Category Archives: Gay Cities
Gay Pride Kicks off April 6 in Phoenix Arizona
THE HISTORY OF PHOENIX PRIDE In 1981, a group of gay & lesbian
activists organized the first Pride march thru the streets of downtown
Phoenix to the state Capitol building. It was a politically focused
march to bring awareness to gay rights issues in Phoenix.
Nearly ten years later, a group of volunteers joined together to
coordinate the annual Pride festival. This committee, best known as the
Phoenix Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee, Inc. helped establish a 501(c) 3
non-profit organization known today as Phoenix Pride.
The organization was created as an educational non-profit to continue
to educate and promote issues that affect the LGBTQ community in metro
Phoenix. Under the leadership of Phoenix Pride, there has been an annual
march, festival, parade or celebration in metro Phoenix for more than
30 years.
The organization is a leader in the metro Phoenix LGBTQ community.
During the past several years, the organization has been able to make
significant contributions to other LGBTQ focused non-profit
organizations and has awarded scholarships to deserving LGBTQ
individuals continuing their education. It is the goal of the
organization to continue developing community programs to benefit the
LGBTQ focused non-profit community and to continue to raise public
awareness about the LGBTQ community in hopes to eliminate homophobia,
transphobia and discrimination still very much prevalent some 30 years
later.
In 2011, the LGBTQ community celebrated the 31st Anniversary of the
first LGBTQ march in Phoenix. Phoenix Pride will continue to honor and
celebrate our community by promoting April as “Pride Month” in Phoenix,
Arizona and by continuing the “10 Days of Pride” started in celebration
of our 30th Anniversary in 2010.
Gay Travel to Tel Aviv is Still HOT HOT HOT
Four years ago, the straight mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, realized his city had all the necessary ingredients to become a leading gay tourist destination: warm weather, pristine beaches, a vibrant nightlife, a thriving gay community, and some of the most beautiful men on the planet. The problem was, Tel Aviv wasn’t known as a gay town.
A study commissioned by the mayor’s
office showed gay tourists were more inclined to go to cities like
Barcelona or Berlin rather than Israel, a country they associated with
religion and war. So the mayor had an idea: brand Tel Aviv as its own
separate entity.
“We
knew that people who had been to Tel Aviv loved it,” says Yaniv
Waizman, the mayor’s adviser on gay community affairs. “So we made a
switch. We no longer talked about Israel, but Tel Aviv.”
There is an awesome story this week at the Daily Beast, about Israel.
Las Vegas Rolls Out Pink Carpet for Gays and Lesbians
The board commissioned a series of cool and fun ads featuring
average looking straight couples amidst gay and lesbian
revelry.
In the last 10 years, Las Vegas has really made an effort to welcome the gay community. Voted in the top three most popular US destinations by GLBT travelers, Las Vegas is a playground for adults and has it all!
Recognized as a safe, culturally diverse and supportive city, Las
Vegas is on par with cities such as San Francisco, New York and Miami Beach in
welcoming the gay community. With more options than ever before, it’s no
surprise that gays and lesbians are booking their stay at one of the many 4 star hotels in Las Vegas with their
friends for a few nights.
see more at BEST GAY LAS VEGAS
Gay Travel to Sizzling MIAMI in March for Winter Party
WINTER PARTY in Miami is one of the funnest weeks I have ever had.
The 2013 Winter Party Festival in beautiful Miami Beach, is one of the most anticipated events of the year, the hottest winter in the world. WPF’13 features six action-packed days and nights, nine spectacular dance parties and over 10,500 guests from around the world.
Party with a Purpose: Winter
Party Festival proceeds benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
and local Miami nonprofit organizations that serve the LGBT community.
Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance event on the sands of
beautiful South Beach, Winter Party Festival has evolved into a
week-long series of events benefiting the LGBT community nationally and
locally. A portion of the net proceeds of WPF support the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s
efforts to take action, build power and create change for LGBT
people. The majority of the proceeds are donated to local service
organizations through a grant-making process administered by The Miami Foundation.
GET TICKETS ONLINE!
Gay Travel to Vancouver Canada
The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city.
a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community and
produces and promotes GayWhistler ski week, WinterPRIDE every year.
Alpenglow Productions Corporation (APC) is a gay and lesbian travel and
event company creating gay-welcoming destinations and events at partner
resorts. The GayWhistler/Alpenglow Team, in partnership, is dedicated to
bringing alternative vacation options to the gay and lesbian community
worldwide.
We have visited most of the gay resort destinations in the world and
nothing can compare to all Whistler has to offer. Though Whistler is
not a gay resort, it is gay friendly and your sexual orientation is not
an issue so we invite you to come and enjoy Whistler for one or multiple
seasons. GayWhistler officially invites you to come to Whistler, B.C
365 days a year.
Find out More about Whistler 2013
Gay Travel to Amsterdam Pride and Boats on the Canal
Gay Pride festivals exist all over the world, but the Amsterdam Gay
Pride festival is among the best on the planet.
