Category Archives: News and Happenings

THE OUT NYC is Expanding to More Cities

 THE OUT NYC is New York’s first straight-friendly urban resort (NOT a
hotel) located in the epicenter of gay life – Hell’s Kitchen, steps from
Times Square and Chelsea.  Live your own unforgettable experience with
the best of lodging, dining, nightlife and design all in one place – THE
OUT NYC.

Complete with 5000 square foot spa, and a Sun Deck to get your tan
on or watch an amazing sunset. Along one side is a glass reflecting pool
with a water room enclosed by cascading curtains of rain.

The
Secret Garden is tucked inside serene plantings of black bamboo. It’s a
quiet place to bring your laptop and a snack. Work or read at our long
sturdy tables. It’s also the right place to bring your yoga mat for
quiet meditation.

The Great Lawn @ THE OUT offers everything you need to enjoy the
great outdoors. The grass is green. The beanbag chairs are soft. There’s
enough green space on the Great Lawn for outdoor games or events. With a
hilled stage at the north end, it’s the perfect place for a wedding
ceremony, cocktail party or press junket. And whatever the occasion,
Ktchn can be there to cater your every culinary need.

THE OUT NYC concept has been so successful, developers are now
seeking to expand to other cities – and are looking at locations possibly 
in  Washington DC and  Chicago. One source told us The OUT is even looking at Milan, the fashion capital of the world,  by year end!  
  Stay tuned! We’ll have
more details soon!

THE OUT NYC, Urban Resort.
Stay. Play. Eat. Chill. Revive.
510 West 42nd Street, New York City, NY 10036 

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Russia Could Enact Anti-Gay Law Nationwide

Russia was never on the top of my short wish list, of places to visit. Now it looks like I will never go there!

The new legislation being pushed by the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox
Church would make it illegal nationwide to provide minors with
information that is defined as “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism,
bisexuality and transgenderism.”
 It includes a ban on holding public
events that promote gay rights. St. Petersburg and a number of other
Russian cities already have similar laws on their books.

 The bill is part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values as
opposed to Western liberalism, which the Kremlin and church see as
corrupting Russian youth and by extension contributing to a wave of
protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule.

Samburov describes the anti-gay bill as part of a Kremlin crackdown on
minorities of any kind — political and religious as well as sexual —
designed to divert public attention from growing discontent with Putin’s
rule.

READ MORE  AT  ABC

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Las Vegas Rolls Out Pink Carpet for Gays and Lesbians

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, has launched a new campaign aimed at targeting 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

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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!

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Booster Bag Scam at Airports – BEWARE!

They say do not leave your bags unattended…well,  DO NOT LET YOUR BAGS OUT OF YOUR SITE!

This scam is sweeping airports everywhere!
The Booster Bag Scam will make you think twice about where you set your purse or bag down in an airport, hotel, coffee shop, or anywhere else a thief might be lurking. I had never heard of this scam until seeing this video demonstration and can see how easy it would be to pull off. If the scam artist is using a pretty girl as his accomplice I’m pretty sure most men would fall victim to the distraction and be scammed.
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Get Away to Gay Palm Springs for $99 A Night

WHERE CLOTHING IS FOREVER OPTIONAL!
Pamper, pleasure, gratify yourself  @ INNdulge Palm Springs
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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.

Some Christmas displays are modern updates of traditional shopping
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. 
The area around Richmond, Va., has become a Christmas beacon over recent
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.”
See more at FORBES


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

Clothing is Forever Optional


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Global Warming and Lack of Snow Could Cost BILLIONS to Travel Industry

A new analysis conducted for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Protect Our Winters (POW) will detail the devastating economic impact that climate change could have on the winter tourism industry in New York and the rest of the nation.

The analysis finds that the $12.2 billion ski and snowmobile industry
is dependent on heavy and predictable snowfall, and changes in the winter
season snowfall have already been felt across the nation and are likely to
become even more pronounced with climate change. A lot of winter sport enthusiasts
are planning their next wintervacation to Toronto or Montreal where the snow sticks the
entire winter. 

