Gay & Lesbian venues: Sights & Blights

Sights

Gay Liberation by George Segal
These queer couples from 1980 may not be our hottest representations, but the sculpture’s been a quietly powerful image since its 1992 installation at a Sheridan Square park. Seventh Ave at Grove St

Lesbian Herstory Archives
The stately, homey Park Slope brownstone—housing thousands of books, photos, films and documents—is the envy of many a young, walk-up-dwelling dyke. 484 14th St

Leslie/Lohman Gallery
The vast, light-drenched LGBT-art showcase is a lovely Tribeca space—especially since its previous location was a basement. 26 Wooster St

Blights

The Bijou’s bathrooms
It’s not like any part of this moldy East Village porn theater is pretty, but at least the toilet stalls—shudder-inducing hellholes—should be vaguely clean, considering what could go on in there. 82 E 4th St

The Village Café
The West Village is no stranger to aesthetically challenged gay bars, but this one—a sparse storefront with zero decor and windows shamefully shielded by curtains—takes the cake. 137 Seventh Ave South

The hetero upstairs at Snaxx
You must scramble through the Westside Tavern’s sports-pub thicket of drunk heteros to get to the fun below. Amazing what a little low lighting and some shirtless hotties can do. 360 W 23rd St