Models Flirt With Models at This New Lesbian Bar
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Supermodels shooting tequila by a crackling fireplace, SVA kids discussing technique on plush banquettes, and tomboys grinding to Ace of Base — welcome to Thursday at the Dalloway. “I think there has been a stigma in the world that gay men love to go out and dance all night, and lesbians like to stay home,” says Kim Stolz, a co-owner of the bar. “I am not sure that was ever true. But what I know is that’s not true now,” adds the former contestant on America’s Next Top Model, surveying the space she just opened with Amanda Leigh Dunn, a star on the Real L Word.
Stolz, a vice-president at Citigroup, and Dunn met several years ago through a mutual friend at MTV, where the former was working as a correspondent. Inspired by a West Hollywood bar called the Abbey, the pair wanted to create an upscale, eclectic space where, Stolz says, you can “bring your parents for dinner” and “party your face off downstairs” no matter who you’re going home with. Adds Dunn: “In L.A., there are so many staple places that are suitable for the community, and I feel like everything is so far in its own niche in New York.”
Perhaps that’s why girls — who had heard about the party mostly via text and Instagram — were crowding the bar last night before it even officially opened. The Cut sent reporter Katie Van Syckle and photographer Dina Litovsky to document the scene, too. They found glamorous women in sequin sheaths, tattoo artists in statement earrings, and lots of cutoff “lezzie tank tops,” as one patron pointed out. Despite their differences, though, everyone was dressed up in hopes of meeting a nice girl. Or just cuddling up in the corner with one they already know.
Amanda Leigh Dunn (left), 24, Williamsburg, and Kim Stolz (right), co-owners What was your interest in opening this bar?
Amanda: “There was not...
Amanda Leigh Dunn (left), 24, Williamsburg, and Kim Stolz (right), co-owners What was your interest in opening this bar?
Amanda: “There was nothing like it in New York. Everything is its own niche in New York; there’s no cozy place you can come and get dinner, sit at a lounge, and hang out with a bunch of your friends and whatever.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Dusty Fruend, 27, professional musician, Las Vegas What is the gay scene like in Vegas?
“It’s not that great. We have a couple of different eve...
Dusty Fruend, 27, professional musician, Las Vegas What is the gay scene like in Vegas?
“It’s not that great. We have a couple of different events once or twice a week, but it’s not really that great. Coming here, it is amazing compared to Las Vegas.”
In the gay scene or in general?
“In the gay scene. In Las Vegas, you have mostly, like, one genre, like the butches, you know what I mean? A lot of people don’t care what they are wearing.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Alexandra Roxo, 28, filmmaker, Greenpoint Tell me about your style.
“I wear primarily vintage. I take a strange pleasure from finding a designer...
Alexandra Roxo, 28, filmmaker, Greenpoint Tell me about your style.
“I wear primarily vintage. I take a strange pleasure from finding a designer piece in the bowels of Georgia, and it happens a lot. Some people do drugs, but I really like to thrift. I get a high from thrifting.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Megan Montgomery, 26, contractor, Great Barrington, M.A. Tell me about your hair. “I cut it four years ago. I don’t really like to fit in with ev...
Megan Montgomery, 26, contractor, Great Barrington, M.A. Tell me about your hair. “I cut it four years ago. I don’t really like to fit in with everybody else.” How does it do that? “Stay up? It’s wax.” What brought you to this bar? I heard it was new, and I have been wanting to check it out. What seemed appealing? “Just a new girl bar. It is kind of like the same old things, every time I come to the city.”
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Rin Johnson, 22, artist, Bushwick You made the dress?
“Technically, it’s a lesbian dress. There are no sides, really, just totally cut off. But...
Rin Johnson, 22, artist, Bushwick You made the dress?
“Technically, it’s a lesbian dress. There are no sides, really, just totally cut off. But I was trying to get a little bit less explicit, so I wore the sweater over it.”
A lesbian dress?
“Oh yeah. Lesbians love to take old men’s T-shirts and cut out the sides, and this dress is kind of doing the exact same thing. A lezzie tank top looks totally normal except the sides are cut off. It is stupid gay slang.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Michelle Strauss (left), 27, student, and Sara Garrigo (right), 26, operations, both in Hoboken, N.J. Sara: “I feel like I am at my house in the ...
Michelle Strauss (left), 27, student, and Sara Garrigo (right), 26, operations, both in Hoboken, N.J. Sara: “I feel like I am at my house in the mountains and I am bringing all my friends.”
How is that different for gay women than gay men?
“Sometimes I feel like it is easier for a gay man to go out. I know we have gone out and men come up and they don’t respect you. They say very rude things. They’re just like, ‘Oh, can we join?’ And we are like, ‘No, we live together … we have been in a relationship for a long time.’” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Melissa Tanzer, 21, student, East Village It sounds like you have to be plugged in to the scene to know where parties are?
“Yes, and the scene ...
Melissa Tanzer, 21, student, East Village It sounds like you have to be plugged in to the scene to know where parties are?
“Yes, and the scene is fun, but it is also exhausting and annoying. I feel like this place has potential to be neutral in that sense.”
What’s exhausting and annoying about the scene?
“Straight people in Manhattan can go to any bar. Lesbian bars are very stereotyped, and then there are girl parties, which are becoming cool now, which are more down to earth, but you know you can meet girls.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Anna Bloda (right), 37, photographer, Warsaw, Poland How did you end up at this party tonight?
