I used to drop in to Stages on Sunday nights. I was living downtown but would often have Sunday dinner with the family up in North Toronto to keep in touch. My dad sometimes insisted on driving me back downtown afterwards. Rather than taking me all the way to Bloor at Bathurst, where I lived, I’d get him to drop me at Bloor/Yonge. I was recently out, but not to my family, and he was somewhat puzzled by the request, but I think he had an idea what was going on.

I’d arrive about 11:30 just after the doors opened. I recall a bbigit white rattan chair just before you entered the main room. Queens would sometimes flirt with it. It would be pretty quiet for an hour, but that gave me time to pick up the vibe and dance on my own a bit. I was intensely shy back then.

The place was always packed once the restaurants closed. I assumed that much of the clientele worked in the service industry. Some great tunes. I especially liked the funky numbers!

I’d head home at about 4AM.. usually did the walk home soaked in sweat and stinking of… cough cough… cigarette smoke.

Sad to say but I’m sure most of the people I knew there are long dead.

Thanks Denise for the blast from the past… and thanks for playing my requests (sometimes)

xo