Here's a list of my favorite clubs, lounges and other cool places in and around Pittsburgh.
The Blue Moon, 5115 Butler Street, Lawrenceville; a great little neighborhood bar that has welcomed
us with open arms; this is the place to meet the girls of Pittsburgh, Fridays and Saturdays; the back room is where many
of the t-girls go to socialize.
www.bluemoononbutler.com
Cattivo, 146 44th Street, Lawrenceville; Cattivo is Pittsburgh's newest lesbian
establishment and nightclub. A spaceous and stylish bar, a restaurant with tasty food and ample seating,
a nice dance floor with lightshow. The ladies room has three stalls and a well lit mirror; parking
is wherever you can find it in the residential neighborhood. Tue- Sun 4pm - 2am.
P-Town is a new bar over on Baum Blvd in Oakland across from the Mercedes dealership. It is one
very big room with a horseshoe bar, dance floor and one pool table. And a very nice ladies restroom! It's mostly
a gay male crowd with an occasional visity by us girls. Miss Eda Bagel entertains often on Thursdays at 9pm.
House of Tilden (Club H.O.T.), 941 Liberty Avenue, Downtown; second floor above
the 941 Saloon (see below), great dance music and T-Girl admirers and curiosity seekers, on Fridays and Saturdays the crowd
is huge and a bit unbearable; lots of twenty-somethings go there, mostly gay but some straights and couples; major remodeling
of the dance floor is currently in progress; the site of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Transpitt D.A.X. Fetish
Fashions Party. On-street parking or in the Liberty Avenue garage about a block away.
"941 Saloon" (941 Liberty Avenue), the old Libery Avenue Saloon has reopened. Renovated and
remodeled, it is attracting an eclectic mix of people and lifestyles AND lowlifes from the street. Watch your purse,
girls! Note: Pittsburgh Police focus their D.U.I. activity in this block due to all the bars located here (Images,
There, Pegasus, etc.) not to mention the occasional transexual sex worker(s) plying her trade nearby.
Pegasus, 818 Liberty Avenue, Downtown. The first place I ever went to in Pittsburgh, Pegasus has
the biggest dance floor and I love their music (techno/dance/house). The old sign that hung over the door is gone, but
it isn't hard to find. Watch your footing going down the steps as they seem to be a little narrow. There
is a cover charge and they often have drag shows. Pegasus is open to 18 -21 year olds but the bar area is
segregated and you can't take your drink beyond the over 21 area.
www.pittpegasus.com Parking in the Liberty Avenue garage is convenient and just a few feet away.
"Lucky's" (Real Luck Saloon), 16th and Penn in the Strip District; on the city side of the 16th Street
Bridge but the parking lot is currently closed (Fall of 07 for 1 year!); Do ya wanna dance? 2nd Floor has a medium
size (they come in sizes?) dance floor, a great sound system, good dance music and mirrors on one wall so you can watch yourself
shake your booty! Generally a friendly crowd, but the room does get a little warm! A dark and so-so
ladies room - 3 stalls / no waiting / well lit, big makeup mirror! Too many men use it though.
The Link, 12 Wendel Road, Irwin (Hermanie) Be prepared to be the only T-girl at this fun and nice place
as it is off the beaten path and further east of the city, close to the I-76 Irwin turnpike exit and Rt. 30E. But beautiful
Jezebel is the house queen and she will make you feel welcome. 724-446-7717
www.thelinkbar.com
Donny's, Herron Avenue across the bridge from Iron City Brewery. How did I overlook adding Donny's
to the list? Well, a long time ago this use to be "our" place, but in recent years it had become the favorite gathering
place for the young lesbian crowd who made it pretty clear they didn't want "us" at "their" bar. So we have stopped
going there. Rumor has it that the place has really gone downhill, so we avoid it. But the "Back
to Zak's" events are worth going back to Donny's!
The Andy Warhol Museum, 9th and General Robinson Streets, Northside; always T-Friendly with a variety
of events, exhibitions and a great gift shop with cool and edgy stuff (wink!)
5801 (The old New York, New York)...5801 Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside. It's a "video lounge
and cafe" whatever that means. As of Feb 2006, we've heard complaints about mediocre food and poor service,
not to mention getting some attitude from the patrons
www.5801.us
A Pleasant Present, 2301 Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill, just up Murray from the GLCC and Transpitt's
office; a wonderful GLBT gift shop with tons of cool things and fun stuff.
www.APleasantPresent.com
The Transpitt Office at the GLCC, 5801 Forward Avenue, Squirrel Hill, Exit 5 from I-376, close to downtown
Pittsburgh. Open Monday nights (except holidays) from 7-930pm with lounge area next to office, changing facilities
in bathrooms. Open to all, BYO Soft Drink. 412-422-1558. Closed on Holidays. Volunteer outreach phoneline
and socializing.
The Queen of Hearts - Warren, Ohio: CLOSED and who knows what is in store for the future. The former
site of the third
Saturday of the month Girls Night Out for all the Tri-Sate area's t-girls. I'm not sure
this website is good anymore -
www.royale-hearts.com The Funky Skunk is where the GNO is being held in Warren for the time being.
ViceVersa Club, 335 High St. (Rear Entrance), Morgantown, WVa. 304-292-2010. Features
drag shows quite often which tend to be more "t-friendly" evenings for those who are not social diva's
or are new to the scene.
www.viceversaclub.com
The Eagle, 1740 Eckert Street, (Northside by the old jail) 412-766-7222. Pittsburgh's
Eagle is NOT a Leather Bar like other cities, more of a "clone" scene - cargo shorts, tan work boots and Tony Soprano/wife-beater
undershirts. And the crowd is NOT T-Girl friendly! Go when there is a drag show is there that night,
if you must. BUT, we hear that Friday nights are so slow that even the lesbians go there and Mike the Bartender (our
good pal from the old Rusty Rail days) says come on up to the 3rd Floor Lounge and let him make you a Cosmopolitan!
www.pitteagle.com
Club Maxx - Steubenville, Ohio: Probably one of my favorite places with something for every mood
I am in! Great dance floor and my kind of music (loud techno and house), nice big bar and good Cosmos, friendly people
and admirers. A new lounge area under and behind the DJ loft leads to the outdoor smoking area.
The Rusty Rail - McKees Rocks: Oh, come on now, the place has been closed for 10 years!
But it was the BEST tranny bar in Pittsburgh ever!
Be Careful Out There, Girls! Keep an eye on your purse at all times, don't walk alone if
at all possible and understand that gays and tranz-girls are profiled by the police as possible drug users and DUI.
My advice is ask a real girl what she has to watch out for...you'll be amazed!
