We're Still Here

This week has been quiet on the Save the Boom front, but news stories are still trickling in.

Here are two stores from San Francisco's leading gay newspaper, the Bay Are Reporter:
A story on our initial efforts and a story on our recent success.

And the September issue of DOT is still not online, but they did a great story:
http://www.dotnewsmagazine.com/oc.htm

and this from Coast Magazine:

ONCE GOING AND NOW STAYING
Last year, the South Coast Inn (Laguna Beach's second oldest hotel) and the famous Boom Boom Room was sold for $13 million to Beverly Hills billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy, who reportedly planned to replace the inn and the popular Boom Boom Room with an 11-room boutique hotel and restaurant. Some locals feared that the loss of the Boom Boom Room “the oldest gay bar in the western U.S.“ was another sad sign that Laguna Beach's gay community is gradually shrinking.

However, Laguna Beach resident Fred Karger fought hard to keep the party going at the big Boom. He assembled volunteers, tried negotiating with the new owner, collected more than 4,000 signatures on a petition, and put together an informative website to help save this beloved bar. Luckily, it worked: the bar's current owners extend their lease for another year.

Housed inside the South Coast Inn (Laguna Beach's second-oldest hotel), the Boom Boom Room benefited from the flourishing coastal area. However, it didn't start out that way. The Boom Boom Room "then called The Seven Seas" opened in 1927 as a serviceman's bar. Starting in the late '70s, the historic club and bar became a center for the city's burgeoning gay community. Soon, with celebrities like Rock Hudson and Bette Midler stopping by, patrons both gay and straight were waiting hours just to get inside.
For more information, visit www.savetheboom.com.
JENN TANAKA

ALSO: We'll keep you posted on our efforts and the result of our petition drive. And as always, be sure to stop by the Boom for a drink or dinner.