Category Archives: Holidays
Best Roof Top Bars New Years Eve
Conde Nast CN TRAVELLER probably said it best, “It’s easy to sneer at New Year’s Eve: too expensive, too crowded, too much pressure to have the greatest night of your life. OK, you could hunker down at home – or you could make it really memorable by hitting up one of the best New Year’s Eve parties in the world. From fireworks blasting across breathtaking backdrops to raucous street parties in cool capitals and all-night raves on blissed-out beaches, there’s no shortage of amazing ways to ring in 2019.”
I live in Chicago and SO MANY people go out NYE its so hard and so expensive to get a Cab or Uber or Lyft! Is it worth it?
If you know where to go, it might be!
What better place to see all the fireworks, than from a rooftop bar?!
The is an actual site called The RoofTop Guide!
“BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH A NICE VIEW!
We believe that’s how it is, that everything is better with a nice view. Therefore we have assembled this guide, a guide to the world’s best rooftop bars. To inspire and for you to, wherever you are or wherever you are going, be able to find an oasis where you can feel the breeze against your skin, sip on a drink and gaze into breathtaking views.
So of course you can count on them to show us 30 Amazing and Fantastic rooftops for a NYE to remember!
From New York and Los Angels, Chicago to Sandiego, London, Dubai , Madrid – all the best rooftops are listed here with details, pricing and more info! get the complete scoop HERE.
Gay Palm Spings Your Winter Getaway!
Superior rooms (non-pool view) start at $99 during the week (Sunday – Thursday) and weekends discounted
(Friday and Saturday). All other room types discounted accordingly.
Palm Springs is welcoming visitors to its new dynamic downtown with new fashionable restaurants, new chick shops and boutiques, new fun entertainment venues as well as welcoming public spaces for gathering, celebrating and relaxing. With warm days and balmy nights, this complements the ambiance that is positively seductive. With 360 days of sun-kissed weather and drop-dead gorgeous scenery, it’s no wonder Palm Springs is like no place else and a comeback as Hollywood’s playground with a growing nightlife, burgeoning art scene and edgy vibe.
Palm Springs, California lies on the western edge of the Coachella Valley, within the Colorado Desert. Located approximately 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 140 miles northeast of San Diego, it’s an easy two hour drive. The permanent year-round population is about 45,000, and doubles during the winter season.
Palm Springs has more than 350 days of sunshine with less than 5 inches of rain. Winter temperatures average in the 70’s with nights in the mid-40’s. The dry desert heat of summer pushes daytime temperatures into the 100’s, which is enjoyed by sun seekers from around the globe.
Doesn’t this look better than piles of snow…..
|
|
Halloween in Palm Springs
It’s time to get on your broom and make your way to Palm Springs!
Halloween is an evening for fashion or at least careful consideration into planning a well-crafted costume that screams “creative,” “fierce,” “original,” or “over the top.”
And please stay at our favorite pick – INNdulge Palm Springs.
Bring your best costume with you or borrow from their well-stocked costume closet!
They will have their costume contest on the same night as the Arenas Road street festival.
Tuesday October 31, 2016.
Book now so you don’t miss out on all the fun!
Christmas Holiday in Europe
I know it’s still summer in the US – But December is not far away!
I guess since I was born in December, I have this thing for Christmas and shiny objects! And many of the best decorations and celebrations come from Europe. Poland, Germany and Italy are hubs for glass blowing and ornament making.
Some of Europe’s Christmas markets have been around since the Middle Ages, so it’s no surprise that Cologne Germany, which has five markets, is a seasonal popular hot spot.
Cathedral Market, Angels Market, Harbour Market, Old Market Christmas and the Market of Fairy Tales! Every year, the city centre of Cologne is touched by the magic of the festivities in the weeks leading up to Christmas. When the Christmas markets in Cologne open their gates on the last Monday before Advent, millions of visitors from around the world delight at the goods on sale at the quaintly designed huts (or “Buden”).
