Lifestyle

Bar And Club Guide–May 2010

Stephen Bridgwater, Meteor

Listings for Houston, Galveston, Spring, Beaumont, Bryan and College Station.Plus: Behind the bar with Stephen Bridgwater at Meteor.

BEHIND THE BAR

WHO:
Stephen Bridgwater

WHERE:
Meteor, 2306 Genesee St. • meteorlounge • 713/521-0123

WHAT’S UP:The slick video lounge hosts Pride Idol Houston, a vocal competition, on Thursdays, May 13 through June 17.

Photo by NANCY FORD

___________________

Galveston
Spring
Humble
Beaumont
Bryan/College Station

___________________

Houston

THE 611
This neighborhood club is a popular spot with pool sharks. On Fri. and Sat., the 611 dishes up buffet dinners. Features include a garden-style patio. 611 Hyde Park • 713/526-7070.

AZTECA’S VIP LOUNGE
The talented DJ Rocky B holds court and spins for “the best girl-4-girl night in Houston,” held each Friday atop this Greenway-area Mexican restaurant. 2207 Richmond Ave. Details: throbparties.info.

BAYOU CITY BAR & GRILL
Experience a new attitude and new menu at this trendy Montrose spot. Open Tuesday through Sunday (’til 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday) for lunch, dinner, and after-the-bars-close dining. 2409 Grant St. • bayoucitybar.com.

BEER ISLAND
Tropical touches combine with Texas roadhouse chic at this comfortable Heights hangout. Beer is king, but the Island is also becoming famous for their sake shots. 2631 White Oak Dr. • 713/862-4670.

BLUR
This multi-level dance club features an expansive patio upstairs lounge, and balconies that overlook the busy Pacific St. traffic. The ladies enjoy Wet and Wild Wednesdays, 18-year-olds are welcome on Thurs., resident DJ Lorenzo spins Wed.-Sat. nights, DJ Pollo spins Karumba Latin night on Sun. Happy hour, 8-10 p.m.; free cover before 11 p.m. 710 Pacific St. • blurbar.com.

BOCADOS
Patrons enjoy dining on the deck at this cozy Menil-area Mexican restaurant that also accommodates special events, like charitable dinners for AIDS Foundation Houston and American Cancer Society. 1312 W. Alabama • 713/523-5230.

BRAZOS RIVER BOTTOM
The BRB, Houston’s leading gay country-western bar, is located in Midtown, just outside Montrose. Expect to see some fast and fancy two-stepping. Southern Country dance club offers lessons on Thurs. night. 2400 Brazos • 713/528-9192 • brbhouston.com.

CHANCES
Connected to G Spot and the adjacent New Barn, Chances provides lesbians and those who love them with three separate clubs to satisfy their dance and live music needs. 1100 Westheimer Rd. chancesbar.com • 713/523-7217.

CLUB 2020
Located downtown near the Toyota Center, this urban club features Clubbers Friday with male and female dancers. Its 6,400 square feet also offers theater-sized viewing screens and VIP rooms. 2020 Leeland • 713/227-9667 • club2020houston.com.

CLUB ADAM AND EDEN
Serving the collective party needs of the Clear Lake area’s gay men and lesbians, the adjacent clubs are open seven days a week, offering a large video lounge, a martini bar, pool tables, a private VIP area, and a 1,200 sq. foot dance floor. 522 W. Nasa Parkway. Details: 281/557-0434 • clubadam.net.

CLUB CRYSTAL
If you miss the now-closed Inergy, you’ll find many of its former staff, management, and décor at this two-room Latin/hip-hop club. Sunday evening drag shows rule the roost. 6680 Southwest Frwy, next to Colorado. crystal theclub.com • 713-278-2582.

CROCKER
New ownership has taken over this durable Montrose nightspot that boasts “the longest happy hour in Montrose.” Miss Jenny hosts Wii tournaments, with gay boxing on Wed. and gay bowling on Sun. 2312 Crocker • 713/529-3355.

