Bars & Parties

EFN Lounge closes abruptly

D.C. gay bar’s last night was Monday; employees shocked

Published

14 years ago

August 17, 2010

EFN Lounge abruptly closed Monday, a week after its general manager departed. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

A Washington gay bar that had rebooted with a new name and concept 18 months ago closed abruptly Monday night, just a week after the departure of its general manager.

EFN Lounge and Motley Bar, located at 1318 Ninth Street, N.W., near the Convention Center, was a two-concept bar housed under one roof. Former Manager Bill Gray, who’s gay, said sales weren’t strong enough to keep the business afloat.

“We had Bear Happy Hour every Friday and that was amazing for revenue, but we realized that being open every day, we just couldn’t pull in the revenue we needed to sustain the building,” Gray said. “We tried multiple events. Some things worked, some didn’t. … We had utilities turned off and turned back on. It was just a real struggle financially.”

Employees were informed of the decision Monday night. Gay bartender Matt Bamford, who’d worked there four months and is Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2010, said the news came as a shock.

According to Bamford, assistant general manager Raven Cullen, who’s gay and had been managing the bar with Derrick Zann in Gray’s absence, informed him at about 8:30 p.m. Monday that the bar was closing. Bamford said he and the rest of the staff — several of whom were off but came immediately to the bar upon hearing the news — are angry.

“Company standard there was always two weeks notice if we wanted to leave,” Bamford said. “What they did to not just the staff but to the community at large is just unconscionable.”

Gay owners Tom McGuire and Adrian Massiah, who also work together as founder/president and chief operating officer respectively of WorkSpaces LLC, sent an e-mail Monday at 8:40 p.m. informing the staff of the closing.

“With loosing (sic) Bill as general manager combined with the very low sales we have been experiencing over the last few months, we have arrived at the very difficult decision that the bar must be closed,” McGuire said in the e-mail. “My apologies for the abrupt decision and short notice, but we really have no choice. This is the last thing I wanted to do. I wish you all the best moving forward.”

McGuire and Massiah did not immediately return Blade calls seeking comment.

Gray admited EFN Lounge was a tough endeavor and that he’d “checked out and burned out” in January. He also said he was tired of paying business expenses out of his own pocket. Gray noted a dispute about who should pay to settle a small claims lawsuit with a concert promoter who’d sued EFN was the final straw.

“By that point, the slightest disagreement would have made me resign,” said Gray, 34. “It had consumed all my life and I was starting to realize it wasn’t for me.”

McGuire said in the e-mail, “… we had to let Bill Gray go because of issues and circumstances which came to our attention just the week before last.” Gray said he left on his own volition and that he owns the rights to the EFN name and concept.

Bamford said there were days that were slow, but “others were slamming.” He’d never met McGuire or Massiah until Aug. 9 when they came to the bar, introduced themselves and informed the staff of Gray’s departure.

Another gay EFN bartender, Aaron Alexander, said in an e-mail, “I don’t have much to say on the matter. I’m still trying to figure things out myself.”

Bamford is concerned about the bar’s events — some community service oriented such as a condom packet campaign that was held at the upstairs Motley area for the last eight months. Some events have moved to Green Lantern. Local gay event promoter Jacob Pring started his Code and Poz parties at EFN but moved them to Green Lantern several months ago.

“Let’s see, I’m trying to keep this positive,” Pring said. “It worked well for awhile but eventually got to be a bad scenario.”

Gray said the name came as a lark during an extensive remodeling project.

“There was so much stress involved, I found myself constantly saying, ‘This fucking bar, I hate it,’” he said. “So we used that as the name, though technically it stood for Edgy Funky Neighborhood Lounge.”

Bars & Parties

Support HIV research with a drag show

Tara Hoot, Evry Pleasure, TrevHER to perform

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2024

Tinashe Chingarande

Tara Hoot performs at Cherry Sundays on Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

El Techo will host, in partnership with Cherry Fund, a special edition of “Cherry Sundays” on Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m.

