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March 26, 2009

Curtains for the Starlight Lounge

starlite-lounge-0309.jpgThe Starlite Lounge, which one Yelper calls "the best gay bar in all of Crown Heights (and possibly the world)," has closed. According to the tipster who brought it to our attention, there's a sign that was recently posted on the door saying, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Starlite Lounge will be closed…" Anyone know more about why it's closing? Care to share any memories of the place? GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:44 AM | Comments (36)
Categories: Crown Heights, Streetlevel

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Comments

Can I meet people into judism at the gar bar?

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at March 26, 2009 10:49 AM

had to look up what a 'gar' bar is.
I think this location/place where good friend who grew up in Crown Hgts would go to in early 60's to see Dinah Washington sing.

Posted by: Petebklyn at March 26, 2009 10:52 AM

Once DIBS stopped going, there was a shortage of customers.

Posted by: denton at March 26, 2009 11:12 AM

That building has been on sale for the longest time on craigslist.

Posted by: sluggita at March 26, 2009 11:14 AM


"I think this location/place where good friend who grew up in Crown Hgts would go to in early 60's to see Dinah Washington sing."

I think you may mean the Kingston Lounge, which is farther east: http://kingstonlounge.blogspot.com/search/label/Kingston%20Lounge

Posted by: East New York at March 26, 2009 11:21 AM

LOL i read the original post and was like what is a gar bar? i didnt even put two and two together to realize he meant gay bar. thank god i didnt actually ask this time what something was ahhaha

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at March 26, 2009 11:26 AM

Must be closing due to landlord greed. He must have had his hand in this. I just know it!

and now...."Images" by tyrone green (eddie murphy snl)

Dark and lonely on a summer's night.
Kill my landlord. Kill my landlord.
Watchdog barking. Do he bite?
Kill my landlord. Kill my landlord.
Slip in his window. Break his neck.
Then his house I start to wreck.
Got no reason. What the heck?
Kill my landlord. Kill my landlord.
C-I-L-L my land lord.

Posted by: landlord at March 26, 2009 11:28 AM

gar is code.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at March 26, 2009 11:29 AM

First CattyShack, now this.

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 11:32 AM

snappy cattyshack was open last friday! i went with 2 of my friends. and yes they let me have one drink and told me to leave. that place is the shadiest bar ever. i dont know why i always go back

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at March 26, 2009 11:37 AM

snappy cattyshack was open last friday! i went with 2 of my friends. and yes they let me have one drink and told me to leave. that place is the shadiest bar ever. i dont know why i always go back

ETA - last saturday i mean


*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at March 26, 2009 11:38 AM

I've never been there. Wanted to check it out but never got around to it. What was the clientele like???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 11:41 AM

Rob, from what I understood Cattyshack is no longer the same Cattyshack in that the one owner is gone now (the straight man took over) and they let in straight men now. No offense to you straight men out there, but lesbians really don't want to party with you!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 11:43 AM

Rob, what the hell did you do to get bounced this time??? You have the worst luck at that place!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 11:44 AM

"No offense to you straight men out there, but lesbians really don't want to party with you!"

I can dig it. No offense taken.

Posted by: East New York at March 26, 2009 11:48 AM

ENY, we might make an exception for you :) Can't hate a straight man who throws out the term 'Eurotrash!'

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 11:49 AM

I actually spend more time in Irish bars & sports bars with straight men than I do in gay bars with gay men. And its so much fun when there's another gay guy in the straight bar like the latin guy at Floyd's last week.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 11:56 AM

"Eurotrash!"

I love saying that.

Posted by: East New York at March 26, 2009 11:58 AM

That works for gay men, Dave but not for lesbians. Lesbians in a straight bar wind up being like a museum exhibit for some, and a challenge to the pig-headed straight men who think they have the ability to change us in 5 minutes. (And by the way, saying it would only take you 5 minutes to get the job done is sooooo not impressive!)

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 11:59 AM

I can imagine that would be so, Snappy. And you'd have to endure the "girl-on-girl" obsession talk.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 12:01 PM

oddly cattyshack let me in (straigh dude) and i had a great long convo with the bartender and another patron. then again it was in the middle of the day while i was waiting for my car from the mechanic next door.

slope still has ginger bar (lesbian) and excelcior (gay men) i think, no?

Posted by: goldie at March 26, 2009 12:05 PM

Gingers is the main spot around here, very nice bartenders (Shout out to Perry!), but I rarely go anymore. They use a dj on some Fri/Sat nights, but it's not all that great for dancing. It's more the place to sit back, have some beer and bullsh*t. The karaoke is fun though. I love Excelsior! Tipsy gay men rule!!!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 12:08 PM

asking for a good stiff one gets me a nice martini for $9 at my regular haunt. gasp to think about what you get and for how much at excelsior?

