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Tinker's Damn
Rating Details »
Categories: Gay Bars, Adult Entertainment, Wine Bars [Edit]
46 N Saratoga AveSanta Clara, CA 95051
(408) 243-4595
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Sun
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
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15 reviews for Tinker's Damn
yeah, this place is kinda trashy and the drinks are over priced for what it is but its all worth it to me if Tiara Dupree is performing.
but thats the only time i come here.
It kind of reminds me of Esta Noche in the mission. This place hasn't changed much since I was in college, but it's still pretty cool for San Jose, all things considered. It's nothing super special - more like going back to your parents house for Christmas and realizing how far you've come.
Given the fact that it's sandwiched between 2 porn shops definitely gives it some kind of stigma...but it's also slightly thrilling to wonder if your car will be there when you get done.
Maybe it's the memories I have here, or maybe it's just nice to drink at a bar where I have some room to breathe again. Although, yes, I agree with some of the other reviews--this would be depressing if it was the only gay bar around where I lived. But everyone needs something like this once in a while.
Bartenders are really cool. I will def bring my posse for SJ pride to give them some more business!
Not my favorite place, but you know, it's about the company. Before I launch a bit into that, I should mention that I was told apparently this used to be THE PLACE long before Hunters or Splash in downtown San José had any bearing in the South Bay gay consciousness. At least the scary drag queens a friend had run into on other occasions did not accost us in the parking lot nor in the establishment itself. Nor did I spot any of the other happenings I had been warned about in the parking lot, not that I lingered or looked for them. But yes, a few evenings ago it was a group of us that made our way to hang out after a movie, to shake our asses on the dancefloor a bit, and chill on the patio until we had the urge to dance again. A good time had by all. but definitely not a standby. For those, I hang out in SF and other environs.
The owners seemed really nice but the place smelled like pee.
I wish I could give two and a half stars, because it's definitely average.
Anyway, I met up with a few friends to check out the place. Since I grew up in San Jose, this was the token gay bar that all the kids were aware of. Since I used to think that you had to be gay to ever step foot in a gay bar when I was younger, I always wondered what it was like there and unfortunately left with a mixed opinion.
I, for one, loved the couches. I love bars that realize that not everyone there is interested in cruising and just want to have a drink with some friends. I dig any club or bar that makes crashing out and relaxing possible with a couch area. So that is definitely a plus.
Oh, and I saw some car passengers help their drivers find the keys that they dropped on the floor in the parking lot, so yeah, rumor confirmed. Very tame in comparison to the Powerhouse in SF, which is by far the most, um, affectionate gay bar I have ever been to.
But that is pretty much the only thing to like. The drink selection sucks, especially when it comes to beer.... In that case, I hope you like Bud or Miller, because that's all they have... The drinks are overpriced and the bar staff were not very friendly. The dance floor is big, but I go to bars to have fun with friends and maybe meet some people, so thats not a factor with my assessment.
Oh, some teenagers followed my car out of the parking lot and yelled at me as they drove away. Eh, well... not something that would have happened in SF, but eh... Not really a knock against the club, just the douchbags that live in San Jose.
As an "out" tranny for the past several decades, thought I'd pass along my thoughts on what is often a South Bay t-gals first place in semi-public that she ever ventures out to...
From a t-perspective, Monday is the preferred evening- that's due to the weekly drag show, with the delightful hostess/MC Angel Michaels. Show starts about 11.
Weds. has seen an ebbing and flowing the past few years as a weekly, or semi-weekly "gurl's night out," but without the benefit of the show, a bit less entertaining, to my mind.
The large parking lot makes those nervous newbie, first-ever trek from their car, while dressed fairly painless (tho the cruising scene in the lot does generally live up to its reputation ;-).
Agreed that one ought not order Red Bull & Vodka here- I've been charged between $9 & $14 for it, so clearly not a bargain.
One aspect of being a tranny, hanging at gay bars (the whole "waste of a perfectly good package" mindset towards up by many/most gay guys) is the "tolerated, but ignored" feeling one gets, if there solo, and can also affect how the cocktail pours go (and thus, conscious of my cocktail $, I tend to order a bottled Heineken, so I can't get short-poured ;-).
The new furniture about a half year ago really helped improve the front bar. And except for Mondays, when the perfromers use the smoking patio as their dressing room, nice to sit out back, enjoying the warmer evenings then one typically finds in SF.