Since early days,
Amsterdam has been at the forefront in striving for
equality for the gay & lesbian communities. Amsterdam is famous for
it’s liberal mindset and by organising a yearly Gay Pride the city
welcomes a safe environment for gays, lesbians
and transgenders to both visit and live in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
and it’s gay and straight citizens really know how to party and turn the
Amsterdam’s historic centre into one big Gay Pride celebration for a
weekend in August. The entire city joins in the fun, with the the famous
Canal Parade being highlight of Amsterdam’s Gay Pride event.
The hugely
popular Canal Parade is a floating event involving up to 100
spectacularly decorated barges, floating through Amsterdam’s
Prinsengracht (the canal of the Prinses) . The Gay Pride Canal Pride is a
celebration of devotion towards equality of the gay and lesbian
communities and as such many large Dutch institutions such as the City
Council including the mayor of Amsterdam, the Fire Brigade, the
Amsterdam police force and large Dutch corporates and employers such as
the ING insurances, ABN AMRO and Rabobank have their own boats in the
Canal Parade.
The festivities starts on a Friday night with two large outdoor
parties. On at the Gay & Lesbian Reguliersdwarsstraat street and the
other party at the Gay & Lesbian monument on the Westermarket in
the centre of town.
Gay Pride and the Canal Parade is the
biggest recurring event held in the city and takes place over the first
weekend of August
every year. On Saturday afternoon, the highlight of the Gay Pride
festivities is the Canal Parade which begins at 14.00 and goes on
until around 18.00.
The Canal Parade begins outside the Central Station,
sails along the entire Prinsengracht, the Amstel River
and finishes at the Eastern Dock. The participating boats are
spectacularly decorated and put on a show with their onboard DJs and lavish parties, guaranteeing unbeatable entertainment.
The
Canal Parade is open to all possible organisations, companies and even
private individuals. One needs to apply for a license from the city
council and one needs to rent a boat from one of the Amsterdam based
boat rental companies such as the Amsterdam Boot Huren boat rental agency. A quick look at this website shows the Ivan Frank open boat as pretty much ideal or one could consider the Avanti barge for it’s beautiful feminine curves. Another boat rental agency worthwhile looking at is Canal Cruise Amsterdam.
Both websites are in Dutch, but if you call the contact numbers, they
will answer in English, as nearly everybody in Amsterdam speaks fluent
English.
The event still grows in size and in 2012 a total of
188 organisations and companies applied for a licence in the official
Canal Parade. 2012 also had a Turkish boat participated
in the Canal Parade for the first time. The Turkish boat represents the
20,000 odd gay and lesbian people living in the
Netherlands who are of Turkish descent.
The Gay Pride Canal Parade draws more than 500,000 gay and straight participants and
visitors to Amsterdam. The city gets very busy and most of
the Amsterdam hotels are fully occupied and may ask ridiculous prices
for their accommodation. as an alternative, one might also consider
renting an apartment in the city centre from Apartment Amsterdam.
Most of the apartments very high quality and are located on one of the
famous canals or in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam. If you do decide to
stay in an apartment in the Jordaan, don’t forget to visit the Anne Frank house or to have dinner in one of the many little restaurants close to the Noordermarket.
Gay Barcelona Tours and Guides
Not only is Barcelona beautiful, charming, sunny, delicious and fun, it
also has the unquestionable distinction of being one of the premier Gay
capitals in Europe.
The gay scene is here vibrant and integrated. Barcelona is
a modern city, with a modern outlook. It is open-minded and welcoming to all –
so head on down for a good time! From the beaches to the clubs, from the shops
to the beautiful architecture, you’ll have plenty to do, by day and by night.
Most of the gay scene is centred around an area called Eixample
pronounced Ay-Sham-Play and, for reasons that will become apparent, nicknamed
gayxample. Just north of the centre, Eixample is a modern and trendy district.
It is the heart of the gay scene, even though it’s not exclusively gay. It is
here that you’ll find all the bars, clubs and accommodation that you need for a
great night out.
When daylight comes again, and you’re looking for something a little
more peaceful, head out of the city into the beautiful surroundings which are
replete with nothing less than vineyards. Why not try a wine tour in Barcelona? The local
wine is delicious, and will put you in the right mood to head back to the city
to do exploring.
There are lots of great sightseeing tours in Barcelona if you want to catch all the best bits. Don’t
miss the Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell or the endlessly eccentric La Ramblas
pedestrian shopping street – it’s a must-see.
Barcelona is open and welcoming like almost no other city in the world,
which simply adds to its many charms. And if you still need an excuse to go,
the fabulous annual Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival is on from
the 18th of October to the 28th.
Now that you’re out of excuses, go and enjoy yourself!
Gay Travel in Tallinn Estonia with new LGBT Map site
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of 159.2 km2 (61.5 sq mi) with a population of 416,536.[1] It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, 80 km (50 mi) south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg.
In Tallinn, where medieval meets both classical and modern, you have every chance of experiencing a unique, relaxing and fun holiday or city break with sightseeing opportunities up in the air, at street level and underground!
