gAyTX Fun Guide

Austin's gay bars and then some...

ALLGO
Austin's, and now Texas', prime resource for GLBTQ people of color, statewide Austin Latino/a Lesbian/Gay Organization is all that and a bag of chips (or crate of mangos, depending upon your particular proclivities).
701 Tillery, 512/293-1250 www.allgo.org

Atticus Circle
Straight and gay allies in the fight to achieve equality for all parents and partners, regardless of sexual orientation.
450-5188, info@atticuscircle.org www.atticuscircle.org

Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Watch out for these monied honeys, honey. They'll give you the business.
PO Box 49216, info@aglcc.org www.aglcc.org

BookWoman
Austin's newly relocated, fierce feminist bookstore welcomes women and women-luvers of all stripes. Great kids' section, to boot.
5501 N. Lamar Ste. A-105, 472-2785 www.ebookwoman.com

Calypso
A sassy lesbian social club that meets to make the nature scene. E-mail or call for more info.
771-0135, calypsoaustin@austin.rr.com

Central Texas Boys of Leather
Wear chaps; benefit charities.
504 Willow, 480-9017, info@ctbol.org www.ctbol.org

Chain Drive
If it looks like a bear, sounds like a bear, and doesn't shave like a bear … RrrrowwL! Now featuring the best in live indie rrrrrrawk! music on Wednesdays.
504 Willow, 480-9017 www.chain-drive.com

Charlie's Austin
This "neighborhood bar" near the Texas Capitol is the quintessential queer haven with a mostly male, and refreshingly racially integrated, population popping the nights off in style. Dancing, drinking, and getting dirty in corners – or perhaps those are legislative deals going down? Like cotillion with better punch.
1301 Lavaca, 474-6481 www.charliesaustin.com

Equality Texas
Equality Texas (née Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby) is ground zero for queer politics, Lone Star-style. This is our front line. The Thursday volunteer nights are great opportunities to meet people and do some good all at the same time.
474-5475 www.equalitytexas.org

Fast Track Gay Runner
Runners meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. Oooh, girl, when they told you you were "fast" at the club, they had no idea! And such stamina! Well, keep on runnin', player, 'cause I got my good shoes on, and I got 'em tied up tight!
453-8878

Fave
Pocket-sized gay lifestyle magazine. Your pocket will suddenly seem soooo stylish.
363-8886 www.faveonline.com

Foodies
To answer your question: Yes, Austin has no lesbian bar. Out of this void comes Foodies, a singular phenomenon, from an initial handful of women to a mailing list of nearly 3,000. For women who love women who love food, this social group meets at different venues and pretty much takes over wherever it lands.
beatsagoago@aol.com

Forward Austin
As in gayly Forward, never straight … the mouthpiece of those monied honies at the Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. They will give you the business, sugar.
474-4422, editor@forwardaustin.com www.forwardaustin.com

Gay Naturists International
Whether you got that buff stuff or junk in the trunk, nurture the nature of this all-nude, all-dude group. Keep an eye-peel on the Gay Place for info on the upcoming Nekkid Man Camping event in Texas.
www.gaynaturists.org, www.sourceevents.com

Hippie Hollow
What's splash without naked gay guys in the woods … in the water … on the rocks? Welcome to Austin's nude-friendly party zone. While this isn't a "gay beach," per se, you sure wouldn't know it on certain holidays! Leave the kids at home.
7000 Comanche Tr., 397-1463 www.hippiehollow.com

Human Rights Campaign – Austin
The Austin steering committee of the national organization (you know, yellow equal sign/blue background). The host monthly meetups around town. Check their website or our column fo mo info!
608-2626, info@hrcaustin.org www.hrcaustin.org

KOOP's 'OutCast'
Tune your dials to something just a bit different from your regularly scheduled programming. This public-affairs program for and about the LGBT community of the city is hosted by Heath Riddles and J.J. Lara and features people, issues, interviews, news, and events of the community, acting as a forum for the exchange of info and ideas. Sundays, 6-6:30pm.
3823 Airport Ste. B, 472-1369, info@koop.org www.koop.org

L Style G Style
The flippin' flibbety-gibbet flip rag of Austin stylie-style. Available at higher-end digs citywide.
1412 Collier, Bldg. B, 512/443-3663, alisa@lstylegstyle.com www.lstylegstyle.com

Lobo
A great gay souvenir shop and locus for all things rainbow and the renting of the blue boy video/DVD nasties.
3204 Guadalupe Ste. A, 454-5406 www.loboaustin.wordpress.com

