Straight Acting

Wednesday nights belong to Alotta McGriddles and Cameron Cole, who host the kind of visual trivia night that actually keeps you engaged—pop culture deep cuts from Harry Potter to RuPaul's Drag Race, with the crowd voting on what comes next. Win each round and you're spinning the wheel for pitchers of beer, well drinks, or a bar tab. No cover, so there's zero reason not to show up.

Wednesday nights at Metropolitan belong to Cakes — a weekly dance floor takeover hosted by Mini Horrorwitz and Devo Monique, with DJs Horrorchata and Hannah Lou spinning. The draw? A Best Ass Contest that gets people on stage for free shots and a chance at a $25 bar tab. Cheap drinks ($3 PBR tall boys, $7 PBR/shot combos) and zero cover make it the kind of reliably fun midweek reset that keeps people coming back.

Amateur drag queens compete for judges' votes and a shot at the yearly Miss DRAGnet title—complete with cash prizes and serious bragging rights. Between performances, rotating guest DJs keep the dance floor packed. Think you've got what it takes? Hit up Merrie Cherry about getting in the competition.

Monthly hip-hop party where DJs Josh Sparber and Dicap keep the floor moving while Charlene brings the shows and surprises all night. No cover, late-night energy, exactly the kind of neighborhood spot moment that keeps people coming back.

Garry Hannon brings together some of NYC's sharpest queer comedians for a Tuesday night of stand-up that actually lands. $4 well drinks sweeten the deal. No cover, just laughs.

Metropolitan's Thursday lineup shifts week to week — sometimes it's a DJ set, sometimes live entertainment, sometimes something else entirely. The best way to know what's on is to call ahead or check their socials, but you can count on the garden being open, the crowd being welcoming, and the vibe being exactly what a neighborhood bar should be.