For many years now, Wildcat Lounge has been the only remaining designated LGBTQ night in Santa Barbara. Although S.B. has been home to several gay bars in the distant past, they have all closed their doors, with essentially only Wildcat’s Red Room Sundays remaining — until now.
With June being Pride month, now is the perfect time to step out into the city’s re-emerging queer scene. Over the past few months, two area businesses have begun to host pride nights, Wine Therapy and Nectar Eatery & Lounge, along with continued events at the Kimpton Canary Hotel hosted by Pacific Pride Foundation. These establishing hot spots are choosing to provide pride nights honoring S.B.’s LGBTQ+ community.
Danielle Ogaz, owner of Wine Therapy, said that the idea came after chatting with a friend about S.B.’s nonexistent gay nightlife scene, noting that if you didn’t want to dance and go crazy at Wildcat, then you had nothing. “We needed something more mellow,” Ogaz stated, and about four months ago, Wednesdays became Pride Nights, as well as open-mic nights, at Wine Therapy. A portion of their proceeds go to Pacific Pride Foundation.