Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
268
Out & About: L.A.'s Gay & Lesbian Nightlife Scene
Like San Francisco to the north, Los Angeles has a vibrant and politically po w-
erful gay and lesbian c ommunity. Every year in June , this ac tive community
comes out (pun intended) in full force for one of the city's most popular events:
the
Gay Pride parade,
which all but takes over West Hollywood in the spirit of
activism and audacity. If you're in town, this is one party you don't want to miss
(see “Los Angeles-Area Calendar of Events” in chapter 3).
Dragstrip 66
is a great drag night held four times a year at the Echoplex. I t
offers up every type of music—except disco and Liza. That's entertainment. The
cover ranges from $10 to $20, and if y ou ain't in drag, be prepared to pay the
higher end of the range (and wait in line a bit longer than the more fashionably
hip). Check the w ebsite (www.dragstrip66.com) or call
&
323/969-2596
for
upcoming dates. The Echoplex is located at 1152 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park.
Although
West Hollywood (WeHo),
often referred to as Bo ys Town, is the
best-known gay neighborhood in L os Angeles, there are several other not e-
worthy enclaves.
Silver Lake
has a longstanding gay community that's worked
hard to preserve the area's beautiful homes once occupied by the likes of Char-
lie Chaplin and Cecil B. DeMille. To the west of WeHo,
Santa Monica
and
Ven-
ice
also have a strong gay and lesbian presence.
If you're looking for specific inf o on ga y culture in L.A., check out
Frontiers
(
&
323/857-0578
), one of the most pr ominent fr ee biw eekly ga y mags ,
available in c offeehouses and at new sstands cit ywide. The
L.A. W eekly
and
New Times Los Angeles
also ha ve lesbian and ga y articles and listings .
The Abbey
T his is
the
social spot for WeHo's gay scene. It's part coffeehouse,
bar, and restaurant, so you can star t with lattes in the morning and swit ch to
cocktails in the af ternoon. In fact, most of West Hollywood seems t o end up
here on Saturday nights. 692 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood.
&
310/289-
8410.
www.abbeyfoodandbar.com. No c over.
10
pumps house beats, creating an atmosphere in which the scantily clad women and w ell-
dressed men vie for attention fr om the opposite sex. I f you're just rolling off the beach,
however, don't be worried about being under dressed because at the B rig, less is more. If
you are lucky enough to get on the lone pool table, y ou can sho w off y our skills and
perhaps attract some of that sought-after attention to y ourself.
1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd.,
Venice.
&
310/399-7537.
Circle Bar
This hip spot is par ticularly popular with the post-college cr owd. A place
to see and be seen, the Cir cle Bar packs them in nightly . Although it's located in S anta
Monica, the scene is often more reminiscent of Hollywood. Its namesake, a large circular
bar, gets very crowded on the w eekends, but the bar tenders pour a stiff drink that nor-
mally makes the wait worthwhile. The DJ spins everything from '80s to more progressive
beats as the cr owd dictates. S tudents, locals, and str uggling actors all dance the night
away and get their groove on while looking for that special someone.
2926 Main St., Santa
Monica.
&
310/450-0508.
www.thecirclebar.com.
