Fuel
By Michael Anthony • Posted: March 3rd, 200811608 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604-2613
Phone: (818) 506-0404
When Tom of Finland visits LaLa-Land, this Valley bar is definitely where he hangs his hat…and chaps! Formerly the club known as Apache, Fuel has done little to step out of its predecessor’s shadow, retaining a lot of the old haunt’s “charm” (for use of a better word). And that’s how the regulars like it; it’s friendly and it’s familiar, boasting all of the amenities that one would find in an affably unrefined Midwestern gay bar: a well-tended (by well-tattooed manly men) bar, an ample (enough) dance floor, a place for pool tables and the occasional arcade game. With quite possibly the cheapest drinks that you’ll find in LA’s LGBT bar circuit, weekday’s happy hour (3-8pm) make for the watering hole’s most crowded time; even at its most crowded, Fuel is rarely packed to capacity, except for Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re not there by 10pm, be prepared to wait in line (albeit a fast-moving line, but a line nonetheless). The general SoCal consensus on Fuel is that it’s either a hot hit or massive miss, nothing in between; some nights make for a crazy-sexy-cool outing, while others offer nothing more than and handful of elderly regulars and a barebones dance floor. Simply stated, at Fuel, you get what you pay for…So bring your gaggle of gays with you when you venture to the Valley; it’s the best way to ensure an all-around fabulous time!
PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Age…Only a #? ~ Although Fuel has been (not-so) playfully categorized as one of LA’s “geriatric bars”, don’t be fooled. Cute (and young) boys often hang out here…But there is no method to the madness of their attendance; sometimes they’re there in droves, other times they’re not.
Old Mother Hubbard ~ Fuel isn’t much bigger than Ms. Hubbard’s shoe. Literally! This is one of the smallest wall-to-wall bars in Los Angeles. A note to all claustrophobics; stay away!
A Love / Hate Relationship ~ It seems that gay guys either really like or totally hate this place; there’s no middle of the road when it comes to showing love for Fuel. Luckily, the place is inexpensive enough (minus an annoying cover) that you can give it a shot and decide for yourself…without breaking the bank.
AVERAGE DRINK PRICE:
$5
RATING:
3/5 stars
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WHAT’S SPINNING?
Dance music of all genres and decades
COVER:
$5 (on average)
HOURS:
Mon-Sat ~ 3pm-2am
WEBSITE:
NOTABLE NIGHTS:
Thursday ~ Lesbian Ladies Night
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Michael Anthony is a regular SoCal arts and event contributor for Frontiers Magazine, The Advocate, TV Guide and popular online outlets.
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