When was the last time you went to a gay bar to party?
No matter your relationship situation when you need a crazy night out, it’s not at the club where you should release some steam-it’s the gay bar.
Maybe, you’ve never been because you’re a straight girl and you don’t see the point. I understand the reasoning but humor me for a moment.
In Boystown in Chicago, the bars emanate warmth on a cold, February night. You might think it’s just another Friday night and spontaneously hit Sidetrack’s, a well-known gay bar, with your closest gay friends. It’s not a requirement to walk in with your good gay friends, but you will feel more at ease simply because you are in the minority. You have the fire in your eyes-you’re rolling with your crew and you want to dial it up. It’s Friday.
Potent Libations
As soon as you walk in, the energy has you. Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” is playing and it’s putting you in the party mode. You are a fierce motherf*cker. This will be your mantra of the night.
Men are everywhere in all shapes and sizes mingling with their peers—you have to adjust your vision because you are used to seeing women in their perspective tiny ensembles; instead, you see men dressed to impress. Anything and everything goes. You spot some silver foxes in button ups and some young 30-somethings in casual, fitted t-shirts with ripped biceps poking through. You even see some guys in S&M leather. You momentarily question if you’ve stumbled on some kind of theme night? With so much visual stimulation, your mind wanders to their straight counterparts-why can’t straight guys get this cleaned up (apart from bondage) on a night out? Your attention is everywhere, taking it all in.
The music is pumping with flat screens showcasing Robyn’s coordinating video. When you hit the bar, the bar man knows your gay friends. You order lemon drops for your first round of shots. You are shocked when the bartender comes back with full cups of a shimmering gold liquid rimmed with sugar-these are shots? This looks like a regular drink without ice. You pay and are taken aback—the shots are half the price they would be at a regular bar you would frequent. As you go to take the shot, you wince, and your friend yells out, “Drink your juice, Shelby.” He’s right, why are you fighting it? It’s time to rage.
With another drink in hand, you and your friends decide to mingle. Suddenly, you find yourself chatting with some 20-something cuties and you almost forget where you are. As I was genuinely complimenting this guy that looked like Matthew McConaughey on a night out, we instantly struck up a conversation. He and I were chatting discussing and scoping out potential guys he could hit on at the bar. I instantly felt at home and he made me feel apart of his community. No judgment, no straight dudes ignoring you on their phones. These guys are here to party, be social, and genuinely kick it. There are no sports on the huge flat screens; instead, you actually see guys conversing. How refreshing. The straight bar could learn a thing from the ambience here.
Dance Party
Once you’ve made your rounds with your friends-you see your group wanting to take it up a notch. We migrate to the dance floor and the house music with dancing LED lights is everything you could want in this moment. Everyone is dancing and you let the music and lights take over. You feel no stress except for having to hold your purse.
One of your crewmembers returns with more shots and you know that tomorrow will hurt. Everyone is bumping and grinding and letting the week shake off them. Why is this so fun? Maybe, because you don’t have to impress some guy that you are talking to at the bar and you certainly don’t have to worry about trying to freak him on the dance floor. It is careless and free and the energy is high. You don’t have your girlfriends trying to scam on guys and you aren’t trying to get away from some freak that won't leave you alone.
There are blasts of stage smoke and your guys get to the edge of a balcony with a railing which becomes a perfect prop for some risqué dancing. They take their shirts off and they have legitimate Greek god bodies. Like seeing a lion with its beautiful mane in its natural habitat, you stop and are entranced. You are legit dying at their Magic Mike moves and you snap a few shots for Instagram—you will need evidence to rag on them tomorrow.
The lights come on to your personal dance party and you have no concept of what time it is. You don’t want the night to be over-and the energy is so renewing. You’re left thinking why can't every night be like this?
Aftermath
The next morning, you reflect on how a night at the gay bar is different than a night at a “straight” club or a bar. The no-judgment atmosphere really allows you to be yourself and that no one really gives a sh*t. Shouldn’t this be everywhere you go?
One night at the gay bar and I guarantee you will leave without a care and several more friends (and numbers) than you started with. As a straight girl, there isn’t a facade for you, you can warm up to your fellow peers and enjoy the night. Sometimes you might think you are clueless straight person out of your element but a little adventure may just be what you need and a bump out of your comfort zone.
After all, the drinks are stronger and cheaper and if you are with a cute gay friend, he might get them for free. This is obviously better than sucking up to some straight dude all night who will just try to f*ck you without investing in one cocktail. Now, what are you doing this Friday night?
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