It was a sex-positive spot in a (still) puritanical city, with loud music and stiff drinks. Both spots had that kind of slightly dingy, lived-in feel of a well-loved gay hangout, the cigarette smell that seemed to hang in the air long after Boston banned smoking indoors, the dim corners here and there for making out. Ramrod, the leather and Levis gay bar, moved into the first floor in 1981 with Machine carving out a separate gay nightclub downstairs in 1998.
But until just before quarantine - when Machine Nightclub and bar Ramrod officially closed - past the front door and the blacked-out windows at 1254 Boylston St., inside was magic. Right now, the bars and storefronts that fill this building are empty as they await the wrecking ball that will usher in a future luxury apartment building. The site of so much gay history in Boston is pretty boring from the outside, just a squat gray building that stretches a whole block on Boylston near Fenway Park. (Courtesy Kristen Porter/Hurley Event Photography) This article is more than 1 year old. No matter where the night takes you, it’s going to be fun.Second Saturday at Machine in June. Some recent events include queer-lesque, a queer-themed burlesque, and Drag Decades featuring Shirley Delta.
This spot is directly under the historic clock tower on the 16th Street Mall and hosts everything from drag and burlesque to comedy and dance performances. If you’re looking to see some queer entertainment outside of the regular gay bar circuit, you can usually find something out-of-the-ordinary going on at the Clocktower Cabaret. We recommend drag brunch on the weekends. The combo of flying wigs, high heels, delicious food, and gut-busting laughs is not something you’ll want to pass up on. Hamburger Mary’s, at 1336 E 17th Ave, is, dare I say it, one of the more important cultural institutions in modern Denver history.įood and culture blend well at Hamburger Mary’s, and most of their events are centered around drag competitions and feature elements of drag culture. “We want everyone to feel comfortable here,” Ray said. And it’s doing it with open arms, thanks to some of the most personal bartenders the city has to offer and its dedicated owners Ray Hurtado and Chris Newell. Hosting popular weekly events that range from fetish to hilarious, it’s providing a space beyond the niche that caters to a wide net of Denver’s queers. Trade, which opened in April of 2016, quickly made a name for itself as the Levi’s and Leather bar in town, making it a go-to spot for queer nightlife in Denver. Located on Santa Fe Drive and West 5th Street, Trade has done more than just survive its first year in Denver-it has thrived. Oh yeah, the drinks are pretty cheap too. The bartenders are nice and often pour with a heavy hand. They laugh, the play darts, they’ll read you in the most flattering way.
Think of all those dive bars in the movies where everyone is smiling and a little drunk. The atmosphere is light-hearted and the clientele is always eclectic. R&R Bar is fun, friendly, and “not cliquey,” according to Illgen. “We do complimentary breakfast burritos before the parade, so that’s always a big thing, and people get a couple of cocktails in ‘em before the festivities start.” “We open the Sunday of Pride Week at 7:30 a.m.,” explained Rich Illgen, owner of the bar. While unassuming and small, R&R Bar proudly serves the LGBTQ community and is going to be participating in Pride again this year.
Nestled snugly on Colfax, R&R Bar was a cozy and becoming hole-in-the-wall before dive bars and the grimy charm of Colfax were hip. With its mythical two-step lessons early in the evening, go-go boys, cheap sloshy beer, and an entire room for its frequent drag shows, this staple of the Denver gay scene has something for everyone.ĭenver’s oldest gay bar, R&R Bar is a Denver staple. Just a few blocks down on Colfax sits one of Denver’s most popular dance bars, Charlie’s. People flock to the bar to dance and get down or just to drink and relax, and many in the LGBTQ community have made it their regular hangout. The bar boasts nightly specials and drink deals, as well as two dance floors for the weekends and a large patio section. We have a very special float this year, so we are looking forward to the parade on June 18.” “We also give them away and have the biggest pink flamingo around on our float. “X Bar is well known for the pink flamingos during pride, and they are everywhere,” explained Cindy Alix, general manager at X Bar. Known for its inclusivity towards both the queer and straight communities, X Bar has been around for seven years and has been an important staple of Denver for just as long. X Bar is a staple for Denver LGBTQ folks.