Image 1 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The thirty-year-old Folsom Street Fair is an annual September celebration of fetishes and alternative sexuality in the SoMa neighborhood. The fair has been featured in films and television and draws a large crowd of enthusiasts from around the world.  Image 1 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The thirty-year-old Folsom Street Fair is an annual September celebration of fetishes and alternative sexuality in the SoMa neighborhood. The fair has been featured in films and television and draws a large crowd of enthusiasts from around the world.  The thirty-year-old Folsom...Street Fair is an annual September celebration of fetishes and...alternative sexuality in the SoMa neighborhood. The fair has been...featured in films and television and draws a large crowd of...enthusiasts from around the world.  Image 2 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The public parklet at Castro and Market has become known as a nudist gathering spot (mainly men) to the frequent complaint of neighborhood residents who have requested the roving bands of naked men use towels before sitting on the public furntiture.  Image 2 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The public parklet at Castro and Market has become known as a nudist gathering spot (mainly men) to the frequent complaint of neighborhood residents who have requested the roving bands of naked men use towels before sitting on the public furntiture.  The public parklet at Castro and Market has become known as a nudist...gathering spot (mainly men) to the frequent complaint of neighborhood...residents who have requested the roving bands of naked men use towels...before sitting on the public furntiture.  Image 3 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood is home to several strip clubs, perhaps most famously the Condor Club where in 1964 stripper Carol Doda helped launch the topless bar industry with her legendary endowments.  Image 3 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood is home to several strip clubs, perhaps most famously the Condor Club where in 1964 stripper Carol Doda helped launch the topless bar industry with her legendary endowments.  San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood is home to several strip...clubs, perhaps most famously the Condor Club where in 1964 stripper Carol Doda helped...launch the topless bar industry with her legendary endowments.  Image 4 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  San Francisco's annual Up Your Alley Festival, also know as Dore Alley Fair, is thought of as the younger, more hardcore little sibling of the more famous Folsom Street Fair. At Up Your Alley, gay male leather/bdsm sexuality is emphasized with plenty of public demonstrations and fetish costumes every year in July.  Image 4 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  San Francisco's annual Up Your Alley Festival, also know as Dore Alley Fair, is thought of as the younger, more hardcore little sibling of the more famous Folsom Street Fair. At Up Your Alley, gay male leather/bdsm sexuality is emphasized with plenty of public demonstrations and fetish costumes every year in July.  San Francisco's annual Up Your Alley...Festival, also know as Dore Alley Fair, is thought of as the...younger, more hardcore little sibling of the more famous Folsom Street...Fair. At Up Your Alley, gay male leather/bdsm sexuality is emphasized...with plenty of public demonstrations and fetish costumes every year in...July.  Image 5 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Since 1977, Good Vibrations has had a mission to be a sex positive, women-oriented sex toy business that educates as much as it pleases. The stores have locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto and Massachusetts. The company was founded by Joani Blank.  Image 5 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Since 1977, Good Vibrations has had a mission to be a sex positive, women-oriented sex toy business that educates as much as it pleases. The stores have locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto and Massachusetts. The company was founded by Joani Blank.  Since 1977, Good Vibrations has had a mission to be a sex positive,...women-oriented sex toy business that educates as much as it pleases....The stores have locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Palo...Alto and Massachusetts. The company was founded by Joani Blank.  Image 6 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Good Vibrations is also famous for its Antique Vibrator Museum at the Polk Street store, which offers free tours every third Sunday. (Pictured: White Cross. lindstrom Smith Co. Model 25)  Image 6 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Good Vibrations is also famous for its Antique Vibrator Museum at the Polk Street store, which offers free tours every third Sunday. (Pictured: White Cross. lindstrom Smith Co. Model 25)  Good Vibrations is also famous for its Antique Vibrator Museum...at the Polk Street store, which offers free tours every third Sunday....(Pictured: White Cross. lindstrom Smith Co. Model 25)  Image 7 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  In the late '60s and early '70s, the experimental performance group The Cockettes celebrated the joys of love, sex, drag and art in legendary shows at the Palace Theatre. Original Cockettes Rumi Missabu ,Pam Tent and Scrumbly Koldewyn still perform regularly in San Francisco with the Thrillpeddlers troupe.  