“My friend Magda brought me here even if I am no...
Anna Bloda (right), 37, photographer, Warsaw, Poland How did you end up at this party tonight?
“My friend Magda brought me here even if I am not lesbian.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed to go out? “No. I didn’t know how to dress. I decide to do stronger makeup to look fresh, and then the rest will fit. If the face looks good, the rest works.”
Is that a Polish style secret?
“Definitely.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Amy Clements, 24, comedian, Bushwick How would you describe your style?
“I wouldn’t. I don’t know how it fits together. Generally more of a tom...
Amy Clements, 24, comedian, Bushwick How would you describe your style?
“I wouldn’t. I don’t know how it fits together. Generally more of a tomboy style and generally always in pants unless the dress is amazing. If it’s an occasion, then a dress is always good.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
JD Samson, 34, D.J., Williamsburg How would you describe your style?
“I have worn the same style of clothing since I was 12, which is jeans and...
JD Samson, 34, D.J., Williamsburg How would you describe your style?
“I have worn the same style of clothing since I was 12, which is jeans and a T-shirt. I always feel like I am too old to be up with the crazy stuff, so I try to keep it pretty tame.”
Where does one get a Nathan’s Hotdog hat?
“I got it as a present from Murray Hill for my 30th birthday.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Jessica White, model Photo: Dina Litovsky
Brit Parry, 28, Dalloway bartender, Williamsburg “I actually collect hats. My grandpa used to wear a lot of fedoras. So he gave me a lot of old-s...
Brit Parry, 28, Dalloway bartender, Williamsburg “I actually collect hats. My grandpa used to wear a lot of fedoras. So he gave me a lot of old-school, authentic vintage hats that are pretty awesome, but those have feathers and stuff.”
How many hats do you have?
“Probably a hundred, if not more, if you are counting beanies and baseball hats and, like, fedoras and everything.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Kim Stolz (left) and Lexi Ritsch (right), co-owner and operations manager at the Dalloway Kim: “Lesbians are looking for a place to feel at ...
Kim Stolz (left) and Lexi Ritsch (right), co-owner and operations manager at the Dalloway Kim: “Lesbians are looking for a place to feel at home, to have a good meal, to have a dance, to stay out late. They want a place that doesn’t feel like a dive bar. For years, in this city, all of us gays have been invited to these great straight bars. And I love going to Boom Boom Room and Freeman’s for brunch. And I love going to the Darby and the Dutch. I want a place where I can take my straight friends and be like, Yeah, it’s one of my places, but you are going to fucking love it.”
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Monique Holloway, 23, social media manager, Bushwick How would you describe your style?
“I love wearing heels. Tailored skinny jeans and a cool...
Monique Holloway, 23, social media manager, Bushwick How would you describe your style?
“I love wearing heels. Tailored skinny jeans and a cool top and a nice jacket. Leather.”
How does flannel play in?
“I had a long day at work. I wanted to have cool elements but also be super-comfortable too.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Mel Corpus (left), 35, psychologist/D.J., Williamsburg, with girlfriend How would you describe your style?
“Cross-dressing. Peppermint Patty.” ...
Mel Corpus (left), 35, psychologist/D.J., Williamsburg, with girlfriend How would you describe your style?
“Cross-dressing. Peppermint Patty.”
What were you thinking when you got dressed to go out?
“I am a psychologist, so I can’t really wear the leather jacket at work. I wear it when I D.J., but that’s it.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Jes Irwin, 28, tattoo artist, Williamsburg Tell me about your style.
“I am like Zooey Deschanel meets Kat Von D. It varies from day to day, but...
Jes Irwin, 28, tattoo artist, Williamsburg Tell me about your style.
“I am like Zooey Deschanel meets Kat Von D. It varies from day to day, but I am typically really girly, I have a lot of heavy tattoos, and I wear a lot of black. You catch me on a Monday, and I am dressed rock-and-roll-y. You catch me on a Tuesday, and I am dressed like a little porcelain doll.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Amanda Leigh Dunn (right), 24, Williamsburg, co-owner
You managed to make this T-shirt look sexy.
Amanda: “It is a vintage T-shirt that ...
Amanda Leigh Dunn (right), 24, Williamsburg, co-owner
You managed to make this T-shirt look sexy.
Amanda: “It is a vintage T-shirt that I turned inside out and cut.”
What’s the trick?
“I fold them in half and then cut them from near the neckline to my rib cage.”
So it tapers out?
“Yeah. I am always in cutoff shirts. It’s either perfect or horrible.”
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Photo: Dina Litovsky
Christina Gottschalk, 24, model, East Village What brings you out?
“My friends. I didn’t know about this bar, I just got dragged along.”
How ...
Christina Gottschalk, 24, model, East Village What brings you out?
“My friends. I didn’t know about this bar, I just got dragged along.”
How would you describe your style?
“My style. Like rock-chic. Like elegant rock style.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
Emily Moore, 27, screenwriter, Park Slope What brought you to this bar?
“Well, I am gay. But I heard that they had the youngest executive chef ...
Emily Moore, 27, screenwriter, Park Slope What brought you to this bar?
“Well, I am gay. But I heard that they had the youngest executive chef in town, and I am really fucking intrigued by that. Supposedly she has very little experience but is the shit.” Photo: Dina Litovsky
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