TG Nightlife Guide - Where to go & what to do in NYC!

[Last edited: 3/10/13]

Hi everyone:

This is a long read, but packed with info! I'm posting because I get asked all the time what venues, clubs, or events in NYC are TG-specific or TG-friendly.

Paradoxically as big a city as New York is, there are less "dedicated" places for someone trans to be social in NYC. That's because many venues and parties now avoid "niche" events that might attract less guests. They can get a huge crowd with drink specials and no "special nights." 

Also, places change at the drop of a hat. Bars open and close overnight, venues change management and ownership.

In addition, some places I feel comfortable attending may not be as comfortable to others so your mileage may vary.  

Because of these ever-changing factors this is NOT intended to be an exhaustive list. My advice is to 1) do your own research, 2) take these listings with a grain of salt, not as gospel, and 3) don't be offended if your favorite bar or night out isn't included!

Final caveat - I'm genderqueer, and I most align with the M2F experience. So these selected parties and venues are filtered through that experience, although I know there are many listed here that are friendly for TG, cis- and any "flavor" of gender identity!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: 

• Checking out TIME OUT NEW YORK online for their listings is a great place to start. Especially since they have gay/lesbian listings separate for their recommended parties and clubs! http://www.timeout.com/newyork/gay-lesbian

• NEXT MAGAZINE is also a place to look. They are a guide to gay listings and nightlife, so you have to use your judgment, and understand that most "TG" events will mean "drag shows." But there are always parties listed there: http://www.nextmagazine.com.

• And DO YOUR RESEARCH. Most of these listed events or venues are on Yelp, or Facebook. So whether or not you have an account, you should dig up more specific info (schedules, location, etc) before you head out for the night. You don't want to show up to a party that has moved, or a club that has since closed!

GEOGRAPHY for those of you "freelancing"

• The West Village (West of 7th Avenue in and around Christopher Street) or the Chelsea areas of NYC (8th Avenue between 14th and 23rd Streets especially) is a good place to mingle if you have no specific plan. Most restaurants and bars in these areas are GLBT-owned or operated, so being en femme is a bit more of a "blending in."   

The TG PARTIES YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW ABOUT:

• MY Triangles parties each month, and if you are reading this then you know!

• AMANDA'S HIDE-A-WAY AT THE PL LOUNGE - Amanda Lay hosts a fun party every Saturday in HACKENSACK, NJ not far from Teterboro Airport. You can also change into/out of drag at the club, which is convenient.  More info at their Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/groups/140435772668909/

• Samantha Jones hosts a LONG ISLAND T-GIRLS PARTY that has usually been held at Club 841 East Lounge in Huntington, NY. For more info - including schedule of parties and to meet other members that attend regularly - check out their Facebook group here = https://www.facebook.com/groups/350993518293622/

• Linda Wendy Houston is a NYC-area gal who has started hosting MAINSTREAM MANHATTANcultural events - montly TG nights out for dinner and then a live performance. Her first event featured a classical music performance at Le Poisson Rouge. It's designed to be for a safe gathering of TG's that focuses on social and cultural events beyond the bars or clubs. Artistic and urban entertainment! 

To keep up on those, add her on Facebook (and tell her that Tiffany Leigh sent you!) =  https://www.facebook.com/lindanhouston

• Rita Petite hosts a weekly TG MEETUP AT THE STONEWALL INN every Thursday night starting at 7PM. For more info and to join the group, go here = http://www.meetup.com/NYC-Area-TG-Meetup-Group/

• Jennifer Bryant hosts TG weekend events at THE RAVEN, a TG friendly club in New Hope, PA. 

Her parties are usually every other month and not only do they feature the Saturday night party, but are an entire weekend's worth of TG social events and activities - dinner and drinks on Friday, coffee and daytime shopping on Saturday, a "red carpet" experience before Saturday's party, and Sunday brunch. Think of them as a mini-TG conference six times a year! 

For more information you should join their official Meetup group at this link = http://www.meetup.com/Safe-Haven-For-Transgenders/

DINNER, DRINKS, and DRAG ANYONE?

If you want to grab dinner, obviously go where you feel most comfortable and safe. Also - keep in mind that you should dress appropriately depending on the type of place you're dining at. 

• My favorite is EAST OF EIGHTH. It has long been a TG-friendly venue. Back in the day it even used to host a TG-night. It's perfect for casual drinks, casual dinner, party "pregaming," or a more formal date. Two floors, outdoor garden patio, and a street-level bar where you can get full menu service. 

I often have had dates/dinner/drinks at EAST OF EIGHTH with zero problems.  It's my preferred dinner destination when I am out and about in NYC en femme!  The food is delicious and for that part of town, it's ridiculously inexpensive. 