Image 7 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  In the late '60s and early '70s, the experimental performance group The Cockettes celebrated the joys of love, sex, drag and art in legendary shows at the Palace Theatre. Original Cockettes Rumi Missabu ,Pam Tent and Scrumbly Koldewyn still perform regularly in San Francisco with the Thrillpeddlers troupe.  In the late '60s and early '70s, the experimental performance group...The Cockettes celebrated the joys of love, sex, drag and art in...legendary shows at the Palace Theatre. Original Cockettes Rumi Missabu...,Pam Tent and Scrumbly Koldewyn still perform regularly in San...Francisco with the Thrillpeddlers troupe.  Image 8 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Berkeley's Steamworks is a throwback to the '70s heyday of gay bathhouses as remembered in stories like Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City." While these days there's an emphasis on safer sex practices, the goings-on are still just as swinging as they were back in the day.  Image 8 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Berkeley's Steamworks is a throwback to the '70s heyday of gay bathhouses as remembered in stories like Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City." While these days there's an emphasis on safer sex practices, the goings-on are still just as swinging as they were back in the day.  Berkeley's Steamworks is a throwback to the '70s heyday of gay...bathhouses as remembered in stories like Armistead Maupin's "Tales of...the City." While these days there's an emphasis on safer sex...practices, the goings-on are still just as swinging as they were back...in the day.  Image 9 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  For many years, the Exotic Erotic Ball at the Cow Palace was the party of the year for sexy seeing and sexy being seen. Costumes, or lack there of, ran the gamut.  Image 9 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  For many years, the Exotic Erotic Ball at the Cow Palace was the party of the year for sexy seeing and sexy being seen. Costumes, or lack there of, ran the gamut.  For many years, the Exotic Erotic Ball at the Cow Palace was the...party of the year for sexy seeing and sexy being seen. Costumes, or...lack there of, ran the gamut.  Image 10 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Sex expert Dr. Carole Queen is an icon of San Francisco's sexuality scene as an author, lecturer, teacher and the on-staff sexologist at the Good Vibrations boutiques.  Image 10 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Sex expert Dr. Carole Queen is an icon of San Francisco's sexuality scene as an author, lecturer, teacher and the on-staff sexologist at the Good Vibrations boutiques.  Sex expert Dr. Carole Queen is an icon of San Francisco's sexuality...scene as an author, lecturer, teacher and the on-staff sexologist at...the Good Vibrations boutiques.  Image 11 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  In 2006, porn company Kink.com bought the historic San Francisco Armory on Mission Street and turned it into their headquarters and production studios. In addition to its use as a film studio, Kink also hosts special events and tours of the facility.  Image 11 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  In 2006, porn company Kink.com bought the historic San Francisco Armory on Mission Street and turned it into their headquarters and production studios. In addition to its use as a film studio, Kink also hosts special events and tours of the facility.  In 2006, porn company Kink.com bought the historic San Francisco...Armory on Mission Street and turned it into their headquarters and...production studios. In addition to its use as a film studio, Kink also...hosts special events and tours of the facility.  Image 12 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The now defunct Lusty Lady peep show in North Beach made history in 1997 when it became among the first unionized peep shows in operation. In 2000, the effort was documented in the film "Live Nude Girls Unite."  Image 12 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The now defunct Lusty Lady peep show in North Beach made history in 1997 when it became among the first unionized peep shows in operation. In 2000, the effort was documented in the film "Live Nude Girls Unite."  The now defunct Lusty Lady peep show...in North Beach made history in 1997 when it became among the first...unionized peep shows in operation. In 2000, the effort was documented...in the film "Live Nude Girls Unite."  Image 13 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Luxury shopping strip Maiden Lane was once upon a time San Francisco's notorious red-light district where maidens would sell themselves on the street. Many of the female named streets in downtown San Francisco are named after working maidens of yore, like Jessie and Mina.  Image 13 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Luxury shopping strip Maiden Lane was once upon a time San Francisco's notorious red-light district where maidens would sell themselves on the street. Many of the female named streets in downtown San Francisco are named after working maidens of yore, like Jessie and Mina.  