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Gay life gets movin'
By
Jeff Balk
The name Detroit comes from the French word for "the narrows," and the city sits at the point where the waters of the Great Lakes get their slimmest. Founded by 100 French families from Montreal in 1702, Detroit was laid
out in a circular design that radiates from Woodward Avenue, still the main drag. This gateway to the Great Lakes eventually became a major industrial and commercial hub, attracting wave after wave of Irish, Polish, Greek, and
other immigrants. Together with African-Americans who migrated from the South, they helped Detroit give birth to America's automobile industry a century ago.
Detroit today is one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets. There is a strong, thriving, active gay community, theater and arts, lush green spaces, a five-minute drive to Canada, and some of the friendliest people anywhere.
Nightlife
Detroit's most enduringly popular night spot is now celebrating 26 years.
Menjo's (928 W. McNichols, just west of Woodward) has fierce music and intense men dancing Thursday through Sunday nights. There's a
great sound system and a high-tech dance floor. On Thursdays and Saturdays there are $1 drinks. On weekdays they're one of the city's best neighborhood bars and they're open seven days from noon through 8pm (and then
late Thursdays through Sundays). Most months feature special nights with porn stars or out-of-town DJs. I was fortunate to experience the DJ talents of Barry Harris on my last visit. There's plenty of secure parking available.
Rainbow Room (6640 E. Eight Mile) is a video, dance, and entertainment club, with pool tables and a game room. On Sundays they have country line dancing from 5 to 9 pm, and then "The Rainbow Review" with
Jennifer Foxx, Trixie Deluxxe, and guests. Amateur talent show contests for cash prizes are held on Wednesdays, and Thursdays feature "Sista Otis... Live," with guests. Saturdays come for the mega dance parties.
The Body Zone (1617 E. McNichols, at the I-75 ramp), a private men's health club, has a huge steam sauna and jacuzzi, over 75 standard, video, and VIP rooms, 100 lockers, a gym, tanning facilities, two video lounges,
and fantasy areas. This is the club Detroit has been waiting for, and in the two months since they've been open, membership has surged past 1500. Daytime sees a business crowd and nights pull a younger set. They have
day memberships for out-of-staters, and the spa is open 24 hours, every day, to those 18 and over with photo ID.
There's a health club at TNT/Complex Video (13333 W. Eight Mile), where you'll also find Complex Video with an always-open gay video selection. But when it comes to gay adult videos,
24-Hour Video (17438 Woodward, next door to Numbers), has it all. With more movies than they can display, 24-Hour Video plans on expanding to two buildings next to them. Besides videos, they sell toys, condoms, and lube. 24-Hour Video is the
place in Detroit to go for adult entertainment.
Nearby is Club Gold Coast (2971 E. Seven-Mile), with male strippers and drag shows. Another popular Westside bar is Gigi's (16920 W. Warren), which features go-go boys and some of the finest female
impersonation in the Midwest. Detroit's popular leather bar, the Detroit Eagle (1501 Holden), is located in Midtown, near the General Motors' world headquarters. The Eagle is wall-to-wall men on weekend nights.
The Works (1846 Michigan) and
Numbers (17518 Woodward) are late-night after-hours spots. Numbers picks up around 1 to 2 am, and come 3am it is jam-packed with men and some women. Make Numbers your late-night stop on the weekends.
Other spots of note include Adam's Apple (18931 W. Warren), Back Pocket (8832 Greenfield), Hayloft Saloon (8070 Greenfield),
Karma (22901 Woodward), La Dolce Vita (17546 Woodward), Other Side (16801 Plymouth), R & R (7330 Michigan),
Woodward Bar (6426 Woodward), Zippers (6221 E. Davison), Q (141West 9 Mile Road), and Male Box Bar (3537 E. Seven-Mile Road– go east off the I-75 exit). Unless it's purchased
by then, Cobalt (22061 Woodward) is scheduled to close on June 1st, and
Backstreet (15606 Joy Road, middle-rear of shopping center) was due to reopen at press time.
The Royal Oak section is the neighborhood at the end of Woodward Avenue. Here are some of the best area restaurants, an art-house cinema, and shops, all within a pleasant walk of one another. Chosen Books Of Michigan (120 W. Fourth), the region's only gay bookstore, is here. They rent and sell videos, and also serve as a sort of community center. Pronto (608 S. Washington) is a gay-friendly restaurant, bakery, and neighborhood bar
complex. Comos (22812 Woodward Avenue) offers the best area pizza as well as other Italian dishes.
In the Detroit vicinity
In Ann Arbor there's Aut Bar (315 Braun Court); in Pontiac,
Club Flamingo (352 Oakland); In Flint, Club M.I. (2402 Franklin); in Grand Rapids, it's
Diversions (10 Fountain NW); and in Douglas, stay at the
Dunes Resort (333 Blue Star Highway). Over the border in Windsor, Ontario,
The Complex (634 Chilver Road) just celebrated its two-year anniversary. An old favorite, the
Happy Tap, recently closed.
When you get to town, the local Detroit gay press– Cruise Magazine, Metro Magazine, and Between the Lines–
can help orient you.
| Author Profile: Jeff Balk |
|
Jeff Balk is publisher of EXP, a gay/les/bi/trans bar and
entertainment magazine serving
Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. Jeff
hails from St. Louis, Missouri, where
he lives when not travelling for The
Guide.
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| Email: |
expmag@aol.com |
| Website: |
www.expmagazine.com |
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