The hottest gay cruising spots to meet men might surprise you. From hardware stores to back alleys, here’s where to find a gay hook-up.
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Haha The Hudson hosts a bunch of raves. If you want to hook up under a MDMA influence and with techno music then there's your spot lol. Otherwise, good 18 and over clubs are Rock N Saddle in Redlands, Sevilla in Riverside, and Level 3 in LA. SwapFinder.com is a swinger site with a Facebook-like layout. Up and down each page you’ll see member pics and messages accompanied with videos, comments, “like” buttons and sidebar filters.
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
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Whether you’re in the market for drills and thrills (hello, Home Depot!) or just want to walk on the wild side (of the alley), West Hollywood offers plenty of gay-friendlybars, hangouts and other places to meet men and hook up. Time Out scopes out LA’s 10 best gay cruising spots.
Circus of Books
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The combination of testosterone and walls lined with gay adult books, magazines, DVDs, sex toys and lubricants (among other novelties) makes for a particularly sexually charged environment, otherwise known as ground zero for cruising. Let’s face it…anyone who walks into either Circus of Books location is already up for it, so is it any surprise that the pickings are so ripe at this three-decades-old institution? In addition to this WeHo mainstay, there’s also a Silver Lake outpost. The fact that both stores are within stumbling distance of popular gay hot spots like Akbar (Silver Lake) and Fubar (WeHo) only adds to their allure.
Starbucks (store #633)
Coffee? Tea? Or the hunk in the white tee? At this popular West Hollywood outpost, all of the above are on the menu. Better known as “Gaybucks” to locals, this Starbucks location is as much a catwalk as it is a coffee house. The store’s always-packed outdoor tables along Santa Monica Blvd and Westmount Dr represent the first leg of the runway, where well-coiffed patrons (many fresh from the gym) are evaluated on presentation and form… and occasionally rewarded with nods or smiles of approval. The final leg of the runway runs from the entrance to the register, which can seem like an eternity on a busy day, especially given all the prying eyes peeking up over steaming non-fat soy lattes to rate every single patron who dares to take a turn through the store. However this is also the all-important leg that can create the perfect opening to chat with the hottie in line next to you or exchange furtive glances with the Clark Kent type in the glasses across the room who just happens to have an open seat with your name on it right next to him. Bottom line: This ain’t your roll out of bed and get a cup of joe Starbucks. Here, you better come correct or be prepared for a stare down with scathing judgment.
24-Hour Fitness
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Just across the street from “Gaybucks” (see above) and just north of the central runway that is Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood’s 24-Hour Fitness is practically a local landmark with a storied history that includes more than a few tales about the notorious sexual peccadilloes and indiscretions that once took place regularly behind its doors. Now that it has gone through a major renovation and remodel (and to a large degree put in policies that prevent the once wanton activity that was its calling card), 24-Hour Fitness is still one of the cruisiest destinations in West Hollywood albeit in a much more discreet way. Because it is one of the more reasonably priced gyms in Boys Town, it draws a wider audience—and the bigger the audience, the greater the variety. (Note to tourists…day passes are available. Call ahead to find out current fees).
Home Depot
There’s been a whole lot of building going on in Silver Lake since the neighborhood became the alternative gay mecca of Los Angeles. And that, at least in part, explains all the action happening over butch discussion about sinks and tiles at the Home Depot on Sunset Blvd. With gardening, renovation and DIY as an icebreaker, this builder’s emporium is a fertile meeting ground for guys with a penchant for power tools, sweaty conversations and nailing things. Is that hot guy really checking out that lawn mower behind you or is it just a convenient way for him to give your ass a double take? At this Home Depot, there’s a good chance he’s doing both.
Runyon Canyon
Spectacular city views and celebrity sightings aside, the 160-acre Runyon Canyon Park, located right in the heart of Hollywood, is a wonderland of shirtless boys seeking other shirtless boys. Guys looking to make a connection under the guise of indulging in a healthy hike or taking Fido out for a stroll will find that Runyon not only delivers a neck-craning abundance of eye-candy, but also lends itself to both chance encounters along the various hiking trails and friendly introductions to those handsome strangers you hope will soon be anything but. Word to the wise: Try one of the daily free yoga classes at Runyon (you never know who might come along to help you with your downward dog).