The NRDC/POW analysis covers all 38 states involved in the U.S. ski and snowmobile winter tourism industry. During the Thursday New York news event, experts will discuss the consequences nationwide and for New York, California, Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and Washington state.

The study aims to help policy makers understand both the ski and snowmobile industry’s current economic scale and the potential economic impacts that climate change may cause, as well as the effects the industry is already feeling in New York and the rest of the nation from reduced snowpack and rising winter temperatures over the last decade.

Just this past ski season, 50 percent of ski resorts opened late and 48 percent closed early with every region experiencing a decrease in the days of operation. Winter sports resorts are not the only ones affected by this shift; a reduced and shortened winter season will also hurt the secondary related industries of lodging, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and entertainment.

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Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort Featured in Travel Channel’s HOTEL IMPOSSIBLE

Second season of ‘Hotel Impossible’ features a Maui, Hawaii resort that caters to the LGBT clientele.

 Hotel fixer Anthony Melchiorri, star of Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible,” comes to the rescue of the Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort. The episode featuring the transformation of the resort, its first resort property in the beautiful state of Hawaii, premieres on December 17 at 10:00 p.m. ETPT on Travel Channel. 
 An adults-only property, the Maui Sunseeker welcomes all, but caters to the LGBT clientele. With such a narrow client focus, Melchiorri works with Chuck Spence, Owner of the Maui Sunseeker, on the marketing strategy and allocation of resources to improve the property. 
The hotel presented a unique problem as it receives rave reviews from its clientele but struggles with its occupancy and related cash flow, hence the marketing strategy focus. Designer Blanche Garcia joins Melchiorri to upgrade the rooftop deck.
“It was eye opening for all involved in this show” laughs Spence, “for us from a business perspective and for the cast when they discovered the clothing optional hot tub”.  
Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort is located right on the sunny shore in Kihei on the island of Maui, the boutique resort currently has 26 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. Chuck Spence has owned the resort since 2008. Michael Waddell is the General Manager and featured in the above mentioned episode of Hotel Impossible.
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Carnival Cruise Ru Paul Charter says Guests CAN NOT Come in Drag

DRAGS QUEENS AND TRANSGENDERS are SREAMING MAD about the upcoming Carnival Cruise featuring Ru Pauls Drag Racers. 

On December 2, the Carnival Glory will depart from the Port of Miami carrying about two dozen drag queens from Logo’s RuPaul’s Drag Race (including local favorite Latrice Royale),
but Carnival Cruises has managed to spark a bit of controversy a week
before the ship even sails by banning drag costumes. Yes, they’ve banned
drag costumes from a drag queen-themed cruise.

Carnival Cruises is in hot water for reportedly telling passengers that drag would been banned on an upcoming drag cruise.
An email was sent to ticket holders on Carnivial’s “Drag Stars at Sea”
cruise, telling them that they wouldn’t be able to put on a wig and
heels and kiki aboard the U.S.S. Glory. Only the professionals from RuPaul’s Drag Race could. Y’see, there were other people on the boat—including children—so everyone would have to keep their pants on.

When asked, Carnival management acknowledged that gender illusion was verboten among passengers on the December 2 cruise, but said it wasn’t discrimination. It was part of their standard policy as a result of the war on terrorism.


ALLEGEDLY,    Carnival’s “no costumes rule” is NOT meant to be an insult to the gay community. As a gay business, we would not have organized this cruise if they were prejudiced against gay people. This rule goes for both GAY and STRAIGHT passengers that travel on all Carnival cruises. It is in response to the post-911 world we live in. It is meant to protect passengers and guests – NOT to marginalize a few.

I get the NO MASK thing. That makes sense. So what if a transgender  comes on board, in their desired clothing of choice and/or makeup, and their ID does not match their exterior, would they be ejected from  the boat. 

Many people are demanding a full refund. 

Come on Carnival. GET REAL!

Read more at Queerty  and  Miami New Times
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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. 

