twenty-something

This week's Seven Days has a tiny little brief about 135 Pearl, Burlington's one true gay bar, and it's current struggle to stay alive.

TOUGH TIMES
Long-running nightclub 135 Pearl is on the market, but owners Craig Mitchell and Robert Toms are doing everything in their power to keep the establishment open. "This past year has hit us really hard, with the smoking ban and the slower economy," says Mitchell. "Things are not what they used to be."

Despite the difficulties, Toms says that staying "creative and positive" is of utmost importance in generating capital.

The venue has lately been home to a diverse range of entertainment, from the "What the Folk?" series to theater productions such as Hedwig & the Angry Inch. Mitchell and Toms are now turning to the community to keep the club alive, asking Burlingtonians to stop by for a drink and a dance. "I am committed to this community," says Toms. "I do not want to see this wonderful place disappear."