Loading Zone   

One of St. Louis' longest standing gay clubs, the Loading Zone has stood the test of time and trends as many restaurants and shops in the surrounding Central West End neighborhood have come and gone. The Zone became the city's first video bar long before most in the Midwest had even heard of the movement, and given that they proudly call themselves a ''high tech hangout,'' VJs continue to entertain on a nightly basis as everything from showtunes to disco to modern day dance hits plays on the club's many TV screens. The club is kept extremely dark inside, so ordering a Big Daddy cocktail from the four-sided island bar almost seems like shady business, but there's still enough light to manage friendly competition on the dart boards, billiards and video game machines. Potential visitors will want to keep in mind that the Zone runs happy hour on well drinks and beer almost all the time.