The tradition according to each country is rooted to ancient practices while others are rooted to mythology. These countries share many of the European Christmas traditions with each country having a twist in the celebration.
The St. Nicholas day is one of the European Christmas traditions that is common among all these countries. This feast day is enhanced by the inclusion of singing of hymns and the preparation and presentation of the twelve meals during Christmas Eve supper. Children really enjoy this particular tradition amongst the other European Christmas traditions because it involves the retrieval of gifts. Children are dressed in devils and angel costumes and sing carols from one house to another and in return receive gifts; this usually takes place on the 5th of December. According to these Christmas traditions, St. Nicholas is depicted as the founder of traditions that favor both the old and little in Europe with gifts of all kinds.
Brussels has a great assortment of shopping streets and galleries. A
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.
Brussels annual European Christmas market takes place on the Place
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!

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Anaheim, Orange County…Disneyland and Beyond

I first fell in love with Southern California in 1985. I was visiting from Michigan and fell in love with the weather and the beauty of the scenery, water, beaches and mountains! It was magical! My first trip had been to San Diego.
I have since been back to San Francisco and traveled the coastline, been from Big Sur down to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbra, Los Angeles, palm Springs – I love it all.  But a few years back, I discovered Anaheim and Orange County!  Disneyland and beyond.  WOW!
Orange County’s total population is 3,000,000 + , making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County.  The county is famous for its tourism, as the home of such attractions as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, as well as several beaches along its more than 40+ miles (64 km) of coastline.
Orange County’s 42 miles of alluring coastline features lively beach
towns, family fun, gay-friendly vibrant boardwalks and cool breezes in the warm
California sun. The Orange County coastline is comprised of six BEACH CITIES, each offering its own unique brand of the Southern California
experience. A day on the coast can include surf lessons, a romantic walk
on the beach or a nighttime bonfire cookout. What else could you ask for?!

We were  in Anaehim for Gay Days Anaheim 4 years ago. (What a fantastic party weekend that was!) So we went back just a few weeks ago, and I wondered what could really changed in 4 years, with the recession most parts of the US have dealt with. In Anaheim, they ask, WHAT RECESSION? Nothing paused here for a moment and building bigger and better moved full speed ahead!

$1 billion+  in renovations have been added to the California Adventures Park with the new addition of CARS LAND and 10 rides are being closed and refurbished, as we speak in the 2 parks.

But what  is most exciting, is the new developments happening all around Anaheim. There is so much to see and do off Disney property now as well.  Anaheim is turning back the hands of time, getting into deep values, enriching the community through the arts, providing a space for the production for local culinary artisans, embracing farm-to-table foods, the slow-food movement, vintage Americana, a focus on native food and health and allowing the public to watch firsthand the processes of baking, beer brewing cooking and more. Small business ownerships and no big box stores allowed here!  Embracing the history and heritage of Anaheim.

The Downtown Center Street Anaheim  is located at the heart of Downtown Anaheim and is surrounded by City Hall, newly built lofts, and the historic Carnegie Library and
Muzeo Museum, the Gehry-designed Anaheim ice rink, and the historic neighborhoods of the Colony District. You will find an awesome  collection of like-minded individuals and businesses focused on a common goal. Old values, personal service, shop local with handmade goods or have a haircut, shave (Imperial Barber Products) and a beer (Barbeer) . Homemade culinary treats with a distinctive cultural legacy. (Healthy Junk and Gypsy Den ).  Everything old, is new again!

With new and ongoing development projects (including the restoration of of the Packing House &
Packard Showroom by Lab Holding LLC*), Downtown Anaheim is enjoying a revitalization that will reestablish it as the center of Historic Anaheim and an important Orange County destination.

Coming soon (completion of project projected for March 2013) Anaheim residents and visitors alike will be treated to an amazing, new communal gathering place in the heart of downtown Anaheim, complete with refurbished historic structures and new exciting uses.

The Packing District, located at the intersection of Anaheim Blvd and Santa Ana Street, includes the restored Packard Car Showroom, an outdoor marketplace and the restored citrus Packing House. The Packing District designs and architecture will pay homage to the master illustrators and printers of early Californian fruit crates and union organizations.

