youngsters descend in droves. Cruze also serves as a venue for comedy shows and recently hosted renowned lesbian comedian, Suzanne Westenhoeffer. This is a smoke-free club which makes this girl very happy, but rest assured dear smokers, there is a deck outside where you can puff away, allowing me to go home smelling as good as I did when I walked in. It’s a win-win for all. Also in the Strip District you can find Club Pittsburgh, a men’s-only private club where you can work out, relax and socialize. While I’ve never been inside Club Pittsburgh I’d have to guess that if Brian Kinney really lived here, this is where you’d find him.
unique neighborhoods. Check out Blue Moon on Butler Street. Blue Moon offers a diverse crowd, cheap drinks, friendly service and is the home of drag superstar Sharon Needles. Not far from Blue Moon is Cattivo. Cattivo is a two floor bar which provides a dance floor, bar, pool tables, darts and food upstairs and an amazing space downstairs for shows. You’ll find some of the best drag shows at Cattivo. While in the area, be sure to check out Belvedere’s and Brillobox. Both LGBT-friendly, Brillobox is known for their great vegetarian offerings and Belvedere’s is a great dive bar with cheap drinks and you can get your Xanadu on during their monthly roller skating night.
If you’re a man into leather Donny’s Place is where it’s at. Donny’s is on Herron Avenue, a short jaunt from the Strip District, and is a casual bar with a pool table, food and darts upstairs and a basement bar called Leather Central. Not far from Donny’s in between the Strip District and Bloomfield (Pittsburgh’s Little Italy) sits Brewers Hotel, a casual and friendly place to have an inexpensive drink. Open daily at 11 AM, be sure to check out their signature Rocket Fuel shot.
One of the best places here to people watch or to see and be seen is Shadyside, located in the East End of Pittsburgh. Just before you get there, stop by and check out Ptown. Ptown is a place where you can watch sports on TV and fist bump like any mainstream local bar, all while watching hot guys strip in the same room. You won’t find that at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Lawrenceville is the place to be these days as new restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores and salons have revived one of the city’s most
DOWNTOWN
Once you arrive in Shadyside, there are many pet-friendly shops as well as patio-dining all just a stone’s throw from some of the most beautifully restored Victorian mansions in the city. There are many gay-friendly
SHADYSIDE/EAST SIDE
STRIP DISTRICT
establishments in Shadyside and naturally a couple of good old-fashioned gay bars, all on Ellsworth Avenue. 5801 Video Lounge is one of the best places to enjoy a summer’s night on the back deck where one of their three bars is located. Inside you can choose between the upstairs bar, which is smoke-free, or the downstairs bar where you can smoke and play the jukebox. Across the street lies Spin Bartini, a more upscale establishment. Spin’s dim lighting, relaxed atmosphere and intimate space offers the perfect spot for a summer date. There’s also an outdoor patio in the back. While not a gay bar, Harris Grill is very friendly and attracts many gay girls and guys alike, mostly due to their delicious menu and friendly service. If you’re in the area for brunch, stop in and enjoy their signature frozen cosmopolitan. And don’t forget, Tuesday is Bacon Night. Ellsworth Avenue is hopping with its fair share of fashion boutiques, antique shops, restaurants and eye candy. We wish you safe travels and hope you make the best of your time here as we celebrate another year of progress in the quest for equality. Happy Pride!!
LAWRENCEVILLE
Images 965 Liberty Avenue 412-391-9990
Harris Grill 5747 Ellsworth Avenue 412-362-5273
Real Luck Café 1519 Penn Avenue 412-471-7832
Blue Moon 5115 Butler Street 412-781-1119
There Ultra Lounge 931 Liberty Avenue 412-642-4435
Spin Bartini 5744 Ellsworth Avenue 412-362-7746
Cruze Bar 1600 Smallman Street 412-471-1400
Cattivo 146 44th Street 412-687-2157
941/Tilden 941 Liberty Avenue 412-383-1533
5801 Video Lounge 5801 Ellsworth Avenue 412-661-5600
Club Pittsburgh 1139 Penn Avenue 412-471-6970
Brewers Hotel 3315 Liberty Avenue 412-681-7991
POLISH HILL
Donny’s/Leather Central 1226 Herron Avenue No Phone
Ptown 4740 Baum Blvd 412-621-0111
Brillobox 4104 Penn Avenue 412-621-4900 Belvederes Ultra-Dive 4016 Butler Street 412-608-3007