Celebrating the Opening of FEMME Bar Worcester

In this special episode, Josh sits down with Danielle and Julie Spring, the fabulous wife duo and owners of FEMME. FEMME is a bar and grill for queer women at the center and a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ and "to all humans, who spread love and respect for our community."

FEMME is only one of 25 lesbian bars in the United States, and Danielle and Julie are determined to provide a fun, safe space for all LGBTQ+ people and their allies. Listen to learn about their inspiration for opening the bar, the challenges they faced along the way, and why their motto is “Be who you needed when you were younger.”

Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' gateway cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities.

Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org

Transcript

Joshua Croke (00:11):

Hello, Worcester and the world. You are listening to Public Hearing on WICN 90.5 FM Worcester's only NPR affiliate station, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm your host Joshua Croke, and on behalf of the Public Hearing team, we're so excited to be back with a new episode after a bit of a break, as we're working to bring you an all new season of Public Hearing focused on closing the digital divide and ensuring everyone in our communities has access to reliable internet, devices, and resources to learn how to effectively use these tools to access everything from healthcare to education, to job opportunities. In our upcoming seasons, we're exciting to be expanding our focus as a show, while Worcester is still the driving force behind why we're here to share information and opportunities to make our home city more equitable, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Joshua Croke (00:58):

We know there are a lot of similar challenges in communities across Massachusetts and the whole country, and people are doing some really great work to address issues related to housing, transportation, job access, healthcare, and more. Things that might influence our own action here in the heart of the Commonwealth. So get ready for new seasons of Public Hearing where we'll be expanding our focus and sharing stories across Massachusetts Gateway Cities, cities that share a similar history to Worcester, Lowell, Springfield, Pittsfield, New Bedford, the list goes on. We're also talking with folks nationwide about innovative and impactful efforts, addressing community challenges in ways that center equity, justice and joy. So tune in, hit that follow button wherever you listen to podcasts and help us spread the word. You can learn more about the show at publichearing.co. Okay, now let's dive into today's show. On this special episode, we are talking to the fabulous founders of Femme Bar, a new and proudly lesbian owned bar and grill, located at 62 Green Street in Worcester. And I'm so excited to introduce you to the awesome wife duo, Danielle and Julie, uh, Spring, who opened FEMME to be a community space for all queer women, and to all people who spread love and respect for the LGBTQ+ community. Danielle, Julie, welcome.

Danielle Spring (02:15):

Hi. Thank you for having us. 

Joshua Croke (02:15):

It's so great to have you here. So I'm gonna let one of you jump in and start with a little bit of the story of, I want to know about yourselves. Did you, did you both grow up in the Worcester area?

Julie Spring (02:28):

I grew up in Charlton. 

Danielle Spring (02:28):

I grew up, uh, born and raised in Worcester, so I only left for college and then I came back. I missed it.

Joshua Croke (02:34):

Okay, awesome. So tell me your- a bit of your story. What led you on this journey to-to FEMME?

Julie Spring (02:42):

Um, it actually probably started with Covid, actually. Danielle and I were home. We both have jobs where we weren't working, so she went down like a bad rabbit hole on TikTok because she was losing her mind being at home. And she started researching lesbian owned businesses. That's how it started to begin with. And when she was on the trail of lesbian owned businesses, she started figuring out that there wasn't very many lesbian bars in the country. So then that went down a totally different rabbit hole of lesbian bars. And I think at the time there was 17 or 

Danielle Spring (03:13):

17, it was less than 20. 

Julie Spring (03:15):

In the whole country, which is just wild to us. So she started like researching where they were, like which one was the closest to us. And there was two in New York and we go to New York every year for Danielle's birthday. And that's really how like it started. We went and went to the Cubby Hole, which is in New York, in Manhattan area, kind of, or no, near Chelsea maybe. 

Danielle Spring (03:34):

Yeah. 

Julie Spring (03:35):

And we went there for a night and we had the best time of our lives and it's just a small place and it's just a bar. Like they don't have food, they don't have anything, but the vibes there are just unreal. And on our way home from New York, that trip, that's when it like started like fruition. We were like, we need that. We were actually on the phone with your sister, actually, on the way home from that trip, and she was like, you guys need to bring that home. That sounds awesome. And we all- that's what when it started. 

