The space allows them to stick to their original vision of having two distinct areas-a daytime cafe and nighttime lounge on the first floor and an upstairs dance boutique open to patrons 18 and older. They sat on a panel at the Library of Congress in October following a screening of the 20-minute film. Catch them in The Lesbian Bar Project, a documentary that captures efforts to support and protect what lesbian bars remain in the U.S. They’ve stayed busy finding a place of their own since leaving their old jobs. McDaniel and Pike met working at A League of Her Own in Adams Morgan. “They can’t ignore us if we’re next to their offices.” “We’ll have access to legislators,” McDaniel continues. Being in Southeast has less of a pay wall.” It’s inundated and has some inaccessibility issues mostly to do with money. “We wanted to stay out of the west side of town. “Being a block off the Eastern Market Metro stop makes us accessible to people who don’t drive or don’t have money to Uber,” McDaniel says. It replaces District Soul Food and Banana Cafe at 500 8th St. The bar, named for the Nirvana song, is bound for Barracks Row. The ink just dried on the couple’s lease. It’s been almost eight months since partners Jo McDaniel and Rach Pike set out to find a home for their queer dance bar and cafe, As You Are Bar.
