Castro Theatre's Marc Huestis finds joy in neighborhood

Castro Theatre showman talks of celebrating life - from finding joy to turning 60 to honoring Rita Moreno

For San Francisco showman Marc Huestis, the secret to living well is balancing his celebrity-heavy schedule at the Castro Theatre with the simple pleasures of neighborhood life.

For many in the Castro scene, Huestis is synonymous with the affectionate star tributes he independently produces at the historic theater.

On March 15, Huestis is putting on an extravaganza with the Bay Area's own Rita Moreno, an EGOT honoree (she's won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards), which includes a dragtastic preshow, a sing-along "West Side Story" (Moreno won an Oscar for her portrayal of Anita), a screening of the 1976 film "The Ritz" (Moreno won a Tony in the 1975 play, which then became a film) and a conversation at the Castro.

Whether casually recalling hanging out at Harvey Milk's camera shop in the '70s or reminiscing about the antics of some of the more memorable stars he's worked with (like Sandra Dee getting a foot rub from a homeless man on 16th Street after a few drinks), Huestis tells the stories with a gossipy familiarity that is more akin to the friendly village yenta than the grandeur of an impresario.

Cafe Flore and the Farmers' Market, 2298 Market St.: One of my other favorite parts of living in San Francisco was the punk rock days.

All the freaks and misfit toys would gather and then we'd go to punk night at the Stud afterwards.

Safeway, 2020 Market St.: The cruising at this Safeway is really the best: I do business there, I run into people I know, I give them cards for the events and it's just good people watching.

The Gallery of Nun Portraits at St. Mary's Medical Center, 450 Stanyan St.: I have my HIV clinic at the hospital.