Connecticut

 Connecticut is an area that has a lot to offer the gay and lesbian community. It is not just beautiful to look at, it is very progressive and tolerant. Cities like Hartford, New Haven, and New London offer a large concentration of community members. There are plenty of shops, bars and quaint bed and breakfasts. For people that want to get away, there are beautiful little towns like Greenwich and Mystic. These places offer beautiful scenery, and quiet surroundings. You will also find one of this country's largest gambling casinos in Ledyard that attracts big name entertainers such as Aretha Franklin. Whatever you need can be found in Connecticut.

new haven

168 York Street Café
168 York Street, New Haven, CT 06511
203 789-1915

Open Monday-Friday, 3pm-1am; Saturday and Sunday till 2am, (Seasonal Sunday Brunch, 11am-2pm)
Pssst!! Want to meet a young, smart, gay, ivy league (I'm not mentioning any names) grad? You just might, here. While York Street is famous for Sunday brunch and their 60 oz. bloody mary/mimosas, they just might also be known for their infamous clientele. Who said that? This is one bar you won't want to pass, even if you are a law student (oof!).
Go in Monday-Wednesday, 4-7pm, and catch the happy hour specials; Thursday and Sunday nights pay a buck for domestic beers during the beer bash. The best part is that you'll never pay a cover.
In the summer months the outdoor patio is open for dancing. The downstairs bar is a comfortable, easy spot to make friends. Although you'll always hear popular music, there's no dance floor. In the video bar, upstairs, the party is a little less loud. The dining room has a laid back, southwestern decor, and the café/pub menu gives you a lot to choose from. Sometimes, there is live entertainment. So...

Best Tip: Call first to see what's up or visit 168 York Street on the Web.

Bar
254 Crown St., New Haven, CT
(203)495-8924
New Haven's Tuesday night gay/les bash, "Legendary" has returned to Bar, courtesy of Michael "The Diva" Longo. If you can't make it then, the management assures us that just about anything goes in this bar, anytime. The crowd is young (not quite "bail me out" young, but definitely geared toward Generation X). The pool table area has an informal, college feel to it, but the atmosphere in the back can rival some Manhattan dance clubs. There's a patio bar out back, open in the summer.

Best tip: Get there before 9 and you beat the cover.

Bloodroot
85 Ferris St., Bridgeport, CT 06605
(203) 576-9168
Lunch everyday, except Mon. and Wed.; Sunday Brunch 11:30-2:30pm.
Dinner 6-9pm, Tues. and Thurs.; 6-10pm, Fri. and Sat.
Bookstore and vegetarian restaurant on the Long Island Sound. Only about 20 min. from New Haven.
In the mood for dinner before heading out for the night? Or, maybe you're looking to spend an afternoon in a bookstore with some "very opinionated" (their words, not mine) feminists. Either case, both your appetites will be satisfied.
20 years ago I bought my first copy of Rubyfruit Jungle there, (sigh...). A welcome change from those larger bookstores, and more of a lesbian/feminist selection, too.
On Wednesdays, 7-9pm, The G. Knapp Historical Society meets for a women's night. Also, on random Wednesdays they often book some entertainment. Cover depends on the artist, so call first.

The Brownstone Café
email: bstone@callnet.com
29 Leavenworth St., Waterbury, CT
(203) 597-1838
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 5pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 5pm-2am
This bar is right out of Beantown. (Norm...!!) Or, one could say, what the Homestead is to Port Chester, the Brownstone is to Waterbury. This bar is mixed; not just men/women mixed, but straight/gay mixed. And it works. So, it's only appropriate that Tuesday starts the week off with the locals. Maybe this works because it's just one big room - you might as well get along, you can't get away! There's no dance floor, but hey, everybody's having fun playing pool, darts or pinball. Of course, there's music: club music and a video jukebox with a lot of alternative stuff on it. There is never a cover charge; and the kitchen is open all night for appetizers.