Some say you haven’t experienced Christmas lights until you’ve seen nearly four miles of them artfully hung in patterns dictated by Tiffany’s head designer in Copenhagen’s (Denmark) famed historic amusement park, Tivoli Gardens — and that’s not counting the 1,800+ strands dramatically draped on the lakeside willows. They say there are EVEN MORE LIGHTS added this year!
Copenhagen celebrates Jul (as in “yuletide”) in high style, with its famed Christmas market the centerpiece. Over 50 stalls are stocked with fine handmade crafts, including traditional figurines of clog-clad elves in pointy red caps, while vendors are selling iced doughnuts slathered with black currant jam and hefty cups of gløgg, a steaming hot mulled red wine laden with raisins, almonds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves—all of which are steeped in aquavit or schnapps.
Vienna is another magical place for the holiday season. At the traditional Vienna Magic of Advent, the Rathausplatz becomes a shining fairytale land. The 150 or so stands offer Christmas gifts, Christmas tree decorations, delicious sweet treats and wonderful warming drinks.
You see a sea of lights in the trees around City Hall park.
Not far away is the Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz. Over 60 stands offering traditional handicrafts and original gift ideas are set up here during Advent. The romantic Christmas village in the Old AKH is also a popular meeting point during the season.
Not too many European cities have such a rich gay history as the Austrian capital. You can get up-to-the-minute information on the Facebook page “Gayfriendly Vienna”.
Christmas in Europe is a time for elaborate pastries, for lyrical midnight masses in Gothic churches, and for the upholding of quirky local traditions—in many countries, Christmas just isn’t complete without mischievous pixies (Copenhagen), kindly witches (Rome), treacherous demons (Salzburg), or an 8,000-pound fruitcake (Dresden)!
Have a Pink Christmas in Stockholm
Stockholm
has an excellent reputation among international LGBT travelers, and has
been ranked in the past few years as one of the world’s gay-friendliest
destinations. In conjunction with Pink Christmas Week
in Stockholm, Stockholm Visitors Board and Visit Sweden will be focusing
on a social media contest to attract more international LGBT travelers
to Stockholm.
“Pink
Christmas is an annual highlight in Stockholm, with a number of
Christmas events. We hope to use the campaign ‘A Pink Christmas’ to
highlight the fact that Stockholm has tons to offer gay and lesbian
travelers during the Christmas season, too,” says Christina
Guggenberger, project manager of the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network
in Stockholm Visitors Board.
The Pink Christmas campaign can be found at facebook.com/
and is based on a contest in which the prize is a trip to Stockholm.
With themes such as Charge, Refresh and Recharge, the city hopes to
feature how Stockholm’s offering can fulfill dreams of travel. The
contest will take place over the three-week period from October 29–November 19, 2013.
URL: www.visitstockholm.com/
Pink Christmas Week will be from December 9–15
in Stockholm, and is organized by Stockholm Gay Life. Over the course
of the week, there will be Christmas markets, concerts and pink
offerings at gay bars and clubs, as well as lectures and the Rainbow
Fund’s prize presentation. One of the highlights will be the crowning of
Lucia, followed by a “Pink Lucia” procession through parts of the city
ending up with a big party.
Beautiful Christmas Displays Around the World
It’s like flowers in spring or colorful foliage in fall: You know it’s Christmastime when everywhere you go, there are colored lights and fanciful decorations.
district standbys: The evergreen inventiveness and humor of Macy’s
window displays, or Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Shoppers walk by
carrying gifts, kids are everywhere and holiday music ribbons the whole
scene. It’s like a warm Christmas bath: if holiday shopping has you worn
down early, a visit can help even the Grinchiest visitor find the
spirit.
decades, where cars and tour buses fill with families for hours-long
sightseeing trips. Winn Tours’ “Tacky Lights Tours” drives customers by
some of the area’s best-decorated homes, complete with personalized
Christmas music and a full bar–even eggnog. “We do over 100 of these
tours every season, each with a group of 40 or more people,” says Mark
Pounders, director of operations for Winn Tours. “There are all types:
large families who come together, church groups, office parties.”
From wacky residential displays to professional over-the-top spectacles, AOL Travel has rounded up the 10 Best Christmas Light Displays in the U.S. Unlike your kooky neighbor’s blow up Santa Claus, these Christmas light displays have been bringing visitors back year after year. Some are classy, others tacky — but each one sparkles with unmatched holiday cheer.