This event is a one-day fundraising bottomless brunch. There will be performances by Evry Pleasure, Tara Hoot and TrevHER, with DJ Lemz. All tequila shot purchases will be donated to the Cherry Fund.

The Cherry Fund raises money for LGBTQ non-profits whose primary goal is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS with prevention, treatment and education, and mental health services.

The event costs $45, inclusive of bottomless brunch on margaritas, mimosas, Bloody Marys and Tecates.

Bars & Parties

MAL kicks off Jan. 11 with Bootcamp

Mid-Atlantic Leather begins with party at Bunker

Published

4 months ago

January 5, 2024

Tinashe Chingarande

MAL Weekend kicks off next week. (Image courtesy of Bunker)

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend arrives next week with a kickoff event Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Bunker. Organizers at Kinetic promise a surprise drill sergeant who will whip you into shape. Joshua Ruiz DJs the event. This event is for VIP pass holders only; visit kineticpresents.com for details.

Bars & Parties

A roundup of New Year’s Eve parties in D.C.

Celebrate the start of 2024 in style

Published

4 months ago

December 29, 2023

Tinashe Chingarande

Xavier Entertainment LLC will host the seventh annual Times Square NYE Celebration at 10 p.m. at Ivy City Smokehouse. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

New Year’s Eve 2024 at Lost Society will be at 7 p.m. at Lost Society. There will be unique entertainment all night along with a journey of the senses through captivating light shows and LED displays, music, and bottle service presentations throughout the evening. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Busboys and Poets will host New Year’s Eve Open Mic and Party at 10 p.m. at 2021 14th St., N.W. This will be an evening of poetry, live DJ, dancing, food, and good company in a vibrant atmosphere where local artists take the stage, showcasing their talents in various genres. The night will be hosted by the talented Charity Blackwell and will feature award-winning poet Black Chakra. Dyanna Monet will deejay. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

QueerTalk DC will host Sapphic New Year’s Celebration at 8 p.m. at FigLeaf Bar & Lounge. The event will celebrate Sapphic, trans, and non-binary communities and feature complimentary hors D’oeuvres, a Champagne toast and DJ sets by DJ Clamazon and DJ Q. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

The Queers Upstairs will host Heels & Ties: A Queer New Years Eve Surprise at 9 p.m. at Aliceanna Social Club. This evening will be an unforgettable LGBTQ New Year’s Eve party where you can sip your favorite cocktails and enjoy small bites while dancing the night away with music from DJ Rosie & DJ Missy. Tickets start at $30 and can purchased on Eventbrite.

BuffBoyzz Gay-Friendly Male Strip Clubs will host a male revue that caters to men and women at 8 p.m. at Buffboyzz Male Strippers. The event will be an exciting, entertaining and sexy show of exotic male dancers in that will entertain your pants off. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

International Events Washington DC will host the 2024 Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala at 7:30 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. There will be free-flowing Champagne, an open bar, a spectacular balloon drop in the Euro Discotheque Ballroom and live bands and DJs. For dinner, guests can choose from an elegant sit-down, three-course dinner with Champagne or a dinner buffet of international cuisine. Tickets start at $189 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Social Architects will host the 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Casino Night at 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Arlington, Va. There will be six rooms of entertainment spread across three floors. The DJs will spin hip hop, R&B, salsa, Afrobeats and old school music. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Pitchers and A League of Her Own will host a NYE party with complimentary Champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a DJ all night long.

Shaker’s plans a drag extravaganza with Tatianna and Crystal Edge among others starting at 10:30 p.m.; the $10 cover includes a glass of Champagne.

Bunker hosts a 12-hour masquerade ball with several DJs, including Joe Gauthreaux. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. Tickets start at $45 and are available at bunkerdc.com.

DJ Alex Love spins NYE at Dirty Goose with drink specials at midnight.