DECADES
This casual neighborhood bar attracts a devoted crowd of regulars. It hosts a Monday pool tournament and Wednesday dart tournament and offers free pool on Sundays. 1205 Richmond • 713/521-2224.

EJ’S
Located on the western front of Montrose, EJ’s retains the charm of a colorful, local hangout. Frequent shows, including community benefits, pack the stage. The upstairs martini bar offers a quiet retreat. 2517 Ralph • 713/527-9071 • ejsbar.com.

GEORGE
Regulars rule at this comfortable neighborhood sports bar, just like most other neighborhood sports bars in town. But George’s occasional benefit drag show makes it a wonderful, campy alternative. Sports Saturdays start at 3 p.m. with dart and pool tournaments; Steak Night is Sun., 3-7 p.m. 617 Fairview • 713/528-8102.

GUAVA LAMP
The club left Shepherd Plaza and reopened with a larger space near Allen Parkway. Guava Lamp presents karaoke nights on Sun. and Wed. and offers a free happy hour buffet on Fri. 570 Waugh • 713/524-3359.

IN-N-OUT
Heights residents appreciate this nearby alternative to Montrose haunts with state-of-the-art large digital displays, Internet jukebox, comfy seating, and daily drink specials. 1537 N. Shepherd Dr. • 713/589-9780.

JR’S BAR & GRILL
With house emcee Kofi, OutSmart’s Gayest and Greatest reigning drag champion, this Montrose standard offers shows Sun.-Wed., as well as pool tables, go-go boys, and karaoke. 808 Pacific St. • 713/521-2519.

LADY BARBARA’S CLUB TRUE COLORS
Lady Barbara and MC Zip, who previously held court at Bella Aida Gardens and Bartini, have opened this new southwest club for “everyone in the community” featuring “Free For All” open mic on Sundays. 2727 Crossview Dr. • 713/266-6505.

METEOR
Gorgeous men of Manwatch and Muscles in Action rinse down in the newly added “Meteor Shower” stall, with VJ’s Tad Dvorak, Chris Allen, and Joe Ross playing top billboard videos every night in this posh but comfy lounge on the downtown edge of Montrose. 2306 Genese • meteorlounge.com • 713/521-0123.

MICHAEL’S OUTPOST
This comfortable neighborhood club doubles as a piano bar with a regular roster of evening pianists including Wayne Gray and Roger Woest. 1419 Richmond Ave. • 713/520-8446.

MONTROSE MINING COMPANY
Studly male dancers bump and grind every night at this leather/denim spot. The two-tier back patio bar provides a perch for viewing the Pacific Street scenery. 805 Pacific • 713/529-7488.

PABLO’S BAR & GRILL
Formerly known as the Pasadena Sky Bar, this LGBT-friendly venue located on the eighth floor of the Camden Plaza Hotel boasts a brand new dance floor and resident DJ. 114 Richey St. in Pasadena. pasadenaskybar.com • 832/884-7276

PRAVADA
This chic, predominantly straight club goes lesbian each Wednesday with Skirt Productions’ Kiss La Femme, featuring go-go dancers and DJ Joy De La O. 2815 Shepherd Dr. clubpravada.com • 713/533-1200.

RAINBOW ROOM
Every Thursday, Heather Moon hosts karaoke at this north Houston club. DJ Kenny supplies music on Fri. and Sat. 527 Barren Springs • 281/872-0215 • therainbowroombar.com.

RIPCORD
This well-kept, multi-roomed, leather bar for men and their friends boasts a busy patio, especially on the weekends. The Black Hawk Leather shop is located inside the club, providing BDSM essentials. 715 Fairview Ave. • theripcord.com • 713/521-2792.

SOUTH BEACH
This expansive, ultra-chic dance club is a frequent winner of OutSmart ‘s Gayest and Greatest awards, with Billboard Magazine favorite DJ Jimmy Skinner and frequent high-producing-value drag shows on Sunday. DJ Franky Boy spins Thursdays for Noche Latina Latin Night. 810 Pacific St. • 713/529-SOBE • southbeachthenightclub.com.

