Babes of Carytown

{{Short description|Lesbian bar}} {{Infobox venue | name = Babes of Carytown | native_name = | native_name_lang = | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = [[File:Babes of Carytown.jpg|frameless|upright=1.5]] | image_size = | image_upright = | image_alt = | caption = | image_map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | fullname = | former_names = | address = | city = [[Richmond, Virginia]] | country = U.S. | location = | coordinates =  | elevation =  | public_transit = | parking = | owner = | operator = | designation = | type = LGBTQ bar | event = | seating_type = | suites = | capacity = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | surface = | scoreboard = | screens = | current_use = | production = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = 1979 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | rebuilt = | years_active = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | tenants = | website =  | embedded = }} '''Babes of Carytown''' is an LGBTQ-friendly bar, founded in 1979 as a [[lesbian bar]], and located in [[Richmond, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Marschak|first1=Beth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9MMAg_NnwQUC|title=Lesbian and Gay Richmond|last2=Lorch|first2=Alex|date=2008|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-5368-9|pages=108|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Holter 2019">{{cite news |last1=Holter |first1=Emily |title=Back-Of-The-House Babes: Richmond Women Dominate Their Work In a Male-Dominated Restaurant Industry |url=https://rvamag.com/eatdrink/back-of-the-house-babes-richmond-women-dominate-their-work-in-a-male-dominated-restaurant-industry.html |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[RVA Magazine]] |date=January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Hand 2020">{{cite news |last1=Hand |first1=Clare |title=Dyke Nightlife Diary: Babe's Of Carytown, Virginia's Unexpectedly Lit LGBTQ+ Bar |url=http://gomag.com/article/dyke-nightlife-diary-babes-of-carytown-virginias-unexpectedly-lit-lgbtq-bar/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[GO (American magazine)|GO]] |date=February 4, 2020}}</ref> It is known for its beach volleyball court, live music, and drag shows.<ref name="jones">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Terri L. |title=Richmond Bar Guide: Fun & Games |url=https://richmondmagazine.com/restaurants-in-richmond/richmond-bar-guide-fun-games/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=richmondmagazine.com |date=2016-11-21 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="heil">{{cite news |last1=Heil |first1=Meredith |title=Richmond's Babe's of Carytown Provides a Campy Escape from the Everyday |url=https://www.winemag.com/2020/06/30/richmond-bar-babes-carytown/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=[[Wine Enthusiast]] |date=2020-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Key |first1=Michael |title=You don't have to go far to get away |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/01/26/you-dont-have-to-go-far-to-get-away/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=[[Washington Blade]] |date=January 26, 2012}}</ref> It is Richmond's only lesbian-focused bar, and one of only thirty-three remaining in the country.<ref name="egan">{{cite book |last1=Egan |first1=Maureen |title=Insiders' Guide® to Richmond, VA |date=2010-09-14 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7627-6677-2 |page=104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S0Dg14dYP_0C&dq=babes+of+carytown&pg=PA104 |access-date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, it has now become the oldest lesbian bar on the east coast and the second oldest in the country.

From 2011 through 2016, it was the first place Reader's Pick in ''[[Style Weekly]]'' for Best Gay Bar.<ref>Reviews of Babes *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2012|url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=1713334 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2013 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=1894696 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2014 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=2075048 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2015 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=2208165 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2016 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=2332341 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}}</ref> In 2017, Babes was inducted into the ''Style Weekly'' Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2017 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=3295269 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}}</ref> It then tied for first place as the ''Style Weekly'' Reader's Pick in 2018, and then was the first place Reader's pick from 2019 through 2021.<ref>References: *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2018 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=9014149 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2019 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=14651155 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2020 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=16304470 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}} *{{cite news |title=Best Gay Bar 2021 |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/best-gay-bar/BestOf?oid=17752304 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=[[Style Weekly]]}}</ref>

In 2017, it was selected by [[Thrillist]] as Virginia's best [[dive bar]] and in 2022 was recognized by [[Tasting Table]] as among the best LGBTQ bars in the nation.<ref name="thrill">{{cite news |last1=Kryza |first1=Andy |last2=Lynch |first2=Matt |title=The Best Dive Bar in Every State |url=https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/best-dive-bars-in-every-state-near-me |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=[[Thrillist]] |date=15 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="dykes">{{Cite news |last=Dykes |first=Carrie |date=2022-06-07 |title=The Best LGBTQ+ Bars In The US |language=en-US |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/888141/the-best-lgbtq-bars-in-the-u-s/ |access-date=2022-11-15}}</ref>

In a 2017 report prepared for the [[Virginia Department of Historic Resources]] LGBTQ Heritage Working Group, Babes is described as "a rare survivor from the pre-1991 period, during which the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board regularly shut down establishments that served or employed LGBTQ individuals."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shevchenko |first1=Yelyzaveta |title=Reconnaissance Survey of LGBTQ Architectural Resources in the City of Richmond |journal=Virginia Department of Historic Resources LGBTQ Heritage Working Group|publisher=[[Virginia Department of Historic Resources]] |date=November 2017 |url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LGBTQRichmondSurveyReport.pdf |access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Lesbian Bar Project]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:1979 establishments in Virginia]] [[Category:Lesbian bars in the United States]] [[Category:Lesbian culture in Virginia]] [[Category:LGBTQ nightclubs in the United States]] [[Category:Companies based in Richmond, Virginia]] [[Category:LGBTQ-owned businesses in the United States]]