Danielle Spring (04:00):

Yeah. Yeah. It was really, my sister was the driving force. Um, so yeah.

Joshua Croke (04:05):

Beautiful. Beautiful. And tell me more of-of that, that story and like the, so lesbian TikTok, COVID opening of FEMME. And I have to say for folks who, who are listening who did not see the opening, like I walked by and just Instagrammed it. I was like, I'm not getting in this line is so long <laugh>. It was amazing. And it was like down the block and around the corner, um, ou- people were waiting hours to get in and that energy's kept up. Now that you've been open for a few weeks, so Danielle, tell me about what that's been like.

Danielle Spring (04:40):

It's unreal. I, I've grown up in Worcester. The queer space hasn't always been as accepted as it is today. And so I'm older, so I didn't realize that we were gonna have the response we have. And I'm so thankful that there's so many people that support this. Straight allies, uh, and everybody in the queer community. And I could not be more grateful and, and happy to support the community that I've always wanted to be a part of. So I'm super, super stoked that people are traveling to come here and people that live here are supporting us the way they are. I think they've made it a, a rule that they're gonna keep us open, which is really, really nice.

Joshua Croke (05:12):

Yeah, I, and I love that and it's, you know, there's been so many stories of like bar and restaurant closures in like the Canal District area, and I was having this conversation with some folks the other day about like the, there are stacked and intersectional reasons as to why that is. But to see a new place open that has such an outpouring of love, I think that's what really fuels these spaces. You know, I always use the example of like over COVID time. Like what were the places you were thinking that you wanted to still be there afterwards? You know, and one of those places for me and my partner was Redemption Rock Brewing. 

Danielle Spring (05:49):

Yeah

Julie Spring (05:49):

Yes. 

Joshua Croke (05:50):

Because it's like those folks became, it was more than a physical place, right? It was an ecosystem. It was an environment, it was a community. There was love and support. And so we were like, we need to go pick up our, you know, six pack curbside regularly so that we're supporting the local, local business. And you just felt that love and that energy and like, as someone who's been involved in like the queer Worcester scene for a good, probably like a decade now, um, since I've been here. There-you just feel that energy. Like people want it. And you also see people that I've never met before. And so you're also creating an opening space where I think folks are feeling comfortable to come out.

Julie Spring? (06:34):

Definitely. There's actually, it's funny you say that. There's been a few people, like in the community that like, I know and every time they come they're like, I've never seen any of these people out before. Like, where are all these people coming from? And I'm like, honestly, I don't know. Like I, and we have different people every night. It seems like we have like 

Danielle Spring (06:48):

It's a variety of people. 

Julie Spring (06:49):

Yeah. 

(Danielle Spring 06:50):

Like, it's like the whole spectrum. It's so beautiful. And like the room, cuz it's not a big place, but it's big enough. It's, there's so much love. It's just amazing to see the amount of love that's in this community and that like, it's just show- they're showing out in Worcester and it's like, it's, I'm-I'm honored to be a part of it 

Julie Spring (07:04):

And they're just so happy. 

Danielle Spring (07:05):

Yeah. 

Julie Spring (07:06):

Like I've never gotten so many people that are just like, thank you for opening this space. And I'm like, no, thank you for being here. Like, we wouldn't be here without you, like coming to support us. So it's amazing, like really the outpouring of love that everybody has that even the city itself, like other businesses on, um, Green Street as well. Like everybody is just so, has been very, very kind and welcoming to us.

Joshua Croke (07:25):

I know, I'm pretty sure that every time I’m at FEMME I see Sean from The Sundown and I, every time I'm at the sundown I see one of you <laugh>. So it's, I love the little, like the street love. Right, right around

Danielle Spring (07:37):

There's a lot of street love. I I love all of our neighbors, especially like Tommy from Mai Tai’s. He's, he's amazing and he loves the community just as much. So Thank you. Tommy <laugh>.

Joshua Croke (07:46):

Yeah, shout out to Tommy <laugh> and I have to, as a designer and someone who loves like interiors and design and art and things like that, I have to give you guys a shout out cuz the space looks amazing too. And I know that you, Julie did a lot of the like imagining and the work in there. So talk to me about just like creating an environment that is like, it was primed to welcome in the community.

