Pride, located on Austin Street in Forest Hills, will offer themed events every day. Photos Courtesy Georgios Aspiotis
When Queens residents have wanted to spend their nights out at a gay bar, they’d often have to jump borough lines – or go to spots in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights or Astoria – to find a place they could dance their night away – but that is about to change.
The lounge will feature brunch parties, as well as a long list of varied cocktails.
Forest Hills’ first gay bar, Pride, is slated to soon fling its doors open to the neighborhood, where there has for a long time been a large LGBT community – but not much in the way of entertainment for the residents.
“At this moment, I believe it’s something the community needs,” said Georgios Aspiotis, who expects to open the bar and lounge at 70-15 Austin St. as soon as he assembles a staff ready to take on a venue that will boast nightly themed events, karaoke, brunch parties, and a long list of cocktails.
Aspiotis, 40, who moved from Greece to the U.S. in 1999, said he feels especially encouraged to open the bar because of the historical movement gay rights has been making in the country – from various state legislatures, including New York’s, passing same-sex marriage and Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s (D-Manhattan) campaign that could have ended in her being the first openly gay mayor in the city’s history, though she lost in the primary to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
“All of that is inspiring,” said Aspiotis, a Bayside resident who has owned the Corfu Grill on Austin Street for the past nine years.
Boasting a svelte interior with industrial lighting and warm red brick, Pride will offer a menu of appetizers and a variety of drinks, the owner said.
Pride’s owner, Georgios Aspiotis, said the Forest Hills spot is a perfect venue in part because of its close proximity to a variety of public transportation.
“We’re going to have a piano night, a karaoke night – every day we’re going to have a different theme,” he said. “We’ll have brunch parties. It will be a good time.”
Aspiotis said the Austin Street spot is an especially good location for the lounge.
“Forest Hills is a nice, safe neighborhood,” he said. “It’s very convenient for customers – we have the train, subway and buses right there.”
And, finally, Aspiotis said, residents from Forest Hills and the surrounding area won’t have to trek to Chelsea or the West Village to have a good time – they can stay in their own back yard.
“It will be easy for people to come here and enjoy themselves,” the owner said.
Aspiotis said he is still accepting applications to work at Pride. Those interested should come in person between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. any day of the week to 70-15 Austin St.
By Anna Gustafson
