Babes of Carytown explained

Babes of Carytown
City:Richmond, Virginia
Country:U.S.
Type:LGBTQ bar
Opened:1979

Babes of Carytown is an LGBTQ friendly bar, founded in 1979 as a lesbian bar, and located in Richmond, Virginia.[1] [2] [3] It is known for its beach volleyball court, live music, and drag shows.[4] [5] [6] It is Richmond's only lesbian-focused bar, and one of fewer than twenty remaining in the country.[7]

From 2011 through 2016, it was the first place Reader's Pick in Style Weekly for Best Gay Bar.[8] In 2017, Babes was inducted into the Style Weekly Hall of Fame.[9] It then tied for first place as the Style Weekly Reader's Pick in 2018, and then was the first place Reader's pick from 2019 through 2021.[10]

In 2017, it was selected by Thrillist as Virginia's best dive bar and in 2022 was recognized by Tasting Table as among the best LGBTQ bars in the nation.[11] [12]

In a 2017 report prepared for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources LGBTQ Heritage Working Group, Babes is described as "a rare survivor from the pre-1991 period, during which the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board regularly shut down establishments that served or employed LGBTQ individuals."[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marschak. Beth. Lesbian and Gay Richmond. Lorch. Alex. 2008. Arcadia Publishing. 978-0-7385-5368-9. 108. en.
  2. News: Holter . Emily . Back-Of-The-House Babes: Richmond Women Dominate Their Work In a Male-Dominated Restaurant Industry . 15 December 2022 . . January 21, 2019.
  3. News: Hand . Clare . Dyke Nightlife Diary: Babe's Of Carytown, Virginia's Unexpectedly Lit LGBTQ+ Bar . 22 November 2022 . . February 4, 2020.
  4. News: Jones . Terri L. . Richmond Bar Guide: Fun & Games . 29 June 2021 . richmondmagazine.com . 2016-11-21 . en-us.
  5. News: Heil . Meredith . Richmond's Babe's of Carytown Provides a Campy Escape from the Everyday . 29 June 2021 . . 2020-06-30.
  6. News: Key . Michael . You don't have to go far to get away . 15 December 2022 . . January 26, 2012.
  7. Book: Egan . Maureen . Insiders' GuideĀ® to Richmond, VA . 2010-09-14 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-0-7627-6677-2 . 104 . 29 June 2021 . en.
  8. Reviews of Babes
  9. News: Best Gay Bar 2017 . 22 November 2022 . Style Weekly.
  10. References:
  11. News: Kryza . Andy . Lynch . Matt . The Best Dive Bar in Every State . 29 June 2021 . . 15 September 2017 . en.
  12. News: Dykes . Carrie . 2022-06-07 . The Best LGBTQ+ Bars In The US . en-US . 2022-11-15.
  13. Shevchenko . Yelyzaveta . Reconnaissance Survey of LGBTQ Architectural Resources in the City of Richmond . Virginia Department of Historic Resources LGBTQ Heritage Working Group. . November 2017 . 22 November 2022.