Babes of Carytown is an LGBTQ friendly bar, founded in 1979 as a

lesbian bar A lesbian bar (sometimes called a "women's bar") is a drinking establishment that caters exclusively or predominantly to lesbian women. While often conflated, the lesbian bar has a history distinct from that of the gay bar. Significance Les ...

, and located in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. It is known for its beach volleyball court, live music, and drag shows. It is Richmond's only lesbian-focused bar, and one of fewer than twenty remaining in the country. From 2011 through 2016, it was the first place Reader's Pick in ''

Style Weekly ''Style Weekly'' is an online alternative media outlet that was previously an alternative weekly newspaper started in November 1982 for news, arts, culture and opinion in Richmond, Virginia. Style was originally owned by Landmark Media Enterpri ...

'' for Best Gay Bar. In 2017, Babes was inducted into the ''Style Weekly'' Hall of Fame. It then tied for first place as the ''Style Weekly'' Reader's Pick in 2018, and then was the first place Reader's pick from 2019 through 2021. In 2017, it was selected by

Thrillist Thrillist is an online media website covering food, drink, travel and entertainment. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in New York City, United States. In October 2016, Thrillist merged with internet brands '' The Dodo'', NowThis Ne ...

as Virginia's best

dive bar A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and a local clientele ...

and in 2022 was recognized by

Tasting Table ''Tasting Table'' (incorporated as ''TDT Media Inc.'') is a digital media company focused on food and drink. The brand's website and email newsletter report on food and drink trends in the categories of dining, wine, cocktails, cooking and food ...

as among the best LGBTQ bars in the nation. In a 2017 report prepared for the

Virginia Department of Historic Resources The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is the State Historic Preservation Office for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The agency maintains the Virginia Landmarks Register (the first step for properties and districts in Virginia seeking list ...

LGBTQ Heritage Working Group, Babes is described as "a rare survivor from the pre-1991 period, during which the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board regularly shut down establishments that served or employed LGBTQ individuals."

References

External links

* 1979 establishments in Virginia Lesbian culture in Virginia LGBT culture in the United States LGBT drinking establishments in the United States LGBT nightclubs in the United States Richmond, Virginia {{virginia-stub

See also

References

External links