Queens' First Lesbian Bar-Slash-Community-Space Opens A Pop-Up

ASTORIA, QUEENS — There are no lesbian bars in Queens, but Astoria resident Kristin Dausch is trying to change that.

"I want to fill! That! Hole! With Dave's Lesbian bar," says Dausch in a promotional Instagram video, pounding their hand against their fist with every word, as a display of rainbows and confetti appears on the screen.

This Saturday, Dausch's dream of opening a bar with "live music, live queers, and live dismantling of heteronormative patriarchal systems" is one step closer to becoming a reality, since Dave's is hosting a pop-up in Astoria.

The day-long event, which is in partnership with Heart of Gold, will be part-party, part-fundraiser, and part-community space — exactly what Dausch envisions for Dave's.

Starting at 2 p.m. and going "all night" at 31st Avenue and 37th Street in Astoria, Dave's inaugural pop-up will feature seven queer-led bands, queer haircuts by Hairrari, tattoos by queer tattoo artists, and free books and clothes from the Rolling Library and Astoria Free Store, respectively.

"We're investing in community instead of this individualistic mindset," Dausch told Time Out of their vision for Dave's, which would be a queer-centric community space by day, and lesbian bar by night.

On a given day they could see the space hosting a queer Rolling Library event in the morning, followed by a queer performer in the evening, whose show would be ticketed with non-perishable food donations — similar to how the pop-up will operate with a mix of queer music and mutual aid.

“Money is fake and community is real,” Dausch told Gay City News (GCN), pointing to the importance of building well-resourced spaces for marginalized people. "Whatever your strengths are, if you want to lend them to this space, they're welcome."

And while Dausch wants Dave's to be first-and-foremost a community space, they still need monetary support to get the bar off the ground, which is why they've started a GoFundMe to raise $70,000.

So far, the fundraiser has raised just over $9,600, but Saturday's pop-up — where a suggested donation will be requested at the door — is the first in a monthly series of events aimed at raising more money.

"The only bearable life under capitalism I can fathom, is one where I'm surrounded by queers and music," Dausch told Time Out, a mission that's becoming increasingly urgent as lesbian bars across the city and state close at faster rates than others in the wake of the pandemic.

“It’s time for us to take some space for ourselves,” Dausch told GCN. “I’m very proud to be loud enough to say let’s go.”