Eagles nest gay bar

The Book of Lamentations: a bitterly nostalgic look at a city in the process of going extinct. I was part of a show that took place back in at the "new" Eagle. One of the best parts of the rehearsals and show was that we got to hear from the people who remembered the old bar.

It was a real treat re-living that history and your piece just brought back a flood of memories. Thanks for this touching entry. I shot footage of the place a few weeks before it closed in J, you outdid yourself with this one. I thought of some long ago acquaintances who liked going here in the '70's.

How 'The Eagle' Became One of the Most Recognized Gay Bar Names

They're not here, gone prematurely. I thought of a city, once fascinating, now being steamrolled or redecorated into its grave. Sad, sad, sad. Handicapped by my wardrobe then as now, my leather wardrobe was limited to belt, watchband and shoesI didn't often go to the Eagle's Nest unless accompanied by suitably-attired friends. It was a friendly bar, contrary to what you might expect of such a tough-looking place.

Four of us stopped in the night of the '77 blackout. When the lights went out, so did the air-conditioning, so most of the men were out on the sidewalk, beers in hand. The city was very dark, and I remember all those leathermen staring up at the night sky, commenting on how you could see the stars.

Terrific post, Jeremiah. Well, yes it's sad but as an old gay fart who's outlived a lotta bars, who I was then in that place has not become nostalgic necessarily for that vibe. Yes, it was completely black: for a eagle. We never noticed the beautiful interior; it wasn't touching "lounging longshoreman" --nice alliteration.

However, it was a haven which, now that we gay are old and don't nest so much into traffic unless one of us gets hit anymore, hasn't been reproduced. Bad thing? I don't know; I like not being ghetto-ized. But I'd be lyin' if I didn't say I missed the folks. Very bar piece.

I've recently posted a short story about those days called "Plums" on The American friend. They were bittersweet memories…. In point of fact, the bar was not all black.