Cattyshack featured on NY1

Great report. The video is awesome (and whoa, don't blink or you'll miss the hot pole dancer) - you gotta click the link for the video.

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=83017

June 24, 2008

NY1 is celebrating Pride Week with a number of stories looking at established and not-so established gay communities throughout the five boroughs. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report on the lesbian population in Park Slope.

Ladies gather under the stars on the outdoor deck at Catty Shack in Park Slope. The lesbian hotspot attracts patrons not only from the neighborhood, but from across the city and even the suburbs.

Nassau County resident Lauren Schulman found this place two years ago.

"It was just so easy to be myself. And get to know people," she said. "I met a lot of good friends here. I've been coming here ever since. This is my favorite place."

Catty Shack opened up three years ago on 4th Avenue in the slope. Managers say business is good.

"The research had all been done about this neighborhood, about what a large lesbian population there is here, and its proximity to the train," said Catty Shack manager Chloe Sehr. "There was also research on the neighborhood, which not only has been flourishing for years, but 4th Avenue itself."

According to the borough president's office, Brooklyn now has the largest gay population in the city and the fourth largest in the country. Opening a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender center is in the works. The planners for the Brooklyn Community Pride Center say 25 percent of same-sex couples in the city live in Brooklyn, mostly in Park Slope.

Stacy Heath travels to Park Slope from Manhattan.

"I come to Park Slope probably at least once or twice a week," said Heath. "I hang out with my friends here and go out. Some of the best clubs for our common interests are here in Brooklyn in the Park Slope area."

Catty Shack owners considered themselves ahead of the curve when they moved their Manhattan-based business to Brooklyn. And their clientele followed.

"I actually used to go to Meow Mix, which was their former establishment in Manhattan's Lower East Side," said Brooklyn resident Kelli Currie. "And after a few years, they decided to move out to Brooklyn. So, being the loyal lesbian that I am, I decided to hop the train and come out to Park Slope."

Now many of Catty Shack's staffers also live in Brooklyn. But they say they're getting priced out of Park Slope.

"First the gays move in, and then the property values go up," said Sehr. "That seems to be the trend practically everywhere."

That may be the case in the neighborhood where the LGBT center will be built. However, a location still needs to be chosen.

- Jeanine Ramirez

lol, nice quote

Now many of Catty Shack's staffers also live in Brooklyn. But they say they're getting priced out of Park Slope.

"First the gays move in, and then the property values go up," said Sehr. "That seems to be the trend practically everywhere."

I am happy for them but Catty Shack's clientele is really loud after the bar closes. Unlike Union Hall, which is required to tell patrons to keep it down, the owners of CS don't seem to see that as their job. As a result I often hear loud crowds of sloshed bar goers screaming up my street at about 2:00 a.m.

It's annoying.

Brooklyn Baby Daddy wrote: I am happy for them but Catty Shack's clientele is really loud after the bar closes. Unlike Union Hall, which is required to tell patrons to keep it down, the owners of CS don't seem to see that as their job. As a result I often hear loud crowds of sloshed bar goers screaming up my street at about 2:00 a.m.

It's annoying.

PM me if you want to get in touch with the owner. she is very concerned about these issues and wants to make sure the community is cool with her bar. she is incredibly responsible and incredibly great at her job. unfortunately, she's open so much she has manager having to handle the day-to-day stuff. but I can help you get a message through. the bouncers I know are usually very helpful with getting a cab, etc. but local patrons ... I dunno. I live in PH and and mostly there on tuesdays.

I appreciate the offer. I have great respect for them, and what they do. I played Meow Mix with my old band twice, and they were always great to deal with. I should just be a standup person about it and chat with them directly instead of complaining on a message board.

Brooklyn Baby Daddy wrote: I appreciate the offer. I have great respect for them, and what they do. I played Meow Mix with my old band twice, and they were always great to deal with. I should just be a standup person about it and chat with them directly instead of complaining on a message board.

But where's the sport in _that_???

Just kidding ya, nice insight!

Saw this story this morning while I was having my first cuppa, and in the video version there was a REALLY cute moment at the end right after Kelli Currie's remark about being a lesbian where her friend says, "Wait, you're a lesbian?" and then they look at each other and squeal, "OH MY GOD!" It was pretty adorkable.

daver wrote: lol, nice quote

Now many of Catty Shack's staffers also live in Brooklyn. But they say they're getting priced out of Park Slope.

"First the gays move in, and then the property values go up," said Sehr. "That seems to be the trend practically everywhere."

Hmmm. The gays don't come first. Some poor, usually immigrant or minority people come first....Then come the artists and the musicians who move in because they need to live somewhere cheap, then, as long as there is transportation, the wealthier gays follow and the property values go up and the previous group of people start moving, then the yuppies move in and rest of the poor people go who knows where and the musicians and artists move to a new neighborhood followed shortly after by wealthier (but not that wealthy) gays.

just curious...if brooklyn has the 4th largest gay population in the country, what cities besides san francisco are in the top 3...?

miami and los angeles, maybe?

It's just a wild guess...Boston.

filmlover44 wrote: [quote=daver]lol, nice quote

Now many of Catty Shack's staffers also live in Brooklyn. But they say they're getting priced out of Park Slope.

"First the gays move in, and then the property values go up," said Sehr. "That seems to be the trend practically everywhere."

Hmmm. The gays don't come first. Some poor, usually immigrant or minority people come first....Then come the artists and the musicians who move in because they need to live somewhere cheap, then, as long as there is transportation, the wealthier gays follow and the property values go up and the previous group of people start moving, then the yuppies move in and rest of the poor people go who knows where and the musicians and artists move to a new neighborhood followed shortly after by wealthier (but not that wealthy) gays.
WTF are you talking about? The "yuppies" come in _first_, then the poor usually immigrant, etc etc until it gets _back_ to the yuppies, thus completing the circle of life, minus the cheesy song.

belzjm wrote: just curious...if brooklyn has the 4th largest gay population in the country, what cities besides san francisco are in the top 3...?

miami and los angeles, maybe?

