Gay Bar

The California Coastal Commission decided Friday to take up on appeal the redevelopment of the Coast Inn and the loss of the Boom Boom Room gay bar at a future hearing. Acting at the request of Commissioners Sarah Wan and Mary Shallenberger, and Laguna Beach activist Audrey Prosser, the commission decided that the proposed project raised "a substantial issue" with respect to the provision of visitor and tourist-serving facilities on the coast. The property, at 1401 S. Coast Hwy., is situated between the sea and the first public road in the city's designated Commercial/Tourist Corridor, according to a commission staff report.

Like beauty, history is in the eye of the beholder. And when the beholders are viewing it from the vantage point of a bar stool, history can be a bit blurry. Take Tuesday's testimony about when and whether the Boom Boom Room, aka the South Seas, was or became a gay bar. Only in Laguna could this argument rise to the level of a City Council debate. The issue at hand: whether a wine bar should be required in the renovated Coast Inn. The verdict? A resounding "yes" from the Council.

Fred Karger, of Save the Boom, is looking for a new owner for the landmark gay bar in Laguna Beach — without the participation of the present owner, Steven Udvar-Hazy. Karger says he "will canvass the globe to find a buyer" for the Boom Boom Room and the Coast Inn in which it is located. The Boom Boom Room is the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the Western United States, Karger says. "Once discovered and rediscovered, we are confident that this could be the most successful and profitable gay hotel and nightclub in the world," he said.

With so many hot topics in Laguna Beach right now, from water quality to the Mar Vista project fiasco to "mansionization," I thought it was time to take to the streets of Laguna and ask what was on residents' minds. Tom Girvin: "My main concern is the ability of developers to get a CUP (conditional-use permit) approved, then bring it back continually for revisions. After multiple revisions, which we call "piecemealing," the project becomes one that probably could not have been approved if the project had been submitted with all of the changes.

The 12 winners of the Men of Laguna Beach calendar contest were announced Wednesday by a panel of judges and Save the Boom. The contest, which ran online and in the Coastline Pilot, garnered nearly half a million votes. In alphabetical order, the winners are: Caleb, Chris, Daniel, Gustavo, Joe, Michael, Ray, Russell B., Russell M., Ryan K., Ryan L., and Ryan W. In about a week the top three winners will be announced and the prize money, including $1000 to the first-place winner, will be announced.

The California Coastal Commission decided Friday to take up on appeal the redevelopment of the Coast Inn and the loss of the Boom Boom Room gay bar at a future hearing. Acting at the request of Commissioners Sarah Wan and Mary Shallenberger, and Laguna Beach activist Audrey Prosser, the commission decided that the proposed project raised "a substantial issue" with respect to the provision of visitor and tourist-serving facilities on the coast. The property, at 1401 S. Coast Hwy., is situated between the sea and the first public road in the city's designated Commercial/Tourist Corridor, according to a commission staff report.

Laguna’s gay activist Fred Karger may be entitled to a little “schadenfreude” — translation, enjoyment of another’s misfortune — in the AIG mess. That’s because Karger’s nemesis, Steven Udvar-Hazy, is a major shareholder at AIG and his airplane leasing division — formerly the proverbial “cash cow” of the company — is now cash poor and may be going begging to stay in business. And Karger has a deal for him: make some quick bucks by selling the Coast Inn and Boom Boom Room.

"Save the Boom" support exploded in 2006 in the wake of fears that the landmark Boom Boom Room bar would no longer cater to the gay community under new ownership. Almost 6,000 petitions gathered last year were delivered Tuesday night to the City Council in an effort to gain official support to keep the Boom Boom Room — and by extension the city — gay-friendly. "It is the oldest continuing gay bar in the Western United States," Save the Boom founder Fred Karger told the council.

Fred Karger makes my blood boil. The Coast Inn is a lot more than just a gay Mecca, and his exaggerations about the history of the place make me crazy. So, thank you Cindy Frazier for your column about the Coast Inn ("Canyon to Cove: Finding history in a bar," July 9). It was such fun to read the recollections from people other than the gay community. The Coast Inn and I have quite a history together. I could write reams, but I'll try to be brief and add my family story the history.

