Ginger's (lesbian bar)

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Ginger's
Ginger's HDR 2021 jeh (cropped).jpg
Ginger's (lesbian bar)
Address363 5th Ave, Brooklyn, 11215
New York City
U.S.
Public transit New York City Subway :
NYCS-bull-trans-D-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-N-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-R-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-W-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-F-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-G-Std.svg at Fourth Avenue/Ninth Street station
Aiga bus trans.svg NYCT Bus : B63, B61, B103
OwnerSheila Frayne, Brendan Donohoe
TypeBar
OpenedMarch 17, 2000 (2000-03-17)

Ginger's is an Irish dive and lesbian bar in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, and is one of two lesbian bars in Brooklyn. [1] [2] It is also one of two queer bars in Park Slope following the closure of Excelsior. [3] [4] The bar was opened by Sheila Frayne on Saint Patrick's Day in 2000 and is seen as both a lesbian bar and a woman-friendly neighborhood bar. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

History

Ginger’s was opened by Sheila Frayne on March 17, 2000. [9] The bar shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened on October 28, 2021, after a 19-month closure. [9] In late 2021 Frayne brought on hospitality professional Brendan Donohoe as co-owner to help with the bar’s relaunch; fundraising efforts, landlord forbearance, and pandemic relief also supported the reopening. [9]

Donohue opened Mary's Bar in 2023, a sister bar to Ginger's located in Greenpoint; the bar closed temporarily in November 2024, according to an Instagram post. [10] [11]

In February 2025, Ginger’s marked its 25th anniversary with a three-day festival over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, highlighting the role of lesbian and queer bars amid ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ pressures. [12]

Pool table at Ginger's. Pool at Gingers Bar.jpg
Pool table at Ginger's.

Description and programming

Sources describe Ginger’s as an unpretentious, dive-style neighborhood bar with a front room and a pool table in back; the space also features an enclosed garden/patio. [13] [14] Regular programming has included karaoke, DJ nights, drag king shows, and other events aimed at lesbian and broader queer communities. [9] [14] [2]

Reception

Ginger’s has been included in New York magazine’s "Thousand Best" list and in multiple roundups of notable LGBTQ+ bars in New York City. [13] [14] [15] The bar is frequently cited as a longstanding lesbian-focused space in Brooklyn nightlife coverage. [9]

See also

References

  1. Wehner, Oliver (May 25, 2023). "The Bush, A New NYC Lesbian Bar, Opens in Brooklyn". EveryQueer. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Silver-Willner, Arielle (March 15, 2022). "Inside Brooklyn's last lesbian bar". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. Mixson, Colin (June 4, 2019). "Proud history: Longtime Park Slope gay bar Excelsior announces closure • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  4. Manzella, Sam (July 21, 2020). "Is Your Favorite NYC Gay Bar Closing For Good?". LOGO News. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. Gieseking, Jen Jack (September 15, 2020). A Queer New York: Geographies of Lesbians, Dykes, and Queers. NYU Press. ISBN   978-1-4798-0300-2 . Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  6. "Addresses Project | Gwen Shockey". map.addressesproject.com. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  7. Carmel, Julia (April 15, 2021). "How Are There Only Three Lesbian Bars in New York City?". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  8. Ryan, Hugh (March 5, 2019). When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History. St. Martin's Press. p. 273. ISBN   978-1-250-16991-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Cassell, Heather (March 23, 2022). "Drinks Flow Again at Ginger's Bar, a Lesbian Mainstay". Gay City News. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. Conlon, Erin (April 4, 2023). "Ginger's Bar is Opening a Queer Irish Pub in Greenpoint". Greenpointers. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  12. Kumamoto, Ian (February 28, 2025). "Ginger's Bar is throwing a 25th anniversary festival on St. Patrick's Day weekend". Time Out New York. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Ginger's". New York Magazine – The Thousand Best. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 "The Best NYC Queer Bars and Restaurants". Eater NY. June 3, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  15. "Ginger's Bar — Review". The Infatuation. May 29, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.

40°40′16.8″N73°59′3.3″W / 40.671333°N 73.984250°W / 40.671333; -73.984250