Gay bars in st johns newfoundland
Eric Clark opened openly gay lock Friends in s St. John’s and a succession of other gay and gay-friendly clubs
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ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — If you were looking for a place to be out in St. John’s in the s, ‘80s, ‘90s into the ‘00s, there’s a good chance you danced or drank in one of Eric Clark’s bars.
And if you were straight in the s, you’d be lined up on Water Street trying to get into hotspot Club Max.
Clark took a bold step with his longtime business and onetime life partner, Duncan Morris, to start the first openly gay bar to St. John’s. From then on, there were several of Clark’s bars — gay and dance clubs — that fostered tolerance.
“We might have saved lives. I am sure we did. You could be who you want to be,” Clark said during an interview with The Telegram in his St. John’s home.
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St John’s, Newfoundland, is a city known for its bar scene. Yet, among the countless clubs and pubs, there is not one gay bar.
Since May , the Zone occupied a multilevel space on Water St, the main dissector of the Atlantic capital. The gay, female homosexual, bi and trans communities came together weekly to drink, dance and be, well, gay. Drag shows, themed nights and a variety of music brought a multitude of patrons of all sexualities into the Zone for 16 years.
But on Jan 1, after a host of long-time customers of all ages had rung in the new year, the Zone closed its doors.
“The Zone was the longest-running gay bar in the city&#;s history,” says Fabian Fitzpatrick, DJ and promoter for the bar for many years. “I should point out that queer bars have existed in one form or another since the late s in St John’s, which comes as a surprise to many people.”
He believes that the past six months have been the longest time the municipality has been without a gay bar since the s.
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Gay St. John's
Perched on the eastern edge of North America, St. John's is a charming, colourful city known for its rich maritime history, dramatic ocean views, and famously friendly locals. The streets are lined with brightly painted row houses, indie cafés, and a growing selection of creative spaces, including art galleries, dwell music venues, and museums that demonstrate the city’s vibrant cultural identity. As the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s also serves as a gateway to breathtaking natural beauty—iceberg-dotted coastlines, rugged hiking trails, and whale-watching adventures are all just minutes away.
St. John’s may be smaller than other Canadian cities, but its 2SLGBTQIA+ people is visible, warm, and deeply woven into the city’s fabric. Inclusivity is a key part of the local culture here, with queer-friendly spaces start across the city—from community centres and drag venues to inclusive pubs and art collectives. While the gay scene is more grassroots than glitzy, what it lacks in scale it more than makes up for in heart. Visito
'It's time to move on' says owner of St. John's 2SLGBTQIA+ nightclub Velvet
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“We’re still going to be doing drag shows in the new venue,” he said.
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“Instead of having mediocre shows, maybe if we do them every other week or every other month, then maybe they will be bigger and better and everybody makes more money.”
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While Velvet will last open for a limited more weeks, efforts own already begun to commence converting the space, starting with the installation of a brand new sound system.
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“That’s going to be deadly,” Viau said.
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“With top-notch sound and lights, when people arrive in, I want them to say ‘Wow, that was amazing.’”
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Viau is targeting the weekend of Feb. 22 as the launch date for his new venture and is already working to line up some acts.
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“Right now I’m confirming the opening act,” Viau said. “I’m already getting a bunch of requests for booking, which is amazing.”
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‘There is a feeling that a gender non-conforming person gets’
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