Thursday Night Out in NYC: The Case for Starting the Weekend in Woodside

A Thursday night out in NYC is the move for anyone whose weekend doesn't actually start on Friday. At Starlets in Woodside, Queens, Thursday is Thirsty Thursdays: doors at 11 PM, open until 4 AM, 21 and over. It's the same room and the same hours as a Saturday, on the night most of the city is still home answering emails.

Written by the Starlets team in Woodside, Queens.

Guest holding a bottle of Don Julio 1942 at the bar during a night at Starlets in Woodside, Queens

Who a Thursday night out is really for

Saturday gets all the attention. That's fine. But a lot of New York works weekends, and for those people, Saturday night is a shift, not a night out.

Think about who that is. Restaurant and bar people. Nurses and hospital staff on weekend rotations. Retail. Anybody working at LaGuardia, which is about 1.8 miles from our door in a straight line. If you're off Friday, or you work Saturday and Sunday, Thursday is your Saturday. You deserve a real one.

Then there's everybody else who just figured it out: Thursday is the night before the night. You get to go out, and you still have Friday and the whole weekend sitting there untouched.

What Thirsty Thursdays at Starlets is

Thirsty Thursdays is the weekly Thursday night at Starlets, at 49-09 25th Ave in Woodside. It starts at 11 PM and the club stays open until 4 AM. You need to be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID, every time.

One heads-up for next week: Thursday, October 29 is part of Starlets' Halloween Week, and that night's party is The Starlets CarnEVIL. Bring a mask.

Entry details and ticket options change from one Thursday to the next, so check the Thirsty Thursdays listing for the date you're coming instead of trusting a screenshot from three weeks ago. If you want a table, request one ahead of time. A VIP Reservation is reserved seating with table service, and it's sized for a date night or a small crew of four.

The club lists a full kitchen too, so a Thursday that starts late doesn't have to start hungry.

Thursday vs. Saturday: the honest version

We're not going to pretend a Thursday looks like a Saturday. It doesn't, and for a lot of people that's the whole point.

If you want the big weekend energy, come Friday or Saturday and book early. If you'd rather have a night that feels like yours, without competing with the whole city for it, Thursday is a strong pick. We wrote more about that trade-off in peak hour versus a looser, later crowd, and an ordinary week versus a big weekend lays out the whole weekly lineup side by side.

How to have a great Thursday without wrecking Friday

This is where Thursday plans go sideways. A few rules we'd give a friend:

1. Pick your leave time before you walk in. We're open until 4 AM. That's a closing time, not a goal. If you've got a 9 AM meeting, decide on 1:30 and stick to it. 2. Book the ride home early. The buses near the club finish by about 1:40 AM, so plan on a car. Put the full address, 49-09 25th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, in the app before you need it. 3. Eat. Seriously. 4. Keep the group small. Thursday is great for three or four people who actually like each other. Twelve people on a Thursday is a logistics problem. 5. Drink water between rounds. Friday-you will thank Thursday-you.

A simple Thursday night out plan in Queens

If you want something you can copy straight into the group chat, here's ours:

That's it. One plan, one person in charge of it, and nobody stuck refreshing their ride app at 2 AM wondering how everyone else got home.

See what a night looks like before you come

We post a photo recap album from our nights on the Starlets gallery. Between October 2 and October 19 alone, there are recap albums for 11 separate nights. Scroll a couple before you decide. It's a better preview than anything we could write here.

Frequently asked questions

What's a good Thursday night out in NYC that stays open late?

Thirsty Thursdays at Starlets in Woodside, Queens runs from 11 PM to 4 AM. It's 21+, and tables are booked by request.

What time does Thirsty Thursdays start?

Doors open at 11 PM, and Starlets stays open until 4 AM.

Is there a cover on Thursdays at Starlets?

Entry details and ticket options are posted on each Thursday's listing and change week to week. Check the listing for your date.

Can I book a table on a Thursday?

Yes. Send a request through the services page or email management@starletsnyc.com. Each table is quoted.

How do I get home after a Thursday at Starlets?

Plan on a car service or rideshare. The bus routes near the club finish by about 1:40 AM.

Is Thursday a good night to go out in NYC if I work weekends?

It's one of the best. If your Saturday is a shift, Thursday is your real night out, and Starlets keeps the same 11 PM to 4 AM hours on Thursday as on the weekend.

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