Charleston's Gay Nightlife Scene, and the Promise of Another Stellar Spoleto Festival

Charleston, South Carolina, has steadily developed into one of the South's most appealing gay destinations, albeit drawing more of a coupled, romance-seeking bunch than a singles-on-the-make crowd. Still, that doesn't mean you can't find a handful of festive gay bars here. On a cold, rainy evening in late February, I nursed a couple of glasses of scotch at while the Academy Awards aired on a video screen above the bar at Dudley's, arguably Charleston's most inviting little gay gathering spot. My fellow barflies couldn't have been more welcoming, although half the crowd cleared out shortly before midnight to attend the drag cabaret next door at Dudley's sister establishment Club Pantheon. Here's a full list of my recommendations for bar-hopping in gay Charleston.

Charleston is best visited during the phenomenally popular Spoleto Festival, a 17-day showcase of outstanding theater, dance, and music that commences in late May (this year on May 25). Spoleto was established in 1977, largely through the efforts of the openly (if discreetly) gay Italian-born composer, Gian Carlo Menotti, who passed away at age 95 on February 1, 2007. If you're interested in attending, book your accommodationsimmediately, as plenty of the city's hotels and inns have already filled up. Do come if you can, however, as this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for fans of music and drama. Here's my review of one of the city's most luxurious gay-friendly lodgings, the Market Pavilion Hotel.