Midtowne Spa
For those wondering what the true meaning of a "local" massage is, Midtowne's a great place to work out those tired muscles … or at least that one.
5815 Airport, 302-9696 www.midtowne.com

My Dinner at Charlie's
Well, now you never have to leave Charlie's, Austin's gay club right next to the Capitol dome, cuz every Monday through Friday, it's called Charlie's Cafe, where they serve lunch (11am-2pm) and dinner (5-9pm). Check out chef Michael's Blue Plate Special and regular menu of burgers, sandwiches, etc. No food on Saturday, but come back on Sunday for free brisket in the afternoon, 11am-2pm. Mon.-Fri., 11am-2pm.
1301 Lavaca, 474-6481 www.charliesaustin.com

Octopus Club
Hosting parties for the past 15 years to raise money for AIDS Services of Austin – there's no Octo-pussy-footing around for these cats. Making cash, having fun, and raising awareness. It's just what they do best.
477-1002, octopus@octopusclub.org www.octopusclub.org

Oilcan Harry's
The grandfather of all gay establishments, Harry's has made Fourth Street what it is today. At the fag/fag-hag headquarters, the dancing is dirty, and putting baby in the corner is just part of the night.
211 W. Fourth, 320-8823 www.oilcanharrys.com

Out Youth
Oh to be young and gaaaaaaaay! Actually, most of us wouldn't go back to 17 if you paid us, but at least now, there is support of our LGBTQ (for questioning) kids.
419-1233, info@outyouth.org www.outyouth.org

Q
You need only one letter to find Austin's gathering space for guys 18-29: Q. Social support, coming-out support, health education, parties, discussion groups, and a variety of other events, like movie nights, game nights, speed dating, volleyball, etc., all to give the young dudes the chance to meet new guys and form friendships.
3408 West Ave., 420-8557, mp_austin@sbcglobal.net www.qboyz.org

Rain on 4th
On some nights, this center of urban slick has all the fashion-forward standing around defining aloof, drawing slow from smoldering cigs, imbibing colorful cocktails, wondering exactly where everyone bought their shoes. But some nights, the place gets packed – from its glorious outdoor deck, to its lounge under the waterfall – with lines down the block, and it's just a parrrrrrrty.
217 W. Fourth, 494-1150, info@rainon4th.com www.rainon4th.com

Rainbow Cattle Co.
People come from out of town to see the parade of Wranglers and Ropers at this people-watching, two-stepping, beer-drinking, fraternizing, surviving-the-"Tuna Can," peepin'-some-tight-jeans, or simply singing along to David Allen Coe landmark. We hear tell cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer.
305 W. Fifth, 512/472-5288, rccaustx@aol.com www.rainbowcattleco.com

SapphFire
If you're the type of lady who prefers game nights, movie nights, lazy Sunday brunches, and Sapphic book clubs to all-night stomps through the Warehouse District, well, these are your peeps. All ages welcome.
833-5040

Shout Magazine
Arts and leisure from deep in the heart of queer Texas.
482-8252, info@shouttexas.com www.shouttexas.com

Tapelenders Video
Austin's haven for gay and lesbian video rental, pride items, and sporty fashion – especially Skivvies, their yummy manty line.
1114 W. Fifth #201, 472-0844 www.tapelenders.com

The Cockpit aka the CP
Apparently aluminum equals aphrodisiac for those ready to take off. Or take it off. Recycle or dance? Dance, we say.
113 San Jacinto, 457-8010 www.cockpitaustin.com

The Gay Place Online
The Austin Chronicle's Gay Place is all over tha Intartubez! We gots a MySpace and snazzy, easy-to-remember URLs for the weekly Chronicle column and blog, to boot. Come visit us on all three virtual fronts!
454-5766, gayplace@austinchronicle.com www.austinchronicle.com/gayplaceblog, www.austinchronicle.com/gayplace, www.myspace.com/gayplace

The Smoking Banana
The "Official Spam of the Austin Outpost of the Guerrilla Queer Bar." Oh, yes, we have some bananas. Check the website for locations of their monthly invasions.
www.smokingbanana.com

The United Court of Austin
Monarchical fundraisers of the most supreme order.
PO Box 2567 www.unitedcourtofaustin.com

Zach Theatre
Austin's home for intimate musical theatre and the Wilde Party, special LGBT community nights named for that Oscar guy.
1510 Toomey, 476-0541 www.zachscott.com