A "Skip" Down Commercial Drive's Queer Memory Lane

A photo essay that revisits the infamous Joe's café and other Drive landmarks Photos and text by James Loewen / Xtra West / Monday, October 29, 2007

Jackie Crossland (ABOVE RIGHT) says the best coffee and friendliest ambiance on the Drive in the late '60s and early '70s was at the Bar Centrale, a coffee bar at 1st Ave and Commercial Dr that was welcoming to women, artists and theatre people. She still remembers an artist who, in 1977, bought men's suit vests from thrift stores and sewed elaborate button designs onto them. It was a very popular look. When Crossland attempted her own version of it, someone downtown remarked: "So, is that your East End dyke look?" For the complete story, go here.