A Dame Good Pride at The Townhouse

The city's iconic gay gentleman’s lounge, The Townhouse, is celebrating Pride in grand New Yawk style this year. On Wednesday, June 20 at 8pm, Broadway diva and master impersonator Christine Pedi will wow theatre lovers with a free performance of her hilarious one-woman cabaret show, Great Dames, featuring songs about and made famous by the great ladies of the stage, screen and beyond.

In addition to Pride month, Townhouse owners Michael Grummons and Paul Galluccio are celebrating 30 years in business. They opened Townhouse, their upscale speakeasy-looking lounge located on 58th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, at a time when Manhattan's gay bar scene was made up of mostly dark and dingy pubs. Their aim was to lure in the business set from Park and Madison Avenues and they did so by offering a more sophisticated experience. “Guys would finish work and come in for happy hour in their suits and ties,” remembers Galluccio. “The Townhouse was like their own comfortable living room where they could come in after a hard day or week in the office, relax and enjoy friendly company and piano music.”

A lot has changed in its thirty years. As office dress codes have relaxed since the turn of the century, so have the requirements at The Townhouse. Today’s Townhouse is more of a business casual vibe with most men arriving in dress slacks and chinos, a buttoned shirt and dress shoes. Hats and sleeveless tops are restricted, but a sports jacket is no longer required.

What once was a one-room cocktail lounge has grown to become three distinct bars all under one roof. The up front cocktail bar remains upscale and continues to attract very successful businessmen and their admirers. It’s the most social spot in the lounge with men actively engaging in conversation (as opposed to the stand and stare reputation of most NYC bars). “We see a lot of younger guys chatting up older men but not in the gold digger looking for a sugar daddy way they did many years ago,” Grummons explains. “The internet changed all that. Gold diggers find their daddies on the apps. These young guys are simply attracted to mature men.”

The down stairs club room is the newest addition to The Townhouse. Introduced a little over a year ago, it features male dancers on Friday and Saturday nights and has a totally different vibe than the upstairs bars, playing gay house and pop music. It attracts a younger thirty and forty-something crowd.

The piano bar at the Townhouse, where Christine Pedi will perform her Great Dames cabaret show, is, without a doubt, what most men come for. “We have some of the top piano players in New York,” says Paul Galluccio with a gleam of pride.

The piano bar starts at 6pm on weekdays and at 8 on weekends. Two piano players come every night armed with mostly Broadway show tunes. Gay men gather round the piano to sing. The top three requests are numbers from Hello Dolly, Rent and Phantom of the Opera.

“We’re a true Cheers bar to the LGBTQ community,” says Galluccio, “and we’re excited to celebrate Pride with our favorite Great Dame.”

Christine Pedi performs “Great Dames” at Townhouse (236 East 58th St) on Wednesday, June 20th at 8pm. No cover/two drinks minimum. Visit TownhouseNY.com Follow on Twitter @THouseNY.