Lesbutante and the Boss: Hosts a slew of ladies’ events from dance parties to happy hours, and they’re part of the crew behind Plezzure Island – Texas’ only lesbian resort takeover (think Dinah, but in Texas). While this list won’t cover all the things, these major players will serve as an introduction to the rest. As for sober spaces, youth spaces, QPOC and LGBTQ resources: Yeah, we’ve got those, too. There is no “gayborhood,” but we do have Fourth Street – and a half-dozen gay/queer bars to check out. Our last one closed in 2013, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of spaces for queer women. And generally, the community is vibrant, busy, and outspoken.īut there’s a few of things you should know. In 2017, Austin’s first LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission was created to help City Council better realize and address the needs of the city’s LGBTQ population. This city, and the queer, trans, and QPOC communities who call it home, work hard to keep Austin separate from the anti-LGBTQ agendas of many of the state’s high-profile politicians. Or perhaps the country.Let me tell you right now: Austin is a great place for queers – despite the whole Texas thing. Bring water or gatorade so you don't die in the heat.%0D %0D Stop by Amy's ice-cream to recover. Shuck your clothes, and then climb down the cliffs to find the damn water, since it's so far away now. Walk all the way down to the end of the developed path for the "gay section". It's Texas's only clothing-optional state park. Chuy's has the better atmosphere.%0D %0D It's really too hot, and the drought has the lake levels WAY down, but you should try and check out "Hippy Hollow" out at lake travis if you can. just very, very good.%0D %0D Great mexican: Guerro's on South Congress, or Chuy's (many locations). Great sauce, great brisket, great sausages. Not pasta and sauce italian, but really good quality interior Italian.%0D %0D Best BBQ (yes, there will be arguments and wars over this) imho is Rudy's. Skip the lunch and dinner entres, as they're nothing special.%0D %0D Vespaio for great italian on South Congress. neither walkable from the gay bars, but worth the trip. Two locations, one on South Congress, the other on Lake Austin Blvd. Reservations required most nights.%0D %0D Magnolia's for breakfast (24/7). Gay bars:%0D %0D Oil Can's and Rain on 4th, very close to each other.%0D %0D Kiss & Fly just around the corner on Colorado between 4th and 5th%0D %0D Hush is a new one on Congress between 4th and 5th just a block away.%0D %0D The Iron Bear is up on Colorado and 8th.%0D %0D Great restaurants:%0D %0D TruLucks seafood, right on the corner of 4th and colorado, next to Kiss & Fly. West Sixth is more douchey than touristy, but it does have Austin's best cocktail bar, Haddington's (which I'd rate higher than East Side Show Room or Peche, personally).Īmazes me how long a troll's memory can be. the touristy area that R11 referenced), and "West Sixth" (Sixth between Congress and N. Also, Sixth Street divides between west and east at Congress Ave., and has basically evolved into three sections: East Sixth (Sixth east of I-35), "Dirty Sixth" (E. OP, R11 is mostly spot-on, but a few minor corrections: Tuesdays are the only days young kids are allowed at the Alamo Drafthouse, and only for shows before 2pm Town Lake is now called Lady Bird Lake, and while the locals still call it Town Lake, street signs now point to the latter Austin's newest gay bar, FYI, is called Hush, and it's a block due east of Kiss & Fly on Congress between Fourth & Fifth and there's not a whole lot going on in mid-August, event-wise, so the Chronicle might not be of much use unless you're planning an outing to a local music club.