The Best of the Gays: City Living

The Best of the Gays by Bay Area Reporter awards the top-voted in city living.

Best Tattoo Studio
Bulldog Tattoo
Owner Gauge Strongarm's shop is once again the favorite among B.A.R. readers, and tats are as popular as ever for men and women. Located in the Castro, Bulldog is open "from the time we get in until the time we close, everyday," Strongarm said.

He added that the shop has been expanded to include piercing and jewelry. Veteran piercer Sharrin Spector is available by appointment only.

So when you're ready to get your body art, check it out. Bulldog has all the resources to develop your idea into a design that works for you. Bulldog Tattoo, 2275 Market Street, Suite 6 (behind Active Nutrition, next to Books Inc.), San Francisco, (415) 431-8900. www.bulldogtattoosf.com

Best Street Fair
Folsom Street Fair
The leather and fetish extravaganza that rocks South of Market every September is once again our readers' favorite. The nonprofit Folsom Street Events that produces the fair - and several affiliated events - was established in 1984. Hundreds of thousands of people descend on SOMA during the fair to revel in what can be described as an "only in San Francisco experience," noted Demetri Moshoyannis, FSE executive director. And FSE also helps out various LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations as all money raised goes back to the community. Last year a whopping $330,745 was returned to the beneficiaries.

Moshoyannis said the fair is important for many reasons. "First, it is a uniquely unabashed expression of queer sexuality that many of us engage in and appreciate. The fair is largely erotic and sensual, extremely entertaining, distinctly diverse, and sometimes just off-the-wall," he said. "I've been to just about every major leather/fetish event in the world, and there really isn't anything like it."

Plans for this year's fair include shaking up the entertainment, and consolidating the two live stages into one main stage and putting it on 10th Street between Howard and Folsom (where the dance area used to be), Moshoyannis said.

"And, we are featuring two dance areas, the Magnitude Dance Area on Folsom at 12th Street and the Deviants Dance Area on Folsom at 7th Street," he added.

This year, as the B.A.R. reported in December, the Folsom Street Fair will be held a week earlier than usual, Sunday, September 23, so keep that in mind when making plans. Folsom Street Fair, (415) 777-3247. www.folsomstreetfair.com

Best Pet Groomer
Mudpuppy's
Technically, Mudpuppy's isn't a pet groomer, but don't tell that to the happy dogs that get the royal treatment when they come in for a bath. This dog-washing service opened in the Castro in December 2011 and quickly became a hit; the original has been in operation at Point Isabel Dog Park in Richmond since 1995. Gay-owned and -operated, Mudpuppy's is run by Daniel Bergerac, Eddie Lundeen, and Todd Ahlberg.

In addition to bathing, the shop offers de-shedding, coat-conditioning, flea dips, and mani-pedis to keep your pet's paws feeling good.

"We love what we do, we love dogs, and we treat yours as our own," Ahlberg said. Mudpuppy's, 536 Castro Street, San Francisco, (415) 431-8899. www.mudpuppys.com.

Best Dentist
Garret S. Madderra, DDS, LP
A new entry to Best of the Gays, Dr. Garret S. Madderra offers complete dental care, whether it be regular cleanings or more advanced work. He also offers cosmetic dentistry and periodontal care. He is very community oriented and volunteers once a year in Bolivia, offering his skills. Madderra Dental Spa, 2370 Market Street, San Francisco, (415) 552-9200. www.madderradentistry.com

Best Doctor (Tie)
Mark Illeman, FNP, Dr. Shawn Hassler
Mark Illeman, a family nurse practitioner, has been practicing with the Feldman Medical Group since 1983. He does primary care, internal medicine, and specializes in HIV medicine and dermatology. A longtime community activist, Illeman is on the board of Project Inform and is a strong advocate for universal testing for HIV and hepatitis C. "Know your status and get on treatment," he said. Feldman Medical Group, Mark Illeman, FNP, 2300 California Street, Suite 306, San Francisco, (415) 202-1550.

Dr. Shawn Hassler has been with the Optimus Medical Group since 1997. He practices internal medicine with an emphasis on HIV and gay men's health. His mission is to heal and empower people through a combination of medical knowledge and expertise, love and compassion, and a support and nourishment of the spirit. Optimus Medical Group, Dr. Shawn Hassler, 870 Market Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, (415) 397-0700.