One of the few remaining packing houses from the agricultural era for which Orange County is named, the Anaheim Citrus Packing House is a landmark in both County and City history. Built in 1919 at the edge of downtown Anaheim and along the Southern Pacific rail line, the Packing House was a hub of commerce for the area. Local farmers arrived to unload trucks of freshly picked citrus to begin the process of washing, grading and eventual packing into wooden crates. Once completed, the crated and labeled citrus would be loaded onto rail cars parked on the side of the building to be shipped nationwide.

The restored Packing House will serve as a culinary center, planned as a food hall reminiscent of the great public markets of South America and Europe, that brings together artisan food producers and purveyors in a public market type setting serving as a resource for the neighborhood (daily food production) and a community gathering space (restaurants and entertainment).

 

The bright 42,000-square-foot historic warehouse will feature communal dining, railroad car patios, an indoor music venue and unique culinary offerings.  The two level Packing House will have a large central atrium with communal dining surrounded by cafes and kiosks of varying sizes as well as outdoor picnic gardens and a building-length dining porch looking out to the outdoor marketplace, Farmers’ Park.

Farmer’s Park is an outdoor marketplace slated to host weekend farmer’s markets, outdoor concerts and movies, and festivals. Farmers Park will serve as picnic grounds for the entire project. Two small cafes sit in the park for quick takeout to enjoy in the gardens.

Farmers Park is a front porch for the community; a space that the existing neighbors will utilize as an amenity, and a welcome to those who will be visiting the adjacent Packing House and Packard Showroom.

The Packard Building is one of a handful of historic commercial buildings remaining in a district that has seen tremendous new urban development in the past decade. Contrasted with this new higher density development, buildings such as the Packard Building, the newly restored Carnegie Library and the citrus Packing House are quickly becoming the jewels of downtown Anaheim.

This mission revival building was built in 1925 and was designed with an open and light filled interior typical of car showrooms. After decades of various automobile uses and miscellaneous modifications, the Packard Building is now being restored to its original 1920’s glory. The Packard Showroom is home to the Anaheim Brewery (where past has a presence)  and Umami Burger  (named Burger of the Year!) and the two merchants share a large landscaped beer garden.  All of this is OPEN NOW and packing people in. The final phase should be unveiled in March 2013!

In the coming months we will take you to more of Anaheim and the OC including the breath taking Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Crystal Cove State Park and more!


Useful Links You need to know…Gay Days Anaheim (held in October)
Anaheim and Orange County info
Anabella Hotel Just steps from Disneyland!
Great property and pricing!
Segestrom Center for the Arts
South Coast Plaza
The most AMAZING luxury shopping complex in the US
Laguna Beach Visitors info


*LAB Holding – In 1993, LAB holding invented the “anti-mall”, to meet the demands of  urban shoppers dissatisfied with the homogenization of conventional malls. In his his quest to hipsterize OC retail, Shaheen Sadeghi has built
quirkily beautiful properties and gained more than a few critics.

His latest extreme building makeover: the overhaul of Center Street in downtown Anaheim.
In the coming months, the palm-tree-lined, marble-and-teal shopping
plaza recently vacated by a jewelry-repair shop, discount-clothing
boutique and travel agency promoting cruise vacations will be
transformed into a 1940s-themed destination hub, packed with
meticulously conceptualized shops that nod to the city’s past.

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Gay Travel to Vancouver Canada

The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city. 

VANCOUVER!
Its gay community is centred around two distinctly different neighbourhoods – the West End and Commercial Drive, both of which enjoy a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and boutiques catering to gays and lesbians.
 Writer LAWRENCE FERBER just did an awesome article in the Oct. 2012 PASSPORT MAGAZINE discussing all the amazing places to dine in Vancouver!
February 2013 Gay Whistler will take place!  One of the most highly anticipated gay ski weeks in North America. 
 GayWhistler.com is
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

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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.

Be inspired by the friendly elegance of George and Edith Vanderbilt’s
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.

It only happens once a year! The Banquet Hall tree raising
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.   
Watch this cool time lapse of the 35′ tree going up!  It took 40 people just to get the 35-foot Frasier Fir inside Biltmore’s
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.

 


Plus get a Preview of all of the holiday decor!
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Birds Nest Gets A Free Flight to Australia

HOW CRAZY IS THIS?? 

