Cruisin' And Boozin' With Shamu

By Shamu

Cruisin' and Boozin' is a new series of articles that will attempt to describe the various gay establishments in the greater Cleveland and northern Ohio area. It is meant to be an objective overview of some of Ohio's more popular gay meeting places. It is in no way intended to be an endorsement of any of the particular places mentioned and the author's word is, certainly, not final.

This month we are visiting the notorious area of Cleveland known as "The Ninth Street Connection." This area, consisting of a little over 2-1/2 blocks, has more gay establishments concentrated in it than any other in the city. Included in this gay strip are: TRAXX, VAULTS, WEST 9TH STREET CLUB BATHS, 620, and DOWNTOWN BOOKS and NEWS (The W. 6th Street Library). So off we go...

TRAXX---1273 W. 9th Street

241-1769

XTRAXX is in the midst of a I complete face lift. The upstairs has been opened up with the removal of a wail, and gives the impression that the bar is much larger than it is. The main dance floor has been enlarged (something which has long been needed). TRAXX is primarily a disco club that caters to everyone. It is a mixed club with generally a 60/40 mix of men to women. It can be very chic and dress runs the gamut from casual to New York "elegance."

Drinks are generous and in the same price range as other bars in the area for the quantity of liquor poured. The bartenders are friendly and swift. Security is present at all times as is the manager.

It is unfortunate that TRAXX suffers the same malady that most bars suffer during the week--no business; although sometimes, that can prove to be interesting. The best nights for this bar are Saturdays and Sundays (after VAULTS). Wednesday is the best night during the week. Specials are offered during the week, such as two for one on Tuesdays, and drink price-breaks the rest of the week. The club opens at 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and at 7:30 p.m. on Sundays.

The music is live and performed by able DJ's David Kaminski and Eddie Benson. The music tends more toward the "New Wave" but rock oldies are thrown in throughout the night to keep the "partyers" on a constant high.

The basement bar is open on weekends only and also being remodeled. It tends to be a little more relaxed. Like the other businesses on W. 9th Street, the basement actually goes under the street and remants of the old street can easily be seen.

VAULTS---1281 W. 9th Street --579-0939GDS

VAULTS is located right next door to TRAXX, but has been on the strip for two years longer. VAULTS has recently completed "The Underground," which is located in the basement. It is opened on the weekends only, mainly to alleviate the crowds that pack the upstairs. VAULTS is mainly a men's bar, but women are not turned away. Dress tends to be casual, but many a suit and tie are seen, especially in the afternoon. The bar opens at 11 a.m. and does have a very nice cocktail crowd. The best day for VAULTS is Sunday afternoon. There hasn't been a bar that has been able to capture the Sunday crowd the way the VAULTS has. Dinner is served every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., or until the food runs out. The menu is posted by Wednesday and prices are reasonable.

Drinks here are generous and priced moderately also. The bartenders are accommodating and are quick with a smile and your drink. The VAULTS has an institution in itself working here---Totie. Totie provides entertainment and great service especially to out-of-towners.

The decor is a mixture of several bars that were owned by the original owner. The rustic look of brick and

free-form plaster walls mixed with wagon wheel lamps and brass and crystal chandeliers provides a warm and friendly atmosphere. The music is taped and juke box, but still provides a lively rhythm.

Security is visible on Sundays and shared with TRAXX the rest of the week.

WEST 9TH STREET CLUB BATHS--1293 W. 9th Street---241--

9509

The WEST 9TH STREET BATHS is also expanding to serve its patrons better. Sorry, ladies, this place is strictly male. It is also known as the "Land of Oz," because of Ozzie Hagopian, the person responsible for the making this club the great success that it is.

A whirlpool, exercise room with weight training equipment, both a wet steam and dry steam sauna, and entertaining movies await the WEST 9TH STREET CLUB BATHS customer. Both rooms and lockers are available, and, on weekends, rooms are scarce, but the abundant dormitory bunk spaces accommodate those waiting for rooms. The club patrons constantly change, so, although some nights are busier than others, no night is dead.

The attendants are friendly, but businesslike, at all times. The rooms are clean with fresh sheets and towel on the bed. Sometimes the towels are still warm from the dryer. Facilities are on three levels with lounges on all three floors.

