Even as a number of gay hangouts have cropped up around it, this lively, boy-friendly spot is still the place to go in the Cedar Springs neighborhood-a night out usually involves it in one way or another. noon–2 a.m.) is now the flagship in Caven Enterprise’s fleet of queer-oriented nightspots. Once one of the only gay bars on what’s known as “The Strip,” JR’s (3923 Cedar Springs Rd., 214/528-1004, Tues.–Sat. Ample and clever patio space on both floors works for those who prefer the outdoors for their people-watching (read: cruising) while lighting up a ciggie or catching an autumnal breeze. Non-sporties need love, too, and Woody’s delivers it with live music on the back patio, show tunes every Tuesday, and karaoke with drag queens at various points during the week. But it has a lot more going on than just ball action.
2 p.m.–2 a.m.) has built a strong and consistent rep with the gay sports scene of Dallas, and the teams pay it back in full by calling Woody’s home. This bar on the main drag of Cedar Springs is the chief supporter of Dallas’s large contingent of queer athletes, lending its name and sponsorship to rugby, softball, and basketball teams in the community.
Perhaps the club’s theme nights say it all: “Shirtless Tuesdays” lead to “Underwear Wednesdays” and beyond. It’s definitely a specific scene, catering to an older crowd and those who celebrate the old-school queer aesthetic. 4 p.m.–4 a.m.) isn’t for everyone (hint: If you don’t know what a “bear” is, you probably don’t want to go). Dallas EagleĪs Dallas’s favorite bear club, Dallas Eagle (2515 Inwood Rd., 214/357-4375, Sun.–Thurs. Drinks are fairly priced and often on special, so it remains affordable to down a couple longnecks before embarking on a beginners line dance lesson (held weekly). While the Rainbow Lounge across the street pumps it up with beat-heavy dance music, here the dance floor is filled with two-steppers and line-dancers sashaying to the likes of George Strait and Randy Travis. It looks dark and dive-y from the outside, but inside, Club Reflection (604 Jennings Ave., 817/870-8867, daily 2 p.m.–2 a.m.) is a friendly, cute GLBT country-and-western establishment, replete with rustic decor and aw-shucks bartenders who smile sweetly under their Stetsons. Joe’s is the smaller bar attached to the main club that features dancers and karaoke nights as well as a quieter place to drink. Hip-hop Fridays and Sensual Saturdays are big nights, as are nights when female DJ C Wade spins (Dallas is a bit behind the times when it comes DJ diversity). 2 p.m.–4 a.m.) is a former leather ’n’ Levi’s bar that has reinvented itself as a dance club popular with the African American community, as well as a prime go-to spot for special event fundraisers. Former Pussycat Doll Kaya Jones gave a live performance in the fall of 2012, and of all the bars in Dallas, Adam Lambert made BJs his stop when his tour swung through in 2010. With its preponderance of waifish male dancers, chiseled bartenders, and special appearances by, er, certain types of film stars, this place is about as subtle as a disco ball, but continues to up the ante with big-name guest DJs and the occasional pop star. 4 p.m.–2 a.m.) is the good kind of trouble. It’s sort of an unwritten rule that any club whose name consists merely of initials is probably trouble, but BJs (3215 N.
Here’s a helpful guide to the best LGBT bars and clubs for all interests. The Dallas Fort Worth area has a vibrant gay and lesbian nightlife scene. Photo © Robert Hensley, licensed Creative Commons Attribution. Recommendations from the African Diaspora.Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Little, Brown and Company Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Hachette Nashville Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Grand Central Publishing Arrow Icon Arrow icon.