Julie Spring (08:09):

Yeah, I definitely wanted it to feel homey. Like, um, I don't, I don't really know where that came from. Maybe like my parents, like, we always had a house that felt like home. Like whenever you came into my mom- go into my mom's house, like, it doesn't matter who you are, like, you just feel like you're at home. And I was telling Danielle, like, our house is the same way. And I was like, I want people to come in here and feel like, okay, like we can hang out here. Like it's comfortable. But the idea was in my head, like, I don't know where I got this like, vision from, from it, but I knew what I wanted and the only thing Danielle wanted was pink chairs. That was her only requirement. She was like, I want pink chairs. So I was like, okay, what can I do with pink chairs?

Julie Spring (08:46):

So I had this like, aesthetic brewing in my head and everybody that we met with while we were trying to like, get this off the ground, like basically like said no to my ideas. Everybody was like, no, that's not gonna work. And they talked some nonsense to me, <laugh> <laugh> really trying to get me to change my mind, trying to get me to go with a different color scheme. And I was like, no. And I remember like one night I was, I was like really upset about it and I was like crying to Danielle and I was like, it's up here. And I was like, I know you guys don't trust me. I was like, but it's here. Like I know what I want and I know what's gonna do. And she was like, just do it then just like figure it out and we'll do it.

Julie Spring (09:18):

And I would like to give a shout out to one of my other friends, Danielle, I know common name in my life, <laugh>. But, um, she helped me a lot and she came through for me and she was one of my only friends that like really showed up for me like every Monday. And she helped me hang everything on the wall. She helped me paint things that needed to be painted, like helped me do the bathroom. She helped me a lot with everything. So 

Danielle Spring (09:39):

Don’t forget, forget John too. John did a ton

Julie Spring (09:41):

John did all of our, like 

Danielle Spring (09:43):

John did all of our construction. 

Julie Spring (09:44):

Construction work 

Danielle Spring (09:45):

Like really small projects, but he did everything on like, they were the only three working in the space other than I had an uncle that painted the entire room. Um, but it was just basically the four of them that did all the work in there. And I would just show up and be like, what you do today 

Julie Spring (09:57):

Yep.

Speaker 1 (09:57):

<laugh> Beautiful. And, and I love like black ceilings. Black walls. 

Julie Spring (10:02):

Yes. 

Joshua Croke (10:03):

Gold, pink accents and like unashamedly queer, right.

Julie & Danille (10:06):

Yes

Joshua Croke (10:07):

Like the, the art on the walls and you know, got to shout out Janessa.

Julie Spring (10:12):

Oh my God, Janessa, yes.

Joshua Croke (10:13):

Yeah. And talk to me about the mural, the inspiration, the, it's stunning.

Julie Spring (10:18):

So for the mural itself, we knew we wanted something and we were teeter tottering on different like ideas. But I umm am a big like mythology fan I guess so. And I really wanted a Medusa head. Like I knew what I wanted, I knew what, but it was just a matter of like figuring it out, like what we were gonna do with it. So then we met with Janessa and I showed her a picture. I just kind of gave her like an idea. I was like, something like this. And she was like, no, I got you. Like, tell me what colors you want. Tell me what you're thinking. And she just had so many good ideas that like we were gonna tie into it. And then with the mural too, Danielle's sister had passed away last year, so we wanted to make sure we tied her in.

Julie Spring (10:57):

We were gonna tie her in somewhere into the bar, but we just didn't know how. And Janessa was like, let's put her in the mural. And Janessa really went like above and beyond. Like if you look at it, there's a name necklace on it and that it's Danielle's sister, exact name necklace and like her name earrings. And she's, if you like, look, there's like things hidden in the mural itself too. There's like a double-headed snake because she was a Gemini and she just, I don't know, Janessa just really like went out of her way to make it like special for Danielle and her family. And she even put like all the signs of like different symbols for like women and different symbols in the queer community that are super important. She hit it. So there's a lot of little Easter eggs that are like hidden in the mural, which is very, very cool. Like there's a very, very sentimental cool thing.

Joshua Croke (11:39):

It's a beautiful tribute to have in the space.

