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The cloudy windows make the popular gay bar XES Lounge look a bit daunting from the outside, but a few steps in reveal a friendly neighborhood bar. This being Chelsea, this particular neighborhood bar comes with a wall-mounted condom dispenser and a hanging disco ball. It remains laid-back, though the bar is definitely a particularly boozy one (weekday two-for-one drinks make sure of it). There are multiple theme nights, too—from Wii contests to karaoke to a Best Butt contest. An outdoor smoking patio has free “Gay’s Papaya” hot dogs every Sunday during the summer and plenty of lawn chairs, while the inside features a few photographs that would make even Bruce Weber blush. — Abbe Benson