It’s always been a big dream of mine to connect people. So when I came out of a relationship last year and realized I didn’t have a strong lesbian community, I decided to change that. I took over a 500-member Facebook page called Lou Ladies—founded by the wonderful Mel Nelson—and transformed it into a…
Nightowls
Inside the Rave Collective MATERIA
In downtown St. Louis a mile away from the Arch, nestled between abandoned warehouses on the North Riverfront District is a small black boarded-up building like any other, with graffiti lining its exterior and bricks falling out of place. But when the lights come on and the garage door opens, Mississippi Underground is revealed. This…
Our Lesbian Bars, Our History, Our Future
As a 55-year-old lesbian, I often look back on my twenties and the “safe” spaces we created for ourselves—spaces that became our family. Coming out of the closet (as we called it back then) meant you’d better know how to survive and how to find your people. I came out at a time when it…
Spectacular Spectrama: The Men Behind the Lights and Sounds of St. Louis Nightlife
Spectrama Lighting and Production, the company run by thruple Christopher Taber, Rusty Warning, and Evan Rose, has elevated our local nightlife scene with world-class production skills that wow audiences and pack dancefloors. Their work was a factor in their home bar, Rehab St. Louis, being voted “Best Gay Bar” by Riverfront Times readers during the…
BLQK x ΦΛΚ : A Creative Collective Reimagining Black Queer Masculinity and Nightlife in St. Louis
In the heart of St. Louis, a new creative force is emerging one that redefines what it means to be a social fraternity. Founded in 2025, BLQK x ΦΛΚ (pronounced “BLQK Phi-Lambda-Kappa”) is not just a collective of friends or a social group. It is an intentional, curated space created by and for Black queer…
“Oh honey! The new Bubby & Sissy’s is fire!”
A revamped Bubby & Sissy’s opened to rave reviews last night. “Oh honey. The new Bubby and Sissy’s is fire,” said Ken Snyders, who has been patronizing the club’s various incarnations since it was the Metro in the 1980s. “The club vibe is so strong. The place is beautifully lit and painted.. gilded mirrors, amazing…
Roast Weekend: Property Researcher Michael McKinley’s Complete History on The Grey Fox Site
Michael McKinley, who will roast Grey Fox Pub tomorrow as Erica Foxx, works for the St. Louis Public Library and scours public records to learn about city properties. The following is his report on the Grey Fox site from 1893 to 2020. 3501-3503 South Spring Avenue SPRING AVENUE (N-S). Took its name from a…
GREY FOX IS GETTING HOT! Reigning Miss Trans USA Beyonce St. James ADDED. Eve Versace OUT amid controversy. Tumara Tribute to Early Years. Max Transforms Stage With Stunning Inferno Set Design.
It seems the idea of a panel of entertainers riffing on our city’s oldest and most raggedy LGBTQ+ bar, while also exchanging scorching zingers about one another, is proving irresistible for many. Every ripped vinyl seat in the legendary cabaret is expected to be filled, because as of this morning, fewer than ten tickets remain…
Meet the Roasters: A Diamond Treated Rough
In 2023, it seemed the entire community was accusing Diamond De Luxe of stealing a great big wig. It turned out, she didn’t (apologies were made and accepted). And within just the past few weeks, she’s been called a con artist, a harasser, has been accused of being producer Chuck Pfoutz, and has even been…
STL’s Oldest LGBTQ Bar Celebrates 36 Years on Saturday
Tucked deep within the southeast corner of Tower Grove South is the gritty and glittery Grey Fox Pub (3503 S Spring Ave), which serves as the corner bar for the numerous queer folks residing in the surrounding blocks—a decidedly less-gentrified part of the neighborhood some refer to as “Grey Fox Hills.” Later in the evening, the…