Posts in Nightlife | Latest Gay News

Vocal Local: Honey Moonpie

By Kathryn Way on Jul. 16, 2018

Queer comedian Chris Fleming has a joke in a video about how he already knew someone was polyamorous because they “kept going on about how welcoming the burlesque community has been.” His video achieved a viral cult status, but that particular line resonated with many queer and polyamorous people because there’s a real truth to it. The Houston burlesque community is a haven of glittery inclusiveness for everyone under the rainbow. The stages of Bayou City are graced by all different body types…

Boogie Down in H-Town

By Kathryn Way on May. 14, 2018

Whether you’re looking to celebrate your boot-scootin’ roots or a tourist searching for an authentic Texan experience, Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon will certainly fit the bill. Established in 2013, this cowboy-themed gay dancehall is about 8 miles away from the typical Montrose Gayborhood scene, at 11410 Hempstead Road. The building itself is the stuff of legend. The historic location was formerly the Esquire Ballroom, a massive honky-tonk that hosted country greats like George Jones, Patsy…

First Annual Lez Prom May 19

By Kathryn Way on May. 09, 2018

Long before the era of viral “promposals” and legally recognized gay marriage, prom was a heavily heteronormative tradition catered to straight teens. Last year, gay advocacy org, GLAAD published their Accelerating Acceptance report that found 20% of millennials identify as LGBTQ, making them the queerest generation in history up to that point. A similar study by the J. Walter Thompson Innovation Group found that less than 50% of 13-20-year-olds identified as straight in 2016. While it’s…

Let's Fight! LGBTQ Storytelling showcase returns

By Ryan M. Leach on Mar. 15, 2018

In June 2017 a new theatrical experience called Story Hole was showcased at Rec Room in downtown Houston. The show, which features LGBTQ storytellers, instantly resonated with sold out crowds. In a short amount of time the show has become a quarterly tradition. On April 5th, it will return for a third installment of hilarious and heartfelt stories from the LGBTQ community. Each installment of Story Hole has a theme which all of the stories relate to. The April 5th theme is “Let’s Fight!”…

6 Can't-Miss Theme Nights

Oct. 11, 2016

Who doesn’t love a good theme night? When done right, they can give you a reason to hit the town, even on a school night. We’ve come up with a list of some of the best theme nights our favorite bars have on the calendar. This is far from your typical stand-and-model bar experience. Tuesday: Steak and Game night at Guava Lamp: $15 for a steak, salad and potato? Sign us up. Not only do you get to eat some delicious food by Chef Michele Free, from Free Grillin, after your dinner the night is just…

Meet The Bartender: Natan Cruz

By Ryan Bellinghausen on Jul. 26, 2016

True Houstonians are celebrating the return of Rich’s. For almost 30 years, this mega club served gay and straight patrons before shutting down in 2013. Now under new management, the two-story bar/dance club is back open and already showing Houston bars it is still a force to be reckoned with. Natan Cruz is just one of the friendly faces seen hustling around Rich’s keeping drinks full. We wanted to know how working for the new bar was in addition to his side projects that made him a well-known…

Rich's Reborn

Jun. 22, 2016

It's one of the most storied addresses in Houston nightlife. The dual-level mega-club at the corner of San Jacinto and McIlhenny streets in Midtown was ahead of its time when it opened in the 1980s. Rich's brought high-tech lighting and sound as well as larger-than-life music videos to the mostly gay masses who packed its enormous dance floor every weekend. The energy lasted for more than three decades before the club shuttered in 2013 and saw management and name changes. This past spring, gay…

Carole King Shines in 'Beautiful'

By Ryan Bellinghausen on May. 26, 2016

I dare you to find a jukebox in America that doesn’t have a least one song written by Carole King. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical follows the flourishing career of King, along with her writing partner and first husband Gerry Goffin. Together they wrote songs that soared to the top of the charts like “Up on the Roof,” “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) Natural Woman.” The story includes her collaborations with other artists such as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. “Yes…

Meet the Bartender: Crystal Murley

By Ryan Bellinghausen on May. 19, 2016

You can’t get the full Texas experience without going to at least one country bar. In Houston, one of the best places to go to satisfy that country twang and perhaps lasso a cowboy would be Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon. Just off Hempstead Highway, Neon Boots boosts the largest LGBT country concept in Texas and the largest gay bar in Houston. Crystal Murley is just one of the bartenders pouring Texas-sized drinks at the 11,000-square-foot dance hall/stage that has features performers like…

Life in Drag: Violet S’Arbleu

By Ryan Bellinghausen on Mar. 07, 2016

Hot on the stilettos of the premiere of season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race on March 7, we kiki’ed with Violet S’Arbleu, one of Houston’s most sickening drag queens. She spilled the tea on all things drag in Houston. Ryan Bellinghausen: What sets Houston queens apart? Violet S'Arbleu: Different places in the country (and indeed the world) are known for different things: Chicago queens sport some of the wildest makeup and costumes (examples from RuPaul’s Drag Race include Kim Chi, Trixie Mattel, and…

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