Long Island’s Gay Playground

Known as the first stop or last stop from the trendy summer months on Fire Island, Long Island, New York, is now back to where it left off before the hurricane and snowstorms. With a whole night of barhopping for us to come and enjoy, Long Island’s gay venues are just a short road trip less than an hour from New York City. So set your GPS and take the 34th Street Tunnel (495 East) and keep going straight until you reach Gayland.

Option 1 – Heading eastward onto the LIE you could get off at exit 44S to ease into your night at Blanche Bar. A South Farmingdale bar for more than 28 years, Blanche Bar offers good music, strong drinks at good prices, a pool table and
a cozy little backyard patio. The bartenders can carry on a long conversation and there is never a cover charge.
Blanche Bar is an inviting and comfortable way to start your night. About a year ago, I first visited Blanche Bar, and I knew it would be a place I’d visit again.

Option 2 – Further east on the expressway off exit 53 is The Long Island Eagle & VERANDA. A warm greeting awaits everyone when you walk in the door but never will there be a cover charge. Ironically, the door is one of the only things that remains in the same place visit after visit. From the DJ booth to the TVs to the jukebox and such, the boys are constantly switching things up to keep the bar fresh and exciting visit after visit. This jukebox has nearly every song ever made including most every remix or dance version and can also take your photo and upload it to Facebook or email. The built-in karaoke system allows you to grab the mic and be a star. Step outside onto Veranda, the famous Long Island patio known as the most comfortable and inviting spot to enjoy drinks in the sun or watch the stars with your friends at night. There is tableside cocktail service, posh furniture, tropical plants with a waterfall and a pond. WiFi is always available and music is streamed from the jukebox. You can shoot some pool or sit back in the leather couches and just chill with some of the nicest people on the island. Now in its 20th year, this bar offers Diesel drinks at discount prices and the best Long Island iced teas ever.

Continue east to Options 3 or 4 – The Bunkhouse in Patchogue, exit 61, and the new Nuts & Bolts, also exit 61 in Holbrook (less than 10 minutes apart). Nuts & Bolts is a brand-new bar with a DJ and many TVs. You will love Nuts & Bolts. As soon as you walk inside you can sit at the 25-foot bar, with good-priced, strong drinks. Or sit outside in the huge outdoor patio space. There are drink specials and special events lined up all the time, so there is always something new at Long Island’s newest gay venue. Over at The Bunkhouse, a cozy bar sits across the room
from the huge dance floor and a DJ playing the latest hits. The Bunkhouse is also a great place to watch pageants or award shows in this huge venue. All four bars/clubs can be booked for private parties and have reduced-price drink packages available with your booked reservation. They are all open seven nights a week.

Please visit their websites for more information.

Long Island Eagle
Bay Shore Station
94 N. Clinton Ave.
Bay Shore, NY 11706
www.lieagle.com
(631) 205-9844

Nuts & Bolts
Ronkonkoma Station
1083 Main Street
Holbrook, NY 11741
www.nutsandboltsli.com
(631) 737-NUTS

Blanche Bar
Farmingdale Station
47-2 Boundary Ave.
S. Farmingdale, NY 11735
www.blanchebar.com
(516) 694-6906

The Bunkhouse
620 Waverly Ave.
Patchogue, NY 11772

BY MICHAEL TODD, PUBLISHER