Monday
P.S. Single, dating, married? Madeline, martini in hand, shrugged and declared, “F*ck it, we’re keeping it!” That bold decision turned the sign into an iconic piece of Menagerie history, perfectly capturing its playful, resilient spirit.
In June 1999, Madeline passed the torch to longtime patron and friend David St.
Pierre. It was exactly what Madeline envisioned: a place where everyone could belong without fear of judgment.
By the late 1980s, The Menagerie had expanded to include a full liquor license and a restaurant. Up to date information guide and directory - bars, clubs, taverns, pubs, nightclubs, entertainment, lounges, dance, disco, tea-dance, video, karaoke, drag, nightspots, nightlife, country western, cruise, cocktail, party and sports bars.
Cassi eventually handed the spotlight to Raven, whose award-winning show Snatch! made The Menagerie a must-see destination. Within a few years, the restaurant gave way to a pulsing dance club, home to karaoke nights and signature events like Prom Night and the Easter Bonnet Contest. It was a place to grieve, to heal, to celebrate, and to remind each other that love, friendship, and authenticity mattered.
Soon after, she leased a small retail space on University Avenue and tried again.
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1983, The Menagerie opened its doors. After two failed attempts to get the sign made correctly, the third arrived with a glaring misspelling. We’re Different
50% Off Beverages
$5 Ketel One, $5 Cantera Negra
$2 Budweiser and Bud Lite Bottles
Thursday
¡Oye!
Their spirited gatherings often turned into late-night parties filled with laughter, music, and a shared dream: to one day have a local gay bar to call their own.
Determined to bring that dream to life, Madeline opened her first bar, Stage Door, in 1982. But Madeline was undeterred.