Luxury shopping strip Maiden Lane was once upon a time San Francisco's...notorious red-light district where maidens would sell themselves on...the street. Many of the female named streets in downtown San Francisco...are named after working maidens of yore, like Jessie and Mina.  Image 14 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Members-only sex club Mission Control has a reputation for a kinky techie crowd: Many frequently carrying startup tote bags.  Image 14 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Members-only sex club Mission Control has a reputation for a kinky techie crowd: Many frequently carrying startup tote bags.  Members-only sex club Mission Control has a reputation for a kinky...techie crowd: Many frequently carrying startup tote bags.  Image 15 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Jim and Artie Mitchell, better known as filmmakers and adult theater owners the Mitchell Brothers, pioneered one of the first feature-length pornagraphic movies in 1972 with their Marilyn Chambers vehicle "Behind the Green Door." The film is considered a classic of the genre today and part of the 1970s film trend "porno chic."  Image 15 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Jim and Artie Mitchell, better known as filmmakers and adult theater owners the Mitchell Brothers, pioneered one of the first feature-length pornagraphic movies in 1972 with their Marilyn Chambers vehicle "Behind the Green Door." The film is considered a classic of the genre today and part of the 1970s film trend "porno chic."  Jim and Artie Mitchell, better known as filmmakers and adult theater...owners the Mitchell Brothers, pioneered one of the first...feature-length pornagraphic movies in 1972 with their Marilyn Chambers...vehicle "Behind the Green Door." The film is considered a classic of...the genre today and part of the 1970s film trend "porno chic."  Image 16 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The Mitchell Brother's O'Farrell Theater at 895 O'Farrell opened in July of 1969 as an adult movie house where they made and then exhibited films on the premises. In 1991 Jim fatally shot Artie and served six years for involuntary manslaughter. Jim died in 2007.  Image 16 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The Mitchell Brother's O'Farrell Theater at 895 O'Farrell opened in July of 1969 as an adult movie house where they made and then exhibited films on the premises. In 1991 Jim fatally shot Artie and served six years for involuntary manslaughter. Jim died in 2007.  The Mitchell Brother's O'Farrell Theater at 895 O'Farrell opened in...July of 1969 as an adult movie house where they made and then...exhibited films on the premises. In 1991 Jim fatally shot Artie and...served six years for involuntary manslaughter. Jim died in 2007.  Image 17 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  If you're looking for nude beaches, San Francisco has at least three to choose from: Land's End, North Baker Beach (pictured), and the gay-male oriented Marshall Beach. If you can stand the cold, more power to you.  Image 17 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  If you're looking for nude beaches, San Francisco has at least three to choose from: Land's End, North Baker Beach (pictured), and the gay-male oriented Marshall Beach. If you can stand the cold, more power to you.  If you're looking for nude beaches, San Francisco has at least three...to choose from: Land's End, North Baker Beach (pictured), and the...gay-male oriented Marshall Beach. If you can stand the cold, more...power to you.  Image 18 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  "Mayor Madam" Sally Stanford had one of San Francisco's more colorful lives. Stanford moved to the city in 1924 and by 1940, she was running an elegant bordello on Pine Street in Nob Hill. The establishment was so famous, Herb Caen said "the United Nations was founded at Sally Stanford's whorehouse." After getting raided in 1945, she opened a restaurant in Sausalito and was eventually elected mayor of the town in the seventies. In 1985 Sausalito dedicated a public drinking fountain to Stanford and her dog, Leland with the words "have a drink on Sally" inscribed at the base.  Image 18 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  "Mayor Madam" Sally Stanford had one of San Francisco's more colorful lives. Stanford moved to the city in 1924 and by 1940, she was running an elegant bordello on Pine Street in Nob Hill. The establishment was so famous, Herb Caen said "the United Nations was founded at Sally Stanford's whorehouse." After getting raided in 1945, she opened a restaurant in Sausalito and was eventually elected mayor of the town in the seventies. In 1985 Sausalito dedicated a public drinking fountain to Stanford and her dog, Leland with the words "have a drink on Sally" inscribed at the base.  "Mayor Madam" Sally Stanford had one of San Francisco's more colorful...lives. Stanford moved to the city in 1924 and by 1940, she was running...an elegant bordello on Pine Street in Nob Hill. The establishment was...so famous, Herb Caen said "the United Nations was founded at Sally...Stanford's whorehouse." After getting raided in 1945, she opened a...restaurant in Sausalito and was eventually elected mayor of the town...in the seventies. In 1985 Sausalito dedicated a public drinking...fountain to Stanford and her dog, Leland with the words "have a drink...on Sally" inscribed at the base.  