The Eagle’s Nest, later known simply as The Eagle, was one of New York City’s most crucial leather and Levi bars, and a cornerstone of queer nightlife history.
Opened in 1970 on West 21st Street, The Eagle’s Nest was unapologetically masculine, communal, and sex-positive. Known for its beer busts, rooftop, dark corners, and no-frills attitude, it drew a devoted crowd of leather men, bikers, and regulars who valued authenticity over spectacle. This was a place built on presence, ritual, and connection, not performance.
The Eagle’s Nest mattered because it created space. It offered freedom, camaraderie, and continuity at a time when queer visibility came with real risk. This shirt honors a bar that helped define leather culture in New York City and left a lasting mark on queer history.
