`Mailing address:

Golden State Bears
P.O. Box 5561
Fresno, CA 93755-5561


Information on events and activities

The Golden State Bears have many events throughout the year happening on a regular basis, as well as special events every month in addition to the beer bust. The special events may include movie night, dinner night, day trips (Yosemite, casinos), trips out of town to other bear events. The many regular events are listed below.
 


 Beverage busts in Fresno

NEXT BEVERAGE BUST - Saturday 4/6!

The Phoenix is located on 4538 Belmont St, between Cedar and Maple.The Grand Opening was on June 25th, 2011!

Our next event there will be "HOT LEI" on April 6th. Come get lei'd in your UGLIEST, gawdiest, loudest Hawaiian shirt! The Beverage Bust Buy-in is now $3 for current GSB members and $4 for everyone else: buy it between 8pm and midnight, and it will get you happy hour pricing on drinks from 8pm till closing! Hawaiian pizza (ham & pineapple) and Pineapple Sausage hot dogs will be sold for only $3 each, your choice!

Our Beverage Busts are held every first Saturday, 8pm - midnight.

A bit of history: the club's first home bar for beer busts was The Cave. After the bar closed for two or three months we moved to the North Tower Circle. After that, we spent many happy years at the Den, located where The Cave used to be. After the fire at The Den, we were at The Express for 9 months! As of July 2011, we're at The Phoenix, located where The Den used to be!

We would like to thank the owners, management and staff at The Express for having given us a temprorary home during a difficult time. We really appreciate it!
 

Beer bust photos


Club meetings

NEXT MEETING - Sunday 4/7!

On the Sunday following our monthly Beer Bust, the club holds a meeting, open to everyone. During the meeting we discuss our finances, the happenings during the past month, welcome new members and talk about anything related to our local gay community as well as the bear community in general. Sometimes after the meeting we'll venture out to a local restaurant for an informal lunch or dinner. If you want to hear what the bears are doing (not only in the woods!), join us!

In the past we'd gone to the Fresno Zoo after the club meeting and had a blast!!! We also did the Forestiere Underground Gardens! Sometimes we'll travel along the Blossom Trail, with the picnic at the Hillcrest Tree Farm, where we board a steam mini-rail. The more the reason to join the club and hang out with us during that weekend!

Email secretary for the location of the next meeting. The meetings are held at private residences, so we don't publish the address.


Summer Pool Parties

NEXT POOL PARTY - Saturday 6/15!

When the bears start getting hot and bothered and ready to undress - it's high time we had a pool party! For the past few years, we've averaged 100+ attendees each month!

In 2012, we had three members-only pool parties and one pool party that was open to the public.

Stay tuned for next year's details!

Pool parties photos


Lone Star beer busts

LAST LONE STAR BEER BUST HAPPENED IN 2011.

For many years, the Golden State Bears were privileged to host a beer bust at the Lone Star Saloon in San Francisco a few times a year.

Photos from Lone Star beer busts


Annual Bear Frenzy weekend

NEXT BEAR FRENZY - in 2013

Bear Frenzy is our annual Mr. Golden State Bear & Cub contest weekend. The Mr. GSBear title winner helps us all year round by raising money at our events (selling raffle tickets and being charming) for the club and gets to represent our club at selected events, including IBR in San Francisco (February). Also, Mr. GSCub 2005 competed in Snugglefest the following.

In 2009, our Mr. Golden State Bear 2008, Barry Welch, brought home the title of International Grizzly from IBR!

While the other winners chose to only participate in International Bear Rendezvous contests, Don MacCready also competed in Mr. So Cal Bear in 2000.

Bear Frenzy pages

In 2013 we will celebrate our anniversary with...
Bear Frenzy XIX


GSB out in the community

GSB is not the only social club in Fresno area, and but one of many bear clubs in California. We don't limit ourselves to local events, and thanks to Fresno's somewhat central location, we have had many opportunities to visit other places, towns, hotel rooms and establish friendly contact with many clubs. Our board members are sometimes asked to be on judge panels in contests.
The Yosemite Knights K of M Fresno have especially cooperated with the GSB: we took part in many of the other club's events (CheeksNChaps, Gathering, Leatherfest, beer busts, Bear Frenzy)...
Other clubs and events we take part in: Golden Gate Guards of SF (Folsom & Dore Alley beer booths, Springtime in Yosemite Run), Northern California bear clubs (bear float during San Francisco gay pride parade), Southern California Bear Club Alliance (bear float during West Hollywood's gay pride parade), International Bear Rendezvous in SF, Bearquake - Mr SoCal Bear contest in LA, biker clubs' anniversary dinners and runs (Golden Gate Guards, Satyrs MC, LOBOC MC), KampOut Fresno, Imperial Dove Court's Coronation weekend, assistance during St. Patrick's Day Run and more...

Photos of GSB on the road

Game & Movie Night (2nd Friday) - Dinner Night (3rd Wednesday) - Brunch (last Sunday) -
Cubbuccino coffee social (last Thursday) - Christmas Party - Out Of Town Trips - other special events

There are also "exclusive" events to which only club members and selected guests are invited. Every December there's a Christmas Party... Every month we go out to a different restaurant for dinner... Once a while we've managed to go out of town as a group, for a weekend of bonding. In 2007 we had a weekend of fun in Pine Mountain, in 2009 Shaver Lake, in 2010 we went for a day hike in Sequoita National Park, in 2011 we rented a boat for a day on Pine Flat Lake, and that same year we returned to Sequoia for the day. In 2012, we rented a house in Bass Lake for a weekend. Once a month we host games & movies at various members' homes. In 2010, we started a monthly Brunch! And in 2012 our Mr. Cub started hosting a monthly coffee social.

While we don't give out the location of those events, just chat up any of our members (or e-mail secretary@goldenstatebears.org) and ask them to bring you along! However, we ask that your "groupie status" be limited to one vist at each event, and then - if you enjoyed yourelf - please join the club! It will benefit you AND the club! Click on "Contact Us" / Join.

Event pictures by Franco, Kevin C, Paul M, Sam P, Bill B, Ray M, AL A, Kirk C.

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