More Post-Ike Travel: Where's The Only Open Bar in Galveston?

September 17, 2008 at 2:15 PM | by egw | Comments (0)

As Galveston residents packed to flee last week ahead of Hurricane Ike, a biker bar along the seawall called the Poop Deck boasted it would defy official warnings and not close. We haven't read of its fate yet, but sadly any establishment facing the Gulf of Mexico along Seawall Blvd. probably sustained major damage.

But six blocks away, the party continues at Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar known for its tight door and drag shows. Despite losing all its windows and drawing three feet of water in the storm, Robert's Lafitte re-opened Monday to pass out food and celebrate the career of Tina Turner, gaining converts beyond the usual barflies:

"It's more than a life saver. This is like the Coast Guard," said Brian DeLeon, a straight restaurant worker who had not visited the bar before.
"These are the people who take you up out of the water and make life livable. Once I get back to work, I'm coming back here."

Before you make tracks for happy hour, though, city officials are still encouraging residents to stay away because of the absence of electricity and a dearth of running water.

It could take up to a month for the ravaged city to restore its utilities and clean up enough to welcome residents home. And don't even ask about the cruise ships coming back...

Related Stories:
· Hurricane Means Party Time at Poop Deck [KHOU]
· Hurricane Ike Batters Southeast Texas: Galveston Soaked, Houston Tempest-Tossed [Jaunted]
· Gay Bar Becomes a Haven [Reuters, via Yahoo]
· Hurricane Ike coverage [Jaunted]

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