Speaker 2 (11:42):

Anybody who knew Dianté comes and looks at it and they're like, yes. Like they just smile and they see it because they can't help it. Like it's a strong, beautiful black woman just staring down at everybody in that bar. <laugh> <laugh>.

Joshua Croke (11:57):

Yes. Holding court at FEMME. Holding Court at FEMME.

Danielle Spring (11:59):

Definitely, definitely. Yeah. To me that's what FEMME like signifies is, is the mural itself is just like, that's what FEMME is to me. It's not like it's just this female energy. It's all, doesn't matter if you're masc, doesn't matter if you're femme, it doesn't matter if you're a queer man. We all have that feminine energy that's just like we're staring down at you. And I, I love that. So thank you Janessa <laugh>. Thank you.

Joshua Croke (12:24):

Yes. Shout out to Janessa. So on the back of your staff shirts it says, be who you needed to be when you were younger. And I'm pretty sure I like to teared up when I first came in and saw that on the shirt. So talk to me about the importance of like that message.

Julie Spring (12:38):

That was actually all Danielle, 

Danielle Spring (12:40):

I, I only did a couple things and I did the pink chairs <laugh>, I did the pink lights and I did the backs of the shirts. Um, again, I'm older so I know when I was younger it was kind of like taboo to be a lesbian. So I didn't have anyone I could look up to. So for me, as I grew up, I wanted to become someone that younger people who don't have someone to look up to, could look up to. So for me it was really important that our staff is that as well. So that's where that came from. Be who you needed when you were younger. I think that's really important. And I think that a lot of our clientele when they see that they, they that clicks for them and they're like, yeah, let's do that. So I uh, yeah. I love, I love that. But a lot of people are like yelling at us for shirts and we'll get there. <laugh>

Joshua Croke (13:23):

Yeah. <laugh> Merch coming soon.

Danielle Spring (13:24):

Yeah. Yes. Exactly. 

Julie Spring (13:25)

Absolutely. Actually.

Joshua Croke (13:26):

Amazing. Well I can't wait to rep FEMME <laugh>. Uh, absolutely. And, and that message is so powerful and it's so important and I think, you know, maybe it's, it doesn't even need to be said now, given the unfortunate climate of the country with these anti-trans bills and anti-drag legislation that we're seeing. And, um, I think folks and you know, running a LGBTQ nonprofit Love Your Labels. Like I have a lot of conversations with folks in the community who are like, you know, thank God we're in Massachusetts and I'm like both yes, and, right. 

Julie Spring (13:59)

Yeah. 

Joshua Croke (14:00)

Like yes. And like we are not immune to the hate that is growing Yeah. Across the country. And, you know, we've had to even be more considerate of community safety and considerations with our own drag story time program and other things that we have going on. And I've had people say to me like, cuz I had a conversation a few years back with someone about like how there aren't many queer spaces and folks are like, isn't that maybe like a good sign that just more spaces are now more welcoming and accepting and inclusive. And I'm like, I have an expectation that space I walk into, especially public space, should be inclusive and welcoming. But there is something very different about space being made for you and your community and

Julie Spring (14:45):

Sometimes they don't get it cuz every space is made for them <laugh>. So it's like when everything's made for you and you don't see it, sometimes you don't, you don't know things unless you've experienced it for yourself. And sometimes I think a lot of the times, like they don't, they just don't know because they, they don't get that feeling of, okay, am I gonna be okay in here? Or am I gonna feel uncomfortable or is someone gonna stare at us? Or whatever it may be like however you feel. And like, they just don't, sometimes people just don't know. And. 

Danielle Spring (15:13)

I grew up, um, I went to a private school that was, I was one of very few minorities, um, and I grew up around a lot of people that didn't look like me, didn't have the same sexuality as me. And because of their experiences that they've seen through my eyes, they get it. So I think it's important for a lot of people to step outside of themselves and start to, it's, it's real easy to look at the world through your own eyes.

Danielle Spring (15:35):

It's tough to look at it through someone else's eyes. So I think as people start to really recognize, I mean we've had some, we have straight employees that are now seeing like how important this space is. And it's really like, it's so touching cuz they're like, you know, we're in this fight with you, we get it now. And it's important for people to take that step outside of themselves and just look at it and go, okay, well maybe every safe, every space isn't for everybody. But congratulations that you've made a space to make some people feel really good about themselves.

