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Decked out with neon lighting, retro-style furniture, and a giant Pride flag in the lobby window, the Austin Motel is a quirky and exciting lodging option. Located on South Congress, in the heart of Austin’s trendy SoCo neighborhood, is the campy and funky (and super queer-friendly) Austin Motel. Halcyon also puts on weekly events from afternoon drag brunch, to live music performances and more. With a mostly-queer staff, it’s a relaxed and welcoming space for those who want to find community without having to hit up a bar. Austin attracts a huge number of bachelor and bachelorette parties, so there are always groups of people, usually a bit tipsy, walking down the streets or peddling along on a party bike.
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It’s the perfect spot to drink something cold on a hot Texas afternoon, and the people-watching is fantastic. I sat on Halcyon’s covered patio that faces 4th Street. My personal favorite was their chicken pesto sandwich, which gets warmed in a panini press and comes complete with sundried tomatoes and provolone cheese. Throughout the morning and afternoon, you can order coffee and tea, as well as some fantastic sandwiches and salads. Located on South 4th Street among the clubs and bars, Halcyon is a coffee shop by day and a relaxing lounge at night. Getty Images Excellent LGBTIQ+ spaces beyond the clubsĪustin has much more than just LGBTIQ+ nightlife, and no space proves that better than Halcyon. The friendly Austin Motel is in the trendy SoCo neighborhood © FOTOGRAFIA INC. Ubers line up along the curb, friends hug before heading inside, and groups meander from club to club, giving the sidewalks a life of their own. On top of Oilcan Harry’s and Rain, there’s also Neon Grotto and Highland Lounge, just to name a few. Most of the action on South 4th takes place on one block located between Lavaca and Colorado streets. It isn’t very often that you get to hear music in gay clubs that isn’t pop, dance, or trance. Something about that moment felt so special and uniquely Austin. We all bounced in rhythm with the song’s famous guitar riff, and many (myself included) started singing along. Rock music at a gay club? I loved it, and the whole crowd seemed to love it too. While they did play typical gay club music like Ariana Grande, they also played some awesomely unexpected songs, like a remix of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", and at one point, even "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. A blue spotlight glittered off a disco ball, sending little prisms of glowing light around the dance floor. Normally, I don’t enjoy dancing at clubs, but Rain had such an awesome vibe and wide array of music that I couldn’t resist. Naturally, Ward knew virtually every bartender, DJ, and patron at the club, and was greeted by almost everyone we passed. With a crowded dance floor, great DJs, an outdoor patio, and weekly parties, Rain is Austin’s favorite spot to dance the night away. Later in the night, we headed to Rain on 4th, which is conveniently located next door. Every death drop, sashay, and wig reveal was met with roaring applause from the crowd. Despite a smaller crowd than the later show attracts, the audience was loving every minute of it. Ward whispered into my ear that early-evening shows like this are how they break into the scene, giving them a space to hone their skills and solidify their on-stage persona. When we arrived, the bar was doing its 9pm early show, which tends to be made up of newer queens.
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From karaoke nights to talent contests and more, drag queens and kings host a variety of shows and events every night of the week. It’s known for its various drag shows that take place throughout the week. Ward said this is one of Austin's oldest gay bars and has been around for over 25 years. Ward wanted to show me around 4th Street, and our first stop was the bar where she began her drag career, Oilcan Harry’s. LaGina Harry outside Oilcan Harry, one of Austin's oldest LGBTIQ+ bars © Annie Ray