Gay life in Pittsburgh (York, Liberty: houses, diverse, bars)

[guylocke]

I made this thread because I felt we needed it. The boards seem to get littered with this topic and then often deleted. Use this thread to argue, to support, to chat, or share, but let's try to keep the "gayness" out of the everyday threads when we can help it, I'm sure some people are tired of it. :P We've also had our fare share of out-of-towner's inquiring about this subject, so hopefully this will be helpful to them. [Heterosexuals welcome, btw ]

[guylocke]

I have to post a story first and foremost because I think it's a really good one.

Just last night I attended the little Ellsworth Arts Festival and it was really nice, I had never been before. It had some really great local bands and artists and the bars and coffee houses on the street set up out-doors selling booze and coffee! Anyway,

Around 10:00 there was a huge drag show sponsored by the bar 5801. Please understand, I am not the biggest fan of drag. I never really understood it or learned how to appreciate it, but please read this story, it changed all that.

So a group of my friends shuffle on over to the drag show (we are a bit late) and the street is packed from side to side. You could barely move. Miss Eda Bagel was hosting who was quite hysterical and is a famous local drag queen. What I found to be remarkable, was how many straight people attended! I'm not talking young, straight, couples (although there were plenty), I'm talking about the baby-boomers and I even saw several old women! I was really affected strongly seeing all the older, straight, men laughing with wide-eyes and enjoying themselves so much. In fact, the group of people in front me were about four middle-aged couples who were gleeful!! At first, I tried to peer at the men thinking they might just be scoffing at it all, but they were absolutely having fun. They were bouncing to the music with arms wrapped around their wives, it was lovely.

A few things miss Eda Bagel said that were really cute. First she (btw, for those of you who don't know, drag queens are referred to as female when they are in face) said she was really pleased to see such an eclectic crowd and the huge turn-out. She then asked how many fellow homosexuals were in the crowd - of course there was much cheering. Then she asked how many heterosexuals were in the crowed (that group in front of me went wild) and there was probably darn near as much cheering. And then she asked how many bisexuals were in the crowd and there were some cheers, but Eda Bagel cut them off and snapped, "Well I don't wanna hear about it you greedy bastards!"

It was quite funny. And then she thanked Shadyside for their love and support and said, "after all - 14,000 rich, white, folks can't be wrong!" - to much cheering. LOL!

Anyway, the show was actually quite incredible. They did Cher, Madonna, Judy Garland, Rhianna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and some old-fashioned tunes. It was just such a joy to see straight and gay people of all ages coming together to enjoy something so... well, bizarre. I had no idea those shows were so popular!!! People were dancing, singing, laughing, and stuffing money down the drag queens outfits! I can't wait to go next year.

[Hopes]

You MUST post an announcement for next year's show so we don't miss it!

[guylocke]

You MUST post an announcement for next year's show so we don't miss it!

LOL! Do you think it sounds fun or is that sarcasm?? I would be glad to take you!

[WVUPharm2007]

And then she asked how many bisexuals were in the crowd and there were some cheers, but Eda Bagel cut them off and snapped, "Well I don't wanna hear about it you greedy bastards!"

Haha, that's great.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by boylocke

LOL! Do you think it sounds fun or is that sarcasm?? I would be glad to take you!

Of course, it sounds fun! I'm wish I had seen this year's show!

[Elder18]

Frankly, I didn't realize how gay Pittsburgh is.

I guess there are a whole bunch of gay bars/clubs on Liberty Ave. downtown, there's the Fruit Loop that someone posted about before in Schenley Park, and I saw an add in the City Paper for some Club Pittsburgh on Penn Ave. that seemed really gay.

Anyway, I think it's pretty cool because Pittsburgh doesn't seem like the most welcoming, diverse city there is but there seems to be a relatively large gay scene.

Super!

[guylocke]

Frankly, I didn't realize how gay Pittsburgh is.

I guess there are a whole bunch of gay bars/clubs on Liberty Ave. downtown, there's the Fruit Loop that someone posted about before in Schenley Park, and I saw an add in the City Paper for some Club Pittsburgh on Penn Ave. that seemed really gay.

Anyway, I think it's pretty cool because Pittsburgh doesn't seem like the most welcoming, diverse city there is but there seems to be a relatively large gay scene.

Super!

*suspicious look* That "super" you added at the end there seemed to be poking fun at us!

J/K

Yeah there are lots of gay bars/clubs in Pittsburgh, but most are concentrated in two parts of town. Liberty Ave downtown and Ellsworth St Shadyside. Here are a few at the top of my head:

On Liberty Ave there is:
Pegasus - the young, techno, club and bar. This is one of the only places that is 18+ and is mostly filled with young, gay, men and their hags
House of Tilden (Club Hot) - After hours bar open midnight till 3:30 am
The Saloon - Traditional Gar Bar with pool tables etc
Sidekicks - Traditional Gay Bar
Images - Traditional Gay Bar

On Ellsworth Ave there is:
5801 (formerly New York, New York) - completely renovated bar/restaurant with outdoor patio and very mixed crowd
Spin - one of the newest places in town, it a very modern and trendy bar also with an outdoor patio and mixed crowd
There are also several places on Ellsworth that are owned and run by gay people but aren't marketed to an exclusively gay audience including The Elbow Room and Enrico's Ristorante.

Several others places are around the Pittsburgh Area.
The Pittsburgh Eagle is on the North Side - this is a several story club/bar 21+
Nuance (formerly TRUE) is also on the North Side - this was once a really trendy and great bar but changed owners and became more "family friendly" and then closed and recently I heard it's back open and more trendy again.

Polish Hill is home of the leather bar Leather Central and the big lesbian bar Donny's.

The Strip District is home to the strip club Real Luck Cafe (Lucky's) and the after-hours bar Jitters

Baum Blvd has a new place called P-Town, I hear it is also a small strip club.

There is a gay coffee house on the SouthSide called Tuscany that also serves gourmet sandwiches that are wonderful.

There are plenty more, but these would be the biggest. The only ones I ever frequent are 5801, Spin, Nuance when it was TRUE and cool, Pegasus, House of Tilden/Club Hot, and Tuscany.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by Elder18

Frankly, I didn't realize how gay Pittsburgh is.

I guess there are a whole bunch of gay bars/clubs on Liberty Ave. downtown, there's the Fruit Loop that someone posted about before in Schenley Park, and I saw an add in the City Paper for some Club Pittsburgh on Penn Ave. that seemed really gay.

Anyway, I think it's pretty cool because Pittsburgh doesn't seem like the most welcoming, diverse city there is but there seems to be a relatively large gay scene.

Super!

Those of us gays in the mainstream try and pretend that clubs like "Club Pittsburgh" don't exist. LOL

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by boylocke

I made this thread because I felt we needed it. The boards seem to get littered with this topic and then often deleted. Use this thread to argue, to support, to chat, or share, but let's try to keep the "gayness" out of the everyday threads when we can help it, I'm sure some people are tired of it. :P We've also had our fare share of out-of-towner's inquiring about this subject, so hopefully this will be helpful to them. [Heterosexuals welcome, btw ]

Isn't this tantamount to "seperate, yet equal" Boylocke? LOL, j/k. I kid the Boylocke... ;-)