Oklahoma City

If you’re looking to meet an honest-to-goodness cowboy, head to Oklahoma City. Here you’ll find that the ten-gallon hat has never gone out of style. It’s Oklahoma’s largest city, so it attracts rough-and-ready types from hundreds of miles around. Look for the men in two downtown neighborhoods, the NW 39th Entertainment District and the Bricktown Historic Entertainment District.

There are plenty of events throughout the year, but the most popular is Oklahoma City Gay Pride, which includes a pet parade, an excursion to the Oklahoma City Zoo, and a block party - the last week of June each year.

Getting here

Will Rogers World Airport  is about 6 miles from downtown. Oklahoma City Metro Transit provides daily airport service to downtown along the Meridian Avenue corridor. Depart from the Transportation Plaza on the baggage claim level of the terminal. Rates and schedules are available at their website.

 

Getting around

You’ll need a car to get around, especially if you want to go farther afield. Metro Transit  with bus and trolley service daily except Sundays, has information online for routes, fares and schedules.

Neighborhoods

The NW 39th Entertainment District is where you’ll find the best of the city’s nightlife, gay and straight. The Bricktown Historic Entertainment District is also a good bet, with canal taxis plying the waters here.

Local Media

The GAYly has gay news and cultural coverage for and about Oklahoma City. Wichita and Tulsa. The OKGazette is the the general arts and entertainment alternative.
 

Accommodations

Nowhere else in the Midwest will you find a place like Habana Inn (2200 NW 39th Expressway; 405-528-2221) with over 175 hotel rooms, two swimming pools, three bars, and a restaurant. You may never have to leave, and the cruising never stops at this complex.

Bars

Habana Inn has three of the most popular area bars:  the Copa, large dance club on two levels, with big floor and ample stage surrounded by tables. A good cross-section arrives for the underwear contests, drag acts, and male dancers. Finishline, their country-western dance club, has another large dance floor, plus pool tables. The Ledo Cabaret and Lounge, martini bar, has piano entertainment -- best on weekends.

More gay bars are nearby.

Angles (2117 NW 39th) does eye candy burlesque male revues, drag pageants, and Latin nights among other events.

Boom (2807 NW 36th) has Friday "Boom Boy" dancers, and Saturday night drag shows emceed with caustic wit by Ginger Lamar.

The Hi Lo Club (1221 NW 50th), lounge bar with unassuming retro ambience.

The Park (2125 NW 39th) with dancing, free Sunday buffet spreads.

Phoenix Rising (2120 N.W. 39th) neighborhood bar, open nightly with a touch of leather, dancing, back deck and drag cabaret shows.

Tramps (2201 NW 39th), neighborhood drinking man's saloon with patio.

Womens' bars

Alibi's (1200 N. Penn); Excuses (2024 NW 11th); and Partners (2805 NW 36th) dance club.

Non-alcohol afterhours

For 20 years the Wreck Room (2127 NW 39th) has had Friday and Saturday after-hours dancing, no no-alcohol served, for straight and gay people of all kinds. All-ages 16+ until after midnight, then 18+ until the people go home, with drag shows from 11pm.

Restaurants

Boom (2807 NW 36th) restaurant as well as bar, with Sunday bruch cabaret shows.

Gusher's (2200 NW 39th Expressway) at Habana Inn, features lunch and dinner specials and boasts the finest prime rib in OKC.  Late-night meals and pizza are served until 3am on weekends and on Saturday and Sunday mornings they have breakfast too.

Toys, videos, and more

Jungle Red (Habana Inn), big selection of 2Xist underwear, leather, body jewelry, pride merchandise, adult novelties, lube, magazines, videos, gifts and cards. Afternoon to late-night hours for the bar crowd.

Not far from the gay district Christie's Toy Box has two locations (3126 N May and 1039 Meridian). Leather goods, shoes, lingerie, and fetish wear, plus DVD videos, toys, pride gear, and magazines are their thing.