The Hawk

Old School Gay Dive

Thursday, Fridays, and Sundays are most fun nights. Bartenders are cool. Yes, some skanks and old farts but most guys are at least moderately attractive and approachable. When its busy it fucking rocks. When its a slow night, don't bother.

Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons are by far the busiest times. Friday and Saturday are hit or miss. Usually when Chris bartends on Saturday nights, business picks up. Tuesdays are sometimes busy, depending on the whim of the rotating barhopping crowd. Few hotties or studs. More than a few trolls. In general, the crowd is OK- mostly regulars who hold court at the bar with visitors taking the tables along the wall. On a sad note, the restroom needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. For whatever reason, a foul stench hangs in the air. Could be a problem from the upstairs apartments or a plumbing thing. I doubt it is a result of smelly customers, although it is not unknown for pandhandlers and homeless men and women to drop by and ask for spare change and drinks. The bartenders tend to be friendly, although some are nicer than others. Everyone who has ever been to the Hawk knows that the regulars adore Chris, the resident tattooed college guy. Troy has his own following- the guys who like a more laidback, quiet evening. When Chris and Mike run the show, the music tends toward alternative and classic rock and straight guy music. If you want a more typical gay bar experience, heavy on the twinks and dance tunes, avoid Thursday and Friday nights. The crowd runs the full range of characters, from men who look completely hetero to guys of ambiguous sexuality to full-on campy queens. The younger guys usually prefer bears and older men- not too many 20 or 30 somethings looking for guys their own age. If you are a handsome daddy or bear type into the younger crowd, try the Hawk. In my opinion, the owner should play up this angle, becaue it is not a bear-for-bear bar, but rather a bear-for-cub bar. If you really are a "straight" type, you can make this little neighborhood the focus of your entire evening. Next to the Hawk, Now That's Class is a newly popular rock bar, full of 20 somethings. Two blocks down Detroit Ave., the Brothers Lounge features jazz, rock, and blues, and sometimes folk-type bands. My Friends deli is also popular with the after-last-call gay crowd. Plus, Twist and Bottoms Up are a short drive or long walk for those into a queenier experience. Since this is Cleveland, exercise a little cautiousness when you visit late at night. Otherwise, you should have a good time if you are an unpretentious guy.

Fun

A refreshing change from the usual dancing queen places. Enjoy it before it becomes overrun by refugees from Mans World.

More masculine than Cleveland's leather clubs

I make no apologies. I'm a bear. I'm big, fat, and hairy. I like guys who are big and hairy, whether cubs or bears. The Hawk is not a bear or leather bar, buts its much more fun and comfortable than Mans World (gross and unsafe) and Cocktails (deserted and unsafe). There are twinks at the Hawk (it is a gay bar after all), but the twinkletoes prancing is kept to a minimum compared to Bottoms Up (drag city). Be warned, this section of Detroit Avenue is a little scuzzy after dark, but then, so is most of Cleveland. Compared to Mans Worlds neighborhood, this part of town is practically Bay Village. he he he. In regard to some of the negative reviews, yeah, the Hawk is a bar for the manlier crowd, and somtimes men belch, fart, and have manly odors. Some guys like this. I do. If you want "boys" drenched in Axe body spray and dining on sushi and salad, then please go to Bottoms Up or Twist.

Real men, real fun, that's the truth

Different points of view. That's for sure! Here is mine. The local bar scene has been up in the air since the Grid closed and Bottoms Up opened. Lucky for us 'old timers' some places still pack a needed punch. I will admit what most guys my age won't. !I like the Hawk! Yes it's not a cool place, if by cool you mean sleek, trendy, or barely legal. I've been around long enough in Cleveland to know what's worth my time and what isn't. When I go out, I'm not looking for true love or a social scene dominated by 'boiz' just out of high school. Also, rap and club music is not my thing either. So that eliminates Twist, Argos, Bottoms Up, and probably several other bars too. Except for the Leather Stallion in season, I find that my regular haunts are limited to only one place. The Hawk. I'll tell you why. The guys may not be the prettiest, but then I'm not looking for pretty. I'm a man and I like men, and the Hawk has plenty of man. Yes, not all are what you'd call hot, but enough of them are certainly good looking. And hot isn't necessary when a guy is straight in appearance. Yes, I have actually hooked up with a trick once in the men's room. Unfortunately, I've never witnessed any orgies, ha ha, but who knows. I've only stayed until last call one time. As for these bizarre reviews I'm reading about farts, well, sometimes men have 'gas.' What can I say? Even classy gentlemen have flatulence sometimes. Anyway I would rather have a straight looking man who passes gas once in a while, as men do, then one who smells like flowers. I'm gay, I'm attracted to men, after all, not girls. No offense. I say, go to the Hawk and have fun. If youre seeking a Greek god, no you won't find him there, but you may just find a fun guy to go home with or even make friends with. The Hawk's got my vote, and yeah, by the way, Chris B. is hot as hell. That's no lie!