Joshua Croke (16:00):

Absolutely. And I think the thing that I just, I've fallen more in love with the community like every day, you know, and because 

Danielle Spring (16:07):

Absolutely 

Joshua Croke (16:08):

How expansive it is and how beautiful and really just like the energy of the queer community, I think overall is this welcome invitation to everybody to like explore your own difference. Cuz like, everyone holds that, right? Like, and I've seen folks who are straight allies who have come into like, queer spaces and they just see people living authentically. And then like you see 'em and you're like, okay, I see that hat you're wearing or that vest you pulled out that you would not have been wearing a few weeks ago. And it like, is this invitation to like open oneself up to exploring like who we really are outside of like, narratives that we're told, like how we should be who, who, what we should act like, et cetera, you know?

Julie Spring (16:55):

I think that's probably one of my favorite parts so far of like actually being in the business. Cause I'm there every day, so I see like different people come in all day long and like just seeing like people feeling so comfortable to be there and act however they wanna act and dress however they want. And everyone's just so kind anyway. But like you can tell people are comfortable and like, they're just happy. Like they're smiling. And even with our staff, some of our staff hasn't been maybe treated the best at other jobs or, or whatnot, but like, they're so comfortable to be in their own skin at FEMME and like they come and they come and drag like to work and I'm just like, yes. Like let's do this. Like get it. Like, and I just love that they're, I just love that feeling that they're so comfortable. Like at FEMME. Yeah. I can't say anything. Like, I just love it. <laugh>,

Joshua Croke (17:41):

What are some of the things like as you know, business owners now who open this space on your journey to like, doing that? Like what are are some things that you would share with folks who might be like, oh that's a dream of mine to like open a space for the community. Like what were some of the challenges? What were some of the things that you learned that maybe like you didn't expect as you went through this journey? So

Danielle Spring (18:04):

It's tricky cuz I've already owned a bar a long time ago. So there were a lot of things that I was prepared for. Um, luckily I think, um, but I would say stick to your guns. If you feel a certain way and you wanna open up a certain way, don't let anybody talk you out of it. Because a lot of other people that are vendors, that are distributors, they've never seen a space like this, so they can't grasp it. So stick with what you wanna do, do it your way. Don't be told anything different. 

Julie Spring (18:28):

Yeah, definitely. If I changed my mind, it wouldn't be the space it was. And be friends with your, your city. People in the city are so helpful and they might have a bad [unintelligible], but anyone I encountered in the city, especially for like paperwork.

Julie Spring (18:43):

So I've never done this before. Danielle has I to do a lot of paperwork and I messed up a lot of paperwork and so much paperwork that as soon as I walked into the offices, sometimes they're like, Hey, Julie <laugh>, they knew who I was, I messed up and they were nothing but kind to me. And they helped me every step of the way. So I can't say enough. Like be friendly with them. Like, don't be mean with them. Like they really are here to help you and they really want to like, see your business, like succeed. Like they were even helping me with things I forgot. Like I didn't, or maybe I just didn't even know because I've never opened a business before. Mm-hmm. And they were like, no, you gotta fill this out too and you gotta do this. So I got a lot of help from, from the city.

Joshua Croke (19:20):

That's great

Danielle Spring (19:21):

Thank you. City of Worcester. 

Julie Spring (19:22)

Yeah. <laugh>.

Joshua Croke (19:23):

Shout out. Shout out, shout outs. I love it. And what were some of the, the obstacles, you know, as, as two queer women, I imagine there were obstacles.

Julie Spring (19:34):

It's a, it's a boys' game. 

Danielle Spring (19:35):

It’s a boys club. 

Julie Spring (19:36)

That’s what it is a boys club

Danielle Spring (19:37)

And it's, it's a, it's a particular boys' club and it's very, a lot of the vendors are the same type of boy. Um, and they talk down to us, they talk through us, they see through us. 

