15 events for WLW in NYC worth going out for

Dyke Beer hosts a slew of dyke-centric events in Manhattan and Brooklyn, often on weeknights. Upcoming events include speed dating at Winemak’Her, a women-centric wine bar, queeraoke, happy hours and more.

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It’s Wednesday, which means plenty of cool queer women are packing into The Woods in Williamsburg. This long-standing party is beloved for the fun, diverse crowd it brings together. Folks of all ages, backgrounds and relationship statuses mingle while DJs play and drinks flow heavily. No cover.

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Leslie’s weekly parties rove through Brooklyn and Manhattan, featuring plenty of dancing, plus entertainment to help you unwind after a long week. Think drag performers, tarot readings, guest DJs and more. Mixers, markets, DJs and more keep Leslie’s pop-up events intriguing.

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Girl Social organizes all types of events each month, many of which don’t center around alcohol but do offer plenty of opportunities to mingle. Get-togethers include queer laser tag and bowling, queer-specific gallery walks, game nights, pool parties and more.

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This pop-up sapphic cocktail bar launched at members’ only club Ludlow House in 2023, and since relocated to Talea Beer Co.’s taprooms in Williamsburg and Cobble Hill and Pebble Bar in Rockefeller Center. Now, the roving event is taking up residency at Casino in Chinatown.  Reservations are recommended and bar seats are reserved for singles eager to mingle over martinis. 

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This intersectional queer film festival for women and trans folks hosts regular events including The L Word screenings, short film nights and more. Events aim to bring queer cinema lovers together and are often under $20 to attend (and sometimes include beer or marijuana brand partnerships). 

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The veteran lesbian party promoter has been organizing some of the city’s best weekend events and dance parties for over a decade. Themed events pop up in clubs, bars and venues across the city, with plenty of dancing and debauchery until the early morning hours.

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Events specifically for QTBIPOC include parties, game nights, karaoke, trap disco and speed dating for specific groups, like WLW 28-and-over.

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Update: The event is temporarily on hiatus so organizers can focus their energy on organizing for and supporting Gaza.

Running strong since 1998, Submit is NYC’s longest-running ink and play party by and for women and the trans community. The basement venue is certainly mysterious and sexy, and consent is of the highest priority for all attendees, who come in couples, groups and solo. 

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This monthly (and sometimes more frequently) pop-up dinner series often takes place inside a community member’s home, and is a great way to break bread and party with a group of food and drink-loving WLW. Tickets are sliding scale prices and often sell out quickly.  

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Las Reinas hosts several monthly events for the sapphic and queer community, including a monthly Latin night in Astoria, a bimonthly game night, and more parties and events for Pride and other special occasions.

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This monthly drag show at Ginger’s brings out an enthusiastic crowd to watch drag artists of all backgrounds and styles take the stage for lip sync performances, dancing, comedy and more. 

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Comedian Sophie Santos hosts a monthly variety show at The Bell House, welcoming queer female and nonbinary comics to entertain a like-minded audience. 

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Head to Park Slope every Thursday evening to take part in an age-old lesbian tradition: Crafting. From 6:30-9:30pm each week, crafters will work on their own projects or chip into community crafts, such as communal blankets or protest panners) while chatting and sharing artistic tips. Tickets are free and required, as are face masks, for safety.

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So technically New York’s professional women’s sports teams aren’t lesbian events. But with plenty of openly queer women on the court at New York Liberty games, on the field at Gotham FC games and on the ice at PWHL New York games, you know the crowds are full of women loving women cheering on their favorite athletes (or just in the stands for the ambiance). According to Reddit, these games are some of the best places in the whole city to meet lesbians.