Owner Derek Tanner had a unique goal when he and partner Seth Thomas moved Canvas from Nashville’s long-time LGBTQ strip on Church Street to East Nashville: Create a gay bar that felt like “Cheers.” He didn’t have that growing up in Southern Illinois in the ’80s, but its something he’s absolutely built in the Fatherland area. While the new location features the original’s recognizable church-style lights and stained-glass pieces, the space is expansive, with areas for lounging, drinking at the bar, eating dinner on the patio, and then dancing to a DJ or singing karaoke late into the night. As evinced by its win of multiple Best of Nashville awards in the “Nashville Scene,” Canvas is truly a “gay bar that’s everybody-friendly.”