One of the great centers of arts and culture in North America, Toronto is also one of the world's foremost gay destinations, hosting a famously large Gay Pride celebration each summer and cultivating a lively scene in the traditionally gay-nightlife neighborhood of Church Street Village as well as in more eclectic, indie-spirited, mixed neighborhoods like Queen Street West, which hosts its own queer-minded arts and cultural festival in August, and Leslieville. Indeed, in this guide to Toronto gay nightlife, you'll find not only the usual Church Street dance clubs and video bars but also a mix of restaurants, cafés, and mixed bars elsewhere in the city.
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Toronto Gay Bar Guide - continued on Page 2
2. Bar Italia
3. Barn Nightclub
photo by Andrew Collins
Long one of Toronto's favorite men's cruise bars, the Barn Nightclub (418 Church St., 416-593-9696) - historically known as the Barn & Stables - remains a reliably good spot to meet other guys on the make, especially in the third-floor Loft area and super cruise-y darkroom. This three-level club has a cabaret with drag shows, a pool lounge, and a bar on the ground floor. The second level is a spacious dance club. Weekends are popular, as are Wednesday "college nights," which bring in a predictably youthful crowd.
