I think I was hit on by a 79-year-old widow! It was a rather quiet early Tuesday night at Flicks, and this classy old gal was out on the bar’s awesome patio smoking a cigarette. I went outside to get some fresh air (that is, until she lit up), and we struck up a conversation. Being that she wasn’t the regular Flicks customer, she intrigued me… I love characters! After chatting for a few minutes, she admitted her age to me. Being the friendly gentleman that I am, I told her she didn’t look a day over 60! Her reply to that was, “Boy, don’t say those things to me or I’m just going to have to get you some Viagra, if you know what I mean.” I think she hit on me! I didn’t know if I should be grossed out, flattered or what. But she was a sweet old lady, and one of the fun things about our local bars is that they often attract a number of colorful individuals to chat it up with.

Normally, November is kind of like the post-Halloween, pre-holiday season slump. We party like the animals we are during Halloween, then just kind of wait in the wings until after Thanksgiving for the holiday fun to begin. But our bars and clubs have been extra creative lately, continuing to draw in the crowds for all kinds of theme parties, events and other attractions. I keep meaning to venture to other parts of town for one of these columns to report on the club/bar world outside of Homoville, but there’s always an event I don’t want to miss here.

I neglected to mention Club Montage’s hot underwear party on Nov. 4 in the last Barfly. At first, I debated whether or not to attend. A friend was celebrating her 21st birthday that night, and the plan was to hit Belo in the Gaslamp Quarter. If Flicks’ “Welfare Wednesdays” ($1 well drinks) is your scene, then Belo isn’t for you. We were lucky to get there before 10:00 p.m., as the cover increased to $20 for the rest of the evening (it’s only $10 before 10:00). A vodka and Red Bull cost $10, and I made sure not to make eye contact with the bathroom attendant, as I just couldn’t afford to throw down another $5 tip to a guy that handed me a paper towel. I did find out that if you’re a designated driver, Coca-Cola is free, so I downed a few of those. And those darn straight boys! So hot, yet so untouchable. And they don’t even take their shirts off on the dance floor (shirt disrobing seems to be a common practice only on gay dance floors). We finished up downtown around 1:00 a.m., and I debated bed or underwear…

Underwear called, so I found myself inside Club Montage. There were quite a few boys running around in their undies! There were some great underwear giveaways that were thrown out into the crowd as well. I met a hottie, and he was wearing the most adorable underwear and flip-flops. We talked, we made out, we even… well that’s enough detail.

Club Montage continues to plan great parties, and it’s definitely the place to be on Saturdays. Be sure to check out DJ Roland Belmares on Nov. 25, DJ Brett Henrichsen on Dec. 16 and New Year’s at Club Montage with Deborah Cox. Visit www.clubmontage.com for more information.

If you’ve been a regular reader of Barfly, then you know that the SpinCycleRinse foam parties at Rich’s have become one of my favorite pastimes! Spin Cycle Productions hosts these parties, and this will be number four. You know I’ll be there! The next one is on Saturday, Nov. 25, and the boys will be there in throngs and thongs! Check www.myspace.com/spincyclerinse for the low-down.

More and more of our favorite clubs and bars are reflecting San Diego’s evolution from a sleepy surfer town to the more cosmopolitan, sophisticated city it’s become. It’s exciting to see our nightlife start to reflect this upscale ambience. Step into downtown San Diego and you’ll see a number of upscale establishments, with the queen bee of them all being Stingaree.

We’re starting to see the VIP/lounge/bottle service trends hit Hillcrest. A number of bars and clubs have replaced their pool tables with lounge couches and furniture. The neon Bud Light signs are coming down and being replaced with hip lighting fixtures. Some clubs have introduced VIP rooms, and bottle service seems to be the wave of the future. We’ve seen the opening of the beautiful Lei Lounge in University Heights, which includes a bar, restaurant and cabanas. The transformation of Hamburger Mary’s into Urban Mo’s included a facelift that added a cabana area to the back of the restaurant. The Flame’s renovation a few years back included a beautiful facelift, which gave the club a whole new look.

One of the most dramatic changes I’ve seen recently is the reinvention of one of San Diego’s oldest gay bars, The Brass Rail. In fact, the establishment is now billing itself as The Brass Rail Nightclub & Lounge, complete with a new logo and hip new Brass Rail button-down shirts worn by the staff. Step inside and you’ll see a new nightclub in the back part of the bar. The area has been completely changed and is now an elevated VIP lounge. This lounge is absolutely beautiful and includes sofas, candles, mirrors, artwork and bottle service. The DJ booth has been moved out of its old “hole in the wall” to a state-of-the-art raised platform above the dance floor.

If you haven’t been to the The Brass Rail lately, I recommend a visit. This bar has definitely shed its old image and is morphing into one of Hillcrest’s finest. The Brass Rail is a San Diego legend, and it’s here to stay. Be sure to check out Bitchy Feud with Ophelia on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m., Friday night’s Urban Jam and the long-running Saturday Noche Latino Americano. Visit www.thebrassrailsd.com for more information. Congratulations!

Bacchus House celebrated its fifth anniversary on Nov. 18. This North Park bar has been an incredible addition to San Diego’s nightlife, hosting a number of popular theme nights, special events and charity functions. Congratulations to Robi Cox and the entire staff of Bacchus House for five amazing years!