Here is the America’s Best Online list of the Best Christmas Light Shows in America. After the top ten light shows and festivals there is a
list of honorable mentions. Many are listed with the approximate dates
they are available for viewing but start and end dates change yearly.
HAPPY GAY HOLIDAYS!
SPONSORED BY….INNdulge Palm Springs
Naked Men in the Desert
Gay Travel for Christmas and Holidays in Europe
The European Christmas traditions are known to revolve around European countries like Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Spain, Scandinavia, United Kingdom amongst others.
walk around in the shopping streets will help you in discovering the
latest in fashion at Brussels. You can find the Czars of the fashion
world like Chanel, Vinton Hermes, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and
Christian Dior.
St. Catherine. There are festive lights, decorations and numerous stalls
offering goodies like Christmas gifts and decorations, local crafts for your
family and friends. There is an ice rink nearby for you to skate zig zag and
soak in the festive spirit. A high speed Euro star service of less than two
hours from London offers the perfect justification to sample Christmas
festivities globally in the attractive city of Brussels. A laid back relaxed
pace and its compact size makes it a perfect place to have a family break, stay in a Brussels hotel for a few nights and soak up
the unique seasonal atmosphere.
Christmas abounds all over Europe. I love it all. But I really enjoy Budapest and Prague. It is definitely worth visiting any European capitals at this time of
the year even if the weather is quite cold. You can enjoy walking round
the main squares, looking at the stalls selling different kinds of
Christmas products, having a warm drink and some food and listening to
music.
In mid-November Budapest starts to prepare for Christmas.
Streets are decorated with colourful lights, shop-windows are adorned to lure in customers hunting for gifts.
More and more people set out to look for the ideal Christmas presents in shops or in the markets.
If you’re looking for a unique Hungarian gift and want to get away from the all alike shops visit the Budapest Christmas Fair at Vörösmarty Square.
Christmasin Prague is a magical time and December is undoubtedly
one of the nicest months of the year in this beautiful
city. Christmas markets are up, shop windows are
bright and beautiful, Christmas trees adorn the town
squares and the early dusk is filled with warm light.
People are nicer to each other, the mood is festive.
And if all is covered in fresh, white snow, what
more can you ask for?
Prague at Christmas is a special place,
so bundle up and take a stroll. If you get cold,
have some hot chocolate at a café, stop by a tea
room or buy a cup of mulled wine or grog from a
street vendor.
(Stay at the Jewel in Old Town for a nice treat – or The Temple, if you want something old world, quaint and very gay!)
You haven’t experienced Christmas lights until you’ve seen nearly four
miles of them artfully hung in patterns dictated by Tiffany’s head
designer in Copenhagen’s famed historic amusement park, Tivoli Gardens—and that’s not counting the 1,800 strands dramatically draped on the lakeside willows. Copenhagen celebrates Jul
(as in “yuletide”) in high style, with its famed Christmas market the
centerpiece.
Stalls stocked with fine handmade crafts, including
traditional figurines of clog-clad elves in pointy red caps, compete for
space with vendors selling iced doughnuts slathered with black currant
jam and hefty cups of gløgg, a steaming hot mulled red wine laden with
raisins, almonds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves—all of which, for good
measure, are steeped in aquavit or schnapps.
read more at Travel and Leisure!
Christmas at the Biltmore Thru Jan 1, 2013
Christmas at America’s largest home, where a 35-foot Christmas tree and miles of festive décor fill you with holiday cheer.
250-room family home in Asheville, NC. Discover more about the lives of
people who visited, lived, and worked at Biltmore House during George
Vanderbilt’s day.
to kick off the holidays. A horse-drawn wagon makes its way to the
front of Biltmore House, bringing Santa and the towering 35′ tree that
will grace the Banquet Hall.
Banquet Hall. Employees hoisted the tree into place using ropes and
pulleys to secure it into position. Then a separate team added 500
lights and over 1,000 ornaments. Hours of heavy lifting and holiday
trimming are put it into this one minute of video fun.
