Francesca Hoffman ’05

The Hudson Valley just got a lot more fun, and it’s thanks to Francesca Hoffman ’05. In April, Hoffman opened Unicorn Bar, a queer-forward performance venue, bar and eatery in Kingston, N.Y. “I got tired of ad hoc getting together; I wanted to give the queer community a permanent home,” she says. “The community here has grown significantly in the last few years, especially since the pandemic, and I guess I was the only person crazy or ballsy enough to try to make it happen.”

Hoffman moved to the Hudson Valley seven years ago and got to know the area through a beverage tour company she founded, which took groups to local wineries, breweries and distilleries. She had visited the space that Unicorn Bar now occupies in its previous incarnation, but it had been vacant for four years when she started negotiations to move in.

In the short time it’s been open, Unicorn Bar has proven popular. Hoffman hosts a variety of events to appeal to diverse crowds — she notes, “We’re queer forward and queer run, but not queer exclusive; we’re hetero friendly!” Events so far have included Honky Tonk night, live piano singalongs, karaoke, a cumbia salsa performance, burlesque night and other dance parties. It also hosts weddings and other private events.

“I really see Kingston and the Hudson Valley becoming more of a queer destination,” Hoffman says. “There’s definitely been an ‘If you build it, they will come’ kind of thing. Now those who are thinking about moving here will know that there is a space for them.”

— Anne-Ryan Sirju JRN’09