Tuesday, July 27, 2021

For the love of Dave: Entertainerpreneur soliciting funds for lesbian bar

 Dave's Lesbian Bar 

Time Out

Queens has exactly zero lesbian bars, and one local lesbian is trying to change that.

Kristin Dausch, a performer, nanny and aspiring entrepreneur who has lived in Astoria for over 12 years wanted to bring a lesbian bar to her neighborhood: Dave's Lesbian Bar. After running a local predominantly queer open mic for over year years, and seeing how the community came together for the event, Dausch thought to herself, "Oh wow, this would be great if I could do this every day." Prior to the pandemic, Dausch had Broadway aspirations, but once the idea for Dave's struck earlier this year, they wanted to see if they could get community support to make it happen. 

 "Since I've put it out in the world, I've received nothing but green lights, a hard and fast, 'Yes, we need this,'" Dausch said. They very much want Dave's to be in the neighborhood they lived in for over a decade, "built by the community, for the community." In June, Dausch launched a GoFundMe, seeking $70,000 to open Dave's. So far, the project has raised almost $6000, with several people offering support with social media, video editing and more skills to help open Dave's. 

"Whatever your strengths are, if you want to lend them to this space, they're welcome," Dausch said. "If everybody gives a little bit, and I give everything I've got, which is a whole lot, we're going to make this thing happen." They envision Dave's as a queer-centric mutual aid hub by day, and lesbian bar by night. The space can be used for a community fridge, a drop-off site for the Astoria Food Pantry, a free store, a queer rolling library, and more. "We're investing in community instead of this individualistic mindset," Dausch said, noting the pandemic's mutual aid efforts inspired the vision for Dave's. 

Astoria isn't completely without queer venues: Icon, a club, hosts parties, while Albatross, which was formerly a lesbian bar, offers a divey space perfect for group hangs and drag shows. But with only two lesbian bars remaining in New York City, both in Manhattan (Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson), Dave's will certainly fill a void. 

Dave's first pop-up will be on Saturday, July 24, starting at 2pm and raging as late as possible. The bar will be outdoors, thanks to an open street permit, adjacent to Heart of Gold, a casual beer bar at 31st Ave. and 37th St. in Astoria. The first event will feature queer haircuts by Hairrari, live music by seven "dyke-led" bands, a tattooing station and more. Dyke Beer will be served, along with more drinks for sale. A suggested donation will also be requested at the door. The business will be doing pop-ups monthly until a full-time space is secured.

14 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

Question. Can a heterosexual go into a homosexual bar? Be welcomed and be served?

Anonymous said...

A Queens man walks into a Lesbian Bar ...

Alice B. Toklas said...

Question: How many lesbians does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: That's not funny!

Autumn Scardina said...

georgetheatheist said...

Bake the Cake, Bigot!

Big Hairy Balls said...

Lesbians are big business today. Make lesbians a part of your daily capitalist diet.

Deke DaSilva said...

In June, Dausch launched a GoFundMe, seeking $70,000 to open Dave's. So far, the project has raised almost $6000, with several people offering support with social media, video editing and more skills to help open Dave's.

"If everybody gives a little bit, and I give everything I've got, which is a whole lot, we're going to make this thing happen."

"The only bearable life under capitalism I can fathom, is one where I'm surrounded by queers and music," Dausch said.


Sounds like a grifter in the making.

In a year from now, I predict a follow up story on the bar never opening, and Dausch bought herself a home in Topanga Canyon down the road from the 'Marxist' leader of Black Lives Matter.

Anonymous said...

Lesbian bars have been closing in NYC because we have internet dating nowadays and because many women hate the bar scene. Queens did have a Lesbian bar for many years, but Bum Bum Bar in Woodside closed over two years ago pre-pandemic. This is just a waste of money for a business likely to fail. Start a knitting circle, animal rescue group, or something else productive.

Adriatic Hillbilly said...

Did you hear about the flood in Holland?

Two big dykes went down on eachother!

What do lesbian shellfish do for kicks?

SCUNGILLINGUS!

Anonymous said...

These girls drink beer till they pee. Just saying...

Anonymous said...

Will the curtains match the carpet ?

Anonymous said...

Lesbian Bars do not do well in Queens. Consider the Fate Of "Chueca the Girl Bar...

Chueca in case you were wondering translated is Empty Hole

Tiz said...

I am intrigued by Dyke Beer, wondering if it's a custom brew or just re-branded Coors Light.

Anonymous said...

> Can a heterosexual go into a homosexual bar? Be welcomed and be served?

They'll gladly take your money and serve you drinks, but don't go there looking to find a date.

Anonymous said...

Hey a warm mouth is a warm mouth