Tallinn is the perfect place to shop around, unwind and enjoy yourself in great company. It is full of surprises – a party to remember!
The locals know how to make your Friday or Saturday night out rock, in every sense of the word. You’ll be left wanting more… and we’re happy to help you!
A warm welcome to Tallinn, the capital of positively surprising Estonia!
GayMap Tallinn 2012 edition announces the capital of Estonia being now more gay-friendly than ever
More gay-friendly restaurants, more cafeterias, more hotels for LGBT travellers to choose from – Tallinn, the medieval yet modern capital of Estonia is truly more gay-friendly than ever before.
GayMap Tallinn is available as a pocket size city map distributed for free all over the town including Tallinn Airport, the Port of Tallinn, Tallinn Tourist Information Centre and Tallinn Traveller Info Centre. GayMap TALLINN is also available through the best service partners’ network and readable/downloadable online at tallinn.gaymap.ee – the daily updated LGBT tourism information service for Tallinn, which includes a full list of gay friendly partners and services plus a list of events and parties in town!
Tallinn, the northernmost capital in Baltic States, offers visitors a lush cultural scene with a wide scale of sightseeing opportunities. The brand new GayMap Tallinn 2012 edition allows LGBT visitors to easily navigate through the diverse cultural setting and enables them with the possibility to create an individualized holiday according to their own desires. This includes, but is not limited to a wide array of entertainment and city life, tours in nature, and shopping opportunities.
Gay Travel to Iceland – Reykjavik and More!
Iceland is a great destination for LGBT travelers, gay people are equal in the eyes of the law and have enjoyed marriage rights, in churches from the year 2010.
Iceland is proud to have the worlds first openly lesbian primeminister and to show support in action one third of the population shows up for Reykjavík Gay Pride.
The gay scene and society in Iceland is small but active and open, it exists mostly in the capital Reykjavík but the northern branch in Akureyri is getting stronger each year. Iceland as a gay friendly destination has gotten great reviews, it has landed on various top ten lists and gotten 5 pink stars by Diva magazine.
With its gay friendly atmosphere Iceland has come a long way since the Gay rights association, Samtökin’78 were founded in 1978 by brave, but few people. Now in the year 2012 we stand equal to straight people in the eyes of the law. The Reykjavík Gay Pride has become one of the biggest celebrations of the nation with 100.000 people attending the parade and the down town festivities and prejudice towards lgbt people are on retreat.
Ask someone in Iceland: Do you know any gay people; we can almost guarantee that the answer will be positive, this has helped the progression of gay rights in Iceland. As soon as someone you know and love has come out, gay rights are also yours to protect because they protect someone you love. Regarding transgender rights Iceland has a long way to go but we are hopeful that we can celebrate equality in the year 2012.
Check out these events!
Reykjavik Gay Pride
Always held in the second weekend of August Reykjavik Gay Pride is one of the biggest festivities in Iceland.
Dates for 2012: August 7th-12th
Gaypride.is
Pink West:
Amazing LGBT trip to the Westfjords of Iceland pre and post Reykjavík Gay Pride
Dates: August 13th-15th
Pink West
Pink East:
Magical LGBT trip to the Eastfjords of Iceland pre and post Reykjavík Gay Pride
Dates: August 6th-8th & August 13th-15th
Pink East
Bears on Ice: Four day event from September 6th
Bear event in the world´s northernmost capital
Bearsonice.org/
Rainbow Reykjavík: January 31st-February 3rd
LGBT winter festival, mixture of nature, culture, wining, dining and great parties:
Rainbowreykjavik.com/
Columbus Ohio Celebrates 200 Years
People who live in Columbus Ohio know it’s a great place to live! But the tourism board is working hard to prove to people it’s a great place to visit, too!
We have done several articles on Columbus, since our visit last Spring.
A new article in the Columbus Dispatch says what we discovered last Spring:
During the past five years or so, Ohio’s capital city has been getting big props from major travel trendsetters.
“Lord knows, there are a million rankings, but we have been doing
really well with them lately,” said Scott Peacock, media-relations
manager at the Experience Columbus convention and visitors bureau. “I’d
say in the last two years, it’s really taken off.”
The high point was in August, when National Geographic’s
website named Columbus one of the 10 best fall destinations in the
world, alongside places such as Zanzibar and Dublin (the one in Ireland,
not the one along I-270).
Columbus turned the BIG 200 this year! There are events and happenings scheduled all year long!
You can also stop by their LGBT specific page for what to see and do.
Columbus Ohio is a highly recommended place to see and visit.
Some of the Best attractions in Boston
Some of the Best
attractions in Boston
Boston City in Massachusetts is a diverse place filled with various historical and cultural landmarks. Boston is the biggest city in New England, also regarded as Massachusetts capital city. Amongst the many hotels in Boston you have to choose from you will also be in the presence of some amazing attractions.
Home to world-famous Harvard University and MIT, Boston is a hub for education. Tourists flocked to the place because of Boston’s numerous attractions. A plethora of fun-filled recreational activities await the visitor including the following:
Taking a leisurely hike in the Freedom Trail will transport you to the olden times when America was young. The trail enables the traveler to experience Boston on a more personal level. The trail is two and a half kilometers long which starts at the Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown.
