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Linked with Swan Dive next door via a sprawling urban patio, it radiates an eclectic social feel that echoes the energy of the old Emo’s, which once welcomed all souls nearby. Nowadays, the most popular event at this hipster club, according to our bartender, is Tuesgayz, which brings both crowds together. Long ago, as the Crossing, this venue anchored the gay scene on Red River Street. This New York-style spot has the bones of a great club let’s see if it attracts the right crowd.īarbarella. The decor reflects the steam-punk fashion trend. Big sofas await dancers exhausted by the top-shelf sound and light systems. This bi-level space is the most upscale of those we sampled. The funky name salutes the revered - and long-gone - psychedelic music venue on Congress Avenue.
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The metallic decor neatly encases the movement and the music - from either a live band or a DJ. The space feels brighter, taller, more comfortable than it did in previous incarnations.
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Accessed from West Fifth Street, this downstairs club seeks inspiration from Mediterranean club modernism. Although a comfy side room is a regular hangout, Oilcan’s might as well be the same large club with three sections. One hears pop house mixed with a little hip-hop under a huge disco ball. The dance floor feels a bit enclosed, encompassed by the cruising bar and high platforms that lead to the welcome breather deck. The neat black trim around the light wood and the smooth chill in the air announce a classic gay bar. And, oh yes, long gone are the Qua shark tanks. Oversized party games are played on the front patio. The red and black decor helps establish the dark allure. There’s still a whiff of the old bottle service action here, but for a more underground crowd, including East Austin drag acts and alert DJs playing grindy, sweaty tracks on a generous sound system. Formerly Qua, after time as Boyz Cellar, this edgy performance space has gone (officially) gay again. The front bar always seems a bit tentative as an adjunct space, but the deep patio is a delicious getaway. DJs generally play recognizable pop dance music, which makes potential dancers feel comfortable enough to break the ice. Despite the tiny official dance floor, guests writhe all over the main room, surrounded by resonant wood and brick as well as a potent sound system. Instead, it helped rejuvenate the 200 block of West Fourth Street as a distinctly gay district. When this watering hole opened, it seemed a direct threat to nearby Oilcan Harry’s. Inevitably, the three of us talked about the advent of the long-awaited mega-club, Highland, right across the street from V in the former Halls/402/Kiss & Fly locale. There, we caught up with one of the city’s most ingratiating club owners, Sky Cheung, who is closely attuned to the business cycles of his industry. For instance, we stumbled on the soft reopening of Haven as “V” in the large upstairs Alamo/Pangaea/Phoenix space on Colorado Street. We made our rounds earlier than the usual peak hours - after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays - but we wanted to see these 13 venues without the chaos of wall-to-wall flailing.
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Cheer up charlies austin gay bar series#
12-14 at Carson Creek Ranch ().Īs with our previous jaunts around Austin’s nightlife districts in this series - we’ve covered Rainey Street, Far East Sixth and rooftop bars - this one was accomplished by simply gliding from spot to spot as the spirit moved us. His Stargayzer Fest, devoted to gay musical artists and allies, is slated for Sept. Recently, we toured 13 such clubs in the company of Brett Hornsby, an Austin DJ, lighting expert and event promoter.