135 Pearl   

135 Pearl St.
Burlington, VT 5401
802-863-2343
www.135pearl.com

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The Pearl, as it's known to locals, is the gay bar that everyone goes to. Its a popular dance spot, with a dance floor downstairs that opens four days a week and a main bar upstairs that stays open all the time. The main bar is intimate, comfortable and even a little rustic, with natural wood ceiling beams and wooden tables, chairs and benches. The walls are decorated with art that is either for sale or designed to promote a local exhibition. There is a pool table, with free pool on Mondays; and behind the bar, there are three Vermont microbrews on tap and a variety of local and national brands in bottles. The place starts hopping on Wednesdays, when the downstairs opens for karaoke. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays a DJ plays dance music.The Pearls capacity often stretches to fit in herds of partiers who crowd in for the eclectic assortment of acts downstairs, ranging from drag shows to jazz, blues or new age folk music. Often the Pearl will throw up a tent for a party in the parking lot -- usually to honor a specific event, such as the annual Gay Pride Day. But sometimes its just for the hell of it. --Jeff Custer