The patrons tend to be a bit older (tho a "flock of twinks" there last Monday for the first time, in my memory), so for this "gal of a certain age" I feel comfortable here.
Good sound system, and usually decent DJ/tune selection. The mirrored dance floor is a narcissitic trannies delight ;-)
I'd recommend avoiding Tuesdays if you're not into Karaoke and those that aren't very good singers, giving it their all (time for the smoking patio!).
Trannies aren't generally appreciated on weekends, as that's the "cash cow" big gay guy nights, so I respect that. But there are occasional pageant stuff on Sundays, etc. (owner is into that).
A good place for trannies meeting someone new online to have that initial low-key, low-expectation, meeting for cocktails to gauge whether there's any mutual attraction & chemistry, and deciding if they want to start dating...
Ever since I can remember, Tinkers Damn has been the gay bar in San Jose. (technically santa clara because of it's location on the street) While I'm straight, I've aaaalways wanted to go in to discover the mystery.
A girl friend and I finally went in to have A drink. We left with 4 drinks, new friends and a cool new dive bar to hang out at. Sure we're not gay, or guys... but whatever. For a Monday night, it can stay.
Friendly tip: DO NOT order a vodka red bull. It's nearly $10... which is considerably more than any other bar I've been to.
average... ive had a few good times here... bartenders are cool here esp. Daniel... i havent seen any shows yet so thats going to be one of my next trips here....
I remember the first time I went here.
I had heard about the parking lot and the reputation it upholds but I remember the first time I stepped in there - I thought I had walked into an amateur strip club.
The bar is okay, it's the gay dive bar in my book. The music sometimes can be hot - but the place has a reputation as being a part of the gay community in San Jose. I remember it being the only gay bar in town besides maybe Mac's from when I was like 15.
The benefit of going to a gay bar versus a straight bar in my opinion is that most gay bars the bartender will have a heavy hand in general or an especially heavy hand if you're cute... there is always exceptions to this. The space inside is crazy cool, they can afford however to give it a major overhaul - get rid of the slutty couches, the archaic pooltable maybe keep the Ms. Pacman and maybe the daddys will have something more to look at.
That being said, it serves one of it's purpose, a bar. It's a good place to go chill after you've been out of your AA meeting (Hello Lindsey!) ...
*gossip :( need happy
*respect? :(
where's the :^)rainbow?
*humiliated :( transgenders
*karaoke tuesdays ok. -/+
& lighten up!
tds :(
This place is what I imagine most gar bars looked like in the 1970's. Dirty, rundown, and sad....in fact, my friends and I think that "TD" doesn't stand for "Tinker's Damn"....it actually stands for "Terribly Depressing." The smelly bathrooms certainly reinforce the "eww" factor.....gross!!
With that said, this place has so much potential. I would love to demo the place and just start all over again. Imagine if the owners hired a contractor and said "hey, make this place look just like the V-Bar (in Santana Row)". The gays would RUN, not walk, to Tinker's Damn. This place would be hoppin'!
The owner(s) of TD's....are you listening? It's about time San Jose had a classy gay bar that would truly rival anything SF has to offer. I'd even be willing to help decorate the place! :-)
this place was fun..ive never been to one a show like this. the performers were very entertaining and funny. every last sunday of the month..youll find it very entertaining too. no cover charge! go early so you can get great seats because it will get crammed and youll find yourself standing!
Your friendly neighborhood suburban gay bar. There's one in every town, and as far as San Jose goes, this is it. The staff is nice and has been there forever, the furniture has been there for ever, the music has played there forever... you get the point. It may not be cutting edge--hell, you can't really even get that in that big City to the north--but it's always a decent place to hang out and get very trashed. Bonus points for the even-trashier parking lot. Yeah, you know the one I'm talking about.
Not good. Simply put.
The bartenders are pretty friendly and they have a couple of good DJ's that I have seen but there never seems to be any people there-usually more in the parking lot trying to hook up with you.
Maybe time for a face lift Tinkers Damn-whats up with those couches? Its a night club for crying out loud.
TD's can be fun on Friday and Saturday nights, but I enjoy going to the beer busts on Sunday. It's a nice, relaxing atmosphere where you'll get to see a hottie every now and then. It's pretty old inside and could use a face lift, tummy tuck and eye brow lift... but it's still a fun place to kick it on a Sunday afternoon.
