And it raises the question of whether Dimayuga can recreate a scene that's thrived in outer boroughs and pop-up spaces into a national hotel chain (albeit a very cool one).
She says the name “No Bar” is a reference to “No Holds Barred,” as in, “there are no rules here.” That said, it’s a hotel bar adjacent to an upscale restaurant in a gentrified neighborhood in New York, so perhaps the “no rules” part is more of a vibe than a reality.
There will be no cover for events, Dimayuga says, and she plans to partner with the Lower East Side Girls Club and Performance Space, a non-profit exhibition space. The décor is best described as “high-low”: cow prints mixed with silk, “buy 10 cocktails, get one free” cards, and rolling papers instead of branded matchbooks. “When she presented the idea, it clicked as a natural progression of our culture of openness and inclusivity.a way to connect with not just the LGBTQ community, but the downtown social community at large.”Īt No Bar, there will be rotating DJs, accessibly priced food like oysters and schmaltz popcorn, and cheekily named cocktails like the Feel the Beet, with vodka, lillet, beet shrub, and lemon (plus an optional five-dollar CBD boost). “I brought Angela on board because I respect her vision and abilities,” says Amar Lalvani, CEO of Standard Hotels. “But to have a fixed place where you can experience what folks experience in these smaller parties,” but in a more expansive setting, “is exciting to me.” “There’s an opportunity to go to a party maybe once a month,” she says. When Dimayuga took on her role at the Standard in 2018, she noticed that the hotel had plenty of great restaurants, but there were no venues focused around “the programming and the people that make up the space.” She realized she could essentially recreate Gush in one of the most recognizable hotels in the city. (The characters are primarily white and upper-class.) Other places she found were male-centered, not diverse enough, or simply too far away from where she lived. “I think people refer to The L Word a lot, but The L Word isn’t really my scene or my people,” she says. For nightlife shenanigans, Robert’s Lafitte is a LGBTQIA+ mainstay for drag shows, patio cocktails, dancing, and fun events, like “Shipwreck Talent Shows” and “Tone Deaf Karaoke.When Dimayuga moved to New York in 2006, she felt alienated by the lesbian bars she encountered. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a colossal boardwalk-style pier filled with carnival games and amusement rides, while The Grand 1894 Opera House is a prime spot to watch The Beach Boys or Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Along with 32 miles of blissfully sandy shores and pleasant weather throughout the winter, Galveston offers plenty of recreation and entertainment opportunities worthy of any holiday gathering. Open-minded, frills-free, and welcoming to all, this beach town is quirkier and funkier than most communities along Texas’ coast, thanks to an artsy and kitschy ambience more akin to a Key West. Texas may not seem like the most obvious destination for a queer holiday vacation, but Galveston has become a go-to beach for nearby Houstonians, many of whom are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. You may not be a Vanderbilt, but it's a fitting holiday destination for any family. The Wharf, for example, is a casual, open-air restaurant on a dock with Southern specialties, including fried green tomatoes, smoked fish dip, and buffalo shrimp tacos. Despite its upscale roots, Jekyll Island is a playground for all and a holiday paradise with its beachside tequila bars, mini golf course, miles of unobstructed beachfront, and top-tier seafood. So if you’re feeling extra, gather your chosen family and go all in on one of the Club’s historic cottages, which are really just majestic and historic manors resembling rooms from the Clue board game. On the southern end of Georgia, this bougie barrier island skews more opulent than Tybee Island, as evidenced by its palatial mansions, meticulously manicured golf courses, and the fact that the island’s marquis hotel, the Jekyll Island Club, has been a go-to vacation destination for the likes of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. Looking for an LGBTQIA+ beach to escape to this holiday season that’s a little luxurious? It doesn’t get any dreamier than Jekyll Island.