Best of Philly 2014 Preview: LGBT Winners
Gay Bar: U Bar
There isn’t a dance floor in the whole place, and drag-queen sightings are rare. But that’s exactly what’s so great about the bar formerly known as Uncles. (Well, that and the studly bartenders.) U Bar stands apart from other Gayborhood watering holes as a no-fuss, no-’tude, unpretentious spot to grab a strong drink or two and gab with friends. 1220 Locust Street, Midtown Village, 215-546-6660.
LGBT Champion: Anna Aagenes, 26
As Brian Sims’s whip-smart deputy chief of staff, Anna Aagenes is the woman behind one of Philly’s most talked-about lawmakers, but the state rep suggests it’s only a matter of time before he’s calling her boss. The openly bisexual former Penn track star divides her time between Sims’s Center City office and serving as co-founder and executive director of GO! Athletes, the nation’s first nonprofit created by and for LGBTQ student athletes to end discrimination in sports.
Gay Girls’ Night Out: Stimulus Philly
We may not have a lesbian bar per se, but the Sapphic nightlife scene is alive and well thanks to Amber Hikes and Morgan Levine’s long-running Stimulus parties. Twice a month, Tabu and Voyeur are packed with gorgeous, stylish women and top-notch local DJ talent. Think of it as a resurrected, traveling Sisters — but so much better.
Outdoor Dining: Little Nonna’s
A cramped alley tunnel leads to a brick-and-twinkle-light-lined patio that feels like a long-kept secret you’ll want to share with your whole family over spaghetti and meatballs and a glass of red, and mussels, and cavatelli, and pork chops, and bruschetta, and cannoli, and … 1234 Locust Street, Midtown Village, 215-546-2100.
Coffee Shop: Menagerie Coffee
Whitewashed wood, soft lighting, morning-appropriate tunes, potted greenery, and espressos pulled by expert but unpretentious baristas — this is the kind of place that can turn a Monday into a good day. 18 South 3rd Street, Old City, no phone.
See the rest of our picks in the August 2014 issue of Philadelphia magazine, on newsstands now, or subscribe today. Then join us at the Best of Philly Bash at Citizens Bank Park on August 12th!
