Club Quarter

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The Entertainment District [1] is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Metro Center district surrounding historic Stearns Square. [2] Stearns Square is bordered by Worthington Street to the north and Bridge Street to the south; however, the Entertainment District extends for several city blocks north, south, east and west of Stearns Square. For over 100 years, this area of Springfield, surrounding Stearns Square and Springfield Union Station have been home to the city's most prominent clubs, restaurants, bars, music venues, movies houses, and coffee houses. [3] Currently, there are over 75 restaurants, nightclubs, and bars in Springfield's Entertainment District, making it the largest entertainment district between New York City and Montreal, Canada. The Entertainment District is a primary reason why Springfield was recently ranked among America's Top Ten Best Cities for Singles by Yahoo and Sperling's Best Places. [4] [5]

Springfield, Massachusetts City in Massachusetts

Springfield is a city in the state of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern Mill River. As of the 2010 Census, the city's population was 153,060. As of 2017, the estimated population was 154,758, making it the third-largest city in Massachusetts, the fourth-most populous city in New England after Boston, Worcester, and Providence, and the 12th-most populous in the Northeastern United States. Metropolitan Springfield, as one of two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, had a population of 692,942 as of 2010.

Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts human settlement in United States of America

Metro Center is the original colonial settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts, located beside a bend in the Connecticut River. As of 2019, Metro Center features a majority of Western Massachusetts' most important cultural, business, and civic venues. Metro Center includes Springfield's Central Business District, its Club Quarter, its government center, its convention headquarters, and in recent years, it has become an increasingly popular residential district, especially among young professionals, empty-nesters, and creative types, with a population of approximately 7,000 (2010.)

Stearns Square human settlement in United States of America

Stearns Square is an urban, city square located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, in the heart of Metro Center's Club Quarter. It was designed by the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the landscape architect Stanford White, to accompany Saint-Gaudens' statue, The Puritan.

Contents

Venues surrounding Stearns Square

One constant in Springfield's Entertainment District since 1902 has been Smith's Billiards, which has long hosted professional pool matches, as well as a mix of young and old virtually every-night. [6] Another constant is Theodore's Blues Club - it has been in operation for nearly 30 years and has, on several occasions, been named the best blues club in the United States. [7] The Mardi Gras is yet another Springfield institution - it is the largest and most elaborate gentleman's club north of New York City and south on Montreal, (including Boston.) With over 300 "Gras girls" on monthly rotation and its own magazine, the Mardi Gras is not one's average strip club.

The Shadow Lounge attracts a younger crowd with a "swanky" atmosphere. [8] Shakago's is a martini, jazz, and piano bar on Hampden Street. Alumni is geared toward the college and post-graduate scene, with live rock music and DJs; however, one can also play games like Keno there. Fat Cat Bar & Grille is a dive bar that attracts a younger crowd and usually plays punk and industrial music. [9]

Glo Ultra Lounge is a popular club on Saturday nights, with a swanky atmosphere and light show. Petra, next door to Glo, is Springfield's only hookah bar. The Pub Lounge was, until very recently an LGBT bar; however, now it has shifted its focus to a sports bar. Adolfo's is an Italian restaurant serving fine cuisine made from fresh, local ingredients - with an outdoor bar that features a DJ and dancing.

LGBT initialism referring to sexual and gender minorities

LGBT, or GLBT, is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the initialism LGB, which was used to replace the term gay in reference to the LGBT community beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. Activists believed that the term gay community did not accurately represent all those to whom it referred.

Growing LGBT nightlife

Springfield's LGBT nightlife has grown exponentially since the Massachusetts Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2004. In 2011, the City of Springfield celebrated its first gay pride week, with rainbow flags adorning nearly every flag post in Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts and in 2010, The Advocate named Springfield one of its Top 15 gay cities. [10] According to the 2010 Census, Springfield, more than any other major Massachusetts city, has been greatly impacted by the recent influx of LGBT residents. Boston, Cambridge, Northampton, and Provincetown were long-considered gay-friendly destinations before the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling; however, Springfield was not. At the time when gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts, Springfield featured low real-estate prices, a housing and condominium stock full of extraordinary architecture, and an (at that time just) budding bohemian arts and entertainment scene. This combination attracted many LGBT residents who stayed in Springfield and have made its gay nightlife one of the most worthwhile between New York and Montreal. Currently, Springfield features five full-time gay bars and clubs, and numerous other bars and clubs hosting gay nights. [11] As of 2011, Springfield is widely considered a highly "gay friendly city," with two openly gay city councilman. Recently, the New England gay publication The Rainbow Times declared Springfield, "suddenly gay."

