Located on Santa Fe Drive and West 5th Street, Trade has done more than just survive its first year in Denver-it has thrived. Oh yeah, the drinks are pretty cheap too. The bartenders are nice and often pour with a heavy hand. They laugh, the play darts, they’ll read you in the most flattering way. Think of all those dive bars in the movies where everyone is smiling and a little drunk. The atmosphere is light-hearted and the clientele is always eclectic.
R&R Bar is fun, friendly, and “not cliquey,” according to Illgen. “We do complimentary breakfast burritos before the parade, so that’s always a big thing, and people get a couple of cocktails in ‘em before the festivities start.” “We open the Sunday of Pride Week at 7:30 a.m.,” explained Rich Illgen, owner of the bar. While unassuming and small, R&R Bar proudly serves the LGBTQ community and is going to be participating in Pride again this year. Nestled snugly on Colfax, R&R Bar was a cozy and becoming hole-in-the-wall before dive bars and the grimy charm of Colfax were hip. With its mythical two-step lessons early in the evening, go-go boys, cheap sloshy beer, and an entire room for its frequent drag shows, this staple of the Denver gay scene has something for everyone.ĭenver’s oldest gay bar, R&R Bar is a Denver staple. Just a few blocks down on Colfax sits one of Denver’s most popular dance bars, Charlie’s. People flock to the bar to dance and get down or just to drink and relax, and many in the LGBTQ community have made it their regular hangout. The bar boasts nightly specials and drink deals, as well as two dance floors for the weekends and a large patio section. We have a very special float this year, so we are looking forward to the parade on June 18.” “We also give them away and have the biggest pink flamingo around on our float. “X Bar is well known for the pink flamingos during pride, and they are everywhere,” explained Cindy Alix, general manager at X Bar. Known for its inclusivity towards both the queer and straight communities, X Bar has been around for seven years and has been an important staple of Denver for just as long.
Formed in 1985, Take Note! has been performing for concert and community audiences for more than 30 years.įor more information and to book Take Note!, contact us here.X Bar is a staple for Denver LGBTQ folks. They can also be booked for private events. These talented singers lend their voices to partner with other nonprofit organizations and causes, build community relationships and promote DWC performances. The ensemble provides vital outreach and community collaborations through their numerous performances per concert season. Their repertoire includes pop and choral works and original a cappella arrangements. Take Note! specializes in a cappella music and is comprised of 12-15 treble voices. Take Note! is the select auditioned ensemble of the Denver Women’s Chorus. In January 2020, the chorus presented the Colorado premiere of Lifting As We Climb, a commissioned work by renowned composer Joan Szymko in honor of the 100 th anniversary of the19th amendment. They have collaborated with local nonprofit organizations, including the League of Women Voters, Safehouse Denver, and Mile High Freedom Band, and have performed alongside Emma’s Revolution, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and Cris Williamson. They have shared songs at marches, churches, libraries, and museums as well as Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Colorado State Capitol. With 130 united voices, DWC strives to promote social change through the music they create for each other and for their audiences throughout the greater Denver area. Today, the Denver Women’s Chorus is proud to be a trans- and nonbinary-inclusive chorus and is comprised of LGBTQ+ singers and many dedicated allies. DWC embraces diversity, equity, and intersectional feminism. Despite the obstacles they faced, they traveled to perform in New York and Washington D.C., joined in actions for social justice, and became the first treble chorus to perform at a GALA Choruses festival. In the beginning, many singers did not allow their names to be printed in programs due to concerns they would face discrimination.
DWC owes its existence to a group of brave lesbian singers who risked their livelihoods in 1984 to form a chorus that became both a safe place for its members and an outlet for musical expression. The Denver Women’s Chorus (DWC) is a multigenerational treble chorus dedicated to musical excellence, building community, and advocating for social justice.