Target
As a brand, Target may have had a few run-ins with LGBT groups in recent years, but let there be no doubt that the company’s West Hollywood Gateway location is decidedly gay-friendly. Affectionately known as “Tar-jay” to some locals, this Target outpost is a magnet for Boys Town and Boys Town–adjacent gays alike. After all…gays need household products just like everyone else, and ever since this Target opened it’s become the destination of choice for locals to pick up the bare necessities and occasionally a little man-candy as well. Just be sure to make a list of what you need before entering this store, because from the cosmetics section to the lawn furniture department, one handsome distraction after another awaits…and no one really needs to spend that much time in Target.
Studs Theatre
When the hour is late and the desire to hook up is strong, Studs Theatre is a port of last resort for some sexed-up WeHo residents and tourists—though few will actually admit to having ever been there. An adult film multiplex, Studs Theatre streams the latest gay porn on four screens while patrons get frisky with one another in their seats, often engaging in real-time live reenactments of the action on the movie screens (though such behavior is strictly prohibited because, of course, we all know the reason to go to a theatre alone to watch an adult porn is to solemnly appreciate the art of the work). For the record, the cruising allegedly happens in the bathrooms and hallways outside of the theaters or in the theater’s mini-café. The action then follows in the theaters…or so I’ve been told because I’ve never admitted to having ever been inside the theater.
Crunch Fitness
Crunch’s arrival in WeHo was a game-changer. Drawing the Hollywood Hills gay crowd as well as the local West Hollywood contingent with its signature array of classes, Crunch, despite its heftier price tag, became the “it” place to work out in Boys Town. Which means it also became the place to see and be seen flexing your muscles for the most sculpted boys in town. Many other gyms have come (and gone), but Crunch still remains a surefire spot for hard bodies to get better acquainted. Yoga? Pilates? Ab Attack? Take your pick and make your match.
Pavilions
Located in the very nerve center of Los Angeles gay life, steps away from the busiest watering holes in Boys Town, it really only stands to reason that the local Pavilions would be a notorious meeting place for the boys of West Hollywood. A mix of local “personalities,” boys next door, porn stars and models all flock to this cavernous grocery story to check out the fruits and vegetables (and each other). The well-stocked wine and liquor aisle is particularly meeting-friendly. Nothing like choosing between a Sancerre and a Viognier to spark a conversation.
Vaseline Alley
Some call it seedy. Others call it tragic. But the truth is this infamous alley just off Santa Monica Blvd is still such a popular place to hook up that it has both its own Foursquare designation and Facebook page. Conveniently located behind the Gold Cost Bar—a local watering hole with innumerable nicknames like “The Old Coast,” “The Troll Coast” and “The Mold Coast” due primarily to its aging clientele—Vaseline Alley is one of those slyly cruisy spots that offers a degree of denial plausibility. In other words, frequenting the dark recesses of this hormonally overactive alley does not necessarily mean that you’re there to cruise. You could be walking to the neighboring parking lot after dinner at a local eatery like Marco’s or exiting the backdoor of Gold Coast after drinks. However, if you are checked in at Vaseline Alley on Foursquare or spotted knocking on the window of a parked car in the shadows, your deniability will suffer a significant loss of plausibility. Note: Horndogs aren’t the only ones trolling Vaseline Alley. The local police have taken quite a shine to the hot spot as well. You have been warned.
Location: Vaseline Alley is behind the Gold Coast Bar and Circus of Books, between Harper Ave and Hayvenhurst Dr.
Honorable mention
The “bushes”
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A euphemism for the saucy action that occurs at all hours of the day and night in the stretch of residential West Hollywood between Sweetzer Ave and Crescent Heights Blvd, just north of Santa Monica Blvd and south of Fountain Ave. Particularly active at night, this unassuming, seemingly low-key neighborhood is always pregnant with sexual possibilities. Locals have been known to linger in doorways or peer invitingly out of windows in their eagerness to show passersby a little neighborly affection. All of which makes a chance encounter during a stroll through “the bushes” more than likely if you’re in the mood. Better yet, just turn on a social networking app like Scruff, during your stroll, and watch the parade come to you.
In this on-demand, technology-obsessed era, no-strings-attached sex seems easier to come by than ever. As you can probably imagine — or may know from personal experience — location is everything. Theoretically, you can hook up with a soon-to-be one-night stand anywhere, but according to Saucy Dates, a casual dating site, some locations are more popular than others, as far as the meeting location is concerned. In a recent survey of over 10,000 of their members, the found the best places to find a one-night stand.
