Lore — Restaurant in Atlanta

Standing right next to Church in a historic part of town, is Lore. I met my girlfriend and future wife here, star💫crossed at the end of the night. Here’s my honest take: It can be loud and obnoxious at times, compared to other places, as it seems to compete with next door but hold its own candles. For an introvert, the space appears large but in reality it’s rather squeezed in, making it difficult when packed to order drinks, dance flamboyantly without bumping into someone else, or find space to chat, other than out back, and maybe the front door. When I say it’s LOUD, I mean it— it’s overwhelming for a queer veteran who’s an audiophile, loves music, but can’t get comfortable with the volume at my age. It makes patrons have to scream or duck away into the bathroom, or recede back down the stairs for recharge and conversation, in order to save your energy. So I highly recommend bringing your earbuds or plugs. Getting drinks can be tricky with people flocking around the bar and posting up.

Before I was kidnapped from the dance floor, energy among what I’d assumed were regulars was discomforting. People asked for cigarettes but couldn’t afford to hold a conversation, often talking past me and scurrying away to immerse themselves in any other distraction but making friends with me. So personal agendas often felt more filled than genuine.

A few tried to acclimate me, but they often melted back into the crowd or took off with their own friends entirely too quickly to make a sensible connection. 99% of everyone I met tried to break loose and not commit to exchanging numbers or words, other than some people just advertising their own events on social media and looking for followers or customers. This is oftentimes just how Atlanta tends to be; rambunctious, scatterbrained, flighty and predictably unpredictable. I’m plenty used to the scene at my age, and perhaps the anxious energy & determined drug users are what guide me away, but this has been staple to Atlanta for decades and all the time I’ve been creeping the streets.

If you want to eat, you have to leave and you can’t bring food in or you’ll be stuck arguing with sarcastic front door security guards.

Just before closing, my eyes met a gorgeous lil gremlin across the room, leaning against a column upstairs. I'd just devoured a mountain of pizza & wings and was swinging around the dance floor, working it off, when I saw that beautiful creature smiling. I had to smile back. The dance floor had cleared, and as I was deep in my usual dance shenanigans, we locked eyes, stealing each other's attention and breath away. It was sapphic night, and I was determined to make at least one genuine friend. When she flirted back, that was it—we were stuck together for the rest of the night. In fact, we spent a full 59.2 to 60 hours talking, cuddling, and kissing. We ended up being the last to leave, herded out by the security guard doing his final rounds. Most times, I'd run straight back to my coffin and chill, but that weekend was surprisingly hot, even with the thunderstorms. So, despite the overwhelming, zoo-like treachery of this place, many positives were found that Friday night. For a start, I found the most strange and gorgeous thing in the...

I recently had the absolute privilege of attending a drag show at this venue, and I cannot overstate how incredible the experience was. From the moment we walked in, the energy was magnetic, joyful, inclusive, and full of love. The performers? Phenomenal. Every look, every lip sync, every movement radiated confidence, creativity, and charisma. These artists poured their hearts into their craft, and the result was a show that was nothing short of electric.

Even more powerful than the performances, though, was the sense of safety and belonging that filled the room. In a world where LGBTQIA+ folks are still so often under attack (verbally, politically, and sometimes even physically ) this venue stands as a beacon of hope. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to find a space where you can simply exist as yourself, surrounded by community, without fear or judgment. That kind of safety is sacred.

As for the recent hateful and misplaced criticism floating around…it’s disappointing but, sadly, not surprising. Someone deliberately misinterpreted a song that was clearly not about who they thought it was, just to launch an agenda-driven attack. Drag has always been about pushing boundaries, asking questions, and holding up mirrors to power. That’s not hate it’s art, and it’s necessary.

So if you’re thinking of coming to a show: Do it. Bring your friends. Celebrate queer joy. Tip the performers. Laugh, cry, cheer, and feel the magic of what happens when a community comes together to celebrate authenticity and artistry in the face of ignorance. We need more spaces like this and more people willing to stand up and protect them.

💖 With gratitude,...

Lore is the best bar in Atlanta. It’s gorgeous. Everything from the expansive dance floors, CLEAN and cute bathrooms, disco ball the size of the planet Jupiter, and both the upstairs and downstairs bars was so many miles ahead than what we’re used to, especially on Edgewood (RIP Noni’s and Sound Table). The programming is diverse, inclusive, and so fun. They have a lot of events that feature music of different genres, tons of drag shows (Queens, they even have a cute dressing room for you!), and highlight smaller local DJs during the week. There is even a free arts & crafts night every other Tuesday, and that was the most wholesome thing to experience. The drink selection is fantastic. Truly something for everyone. The kitchen isn’t open yet, but I think that plan is in the works. Give them time! The people are the most important part. The bartenders are all these very edgy, kind of almost intimidatingly cool looking people, but they are absolute sweetheart magical human beings. The owners are usually there partying with everyone, hanging out, or DJing (@nonsenseatl ily), and they are working really hard to make sure everyone who visits Lore has a positive experience even down to the smallest details....