Is Astoria NYC's Next Gay Neighborhood?

Is Astoria poised to be the next hot gay neighborhood in New York? The New York Daily News thinks so, with “the opening of three bars and dance clubs that could turn the increasingly desirable neighborhood into a destination for the LGBT community in Queens.” In December, both the gay bars Icon and Static Lounge (pictured above) opened in the neighborhood. Another bar, Elixer, opened in May, and the dive bar Albatross has been on the scene for 15 years. The News writes that rising rents in Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea have pushed the businesses to Astoria, where there is a demand, cheaper rents, and proximity to the city. Astoria now rivals Jackson Heights, typically known as the gay neighborhood of Queens. Bar owners expressed conviction that Astoria will in fact be “the next gay mecca.”

Gay Bars and Dance Clubs May Make Astoria the City’s Next ‘Gayborhood’ [NY Daily News]

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