Despite having the word “crush” in its name, Crush Hour isn’t about speed dating. It’s about community. The new happy hour, with its first event on July 19, is creating a safe space for LGBTQ women across the city to come together, enjoy a drink, and connect.
This isn’t the first LGBTQ mixer to pop up in Pittsburgh. The group of queer women who started Crush Hour — Elena Tyler, Kristin Fezar, Ashley Durham, Cassie Lloyd, Emily King, and Mary DeMino — mention Impulse Pittsburgh, a dance party for the LGBTQ community and allies, and iCandy, an organization that gives the queer community unique ways to meet and mingle. But there hasn’t been a queer women’s happy hour since 2014, when Lez Liquor Hour held its last event.
The six collective members (they point out that any word could be used to describe this group; the members don’t have an official label), are a mix of backgrounds and ages, united by a mutual desire to revive a long-gone happy hour for the city’s queer women.
Though they have all loved and attended events from other LGBTQ community organizations, they knew that they deserved “all the options” possible. Crush Hour was created to give queer women another social spot.
“In a time where queer spaces are closing up shop, and the most viable ways to meet someone new is through an app or playing a sport, we really need and deserve as many choices as possible,” said the Crush Hour organizers.
Their motto is simple: “Good Vibes. Great City. Gorgeous Women.” There’s no pressure to meet anyone; the collective just wants “queer women to feel safe, make new friends, and have a drink together after a long week.” Bring a crew and meet people outside of your normal social circle. All are welcome.
The first Crush Hour will be held at Ace Hotel in East Liberty. In addition to drink specials, the gym will be open and set up for games.
Eventually, the collective members are hoping to add a philanthropic component to their happy hours. Crush Hour doesn’t profit from their events (there’s no cover or bar cut). They want to become a supportive channel for other similarly minded charities and organizations across the city.
There’s no limit to what the future brings for Crush Hour. Looking forward, the collective wants to move past “social drinking” and into other events. But for now and through the summer, they’re sticking with happy hours.
