I could not call myself gay, darlings, if I couldn't say that I had not been in the Rawhide Bar, at least once. Hell, it was certainly more than once, though I was never a regular habitue there. But, if you happened to be in Chelsea, and needed to take a leak, or wanted a quick drink, or see what were the latest market items on display (the clientele, I mean, girls!!!!!!!!!!!) the Rawhide was there for us, as it had been, since 1979, and, as I figured, it evermore would be.
Alas, as Tennessee Williams said, "the enemy, Time, in us all," or, in this case, the economy. Soaring rent has caused Rawhide to be priced out of existence, and let me tell you, the leather and cowboy scene will never be the same again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The staff even cared enough, especially in the Summer, to leave a huge dish of water outside, for passing dogs (real canine ones, darlings, not these faux slaves, posing as such!!!!!!!!!) in need of a drink!!!!!!!!!!!!! And on hot Summer nights, the blast of the air conditioner felt good, even if there was not much action to be had.
I am sure there are plenty out there, who remember the Rawhide better than I, and who scored more action there. Sadly, as the city becomes in a way, more suburbanized, the things some of us escaped to NYC for are no more, while our younger counterparts have nothing to escape to, since things must look to them pretty much what they are escaping from!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this is progress? Not in my book! So, as we say farewell to the Rawhide, let us also say farewell to the era of the 70s and 80s, when New York was still a city to escape to, instead of some sort of ersatz suburban extension!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where will all those cowpokes line up now, darlings?????????? Along the West Side Highway????????? No, probably not till the next Broadway revival of "Annie Get Your Gun!!!!!!!!!!"
Yippee!, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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