More info here = http://eastofeighthny.com/

• LIPS NYC is one of two drag dining restaurants in Manhattan. LIPS moved to midtown (near Bloomingdales) in a snazzy new space that has a bigger bar and dedicated stage for live shows. It's a great place to get dinner or "pre-game" before a night out! 

Their Sunday brunches also sell out and are a lot of fun. Make reservations if going on weekends. And know that the prices are higher; the food isn't fantastic, and the drinks are steep, but most gals go for the atmosphere. http://www.lipsnyc.com/

• LUCKY CHENG'S is another drag dining restaurant, also in midtown Manhattan. A similar experience to LIPS. http://www.planetluckychengs.com/show.html

DRAG SHOWS OR DRAG-FRIENDLY NIGHTS:

• My good friend Luscious Lola hosts Sunday Bingo Show at GINGER'S BAR every other Sunday night starting at 7:30PM. Check Ginger's Bar page for the schedule. Ginger's is a neighborhood bar in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn and is TG-friendly every night of the week! Ginger's Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/Gingersbar?group_id=0

• MONSTER BAR is two bars in one: upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs is a piano bar and normal bar seating, versus downstairs in the basement which is a dark clubby dance area and bar. The upstairs bar/piano bar area is perfect any night of the week for a quick drink or nightcap. 

On Monday nights at MONSTER BAR there's a long-running drag show called SABOR LATINOdownstairs bar/dance club - a live drag show hosted by Barbara Herr. Many of my friends have performed there, and the vibe is raucous. For more info go to http://www.manhattan-monster.com/ OR find Barbara Herr on Facebook.

• The STONEWALL INN is just across Sheridan Square from MONSTER, and they usually host drag- or TG-friendly events each week. Again, not always an automatic that there will be a show on weekends, but if you pop in there on a Saturday night (especially the upstairs area), there is often a show, and regardless it's noisy and sometimes rowdy, but a friendly place for a casual drink.  Check out their site for more info: http://www.thestonewallinnnyc.com/

• BARRACUDA LOUNGE hosts drag shows on some nights, including Holly Dae and Pixie Aventura on Sunday nights at 11PM.  It's around the corner from East of Eighth so if you wanted to pop in for a drink and check it out it makes a good double bill. The bar's Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/BarracudaLounge  

• THERAPY hosts a Monday night drag show with Sherry Vine and Epiphany called "Bipolar."  Peppermint hosts a Wednesday amateur talent night called "Cattle Call." This is a more upscale lounge atmosphere near the Theater District/Hell's Kitchen. More info is here = http://www.therapy-nyc.com/rxevents.html

MAINSTREAM MIXED PARTIES:

• MICHAEL T is a DJ, host, singer, and event promoter that works or DJ's at several venues weekly. He has long been a supporter and friend to the TG community. Many of the parties I host in NYC are organized by Michael T. 

Overall any of the events that Michael T works as DJ or host are TG-friendly by default. He's always thrilled to see us at his shows or parties!  Michael T's Facebook page is here = https://www.facebook.com/michael.tee.35

His big events (ones I ALWAYS attend) are the OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS parties. These are Bowie-inspired, "old school" nights of live rock-and-roll, rock opera, glam, DJ's, burlesque, special guests, and dancing. If you want a taste of what NYC was like in its "heyday" then THIS is the party for you.

OYPT is usually held Sundays during Martin Luther King weekend, Memorial Day weekend, and Labor Day weekend - and it is also the "official" post-Halloween night parade party in Greenwich Village!

The FB page is here = https://www.facebook.com/ohyouprettythingsnyc?

• TWIG THE WONDERKID is the other party host/DJ you should know about. His parties are always mixed and TG-friendly. Some of the events listed here are his own, but his Facebook page is also a great way to keep up with anything he's involved with = https://www.facebook.com/twigthewonderkid

• TRASH at Webster Hall is the longest running mainstream party that is definitely TG friendly. Twigg the Wonderkid hosts it, and it's a fun mixed crowd and dance party. I've been a bunch of times and it's always a big crowd. More info = https://www.facebook.com/trashparty

• GLAMDAMMIT is a party in Williamsburg that happens the first Saturday of every month. Also hosted by Twig the Wonderkid, it's a rock-and-roll themed party with live music, DJ, and a mixed friendly crowd. Twig is a friend to the TG community, so is always happy to see us at his parties! More info here = https://www.facebook.com/glamdammit

• DISCO DOWN is another Twig the Wonderkid party held every Tuesday night at the Hotel Chantelle Bar in the Lower East Side. It's a normal younger crowd dance party, is free, and has an open vodka bar for one hour as a special. Say hi to Twig or JEREMY ALISAUSKAS (your hosts and DJ's)! You can find more info on DD's Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/discodownnyc

• BEAUTY BAR SATURDAYS is on 14th Street in the East Village. Each Saturday night Michael T, Twig, and Jeremy Alisauskas DJ in the back room every Saturday night. It's a normal "mainstream" open party that's packed on weekends and is always friendly and fun. A great place to end your night! Location and info here = http://thebeautybar.com/New_York/

• THE HO AND THE MO HAPPY HOUR AT BOWERY ELECTRIC - I recently heard about this free happy hour in the upstairs bar of Bowery Electric, and it's a great place to start your Friday night in the city!

