Crews & Tangos is a gay bar located at 508 Church Street in the gay village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1994.,[1] the bar is renowned for hosting nightly drag shows.[2][3]
.jpg) Crews & Tangos in 2014 | |
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| Address | 508 Church Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M4Y 2C8 |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1994 |
| Website | |
| https://www.instagram.com/crewsandtangos/?hl=en | |
Appearances in popular media
editThe first floor of the bar serves as the main location for the "Miss Church Street" pageant in the CBC Gem series QUEENS.[4]
Homicide investigation
editCrews & Tangos was connected to the murder investigation of Tess Richey. The night of Richey's disappearance in 2017, Richey and a friend visited the bar and security footage from the venue was used to outline the sequence of events during the court proceedings.[5]
Gentrification concerns and heritage status
editIn March 2020, news began to spread about a proposal for a new condo development where Crews & Tangos is located.[6] Concerned community members created a Change.org petition garnering over 30,000 signatures.[7] Following the outcry, Kristyn Wong-Tam (city councillor for Toronto Centre) conducted a preliminary report of the space,[8] and in February 2022, the City of Toronto granted heritage status to the buildings located at 508 and 510 Church Street.[9]
References
edit
- ^ Bignell, Quintin (May 18, 2022). "Popular Toronto drag bar Crews & Tangos has lease extended until 2023". CityNews Toronto.
- ^ Mooney, Kyle (April 18, 2010). "Crews & Tangos is open for business (and pleasure)". Xtra Magazine.
- ^ Woo, Jaime (April 26, 2017). "Drag shows aren't free-for-alls for straight women letting loose". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Queens | Short-form Series | CBC Gem, retrieved January 24, 2024
- ^ Carter, Adam (March 23, 2020). "Her final hours". CBC.
- ^ Hoard, KC (February 17, 2022). "How to Save Dying Gay Bars". The Walrus.
- ^ King, Angelina (March 12, 2020). "'Erasing our history': Thousands sign petition to save iconic drag bar from condo development". CBC.
- ^ "506-516 Church Street – Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – Preliminary Report" (PDF). toronto.ca. September 21, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "Alterations to a HeritageProperty and Authority to Enter into a HeritageEasement Agreement - 508 and 510 Church Street" (PDF). toronto.ca. May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2024.