Providence

Providence proves that size isn't everything. Rhode Island's compact capital has everything from stripper bars to drag clubs and raucous bathhouses to pounding discos, meaning there’s something for everyone. And most nightspots are conveniently located within walking distance of one another in a downtown club district.

And, boy, do the locals like to party! Even on cool, drizzly nights you see throngs of revelers on Richmond Street, the heart of the club zone. There's milling about or queuing up outside a variety of clubs catering to crowds that are straight, gay, and in-between. The atmosphere can resemble that of New Year's Eve or Fat Tuesday, with a charge in the air. The annual Pride celebrations take place in mid-June and there are year-round fund-raiser events around town.

Few major American cities have this small-town feel anymore, but folks here are friendly and helpful, so ask around for what's going on. Bar websites are often badly maintained, and local media doesn't cover the bar scene well, so word of mouth is your best guide. The scene is younger here too, with many 18-plus events, Providence being a college town. Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Johnson & Wales University are all clustered nearby. In a city of only 160,000 people, the student population contributes a sizable youthful demographic, full of spunk.

But Providence has long thumbed its nose at Puritan sensibilities. Co-founder Roger Williams turned his back on the puritanical Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 —one step ahead of the stocks and perhaps the gallows. The city remains a contrarian enclave in many ways, and everyone is made to feel welcome here.

The city has also long enjoyed a reputation as New England's recreational sex-getaway, providing pleasures denied in other regional cities. Since neither Boston, nor anywhere else in New England, has a single bathhouse, you'll need to come to Providence for a night at the tubs, for example. Also, erotic male dancers here will often strip all the way.

Getting here

TF Green International Airport, served by most major airlines and several low-cost carriers, is just south of Providence in Warwick, Rhode Island. Another option is to fly into Logan Airport, Boston, about an hour north of Providence by train or car.

From other cities in the Northeast, you can easily reach Providence by train or bus, especially those in the Boston to Washington corridor, with frequent Amtrak service.

Getting around

You may want to rent a car to get around. Public transportation is hard to figure out, but RIPTA has bus departures from downtown Kennedy Plaza to most anywhere in the city -- and can provide an ice-breaker for conversation when asking for directions, or while waiting for the bus.

Local media

In business since 1982, Options, and the more recent addition Get, are the two local gay magazines. The general circulation alternative weekly, the Providence Phoenix, is a gay-friendly source for news, events listings, and reviews.

Clubs, bars and restaurants

A six-block area in downtown has many of the gay bars, clubs and bathhouses, making a pub crawl fun and easy.

Alley Cat (17 Snow St), small classic gay bar with 'at-home' feel. Broad mix of ages and ethnicities, place is packed on weekends; easy to talk and make new friends in overstuffed leather chairs on weekdays.

AS220 (115 Empire Street) part incubator, part bazaar, an unjuried and uncensored forum for the arts. The Food restaurant located here has soups, salads, sandwiches, veggie/vegan meals, and fish entrees. Their bar has fruity tropical cocktails, and jukebox music like nowhere else.

Club Energy (69 Union St), small and lively, with mainly young gay crowd (18+) of many types, genders and orientations. Open every night, busiest on weekends.

Club Gallery (150 Point St) brings out distinct constituencies each night for karaoke, drag and music. Smokers can socialize in an outdoor patio. There's dancing here too, and Saturday Girl Spot packs 'em in for a weekly women's night of dancing and live music. Sundays here feature drag cabaret for those 18-plus with no cover.

Chris Harris Presents: veteran local producer, frequent lively circuit dance parties at changing venues in Boston, Providence and around New England. See our events listings for more information.

Dark Lady (19 Snow St), reopened April 2011 next to Alley Cat, popular mixed party nightspot, mostly men, drag shows, dancing.

Down City (151 Weybossett St), lively downtown restaurant and bar, mixed stylish, animated crowd, delicious food, large portions. Popular Drag Brunch Sunday shows at 11am and 1pm. Monday karaoke, Friday live jazz, sexiest music videos on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Girl Spot at Club X, (681 Valley St), Saturday nights 18+ dancing, live bands.

Lot 401, Gay Latin Sundays (44 Hospital St), they come from all over New England for dancing on two floors, go go boys, Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton and more, until 2am every Sunday.

Mediterraneo Caffe (134 Atwells Ave), Federal Hill Italian restaurant, indoor and outdoor seating, excellent Italian food, fun and decidedly sympatico staff. The upstairs terrace becomes a busy, thought not especially gay, Euro-style weekend nightclub.

Mirabar (35 Richmond St), upbeat college guys dance, checking reflections in glass floor, others watch from balcony above. Thursday Strip Poker amateur contestants keep Kitty Litter busy with commentary. Also 18+ dance parties, karaoke, Wet Underwear contests.

Providence Eagle (198 Union St), in thick of gay clubs, leather and denim-clad bears, cubs and friends come to party. Friday Jockstrap cruise, Saturday Hook up in the Dark Saturdays, dancing both nights. Sunday Tea Dance, noon to 8pm.

Stable (125 Washington St), the former Wheels, now with total make-over as upscale video bar. Big crowd, cozy space.

Touch (257 Allens Ave) intimate showcase of men, Adonis to jock, totally nude strip shows on two up-close stages, or private dances should you desire. Man-to-man or under-the-shower, the regular guys are sometimes joined by top-rank porn stars.

Union (200 Union St) connects to Eagle, drag shows, karaoke nights, big screen videos, Jackie Collins, local diva who really can sing, hosts wildest Friday night drag shows, uniquely Providence.

Bobby's Place (60-62 Weir St; BobbysPlaceMA.com) is about 20 minutes drive northeast from Providence, in Taunton, Massachusetts. All kinds mixed dance club and video bar with pool tables, comedy, karaoke nights, live music acts and piano sing-alongs.

For locations and links to the above, plus more restaurants, see our map & listings section.

Bathhouses

Club Body Center (257 Weybossett St), second floor walk-up at center, with exercise room, playroom equipped with games and pool tables, porn video lounge, steam room, tanning booth, and showers. Day passes $5, fetish shows. CBC never closes.

Mega-plex (257 Allens Ave) in same erotic mall as Touch. Saunas, showers, private rooms available for overnight stays, dry sauna, steam room, video rooms and 75 single rooms. Events include blackout nights, and special bear nights.

Lodgings

Annie Brownell House (400 Angell Street), gay-friendly College Hill B&B, convenient to Brown University and RISD, under a mile from downtown. Full breakfast served daily at this 1899 Colonial Revival home; each room with private bath.

Hilton Providence (21 Atwells Ave) full-service luxury hotel, 274 guestrooms, downtown, adjacent to the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Hotel Dolce Villa (65 DePasquale Sq) gay-friendly full-service boutique hotel in Federal Hill Italian neighborhood near downtown. A perfect base for checking out Providence's cultural, culinary and club scenes. Restaurant with outdoor seating.

Hotel Providence (311 Westminster St) elegant, almost swanky, and far pricier, adjacent to the club district downtown..

Wyndham Garden (220 India St), 136 rooms, harbor waterfront views, restaurant and bar, WiFi throughout, (the former Radisson).