Part of the Gay Richmond Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Richmond, Virginia
South Richmond queer dive for kink, nerd, and leftist subcultures
Thirsty's is a queer dive bar in Richmond's Southside, on Forest Hill Avenue, that grew into its identity organically. It opened in 2018 and became a gay bar simply because that's who showed up, before Keyan Herron and his husband Cameron took it over in 2019. The result is one of the more distinctive queer spaces in the city, a self-described home for leftist, kink, and nerd crowds as much as the usual bar regulars. The programming tells you who it's for: alongside drag shows and Friday karaoke, you'll find tabletop RPG game sessions, queer history nights, book clubs, Bring Your Own Vinyl, and board-game and film nights. There's a patio and a relaxed game room, comfort food from the kitchen, and a deliberate safe-space ethos for marginalized folks. It's off the downtown nightlife track in a residential neighborhood, which is the point. Thirsty's is a community living room first and a bar second, worth the trip south of the river if that's your scene.
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