Every Friday from 5P-10P Mary Raffaele is behind the bar (the "Ho") and her friend Tim ("Mo") is the DJ spinning 80's, new wave, punk, and rock. It starts right after work at 5P and it's a perfect "pregame" for Friday nights. The Bowery Electric FB page is here = https://www.facebook.com/theboweryelectric

BURLESQUE SHOWS:

I attend several burlesque shows every month in NYC - it's a huge growing community in NYC and there are virtually shows every night of the week. Many are inexpensive, most feature at least 4-6 performers and go-go dancing, and in my experience they have all been TG friendly nights out!

These are a few regular weekly/monthly shows I've personally attended and would highly recommend:

KITTY NIGHTS

9P every Sunday at MUG Lounge; $5  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitty-Nights-NYC

HOTSY TOTSY BURLESQUE

8P every 3rd Tuesday at R Bar; $10

https://www.facebook.com/HotsyTotsyBurlesque

DEBAUCHERY

9P last Tuesday every month at Bar 182; $10 

Link to co-host, Clown Kong = https://www.facebook.com/ClownKongShow 

NURSE BETTIE

10P every Wednesday at Nurse Bettie; FREE

https://www.facebook.com/NurseBettie

SHARKBITE SIDESHOW

9P; 2nd and 4th Fridays at R Bar; $10

https://www.facebook.com/SharkbiteSideshow 

BEDLAM BURLESQUE

9P; 1st and 3rd Fridays at R Bar; $10

https://www.facebook.com/BedlamBurlesque

THE SOPHISTICATES

11:30P; 2nd & 4th Fridays every month at The Metropolitan Room; $20

https://www.facebook.com/sophisticates.revue

THE SLIPPER ROOM SHOW

12 midnight; Fridays at The Slipper Room; $15

http://www.slipperroom.com/calendar/

BARE NECESSITEASE

10:30P; last Friday every month at Lincoln Park Tavern, Brooklyn - FREE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lincoln-Park-Tavern/138404302862631

MR. CHOADE'S UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS

10P every Saturday at The Slipper Room; $15

http://www.slipperroom.com/calendar/

LESBIAN PARTIES:

• QUEERS AND PEERS is a new dance party every Tuesday night at Henrietta Hudson in the West Village. It's emphasizing "Unity amongst diversity" and is a friendly casual night out with live DJ's and drink specials. Their Facebook page is here = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queers-Peers/587743417921216?group_id=0

• HOT RABBIT convenes every Friday night at Monster Bar in the West Village and is a packed, mixed and FREE party: https://www.facebook.com/thehotrabbit

• GirlNation is an upscale ladies night downtown in Tribeca - think "The L-Word" crowd - at a swank new location called M Lounge. You can add them on Facebook at = https://www.facebook.com/girlnationnyc1

TG PARTIES (with a caveat!):

There are several parties during the week on Sunday, Monday, Wednesdays, and Saturday nights that are TG - BE AWARE however, that these nights are often more expensive, with high cover charges and go-go dancing or lap dances. 

So it's TG-specific at these parties, but the crowd and clientele is less mainstream, and the nights overall can be pricier. I've been a few times because I know the promoters and the bartenders, but I don't go as often as other places based on the crowds. 

If you do attend these, be hypervigilant of your surroundings, and be safe. 

• MUG LOUNGE NYC - this is a newer TG night that is held every Monday and Wednesday in the East Village (the bar is on East 13th Street near Avenue A). 

Sandy's Facebook page (the hostess) is here. She posts her events weekly on her FB page = https://www.facebook.com/sandymichellenychk

• TRANNY STRIP NYC - This is another mostly "professional" TG party, with high covers, TS strippers and lap dancers, and a mostly "working" crowd. Parties are Friday and Sunday nights. More info is = http://www.trannystrip.com/

These are just SOME of the options in NYC that I've heard about and have frequented in my NY experience.  I guess you could say they are "Tiffany Approved." =)

IF you have other suggestions, or hear about venue changes, places closing, or NEW events that you have attended, then please let us know!

Have fun, and be safe!

xxoo

Tiffany Leigh