Tenderloin The carpet probably hasn't been replaced since the mid-70s, there's one of those flammable-stuffed-animal crane games up front, and Chris the toothless bartender is the sweetest thing to happen to the Tenderloin since the advent of crack. Don't miss the Hot Boxxx Girls, Fri-Sat 10 PM.
Downtown Though Damron Guides cite a "professional crowd" at this downtown dive, our experience of Ginger's leans more toward wheelchairs, walkers, Cutty Sark neat on a Tuesday afternoon, and a host of regular clients who looked like they might spend the balance of their non-Ginger's-drinking hours sleeping on the sidewalk. Closes around 9 PM most nights.
SOMA Expect a selection of leather daddies and pool-hustling cubs at this Harley-friendly dive just north of Folsom Street. It's about bottled beer and hankies around here, and don't even think about ordering a fucking Cosmo.
Polk Gulch 841 Larkin Street The bandana'd and rolled-jeans bicycle crew takes the place over once a month at "Chrome," but most nights the Gangway is the sort place where old guys have slurred shout-fights about the names of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands and who got more tail during the war.
Easternbloc505 E. 6th Street The music's good, the boys are hip, the bartenders are cute and it's the kind of non-BnT, come-as-you-are booze fest Manhattan needs more of. But we admit we also love it partly because of fond memories the old, seedy Wonder Bar at the same address, with the blackout back room and $2 beers and John Waters movies and projected on the back wall. Check out Bloc Party on Fridays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Ritz369 W. 46th Street This swank new midtown space with outdoor patios and a nautical theme got voted Best New Venue by HX in 2007, and has enough parties going on that it'll keep you oscillating between buzzed and hungover through your entire work week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HK Lounge523 9th Avenue HK Lounge just is still coming into its own, but Hell's Kitchen is where it's at and the space is airy and well designed. The boys tend to be cute, the music more hip than not, and the crowd a mix of professionals and performers from the neighborhood. If you're in the 'hood on Thursdays and you're not swilling late-night happy hour drinks at Barrage, check out Buzz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cock
29 2nd Avenue The East Village was ahead of the curve in bringing sleaze back to gay life in the late 90s, and the Cock was at the forefront of that movement. Then the place got more popular and moved to the Hole, but it's still a really easy answer to the question "where can I get drunk and laid with the most efficiency tonight in Manhattan?" Check out Cock Fight on Saturdays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >SEE MORE BARS ON DAMRON.COM |
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