The trail provides views to the most historically significant places in Boston such as the Old State House, Old South Meeting House, Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, USS Constitution, Paul Revere’s Residence, The North End, the site of Boston Massacre and other Revolutionary landmarks.
The Bunker Hill Monument is another historical place that hikers will pass by as they trod the Freedom Trail. The Bunker Hill is the site where the Revolutionary War between American soldiers and British troops was waged. A giant obelisk about 200 feet in height stands as a commemorative symbol of the brave soldiers who lost their lives during the war.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is one of the most visited landmarks in all of US, accounting for 20 million visitors in 2011. It ranked fourth most popular tourist destination next only to Times Square, Las Vegas Strip and National Mall and Memorial Parks.
The Faneuil Hall was built by Peter Faneuil in 1742. This is a festive marketplace housing hundreds of stores for dining, shopping and drinking. It is located between North, Congress and State streets. It is a commercial center of the city. It is also known for its historical significance particularly when Samuel Adams delivered his speech about independence. Most of the visitors frequenting the place today are shoppers who are looking for great finds.
Boston has a number of world-class museums known for their extensive collection of artifacts and other precious pieces. The Museum of Fine Art is the biggest and most popular which houses more than 450,000 pieces of art. More than a million tourists visit the museum each year. Other notable museums in Boston include Harvard Fogg Museum, Boston Beer Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Why not treat yourself to one of the many luxury hotels in Boston and take in the finer traits of the city.
Is Tel Aviv The Best Gay City?
TEL AVIV is being touted by some
as THE BEST GAY CITY.
Hmmmm, really? The BEST? We have watched Tel Aviv grow in popularity over the last 5 years. They do have a powerful PR and Marketing team, I will give them that. Their presence in the media has grown at leaps and bounds over the last 5 years. But are they the BEST? or perhaps the best up-and-coming?
In a world-wide survey hosted GayCities.com and American Airlines,
43 percent of voters cast their ballot in favor of the White City,
pushing it ahead of other proud towns including New York, Toronto and
London.
(New York City with 14 per cent, Toronto with 7 per cent, Sao Paulo with 6 per cent, Madrid and London with 5 per cent each and New Orleans and Mexico City with 4 per cent each.)
I think it all just depends on who you ask and who is surveyed! Tel Aviv is the gay mecca of the Middle East, for sure, and boasts of plenty of
designers, fashionistas, night clubs, fancy beaches, shopping malls and
outlets, DJs, women activists, gays, jews and financiers. You really
couldn’t find a more open-minded place like Tel Aviv outside of Israël. Tel Aviv, in sharp contrast to Jerusalem, is a liberal, hedonistic and secular city, where leisure life revolves around beaches, cafes and nightclubs.
Lonely Planet named it one of its top three cities in the world for
2011, describing it as “the flipside of Jerusalem, a modern Sin City on
the sea rather than an ancient Holy City on a hill” and adding: “There
are more bars than synagogues, God is a DJ and everyone’s body is a
temple.” The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rarely on the radar.
According to Tel Aviv’s 30-year-old deputy mayor, Asaf Zamir, 16% to 17% of the city’s 403,000 population is gay.
“It’s
a very strong community here, a comfortable arena for the gay
community. Two men walking hand in hand is a very normal thing,” he
said.
The city municipality funded a gay centre and was promoting gay tourism, he added.
They even have a gay pride parade each year – that has grown to about 100,000 local people! And also about 5,000 gay tourists.
Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Prague…there are so many amazing choices. Just depends on what you want? Value? Nighlife? Culture?
As for Tel Aviv – The weather is hot, the guys are hot, it’s a hot city!
Gay Tel Aviv4U – The official LGBT site
Maui Hawaii Celebrate Gay Marriage this Week
Paradise is a strong word, and I don’t use it lightly. But Maui, Hawaii
is truly a paradise in every way.
It has glorious warm weather all
year, with just enough of a breeze from the trade winds to keep you
feeling refreshed. The tropical greenery and colourful flowers are
spectacular, and there’s nothing better than the relaxing sound of the
surf crashing on the beach as you drift off to sleep every night.
Wouldn’t you want to get married in Paradise?!
A gay Oklahoma City couple is happy to be on Maui and among the
first couples to be joined in a civil union after a state law allowing
such unions went into effect last Sunday.
“We are proud to be part of
it,” said 40-year-old Rich Tucker, a mortgage company owner, shortly
before his Monday sunset ceremony with partner 37-year-old David Dobson,
a Realtor.
“We wanted to have the ceremony somewhere tropical. It’s awesome to have accepting people that accept everyone. No one
is segregated,” Tucker said about Hawaii and the civil unions law.
Dobson added: “In Oklahoma, it’s still very much the Bible Belt.”
Industry insiders have said they expect that the law legalizing civil unions, which took effect Jan. 1, will lead to a boost in tourism among same-sex visitors. Hotel executives said they’re actively reaching out to the gay and lesbian community with promotions and packages aimed at couples who are eager to make their commitment official.
