TownHouse Revisited... as classy ever

[DorianSilver]

Well, visited The TownHouse in NYC back in January for a weeks vacation and have been several times in the past five years. An excellent established lounge to enter as a stranger and depart as a friend. The regulars and visitors all mingle well and maybe the stiff drinks at an easy price pave the way, doubtful though: I've always had a stellar time there and so many memories of the evenings and real friendships retained from there keep coming to mind. Just wondering if any of ya'll have any fond memories of the TH to share...?

[BaronArtz]

I am glad to read it, especially since the 'Candle Bar', the very last remaining gay bar on the upperwestside of NY closed this week. The end of an era ...

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

Thanks for the report. I'm glad it has not closed. When I visited NYC on a regular basis, I always stopped at the Townhouse for a drink and perhaps a bit more. If Stella's was the place to find escorts in Midtown, this was the place for it in that area of New York. I assume that activity is a thing of the past?

[Buddy15]

Well, visited The TownHouse in NYC back in January for a weeks vacation and have been several times in the past five years. An excellent established lounge to enter as a stranger and depart as a friend. The regulars and visitors all mingle well and maybe the stiff drinks at an easy price pave the way, doubtful though: I've always had a stellar time there and so many memories of the evenings and real friendships retained from there keep coming to mind. Just wondering if any of ya'll have any fond memories of the TH to share...?

Brings back great memories. Back in the 90s I would go to NY several times a year on business and always went there. Many times I hooked up with great guys and even met someone with whom I ended up having a great relationship with (altho it didn't last more than a year because long distance relationships rarely do)

[+ sync]

I am glad to read it, especially since the 'Candle Bar', the very last remaining gay bar on the upperwestside of NY closed this week. The end of an era ...

 

Oh, no! The Candle Bar was one of my very first haunts. I really liked it.

[+ WilliamM]

Sad that Rounds has been gone for over 20 years. The Townhouse was always much more conservative, not nearly so much in your face. Though most nights you were sure to meet someone you liked at Rounds, if you could manage a conversation over the chatter and music. All these years later, I still greatly prefer Rounds. Sorry, guys -- must be honest.

[+ sync]

Sad that Rounds has been gone for over 20 years. The Townhouse was always much more conservative, not nearly so much in your face. Though most nights you were sure to meet someone you liked at Rounds, if you could manage a conversation over the chatter and music. All these years later, I still greatly prefer Rounds. Sorry, guys -- must be honest.

 

I loved Rounds. So much diversity.

[nynakedtop]

I loved Stella's.... crowd could be kind of rough but that was part of its glory. Made some good connections there but many of them are not "gone" or serving time. Such were the days.

 

Anyone else with memories --fond or otherwise-- of that place?

[BaronArtz]

I loved Stella's.... crowd could be kind of rough but that was part of its glory. Made some good connections there but many of them are not "gone" or serving time. Such were the days.

 

Anyone else with memories --fond or otherwise-- of that place?

 

Loved Stella's. Especially on Friday nights, when the guys from Upstate NY jails were released at nearby Port Authority. Eager to make a buck, and to have a few drinks while they were at it. So much fun. The place that was even better though, was CATS around the corner. Any given weekday, happy hour time, you would find moth-eaten drag queens, guys in 3-piece suits and half-naked Latin strippers at the bar. And everybody had a BLAST. You just wouldn't believe the eyes of the occasional tourist walking in there, thinking that Cats Bar was affiliated with a broadway show of the same name ... MEOW.

[BaronArtz]

Oh, no! The Candle Bar was one of my very first haunts. I really liked it.

 

It had its moments. One of the last gay bars in NY with a 'back room'. Closed this week - owners sold building. So it will be a bank now. Or a shoe store. Or a Duane Reede maybe. You never have enough Duane Reede stores on any given block!

 

I think the crowd may be moving to '9th Ave Saloon' or to 'Julius'.

[nynakedtop]

There was a place on I think 41st just east of 9th avenue that made stella's look elegant by comparison- can't remember the name but it was the place where guys banned from other places found a place to work - anyone remember it???

[+ Gar1eth]

Well, visited The TownHouse in NYC back in January for a weeks vacation and have been several times in the past five years. An excellent established lounge to enter as a stranger and depart as a friend. The regulars and visitors all mingle well and maybe the stiff drinks at an easy price pave the way, doubtful though: I've always had a stellar time there and so many memories of the evenings and real friendships retained from there keep coming to mind. Just wondering if any of ya'll have any fond memories of the TH to share...?

