MikeT

Sports and Studs

Great staff--Goodlooking and friendly. Crowd tends towards "The Eagle" types--men you might really like to nail, but wouldn't want to meet Mom or take to the altar. Can be quite cliqueish. Can be quite cruisey, but practically no one has the social skills to approach you in a "Hello, my name is..." fashion. Someone said it's because they're all shy butch bottoms. I've found in several cases that it's because they're actually partnered and trying to figure out how to have their cake and eat yours too. A few of the drunken, groping type. Some of them can be downright nasty and easily offended by the content of any normal attempted dialogue. Exchanged information and a whole lot of non-returned phone calls. Some guys have pretty trippy notions of what constitues sex if you're a vanilla guy just looking for love. Apparently, when the basketball, baseball and football go in, the brains and personality fall out. Not a thinking or educated man's bar. Having said all that, if you spend enough time and effort you can make a blue collar friend--and by friend, I mean friend.

Masculine and Monotonous and Menacing

The place has the kind of dumpy, dingy decor which some misguided gay men equate with masculinity. Crowd wants to think of itself as masculine, but you won't find the strong silent type from the movies here--it tends to be one dimensional men taking their cardboardy constructs of masculine self-image very seriously in full-time butch drag and running in packs like high school kids. Some of them can be okay, but others have an elaborate head-trip about sex, control and all that silliness which makes a high functioning person's head spin. Some guys who turn up in sexy kilts are far too insecure in their masculinity to actually pull it off--too bad, most people learn in Junior High if you're not comfortable in something, don't wear it. (Like, "hello", if you're a homophobic homosexual, don't wear a skirt--"duh") A crowd of "civilians" shows up for the good music on weekends. As to the regulars, if you're looking for sleeze, you'll be happy. If you're not a Bear or a Sleeze Ball, this can be a place of late night last resort like the bathes.

Social hangout

Staff is very nice, and worth getting to know. Oscars is laid out so it's easy to sit next to someone and start a conversation. If your luck is running against you, they'll be a drunk or republican or into bondage and mummification. If your luck is good, you may make a new friend or find someone you're interested in dating. Crowd can be quite small and groups of friends very cliqueish, so it's hit or miss on finding someone interesting to talk to.

The Worst of Gay Scene

The Heretic attracts a mixed crowd, some young, fresh, attractive faces. Hope they find some place else to hang out. Most of the crowd is suffering from gay burn-out: having cruised a little too long, sexualized a little too much, and settled for too little, there's not much in the way of evolved, self-actualized gay men to offer the discerning shopper. There is a big range of attractiveness and physique here, but it's all on the most callow level--pack your pocket rocket but check your humanity at the door.

Great staff, changing scene

Burkhart's has a great layout and decor. It' a nice space to be in. The staff is friendly and worth getting to know. Clientale varies. There are the amusing after-work alcoholic queens who love to scream that obligatory sad Southern word: "Bitch". A younger crowd comes in and also some, less, older guys. The drag shows are well attended and genuinely, thoroughly pathetic-which seems to be another Southern taste which is about 30 years behind the times. And when are they going to outlaw indoor smoking here? Still, a pleasant place to be that gets a racous, fun to watch crowd. Some of the karaoke singers are pretty good. Food is good and cheap. Great garden in the back for Summer evenings.

Hard to find, worth a visit

The staff is very nice--great guys. The crowd can tend to be older--as in "old". But is often mixed. There is a blackjack game some nights of the week which is great fun, and a chance to get to know the other players if the crowd is right. Not for guys in the young fast lane, but if you're not a twinkie and want to talk and hang out, it's a good place to invest some time. You may make a friend or find a date.

Dumpy and Doggie

This place is real depressing--from the lobby to the rooms to the sauna, pool and steamroom. Cheap materials and dated, dark styling. Some hotties on occasion, but tends to run to complete self-abandonment. Free condoms of different sizes available at front desk. If you're planning on living a long time it's up to you to take care of yourself.