When I think of cruising, I think of a leather bar. I think of late night afterhours, nightclubs and adult bookstores. I mean, isn’t this where most of the cruising happens? And what is cruising about other than getting your rocks off? Does cruising happen in other bars, or is it always the darker side of the gay scene? Oh, it definitely does happen in other bars! And with my assignment laid out for me, I ventured off to see who was cruising, who was losing, and who was in it strictly for the booty…

Ah, Mary’s. Fun, good music, a mixed crowd, lots of laughs and lots of beverages. But of course you already knew that because that’s what makes them famous. What you may not have known is that there is just as much cruising going on here as there is at any other bar. At this stop, I decided to go it alone and see what would happen. With drink in hand, I sipped and observed the crowd and was eager to see who’d be up for the grabbing.

It’s interesting that when you are alone, you are more susceptible to being cruised. This includes getting undressed by other guys with their eyes, and even getting your ass or crotch grabbed as you walk by. I counted at least five different guys who made eye contact. Once that was established, some went right to a smile – others to a perverted gesture to let me know they were up for it. All this from across the bar, and we hadn’t even exchanged names yet!

This is the situation typical of a cruise scene: Two guys make initial contact, share some sort of mutual attraction, then leave and get it on without ever knowing anything about each other. After I had established that cruising was alive and well at Mary’s, I decided to leave and try the next bar on for size. I mean, there are thousands of swingin’ dicks in San Diego, and a man does need to keep his options open, right? On to the next bar…

Bourbon Street was the next bar on my stop for the night. It was Thursday night, and with Ophelia hosting a wet underwear contest set to start at 10:00 p.m., I knew the crowd wouldn’t disappoint. I grabbed a quick shot and a cold beer and then struck my very best cruise-able pose by the side of the back bar. Things started off a bit slow. Was it possible that all the guys here actually needed a name and conversation before they let you know they were attracted to you? After finishing my second beer, I did my last lap and headed for the men’s room. And wouldn’t you know that this would be the place I would get cruised!

#1 Fifth has always been one of my favorite bars for many reasons. First, the joint is busy but not overly busy, so you can still get your drink without waiting an ungodly amount of time. Second, the bar staff is quite possibly one of the friendliest groups around, so you know that you will be treated like a valued customer. And third, the hot guys, of course! So as the last stop of the night, I was looking to get cruised but hoping that I would score this time. Come on, I am a man, and I needed to take care of some things before I went to sleep. I grabbed a coldie and a seat and let the cruising commence. I looked around the room and saw a few possibilities. Hot, alone and seeming to be looking for the same thing, I made eye contact with a handsome man standing over by the dart board. I would guess about 6’ 1”, with a ball cap hiding his dark hair. Blue eyes that almost looked through me and a body that, well, let’s just say he should be thanking his parents or God or whoever for the package he was sporting. With a wink I walked by and went to the patio to smoke and finish my beer. Not five minutes later the guy was outside and looking my way. Without giving away too many of the juicy details, I walked out of the bar… but this time not alone.

Cruising is not just for dark leather bars and dim-lit alleys. It’s not just happening in adult bookstores or at Ralphs supermarket in the wee hours of the morn. It’s happening everywhere and in every bar. And I think I am starting to like it more and more and more. See you out there.