Phase 1, also known as The Phase, was a lesbian bar and nightclub at 525 8th Street, Southeast in Washington, D.C. Located one block south of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE near Eastern Market in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Phase 1 was the oldest continually operating lesbian bar in the United States and the oldest operating LGBTQ bar in Washington, D.C.[1][2] until its closure in February, 2016.[3]
| Phase 1 | |
|---|---|
 The bar's exterior in 2012 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1970 |
| Closed | 2016 |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 525 8th St SE (8th and E) |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
| Country | United States |
History
editIn 1971, Allen Carroll and Chris Jansen founded Phase 1 and would go on to open another LGBT bar in Southeast, Ziegfeld's.[4] Phase 1 was originally located beside Plus One, a gay bar that broke the city's "no same-sex dancing" code when owners Henry Hecht of the Hecht's department store family, Donn Culver, and Bill Bickford installed a dance floor.[2]
Events
editPhase 1 was a sponsor of Capital Pride, the LGBT pride festival held each year in Washington, D.C. and the fourth largest gay pride event in the United States.[5][6] Phase 1 also worked with local organizations such as the Whitman-Walker Clinic and D.C. Rape Crisis Center.[7]
In August 2007, musician Mara Levi, Phase 1 manager Angela Lombardi, and Riot Grrl, Ink organized the first Phase Fest.[8] The three-day event hosted at Phase 1 featured local and nationwide musical acts such as God-Des and She, Nicky Click, and others which are geared towards lesbians.[9][10] The event became the largest queer art and music festival on the East Coast.[7]
See also
edit
- Codman Carriage House and Stable, previous location of Phase 1's second venue
- Halo (bar)
- Velvet Nation
References
edit- ^ Ford, Elise (2006). Night & Day Washington, DC: Night+day Cool Cities Series. ASDavis Media Group. pp. 168. ISBN 0-9766013-4-6.
- ^ a b Muzzy, Frank (2005). Gay and Lesbian Washington D.C. Arcadia Publishing. p. 104. ISBN 0-7385-1753-4.
- ^ Giambrone, Andrew (June 29, 2016). "Iconic D.C. Lesbian Bar Phase 1 Goes on the Market". DC City Paper. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Najafi, Yusef (September 13, 2007). "A Pioneer Passes – Phase 1, Ziegfeld's founder dies at 61". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ "2008 Capital Pride Parade Contingents". Capital Pride. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Chandler, Michael (June 11, 2007). "Street Fest Lets Gays Revel in Freedom". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ a b "30 under 30". Washington Blade. June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Volin, Katherine (August 10, 2007). "Phase in the music". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ O'Bryan, Will (August 16, 2007). "In Phase – Phast Fest 2007". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- ^ Najafi, Yusef (August 16, 2007). "Nicky Click – Phase Fest 2007". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2008.