Key West

Wow — lots of great memories in this place. Of course I’m going back to 1987 when coming out in the «non-​internet era» was a lot different than today. It was a great place for happy hour after work, as well as late nights and the great dance music of the 80s. I recall strong drinks, nice bartenders, great music and lots of cigarette smoke. Aaah, the good old days — the 80s & the 90s! Too bad its closed — but it could never be the same today anyway with the spic and span «smoke free» nonsense and the general less-​than-​friendly environment of places nowadays… not to mention the crappy music (noise) played in the clubs today. I’m glad I was young when I was young — and not now. Farewell Key West and to a bygone era fondly remembered!

Years and years ago I used to like this bar. It was a little divey a little campy and a great place to meet and have a few drinks before you went out. Plus they used to have some hot gogo boys (do they even still have those in Philly?)
I stopped in once when I moved back. Whoa! What happened? I mean it was never great, but it was never awful.
What’s up with the fried chicken? Yikes! Yeah, I really want to go home smelling like KFC.
I don’t know what else to say…

It’s been quite awhile since I entered Key West… G-Room’s rotating parties were in full swing and it was the summer of 2003. Those of you who know me, know that I’m «Down with Brown» as my partner likes to say. So I was intrigued by a place that was billed as the «Black Man’s Bump»… I sure was in for a shock. It’s not the place I thought it would be, there was a lot of voguing, a lot of older clientele, and a lot of DL thugsly types. I had a great time after I got use to the vibe of the place. However, I wasn’t ready for the Go-​Go boy named Star and his wardrobe malfunction. Again, why do gay bars in Philly have mirrors?! Not only did I get a full frontal, but in the mirror was the full moon! Drinks were strong, the atmosphere was palpable, and the décor was reminiscent of bygone glory days circa 1960.

ok, so another sunday, but late — we closed out the place
the last time i went the upstairs was not open, on sundays, it is now voguing night. i watched for prolly 45 mins total, so would have to say that it is fun. more new style voguing (jumpy, sissy hands, falling on the back, etc.) and it was more of a free for all than anything else, with light and friendly competition, the mc challenging and prodding but not so shady. there was one really popular tg queen and one really skinny boy who was impressive (e.g. throw a little back flip into a pose, etc.). most of the people there were participating and not just watching. the music was more old school house, with a hard beat, and cunty lyrics — i love it: remember the days when you could make a song just using the word «pussy»?

Key West is the reason I lost the back to my Sidekick on Thanksgiving night.
Ok, I jest, I jest. It’s really all the fault of The Scare and all the drinks that were comped to me there.
It’s a dive, there’s no way around that. The drinks are okay, not bad for straight bar standards, but a little on the crappy side for gay bar standards. (It’s not the bartenders’ faults. They have a weird system for drink pouring that forces bartenders to charge you extra for a good, stiff drink. This comes from a former Key West bartender.) They will also rarely, if ever, comp you for drinks — a rarity for gay bars. (This is also due to their weird drink pouring system.)
The crowd is one of the friendlier and more polite ones I’ve seen in the Gayborhood. The first time I stopped by, a few of the guys moved down a seat so I had a stool to plop down on. That, in itself, earns Key West a star.
Another fun little tidbit (which comes from the former bartender): they run «elevate parties» every month (?) that include drink specials and get a more diverse (read: lesbian/​bi girl) crowd than normal.
There’s not much else to say. Depending on the night, it can be really fun, but most of the times I’ve stopped by, it’s been pretty dead and we’ve had to entertain ourselves.

Ah Key West. I went here one day to meet a friend and play some air-​hockey. The door guy wouldn’t accept my expired ID and when I told him I was suppos to meet someone there, he said, «there are no GIRLS here.»
Key West is a pretty divy gay bar with a circular bar, crappy draught beer and all. I do like their back room, which I didn’t even realize was there until my friend Bob and I were about to leave. We saw pool tables and decided to play a game. It’s totally a different atmosphere. The bartender was younger and cute and the folks playing pool were younger (mainly chicks). We listened to Cindy Lauper, drank whiskey and had a pretty great time until TK and our friend the mortician showed up and cleared the joint out.