Ravens

I have a lot of friends (both gay and straight) who have enjoyed going here over the years and I finally checked it out right before graduation. Unfortunately, I never made it to a drag show, but I DID make it to karaoke night. The singers were mostly Lawrence students in the Conservatory, so they sounded amazing!

I can't speak for the drinks there because I don't drink. The atmosphere was dark and there were a lot of clumps of people hanging around. It seemed like there was a huge divide: students by the tables and townies by the bar. I don't know if this is typical, but I sort of wish it was more integrated.

I would definitely come here again, but I'm not going to beg my friends, "We HAVE to go to Raven's on our trip down the Ave!"

Note: I know they closed and then re-opened with some changes, so keep in mind that I reviewed before that happened.

This place popped up my junior year in college circa 2003 when the Av was starting its trendy makeover. This place should be 5 block over with the rest of the young, hip cluby bars.

It was a gay bar for awhile and every dude is pretty metro there. It feels like it's trying hard to be a NY or LA sceney place.

Used to have some friends who knew Howie when he tried to act like the owner and scam on girls 10 years younger than him.

A decent option that is something different in A town.

Drinks are pricier than most of its neighbors. Come here already drunk to hit on the closest thing to models Appleton has to offer.

Raven's is okay.  The staff is friendly, makes drinks that are above average, not too much alcohol, not to little, decent knowledge on how to mix different drinks.  The bar itself is pretty nice, usually very clean, unless its busy and too many drinks get spilled, where doesn't that happen though?  The biggest downfall of this place is owner or co-owner, not sure, Jared.  If he likes you he can be nice, otherwise he completely ignores you and acts very unprofessional and immature.  The DJ is VERY good though!  He plays a great mix of music.  If you requests songs, don't forget to tip they DJ, the deserve tips too!  And you're more likely to get what you want played as well.  Then and in the future.  I still go.  I'll get drinks if I don't see Jared around, otherwise I avoid the bar so I don't have to deal with his negative energy.  Who wants to go out for a night and fun and deal with that, especially from the owner?  Otherwise this place would be a 4 or 4.5.

As for being called bitter.  Just take a look at all my reviews.  I'm not afraid to say when something is not great, but almost half of my reviews are five star.  I'm a pragmatist, I see good and bad in everything.  I try to celebrate as much of the good as possible, but it does not mean I will ignore shortcomings either.  It's not like I blasted the place.  Like I said it's not a terrible place, its actually decent.  But when you have to face judgmental attitudes from within your own community, after facing it day after day from the rest of society, and then ask society not to judge you and keep and open mind, isn't that hypocrisy?