Valentine’s Day hot spots for LGBTQ community

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Complied by Lyn Collier, Tonya
Harvey and Rob Schlegel

This Valentine’s Day weekend, we encourage Spectrum readers to support Las Vegas Valley LGBTQ restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other businesses. So, if you are planning a special night out with your sweetie, hanging out with your friends or going it solo, consider supporting family. Here is a sampling of what’s available.

♥ Anise Tapas & Grill
3100 S. Durango Drive
702-586-4088
anisetapas.com

This is a very unique fi nd. Owner Sarit Rachel Bitton and her two partners operate a kosher kitchen and bar. There are plans for a vegan menu, art display, live entertainment and after-hour events. Bittion was raised in Orthodox Judaism but is an open lesbian and books gay weddings at the eatery in the evenings. It’s known for its shawarma. Anise is open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m.-midnight on Saturday.

♥ Badlands Saloon
953 E. Sahara Ave., No. 22-B
702-792-9262

If your cowboy is a little funky this is the right place for him. This bar in the historical Commercial Center is a neighborhood place with a country-and-western theme. It keeps it simple with pool and drink specials. Don’t miss Jimmie Emerson’s Fabulously Funny Friday’s show. Badlands is open 24 hours a day.

♥ Bronze Cafe
Menu available in Juice Stars,
downtown Las Vegas,
124 S. Sixth St., (and Carson Street) No.160,
702-331- 6888;
a second location set to open at 2380 N. Buffalo Drive, No. 110
this spring
702-586-3401

General Manager David Mozes and owner and Executive Chef Peter Bastien provide soups, salads, “sammiches” and homemade pastries. There are plenty of vegan options and fi t-friendly foods.
This is the café that everyone knew and loved when they had a location at The Center. Bronze Café still off ers catering services across the valley, including the Lambda lunch at The Center. Delivery is available via Postmates, UberEats and GrubHub. Juice Stars is open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

♥ Charlie’s Las Vegas
5012 Arville St., Suite 4,
702-876-1844,
charlieslasvegas.com

This country-and-western-themed bar has two-stepping action going on all weeklong. It’s best known for its guy’s “Underwear Nights.” Those who wear their underwear get free well drinks from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cash prizes at midnight. Hours 2 p.m.-5 a.m. daily.

♥ DW Bistro
9275 W. Russell Road, Suite No. 190,
702-527-5200,
dwbistro.com

This popular restaurant is inside The Gramercy in the southwest valley. Perfect for that romantic dinner. It off ers a unique blend of Jamaican and New Mexican cuisine. Owner Bryce Krausman said he has a few treats in store for guests over the Valentine’s Day weekend. DW is known for its Sunday brunch, which is served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The desserts are divine. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.

♥ Eat Downtown (x 3)
707 Carson St. (at Seventh Street),
702- 534-1515, weekday hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
Eat Summerlin Proper,
1910 Village Center Circle, Suite 1, 702-848- 1897; daily from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.,
chefnatalieyoung.com.

For years, the downtown and Summerlin restaurants have been popular with Valley residents for lunch and breakfast. The menu is fi lled with choices of truf- fl ed egg sandwiches, baby spinach salads, veggie burgers and roast beef sandwiches. On Feb. 14, restaurateur Chef Natalie Young will have a Valentine Day present for all of us — her third creation opens, Old Soul at the World Market Center on Grand Central Parkway. She spent about fi ve months designing the large space and furnishing it with antiques, which were largely acquired locally. It has a 1920’s, Southern feel. Young said the new menu would be “classic, elevated American cuisine that would include chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, fried chicken on Sundays and liver and onions. She even created a new cocktail for the Spectrum. Ask for the “Bloody Heart.”

♥ Flex Cocktail Lounge
4371 W. Charleston Blvd.
702-878- 3355,
flexlasvegas.com

This 20-year-old establishment provides nightly drag shows, karaoke events and drink specials, like the Bloody Sunday drink special from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is never a cover. It’s open 24 hours a day.

♥ Free Zone
610 E. Naples Drive,
702-794-2300,
facebook.com/FreeZoneLV

Situated in the heart of the “Fruit Loop” right off the Strip, this two-decades-old establishment is a staple along the Las Vegas bar crawl. Owner Paul (P.J.) Brazier has kept the dance fl oor and small stage but remodeled the back room to feature pool tables and classic arcade games. The bar is known for its shot drinks that are served by provocatively-clad young men or women. The bar has a small kitchen in the back, Big Mama’s Pizzeria, which will deliver inside the bar. Bar manager Alissa Hinkle said Free Zone was planning for some special Valentine’s Day treats.

♥ Fun Hog Ranch
495, E. Twain Ave.,
702-791-7001

This men’s bar encourages leather and fetish wear. It hosts events for the Las Vegas Boys of Leather and Bears Las Vegas. On Feb. 16, it will hold OINK Night that will feature the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The fundraiser supports the Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The bar is open 24/7.

♥ The Garage
1487 E. Flamingo Road, Suite C,
702- 440-6333,
thegaragelv.com

This comfortable neighborhood bar has a fun, retro-auto shop theme. The bartenders are adorable in their service uniforms with classic name badges. The big, red comfy booths, pool tables and long bar invite groups of friends to hang out. The kitchen serves up simple, good food, always reasonably priced. The daily drink specials make it a local’s favorite. Now open is their outdoor patio area.

