Downtown Lockerroom and other out-of-the-way gay bars
Have you heard about the Downtown Lockerroom? It's Baltimore's newest gay bar.
From the outside, the Downtown Lockerroom (aka the DL), looks downright sketchy. It's at 839 W. Cross St. in Pigtown -- not to be confused with Washington Village -- and has dark wood slats covering all the windows.
Inside, the DL was dimly lit on a recent Thursday night, and scarcely populated. Our party of three almost doubled the number of people inside.
The regulars gave us the eye -- not the stink-eye, but The Eye -- as we plopped down on a couple bar stools ...
The DL might have been quiet when we were there, but things get crazy during the drag show Monday nights, the bartender told us. Then he went into the backroom and popped us some popcorn. I'm serious -- he microwaved some buttery popcorn and set a couple bowls in front of us, which we greedily devoured. Nice touch, DL.
The DL was one of a couple gay bars we'd hit that night. I put together a little roundup of three off-the-beaten-path gay bars, including Port in a Storm and the Rowan Tree.
(AP photo)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Been there once when it first opened. Stank eye upon walking in, not an unfriendly vibe, more of the "holy crap we are in the hood and they have painted lockers on the wall" vibe. Yes, it really is designed to look like a locker room. Also the fact it is a cash-only bar kinda kills it. Noone was overtly rude but the atmosphere was enough for us to kill a beer and go. Good luck, Downtown Lockerroom.
Posted by: DoubleL | June 23, 2010 1:17 PM
hrmm... haven't even heard of dl yet! thanks for the info, i'm a bad gay. been to the other two before, they are more bar-like than the clubs in mt vernon, so usually a good time :)
Posted by: Sam (not sessa) | June 23, 2010 1:22 PM
Why is cash only a killer?
Posted by: Josh | June 23, 2010 10:55 PM
the funniest thing is that they already have a change of ownership liquor license sign on the front door. one of the neighbours said it's going to be a sports bar. hmmm? i really object to their brightly lit sign which has a big burly arm, with no hand, holding a tray with a martini. it's horrible looking.
Posted by: Pigtown | July 2, 2010 11:09 PM