On any given night of the week, it only takes a trip to one of our city’s numerous bars to see the impact nightlife has in our community. From our city’s drag performers, constantly giving their time and energy to countless causes across the metro region, to our favorite had a hard day at work must hit a Happy Hour spot, it was no surprise that Nightlife ranked highest in voting and nominations. Doesn’t everyone—at least once in a while—have that need to bust it all out on the dance floor like no one is watching?
Place to Dance: Play Dance Bar
Place to Dance: Play Dance BarIt’s built into their name so of course when readers were looking to vote for their Gay Faves Place to Dance Play was at the top of the list. This month get ready for an exciting New Year’s Eve with their Fire and Ice party. Get your All-Access Play/Tribe Pass for $25. And that’s not all, the minds behind Play Dance Bar just opened Play Louisville, expanding their monopoly on the best gay dance floors to two states.
DJ: DJ Phil
Whether he’s serving up retro jams at his popular retro-parties at Tribe or spinning a contemporary crop of catchy songs at Play Dance Bar, DJ Phil takes the Gay Faves DJ category for 2013.
Drag Queen: Nichole Ellington Dupree
She’s been in the game for 20 years and was just as surprised as we were when she took top honors this year. Click here for this month's Nashville Untucked with Nichole Ellington Dupree.
Drag King: Jordan Allen
Allen graced the pages of O&AN earlier this year when he promoted his transition benefit. It’s been a defining year for Allen and being named O&AN Gay Faves Drag King performer is the icing on the cake.
Bartender: Kyle Murans
When he's not playing mixologist at Mad Donna's, Gay Faves Bartender Kyle Murans is locked in a basement sewing costumes for his partner Paige Turner. Well not exactly locked . . . click here to learn more about Kyle and this year's crop of Gay Faves Bartender nominees.
Happy Hour: Wednesday at Tribe
$2 Smirnoff, $3 Smirnoff flavors and $4 well drinks is all part of the reason why Tribe is packed every Wednesday from 5-8. Haven’t stopped in yourself? It’s great not only for budgets but also to meet boys.
Overall bar: Tribe
This was a close category but Tribe edged out Lipstick Lounge by a couple dozen votes. And why not? With Suzy Wong’s attached and the Gay Faves Happy Hour award, it’s a one-stop shop for socializing. Plus, where else are you going to catch the Grizzlies throwing down with their 2014 calendar and a packed house celebrating those who performed and staffed one of Nashville’s first bars, Warehouse 28? But we’re not going to get it twisted, Lipstick Lounge is not just a hotspot with the ladies, it’s our definite Gay Faves place to pick up a karaoke mic.
Non-Gay Bar: Beyond the Edge
We don’t always have to stay on Church Street. As a matter of fact, Sunday Funday in East Nashville is one of our favorite parties and Beyond the Edge with their laid back sports bar atmosphere and rockin’ jukebox makes this our 2013 Non-Gay Bar Gay Faves award winner.