1980 NYC Gay Bar Guide

Joe.My.God posted this 1980 Gay Bar/Restaurant/Club guide (click to embiggen) yesterday, and I have been scanning it ever since. I LOVE stuff like this - remembrances of gay history that is long gone.

Some of these bars are still around (Julius and Ty's in the Village, for example) - and some were still here when I arrived in NYC in the early 90's (Kellers, Sneakers, GH Club) but disappeared as real estate values skyrocketed. So many of these places are now a Gap or a Starbucks or a friggin Citibank  :(

I am amazed by the sheer number of venues listed - especially on the East Side. The east side has maybe 3 or 4 bars now. And I also noted the number of gay bars in the Times Square area - including the infamous Haymarket (a notorious hustler bar). Times Square once had a huge and multicultural gay scene - albeit sleazy and sometimes downright dangerous - but at least it was INTERESTING. There are now zero gay bars in Times Square (unless you count Escuelita) - and the bars in nearby Hells Kitchen are for cute white boys looking for other cute white boys. Which, in my opinion, is just so boring.

Manhattan's Gay Bar Graveyard

Next Magazine did a piece this week on all the Manhattan gay hotspots (and not-so-hotspots) which closed during the past 10 years.  Many of these shuttered bars/clubs were places I hung out - especially when I first moved to NYC in the 90's (Limelight, Roxy, Tunnel, etc.).  If those walls could talk...

But the one name which really hit home was Stella's (circled in red).  I have mentioned that bar many times, because it was simply a great place to hang out.  Not only was I friends with the owner, the staff, and half the customers - I became very "close" to some of the dancers as well.  EXTREMELY close.    :)

Good times...

Thanks to Kayce.