Jelie Spring (19:48):

They don't think we're the owners. A lot of the times they’ll walk right past us

Danielle Spring (19:51)

They'll walk past us to our kitchen staff and talk to them and I'm like, Hey, <laugh>, we're here. We, we pay your bills. <laugh>. But, uh, that, that's probably been the hardest part is just getting them to understand like, Hey, we're here and you're gonna have to talk to us differently. We're not the, we're not the good old boys. You're gonna have to treat us different. You're gonna have to work on our terms. And I, I don't, I put my foot down, I'm just like, we're gonna do it our way.

Danielle Spring (20:15):

That's how, that's how this is gonna go. It's our space. So. 

Julie Spring (20:18):

And getting the vendors to understand that it's a, a woman owned business and it's, um, targeted to women, or not even just women like, but it's predominantly like in their jobs. Like maybe bars are more geared towards 

Danielle Spring (20:31):

The sports bar. 

Julie Spring (20:32):

Yeah. Sports bar. So it's like more men. So like getting them to change their thinking of like, 

Danielle Spring (20:35):

It's been fun. 

Julie Spring (20:36):

Like what would a woman drink? Or like, what, what would you like if you went out? So getting a different perspective is, has been very difficult. 

Danielle Spring (20:42):

Shout out to the female distributors we have. They've been amazing. 

Julie Spring (20:45)

Yes. 

Danielle Spring (20:46)

And there's not enough of them. I wanna say that to all these beer companies, liquor companies get more women, you will sell more product. <laugh>. 

Joshua Croke (20:55):

Yes. Yes. That's amazing. And, and the, you know, this is my, I'm a nerd for cities and like community building and these environments, like, not to continue like going back to how you've built out the space, but, um, I talk about that as like third spaces, right? It's like, not your home, not your workplace, but it's like where you choose to spend your time. And like, those are incredibly important spaces and there's, there's like a veil or a, maybe even just a perceived barrier lifted when you walk into a space that is like, so centering queer identity to like, be able to open up dialogue and conversation with folks, right. And like, as a queer non-binary person myself, like sitting at the bar at FEMME, like knowing that I can like most likely turn to the person sitting at the bar next to me and just like, be myself and like, just have a conversation and just like, uh, know that it's not gonna be like my identity's gonna be attacked or it's gonna be some very awkward thing. Which, which definitely still happens places, you know, it's like, it's just so, so incredible. And so as we're talking about like relationship building and like cultivating that, like what are some of the the future plans of, of Femme, I know you have live music at the space, you've talked about events and. What's the future, what's the, what's, I know you're still right at the beginning, <laugh>, but I'm like, let's talk about where you, where your vision is gonna take you.

Danielle Spring (22:25):

I'm, I'm gonna just jump in like the way you're talking about sitting at the bar. It's so funny. I was talking to my grandma today. She came in for brunch and I was saying how the space is unlike anything I've ever seen where I've never heard so many thank yous. Excuse me. I'm so sorry for stepping on you. And just so much love, um, at the bar when we're packed and it's elbow to elbow, like, it's amazing to see that. So I'm, I'm so glad you feel safe there too. It it, it makes me so like happy. Uh, but back to events, that's Julie <laugh> <laugh>. 

Julie Spring (22:53):

Uh we're hoping to start events in April actually. We have like a few things we wanna do, um, like a drag brunch and we wanna do a drag, but like, more importantly, I wanna focus on drag king brunch or maybe a drag king night.

Julie Spring (23:05):

We're really looking forward to do that because there's, there's not a lot of spaces that do drag kings, which is funny because I grew up like seeing them on TV such like L Word. Like one of the first times I ever saw a drag king was on the L Word and I was like, obsessed ever since, and Danielle's like, you're wild <laugh>. Like, it's not like, it's just a, it's a very cool thing and I think we should have more of that in the city, but that, that will come too. 

Danielle Spring (23:26)

But let's talk about your book club. 

Julie Spring (23:28)

Oh yeah, no, I'm getting there.

Joshua Croke (23:29):

Ooh, yes. Book club.