TC’s
New owners, Tim and Corey, have revamped the deep-Montrose neighborhood bar, erasing any hint of its former occupant, Cousin’s. Numerous flat-screen televisions and daylong drink specials highlight the updated décor. 817 Fairview Ave. 713/526-2625.

TONY’S CORNER POCKET
This comfortable club located close to downtown has one of the friendliest bar staffs in town, both inside and outside at its patio bar. The raised stage where local charities perform also features an amateur dance contest each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11 p.m. Opens daily at noon. 817 W. Dallas. 713/571-7870 • tonyscornerpocketbar.com.

THE USUAL
Formerly a house of ill repute, this lesbian-owned neighborhood bar now has plenty of repute, especially on Wednesday, when “Her Usual” night packs in the women. Enjoy drink specials, dancing, karaoke, and gazing at the downtown skyline from the spacious front deck. 5519 Allen St. theusualpub.com. • 281/501-1478.

VIVIANA’S
This club, in a new location, appeals to fans of Latino music and drag alike. 4624 Dacoma • 713/681-4104.

____________________________________________________

Galveston

3RD COAST BEACH BAR
Just because its owners moved the club from its long-time Seawall location, it doesn’t mean it’s not still one of the most popular spots for Galveston’s LGBTs. Its new “urban chic” look maintains its tropical flair. 2416 Post Office St. 3rdcoastbeachbar.com • 409/765-6911.

THE PINK DOLPHIN
This friendly club, a favorite with the BOIs (born-on-islanders), has expanded to more than 5,000 square feet in its new downtown location, offering a limited lunch menu and “champagne room” for private parties. 1828 Strand St. • myspace.com/pinkdolphinbar • 409/621-1808.

ROBERT’S LAFITTE
A neighborhood bar, the Island institution attracts a colorful crowd of regulars and travelers. The private patio includes a swimming pool. On Sat. and Sun. nights, the Ladies of Lafitte show takes the stage. 2501 Avenue Q (at 25th) • 409/765-9092.

STARS BEACH CLUB
The island’s newest entry into its ever-growing roster of gay bars is energized by visually stunning touches of light throughout. DJ Joe Rios spins for the spacious dance club, which also offer ample outdoor seating. 3102 Seawall Blvd. 409/497-4113.

___________________________________________________

Spring

RANCH HILL SALOON
With its two pool tables, 52-inch plasma televisions, and large dance floor, the gayest spot on the north side also accommodates private parties, holy unions, and receptions. Enjoy Wii tournaments Fridays, 7-9 p.m., and Sundays, 5-8 p.m. 247041-I45N, Suite 103. 281/298-9035 • www.ranchhill.com • myspace.com/ranchhill_saloon.

____________________________________________________

Humble

WHISPERS
Northerly GLBTs meet at this comfy neighborhood bar that offers pool, darts, video games, karaoke Thurs., dancing to the Internet jukebox and live DJ on Fri. and Sat., and Steak night on Sun. 226 First St. • 281/359-2900 • whispersbar.com.

____________________________________________________

Beaumont

THE COPA
This popular two-story club provides a friendly place for Lamar University and east Texas GLBTs to shoot pool, dance, enjoy karaoke, and take in the occasional drag show. Open Wednesday through Sunday. 304 Orleans • 409/832-4206 • myspace.com/officialcopanightclub.

ORLEANS STREET PUB AND PATIO
The place to hang for food, fun, and booze in a newly renovated pub, in good weather or bad. Open every night from 7 pm-2 am. 650 Orleans • 409/835-4243. ____________________________________________________

Bryan/College Station

HALO VIDEO BAR
The only GLBT dance club in Bryan/College station, this sleek spot is open Thurs.-Sat. Smack in the middle of Aggieland, “our venue is always packed with the hotties,” the owners promise. 121 North Main • 979/823-6174 • halobcs.com.

Know of a bar or club we’re missing, or that needs updating? [email protected].

Comments

Leave a Review or Comment

Back to top button