One of them, shirtless in overalls, said he came alone but wasn’t anymore. (between 1st & 2nd Ave.) (212) 477-4744 Casual dive bar welcoming a diverse group of patrons, both gay and lesbian. Two young men arrived from Chinatown and Harlem. new age gay bar at the Standard East Village Hotel. This was the first NYC gay bar I set foot in, during the fall of 1979. As the night progressed, others joined, and many seemed to know each other. The East Village wasnt my stomping grounds, and this is the only bar I recall. On a recent Saturday, a half-dozen 20-somethings in space buns, baby-doll ruffles, a Pikachu backpack and other 1990s adornments held court on the dance floor. A large disco ball sends flecks of light bouncing off a wall of mirrors.
An L-shaped marble bar anchors one side, and semicircle banquettes line the other. The city’s gay bars feature large, outdoor celebrations (not unlike a gay pride parade) that attract people of all stripes that wish to be entertained by a group of eclectic and unique. Sky blue tables are scattered around the front. New York gay bars are a popular destination for not only the city’s gay men, but for straight men and women interested in having a gay old time. Inside, round lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling like fat drops of water. The bar is just south of Cooper Triangle, on the ground floor of the Standard, East Village hotel - part of a mini-campus that includes a restaurant, cafe and garden. “We’re reimagining what a New York City gay bar is.”
“I really considered the history of the area, what the neighborhood needs, and the future,” said Angela Dimayuga, the creative director of food and culture for the Standard, who calls the project her baby. Referred to as the Vatican of Disco, The Saint was a gay, members-only club located in the East Village that operated between September 1980 and May 1988. While some visitors hail from the five boroughs, others come down from their rooms. In addition to the usual gay bar trappings (“RuPaul’s Drag Race” viewing party and bingo night), it also hosts speed dating and a Wednesday lesbian night called “Slather!” Hotel bars may be as ubiquitous as A.T.M.s these days, but how many cater specifically to queer patrons? No Bar, which opened in February at the Standard hotel in the East Village, is one.