City: Louisville, KY

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (502) 585-5752

Address: 120 South Floyd St.

Description: One of the largest gay bars in the region, the Connection often surprises first-timers with its size. In addition to several bars (a video bar known as DOC, Boots for the leather crowd, and Privates, a shower bar), the sprawling complex also houses a large dance floor and an impressive drag show in a large theater. It doesn’t cost anything to stay in the front of the complex, but cover is around $5 to get back to the main dance floor and the theater, which has three shows a night on the weekends. In true Louisville fashion, the Connection is open late (till 4 a.m.), and the last drag show starts at 2:30 a.m. If the dance floor looks empty when you get there, go on back to the theater, because that may be where everyone is. When the first show is over, the dance floor usually fills up and stays that way for the rest of the night. During the week, the crowd size can be hit or miss, but Friday nights are usually busy, and it’s rare not to find the place packed on Saturday nights. That’s when you’ll find lots of people—straight couples next to towering drag queens, for example—out on the dance floor for what many consider the best club music in town.