Home > Baltimore Bars & Clubs > Bar Review > Inside: Grand Central

Vibe: Some bars are curiously, mysteriously or coyly named, but you can't accuse Mount Vernon's Grand Central of taking this route. Much like the Manhattan train terminal, the bar bustles with an intriguing and diverse crowd. Though heavily populated by gay men, Central is also frequented by drag queens, lesbians, straight girls and even a decent amount of straight guys. And for good reason. With drag queen karaoke, three floors, at least five different bars and a wide variety of entertainment on numerous TV screens (think Europop and softcore porn), this is unquestionably the kind of bar your televangelist warned you about, right after he snuck out the back door.

Crowd: It seems heavy-handed to focus on the sexual orientation of the patrons here, but let's be clear: this isn't a bar where the majority of the patrons happen to be gay; Central is a gay bar. Paris Hilton was once spotted here. Make of that what you will.

Libations: Mixed drinks tend to be the order of the day, as most of the clientele are too well-dressed for beer (though not too elite to go slumming with some Trailer Trash). Grand Central boasts a wide variety of inspired drink specials and game nights. While we were there, we won a $25 bar tab playing Buzzer hosted by Tia Chambers, which is what "Family Feud" would be if Richard Dawson was a caustic, six-foot-tall drag queen with enormous hair.

Sounds: While there's no stage for live music at Grand Central, there's always something happening to your ears. Mondays and Tuesdays pub-side features karaoke hosted by Gregory Lattin. Over on the dance floor, there's the all-vocals dance party Vox on Thursdays, an excellent Friday night dance party with $1.75 drinks from 9 to 11 p.m, and the goth/new wave Electroshock party on Saturday nights. After all that, if you're not passed out on some strange man's sofa, Grand Central throws an after-after-party every Sunday from 6 to 11 a.m. known as the Rise Party (consider the innuendos as you please).

Service: Our bartender -- a lip-synching, shot-pouring, breakdancing dervish -- may quite possibly have been the most energetic server I've ever had. We can't speak for all the servers here, but if the rest measure up to this young man's example, Central probably has the most entertaining service in Baltimore.

Bottom line: Even if the all-male wet underwear competition on Sundays after 11 p.m. isn't for everyone, the innovative Grand Central could definitely teach a few other Baltimore bars how to throw a great party.

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