Image 19 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Since the '90s, the classic striptease art form burlesque has seen a revival in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seen here is Rose Pistola performing her striptease during part of SpeakEasily, at the Mile High Club in Oakland.  Image 19 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Since the '90s, the classic striptease art form burlesque has seen a revival in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seen here is Rose Pistola performing her striptease during part of SpeakEasily, at the Mile High Club in Oakland.  Since the '90s, the classic striptease art form burlesque has seen a...revival in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seen here is Rose Pistola...performing her striptease during part of SpeakEasily, at the Mile High...Club in Oakland.  Image 20 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The annual Cupid's Undie run on Valentine's Day weekend involves hundreds of stripped-down revelers taking to the streets of the city as they fundraise for The Children's Tumor Foundation. Come rain, shine (or whatever conditions they face in other cities), the Cupids stampede away.  Image 20 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The annual Cupid's Undie run on Valentine's Day weekend involves hundreds of stripped-down revelers taking to the streets of the city as they fundraise for The Children's Tumor Foundation. Come rain, shine (or whatever conditions they face in other cities), the Cupids stampede away.  The annual Cupid's Undie run on Valentine's Day weekend involves...hundreds of stripped-down revelers taking to the streets of the city...as they fundraise for The Children's Tumor Foundation. Come rain,...shine (or whatever conditions they face in other cities), the Cupids...stampede away.  Image 21 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Fan dancer Sally Rand adds some deliciously sexy history to S.F. in the early half of the twentieth century. In 1936, Rand purchased the Music Box Burlesque Hall (now the Great American Music Hall) and gained even greater fame with her "Sally Rand's Nude Ranch" revue at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in 1939. Rand was twice arrested in S.F. for indecency but was eventually cleared. She danced into the 1970s, never retiring.  Image 21 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Fan dancer Sally Rand adds some deliciously sexy history to S.F. in the early half of the twentieth century. In 1936, Rand purchased the Music Box Burlesque Hall (now the Great American Music Hall) and gained even greater fame with her "Sally Rand's Nude Ranch" revue at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in 1939. Rand was twice arrested in S.F. for indecency but was eventually cleared. She danced into the 1970s, never retiring.  Fan dancer Sally Rand adds some deliciously sexy history to S.F. in...the early half of the twentieth century. In 1936, Rand purchased the...Music Box Burlesque Hall (now the Great American Music Hall) and...gained even greater fame with her "Sally Rand's Nude Ranch" revue at...the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in 1939....Rand was twice arrested in S.F. for indecency but was eventually...cleared. She danced into the 1970s, never retiring.  Image 22 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  Orgasmic meditation center One Taste on Market Street teaches better health and living through "OM" for men and women no matter their sexual identities. We'll have what One Taste is having.  Image 22 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  Orgasmic meditation center One Taste on Market Street teaches better health and living through "OM" for men and women no matter their sexual identities. We'll have what One Taste is having.  Orgasmic meditation center One Taste...on Market Street teaches better health and living through "OM" for men...and women no matter their sexual identities. We'll have what One Taste...is having.  Image 23 of 23 |San Francisco's erotic roots  The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile walking tour marking significant locations related to the pioneer debauchery of San Francisco in the 1800s. Where gold rushing men went, gold-digging showgirls followed and North Beach's Barbary Coast district became the saloon and sex epicenter of the city.  Image 23 of 23 - San Francisco's erotic roots  The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile walking tour marking significant locations related to the pioneer debauchery of San Francisco in the 1800s. Where gold rushing men went, gold-digging showgirls followed and North Beach's Barbary Coast district became the saloon and sex epicenter of the city.  The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile walking tour marking significant...locations related to the pioneer debauchery of San Francisco in the...1800s. Where gold rushing men went, gold-digging showgirls followed...and North Beach's Barbary Coast district became the saloon and sex...epicenter of the city.
Since the Gold Rush, San Francisco has had a reputation as a town that knows how to show a visitor (or a local) a good time on any night of the week. The city's past and contemporary culture are both filled with icons of sex, from the steamy saloon girls of the Barbary Coast to the Cockette