishments, mainstream businesses, and those owned by allies.
Besties Community: Readers enjoy Sisters' Easter event, baseball
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – which marked 45 years this year – had its annual Easter celebration chosen by Bay Area Reporter readers as the best LGBTQ event.
Besties Travel: Hawaii's allure draws LGBTQ visitors
Perennial favorite Hawaii continues to garner top honors as Bay Area Reporter readers' favorite domestic getaway.
Besties Nightlife 2024: Oasis, Disco Daddy and more winning nightclubs, bars and events
Whether you're up for a show, down to get dirty or just need a good stiff drink, our readers who voted in our annual Best of the Bay survey have recommendations for you as to where is the best places to go.
Besties in Arts 2024: Museums, dance companies, and music hall winners
Any local resident knows that San Francisco and the Bay Area offer a plethora of arts events, performing companies, and favored venues. Here are the best of winners and runners up voted by our readers.
Besties dining 2024: Savoring the buffet by the Bay
Food, glorious food. Your Bay Area dining options, day or night, are almost beyond countable, but our readers chose their favorites, many of them familiar and repeat winners, along with some new delicious options. Scoot up to the table and dig in.
Besties Nightlife People 2024: DJs, comics, queens and kings
We've got Bestie-winning comedians, performers, DJs, dancers and photographers. What an impressive roster. Congratulations to all of our winners, to the runners-up and to the community for participating in choosing them.
New mascot, same Besties as balloting starts
The Bay Area Reporter has kicked off balloting for its annual LGBTQ Best of the Bay readers' poll and the paper has a new mascot – the image of a Wild Parrot of Telegraph Hill, San Francisco's official animal.
Hawaii retains strong bond with Bay Area: Besties
After deadly fires ravaged the island of Maui this summer, Bay Area residents mobilized to help out by donating to various charities.
New Ikea is a hit with readers: Besties
It might be the Swedish meatballs. Or maybe it's the fact that after you have assembled much of the furniture on your own, you derive a sense of accomplishment when the project is completed.
Readers love their Pride, the Castro, and the Dubs: Besties
It's no surprise that the San Francisco Pride parade and celebration has been chosen by Bay Area Reporter readers as the Bay's best LGBTQ event.
Drag queens & DJs & drinks, oh my! Besties nightlife venues & events for 2023
Yes, some bars have closed, but more nightclubs and bars have recently opened than in years past, despite the pandemic. This includes winners and runners-up, many in Oakland. Celebrate them all by going out.
Gogos & other great talents: Besties nightlife talents for 2023
From your favorite DJs to drag performers of all kinds, you, our readers, selected their favorite people in nightlife. Live bands, bartenders, gogo dancers and more talented folks get a nod for 2023.