BYTOX – You Might Not Be Able to Cure a Hangover, But You Can Prevent it!
HOW DO YOU CURE A HANGOVER? You can’t technically.
However,
You can PREVENT IT
with BYTOX.
HOW GREAT IS THIS?!
Perfect this time of year, when many of us go to party after party and over-indulge.
Be prepared for the biggest drinking time
(as in alcoholic consumption) of the year.
Let me introduce you to Bytox patches….the
ultimate hangover remedy patch which will allow you to wake up the next
morning with a clear memory and feeling good.
SO EASY TO USE! As you head out to your party, stick the patch on your body and just leave it on till the next morning.
The
specially-formulated Bytox hangover remedy patch effectively replenishes the
vital levels of vitamins and nutrients your body loses when you consume
alcohol. By enhancing and restoring these levels, Bytox reduces the physical
side effects of alcohol consumption. Use the patch before during or after your
night out for maximum relief from hangovers. The patch is 100% safe and really
works! I have used it and tested it with great results!
Bytox has zero calories of course and won’t irritate your stomach, so you
can party in style.
BE
RESPONSIBLE: OBVIOUSLY, THE BYTOX PATCH DOES NOT REVERSE OR PREVENT SENSORY IMPAIRMENT IN
THE OPERATION OF MACHINERY OR VEHICLES AFTER ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
For more information visit www.bytox.com. Get a package of 5 patches for about $15.00.
Look for them on store shelves everywhere – order online.
DO NOT USE
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR NURSING, OR IF YOU ARE TAKING MEDICATION AND/OR HAVE A
MEDICAL CONDITION. DON’T
DRINK AND DRIVE. BYTOX IS NOT TO BE USED BY ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
Sunset at the North Pole #northpole #santa
This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest point last month. A scene you will probably never get to see in person, so take a moment and enjoy.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
#northpole #santa
Holidays and Christmas in Prague
Prague is the proud capital of the Czech Republic that is one of the most alluring and captivating destinations in the heart of Europe. It is beautiful and its culture is quite significant in some ways with the traditions that is totally that of Prague’s.
Holidays in Prague also play some important historical background that can inform you more about Prague. There are also some places in Prague that you may want to visit in connection with the holiday that might be particularly being celebrated in that area of Prague.
Some of the Holidays in Prague that can raise the curiosity of one are “Struggle for freedom and Democracy Day”, “The Burning of the Witches”, “Easter” (a different kind), and “Day of Love” (not in February). The people of Prague are proud about their culture, traditions, and their holidays which others may find rather odd but the Holidays in Prague also molded the people to what they are now.
The “Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day” comes every 17th of November. On the said day of 1939 a student named Jan Opletal was shot when a group formed a demonstration versus the Nazi occupation. After that fateful event, the universities were closed by the Nazis and mercilessly persecuted and killed students whom they believed opposed them.
“The Burning of the Witches” might just be the catchiest one of all and happens every 30th of April. No, they don’t burn real witches on that day in one of the peculiar Holidays in Prague it was just simply named that way and with that is a weird practice in Czech to bid their goodbyes to winter. Czech used to believe in witches and the witches’ power is stronger when the weather is colder and if they can make things warmer then the power of the witch will weaken. On the night of 30th of April, the Czechs would prepare a bonfire and a witch’s effigy. They tend to make it so realistic that they would dress their witch and stuff it with old clothes until the effigy takes form and tie the whole thing to a broomstick and when the darkness fall they would brought the witch out and toss it on the bonfire and as the witch burns it marks the end of the long cold winter. People would gather around the bonfire and roast sausages and share some good songs at the strum of the guitar. That is one Holidays in Prague that is hard to forget.
The “Easter” in Prague is also called Easter Monday and you guess it, it’s being done on Monday instead of the usual Sunday that most people know. Boys and men visit in the morning and they have pomlazkas which are willow sticks in braids with ribbons of different colors at the ends keeping it together. They lightly whip the women and the girls and chase them out of the house that they have visited. The women and the girls are to give colored eggs to the men and the boys and the custom was really for fertility, another one of the Holidays in Prague that is uniquely their own.