Frank's Place
email: onejp@connix.com
9 Tilley Street, New London, CT 06320
(860) 443-8883
Opens Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4pm-2am; Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday at 6pm-1am. Closed Monday.
This 24-year-old club boasts seven rooms, including two bars, a pool room, a living room, a TV room, an outside patio and the "bird cage room"- that's right, a sitting room full of different types of bird cages (only in a gay bar!). Very hip. You'll never pay a cover charge, and you'll always hear top 40 dance tunes.
During the week, they offer drink specials to help adjust that Queen Mary attitude. On Sunday join them for a Happy Hour Beer Blast from 6-9pm. On Thursday nights grab something hard, like a mike, and sing Karaoke. On weekends, dance, play pool, or maybe catch some live entertainment after the 4-7 Happy Hour. DJ on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Best Tip: Check out the drag shows in the bird cage room, worthy of bringing your camera.

Gotham Citi
The Washington Building
130 Crown St., New Haven, Ct. 06511
(203) 498-CITI
Open every night.
Weekends: 8pm-2am; weekdays 5pm-1am.
The entranceway into the front bar is perfect for any Diva to saunter through in style! The back bar offers a lot of floor space for dancing, and an elevated stage-like area for all the queens to show off. And, there's a small pool room but, look out...$2 a game! Ouch!
"Girl Twirl" brings the babes out on random Fridays. Saturday nights: coin cocktails from 8-10pm. On the weekends you'll pay a $5 cover. Call first to see what's happening the rest of the week.
Men's Leather Night," leather men coupled with a retro dance party on Sunday nights.

Heroes Café
33 Golden Street, New London, CT 06320
(860) 442-HERO
Open Monday-Thursday, 4pm-1am;
Friday and Saturday, 4pm-2am; Sunday 1pm-1am
If you haven't been here in a while you may notice that this bar has downsized a bit. Although it fits into the basement now, Heroes is still big enough to cram in a lot of fun. (And, it could give a whole new meaning to the term `going down.')
Wednesday is Men's Night from 8-10pm (25¢ beers for men). Thursday's special for women and drag queens (25¢ beers for real girls or fake ones). Male dancers on Saturday get everybody on the dance floor. On Sunday, grab some free food, play pool, and laugh at The Bink and Billy Show.
This bar is mostly men, no lie, but a stray dyke is always welcome. Food is available from a limited menu 7 days a week, and there's never a cover charge.

Maxie's Café
2627 Waterbury Road, Waterbury, CT
(203) 574-1629
Open 7 days a week
Monday -Thursday, 7pm-1am; Friday and Saturday 7pm-2am; Sunday 4pm-1am
The main attraction for many at this bar is the volleyball court off of the outdoor patio. Co-ed teams, different each week, sport it out. Be on the lookout for benefit games against other bars as well. And, don't forget about their softball league called the Funship League.
Maxie's is well-known for their community contributions via the many benefit programs they sponsor throughout the year, highlighting "Maxie's Miracles."
Happy hour Monday-Friday 7-9pm, DJ dance party every Friday night, and keep your eyes and ears open for an occasional show or band. And, for those wannabe rockers, Karaoke is on the third Saturday of every month. The good news is you won't pay a cover charge unless there's a special event night.

Best Tip: Bring your knee pads and seven of your friends and work up a sweat on the dance floor.

