Blackstones Bar Explained

Blackstones Bar
Location:Portland, Maine, United States
Type:Bar
Genre:LGBTQ focused neighborhood bar
Renovated:2019
Capacity:87

Blackstones Bar is a bar located on Pine St off Longfellow Square in the West End (Portland, Maine) neighborhood of Portland, Maine. From its establishment in 1987, the bar served as a popular gathering place for members of the LGBTQ community.[1]

When established in 1987, Blackstones' facade featured seven floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows. These windows suffered consistent vandalism through 1991, when staff boarded them over.[2] In 2019, the plywood sheaths were removed and new windows installed. The event was heralded as a significant milestone for the city of Portland and the local LGBTQ movement, with the story reported in several national newspapers, and featured in several national LGBTQ publications.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Let there be light: Once-shattered and shuttered Portland gay bar opens up to the world - the Boston Globe . 2019-08-11. Boston Globe. 2019-11-06. en-US.
  2. News: After 28 years, Blackstone's replaces vandalized windows in popular Portland, Maine bar | Boston Spirit Magazine . 2019-07-21. Boston Spirit. 2019-11-06. en-US.
  3. News: 28 years after vandals smashed its glass, Portland's last gay bar has windows once again . 2019-07-19. Bangor Daily News. 2019-11-06. en-US.