“We’ve had 10 ceremonies booked so far,” said Chuck Spence, owner of the Maui Sunseeker LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) Resort in Kihei. “Already we’ve also seen an immediate boost in bookings, and not just because of civil unions, but because the law also opens up the perception by the gay and lesbian community that Hawaii is truly a welcoming state. We are aloha.”
Hawaii’s hard-fought civil unions law was bitterly opposed by conservative and Christian groups, who said the measure posed a threat to heterosexual marriage and traditional families.
Deacon Walter Yoshimitzu of the Honolulu Roman Catholic Diocese said marriage should be only between a man and a woman.
“Even with civil unions, we believe it is same-sex marriage by another name,” he said.
State Sen. Roz Baker, who represents West and South Maui and was a supporter of the civil unions bill, said she hoped the law would attract couples to Hawaii.
“Let’s face it, too, nowhere is the weather nicer, or are there as many beautiful places to visit year round, than in Hawaii,” she said, adding that “the wedding business has always been good to Maui.” Year round the weather is gorgeous!
But she and West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey noted that the new civil unions license will be recognized only in Hawaii, so they anticipated it to attract a wave but not a tsunami of same-sex visitors.
“It’s not going to be a billion-dollar law,” McKelvey said.
More significant than its ability to attract visitors, he said, the law was important for gays and lesbians living in Hawaii, because it would give them the same rights as heterosexual couples.
“We still have a long way to go,” said spokesman Don Bentz for Equality Hawaii of Honolulu, a gay rights advocacy group. “If a couple, let’s say, comes from Florida (which doesn’t have gay marriage or civil unions), they have rights here but lose them after the plane ride.”
Frank and Kevin, who own a wedding service on Maui, have been performing ceremonies for heterosexual and gay couples, recognized or not, for many years. They’ve said they expect their numbers to go from nearly 40 ceremonies a year to more than 100.
Maui SunSeeker is going to provide group room discounts and gifts like champagne. Rich and David were the first guests to tie the knot!
He noted that they’re bringing friends – as others certainly will – and that the tourists will spend money at other Maui businesses.
“In regard to tourism, absolutely this will have a great impact. No question,” said Spence, whose hotel currently has 25 rooms and now plans to add more.
Applications and information about civil unions are available online at hawaii.gov/health.
San Francisco Calendar of Gay Events and Happenings
WsupNow.com was created with the intention to give users the most up-to-date information on gay parties and events nearest to them, at a quick glance.
The first city launched is SAN FRANCISCO.
With WsupNow.com, you can always have gay nightlife at the tips of
your fingers as long as you have an internet connection. “With a simple
time+distance formula,, we’ll show you the events that are happening
nearby and now, but you have the ability to filter events that resonate
with you.
Our goal is to capture every piece of gay nightlife for you, so that
anyone can find the events or parties that are best-suited for them.“
Stuart Leung is the creator of the site. “A friend was coming into town and he wanted to go out on a
Wednesday night. I knew of a couple gayparties that were happening in the city, but drew a blank to
whether any other parties were occurring. I found it frustrating that I had been in San Francisco 7 years and still didn’t know what was going on. And it wasn’t just me, a lot of friends who were connected, didn’t always know what was going on.
I wanted a resource that gathered all gay events in one place instead of me going to 10+ sites to figure out which was the best option. That’s how wsup now was born.“
Just four months old, the site already provide a comprehensive view of all te LGBT and related events from around San Francisco – all in one quick and easy to scan view. Stuart says, “San Francisco has plenty of events to keep me busy (haha). However, once we learn how to efficiently scale, we do plan on expanding to other major metros.”
Check out WSUPNOW.com!
Liverpools Gay Quarter Installs LGBT Street Signage
Liverpool’s “Gay Quarter” (sometimes Liverpool gay village or the “Stanley Street Quarter”) is a relatively modern term to identify the gay scene in Liverpool.
The area encompasses Stanley Street, Cumberland Street, Victoria St and Eberle St, and is where the bulk of the gay bars and clubs are located in Liverpool, in North West England. Stanley St is the main hub of the gay quarter and is where most of the bars are found. On 12th August 2011, the area received official recognition by Liverpool City Council.
Liverpool’s gay quarter was pedestrianised in December 2009.
Stanley Street is now closed to traffic between 10pm-6am seven days of
the week, Cumberland Street is closed between 6pm-6am seven days of the
week, and Eberle Street is closed for 24 hours of the day seven days of
the week.
Liverpool is now the first city in the UK to officially recognise its gay quarter with street signs.
The new signs will
incorporate a rainbow arch and will be used on Stanley Street,
Cumberland Street, Temple Lane, Eberle Street and Temple Street.
The first sign was unveiled outside the Lisbon pub on Stanley Street
by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan, in a ceremony to
be attended by representatives of the LGBT communities, local
businesses and residents.