Best Attorney
Roger S. Gross
A new winner this year, Roger S. Gross is a sensitive and compassionate attorney specializing in personal and small business transactions. He handles wills and trusts and probate law. Gross has been supportive of many community members and organizations over the years. Roger S. Gross, 317 Noe Street, San Francisco, (415) 861-5225.

Best Mechanic
Cowden Automative
Owner Paul Cowden started his business in 1978 because he was always fixing his neighbors' cars in his garage. They asked him because they complained that they couldn't find anybody trustworthy to repair their vehicles. He figured if being trustworthy was all it took he could make a go of it, and 34 years later it seems he was right. Cowden specializes in foreign cars, including Toyota, Scion, Subaru, Honda, Lexus, and more, including hybrids. Cowden Automotive Foreign Car Repair, 875 Folsom Street, San Francisco, (415) 777-9858. http://www.cowdenautomotive.com/

Best Tax Preparer (Tie)
Johnston Tax Group, H&R Block
These competitors want your business, and both offer professional services to the LGBT community. Same-sex couples often have complicated tax needs that can't be met by tax software programs.

Jeff Johnston, owner of Johnston Tax Group, is known for his "Tax Daddy" ads. A member of the SF gay community for 12 years, he is active in the SF Gay Men's Chorus, Sundance Saloon, and the Homoto Motorcycle Club, among others. He specializes in registered domestic partners and same-sex married couples; advises distressed property owners on the tax consequences of foreclosures, short sales, and loan modifications; and advises small business owners on maximizing tax benefits. Johnston Tax Group, 2327 Market Street, San Francisco, (415) 294-1040. www.johnstontaxgroup.com

H&R Block offers a full range of tax services and has offices throughout the Bay Area. H&R Block, 2370 Market Street, San Francisco, (415) 241-0318. www.hrblock.com

Best Massage Therapist
Joel Banuelos
A massage therapist since 2003, Joel Banuelos, CMT, does therapeutic and clinical work. He specializes in athletes and chiropractic patients and does more active work with clients versus relaxing spa massage. On Fridays he is at Diakadi Body, 290 Division Street, Suite 200 in SF. Joel Banuelos, 582 Market Street, San Francisco, (415) 271-6545. www.sanfranciscobodywork.com

Best Day Spa
Kabuki Springs and Spa
In the great tradition of Japanese public baths, Kabuki Springs and Spa is a peaceful sanctuary devoted to nurturing harmony and relaxation through the healing powers of water and therapeutic touch. Located in San Francisco's vibrant Japantown, Kabuki Springs and Spa features a traditional Japanese-style communal bath and offers an extensive menu of wellness-focused spa services in an inviting Pan-Asian setting. Men's days: Monday, Thursday, Saturday; women's Sunday, Wednesday, Friday. Tuesday is co-ed. Kabuki Springs and Spa, 1750 Geary Boulevard (at Fillmore), (415) 922-6000. www.kabukisprings.com

Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary
The Apothecarium, The Vapor Room (Tie)
Medical cannabis is under siege by the feds, but dispensaries continue to provide a vital need to patients who rely on the drug to help alleviate various illnesses, such as wasting in people living with HIV/AIDS. Two dispensaries were voted Best of the Gays.

The Apothecarium opened last year and provides medical marijuana at a "compassionate" price and also supports the local community via charitable giving. Recently the dispensary provided funds for an awning at Maitri Hospice so that patients could smoke their medicine in a more convenient setting. The Apothecarium, 2095 Market Street, San Francisco (415) 500-2620. www.apothecariumsf.com.

The Vapor Room Cooperative operates as a nonprofit and is committed to serving member-patient needs with the highest level of compassion and professionalism. Established in 2004, the dispensary offers a variety of free health and wellness services to members and the general public, including counseling, veteran's support group, massage, peer counseling, and yoga three times weekly at the Harvey Milk Center for the Recreational Arts. A calendar of services is online. The Vapor Room, 607A Haight Street (at Steiner), San Francisco, (415) 626-2100. www.vaporroom.com