Partners Café
365 Crown St., New Haven, CT
(203) 776-1014
Open all week.
It looks like Partners is back! Happy Hour every Monday-Friday, 5-8pm . On Sunday loosen up at the Tea Dance, 6-9pm, then hang out for some retro fun 9pm til closing. 2-4-1 on Tuesdays with House music and "Mandance" (Chantal & Her Men), DJ Joe Giucastro spins. 10pm-close. On Thursdays, Get Yer Groove On! Then, when you're warmed up, return for the weekend dance party,10pm-close. For more, take a peek at their site

Stephanie's Living Room
email: sphilips@slrgroup.com
The Ramada Inn, Stratford, CT
(203) 377-2119
Stephanie hosts this long-standing party for women only - hundreds of them. No lie! All types, all ages, all in one room (well, banquet hall). It's been dubbed The Prom, Tina and Tina's Wedding, and even The Fish Bowl (we can't even go there). Whatever you want to call it you've got to hand it to Stephanie for pulling it off.
At the last one we went to, there were at least 300 women there - kinda makes us wonder where they all are the rest of the time. Anyway, this party starts early - the place might be packed by 9:15, but the space is so big, you'll still find a table. It'll cost you $10 to get in, but once you're in... You'll probably not be too impressed by the style or design; it's the Ramada Inn, after all, a bit generic. But there's a huge dance floor with a DJ who is very good about actually playing your requests. The lines are long to get a drink, but chances are while you're waiting you'll see someone you know.
Best Tip: The key is to get on the mailing list, because if you don't hear through the mail when the next party is scheduled, you'll have to depend on your friends to hear about it. Or, better yet, visit the SLR Web site.

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 Art Bar
84 West Park Pl., Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 973-0300
$4 cover. Gay on Sunday nights only, 8pm-1am.
The home of the original Sunday night gay/les dance party in Stamford at The Art Bar has moved around the corner to Premiere. At the risk of sounding a little pessimistic, we'll leave this listing up for a while anyway because we hear that the management is looking for someone to carry on the tradition...
The Art Bar, with its large front bar (with the biggest pool table we've ever seen), offers a space in which to ease into the evening; two side bars provide small seating areas where you can catch your breath; and, a center bar and dance floor area puts you in the heart of it all. And, don't forget, the Art Bar is still a posit for area artists' work, so ask the bartenders about upcoming exhibits.

Bloodroot
85 Ferris St., Bridgeport, CT 06605
(203) 576-9168
Lunch everyday, except Mon. and Wed.; Sunday Brunch 11:30-2:30pm.
Dinner 6-9pm, Tues. and Thurs.; 6-10pm, Fri. and Sat.
Bookstore and vegetarian restaurant on the Long Island Sound.
In the mood for dinner before heading out for the night? Or, maybe you're looking to spend an afternoon in a bookstore with some "very opinionated" (their words, not mine) feminists. Either case, both your appetites will be satisfied.
20 years ago I bought my first copy of Rubyfruit Jungle there, (sigh...). A welcome change from those larger bookstores, and more of a lesbian/feminist selection, too.
On Wednesdays, 7-9pm, The G. Knapp Historical Society meets for a women's night. Also, on random Wednesdays they often book some entertainment. Cover depends on the artist, so call first.

Caught In The Act
1246 Main St., Bridgeport, CT
(203) 333-9505
Open every day.
Weekdays: Noon-1am; Weekends: Noon-2am
Small and cozy bar for men and women. DJ every night; male strippers on Saturday night. You can even get a bite to eat off their small bar menu.

The Cedar Brook Café
919 Post Road East, Westport, CT
(203) 221-7GAY
Open weekdays, 8pm-1am; Friday and Saturday until 2am; Sunday, 6pm-11pm
The Cedar Brook Cafe has re-opened after the fire. New atmosphere and a new DJ. But, basically, it's the same ol' Brook, and it's got quite a history. Here's our review...
Many other clubs have come and gone over the nearly 50 years since The Brook Café first opened Westport's closet doors; but this landmark remains. Nothing short of a thermonuclear war will close this place - and even then there will probably be some queen waiting to get in. The "oldest gay bar in Connecticut" really is a classic.
The '70s saw a die-hard lesbian crowd in the upstairs bar with the men's bar downstairs, and drew huge crowds for their Wednesday 2-for-1 special. Well, some things never change - the hump day special is still one of the best draws. The Brook has two bars: one with seating, a juke box and a pool table; the other, down near the dance floor, is larger and less intimate. There's another pool table and video/pinball machines in a small "game room" which leads to a large outdoor patio. These days it's primarily men, but the women come out too, mostly on the weekends. No matter what you're into, there's probably a night for you.

