Starlight Lounge in Danger of Closing Forever
The Starlight Lounge, located at Nostrand Ave and Bergen St, in Crown Heights North, is Brooklyn’s oldest gay bar, and perhaps also Brooklyn’s first black owned gay bar. However, the future of this neighborhood institution is looking bleak. As reported on Gothamist, the bar’s manager, Tim Leviticus, is quoted saying, “Without us knowing, the old…
The Starlight Lounge, located at Nostrand Ave and Bergen St, in Crown Heights North, is Brooklyn’s oldest gay bar, and perhaps also Brooklyn’s first black owned gay bar. However, the future of this neighborhood institution is looking bleak. As reported on Gothamist, the bar’s manager, Tim Leviticus, is quoted saying, “Without us knowing, the old landlord sold the building — not even giving us the right to purchase it. We haven’t met the new owner yet, but we’ve heard he wants the building to be empty.” The Lounge opened in the 1960’s, and was a popular hangout for the black gay community, as well as welcoming to anyone else who came in. Today, it is popular with both new and old clientele, with dance parties and karaoke nights. The owners are now circulating a petition to have the building and the bar landmarked, to protect it from demolition, and to preserve the Starlight. Information and discussion can be found on the Brooklynian, and more history can be found here.
Brooklyn’s Oldest Gay Bar May Close[Gothamist]
Community Petition For Landmark Status[Brooklynian]
Photo:outaboutbrooklyn.com. GMAP
MM, I do hate showtunes, but after 3 drinks, I may be willing to sing along 🙂
I think I remember that Snappy HATES show tunes. In any case, I’m in. CGar, can you see us bellowing “My Way” at the top of our lungs? I’ll need a lot of Appleton’s for that.
-Rob, I think we should go there one night.
-snappy we should!!!
-If anyone wants to go, I’m in.
-Me too- I’ll go!
-if going let me know.
-I’d love to go, you know me and the karaoke! Would MM take the mic?
-Will also keep my eye out for a potential gathering there
Snappy, *rob*, MM, bxgrl, Pete, jessi, herkimer. Well, it sounds like we have a quorum for a karaoke “outing” there. I will sing showtunes, but ONLY if Montrose sings with me!!Winthropst is in, too – he actually suggested going there when we were at Sycamore.
First off, Montrose, fabulous job this week with interesting posts and great discussions! I’ve really enjoyed B’stoner this week. And thanks also for posting this about the Starlight. I’ve certainly noticed it but didn’t know anything about it. I’ll definitely keep my eye out for petitions, etc. Will also keep my eye out for a potential gathering there (and the Mill Basin place that Benson rec’d, too, another time)!
The first thing that occurred to me is that Crown Heights, labeled in the public memory as the Orthodoxim-vs-Black Smackdown Locale, must be a more tolerant precinct than either community is given credit for, if an old-school gay bar has thrived there in peace for as long as that neon sign would intimate. Hope it survives; it must have some great stories to tell.
And we need to get hold of Won Ton!
What night do they do karaoke there? I think we need to go show this place some B’Stoner luv.
Going to Crown Heights North would be a mark of TRUE diversity. there hasn’t been a meet up here yet.
I would rather have the next Brownstoner meet-up in the El Caribe in Mill Basin.
How about some true diversity – seeing the other parts of the borough!