Angela Barnes & Renauda Riddle
As Black queer women, long-time friends Angela Barnes (l) and Renauda Riddle (r) know what it’s like to be in uncomfortable and unwelcoming spaces. Armed with a vision to create a space where all women on the LGBTQ+ spectrum feel welcome and valued, the pair combined their skills and experiences to open Nobody’s Darling, a Black-owned, women- centered cocktail bar in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. “We wanted to be inclusive because we have felt so excluded [in the past],” they tell GO. Nobody’s Darling clientele are primarily queer women, but all are welcome. Barnes is a corporate lawyer, risk management and compliance professional, and a lifelong Southside Chicagoan. Having stood at the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation herself, she advocates for underserved communities through her work. Riddle, a financial auditor, has dedicated much of her life to serving marginalized communities. She’s been creating queer pop-up events for the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago for more than a decade, and she currently serves on three non-profit boards in the city. She’s also a self-proclaimed cocktail snob, which is reflected in the Nobody’s Darling cocktail menu; their elevated versions of classic cocktails are sure to impress. With lesbian bars across the nation closing, this upbeat, comfortable bar provides a much-needed space for queer women to relax and enjoy great cocktails with friends. “We want to be a best-in-class cocktail venue that continues to be a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community,” Barnes and Riddle say. “Our goal is to do our best to have fun and make a positive impact.” –LC
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