Councillor Nick Small, member for employment and skills, said: “We
need to start unleashing the enormous economic potential of the Stanley
Street quarter and as one of the first moves we have to show that this
is our gay village.”
Over the next 2-3 years, much more will done to beautify and bring attention to this neighborhood!
#gaytravel
New York City and Columbus Ohio Rank High for Gay Travel
The results for the first annual LOGO TV NewNowNext Travel Awards are in and
we have some winners to share with you — and one of them (hint: pictured ) is a bit of a shocker to some people – but not really.
First a recap of how this all went down.
To start with, a group of professional travel writers were polled — the NewNowNext Travel Awards Academy
— and they gave their nominations in 10 categories.
From
their expert input, nominees in all 10 categories were submitted and
then opened it to voting by the readers or Tripouttravel.com and
Newnownext.com.
Thousands voted and some interesting places took the top
position — most notable is probably Columbus as the NewNowNext
destination. – But as we found out this year, Columbus is an up and coming gem, that many LGBT folks are discovering!
Here’s the full list of the 2011 NewNowNext Travel Award winners:
Best US Destination: New York City – no shocker here – they always win.
Best Global Destination: Montreal
Best Luxury Hotel: Peninsula Chicago
Best Resort: Encore Las Vegas – OUTSTANDINH hotel.
Best Hotel Chain: W Hotels & Resorts
Best Airline: Jet Blue
Best Annual Event: Mardi Gras, Sydney
Favorite Travel Show: The Amazing Race
Sexiest Spot: Rio de Janiero
NewNowNext Destination 2011: Columbus, Ohio
We’re thrilled that Columbus took that award and happy for all the other winners as well.
Wallabyway.com Releases Awesome BURNING MAN Videos
Pictured – Meet Garet and Dusty, Seattle’s adventure seeking (sometimes nudist) boyfriends who go by “The Scenic Boys”, who with a dozen friends built The Emerald City Glam Cocks camp, a 20-foot structure completely with disco ball dance club on which to survey the land …and the guys.
Watch what happens as three Aussie Burning Man virgins travel halfway around the world to take on the world’s most epic festival. This is some awesome video footage in the links below!
5 minutes Inside Burning Man
NSFW 17 minutes Welcome Home – Burning Man Adventure
WallabyWay on Facebook
Hong Kong To Launch Asia’s Biggest LGBT Festival this Month
Pink Season, Hong Kong’s first ever and Asia’s biggest LGBT festival kicks Get The latest on the Pink Season at Pinkseason.hk
off on 30 September. It is an unprecedented collaboration between local
LGBT organizations and artists over a 2.5-month period.
The Pink Season schedule covers the Electric Pink music party Sept. 30th,
the glamorous Mr. Gay Hong Kong pageant Oct. 15th,
Floatilla – Party at Sea Oct. 16th,
Out in the Open – The All Inclusive beach carnival Nov. 6th,
Drag Overdose Nov. 12th,
Gay Day @ Disneyland Dec. 4th
plus the solidly established HK Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Nov. 18-Dec. 1st.
Organizers are still planning for more activities with local artists and organizations,
while looking to add a distinguished speaker series, plays, dance shows,
painting exhibitions, and much more.
PinkSeason on Facebook
Gay Travel to Prague – Still Wonderful and Affordable
“I considered it my duty to secure that the minority’s right to be tolerated did not end in front of the mayor auspices’ gate,” Svoboda added. Dancing House has daring, curvy outlines, which led its architects, Vlado Milunc and the American Frank O Gehry, to initially name it the “Astaire & Rogers Building”, after the legendary dance duo. The top floor of Dancing House is home to one of the city’s leading restaurants, Celeste Restaurant. Diners can enjoy delightful cuisine and magnificent views over the river and up to Prague Castle. You can have a lovely prix fixe lunch there for about $32 US. Dinner Tasting Menus can run $100. Wine here can run $10+ a glass EASILY. But the atmosphere and views are worth it. The hotel is situated in historical building and besides the unique design and comfort it also offers a great location – only 1 minute walk to Wenceslas Square and 3 minutes from Old Time Square. With its 11 boutique rooms, Jewel Hotel offers a high-end LUXURY design accommodation for sophisticated customers. Each room in Jewel Hotel has a unique personal atmosphere. The Café and Restaurant with breakfast service are located on the ground floor. Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle which towers high above the city. It is a display of all artistic styles and movements. More than 20 years after the fall of communism and the Velvet Revolution, the popularity of Prague (Praha in Czech) as one of Europe’s premier tourist destinations shows no signs of slowing down. And while it’s no longer the travellers’ bargain it was in earlier days, the Czech capital’s combination of a thrilling history and glorious architectural overachievement remains as compelling as ever. It is still much much cheaper than say London or Paris, both of which are on the Euro!
PRAGUE PRIDE
is happening for the first time this week! Wish we were there….but we were just in Prague in June, and then went over to Budapest Pride. (American Airlines now flies JFK to Budapest. Then we got a small plane to get over to Prague).
It was our third time in Prague and we just love it there. Prague got a lot of bad press this last week as the President of the Czech Republic and Deputy Chancellor made some very negative comments towards the gay community and gay pride.
