Raleigh Gay & Lesbian Bars and Clubs
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The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle is home to nearly 100,000 college students and the demographic certainly affects the make-up of the gay and lesbian community. Most clubs are 18+, but can still serve alcohol. While the suburban nature of the Triangle diffuses the formation of a "gay neighborhood," several bars and nightclubs dot the area around the State Capitol building in downtown Raleigh, most notably on W. Hargett and N. West Street. Drag shows are common, but the sound is an eclectic mix of country, pop and hip-hop.
Legends
330 W. Hargett St., Raleigh NC; Tel. 919.831.8888
A serious drag... in the best sense possible. Lovely ladies with their candy hidden and their chests endowed, sing (or perhaps, sync) their hearts out for the young, dedicated clientele. Cheap drinks, an attractive 18+ crowd and several separate bar areas make Legends a must for Raleigh's gay and gay-friendly community.
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The Capital Corral
313 W. Hargett St., Raleigh NC; Tel. 919.755.959
On some nights the Capital Corral is a quiet neighborhood bar with locals bellied up to the bar. On others, it's a gay dance megaplex with videos, hard beats and a packed crowd from the Research Triangle and beyond. Of course, no Raleigh-Durham gay bar would be complete without the occasional (actually, rather frequent) drag show and an enthusiastic 18 and over crowd.
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White Rabbit Books and Things
309 W. Martin St., Raleigh NC; Tel. 919.856.1429
Got a hankering for something in... rainbow? White Rabbit sounds like a headshop, but instead it's the city's premier purveyor of all things gay. Pick-up a super-sized bottle of Astroglide, Chastity Bono's newest memoir, or the latest Celine Dion remix. Enough t-shirts, kitsch and pride flags for the entire Triangle.
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--Reviews by Michael Stabile
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