Unlike the other two drag queens, who only took money from the audience when it was handed to them, Bitz picked up the microphone and asked the audience for money three times, telling them not to be “cheap.” After her explicit request, many people took out their singles, as she walked around the tiny space collecting them. I overheard people saying that Ritz Bitz was very aggressive and straightforward. Otherwise, I’m just a 5’5’’ effeminate man.” “I know it’s ironic, but I feel way more empowered as Ritz Bitz. That’s why I’m a hair stylist from 9-to-5.”
“The way you look and the way you feel are totally connected. I love helping women to feel good about themselves,” she said. “There was a moment when I couldn’t take it anymore, so i decided to become who I am today: this perfect combination of the two genders. “I had a father and two brothers that hated me for being an effeminate kid, a mother that supported them because she wanted to avoid conflict and, to top it off, I went to an all-boys school and was bullied throughout my entire adolescence,” said Bitz. She is well-known for her extremely sarcastic humor and her petite phenotype. I mean, that’s my electric bill during the summer months.”Īfter talking to me, Wood changed her outfit and had some alone time with her boyfriend, a hipster-looking white male.Īnother drag queen working at the Toolbox is Ritz Bitz, 29, who is a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent.
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Besides all the free booze, last weekend I made over 200 bucks. “Unless you have a European audience, you can make good money doing this. Our community is not cheap at all,” she said. “Gay people are pretty good with tips, you know. I would totally go on a date like this and nail it.” I feel like I am the modern and thinner Marilyn Monroe.” “People say I’m like a typical white American woman. Not everything is just wigs and high heels in a drag queen’s life.” “I just wanna make people laugh and give a voice to our underrepresented community. I just knew this is what I wanted to do,” said Wood. “The first time I dressed up as a woman was for a friend’s birthday party. She always wanted to be part of the entertainment industry, but back in her Indiana days, the idea of being a drag queen never even crossed her mind. While the city starts to reopen, be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing to protect yourself and everyone else.Heather Wood, 31, is from Indiana and moved to NYC back in 2009. Regardless of your sexuality - straight or gay, you will, for sure, have plenty of fun here. We haven’t been to The Eagle yet, which I heard is a leather-Levis bar that also worth a visit. Happy hour is from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and there are drag shows from Sunday through Thursday and live DJs spinning pop mash-ups of Erasure, Kesha, and more on Friday and Saturday.Ĭheck their calendar here to stay updated on the upcoming events!Īlright, these are some of the best gay bars slash dance clubs in the Big Apple that deserve a stop for anyone looking for a hot night.
Indeed, not just folks in the LGBT+ community, anyone is welcomed here. New York magazine described it as a welcome blend of the three types of gay bars you’ve come to expect in Manhattan: the tight-shirt lounge, the tank-top megaclub, and the casual-plaid cruising spot. Located in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, this spacious, industrial-chic gay bar features a bustling after-work scene, sexy bartenders pouring stiff vodka sodas, and plenty of rainbow decors. Locations: 86 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003 Google Ratings: 4.0/5 So, what’s the point of their happy hour?Ī fun story: This bar is at one corner of my first Manhattan apartment building, and it is so casual and quiet that for the first few years, I always thought it is someone’s garage. You won’t find that price anywhere else in New York City. Also, the cocktails are delicious and strong, priced at only $8, and beers are $4. There’s also a karaoke party every Sunday - Thursday night and drag show on weekends, keeping the energy high seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. The popcorn shrimp and fries are delicious! They also have a small menu where you can order Indian food from the restaurant next door. Upon walking in, you will see an extensive bar on the right, and on the left are a few circular booths where you can get cozy in. It’s often more on the low-key side, except when they are airing new episodes of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Suite is a quaint, dimly-lit gay bar on the Upper West Side.