'I think people like the idea of a one-night stand, as you can be more experimental and adventurous,' David Minns, Founder of Saucy Dates, tells Bustle. 'Additionally, many responders commented that they liked the excitement of someone new. If it doesn't work out, then nothing is lost — if it does, you have some experiences you can carry forward to a future relationship.'
Rachel Needle, Psy.D., licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist in West Palm Beach, FL, says there are definitely benefits of a one-night stand. 'It can be liberating and stress-free to have sex with someone with no expectations for where the relationship is going or what the emotional impact having sex will have on you or your partner,' she tells Bustle. 'Additionally, there are no expectations as far as performance goes, and this allows us to be more sexually free and take the pressure off that we often put on ourselves during sex. Also, one-night stands can serve as a great ego boost. It feels good to be able to have someone want to have sex with you solely based on your looks, charm, and the skills you have that night.'
But it's also important to be safe when it comes to casual sex, whether you're having sex with someone just once or hooking up with a friend with benefits. 'It is important that both parties are not drunk and are, therefore, able to consent and communicate about the hookup,' Dr. Needle says. 'In addition, remember to protect yourself as much as possible from STIs (sexually transmitted infections) by using protection in every step of the 'hookup.'
So without further ado, here are the top 10 venues to find a one-night stand, according to Saucy Dates' findings.
Fifteen percent of respondents reported meeting their one-night stands on the street. Who knew?! This will definitely make you think twice the next time you take a walk, right?
Yep, the good-old standard, a bar, made second place with 14 percent of respondents. It tied with 'a party' for where to meet a one-night stand. I guess the two are similar: You're out with friends (or not), you're drinking (or not), and there are plenty of eligible men and women in your vicinity.
If you find yourself at a hotel — perhaps for a casual drink or perhaps as part of a business trip — casual sex may be in the picture, too. Eleven percent of respondents said hotels were a good place to find a one-night stand. Now you know!
Nine percent of those surveyed said nightclubs are good places to pick people up for a night of sex. When you think about it, it makes sense, since you may already be in close contact with strangers while dancing with them.
Have you ever gone to a wedding alone? If so, were you seated at the singles' table? Eight percent of Saucy Dates respondents said weddings are great venues to find a one-night stand. After all, romance is in the air (as well as an open bar!).
Need proof? A friend of mine had a one-night stand at a wedding, and he and the woman ended up dating for three years. So not all one-night stands end at one night!
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Next time you're on the train or bus, look around: Your next one-night stand could be sitting right behind you. Seven percent of those surveyed said public transportation makes for a good place to find a one-night stand. Maybe the thought of this will make your morning commute more enjoyable.
You may know people who go to the gym not to work out, but to pick people up. Well, they're not alone. Saucy Dates found that five percent of people use the gym, as well as museums, for more than the free weights or art exhibits.
Neighbors make for an easy way to meet new people, including one-night stands. Four percent of respondents said so, and it's not surprising. Plus, you already have mutual friends, which means you may trust that your soon-to-be one-night stand is a legit person you have a built-in level of comfort with versus a total stranger.
The next time you're shopping, you may be shopping for more than food or clothes. You may be asking someone's advice about fruit or a sale item one minute, and then find yourself at their apartment the next. Three percent of people said they found one-night stands this way. Who knew talking about tomatoes (or some other seemingly benign thing) could lead to so much more?
Concerts and online dating (dating apps and sites) came in 10th place as venues to find a one-night stand, with two percent of respondents choosing them. Is anyone else in shock about dating apps and sites coming in 10th place? Wow.
Overall, did any of the locations to find a one-night stand surprise you? 'The two biggest venue shocks had to be online dating and the street,' Minns says of the findings. 'The image that dating apps and sites have generated a hookup culture doesn't seem to fit in our findings — longer-term casual relationships appear to be the norm, which can then develop further. Also, the street coming out as number one was a total surprise. But, in reflection, it seems to make perfect sense. Maybe we will see more people trying this technique.'
I'm curious, too, if more people will try to pick up more one-night stands on the street. In any case, the above definitely makes you think twice about some of the one-night stand meeting locations, that's for sure!