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THE FRUIT LOOP Aka the swath of Downcity that makes for an easy gay-bar hop .
Mirabar Originally established in Woonsocket in 1947 , Mirabar is Rhode Island ’ s oldest gay bar ( and one of the longest running in the U . S .). It ’ s moved several times over the years , with its current location going strong — how can it not with a slogan like “ When in doubt , come on out ”? 15 Elbow St ., Providence , 331-6761 , facebook . com / mirabarri
Ego Best known for its rowdy nightclub atmosphere , dynamic music choices and Thursday night drag shows , this eighteenplus bar certainly has reason for a big ego . 73 Richmond St ., Providence , egopvd . com
Providence Eagle This male-dominated leather bar ( you can Google it ) has a reputation for being a bit more exclusive , but don ’ t let the entrance ’ s menacing-looking eagle head intimidate you — the sultry scene is worth the stare down . 124 Snow St ., Providence , 272-9900 , providence eagle . com
The Stable Though on the cozier side , the Stable is perhaps the most accessible and familiar of Providence ’ s gay bars — you ’ re bound to run into someone you know and reconnect over a cocktail . 125 Washington St ., Providence , 272-6950 , stable pvd . com
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The Dark Lady With a name like Dark Lady , this spot delivers on captivating times . Head to this nightclub if you ’ re in the mood to admire some talented pole dancers , sip a heavy pour , sing karaoke or bust a move during the themed drag performanceslash-dance parties . 19 Snow St ., Providence , 272-6369 , instagram . com / thedarkladypvd
Alley Cat Alley Cat is the little sister / neighbor bar to the Dark Lady and is known for its intimate interior and funky music . 17 Snow St ., 272-6369 , instagram . com / thealleycatpvd
THE ALLIES These spots may not have “ gay bar ” in their Instagram bios , but the community is drawn to them all the same and welcomed with open arms .
Moniker Brewery
WHY : Hosts Queers and Beers every Monday and Queeraoke PVD bimonthly ( see page 64 ). 432 W . Fountain St ., Providence , 648-0150 , monikerbrewery . com
Kimi ’ s
WHY : Hosts Queeriosity bimonthly ( see page 65 ).
The Black Sheep Babes .
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373 Washington St ., Providence , kimis . bar
Deadbeats
WHY : Known for its late-night , horror-inspired drag shows . 289 Knight St ., Providence , 383-1489 , instagram . com / dead beats _ pvd
The Salon
WHY : Frequent purveyor of “ Dyke Night ” dance parties . 57 Eddy St ., Providence , 415- 8623 , thesalonpvd . com
Black Sheep
WHY : Home to the Black Sheep Babes , who host drag bingo at the venue every Wednesday and drag brunches most weekends . 397 Westminster St ., 274-5061 , blacksheepri . com
Dancing Cats
WHY : Regularly hosts queer events like Sapphic Nights and the Big Bounce . 41 Central St ., Providence , 347-2771 , dancing catsbar . com
Lost Bag
WHY : Hosts queer open mic nights featuring everything from music to comedy . ( Note : Send an Instagram DM for the address ). Providence , instagram . com / lostbagspace
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Askew
WHY : Plays host to a number of queer events and performers ( musicians , comedians , drag , etc .) throughout the year . 150 Chestnut St ., Providence , 774- 526-9736 , askewprov . com .
The Elusive Lesbian Bar
There ’ s been discourse about how the lesbian bar is nearing extinction — there are only thirty in the U . S . — and Rhode Island is not yet helping the issue ( pour one out for the Village ). On the bright side , neighboring Massachusetts is picking up the slack .
Femme Bar Femme Bar was created to be a safe space for lesbian and queer women , but anyone with positive vibes is welcome to admire the pink neon-lit interior and dreamy drinks . Worcester , Massachusetts , femmebarworcester . com
Dani ’ s Queer Bar “ L Word ” fans will recognize the name of this brand-new bar in Boston ’ s Back Bay as a subtle nod to the show ’ s fictional Dana ’ s . The bar came about thanks to passionate crowdfunding and was created to provide a safe and inclusive environment for queer , trans , nonbinary and Sapphic women , all underrepresented segments of Boston ’ s LGBTQ + community . danisqueerbar . com — K . M .
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62 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2024 |