The Czechs celebrate the “Day of Love” every May 1st. If most nations dedicate the day of love to St. Valentine (hence the name Valentine’s Day), Czech devotes the day to Karel Hynek Macha, the poet of love in Czech. On the said day, couples usually go to the statue of the poet and give flowers where they would spend some moments in the park when the cherry trees can create some romantic atmosphere with its branches in full bloom.
Christmas in Prague is a magical time and December is undoubtedly one of the nicest months of the year in this beautiful city. Christmas markets are up, shop windows are bright and beautiful, Christmas trees adorn the town squares and the early dusk is filled with warm light. People are nicer to each other, the mood is festive. And if all is covered in fresh, white snow, what more can you ask for?
You will see the signs of Christmas approaching as early as October when Czech Christmas ornaments start appearing in shop windows. Around the end of November, Christmas markets open up and a large Christmas tree is erected and lit on the Old Town Square.
The markets start every year four Saturdays before December 24, which is the Christmas Eve, and run until the beginning of January. They are open every day of the week and still they are always busy despite the weather!
Prague Christmas markets are not mainly about the shopping. It is all about the special Christmas atmosphere that is there. The markets offer you not only a great opportunity to buy some unique gifts, but especially the experience of nice traditions that are still alive. They bring the true meaning of Christmas to life.
The most popular markets are on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square where Christmas items are sold in 70 to 80 stands. Smaller ones are located on Namesti Republiky, Havelske Trziste and Namesti Miru. They are all easily accessible by subway.
The markets themselves consist of traditional wooden chalets that line the market squares and are nicely decorated. You will find there traditional Christmas decorations, holiday items and hand-crafted gifts together with fresh food and drinks. They are usually open from 9am to 7pm.
A Magnificent place to stay right near everything is HOTEL JEWEL PRAGUE. Originally build as a 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 rebuild 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.
They also offer special packages, like a
Wine Appreciaition package, Girls Getaway package, and a Romance gift basket. Jewel Café Bar and Restaurant is connected to the hotel. It 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 our fine modern cuisine. Every two months a new menu is created by the chefs. Amazing food – reasonably priced. Check availability and book online! Holiday discounts start NOV. 21st!
Christmas and Holidays at Hearst Castle in San Simeon
Hearst Castle,
William Randolph Hearst’s
iconic palace in the San Simeon hills, is one of the most popular attractions in San Luis Obispo County, CA all year around; 90,000 Sq Foot of FABULOUS! 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 41 fireplaces and 19 sitting rooms! Jaw Dropping!
But, during the holidays, the opulent historic landmark becomes even more exquisite and alluring. From Thanksgiving through to the New Year, visitors on the “Experience Tour” will get in the Christmas spirit amid the castle’s 1920s-era holiday décor, including two 18-foot, decorated Christmas trees. “Christmas at the Castle” is enchanting!
Every year the staff at Hearst Castle works hard to decorate the estate for the Holidays, creating a special atmosphere that is sure to get you in the Holiday spirit.
Hearst Castle does not have a specific themed tour for Christmas. The main house and all three guest houses will be decorated for the holidays.
During the holidays the Evening Tour program includes Living History Docents dressed in 1930s period clothing along with the holiday decorations in many of the rooms. Two 18-foot Christmas trees fill the Assembly Room as Living History Docents dressed in 1930s period clothing socialize before dinner. Weekend Evening Tours are difficult to reserve, but we have many available during the week.
All of the Hearst Castle tours are highlighted by stops at each of Hearst’s two swimming pools. The Neptune Pool is a magnificent Greco-Roman style pool that features unparalleled coastline views from the hilltop. The Roman Pool is an indoor pool decorated from ceiling to floor with 1″ square mosaic tiles. QUITE MAGNIFICENT!
We did a story on the castle a couple years ago – and when ever we go to visit, we always stay this nearby quirky landmark, called the Madonna Inn. Read that post here on New Gay Travel Guide .