Security is strict (you must be zzed

ed in and out). Memberships

are required, but these are good for any Club Bath Chain members throughout the U.S. and Canada. Food is available through vending machine or at the counter (hot dogs). Coffee is provided free of charge. Music is on constantly, with different types on different floors. Classical is piped throughout the entire building during the late morning hours.

DOWNTOWN BOOKS AND NEWS---1352 W. 6th Street---861--

4869

Generally known as The W. 6th St. Library, the book store offers a wide selection of gay magazines and newspapers. They also have those infamous quarter movies. I don't think I have to explain what can happen in those booths, but if there are any that don't know, I'll just say that sometimes it can be fun when you don't lock the door.

Usually the place isn't the cleanest in the world (for obvious reasons), but I haven't heard of anyone get ting hurt from sticking to the floor. Music is piped in by radio at the main counter. Security is visible most times and sometimes, to the more timid at heart, unwanted.

Again, this is one of those places that you have to make your own entertainment. Weekends are the best, but most nights after the bars let out are also good. DOWNTOWN BOOKS AND NEWS is open 24 hours and sometimes just a chance stop-by can produce more, than a whole evening of cruising. By no means are the movies restricted to men, but they do seem to be the majority of customers here.

Page 19, High Gear

620---620 Frankfort Ave.---241--

9719

The 620 has been in business longer than any other bar in the Cleveland gay scene. They have just completed a major renovation of the main bar and lounge areas. These changes have given the bar a new look without destroying the old rustic warmth. The bar is done in dark stain rough-cut cedar with a “meat rack" running the length of the bar. Women are allowed in only on certain holidays (Halloween, New Year's Eve) and for shows.

The 620 is one of the few bars that puts on shows on a regular basis. The stage is situated in the middle of the club and is visible from all angles. Music is provided through a new system that replaced the longtime juke box.

Drinks are reasonable and probably the cheapest in town. The bartenders are friendly and fast, most having been at the bar for at least 5 years. Estelle Bruno is always behind the coat room door with a warm smile and friendly hello.

The best nights at the 620 are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Although the crowd tends to be late the rest of the week, there is always someone there that you know. This could be due to the fact that the 620 is "home" to a great number of gay men in Cleveland. Dress is casual. The 620 is open every night at 7 p.m. with a reduced price cocktail hour running until 9 p.m. The 620 is one of the few clubs that has a guarded parking lot charging only on Saturdays. That's all for this month.

Beck Center Hosts Ballet

Dennis Nahat and friends will present an evening of music, readings and dance for the benefit of Cleveland Ballet at Lakewood's Beck Center, Sunday, November 15. Sponsored by the West Shore Friends of Cleveland Ballet, this third annual event will feature Cleveland Ballet's Associate Director and Choreographer Dennis Nahat, actress Dorothy Meyers, harpist Jane Cauffiel Thomson and Cleveland Ballet Company Pianist Barbara Bilach.

The benefit, co-chaired by Universe Krist, Fairview Park; and Janis Mueller, Rocky River; will include the option of the performance alone or a pre-performance dinner at the Skylight Studio in Beck Center. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m., program at 8 p.m.

Ballet Theatre, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the London Festival Ballet and Cleveland Ballet. He has performed throughout the world as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet. Bilach will perform a piano solo, "Etude in A Flat" by Chopin.

Dorothy Meyers, currently a teacher in stage voice at Beck Center, will open the program with readings from "The Belle of Amherst." She has appeared in many plays at Berea Summer Theatre and Lakewood Little Theater and was the Director of the Rocky River Cultural Life Enrichment Program. Jane Cauffiel Thomson, well-known harpist and a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, will present a performance on three harps of varying sizes, bringing to life music of different styles and periods.

Dennis Nahat, dancer and choreographer, will present a program in which he demonstrates his greaTickets for the benefit including test love, ballet. Accompanied by the pre-performance dinner are Bilach, Nahat will demonstrate how priced at $35 per person. Perfora dancer trains, performs and cho-, mance tickets only are priced at $20. reographs. Nahat has choreo For ticket information, call 331American: 85aphod major works for Anoia 5953 or 621-2260.