Buddies In Bad Times Theatre

Having been to a gay bar only once before I was looking forward to partying with a good friend on his birthday at Buddies In Bad Times. Having never been here before, I was shocked when I discovered that it was not a full time night club but a performing arts theatre most of the time.
The night started out pretty slow (and we got there at 11:30), but come around 11:50 (10 minutes before the cover charge goes up) the place went from 0 to 100 in seconds! The music was pumping and the crowd was awesome. Great group of people having a blast.
The booze selection was fairly basic, beers and basic bar rail — what you’d expect from a regular club. And while the staff were awesome at taking care of the crowds pretty well with only 2 bars and 3 bartenders the line-​ups to get a drink were long.
Those minor notes aside, the music was fantastic and the drag performances were awesome (it was my first time seeing one). I thought a performance like that in the midst of the evening would kill the vibe… not at all, each time a performer did their thing it seemed to take the party to another level!
Great party and definitely a place I’d come back to!

No frillz thrillz. Everyone having a good time. Music sucks. Always pregame before you go to a Canadian bar. Drinks are really weak. But vibe was good

Tonight Gord and I saw «Freda and Jem’s Best of the Week» at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.
The set was very minimalist … just a raised platform which becomes a bed, a table, etc.
It was a good story and the actors did a excellent job. It was funny in parts yet sad in others. The actors were believable in showing the pain when a family breaks up. It bounced back and forth from today to the past in flashbacks and it was quite easy to determine where they were.
I’d recommend this play and this theatre.

BIG fan of Buddies for the dancing aspect… I have not been to a show here, but I’d like to go (any takers? haha).
Buddies usually just keeps one room open for dancing, but on really crowded nights, they will open their second room. Somehow, even when the space is tripled, it’s still packed and sweaty – spelling out a good (but post-​shower-​necessary) time. Of course, you will find mostly gay guys here, but there is a sprinkling of girls thrown into the mix.
Drinks are reasonably priced and the bar is efficient. The line outside is also pretty fast. It’s the little things like these that add up to a great experience. Little things like how you get stamped with PERVERT upon being granted access (careful to remember to wash that off before work the next morning…).
Best tip I can give is to dress casually and, if in doubt, go with less. You will warm up quick with all the bodies and the alcohol.
And do not wear any shoes that you care about. They will get blackened. Luckily, the black will come out of canvas shoes quite easily. It has become part of my morning-​after routine to scrub my shoes down with a toothbrush and some dishsoap.

I have been here a few times for special events. The space is okay. The bathrooms are downstairs, the drinks are priced reasonably.

Great theater space and plays that speak to the gay community.

I had asked a bartender in the Village, where do people usually go on a Friday night? He told me either Fly or Buddies. I had my reservations about Fly because of all the bad news that happens after-​hours at that club. So, I made my way to Buddies.
I arrived at the building and wasn’t sure if it was a club or theater. I walked around to the entrance on the side of the building and was told that there was going to be a show that night called, «Spelling Bee Striptease.» … Best $ 10 spent in Toronto. The crowd was down to earth, and the show was hilarious and ri-​donk-​u-​lous. I’m so happy I came here!

This place is awesome. And unlike most clubs, their staff is awesome too. I ALWAYS have a good time at Buddies!

I’ve been dancing here and I’ve been to shows here – definitely more a fan of the latter, because a space that’s perfect for an intimate performance tends to get a little shove-​y when you cram a bunch of drunk people in. Still, the crowd that tends to come here is fun, and the drinks are generous – good times!

LOVEEEE THIS PLACE!
July 31^st, I went here for my friends birthday and she had just move downtown so what better way to try the local gay bar up a few streets.
WOW. I had the most amazing time here, the crowd doesn’t start picking up until 11… and it gets PACKED. Majority is European, tanned boys. The music is awesomeness the bar tender (Patricia) is the sweetest EVER!
if you haven’t been here and love the gay scene, definitely check it out… I guarantee a good time…
The boys are soo sooooo lovely. At one point i was dancing and i was wearing my 5inch Guess peep toe stiletto’s and i accidentally slipped one foot out. a pair of the loveliest boys treated me like a queen, One bent down to put my shoe on for me while another held my hand.
There was no pushing, no perversion (well.), no rude snobs… it was just love all the way around!
The bathrooms are underground, but beware the stairs going down are kinda scary and wide. The ATM there is shady looking too, but all in all a really friendly place.
xoxo
M.

I went to Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to see the show «Madonna Saved Me» it was the best comedy musical ever! The first girl act is an impersonation of Leona Lewis’ song, «Bleeding Love», and she starts getting into it, when Jason of horror movies, comes out. It was off-​the-​wall hilarious. You can see the videos on youtube under: Junkeequeen. I will be posting more up from the show, except I decided to write the review first. They had really good beer, I had a Stella Artois in a bottle. Very warm and inviting, everyone hung out afterward talking about the show. They played music in a different part of the hall, to the dance floor ! Loved it and would go see anything they did, again!
Its a must if your looking to do something different in Toronto!

How is this the FIRST review of Buddies?
Although the prime function of this space is a theatre space — they also throw a fucking, mean queer parties on Friday and Saturday nights.
As a queer/​gay club, I really enjoy Buddies. The crowd is somewhat mixed between men and women and typically pretty laid back. This is probably one of the least pretentious queer venues I’ve been to in Toronto and the crowd tends to be very friendly. The music is pretty good (but it really depends on who is DJing, like any other club). When it’s a big night, like Hallowe’en or a pride party, they open up the entire club and have a different vibe in each of the rooms so if one room isn’t doing it for you, you can try the other room.
The staff are pretty awesome and the beer is reasonably priced. The monthly drag show Rendezvous is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.
It seems that most of the shows they produce are racy, awesome, and queer-​themed. It’s a great venue that deserves a lot of support for funding and putting on phenomenal theatrical programming that historically wasn’t or hasn’t been produced elsewhere.
This is my go-​to place when I want to suggest a fun club/​bar for a mixed crowd (queer men and women and open-​minded straight friends). Definitely go ready to have a great time and you’ll probably enjoy yourself!