Premiere
129 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT 06605
(203) 323-1120
$4 cover. Gay on Sunday nights only, 8pm-1am.
Michael Longo, the Diva who started the original gay/les dance party in Stamford, has moved the Sunday night bash to Premiere. Same music, same people, but in a great new space. We love the change!
There's split level action here. The two good-sized second level rooms, both with bars and one with a pool table, are glass enclosed and overlook the large dance floor below. There is a limited amount of seating along the edges of the dance floor, but the sofas are slightly elevated and provide for a good cruising altitude.
Have you been there? Let us know what you think. Post your comments in our Talk Section.

Sandy's Old Homestead
email: sandy@cynergistics.com
325 N. Main Street, Port Chester, NY 10573
(914) 939-0758
Open 8 am-4 am, Monday-Saturday; Noon-4 am, Sunday
There's a Sandy's in every small town in America. Weeeell...almost. The only difference is that Sandy's is gay...sometimes...most of the time...well, 80% of the time. Put it this way, there's usually at least one lesbian in the bar at any given moment.
Picture this: a typical neighborhood bar - juke box, pool table, pinball, video games, darts, bowling. It's Friday happy hour, you're there with twelve of your closest lesbian friends, and in walks some straight guy that you worked with 5 years ago along with a couple of his buddies to shoot pool and eat chili fries - and everything's cool. It works. (You'd be much more uncomfortable watching Emmy Award Show reruns of Ellen Degeneres in a dress). Most of the regulars during the week are straight, but the whole place is very gay friendly. Don't miss the End of the Month Party on the last Saturday of every month: there's a $5 cover (one of the few times you'll pay one), and no men allowed (though they might make an exception for one or two of your gay male friends). The juke box is unplugged and a DJ spins popular dance music. The kitchen is always open and there's a full menu. There are non-exclusive event nights, too, so...

Best Tip: call first to see what's happening.

Stephanie's Living Room
email: sphilips@slrgroup.com
The Ramada Inn, Stratford, CT
(203) 377-2119
Stephanie hosts this long-standing party for women only - hundreds of them. No lie! All types, all ages, all in one room (well, banquet hall). It's been dubbed The Prom, Tina and Tina's Wedding, and even The Fish Bowl (we can't even go there). Whatever you want to call it you've got to hand it to Stephanie for pulling it off.
At the last one we went to, there were at least 300 women there - kinda makes us wonder where they all are the rest of the time. Anyway, this party starts early - the place might be packed by 9:15, but the space is so big, you'll still find a table. It'll cost you $10 to get in, but once you're in... You'll probably not be too impressed by the style or design; it's the Ramada Inn, after all, a bit generic. But there's a huge dance floor with a DJ who is very good about actually playing your requests. The lines are long to get a drink, but chances are while you're waiting you'll see someone you know.
Best Tip: The key is to get on the mailing list, because if you don't hear through the mail when the next party is scheduled, you'll have to depend on your friends to hear about it. Or, better yet, visit the SLR Web site.

Triangles
66 Sugar Hollow Road (Route 7), Danbury, CT
(203)798-6996
Open 7 nights a week.
That long and winding road up through Fairfield County leads to Triangles. It's mostly men, but there are more women here than most bars in the area. (Where are the lesbians, anyway?)
Drink specials every night, with male dancers on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Friday and Saturday it's a packed house dance party. Or, if dancing isn't your thing, they have two pool tables and video games in a less-crowded room with a video jukebox and bar.
In the summer months, hang out on the patio bar; it's a great place to spend a low-key Sunday afternoon (until then, enjoy their new piano bar). You'll never have a hard time parking and it's safe.

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