GQB takes over Lansdowne's Tequila Rain

Making a return trip to Lansdowne's Fenway Park area, Guerrilla Queer Bar plans to take over Tequila Rain, 3 Lansdowne St. for their Friday, Feb. 6 straight bar takeover.

The group attracted a max-capacity crowd the last time they were there on Friday, April 4. In fact, one Loaded Gun reader says he was turned away from the bash.

"F@%* Tequila Rain," he writes here. "[They] didn't let me in for the GQB with my German passport ... said only American passport or [a] driver's license accepted. Shame on you!"

Tequila Rain, known for its drunken Spring Break revelry 52 weeks a year, has some odd dress code rules that solidifies its straight-bar rep, including no sneakers after 8 p.m. and a ban on sleeveless T-shirts.

Click here for the Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar lowdown.

Photo by Sam Baltrusis

GQB launches charity event on Tuesday, Jan. 20

The Guerrilla Queer Bar folks are back in Cambridge on Tuesday, Jan 20 to celebrate "National Day of Change" and, of course, Barack Obama's inauguration as our new president.

Deviating a bit from GQB's hetero bar takeover, the group is launching their first "GQB Charity" event at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Hong Kong in Harvard Square. Proceeds from the bash will go to Mass Equality.

"It's a lot like GQB, except we're also milking the bar to send all proceeds from the door (just $5 if you're cheap) and some of the drinks straight to Mass Equality (the people that got us that thing called marriage)," writes Josh Gerber in the e-mail blast.

Gerber continues, "While other inauguration balls may suck, you know that ours will be delicious."

Chris Muther from Mint Julep and the Brandon's from Revival are spinning. The GQB group also boasts hand-made shirts from local artist Ben Spear.

Also, the Hong Kong has shaken-and-stirred a drink for GQB called the "Obamination: A drink for equality" with $1 from each cocktail sold going to Mass Equality.

The spillover location is Grafton Street which is a bar/restaurant located next door to Hong Kong.

Click here for more info.

GQB takes over The Estate near Park Street

Have the Guerrilla Queer Bar guys jumped the shark?

What once seemed like a clever social experiment in old-school gay activism has gone a bit soft. Kicking off tonight at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, the GQB foks are taking over The Estate, a club that already boasts gay nights on Thursdays and Sundays.

Doesn't that deviate from the GQB's original mission of infiltrating traditionally straight establishments and filling them up with fabulous GLBTs?

"While we appreciate the management’s kind gesture to give us their space on the off-nights of the week, we want more," the organizers write. "We demand more."

GQB regulars get $5 off at the door. The secret gay password? "Hi, I'm with Cher."

Click here for the scoop.

GQB pub crawl hits Harvard Square

Gay pub crawl? You bet.

The Guerrilla Gay Bar folks are taking over Harvard Square ... yes, the entire square ... in honor of their one-year anniversary of infiltrating Boston's more hetero hangouts.

GQB is hitting the streets of Cambridge starting 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

The crawl includes typical frat boy hangouts like Tommy Doyles, Redline, Grendel's Den and Om.

Organizers Daniel and Josh say the flash mob has outgrown the average Cambridge haunt and they plan to meet in the grassy knoll in front Peet's Coffee & Tea (100 Mount Auburn St.).

Yes, we're here. We're queer. We want a beer.

Click here for more info.

Guerrilla gays takeover Providence on 08.08.08

We’re here. We’re queer. We want a beer.

It's official, the Guerrilla Gay Bar folks are literally taking over the Northeast with their first event in Providence slotted for 08.08.08.

The bash is 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Ri Ra-Irish Pub, 50 Exchange Terrace in Providence, Rhode Island.

For those not in the know, Guerrilla Gay Bar is a combination of flash mob and the French Revolution. Fewer decapitations. More Kylie.

Once a month, (usually on the second Friday), the Guerrilla Gays take over the coolest straight bar they can find in the greater Providence area. The key is they don't tell the unsuspecting "straight bar" they're coming and just show up--by the hundreds--and make themselves at home.

Done all around the country in cities such as Los Angeles, D.C. and, of course, Boston, Providence Guerrilla Gay Bar brings this time honored tradition to The Renaissance City.

UPDATE: The Providence event is 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Ri Ra-Irish Pub, 50 Exchange Terrace at the Union Station complex between Burnside Park and Memorial Blvd. Click here for info about Ri Ra.

GQB hits South Shore beach

Beach blanket bingo? You bet.

The organizers of Guerrilla Queer Bar (the group that takes over a traditionally straight bar the first Friday of every month) have partnered with the Hull Word, Nantasket Beach’s LGBT Social Group for the first of its kind, Queer Beach Takeover.

With attendance expected to reach in excess of 300 attendees, this will be the first of its kind for Boston's GLBT community. According to Hull Word, they partnered with the Guerrilla Queer Bar group because of the success of their social experiment that borders on old-school gay activism and their willingness to make their mark on uber-straight venues in Boston. The fun begins 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.

Click here for the lowdown.

GQB takes over Theatre District’s Liquor Store

We’re here. We’re queer. We want a beer.

The Guerrilla Gay Bar folks are taking over the only straight hangout in Boston with its own mechanical bull. Yes, they’re infiltrating the Liquor Store, 120 Boylston Street starting at 9 p.m. Friday, May 2.

According to the e-mail blast, organizers Daniel and Josh want to teach Boston’s straight masses "how to ride." Of course, they’re referring to the Liquor Store’s mechanical bull.

The guerrilla gay bar idea is a great concept: a group of GLBTs sign up for an e-mail list, the organizer chooses a traditionally straight establishment (like last month's event at Landowne Street’s uber-straight bar, Tequila Rain).

Here’s my write-up on the fine Boylston Street establishment for Povo:

The bar's mechanical bull perpetuates an "Urban Cowboy" meets "Girls Gone Wild" vibe. With large open spaces, VIP couches, a velvet rope and killer Cosmos, this Theatre District haunt is not the place to go for those looking for a laid-back night on the town. It’s drunken craziness at its best.

Only open late on Friday and Saturday nights, the Liquor Store recently served as a backdrop for the filming of an episode of Oxygen Channel’s "Bad Girls Road Trip" when the crew made a pit stop in Boston.

Click here for the Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar lowdown.

GQB takes over Lansdowne’s Tequila Rain

Yes, the whole Guerrilla Queer Bar phenomenon has officially been accepted by the mainstream.

Today’s Boston Globe features GQB on the front page of their style section.

Because of the max-capacity crowds at their last event at Faneuil Hall’s Bell in Hand, organizers Daniel and Josh have opted for the larger Tequila Rain venue for their Friday, April 4 straight bar takeover.

Tequila Rain, known for its drunken Spring Break revelry 52 weeks a year, has some odd dress code rules that solidifies its straight-bar rep, including no sneakers after 8 p.m. and a ban on sleeveless T-shirts.

Click here for the Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar lowdown.

UPDATE: Jillian's, next to Tequila Rain, is being designated as the official-unofficial second takeover spot for the evening in case of max-capacity crowds.