HOWEVER, Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (Civic Democrats, ODS) said last night he will NOT withdraw the auspices he granted to the August 13 Prague Pride march of homosexuals! Kudos to him!!
But back to why we love Prague…it’s beauty, it’s people and it’s still a terrific travel value for the US dollar.
The official currency used in Prague, the Czech Republic, is the Czech crown (Kč, CZK). The Czech Republic has slowly been preparing itself for its transition to the euro, which is expected to happen around ….who knows when?! Some rumors say it may never happen. Some countries that have transitioned to the Euro, are not happy they did so.
Nonetheless, it is already common today that many shops and restaurants will accept payment in euros (but the exchange rate is less favorable than in exchange bureaus), or even in U.S. dollars. SO BE SURE TO CHANGE YOUR MONEY TO CZK.
For instance, we saw one sign that said entry was $10 US or 100 CZK or 10 Euro.
10 euro is about $14 and 100CZK is about $6 in US. So CZK is always the best way to pay.
There are many exchange bureaus in the Czech Republic. Exchange services are of course provided by banks and at most hotel receptions, but the exchange rates are not very good. The best exchange rates are offered by private exchange offices, but you should always compare their current rates and fees that may apply. There are a few really good ones right in/near Old Town that charge 0% fee. I feel it is best to take US dollars over there and exchange them over there. Your credit card and bank cards WILL CHARGE fee’s to withdraw and convert the money for you. Chase charges $14 in fee’s for every $300 you withdraw!
There are so many reasonable places to eat and drink. Especially if you like beer or wine. Many places offer beer and wine for $2 ! Mixed drinks will cost a lot more. $6-$10 on average.
On this recent trip, we wanted to go somewhere 5 star…a little on the fancy side. Dancing House (Tančící dům) occupies a fine position by the Vltava River. This stunning building, constructed between 1992-1996, is somewhat of a rarity in Prague; a modern, glass building surrounded by historic architecture.
One of our favorite restaurants is right in the gay district. CELEBRITY CAFE serves up amazing good food for breakfast lunch and dinner. A swell-elegant gay restaurant in heart of the Vinohrady nightlife district, right next to Club Valentino, Celebrity Cafe (Vinohradska 40, 420 222 511 343) is a wonderful, atmospheric place with a couple of rooms lighted by candle and dim lamps, fun-kitschy faux-leopard walls and chairs, gilt mirrors, cozy round tables, and disco balls – it’s a study in high camp, yet it’s surprisingly cozy and tasteful. In warm weather they have a great outdoor patio and sit on the street and watch the boys going by.
Two people can eat and drink like a king (or queen) for less than $30US. Excellent!
Another favorite spot we LOVE is PIZZERIE ROMA UNO – which is near Alacatraz bar/club. AMAZINGLY good thin crust pizza and very tasty beef carpaccio. And open 23 hours! (They close for 1 hour) I think this is the ONLY place in Prague serving food and drinks round the clock. Jagellonska 16, Prague 3 , Tel: 222 714 154
We love it here. And so affordable!
Sauna’s / Bath Houses are very big in Europe, and Prague is no exception. A favorite of our is Sauna Babylonia. It’s big, it’s clean, it’s nice, people are very friendly. It’s about $12 US entry fee and they offer a full service bar inside.
Leaving the Sauna one evening, we were hungry and just 2 blocks away found this amazing hidden gem of a restaurant/cafe called JEWEL. Delicious food and great wines. Very reasonable and 5 star presentation. The aroma’s wafting out into the streets lured us in. We’ll that, and the hunky blonde waiter standing in the doorway!
Jewel Café Bar and Restaurant is a place that will absorb you with its uniqueness and ambient atmosphere. More than 10,000 crystals will attract your eyes. Sense of smell and taste will be satisfied with modern cuisine. Every two months you can look forward a new menu prepared by their chefs. Similarly, famous cocktails and special collections of Martinis will fulfil your passion for taste.
So on our third meal there we had the opportunity to met the manager Jakub, who gave us a tour of the attached Jewel boutique hotel! Which we had no idea was even there!
Jewel – design boutique hotel (U Klenotníka) was originally built as an old bourgeoisie house. Some of the original brickwork from the beginning of 13th century can be found in it’s basement. Over the centuries the house was been rebuilt many times and therefore many architectural styles can be found here.
The gold painted ceiling with the motifs of jewels in the ground floor is very unique and is also heritage listed. This decoration was created at the beginning of the 20th century when a prestigious jeweler come into the building. The repair of the crown jewels of Czech Monarchs was one of his many commissions. Therefore the name – Jewel (U Klenotníka).
The whole building was reconstructed and turned into a hotel in 1994. The house kept it’s historical look, but at the same time it is elegantly furnished with modern interior and some art pieces of contemporary artist were installed. very nice indeed!
On this most recent trip, we stayed with our dear friend Joseph Brewster who owns Club Temple and Hotel Temple. And now Little Temple bar, right next door. It’s in a great convenient location. Seifertova 32/3, 130 00 Praha 3. Close to Old Town and close to the gay district, plus lots of hot young gay guys – and straight guys, all over the neighborhood.