 

I didn't find that when I went last October. But #1 I think I was there within 90 minutes of closing. #2. I was probably in blue jeans-maybe I should have been dressed nicer. #3. I've never done well at meeting people in bars even when I was younger and skinny.

 

But I'm definitely willing to believe it was me and not Townhouse.

 

Gman

[+ sync]

There was a place on I think 41st just east of 9th avenue that made stella's look elegant by comparison- can't remember the name but it was the place where guys banned from other places found a place to work - anyone remember it???

 

I do remember the place, but not the name. It was right across from the Port Authority bus terminal. I was stunned when that dive hit me with a cover charge.

[+ sync]

I loved Stella's.... crowd could be kind of rough but that was part of its glory. Made some good connections there but many of them are not "gone" or serving time. Such were the days.

 

Anyone else with memories --fond or otherwise-- of that place?

 

I had a lot of good times at Stella's. A lot of fun banter with the bartenders, Jimmy and Joey Ponytail in particular. The owner, Kathy, was also cordial after she felt comfortable around you.

[jakeleyman]

So can you count on meeting and hiring cute young guys at the Townhouse, or is it just a place to socialize? and are you out of place wearing things like t-shirts and jeans or do you have to dress up?

[Buddy15]

So can you count on meeting and hiring cute young guys at the Townhouse, or is it just a place to socialize? and are you out of place wearing things like t-shirts and jeans or do you have to dress up?

I haven't been there in 15 years but then it was mostly well dressed guys and it was always easy to meet someone. The younger guys in jeans were mostly working boys.

[+ dutchmuch]

I haven't been there in 15 years but then it was mostly well dressed guys and it was always easy to meet someone. The younger guys in jeans were mostly working boys.

 

And what is it now?

[+ SundayZip]

I was there last week. The first thing I noticed was that customers were neatly dressed. For those familiar with the corporate world, think "Business Casual". Definitely no faded jeans with funky t-shirts. If there were rentboys there, they did stand out because of their dress.

[Tonyko]

I was there last week. The first thing I noticed was that customers were neatly dressed. For those familiar with the corporate world, think "Business Casual". Definitely no faded jeans with funky t-shirts. If there were rentboys there, they did stand out because of their dress.

If you have a collared shirt on you're a customer lol, if you're in the front room in jeans ALONE you're "working". Nice thang about that place is the doorman can be discriminating when it comes to street boys in cut-offs etc, they try n keep the working guys a little more high end lol. Whenever I'm in the back piano bar room I always imagine that's what it must have been like in the 50's etc when the UESide was filled with secret bars in private Townhouses.

[Irtwo]

Tonyko's description is pretty accurate, and it does have a '50's feel to it. But to be clear, there are not a lot of working boys at the Townhouse. There are a few on any given night that management allows because they know them and they keep a low profile.

[+ WilliamM]

. But to be clear, there are not a lot of working boys at the Townhouse. There are a few on any given night that management allows because they know them and they keep a low profile.

 

That is my experience as well. However, I would very much like to be wrong about The Townhouse.

[+ FreshFluff]

So can you count on meeting and hiring cute young guys at the Townhouse, or is it just a place to socialize? and are you out of place wearing things like t-shirts and jeans or do you have to dress up?

 

SundayZip's got it. Definitely business casual

 

I'm thinking that nice business casual--high quality loafers, dress Oxford shirt--can't hurt if the client is pursuing the more popular working guys who have multiple suitors. Is that right, or will that just jack up the price?

[BaronArtz]

Tonyko's description is pretty accurate, and it does have a '50's feel to it. But to be clear, there are not a lot of working boys at the Townhouse. There are a few on any given night that management allows because they know them and they keep a low profile.

 

When in doubt, probably a good idea to ask the opinion of one of the bar tenders (preferably after you tip them well). They know who the working boys are and what their reputation is. It is something I did often at Stella's and kept me out of trouble quite a few times.

[+ SimplyAdam]

I'm considering going to the TownHouse for the first time early the evening of Thursday, the 2nd. Just saying...

[Tonyko]

Tonyko's description is pretty accurate, and it does have a '50's feel to it. But to be clear, there are not a lot of working boys at the Townhouse. There are a few on any given night that management allows because they know them and they keep a low profile.

THAT is true, you rarely see a boy that you ALSO see on RB esp the really "known" ones. BUT there are hidden gems sometimes sitting in the corners against the wall :-)