A bird’s nest with eggs still in it has been found on a plane which arrived in Auckland from the United States last week. 
Engineers working on the plane alerted biosecurity staff to the nest which they found in the wheel housing of the Boeing 737. 
The nest was made from mud, feathers and straw and contained two hatched eggs and two whole eggs. The species of bird is not yet known.
  Ministry for Primary Industries team leader Steve Gay says the nest could be a biosecurity risk.

“The
engineers did the right thing. The materials had potential to carry
plant and avian diseases that could have threatened our wildlife and
primary industries.”

The plane was transported to
Auckland from Arizona to be dismantled, after having been stored in the
Mojave Desert for some time.

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New Gay Travel Survey Examines LGBT Tourists Motivations

The University of Tennessee and the University of South Carolina are
conducting research concerning the travel motives and expenditures of
members of the LGBT community.

It
is estimated that tourism is a $1.3 trillion industry, of which $65
billion is generated by LGBT tourists (CMI, 2011).  
While there
continues to be a vast amount of research conducted on the various
motivators that lead people to travel, there are very few studies that
explore LGBT tourists’ motivations.  
PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND HELP WITH THIS SURVEY!

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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.

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Gay Travel to Australia for the Holiday Season

Thinking about what to do this holiday season?

The  biggest event  down under will be the 2012 solar eclipse, Turtle Cove has the
best vantage point in Australia with the path of the eclipse passing
right over our resort.
from 5.45am to 7.40am on Wednesday 14 November 2012.

 ( Bloody early in the morning he…he..)


It
is rare for a total eclipse to be visible from land, so the excitement
is building for those who want to share in this once in a lifetime
extraordinary phenomenon.

 

Zinc
FM 102.7 / 4CA will be doing a live broadcast from our lawns on the
beach where the eclipse passes right above us causing a total
blackout.They will also broadcast live through all their channels in QLD
and other stations throughout Australia.


 As this is such a unique once in a lifetime phenomenon
it would be unfair to cut out the rest of the world and keep this very
special day just for us.So for this one event only,Turtle Cove will have
all mixes of people of all beliefs and persuasions,if you get my drift.

 

BOOK NOW  not many spaces left.

Xmas Day Dec 25th 2012

 

This
is the day that most people from down south and overseas want to get
away from your traditional Xmas day stuff.Rightly so just the thought of
sitting down for lunch all dressed up and stuffing yourself with food
in 30+ temperatures and 90+ humidity makes you feel faint.

 

That
doesen’t happen @ Turtle Cove,after all we are different and thus we do
our famous “Grazing Menu”Our amazing chef will deliver delicious
tasting platters every 45mins from 8am right through to to 4pm or so.

Every time a new platter arrives i will ring the xmas bell to let everyone know.

 

No
one should get dressed up and look pretty for the food,no,no,no…
everybody can stay in their swimmers,laze around the pool and
jacuzzi,take a plate and go for it.

Last
year was a blast and both our house and day guests loved every minute
of it. So bookings are essential,as it is already filling up.

 

BOOK NOW

And of course,

New Years Eve Dec 31st 2012

 

Featuring a New Year’s Eve Dinner and Show

  “DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER”   with Vicki Vegas


Celebrates Vicki’s 25 years in the Biz with all the BEST known numbers/impersonations & stories ONE NIGHT ONLY!   End
2012 in style with all the glitz & glamour,Sydney’s famous VICKI
VEGAS returns to Turtle Cove and transforms herself. This will be a
sensational 3 part floor show that will be like no other!!

The night kicks off with a scrumptious dinner big tropical seafood buffet.

This night is one not to be missed – FNQ’s biggest and best GAY NYE PARTY! 

 

DJ Trent Evans will be performing all of your favorite gay anthems non stop until the early hours of the morning @ 12.00 the big bang and bonfire on the beach

Dinner & show available to outside guests – bookings essential!

Accommodation is selling fast – 2 night minimum over this period  

 

BOOK NOW

Turtle Cove is an Adults Only, Gay, Holiday Resort. Join us in Tropical Far North Queensland   and experience the most fantastic piece of unspoilt Paradise in Australia.