Julie Spring (23:30):

Book club. Yes. So I'm an avid reader. Um, I've always wanted to be a part of a book club, but they're kind of like, I don't know, I guess you have, 

Danielle Spring (23:38)

It's hard, 

Julie Spring (23:39)

It's hard to find one or hard to even just like get into one. So one of my friends, Matt, he is actually doing a lot of our events and helping us out and he works for some authors and stuff like that and sets up events for them. So he's gonna be taking control and doing like a, setting up a book club for us, which I'm really, really excited about. And I told him that I wanted to do a free library. That's what we have at FEMME as well. And he was the one that like helped me get like a free library box. He was very excited as soon as I told him. So I'm very excited to do a book club and I think it's gonna be on the second Tuesday of every month we're gonna hold a book club. 

Joshua Croke (24:13)

Awesome. 

Julie Spring (24:14)

So that's something exciting. Yeah. And maybe some we're still in the works of this, but maybe some youth nights.

Joshua Croke (24:21):

Yes. Yes.

Joshua Croke (24:23):

I would love to explore this. 

Danielle Spring (24:25):

Absolutely. I think that's important though. You know,

Joshua Croke (24:27):

It is.

Danielle Spring (24:28):

It's important that they see a space like that cuz we, I don't know about you, but I didn't get to see that when I was a kid and I think that would've been important. So.

Joshua Croke (24:35):

Oh, huge. Huge. 

Danielle Spring (24:36)

We wanna make sure we, you know, we include those that need to be included.

Joshua Croke (24:40):

Yeah. And and the, the piece of like, and this goes kind of my own lived experience, but also something that we observe in a lot of like cities and communities, like a lot of queer young people want to like, make it to the, the bigger cities where they see the, the queer scenes so like vibrant and, and thriving, right? And it's like we know how many folks are all over the world, right? And all over this country and every town and every city. And we don't build our environments to really nurture and support that and also help queer folks connect with each other. You know? And that's something even in what I would still consider Worcester as a very growing and developing like queer scene and queer community and folks are coming out now and connecting at places like FEMME and at, you know, events like the drag story time we do at Redemption Rock, and it's like, how long have you lived in the city? They're like, my whole life. And I'm like, I've been here 12 years, how have we not met? You know? And so creating that space is so important and showing our young people, especially like, you can stay in this community if you want, and you'll be loved and accepted and embraced and you can like, participate and be involved in the stuff going on.

Danielle Spring (25:58):

Absolutely. Uh, another thing last night, uh, there were some people, they told me they were in their thirties, but they, they then whispered that they were in their seventies <laugh>. They're looking for, um, an older group too, that we would be able to hold older group events. So I think we're gonna look into that because there's a lot of them. They didn't, they never got to experience this either when they were younger. So they're all coming out now and there's a couple that that told me that they're single and they can't wait to mingle. And I'm excited to provide that space for the older crowd too. 

Julie Spring (26:26):

Oh, you're saying that we're gonna do speed dating too? 

Danielle Spring (26:27):

Yeah. <laugh>, 

Julie Spring (26:30):

I like that. Made me think of that. Yeah. Yeah. 

Joshua Croke (26:32):

Amazing

Danielle Spring (26:32):

There's, there's a lot of stuff coming. We, we have a calendar on our website, um, and if everybody wants to just, you know, it, it's not updated yet, but we will update it probably the first week of April with the events we get coming up and then just keep an eye on it.

Joshua Croke (26:45):

Amazing. Well, I can't believe we're already at the end of our time. Um, it, Julie, Danielle, it's so amazing to chat with you about FEMME. Uh, I'm a super fan as you know, and if listeners, if you haven't been yet, make sure to check out FEMME, um, you can follow, uh, what's going on at femme on their Instagram @femmebarworcester and their website, femmebarworcester.com. Thank you for listening to Public Hearing, our podcast and radio show that airs Wednesdays at 6:00 PM on WICN 90.5 fm Worcester's only NPR affiliate Station and can be heard wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show seeks to amplify stories of community efforts working toward equity, justice, and joy across Worcester, Massachusetts, Gateway Cities and the Nation. I'm your host, Joshua Croke, founder of Action! by Design, a mission-driven consultancy supporting community and economic development through the transformative power of creative arts, media, and design. Learn more about our work, including this show Public Hearing at actionbydesign.co. Our audio producer is Giuliano D’Orazio, who also made our show music. Thank you to Kelly Kosiorek and Jack Tripp, who also support the production of this show. As always, the work continues folks. Thanks for listening.