Gay bars in silverlake
Barfly West '73: D. L. M.; Bob Damron '80-82: (D) (some Orientals); Bob Damron '84: (Disco) (D) * (Some Latins)
Ken’s River Club, on Riverside in Silver Lake, was the gay detect shared by Latinos and Asians during the 1970s. Pervasive racism in West Hollywood boosted bars in Hollywood and Silver Lake that catered to gay people of color, including the Research at Western and Sunset, and Mugi’s on Hollywood Boulevard.
"Closeted Chicano males, even those who 'passed,' in barrio gangs felt constrained to seek refuge in the 1970's in gay bars that were at least a few miles away from house, such as Ken's River Club."
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ONE Archives
The Black Cat | Silver Lake
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The White Room
The White Room at The Jet Cat is a private dining and event space that can accommodate afternoon and evening dinner parties from 12 to 30 guests, and up to 45 guests for cocktail parties, receptions and screenings.
- Capacity Up to 30 for dinner | up to 45 for receptions and screenings
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History
California Landmark Plaque
Black Noun Tavern 1967
Historic Cultural Monument
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Images courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries
Images courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries
Images courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries
The Black Cat. A Brief History.
The Black Cat Tavern opened in October 1966 catering
Silver Lake Los Angeles Gay Bars Guide
Akbar
Strictly by the numbers, Akbar (4356 W. Sunset Blvd.) may not be the most popular bar in Los Angeles, but you could make a case that it has more devoted fans in the city's gay community than any other place in town. And, for that matter, this laid-back, darkly inviting bar near the junction of Sunset and San Monica boulevards has plenty of straight fans, too. It's the mix - women and guys of all ages and inclinations unified by a shared appreciation of indie music and darkly lighted, cozy lounges. If NYC's East Village is your vibe, this is your best bet in Los Angeles.
Astro Family Restaurant
On the northern edge of Silver Lake, the retro-futuristic-looking Astro Family Restaurant (2300 Fletcher Dr.) is a handy, welcoming haven for no-frills greasy-spoon diner fare. It's open 24/7, making it a valuable resource after bar-hopping, or when seeking a hangover cure the day after, and it's also equidistant from Griffith Park and Elysian Park/Dodger Stadium - drop by for pancakes and eggs before a game or a hike
LA’s Last Great LGBT Piano Bar
Apart from passing through the overwhelming, smog-filled circular behemoth of LAX, I had never visited Los Angeles prior to the two-day position interview that led me to live in the city for over five years. During that interview, a company manager took me on an expedition to visit neighborhoods where my family and I might settle. Halfway through, I called my husband in tears. “All the schools look like Soviet-era prisons,” I said, thinking of my son who would need to attend elementary school somewhere in this sprawling city. “I just can’t imagine us here.”
Later in the day, after visiting the West Side and the Valley and a blur of other neighborhoods, we drove under the 101 Freeway and into Silver Lake. It wasn’t too flashy; there were hills; and it lacked the desolate stretch that characterizes much of LA on first look. In fact, it felt positively leafy set amid a city that seemed starkly un-green to me—especially coming from Atlanta, a city in a forest. It also had, in its people, a thread of old-school bohemia that made me touch instantly at hom