Known as Giovanni’s Room until 2014, the country’s oldest LGBTQ and feminist bookstore now endures as Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room (345 S. 12th St. Tel: (215) 923-2960. queerbooks.com), stocking a wide array of second hand and new merchandise that delves far beyond books (you’re likely to find some out of print gems, including magazines, comics, and photography/art tomes). Another gayborhood retail gem, bath and body shop Duross & Langel (117 S. 13th St. Tel: (215) 834-7226. durossandlangel.com) continues to add fresh, delicious-smelling products and home goods to its line.
Over the past decade, Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood has become a queer hipster paradise. There’s even a Facebook group, Fishtown LGBTQ (facebook.com/groups/1641011076132269) for locals with plenty of event and community listings and is one of the hottest destinations for foodies of all gender and sexual identities.
Like a gluten speakeasy, Pizzeria Beddia (1313 N. Lee St. Tel: (267) 928-2256. pizzeriabeddia.com) is hidden down an unlikely, gritty alleyway, but once through its gate you’re transported to a bright industrial space. Besides its popular pizzas, Beddia offers (and this is so Philly hipster) a two-hour “hoagie Omakase” experience for $75 per guest in a private room (max. 6 people) entailing hoagies, small plates, pizzas, a welcome cocktail, and soft serve ice cream.
Speaking of gluten, pastry chef Nima Etemadi, a Persian-Canadian transgender male from Vancouver who garnered fame thanks to appearances and wins on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, opened the brick and mortar Cake Life Bake Shop (1306 Frankford Ave. Tel: (215) 268-7343. cakelifebakeshop.com) in Fishtown during 2016 with business partner and BFF Lily Fischer.
Philadelphia Pride
Photo: Nata Sha
Thirteen-year-old Israeli restauarant Zahav (still a hot reservation and gay fave all these years later) saw a sister venue, Laser Wolf (1301 N. Howard St. Tel: (267) 499-4660. laserwolfphilly.com), open in Fishtown during early 2020 (the name’s a nod to Fiddler on the Roof’s butcher, Lazar Wolf). Specializing in skewers, Conde Nast Traveler named it one of 2021’s “Best New Restaurants In The World”), and it’s easy to see why: each ultra-delicious charcoal-grilled entree, including fish and vegetarian options, is accompanied by a vibrant, generous tray of salatim (Hebrew for salads), hummus, and pitas for sharing, while a half- dozen sensational a la carte dishes include grilled lamb belly with dates and sumac onions, and addictive signature soft serve dessert, served with nuts and date syrup. Like many of Philly’s best and most clamored for restaurants, reservations can be made via the Resy app. Do it ASAP!
Opened in January 2020 and billed as Philly’s own Moulin Rouge, nightclub and restaurant Fabrika (1108 Frankford Ave. Tel: (215) 203-0202. fabrikaphilly.com) is a spacious, glam space where you’re likely to see talented gay aerielist and acrobat Avi Wolf Borouchoff perform (sometimes in very little clothing). And on Sundays, Fabrika hosts a drag brunch.
On Broad Street, aka Avenue of the Arts, modern steakhouse chain Steak 48 (260 S. Broad St. Tel: (215) 552-4848. steak48.com/steakhouses/philadelphia) opened its Philly location in September 2020. A strict “resort casual” dress code and, to some controversy, a $100 minimum per diner is enforced (except at the bar), but the surf-and-turf cuisine is simply beyond reproach, encompassing raw bar and seafood towers, wet-aged steaks (optional toppings include crab cake “Oscar,” black truffle sauteed lobster, and burrata), non-beef entrees, and a dizzying selection of sides (the gouda-mozzarella- caramelized onion au gratin potatoes are divine). Go hungry, and be prepped for a food coma afterwards.
Many excellent Philly businesses are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) owned, including the black female owned Harriett’s Bookshop (258 E. Girard St. Tel: (267) 241-2617. oursisterbookshops.com), which opened in 2020. Philly native Will Smith launched his book tour here with a signing in November 2021 and later was joined by the out Queen Latifah for a talk at The Met Philly. Podcast fans should give a listen to the biweekly Love+Grit (instagram.com/lovegritphilly) which spotlights many local BIPOC and queer stories, businesses, and individuals.
In May 2021, Philly’s gayborhood saw the addition of a Lil Nas X mural, by street artist Ash Ryan on the side of two-level mixed bar Writer’s Block Rehab (1342 Cypress St. Tel: (267) 534-3134. instagram.com/writersblockrehab).
Opened in 2017 by Cockatoo’s gay Indian-American owner, Ram Krishnan, WBR is beloved for its library and games-themed decor, and way cool cocktail menu book (which people apparently love to purloin, so resist the temptation).
After cycling through several iterations over the past couple of decades, the gayborhood’s late night club is now known as Voyeur (1221 St. James St. Tel: (215) 735- 5772. voyeurnightclub.com), a 20,000 square foot, multi-level space broken into several distinct rooms. EDM and house music dominate the sprawling main dance floor, while the mezzanine lounge DJ spins hip-hop and R&B, and you’ll find party rock and classic grooves in the lower lounge. Open until 3 A.M. most nights, general admission ranges between $15-$25, but you can get in free or for reduced admission if you join the online guestlist before 9 P.M. on the night you go.
When it comes to LGBTQ nightlife, the long-running Woody’s (202 S. 13th St. woodysbar.com) and adjacent sister venue Globar (1300 Walnut St. facebook.com/globarPHL) continue to be popular and refreshed. Celebrating 40 years in 2022, cruise bar Bike Stop (206 S. Quince St. instagram.com/bikestopphilly) still brings in the bears, leather, fetish, and kink crowds. And Tavern On Camac (243 S. Camac St. Tel: (215) 545-0900. tavernoncamac.com) is among the queer neighborhood watering holes found in what’s called “The Alley.”
When considering events to hook your visit to, Philly’s calendar is robust with possibilities including the annual qFlix LGBTQ film festival (qflixphilly.com), scheduled for March 20-27, 2022, and June’s Pride (facebook.com/PHLPride), although 2022 dates are still TBA. Philly’s eclectic, nearly monthlong FringeArts Fringe Festival (fringearts.com) will take next place between September 8-October 2, 2022. Definitely book tickets for any production by provocative queer choreorapher and performer Gunnar Montana, during Fringe or otherwise.
Drag Race stars Trixie Mattel and Katya will perform at Philly concert and performance venue The Met (858 N. Broad St. Tel: (215) 309-0112. themetphilly.com) on April 5th, 2022. For even more updates and additions to Philly’s queer landscape and calendar, be sure to check the LGBTQ+ landing page of official tourism office Visit Philly (visitphilly.com/lgbt), long-running gay newspaper Philadelphia Gay News (epgn.com), and indispensible up-to-the- minute events and news website PhillyGayCalendar.com, which lists everything from drag karaoke nights to virtual tax seminars for LGBTQ families.