Temple is like staying in someone’s home, not a hotel. And it has a very “old world” feel. Old Europe. Huge ceilings! (15ft?) and big large windows, which you never see in a hotel. There is a large community dining room and a TV area and lounge area also for you to enjoy. They offer a selection of suites and standard rooms to match all tastes and budgets. The friendly and helpful staff are on hand to take care of your every need round the clock, 24/7.
Downstairs is a big nightclub – but you never hear the music in your room, not to worry. Club Temple has superb state of the art sound and lightshow, along with live DJ’s playing a wide variety of music both old and new. The interior is like being inside an ancient stone Temple. Very cool!
The nightclub is open in the evenings, and during the day, there is Little Temple, right next door, where many locals come and have afternoon and early evening drinks.
I love Prague for it’s amazing architecture. In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.
While the city centre is a mélange of stunning architecture, from Gothic, Renaissance and baroque to neoclassical, art nouveau and cubist, beyond the medieval lanes of the Old Town and the Castle District, there’s an entire other cosmopolitan city to explore. Search out the riverside parks, lively bars and beer gardens, music clubs, museums and art galleries! The people are nice and welcoming and there are many gay establishments.
There is so much to talk about, we could go on for pages!
More soon!
Prague Tourism GAY PAGE
Prague Tourism regular pages
Gay Key West – Island House Celebrates 35 Years with Sweepstakes
the longest continuously operated gay guesthouse in the world, proudly announces its 35th anniversary in business and its 10th anniversary under its current owners, Jon Allen and Martin Kay, who transformed it into a leader among the world’s premier gay guesthouses.
To mark this milestone, Island House is offering all 39 rooms at $13, the price it charged when it opened in 1976, for the night of June 25, 2012. The special offer is available exclusively through a special sweepstakes. 39 winners will be chosen randomly among those who complete the entry form at http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/141910. Sweepstakes participants are also encouraged (but not required) to “like” Island House Key West at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Island-House-Key-West-Gay-Hotel-Resort/56402142064 and post a comment with the phrase “35 and fabulous.” The offer is valid through midnight on Labor Day (September 5, 2011).
Island House Key West began operating as a modest, 16-room all-men’s guesthouse in 1976. When Allen and Kay took possession in the late ’90s, the ramshackle 39-room guesthouse sprawled languidly across several dilapidated buildings, sorely in need of abundant TLC.
“We are honored to have served more than 125,000 guests in more than a third of a century,” says Allen, “We’ve never rested on our laurels. We pride ourselves on our focus on customer satisfaction and professional, attentive service. We’ve invested well over two and a half million dollars since purchasing the property. If you haven’t visited us recently, come see all that’s new at Island House Key West.”
After a massive investment of capital and time, they unveiled the new and much improved Island House Key West in 2001, transforming it into Key West’s most luxurious and pampering oasis for men. Having spent $2.5 million in award-winning upgrades over the past decade, Island House is unmatched in its class. Recent upgrades and renovations include:
Transformed rooms with new ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, bathrooms and beds;
The poolside Café and Bar, including an extensive wine list, serving continuously 24/7;
A well-equipped gym and health club with Jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna;
Spa services available at the resort or en suite;
An extensive clothing-optional sundeck on the 2nd floor with a refreshing misting system; and
One of the highest staff-to-guest ratios among any resort in Key West.
With rates ranging from $124 in low season to $529 for the largest suite in high season, the resort is packed with upscale amenities at rates far less than comparable mainstream hotel properties, including: WiFi throughout the property, parking (as available), coffee, tea, an evening social hour (with wine and cocktails) and purified water – all available on a complimentary basis. The luxurious value offered by the resort has been noted in the foremost LGBT travel media, which has bestowed the following accolades:
“Best gay resort in the world” (OutTraveler.com)
“Gay travel’s first five-star resort” (Passport Magazine)
“Four Crowns,” their highest rating (Spartacus Hotel Guide)
In parallel with Island House’s stunning transformation, Key West has also undergone a quiet metamorphosis. America’s most beautiful tropical island is becoming a must-stop destination for connoisseurs of sophisticated yet relaxed tropical getaways boasting dozens of casual yet topnotch new dining spots; urbane wine bars and cocktail lounges; new galleries and performance spaces; and luxurious new mainstream hotel resorts.
“Come experience the new-and-improved Key West,” says Steve Smith, Sales Manager at Florida Keys Tourism. “Just be sure to sample a little of what makes this a special destination for LGBT visitors, like our hot gay bars and clubs, snorkeling and kayaking adventures, Fantasy Fest, Gay Spring Break, Key West Gay & Lesbian Visitors Center and Tennessee Williams Museum, the AIDS Memorial, and more.”
To book, call 800-890-6284 or visit IslandHouseKeyWest.com.
Join the online discussion with Island House Key West:
Sweepstakes entry form
FACEBOOK PAGE
Twitter @IslandHouseKW
