Trix
600 W Magnolia Av, FW.
Hot Shots
651 S Jennings Av, FW. 817-820-0079. |
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Trix or Treat?
For left-of-center folks, news that another gay bar has been erected in Fort Worth is cause to celebrate — maybe Cowtown isn’t as backward as it often seems. Still, gay doesn’t always equal hip.
New gay bar Trix is located, appropriately, in the building formerly occupied by Magnolia Station, on Magnolia Avenue on the South Side. The place is owned by Nathan Wilson, a local nightlife impresario who has run the original Trix, in Waco, for the last two years. But the new club neither lives up to its potential nor acknowledges its forefathers. You can’t just take over what was once a Clubland institution, make minimal cosmetic changes, and expect the double-dutch buses to line up outside your door.
Some new paint, a makeover of a back bar, and lamps topped with tiki straw shades make Trix look like just another watering hole — gay or straight. On a recent visit, patron after patron entered and, not long after, exited unceremoniously. Last Call, also feeling a tad sapped by the lack of vibe, decamped after a few drinks. Destination: a block and a half down the street to Hot Shots.
So this was where all of those bored Trix revelers went. As with previous weekends since opening two months ago, Hot Shots was packed and, more importantly, lively — like a bona fide gay nightclub should be. Trix could learn a lot from this place. Not only does Hot Shots have a unique feel, but the nightclub is also eager to reach out to its constituency — every night of the week has a different theme, from karaoke night to college night to even (gulp!) country night. Like Trix, Hot Shots also replaced another gay joint, the 651 Club, yet — unlike Trix — Hot Shots has managed to come across as nearly wholly different from its predecessor, which might explain Hot Shots’ early success and Trix’s apparent lack thereof.
Hot Shots’ extra effort appears to be paying off. The dance floor was lousy with gays and straights, guys and dolls — some in supremely fashionable clothing, others in very little. The back patio was also hopping. Wonderfully friendly drink-slingers dished out frozen fruity cocktails with the quickness, as the hip-hoppers say.
Yes, Hot Shots does work harder than Trix to cross over into the mainstream, but for Clubland denizens — gay or straight — looking for something fun to do on party nights, crossing over is a small price to pay.
Correction
In the column that ran on May 18 (“The Unforgiven?”), Last Call mistakenly referred to Tom Simons as the general manager of Gizmo’s Disco. While Simons is employed by the owner, Walt Duncan, he is not part of Gizmo’s management. Last Call regrets the error.
Contact Last Call at lastcall@fwweekly.com.
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