Every gay New Yorker knows that NYC is long overdue for a new gay club, and the new Chelsea venue CLUB RAWHIDE may very well be that answer. We went to last night’s VIP opening party, and were floored by the attention to details that we hope breeds success.
A no phones-allowed dance floor, an elevated seating area, a well-staffed bar with well-priced drinks, and multiple rooms to discover, makes the space feel dynamic. Imagine if Basement was actually a gay club — you’d get CLUB RAWHIDE.
The team behind it knows what they’re doing — they’re NYC nightlife veterans that have invested in state-of-the-art sound, custom lighting, intricate interior design, and countless homages to the history of Chelsea and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Brooklyn took the torch a while back and has been holding strong for years. But Manhattan and more specifically Chelsea laid the groundwork for music, culture, nightlife, and gay rights,” said Patrick Crough, Club Rawhide’s producer and creative director. “The spirits are in these streets. With this project, we’re paying homage to much more than just Rawhide. This is a tribute to all the bars and clubs throughout the decades when Rawhide was open — an origin story for so much of what we hear, see, and feel on dancefloors all across the world now. So let’s wake it up, Manhattan!”
This weekend, The Carry Nation, Junior M., Miss Parker, and Stiletto lead the DJ booth.
We expect CLUB RAWHIDE to be a hit — and we can’t wait to see how the club’s programming and vibes develop.
CLUB RAWHIDE is located at 250 West 26th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Chelsea, New York.
