Long on surface, short on depth, the South End (not to be confused with Southy, the gritty burb of South Boston) hops with hip. Look in this part of Back Bay, which lies south of Huntington Avenue, for trendy little cafes, wine bars by the dozen (or at least they seem that thick) and a few good restaurants. Just follow the after-five crowd to find the flavor-of-the-week place to meet. Boston’s gay men’s community came out of the closet early in the South End, and it is still the city’s most friendly quarter to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, although gay males predominate. You’ll find gay and lesbian-oriented bookstores, theater and even outdoor outfitters. The South End’s traditionally strong arts community is drawing new artists all the time, so it’s the place to look for galleries, shows and art events, especially those with an edge. The Bay Village neighborhood, a six-block corner of the South End between Berkley and Charles streets next to the theater district, is often called a mini Beacon Hill, with its rows of smaller brick townhouses.