Bars In Kansas

Same-sex sodomy is illegal in Kansas. However, there is a plethora of gay bars * in the state, especially in Wichita. Over the course of a few weekends I visited a leather joint called Link, a lesbian bar titled Dreamers II, The Metro a predominantly gay nightclub and another gay establishment called Fantasy. For the purposes of this review I shall be concentrating on Dreamers II and Fantasy.

Dreamers II

Dreamers II was a curious little place. Popped in the middle of a car park it was hard to tell from its exterior that it was a bar much less a lesbian one. Unsure we were in the right place my ex, her friend and I entered. Doubts were dispelled as we eyed the many women sporting mullets. One woman had such an outrageous haircut, Billy Ray Cyrus would have wept with envy.

Even though Dreamers II was not busy, it took an age for me to be served at the bar. The barmaid was surly, a mood seemingly shared by everyone in the place. I got the impression that because my companions and I were not locals we were viewed with distrust. The uneasy feeling I had was reinforced when I went to the toilets and saw a poster which listed the rules visitors needed to abide by while in Dreamers II. It was as if the management had no intention of welcoming new people. I pitied any girl who, if  unsure about her sexuality, visited Dreamers II to see what a lesbian bar might be like. The experience would have them skipping back into the closet.

The only thing Dreamers had going for it was a karaoke machine; this was abandoned halfway through the evening by the employee meant to be working it and before I could give my interpretation of the Dixie Chicks' song, Goodbye Earl.

Fantasy

Whereas Dreamers II had a distinctly chilly air about it, Fantasy radiated warmth as soon as I entered the club. This was a blessing, as from the exterior it looked like a dilapidated aircraft hanger.

Split into two sections the one-storey club made for a quirky night out. The music played in the larger, busier room was a slick cocktail of commercial dance, rap and pop.

The second room was smaller, played classic country like Patsy Cline and had far fewer people milling about in it. Less hectic and with the music a few hundred decibels quieter than the dance room it was a good chill-out spot.

Mouth-puckering concoctions such as sour apple shots were heavily promoted at the bar and lapped up by the mainly young, mixed gay clubbers. I tried a cheap but rough around the edges house vodka and discovered why the apple shots were so popular.

Fantasy was a great place to mingle. Cute gay boys wanted to dance with all of the female friends I came with. In-between dances the done thing was to have a chat with strangers, male or female, sitting in the closest proximity. It was not a meat market, there was no posing, no girls in the toilet crying because their partner had dumped them.

If what you want from a club is pure unadulterated fun with no drama, I thoroughly recommend Fantasy.

* I have been informed that Dreamers II has closed down. The Metro changed its name to Club M, then Big Daddy's and is now also out of business. Sadly Fantasy is supposed to be shutting up shop too. The only place escaping the cull is Link (now called Trends). I guess the gay bear leather look is one of the few ways a non-straight club can succeed in Kansas.