Gay New Years Eve From Around The World
Everybody has had at least one New Year’s dud, where plans didn’t materialize as expected and the final countdown ended up taking place in a lame bar, or worse, stuck in a car or taxi, trying to get somewhere at Midnight!!
It starts around Sydney and travels time zone by time zone around the globe like some sort of well-coordinated pre-planned pyrotechnic explosion.
SYDNEY. Take your choice – party on the water, party on the bridge or party in a pub. The first major city to celebrate the coming of the New Year is also one of the best. How good is Sydney? The fireworks end at 12:15 but the celebrations last until dawn.
Top Tip: Wear black. That’s the wardrobe color of choice for social Sydneysiders.
Weather: It’s summer so pretty warm, but have a light jacket handy.
San Francisco, CA – Perhaps the greatest of all American cities, San Francisco doesn’t hesitate to let its hair down on New Year’s — literally. The town’s huge gay community is influential in setting the New Year’s party vibe, as clubs stock their December 31st lineups with burlesque shows, drag queens and DJs obsessed with Cher and Madonna. Salsa dancing parties abound, and the city’s “street crawl” features the usual mix of fireworks and revelry.
New York City – Perhaps the epicenter of the US on New Years Eve. New York City is still the place to be on New Year’s Eve. New York remains the control center for celebrations across the continent, which is why hundreds of thousands of people will pack themselves into the colorful Times Square to watch Dick Clark possibly, Ryan Seacrest for sure, count down the seconds until the ball drops. As with everything else in New York, you’re sure to find entertainment for New Year’s, whether it’s the corner pub or cabaret or the sweaty confines of hot clubs uptown, midtown and downtown.Touch Nightclub is a new club in the heart of Time Square. Club TOUCH promises to be a celebrity filled party on 3 levels.
Weather: Usually COLD!
PRAGUE. One of the world’s most beautiful cities attracts people from throughout Europe because they know a great party when the see one. Prague is an awesome place to play anytime and on the Big Night it literally explodes. That’s because the Czechs just love fireworks. Wander in and out of the many pubs and cafes but at midnight go to Old Town Square or Charles Bridge. Climb the hill to the Prague Castle or the “Stalin statue,” where the fireworks are launched for an overview of the whole crazy scene. Prague is unbelievably inexpensive; your crowns go a long. long way. Czech it out!
Top Tip: Watch out for flying fireworks of every size and description.
Weather: The average temperature for January is -1.3C (30F), so it’s cold. This makes quick jaunts into the many cafes a requirement.
IN LONDON, you have your choice of a BEARS AND BIG BLOKES New Years Eve at the Eagle , or maybe something on the KINKY side. Kinky Trade brings together 3 big promoters…Trade, Juicy and Lovechild for a wild evening with lasers, pyrotechs and more.
MATINEE LONDON will provide a spectacular after-hours party for the late night owls who just can quit celebrating. Starts at 5am and runs thru the early afternoon of New Years Day! Read more at Patroc London.
The ball is dropping; the champagne is popping. Grab your goofy hat and ring in next year with a rockin New Year s Eve party.
I think I will celebrate quietly with friends!
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDES
Christmas in California – 101st Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
and Orange County!
It’s one of our favorite places and great ANYTIME of the year! And if you can get out this way during the holidays, the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, is not to be missed!
Tucked away on Southern California’s Orange County coastline lies the famed getaway destination of Newport Beach, a Southern California coastal fantasyland of accessible luxury, the perfect escape from ordinary life for sophisticated fun seekers and families. Located only 45 minutes south of Los Angeles, Newport is a calming world away from the urban metropolis. Just 10 miles from Anaheim and
With nine miles of pristine beaches, charming villages, upscale shopping, premier golf courses, spectacular dining and year-round Mediterranean weather–Newport Beach combines the cosmopolitan flair of a modern city with the casual vibe of a postcard perfect beach town featuring one of the world’s largest small yacht harbors. Coupled with both natural and manmade beauty, Newport Beach is a place that allows visitors to thoroughly relax and enjoy laidback sophistication at its finest.
It’s the longest-running holiday boat parade and most elaborate holiday celebration on water in the country featuring over 100 vessels and dating back to 1908. – So this year is the 101st Annual!
