With this June issue of Camp, we are pleased to introduce the Gay Pride Bar Guide section. We plan to publish a bar guide twice a year in this format, and the next one will be for our September Show-Me State Rodeo issue.
This Gay Pride Bar Guide specifically focuses on the events planned for Pride weekend – June 1-3 -- at Bistro 303, Hamburger Mary’s, Missie B’s and OutaBounds. These four businesses came to us with the idea of promoting a great Pride weekend not only at the downtown festival, but also in the LGBT bars.
In an age when the LGBT community has become more mainstream on television and has gained ground politically, some people question why gays and straights have different bars.
Historically, gay bars were the only safe enclave where homosexuals could mix and be themselves, yet we all know that there were still police raids, like Stonewall. As recently as June 2009, there was a police raid on a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas, known as the Rainbow Lounge. Ironically, it was on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, when gay bar patrons fought back against police for the first time and the gay rights movement began.
Kansas City has had a legacy of many gay bars over the years. The best source for historical information about them is the archives of the GLAMA museum at UMKC, www.glama.us. One of their resources is a scanned page from the News Telegraph LGBT newspaper written in 1992 (take a look at http://library.umkc.edu/spec-col/glama/PDFs/History-Church.pdf). It describes the kind of harassment that went on in gay bars in Kansas City and explains that many of the bars had back doors to alleys where people could enter and exit without being seen. In fact, a bar called the Colony, according to the article, would display a sign on the front door on Saturday afternoons that said “Private Birthday Party” while the gay and lesbian customers held day-long tea dances inside.
The bars with events have advertised them in this special section with all the details.
Purgatory Pub Crawl
As a part of the June Pride celebrations, the bars of Kansas City are planning a unique pub crawl that you won’t want to miss. Named the “Purgatory Pub Crawl,” the participants will travel to several of our local gay bars on June 30. The bars participating are Bistro 303, Missie B’s, Sidekicks Saloon, OutaBounds, and Hamburger Mary’s. Along the way, participants choose whether they are naughty or nice, saint or sinner, headed to heaven or headed to hell -- hence the reference to purgatory. Depending on their drink choices, pub crawlers will receive prizes, tokens, gift cards and more throughout the evening at each of the bars. Participants will also be encouraged to dress the part of where they are going. So dig out your old Halloween costumes, angel wings, demon horns, priestly robes, and get ready for what is shaping up to be a massive event. Buses will shuttle participants from bar to bar, and the buses will fit the theme. Choose the luxurious heaven bus or the non-air conditioned, back-to-school living hell bus. At the end of the night, pub crawlers will gather to see who is crowned the best saint and the worst sinner. Proceeds from the event will go to Kansas City’s Heart of America Softball League.
Bar events for Pride weekend
Bistro 303
Sunday, June 3
4-7 p.m.
2nd annual “Dance Off With Your Pants Off”
This celebration for gay Pride month is a pants-optional, all you can drink, Miller Lite and Absolut vodka bust and good time. No clean underwear? That’s OK, you can enjoy the sights and booze just as much with your pants on.
Hamburger Mary’s
Friday, June 1
4-8 p.m.
Street Festival – Woman’s Power Happy Hour
KC’s leading lesbian musicians, all on one stage!
Hosted by Wonder Woman and Dirty Dorothy.
8-9 p.m.
Dirty Dorothy, Daisy Buckët & the Girlie Show
A hilarious hour of comedy and fun. The girls will entertain and keep you laughing.
9 p.m.-midnight
Mary’s Rainbow Riot
Dancing, drag, and continuous pumping music the rest of the night.
Hosted by Daisy Buckët and Dirty Dorothy.
Saturday, June 2
4-7 p.m.
Viva! Carnival!
A tea dance benefit for KC Latino Gay Pride and Good Samaritan Project.
Hosted by DVJs Synematix.
8 p.m.-midnight
Bear Bust: PRIDE
Fur. Muscle. Beef. Leather. Doesn’t matter. If you love guys who are guys, this is your event. Hosted by DJ Jeff-E and DJ James Torres.
Sunday, June 3
11a.m.-2 p.m.
Drag Brunch Recovery!
Mary’s drag brunch, with an emphasis on hangover recovery! Don’t miss Daisy & the gals for this Pride weekend special. Hosted by Daisy Buckët.
