250 NIGHTLIFE BEST NEW NIGHTCLUB ROOSEVELT 815 N. SECOND ST. THEROOSEVELTPHX.COM This sleek, 4,000-square-foot hotspot debuted this summer in the former home of FilmBar and immediately made its mark in downtown Phoenix. Roosevelt offers plenty to justify its slow-burning hype, particularly for clubgoers and EDM fans. The “listening- focused” bar, restaurant and dance spot is geared toward high-fidelity sound with studio-quality acoustics and Arizona’s only Funktion-One system inside a club. House music pumps on weekends, while week- nights welcome local DJs for funk, soul, jazz, breakbeat and vinyl spin sessions. Killer sound isn’t the only draw. Roosevelt also offers two-for-one happy hour drinks, features retro-futuristic vibes and pays tribute to this property’s past life as FilmBar. The old marquee still adorns the exterior, movie poster-like lightbox displays illumi- nate the outdoor patio and local repertory film series Cinehaze holds weekly movie screenings on Tuesdays. i i i BEST GAY BAR THE ROCK 4129 N. SEVENTH AVE. 602-248-8559 THEROCKDMPHOENIX.COM One Monday, we asked our Boomer parents what they did over the weekend. Turns out they went to their friends’ son’s drag show — at The Rock. (We love that for them.) In a field of Phoenix gay bars that skew clubby, or young, or old, or meet-market-ish, The Rock is nothing more — or less — than a great neighborhood bar that happens to cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Stop by for a drag show or a beer with a friend in the corner. Show up scantily clad and ready to party on underwear night, or come straight from work in your business casual for a midweek hang. You’ll find friendly faces, a fun, casual atmosphere and a bartender ready to wet your whistle no matter who you are. i i i BEST LESBIAN BAR BOYCOTT BAR 4301 N. SEVENTH AVE. 480-825-6240 BOYCOTTBARPHX.COM Maybe it’s a cheat to call Boycott Bar the best lesbian bar in town. It is, after all, the only lesbian bar in town. But it’s also among fewer than 40 still operating in the U.S., and has done everything right to make itself a local landmark. The Melrose watering hole gives its customers strong drinks, live entertain- ment, events like karaoke and dance nights and a safe and welcoming environment at a time when “safe and welcoming” has never been more important for members of the queer community. A stop at Boycott is an essential component of a night out bar- hopping through the neighborhood. So it may win Best Lesbian Bar by default, but Boycott has always been tops in our book. BEST DRAG SHOW 4SOME REVUE KOBALT BAR 3110 N. CENTRAL AVE., #175 602-264-5307 KOBALTBARPHOENIX.COM Fresh off his finish as runner-up on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 11, local drag superstar Joey Jay leads a quartet of queens in a lively night of lip-syncing and laughs on Friday nights. Under the heels of Jay, Gia Colby, Mynx Demilo and Salem Demilo, Kobalt’s stage and runway become a platform for high-energy, chaotic fun. Between razor- sharp banter, crowd interaction and perfor- mances that range from campy comedy to jaw-dropping choreography, the cast keeps the energy cranked from the opening number to the final bow. The show sells out often, so snag tickets early — and don’t forget to bring cash to tip the queens. i i i BEST DRAG BRUNCH FLAMBOYANCE! THE ROYALE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS 635 W. GLENROSA AVE., #101 602-293-3373 ROYALEKITCHENPHX.COM Barbra Seville, one of Arizona’s most beloved drag entertainers, hosts this hilarious, high- energy brunch every Sunday. Featuring a