The proposed renovation of the Coast Inn got a unanimous vote of approval April 14 from the Laguna Beach Planning Commission. But still unsettled is the question of whether the property — former site of the iconic Boom Boom Room gay bar — will be granted a coveted “K” rating for its historic importance to the city. Gay activists have sought to pressure the owner, Steven Udvar-Hazy, into keeping the Boom Boom Room open or donating the property to the city as a gay center, citing its history as a center of gay culture.

The California Coastal Commission decided Friday to take up on appeal the redevelopment of the Coast Inn and the loss of the Boom Boom Room gay bar at a future hearing. Acting at the request of Commissioners Sarah Wan and Mary Shallenberger, and Laguna Beach activist Audrey Prosser, the commission decided that the proposed project raised "a substantial issue" with respect to the provision of visitor and tourist-serving facilities on the coast. The property, at 1401 S. Coast Hwy., is situated between the sea and the first public road in the city's designated Commercial/Tourist Corridor, according to a commission staff report.

The California Coastal Commission decided Friday to take up on appeal the redevelopment of the Coast Inn and the loss of the Boom Boom Room gay bar at a future hearing. Acting at the request of Commissioners Sarah Wan and Mary Shallenberger, and Laguna Beach activist Audrey Prosser, the commission decided that the proposed project raised "a substantial issue" with respect to the provision of visitor and tourist-serving facilities on the coast. The property, at 1401 S. Coast Hwy., is situated between the sea and the first public road in the city's designated Commercial/Tourist Corridor, according to a commission staff report.

Two California Coastal commissioners and a Laguna Beach gay activist have filed an appeal of the redevelopment of the Coast Inn. Commission staff is supporting the request by Laguna Beach resident Audrey Prosser and Commissioners Sara Wan and Mary Shallenberger that the commission consider an appeal of the city-issued coastal permit allowing the redevelopment of the historic Laguna Beach hotel at 1401 S. Coast Hwy. The property is owned by...

Fred Karger makes my blood boil. The Coast Inn is a lot more than just a gay Mecca, and his exaggerations about the history of the place make me crazy. So, thank you Cindy Frazier for your column about the Coast Inn ("Canyon to Cove: Finding history in a bar," July 9). It was such fun to read the recollections from people other than the gay community. The Coast Inn and I have quite a history together. I could write reams, but I'll try to be brief and add my family story the history.

Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson's statement that we as a town are tolerant is true, ("Coast Inn project OK'd," July 9) but her statements that "every bar and restaurant is a gay and straight bar" is questionable. Pearson and Councilwoman Jane Egly are slightly out of touch with reality. The Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn was a destination bar/cafe and inn. The "Boom" did $60,000 plus on big weekends years ago, and gays, lesbians and others from around the planet enjoyed gathering in their own establishments and landmarks such as West Street beach in South Laguna, another international destination which attracts thousands every year and brings millions into our economy.

Like beauty, history is in the eye of the beholder. And when the beholders are viewing it from the vantage point of a bar stool, history can be a bit blurry. Take Tuesday's testimony about when and whether the Boom Boom Room, aka the South Seas, was or became a gay bar. Only in Laguna could this argument rise to the level of a City Council debate. The issue at hand: whether a wine bar should be required in the renovated Coast Inn. The verdict? A resounding "yes" from the Council.

Laguna Beach planning commissioners were pleased with the final details on the renovation of the old Coast Inn at their May 12 meeting — including the addition of 1920s-themed flag poles and awnings — but continued to press the developer on a public display depicting the hotel's long association with the gay community. The location of such an interpretive center is still to be determined. The hotel might have a retail space, or a restaurant/wine bar — or all three — at the former location of the Boom Café, a 1,200-square-foot storefront, according to architect Morris Skenderian.

Laguna Beach Planning Commissioners were pleased with the final details on the renovation of the old Coast Inn at their May 12 meeting — including the addition of 1920s-themed flag poles and awnings — but continued to press the developer on a public display depicting the hotel’s long association with the gay community. The location of such an interpretive center is still to be determined. The hotel might have a retail space, or a restaurant/wine bar — or all three — at the former location of the Boom Café, a 1,200-square-foot storefront, according to architect Morris Skenderian.