Gay bars binghamton ny

Top 10 Best Gay Bars in Binghamton, NY - Last Updated - Yelp - Squiggys Bar, The 12 Penny Saloon, The Belmar Pub & Grill, Black Oak Tavern, Roselind, HEAT, Wolf's Den, Ithaca Ale House, Backyard Ale House, Trexx. In a gay Binghamton (Broome County, New York) you can discover all the gay events in the city, such as nightclubs or well-liked restaurants, take a look at Menspaces for a lot more details.

My 23 year old niece is new to the Binghamton area so I'm looking for some hotspot recommendations from the locals that would be friendly to someone who identifies as transgender. Any suggestions? Lost Dog. Not a gay bar, but they do pride events and has LGBTQ+ owners. Gay Bars In Binghamton Squiggy's (Ratings) Low-key neighborhood bar Catering to a middle-aged crowd rather than college kids, this place has cheap drinks and good vibes 34 Chenango St Binghamton, NY 40+ mixed LGBTQ+ Showing 1 to 1 of 1 results.

Gay Bar 34 Chenango St, Binghamton, NY, United States, New York () SquiggysBar@ Closed now.

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This weekend, a nightlife fixture in downtown Binghamton will close its doors, living up to a prediction its owner made when the business opened. Owner Lauren Hering, 49, of Johnson City, opened the establishment as a welcoming space for those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community 11 years ago. At the time, she said, people asked about her hopes for the venture.

Merlin's — named for the dog of former Prism owner, the late Doug Guiles — opened in at State St. Hering set out to create an inclusive space at a spot she said shared a long history with the gay rights movement. Richard Weisenthal, 72, has been a longtime patron at Merlin's, and also remembers the social club in previous incarnations.

Hering said the opening of Prism introduced a more mixed clientele. Richard V. Lawrence, 21, was charged with second-degree murder in Guiles' death. When she reopened the bar, Hering named it Merlin's after Guiles' dog "to keep him memorialized," and set out to carry on the inclusive social scene at the venue. When it first opened, Hering said the bar drew attention; people would often stop in the street and try to get a look inside.

Weisenthal and his husband, Michael Bolde, now live in Afton, and have often made the trip to Merlin's, which Weisenthal said has been a welcoming space from the get-go. We made new friends there. Merlin's has hosted a diverse lineup of music genres: from metal bands to salsa, and also presents artists' work for the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Binghamton.

Hering has hosted bachelorette parties at the venue, and said it is visited by students, local and regional politicians and patrons of all ages. Three years ago, Hering moved the business to Court Street, "smack dab center of the City of Binghamton. Amy Bousquet, 42, of Binghamton, is a drag king who performs at Merlin's, and has been going to the club since the s, before Hering took ownership.

It was Hering who first encouraged Bousquet to perform. Merlin's works with the Binghamton Pride Coalition and has been involved in pride events such as Pride Palooza. Any night I was there, I would see Lauren going out of her way to greet almost everyone — if not everyone — to make sure they felt welcome. Merlin's hosted the first Teen Drag Show, and Hering said she found it most rewarding "to be able to embrace the youth of our community and give them a safe place, and then watch them grow and give back to the community.

Today, the time for needing a safe haven with boarded-up windows and paid membership is over, Weisenthal said. There are lots of places in town now. Merlin's has done what it's needed to do. Merlin's will hold its final events this weekend, with a three-part Drag Show Friday and closing party Saturday.

When: A drag show 18 and up with ID will be held in three sets, at , 10 and p. Friday; at 5 p. More information: merlinsdanceclub.

Katie Sullivan Borrelli ksullivan pressconnects. Facebook Twitter Email.