3:30-9 p.m.
Bad Music Sunday
All the greatest music videos from the ’60s-’80s -- complete with bad fashion and hair -- all afternoon and evening. Hosted by DVJ Brett Dietrich.
Missie B’s
Friday, June 1
11 p.m.
Enjoy a special show featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race: Season 2 contestant and Drag U professor Pandora Boxx!
Saturday, June 2
10 p.m.
Kansas City’s favorite beauty, Sunny Delight, joins the Dirty Dorothy Show for fun and mayhem!
Sunday, June 3
10 p.m.
Close out the weekend with Dirty Dorothy and all your favorite performers.
OutaBounds
They’re celebrating Pride all month, and in particular, they’ll be part of the Pub Crawl on June 30. In addition they are planning a “Brew Divas Poker Challenge” benefit for the Heart of America Softball League Women’s Team on June 30 with registration at 12:15 p.m. and the game beginning at 1 p.m.
And here’s more information on all of the LGBT bars in the Kansas City metro:
Bistro 303
303 Westport Rd.
www.bistro303.com
816-753-2303
Monday-Tuesday: 3 p.m.-midnight; Wednesday-Friday: 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Weekend brunches, daily lunch, dinner and cocktail specials. The Bistro is always a fashionable place to meet your friends in an elegant setting inspired by the antique store owners. There’s also a beautiful outdoor patio and a private room available for parties.
Buddies
3715 Main St.
816-561-2600
Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 a.m. Closed Sundays.
Happy hour all day and “Rush Hour” from 4-6 p.m. Darts.
Hamburger Mary’s
101 Southwest Blvd.
www.hamburgermarys.com/kc
816-842-1919
Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-midnight.
Whether you party or dine in the restaurant, the Glam Bar or the fabulous open-air second-floor deck, there is always something for everyone at Hamburger Mary’s. Dinner and drink specials throughout the week. Wednesday/Thursday Bingo night benefiting local charities; Mondays are Mary-oke; Sunday Drag Brunch; and Bad Music Sundays. Darts.
Missie B’s
805 W. 39th St.
www.missiebskc.com
816-561-0625
Sunday-Saturday: noon-3 a.m.
Everyone’s favorite drag-show bar with a stage and bar downstairs and additional bar and dance floor upstairs. Outdoor patio with its own bar. Darts, pool table. Dance floor and leather shop upstairs. Happy hour, noon-8 p.m. seven days a week, and drink specials nightly. Come by for the Dirty Dorothy shows on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday nights, AbFab Friday Show, Manic Mondays Show and karaoke three nights a week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
OutaBounds
3601 Broadway
816-214-8732
Monday-Saturday: noon-1:30 a.m.; Sunday: noon-midnight. Kitchen open from 4-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Darts, sports games on the wide-screen TVs and daily food specials.
Sidekicks Saloon
3707 Main St.
816-931-1430
Sunday-Saturday: 1 p.m.-3 a.m. Sunday: open at noon.
Two bars and dance floor. Darts, country western, Latino nights, and the Belle Starr show.
Sidestreet Bar
413 E. 33rd St.
816-531-1775
10 a.m.-1 a.m.
A friendly neighborhood bar in Midtown, there are two bars upstairs and downstairs. Weekday happy hour and drink specials. Darts, outdoor patio.
Social
1118 McGee
816-472-4900
www.socialbarkc.com
Monday-Friday: 3 p.m.-3 a.m.; Saturday: 5 p.m. – 3 a.m.
The newest bar in the Kansas City scene, Social is located in downtown Kansas City and features a nice lounge as well as a kitchen.
The Fox Bar
7520 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Shawnee Mission, Kan.
913-384-0369
www.thefoxbarkc.com
Monday: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; Tuesday-Saturday: 1 p.m - 2 a.m.; Sunday: noon-2 a.m. Great weekly specials, MGRA Rodeo nights, dance floor, darts and pool tables.
The View on the Hill
204 Orchard St.
Kansas City, Kan.
913-281-0833
Tuesday-Saturday: 4 p.m.-2a.m.; Sunday: noon-2 a.m.; closed Monday.
Dinner Friday 6-8 p.m., Taco Sunday 3-7 p.m. Darts. The View is the oldest gay bar in the Kansas City metro area, having been founded in 1983. It is located in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kan.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.