Posted by: goldie at March 26, 2009 12:16 PM

LOL Goldie! Asking for that at Excelsior might get you tons of free drinks and dates for many weekends to come!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 12:18 PM

A friend of mine is hoping to open new gay bar in this same space. It will be called Darling Daintyfoot's (name of one of Jean Genet's characters). Not sure where things stand with this at present, but it's a good location with a good vibe.

Posted by: Tesla Coil at March 26, 2009 12:23 PM

really?! that's all it takes?! damn, gay men have the easiest dating life. s'an uphill battle for straight guys.

Posted by: goldie at March 26, 2009 12:23 PM

"Darling Daintyfoot's????" Not many people, even gays are going to wantr to be seen coming out of a plce with that name!!!!.....PLEASE encourage him choose something else.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 12:31 PM

Ditto on the name change!!!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 12:37 PM

This was a great place to hang out when I moved to NY in the late 60's - there was another gay bar across the street called "Seville" and we would stagger between the two on many a Saturday night - the Starlite seemed to attract a rougher crowd than the Seville - ahhhh, great memories of my youth!

Posted by: timber at March 26, 2009 1:20 PM

never heard "gay bar" and "rough crowd" mentioned in the same sentence...but maybe we live in more genteel times.

Posted by: goldie at March 26, 2009 1:51 PM

goldie...Yes, there are certainly rough crowds in gay bars. They tend to drink beer out of bottles, wear flannel shirts and play pool. They are called lesbians. :)

Going one step further one might be interested in "rough trade." I've been known to seek that out every once in awhile.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 1:58 PM

Dave, you beast! I, for one, am not a flannel wearing lesbian! I do, however, drink beer straight from the bottle - only pansy-asses need a glass! What happened Dave, did those flannel wearing lesbians kick your booty one time too many?? j/k :)

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at March 26, 2009 2:02 PM

The Starlite was an old neighborhood "non discriminating" bar. And a lot of fun. Karaoke on Thursdays, $4 beer, and fun people. Too bad.

Posted by: KHuebbe at March 26, 2009 3:06 PM

"goldie...Yes, there are certainly rough crowds in gay bars. They tend to drink beer out of bottles, wear flannel shirts and play pool. They are called lesbians. :)"

DIBS, was that you squirming in the campaign office scene in Milk when he brought in the new campaign manager?

Posted by: slopefarm at March 26, 2009 3:17 PM

LOL...I haven't seen the movie yet, slope. I'll watch for that scene though.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 26, 2009 3:31 PM

Starlite is open!

A tipster may have seen a sign last week saying that they were closed for unforseen circumstances, but that doesn't mean it was "curtains" for them. It must've meant that they were closed temporarily, for a few days. They are open now.

I don't work for them or have any connection to them. I'm writing because Starlite is a wonderful neighborhood institutions. They are nondiscriminating. It's a gay bar but they accept everyone, every race, every gender and sexuality. They are really friendly and sweet and open, and they could use support. If we are told they're closed then we won't go, even if we are curious or looking for a new place to try. Starlite is NOT CLOSED.

A friend of mine who goes to Starlite as a customer but who has no other connection to the lounge tried to register on this site to let everyone know that Starlite is open, but has not gotten a confirmation email. They wrote to Brownstoner asking that they correct this post and they got the response, "Interesting, thanks" but no follow-up post / correction on the site. They asked me to let everyone know. Starlite is open! They are open most evenings. They make a mean Long Island Iced Tea! On Thursdays they have karaoke!

According to the mailing list, which my friend who asked me to post is on, tonight they have a dance party with DJ Broadway (R&B, House, Salsa, Merengue, Reggae, Calypson, Soca) and Chocolate Lady of the Universe Lady Jasmine (it's free to get in before 10pm, $6 after).

On Friday April 10 DJ Bert will be spinning for James (Baby Boy of Starlite Lounge)'s 41st Birthday (over 21 only - free before 10pm). I don't know what that means, but it is an event that the lounge has coming up... Since they are not closed.

On Saturdays it's free before 11pm and there is a lineup of DJs:
April 4 & April 18 Carlos Sanchez
April 11 & April 25 Cameron Da DJ

Starlite is open - if you like bars and you're looking for a comfortable, accepting place to visit, give them a try!

Posted by: Violet at April 3, 2009 10:47 AM

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