Be assured Turtle Cove Beach Resort is not your ordinary Gay Hotel!
Come and explore our totally private, Absolute Beachfront,
slice of Gay Heaven and have the vacation of your lifetime!

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TSA Could Be Stealing Your iPads…and More

It is now being uncovered, hundreds of thefts by TSA
officers are taking place, apparently stealing passenger belongings.  Last year over 350 TSA were fired for stealing.

Recently, an iPad left behind at a security
checkpoint in the Orlando airport was tracked as it moved 30 miles to
the home of the TSA officer last seen handling it.

Confronted two weeks later by ABC News, the TSA officer, Andy Ramirez,
at first denied having the missing iPad, but ultimately turned it over
after blaming his wife for taking it from the airport.

The iPad was one of ten purposely left behind at TSA checkpoints at
major airports with a history of theft by government screeners, as part
of an ABC News investigation into the TSA’s ongoing problem with theft
from passengers.

The full video report was on “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline.”

WATCH  NOW

MAKE SURE YOUR DEVICES  HAVE INSTALLED THE FREE  APP – FIND MY iPHONE – which will also track your iPad.

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London in October: The creepiest places to visit

Heading to London this autumn? 

If the drizzly, eerie season has inspired you to go on a quest for the creepy you’ll undoubtedly be heading out on one of the capital’s legendary ghost tours,
And with Grange’s luxury chain of hotels situated across the city, you can experience all the thrills of the city but still get a great night’s sleep.
If you’re determined to catch a glimpse of one of the ghouls and grim spirits who have lived and died in the city during its long, gory history, there are a number of places you’ll have to factor into your phantom-hunting mission; below are three. So, settle into the  Tower Bridge Hotel and head out to our first suggested destination, where you’ll meet some headless  haunters and experience unearthly goings on…
The Tower of London
This is your first stop for gruesome and fascinating facts about the capital’s seriously bloody
past. A number of ghouls reportedly haunt the hallowed halls of the ancient buildings that
make up the Tower’s grounds, and it’s not surprising considering the amount of people who’ve
been executed, imprisoned and murdered within its walls!
Often described as the most haunted place in Great Britain, its spectres include some famous
faces: the whimpering ghosts of the murdered Princes frequently make an appearance, the
tragic Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey pop up to waft about mournfully from time to time
and the spirited spirit of Lady Gloucester (hacked to death when she refused to be executed)
comes back to repeat the scene of her grisly death on its anniversary every year. And watch
out for the White Lady! The Tower’s most notorious ghost, she’s said to be a heartbroken nun
that wanders the Tower in search of her lost love.
Highgate Cemetery
As an old, dilapidated Victorian cemetery, Highgate will satisfy the spooky needs of any
thrillseekers: with gothic architecture, glowing red eyes, spectral cyclists and moaning men
in top hats lurking amongst the tombstones, there’s plenty of atmosphere and a lot of ghostly
legends.
It’s where Dicken’s ghost is said to roam and it’s where Rossetti’s wife and muse, Elizabeth Siddal, is buried. She overdosed on laudanum at the age of 32, and Rossetti was so guilt-
wracked that he buried a one-off handwritten book of his poems with her.
 Later in life, and regretting the artistic sacrifice he made, he had her dug up and the poems published: the
gravediggers said that her distinctive red hair had grown to fill the coffin with a glowing, auburn  blanket.
But what makes Highgate an especially creepy collection of crypts are the unnatural events
which have taken place in the last fifty years. In the 1970s, it was widely reported that a group
of teens who were interested in the occult had roused a mysterious, vampiric noble from
Wallachia from the grave with their paranormal prodding: many eye-witness accounts of a
spooky grey figure haunting Highgate hit the press.
The Grenadier Pub
Fatigued after a day of phantom spotting? Whether you’re on an organised tour of the
capital or you simply want to sip a pint in some spooky surroundings, make your way to The
Grenadier: the most haunted pub in London. If you head there in September, you might be
lucky (or unlucky) enough to meet the ghost of a young man beaten to death long ago for
cheating at cards. Moaning noises, unexplained moving objects and sudden temperature
changes are par for the course.
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