JAYPLAY
January 18,2001
entertainment news
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Lawrence bars offer alternatives for alternative lifestyles
Story by Meghan Bainum
"It's fun, it's pretty normal not much different than going out to any bar or nightclub. It's just a bunch of people really
Jack Anderson, a University of Kansas student from Zaandam, Amsterdam, explains his choice of drink for the night.
Some of the bargeos are playing the getting-to-know-you game, supported by the sexy sounds of Portishead piped in through the sound system. Others, separated into couples, cuddle by the bar.
"I start off with Guinness — it's like breakfast," he said. "Bur"
drunk. It's a college town and singles town after all."
at Teller's. The dim light casts shadows on the faces of the people gathered in the bar area, and the bartender stays busy pouring beers and mixing drinks.
t's a regular Tuesday night — "family night" at Teller. The dim
Todd Becker.
Kansas City, Kan., junior
generally I have vodka and tonic with bitters."
As Anderson sips his "breakfast," he explains that the Tuesday Family Night at Tellers, which started about four years ago, is not just a night for gay men — a common misconception.
Although Lawrence has had little success supporting a fully gay bar, Teller's, 746 Massachusetts St., and Tremor Night
"It implies anyone who is anywhere under the rainbow of gay culture," he said. "Basically, anybody who is associated with, sympathetic for, or enjoys the presence of the alternative lifestyle community — or is an active participant."
Club, 729 New Hampshire St. offer specialized nights for the gay community.
The bass beat of dance music throbs out of Tremors on Wednesday night. Inside the club, bodies gyrate wildly to Cher's Believe while couples catch stolen PDA moments in the crowd, which includes lesbians, gays and heterosexuals.
Todd Becker, Kansas City,
Kan., junior, said he preferred
the upbeat dance club atmosphere of Tremors to the more subdued ambiance of Teller's even though there were good and bad points to both.
"It's not as easy to really meet someone at Tremors because it's loud and people are dancing," he said. "All it is a physical—that's what's bad about that place—it's like a meat market. But At Tellers you sit around and laugh at everyone, and you have good conversations with people."
"It's fun, it's pretty normal— not much different than going out to any other bar or night-club," Becker said. "It's just a bunch of people really drunk. It's a college town and singles town after all."
But he said going out to a place during an alternative lifestyle or family night was basically just like going out on any other night.
But the crowd that frequents these nights for whatever reason — atmosphere, conversation, or the prospect of hooking up — is anything but stereotypical or segregated.
In fact, the feelings of some patrons is that anyone — no matter what sex or sexual orientation — can go out on Family or Alternative Lifestyle night
and have fun.
Kim Robertson, Lenexa junior, said she liked going out with gay friends.
"They're just generally good to talk to," she said. "I don't have to worry about them hitting on me, and it's fun to guess which one of us people are hitting on."
But not all KU students head to Tremors or Teller's when they want to have fun with a diverse group of people.
In fact, Ryen Anderson, Lawrence junior, said he preferred places like Henry's, a coffee shop at 11 E. 8th St., because it didn't have a night specifically for people — gay, straight or anything else. Anderson said at other places he was missing out on diversity.
"If something is specifically gay, it makes me feel like I'm losing a lot of experience I could have been getting by frequenting environments that aren't designated as gay-friendly," he said.
As Anderson spoke, he glanced around at the varied group of people reading, talking and playing games in the bright coffee-scented interior of Henry's. Like the others, the major vibe of the place is that sexuality doesn't matter.
Robertson said she liked hanging out at Henry's for the atmosphere and the coffee, not because of who was hanging out — gay or straight.
"I tend to treat someone being gay as a hair color; it's just a characteristic, not something that matters," she said. "So it never occurred to me to think about if this place is better because of gay people."
But Becker said the fun atmosphere in places such as Tremors and Teller's was the reason for
Henry's barista Patrice Wilcher, 28-year-old Lawrence resident, says the attraction to the coffee house "starts with the staff." The coffee house does not have an alternative lifestyles night, but patrons say it's open and accepting to a diverse crowd. Photo by Jimmy Roper/KANSAN
people — gay or straight — to go out on the Family or Alternative Lifestyle nights.
"We have a better time," Becker said. "Just 'cause, you know, gay people know how to have a good time."
Edited by Melissa Cooley
JAYPLAY inside
Horoscopes ...2B
Crossword ...4B
Music ...2B
Fine Arts ...6E
Classifieds . . . 5B
Student playwrights Three University students wrote plays that will be performed this weekend. See page 3B
Irish moves
Irish moves The dance group that laid the foundation for Irish dancing will be at the Lied Center Saturday. See page 6B
Resolutions
Many students find it hard to make good on their plans for the new year.
See page 6B
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