Well, here it is by percent:

filmlover44 wrote: It's just a wild guess...Boston.

And yes, Boston is pretty gay, har-de-har!

Ah, here is the info you seek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_village#Top_U.S._cities_and_states

Highest gay populations
1. NYC
2. LA
3. Chicago
4. SF

Hells Kitchen, where I used to live was a mixed neigborhood, with a high immigrant population, mainly Latino. It gentrified slowly, but the large gay population that lives there now didn't start to move in with serious numbers until around 2002-2003.

Before that I would say it was a combination of Latinos, some middle and lower middle class whites, and yuppies.

daver wrote: Ah, here is the info you seek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_village#Top_U.S._cities_and_states

Highest gay populations
1. NYC
2. LA
3. Chicago
4. SF

That's absolute numbers, whereas the above is %age f the population. Still, I have to call bullshit on NYC not being in the top 10.

filmlover44 wrote: [quote=daver]lol, nice quote

Now many of Catty Shack's staffers also live in Brooklyn. But they say they're getting priced out of Park Slope.

"First the gays move in, and then the property values go up," said Sehr. "That seems to be the trend practically everywhere."

Hmmm. The gays don't come first. Some poor, usually immigrant or minority people come first....Then come the artists and the musicians who move in because they need to live somewhere cheap, then, as long as there is transportation, the wealthier gays follow and the property values go up and the previous group of people start moving, then the yuppies move in and rest of the poor people go who knows where and the musicians and artists move to a new neighborhood followed shortly after by wealthier (but not that wealthy) gays.

you need to keep in mind that lesbians and gay men don't come in at the same time.

lesbian couple = 2 female salaries
gay male couple = 2 male salaries

guess which pair has more purchasing power?

lesbians come in at the artist phase; gay men come at the yuppie phase.

ymmv and everything, but i'm just saying.

Or Key West or Asheville, NC.

...not being in the top 10, that is, the bullshit of.

daver wrote:
And yes, Boston is pretty gay, har-de-har!

Well, I did say that it was wild!

Oh, 50 Most Populated Cities... never mind. Reading is fundamental.

sweet tea wrote:
you need to keep in mind that lesbians and gay men don't come in at the same time.

Excellent point. I shall revise my history appropriately. I shall partially accommodate daver and add that in some cases rich people/yuppies abandon neighborhoods and leave them to the less well off and then return once those poor people have been chased out by the lesbian artists and therefore come first and last, thus completing the circle of life.

sweet tea wrote: you need to keep in mind that lesbians and gay men don't come in at the same time.

lesbian couple = 2 female salaries
gay male couple = 2 male salaries

guess which pair has more purchasing power?

this is in my top 20 beefs with being a single woman, btw. it's amazing (to me especially, to others if they give a fuck) that I can own my own place in PH on my own salary with zero assistance from anyone other than work salary I earn. I have no idea what would happen to me if I were single and making $45k or with another woman and collectively making $85k. I'm thinking disaster. and looking at income disparities (even in my own industry) it's horrible.

What's the disaster? I'm not getting it...

Brooklyn Baby Daddy wrote: Hells Kitchen, where I used to live was a mixed neigborhood, with a high immigrant population, mainly Latino. It gentrified slowly, but the large gay population that lives there now didn't start to move in with serious numbers until around 2002-2003.

Before that I would say it was a combination of Latinos, some middle and lower middle class whites, and yuppies.

Oh, you mean midtown west. Er, _Clinton_. And what about the bare knuckled Irish!? That's what pops into my mind first when I think about that area.

85k doesn't pay mortgage and every other tax/co-op month fees etc.
As far as I know in this area. But what do I know.

Minneapolis has to be in that top 5 or higher. It's also probably top for the most feminists per capita. The "current wave" of the feminist movement started there. Despite being really really cold much of the year, it's a very liberal friendly city.

kosherdave wrote: Minneapolis has to be in that top 5 or higher. It's also probably top for the most feminists per capita. The "current wave" of the feminist movement started there. Despite being really really cold much of the year, it's a very liberal friendly city.

Well, yeah, #4 by percentage...

what mamacita said. I thankfully (though I guess not for long) work in a very lucrative industry and make a lot. but if I had what I would consider a "normal" job for someone like me I'd be making significantly less and be unable to meet my debt obligations. like my mortgage. and if I were with a woman who was also making very (comparatively) little, we'd both be screwed.

the issue is this. in my industry, I make X. I know that a male counterpart of mine - same job title and hired a week before I was - makes 2X. he is older than me and as such has more experience in the industry. but. is that really the point? we were hired at the same time, same job, same title. at a "progressive" firm. but I still make X and he still makes 2X. and yes, we both get OT. and he clocks more than me even though he spends weekends golfing.

p.s. (sorry. totally bitter, annoyed, etc. xo)

OH! and cattyshack was awesome last night! beautiful weather for the deck and fantastic barkeeps and poker dealers.

xo

On the pay equality issue (not sure how it turned into this) I just want to point out that my fiance makes a big chunk more money than I do (maybe 15-20% more). We're at different companies now but do the same thing and have same job title. When we worked at the same company, she made more then too. She might be considered to have a tiny bit more experience than I do, but I have two advance degrees in our field.
Anyway, I'm just saying, it's not ALWAYS men making more money these days.
And I'm actually not bitter. I love that she brings home a nice chunk of change and if it is a bit more than I do, more power to her for better negotiating.