♥ Hamburger Mary’s
1700 E. Flamingo Road,
702-733-8787,
hamburgermarys.com

This 17,500-square-foot diner has two stages and showrooms, lounge area and tons of drag shows and events scheduled every night of the week. Co-owner and partner, James Healey said he is expanding the menu to include the franchise’s famous “Proud Mary,” a 1-pound burger. There also will be lowcarb and vegetarian selections on the new menu. The diner is one of the few places you can take the kids for a burger and bingo. Pride Family Superhero Bingo is held every Wednesday night at 5 p.m. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight on Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

♥ Ichabod’s Video Poker Lounge and Restaurant
3300 E. Flamingo Road,
702-451-2323,
ichabodsloungelv.com

Old Vegas hospitality lives here. The menu is traditional and filled with steaks, pot roast, pasta dishes, liver and onions and seafood. There is a fresh salad and soup bar. The large restaurant is divided into two sections for smoking and non-smoking. There is a piano bar and live entertainment nightly on the bar side. Plans for a special Valentine’s Day dinner are in the works. Ichabod’s is owned by Francois Alvandi and he makes sure his place is one of the friendliest in town. Ichabod’s is open 24 hours a day.

♥ Las Vegas Lounge
900 Karen Ave., Suite C-101,
702-737- 9350, thelasvegaslounge.com

This is Las Vegas’ only trans bar. It features trans bartenders, weekly trans drag shows, daily happy hours. It is open 24/7.

♥ Las Vegas Metropolitan Community Church
1140 Almond Tree Lane, No. 302,
702- 369-4380
and Las Vegas TransPride, Transcending the Gender Box,
1140 Almond Tree Lane, No. 305
These two community groups will hold a Valentine’s Day spaghetti dinner and dance Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5-$8. For more information, call 702-906-4608 or email jamie@lasvegastranspride.org

♥ Piranha Nightclub
4633 Paradise Road,
702-791-0100,
piranhavegas.com

In the center of the “Fruit Loop” off the Strip, Piranha is the hub of after-hours fun. The bar has a cozy patio and plenty of parking. It features theme nights with drag shows. Hours are 10 p.m.-5 a.m., Sunday-Thursday; 7 p.m.-6 a.m., Friday; and 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Saturday.

♥ Pour Coffeehouse
6811 S. Eastern Ave., No. 104-D,
702- 527-5544,
pourlv.com

Owners Deborah Armstrong and Tina Torres are offering a Valentine’s Day special of house latte with sugar cookies to sweeten Feb. 14. Later that day, there will be a free, spoken word and open mic from 6:30 to 9 p.m. On Feb. 15, Naked Soul will perform a special show from 8-9 p.m. The hip coffeeshop is a favorite among local artists and writers and of ers smoothies, coffee drinks, veggie wraps, salads, BLT sandwiches and T’s Chick Pea Bowl. Hours are 9 a.m- 3 p.m. Sundays and Saturdays; 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday; and 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday.

♥ PublicUs
1126 Fremont St.,
702-331-5500,
publicuslv.com

This canteen-style neighborhood restaurant and coff ee bar is in the Fremont East District of downtown Las Vegas. Hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Brunch is served all day on the weekends. Breakfast is 7-11 a.m. and lunch is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. during the weekends.

♥ QuadZ
4640 Paradise Road,
702-733-0383

This video bar draws a millennial crowd who like to play a cellphone drinking game. They line the phones up on the table and the fi rst one who gets a notifi cation has to buy the group a drink. The hip bar has pool, darts and drink specials. It’s open 24/7, and is located in the Fruit Loop, next door to Get Booked, a great place to purchase a last minute Valentine’s Day card or last minute gift.

♥ Senior Frogs’ Drag Brunch
Treasure Island, 3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.,
702-894-7777,
senorfrogs.com

For Valentine’s Day weekend fun, check out this Drag Brunch. Bryan Watkins as “Shannel” is the emcee for this lively night. General admission includes the show, unlimited mimosas and buff et for $49.95. VIP tickets for $69.95 also

♥ Showboy BakeShop (x 2)
2591 Anthem Village Drive, Henderson;
3370 S. Hualapai Way,
702-359-0200;
showboybakeshop.com

This is probably the sweetest choice for Valentine’s Day. Owners Stephen Lowry and Jared Sullivan have designed a special gift package with cupcakes and chocolate-covered strawberries. Hours are Anthem Sun-Thurs 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Fri and Sat 10 a.m. 8 p.m. Hualapai location, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. daily

♥ Spotlight Lounge
975 E. Sahara Ave.
702-431-9775
spotlightlounge.com

Welcome to the home of the infamous Kitty Litter Karaoke 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Fridays; and 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturdays. There’s free bingo with Mark on Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m. and yes, lunch is served, compliments of the bar.

♥ English Garden Florist
(702) 740-4770
EnglishGardenFlorist.com

Let’s wrap up our Valentine’s Day suggestions with flowers. Everyone in the LGBTQ community knows if you want something special, the place to go is EnglishGardenFlorist.com, which has a retail location at 4171 S. Maryland Parkway. Dave Pellew and his crew always make the event special.