Side Traxx

I am SUCH a lover of gay bars— They always have the best music, dancing and super friendly guys. Side Traxx does not disappoint! They have such a welcoming, cool vibe, with the nicest bartenders and crowd. Drinks are super reasonable (shot specials, holla!)
It really brings me back to fun days in the West Village NYC. It’s one fantastic gay bar!

The bartender will decide to arbitrarily charge you whatever he wants for drinks. It’s cool.

I find it notable that TC has a gay video bar. A wide variety of people as u might expect. Clean and less of a dive than u might expect. Helpful, friendly staff. On the sat night I’m visiting, I was told 11pm is busiest. 50% straight women on a bachelorette party, girls night out, etc. About 50 people total. Neighborhood atmosphere– more like a small town JRs (DC) than the Eagle (NYC).

Great DJ, but I could’ve done without the sorority girls/​bachelorette party that was there. No obvious lesbians other than myself. Just your typical hole-​in-​the-​wall small town gay bar. Cheap beer. Friendly bartender. Meh… nothing else to note.

Well… Whenever I come home for a visit, I tend to make a stop at Side Traxx. It’s an inviting place and I love being around my fellow gays. The drinks are good and the music is worthy of my (lack of) sweet moves.
It’s one of the best small town gay bars that I’ve been to.
I’ll see you cool cats in September ;)

Wow. You know that scene in the L-​Word where Jenny and Max (at the time Moira) are at a gay bar somewhere in the Midwest? That is EXACTLY what Side Traxx reminds me of. Lots of VERY strange décor, to include, but not limited to, mannequins of upper thigh region to lower stomach with fake red flowers coming out of them at the top, a carpeted venue with wood panel, a series of paintings on the wall that seem to be ads for Jeans or men’s underwear that have had photo effects done to them, and strange candles that are men wearing different kink costumes… yea. Kinda weird.
Other than that… just your typical gay video dance bar, but on a lower budget! Haha. They have two televisions in the venue, 1 at each of the bar, playing your typical top 40 female artist stuff. While I was in there they played Gaga, Britney, Ke$ha (NASTY!!), and some others that aren’t coming to mind right now.
The drinks are affordably priced. Crowd is kind of… different. You get the vibe that some of the men in there may be from the UP or another desolate area of Michigan and may be pretty closeted — so it is not the most welcoming crowd — at least in comparison to what I am used to in Chicago, and other large cities that I have been to.
It is worth dropping into if you’re up north. You won’t experience another gay bar like it, I can promise you that :)

Side Traxx is the only gay bar in Traverse City and the area surrounding area. Which earns Side Traxx four big gay stars. It is not the most glamorous bar around, but the crowd was friendly. I will definitely come back here, next time I’m in Traverse City.

You have to be a fan of the only gay bar in town. The funniest thing was when they served hot dogs. ok outside on a warm summer day and the stinky water from the water treatment plant right outside of this place doesn’t lend itself to fine dining, not that a hot dog is fine dining. but a drink is pretty much all i could handle. anyway its always dance with the fun gays. someone always talked to me when i went on my own and dancing was great. the music is hardly great but like i said you have to support the only gay bar in town.

Fun for straight people too!
My husband and I like to go to SideTraxx for the karaōke — great times! Everybody there is in it for fun and it is a total carefree environment. I’ve never had a bad experience and I’ve been there a lot. The dance floor is small but it does the job. LOVE the man-​torso shaped disco ball.
My only complaint is that their drink selection is limited, slightly pricey, and they don’t have beer on tap.
They mix the drinks strong though — so you get your money’s worth.