Profile

On the Neptunian fringes of the city’s queer universe, 90 blocks north of the white-hot core of Chelsea, the glare of disco strobes and the glow of Deco light fixtures—plus a décor seemingly consisting of one of everything cool from 1995—illuminate a motley group of Columbia students and wizened locals as they sip beer from 12-ounce steins and gawk at Beyoncé videos on a large screen. Ever since it opened in 2005 in the former digs of Saints, this Upper West Side haunt has delivered a weekly lineup chock-full of events and specials including drag nights on Saturdays and karaoke on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the really sweet thing is the glorious hole that leads to the Roti Roll next door thereby allowing patrons to indulge in tasty Indian wraps at the bar. As far as drink prices go, Suite may bank on its monopolistic hold on the local gay-bar market, but behind the frosted pillbox windows that grace its façade (is it still in the closet?), they make their own fun, frothy scene. — Asa Fitch