Tracks is also one of the few queer bars that hosts 18+ nights, allowing LGBTQ+ folks under 21 a space to find community. With multiple rooms - each with its own theme, DJ and dance floor - it's almost like a three-ring circus, which is great for folks who are easily bored, or for friend groups with diverse music tastes. From circuit parties to balls, theme nights, watch parties and monthly roller discos, Tracks has the space to offer it all (this venue is huge). However, it's been a staple of queer nightlife in Denver since opening in 1980, and is still your best bet for big events with national or international headliners. to 2 a.m., Tracks is not exactly a place where you go to grab a casual beer with friends. Open Thursday through Saturday from 8 p.m. If you're wondering what the difference is between a queer bar and a queer club, go to Tracks and find out. So, which establishment is right for you? You don't want to accidentally take Grandma to an underground fetish bar or end up in a food coma when you're dressed for a night out dancing.Įach venue occupies its own little niche in queer entertainment, so here's a guide to some of the best, and what they do best. Whether you're in the mood for a late-night boogie session, an after-work happy hour or Sunday brunch, these five LGBTQ bars in Denver are here to provide whatever you're craving.
The extent of queer nightlife in Colorado used to be little more than a few underground nightclubs for gay men, but now the scene has expanded to include options for just about everyone. But, once the bar conquers its opening weeks it will be hosting regular events such as Underwear Night, which has been missed by many in the community since the Eagle closed its doors.Denver's LGBTQ+ community has come a long way in the last fifty years. Trade will open on Wednesday, April 20, and while they work out the kinks will not be hosting any big events for a few weeks. “We just threw some lipstick on the pig if you will,” Chris said. In a month, the team of renovators has completely repainted the bar, installed paneling in the bathrooms, which give the bar a bit of a rustic Colorado vibe, reworked the liquor shelves and the fireplace, and added some upholstery to match the theme of the bar. Although they kept the carpet, the layout, and even some of the bar stools and tables, Ray, Chris, and a handful of willing volunteers have been working endlessly to whip the bar into their own space. “Since then everything has been just falling into place.”Įven though the plans have been “falling into place,” the amount of work that has been put into the building is huge. “We saw this transition period in gay night life happening, so we sat down with each other and talked it over and eventually decided that now was the time,” Chris said. At the time, The Eagle had yet to announce that it would be closing its doors, but they knew that the bar would eventually be moving. In January, when the building went up for lease, Chris and Ray called the landlord right away. But he knew that he always wanted to open a bar of his own. For the past decade, Chris has been a bartender in Denver working first at the Eagle for three years before moving on to The R&R, where he has bartended for seven years. It was early this year that Ray, alongside his business and life partner Chris, saw an opportunity to pursue one of their dreams: owning a gay bar. “We want to harbor a gay community not just for gay men,” Chris said. Leather Colorado 2009, so it’s something we know well. Chris was always in the leather scene and was Mr.
“We decided on the Levi’s and leather theme because of our own personal affections for that certain community.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable here,” Ray said.