RELAUNCH THE LAUGHING DUCK 24 Howe Street, Edinburgh
Return of the Mecca
The Laughing Duck is back where it belongs: in Howe Street and once again contributing to Edinburgh’s gay scene.
It’s a place you always remember, the first gay bar you ever summoned up the courage to enter, rather than walk past the door five or six times. For lots of Scotland’s homosexuals coming out in the 805, the Laughing Duck was the first, most obvious port of call. In those heady days of hi- NRG, there were some alternatives - Key West leather bar round the corner, Fire Island disco on Princes Street, the Blue Moon Cafe in Broughton Street, Lavendar Menace bookshop (pre West And Wilde) in Forth Street - but somehow Mecca was always the Laughing Duck.
Maybe it was something about its neon-lit ambience, even on a sunny afternoon, that attracted the crowds? Remember the white canvases hanging on the wall, with only a mouth and eyes on display to help you guess the identity of the Hollywood icon? No longer do Liz Taylor’s emerald eyes or Rock Hudson’s moustache catch your gaze.
It’s spacious and attractively laid out, with a long bar along the right- hand side, comfy couches at the front, booths at the back and benches and tables sandwiched in between. Attracting a slightly older sociable crowd who want to be able to talk rather than be deafened by pounding music, there’s a sense that many of the punters first came out on the gay scene here and have returned. Una, the acting manager says: ‘lts amazing the amount of people who come up to me and tell me this was the first gay bar they ever drank in sixteen years ago.’
The downstairs club remains, which hopes to present a whole range of events including an open stage, goth and rock nights as well as the usual
Glasgow Thursdays
Groups
Steve Retson LGB’I‘ Centre. I 1 Dixon Street. 221 7203. 5.30—8.30pm. Free. Weekly. (iay men‘s sexual health ady'isory service. Contact 21 l 860] for appointments.
Lesbian Health Clinic Sandyi'ortl Initiative. Sauchiehall Street. 21 I (i700. 5.30—8pm. Free. Weekly. Health adyice. T.F.l. Bi-G-Les Youth Group LUBT Centre. I 1 Dixon Street. 22l 7203. 4' 8pm. Free. Weekly. An open meeting for young LGBT up to the age (If 25.
Glasgow GOC Badminton (iittttes Hall. Knightswood Secondary School. ()0 Knightswood Road. 954 2404. 7—‘).30pm. Weekly.
Glasgow GOC Swimmers Contact 64‘) 58%. 7.30—9pm. Weekly. Informal swimming session. Call for more information.
LIPS (ilasgow Women's Library. 10‘) Trongate. 552 8345/7539. 2~4pm. Free. Thu 24 Jan. Fortnightly. Support for lesbians and bisexual women under 25.
Cinema
Presque Rien (ll-“II Rose Street. 3.32 8128. 8.30pm. £3.75 £4.75
(£2.00 —£3.50). Thu 17 Jan. Intense French homo-erotic feature exploring a lirst loye affair between two boys by the
Meet Me In St Louis (ll’l‘. Rose Street. 332 8l28. 8.30pm. £3.75 -£4.75 (£2.00 £3.50). Thu 17 Jan. (iay icon Judy (iarland lights tip this entertaining musical froth set in early 1900‘s America.
quizzes from late January onwards. (John Binnie)
Theatre
Assassins RSAMI). I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 7.30pm. £6.00 (£4.00). Mon 2| Thu 24 Jan. (iay composer Stephen Sondheim‘s role call of thirteen would-be-assassins of American presidents.
Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men (iallery of Modern Art. Queen Street. 22‘) WW). Mon Thti & Sat l()am— 5pm. Fri & Sun l0ain 5pm. Free. Thu 17 Sun 27 Jan. Last chance to see a great collection of photographs of nude men by world class artists.
Events
Dykes In The City Screenings (iallery Of Modern Art. Queen Street. 22‘) “No. t'ntil Sun 27 Jan. Daily screenings of the short films made by the L.I.l’.S. (Lesbians in Peer Support) Yotith (irotip following a period of scriptwriting and technical training at the (ilasgow Media Access Centre. ‘Nomad 13’ Launch The Annexe. 9a Stewartyille Street. l’artick. 550 4554. 7pm. Thu 24 Jan. Launch of the Nomad gay issue with readings from its writers.
Glasgow Fridays
Groups
T.F.|. Bi-G-Les Youth Group Drop In LUBT Centre. I l Dixon Street. 22l 7203. 4 8pm. Free. Weekly. A drop in time for young LUBT tip to the age of 25.
gayelist.co.uk
Art ‘ Typical Men: Recent
Photography Of The Male Body By Men l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Events Dykes In The City Screenings [fittil Sttn 27 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Saturdays
Groups
LIPS (ilasgtm‘ Women's Library. 100 Trongate. 552 8345/7530. 2 4pm. Free. Sat I‘) Jan. Fortnightly. Project supporting young lesbians and bisexual women under 25.
Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Events Dykes In The City Screenings l'ntil Stiii 27 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Sundays
Groups
Gay Rambling Group Contact 950 108]. Sun 27 Jan. Fortnightly (alternating between Saturdays and Sundays). Call for details.
Out on Sunday I.(;B'I‘ Centre. I I Dixon Street. 22l 7203. 7.30 0.30pm. Free. Sun 27 Jan. Monthly. Social group for LUBT.
Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Events
Dykes In The City Screenings l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Mondays
Groups
Holistic Healing Group I.(iB'I‘ Centre. I 1 Dixon Street. 221 7203. 7.30 l0pin. Free. Weekly. To find otit more about this group that meets eyery Monday night contact 423 5952. Performance Group l.(il%’l' Centre. I 1 Dixon Street. 22] 7203. 7.30pm. Free. Weekly. For anyone interested in theatre and music skills.
Theatre Assassins l'ntil Thu 24 Jan. See Thu.
Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Events Dykes In The City Screenings l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Tuesdays
Groups
Bi-G-Les Youth Group LUB'I' Centre. I I Dixon Street. 22l 7203.
7 10pm. Free. Weekly. An open meeting for young I.( iBT tip to the age of 25.
LIC Social Group l.(}l3T Centre. I 1 Dixon Street. 221 7203. 7pm. Tue 2‘) Jan. Monthly. Regular meeting of the Lesbian Inclusion (‘o-ordination.
Theatre
Assassins l'ntil Thu 24 .Ian. See Thu. Sing-A-Long-A Abba Theatre Royal. llope Street. 332 9000. 7.30pm. U l £l(i. Tue 2‘) & Wed 30 .Ian. A spectacular sing-a—Iong eyent is promised w ith. of course. loads of :\bba's best and cainpest songs. a fancy dress competition and free .Magie Moments goody bags containing all the props needed to make the night go with a swing.
listings Gay
Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Events
Dykes In The City Screenings l'ntil Sun 27 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Wednesdays
Theatre
Assassins I'ntil Thu 24 .lan. See Thu.
Sing-A-Long-A ABBA See Tue. Art
Typical Men: Recent Photography Of The Male Body By Men Find Stiii 27 .lan. See Thu.
Events
Dykes In The City Screenings l'ntil Sun 27 .lan. See Thu.
Edinburgh Fridays
Groups
Juice Solas. 2/4 Abbey mount. on! 0982. 2 4pm. Free. Weekly. Social group for gay men affected by HIV and .'\ll)S.
Clubs
Lush l’icardy Place. 478 7434. l0.30pm 3am. £5. Fri 25 .laii. Monthly. l.ush is back with a launch party to remember. 'l‘here‘ll be giyeaway s aplenty for early arriyers and DJ's Dale (Joy/Planet (hill and Craig il’lanet ()lll) w ill be dishing otit their own brand of funky dance. pop and handbag.
Edinburgh Saturdays
Clubs Saturday Social Club .laya.
Commercial Street. 555 5o22.
9pm 2am. Free before 10pm: £o ( £4) after. Sat 26 Jan. Fortnightly. .\ mix of party hits froin resident DJ Dale (Lush). drinks promos a plenty and a free shuttle sery ice running eyery 30 mins after 0pm from Broughton. Mingin’ Sttidio 24 (upstairs). ('alton Road. 558 3758. 10.30pm 3am. £5. Sat 2o .laii. Fortnightly. No—nonsense. gay — friendly clubbing \\ ith hard house and sexy trance from the residents Brian Dempster and .-\Ian Joy.
Joy ligo. l’icardy Place-178 7434. l0.30pm 3am. £l0 t £8). Sat l‘) .lan. Fortnightly. Maggie and Man‘s meaty house institution of hands-inthe-air hedonism w ith residents including Trendy Wendy. with Sally Finlay 's saucy mix of chart. pop and garage in the downstairs suite.
Eye Candy ('Iub Mercado. 3t» 3‘) Market Street. 220 4224. llpin 3am. £l() t £8): £0 iii fancy dress. Sat 1‘) .Ian. Fortnightly. Residents (iraeme l’opstar. \eiat Barton and .\'ei| ('rookston host their infamous. glam house party. MsDemeanour l’hoeni\ ('ellar Bar. 48 Broughton Street. 557 0234. Sat l‘) Jan. Monthly. Fyening e\e|usi\ely lor transyestites and transse\ua|s.
Bars
The Claremont The ('lat'ciiiont. I33 I35 liast Claremont Street. 55o 5on2. 8pm. Free. Sat l‘) .lan. Fortnightly. MS(' and The Bears organise the night with a dress code as \y ild as you dare.
Groups
Scottish TV/TS Group The Phoenix ('ellar liar. 40 Broughton Street. 557 0234. I 5pm. Sat 2o .lan. Monthly.
Dance
David Hughes’ MAP 'I'rayei'se 'l‘heatt‘e. (‘ttllll‘l’ltlgt‘ Sll‘t‘t‘l. 22b Fill-l. 8pm. £8 1 £4). Sat l‘) .lan. Solo works from beautiful dancer. Day id lltighes.
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