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is older than such holiday events as the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
John Scarpa, an Italian gondolier, and Joseph Beek, the principal forces in the early development of Balboa Island, arrive in the Newport Harbor area in 1900. These two men establish the Tournament of Lights—an event that will continue for the century to come.
In July 1908, the first lighted boat parade takes place. Scarpa, along with his fellow small boat operators, create a loosely organized affair consisting of nine vessels. The parade, illuminated by Japanese lanterns, is led by Scarpa’s gondola followed by eight canoes. Thus, he is credited with creating the first lighted boat parade.
Decorated multi-million dollar yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will light up the harbor as a dazzling array of holiday lights and music fill the air.
Parade kicks off on Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30PM and runs nightly until Sunday, December 20th, 2009. Charting a 14 mile route throughout Newport Harbor.
Viewing areas available for the public on public beaches located on Balboa Peninsula, the Fun Zone and Balboa Island. Additionally, several establishments along the waterfront offer prime viewing.
Never compromising a beautiful Mediterranean climate for any of life’s greatest pleasures, Newport Beach rings in the holidays with truly memorable and festive seasonal celebrations!
Christmas Boat Parade Newport Beach
Orange County and Anaheim LGBT Anaheim and Orange County
Christmas from Gay – and Not So Gay – Places Around The World
CHRISTMAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
Above – The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments
that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens
in the ‘Pathway of Peace’ represent the 50 U.S. states.
Below – A token of gratitude for Britain’s aid during World War II,
the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square has been the
annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.
Above – Simple and quaint. Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague’s Old Town Square,
and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market,
is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.
Below – Gay Paris – Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette!
In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome,
plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it’s no surprise this show-stopping
department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.
Above – The world’s largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes
of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy’s Umbria region. Composed of about
500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the ‘tree’ is a modern marvel for an ancient city.
Below – The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall)
can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands
of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special
enchantment of the city during the holiday season.
Above – Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox
calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in
anticipation of Father Frost’s arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden.
He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree,
or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.
Below – A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo’s nighttime neon display
is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.
Above – Leave it those crazy glass blowing Italians!
Venice ‘s Murano Island renowned throughout the world for its quality
glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master
glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a
modern reflection of the holiday season.
Below – The Gayest Place on Earth?
West Hollywood.
It is said that more than 33% of it’s population identify with being LGBT!
That a lot of gays!
And at the epicenter is THE ABBEY – BEST GAY BAR IN THE WORLD,
as voted recently by TripOut Gay Travel Awards & Logo.
(photo Wayne Castro)
H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S !
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Best Gay Cities
/images/39531-36457/gay34.jpg” width=292 height=215>
/images/39531-36457/gayflag22.jpg”>MIAMI WHITE PARTY
WHITE PARTY – the granddaddy of all circuit
parites. Gay flock in from all over the world. As well as MTV, VH1, and E! enetertainment, mind you.
It was in 1984 that Frank Wager and Jorge Suarez planned the first event which they hoped would
increase understanding and awareness about the HIV virus. Having already lost many of their friends
against the struggle with AIDS, their plan was simple: to raise some money as well as people’s perceptions
about the fight against the virus.
The first White Party was advertised by dropping flyers outside the gay bars and clubs of South Florida
and local businesses were urged to donate alcohol and food in support of the cause. The venue was the
glamorous Vizcaya Villa, set on the banks of Miami’s Biscayne Bay amidst the spectacular 30 acres of
beautiful gardens. 1,600 people attended that first event. This year, 25,000 are expected. Many celebrities
that have attended over the years include such A-list stars as Calvin Klein, Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Gloria
and Emilio Estefan, Eartha Kitt, Patti Labelle, Rosie O’Donnell and Yoko Ono.
/images/39531-36457/home_header.jpg”> 
/images/39531-36457/041029a.jpeg”>
/images/39531-36457/154446542_4c5f310f38_m.jpeg”>
/images/39531-36457/ONEAL24.jpeg”> 
/images/39531-36457/serpent___bride.jpeg” width=253> 
/images/39531-36457/02.jpeg”>