Gay pride positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBT people

Gay pride or LGBT pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBT rights movements throughout the world. Pride has lent its name to LGBT-themed organizations, institutes, foundations, book titles, periodicals and even a cable TV station and the Pride Library.

<i>The Advocate</i> (LGBT magazine) monthly American magazine covering LGBT-interest topics

The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed bi-monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a website. Both magazine and website have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people. The magazine, established in 1967, is the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States and the only surviving one of its kind that was founded before the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, an incident that is generally credited as the beginning of the LGBT rights movement.

2010 United States Census 23rd national census of the United States, taken in 2010

The 2010 United States Census is the twenty-third and most recent United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving to spot-check randomly selected neighborhoods and communities. As part of a drive to increase the count's accuracy, 635,000 temporary enumerators were hired. The population of the United States was counted as 308,745,538, a 9.7% increase from the 2000 Census. This was the first census in which all states recorded a population of over half a million, as well as the first in which all 100 largest cities recorded populations of over 200,000.

The Paramount Theater also known as The Hippodrome

Since 1926, an entertainment venue has occupied the site of The Paramount Theater, (most recently known as The Hippodrome,) at 1700 Main Street next to Springfield's famous Gothic railway arch. Built at a cost of over $1 million in 1926 dollars, The Paramount Theater was the most ornate movie palace in Western New England during its glory days from the 1920s-1960s. It remained a movie theater until the 1960s when it began to find use as a mixed center for movies, concerts, and live performances, (including especially memorable performances by the Velvet Underground, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and Alice Cooper.) The theater was also once run by Western Massachusetts Theatres which at one time owned almost all of the single screen palaces in the area including The Rivoli and The Bing in Springfield, and The Calvin in Northampton.

Gothic architecture style of architecture

Gothic architecture is a style that flourished in Europe during the High and Late Middle Ages. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. Originating in 12th-century France, it was widely used, especially for cathedrals and churches, until the 16th century.

Alice Cooper American rock singer, songwriter and musician

Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over fifty years. With his distinctive raspy voice and a stage show that features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, deadly snakes, baby dolls, and dueling swords, Cooper is considered by music journalists and peers alike to be "The Godfather of Shock Rock". He has drawn equally from horror films, vaudeville, and garage rock to pioneer a macabre and theatrical brand of rock designed to shock people.

It was not until 1999 that the theater found a stable operator again. It was purchased, underwent a $1.3 million make-over, and converted into a lavish night club and performance space, known as The Hippodrome. The main floors seats were removed, but the 1,100 balcony seats were retained and restored. The original organ was restored and the marquee was changed to reflect the "Hippodrome" name. During its time as the Hippodrome, the venue became one of the Northeast's centers of the "rave scene," drawing thousands every few months with elaborate raves. When that scene eventually died down, The Hippodrome became more of a hip-hop/novelty club, featuring performers like RuPaul. In 2010, the Hippodrome was purchased by the New England Farm Workers' Council and renamed The Paramount Theater. Currently, the Paramount is in the midst of a $1.725 million renovation.

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Combat Zone, Boston name given in the 1960s to the adult entertainment district in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

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References

  1. ↑ Shooting in Entertainment District Masslive.com. Retrieved on 2016-11-23.
  2. ↑ Restaurants & Nightlife | Greater Springfield CVB - Springfield, MA. Valleyvisitor.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  3. ↑ Springfield-First Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine .. Springfield-First. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  4. ↑ America’s Best (and Worst) Cities for Dating. Bestplaces.net. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  5. ↑ Yahoo! Homes - Home for Sale and Rent, Makeovers, Design and Décor, Real Estate Archived March 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine .. Realestate.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  6. ↑ Home. Smiths Billiards (2013-01-24). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  7. ↑ Theodores | Blues Booze & BBQ. Theobbq.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  8. ↑ Springfield, MA. Shadow Lounge. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  9. ↑ Fat Cat Bar & Grill - Springfield, MA. Yelp.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  10. ↑ Office of Planning and Economic Development Archived August 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine .. City of Springfield, Mass.. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  11. ↑ Great houses at great prices in a GLBT-friendly city | Springfield, Massachusetts. Glbtspringfield.com (2004-05-17). Retrieved on 2013-08-21.

Coordinates: 42°6′15.3″N72°35′32.2″W / 42.104250°N 72.592278°W / 42.104250; -72.592278

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