Best Gay Cities

Gay Atlanta loses LGBT Bookstore and Coffehouse

Best Gay Cities — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:43:06 GMT

The internet is a great thing. I don't think we could live without it. However, with everything good comes something bad. And because we now have everything at our fingertips, some brick and mortar businesses are closing their doors.

In 1993, Outwrite, Atlanta’s gay and lesbian bookstore and coffeehouse opened.

"In May of 2011 we let our community know about our own financial struggle brought on by long term economic conditions and changes in the book industry. It had finally made the rent at our location unaffordable and our future uncertain.

People rushed in, stepped up, volunteered, and offered incredible levels of support and ideas for new business models that bookstores and other community businesses around the country were adopting. Hundreds would come in weekly and tell us how important Outwrite was - and is. Many spoke of how the location was a symbol of strength and diversity in the city.

But it wasn’t enough. We had run out of time to turn the financial situation around. By the end of January we had to close Outwrite for good, putting 10 employees in our community out of jobs and leaving the most recognizable LGBT community landmark empty."

READ MORE at GA VOICE

Gay Sitges Carnival Feb 16-22

Best Gay Cities — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:33:34 GMT

More than 200,000 people will visit Sitges, Spain during the Carnival festivities with all of the gay bars open in town, two huge parades on the Saturday and Tuesday and more glitter than you have ever seen! Feb. 16-22.

There are still great locations and great deals!

Carnival has to be Sitges' wildest party. Even though it is on in February it is still the hottest party in town! On the most popular days you will find partygoers dancing on the major streets across the town.

The busy months of July and August look positively dead! Gay boys and girls from the 4 corners of the world descend on our little town and party the week away!

Jueves Lardero or Fat Tuesday,marks the beginning of carnival with a huge celebration of local dishes and the arrival of the King of the Carnestoltes and ends with the Burial of a Sardine on Ash Wednesday. There's more to do than eat, though.

Sitges Carnival is a full 7 days of parties and events. The King arrives on Thursday the 16th of February, however the gay parties kick off the week before from Saturday the 11th.

Each of the gay bars and clubs has their own theme and their own special night so there is always something to do. And remember its all about your costume so make sure you bring something sparkly.

Get more details online!

Gay Texas Couple Survive Italian Cruise Ship Disaster

Best Gay Cities — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:20:57 GMT

A gay couple from Austin, Texas, were among those who survived the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy over the weekend.

Blake Miller, left, and Steve Garcia. It was both men’s first cruise and Miller’s first time in Europe. They told the Today show on Sunday they had been to one of the ship’s bars and were planning on going to another when the ship started to list.

After they went back to their cabin, they heard a horrible scraping sound. Fortunately the couple had read about the location of the lifeboats. - See why it is important to pay attention to safety features?!

Read more at Dallas Voice

*The captain of the ship is being interrogated by prosecutors and a judge will decide on whether to keep him under arrest for allegedly abandoning the vessel before rescue efforts ended.

Cptn. Francesco Schettino was ordered by a Coast Guard official to return to the cruise liner to help with rescue efforts about three hours after the accident, according to audio of telephone conversations between them posted on daily Corriere della Sera's website today.

Schettino didn't return to the ship and took a taxi on Giglio before being arrested, media including Sky TG24 said. He is accused of manslaughter and abandoning the Costa Concordia when passengers were still on board “since we know he was in the harbor about midnight,” Francesco Verusio, chief prosecutor in Grosseto, said in a Jan. 15 interview. He is also accused of causing the accident that left at least six people dead.

Is Tel Aviv Really The Best Gay City as Some Voters Declare?

Best Gay Cities — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:15:00 GMT

TEL AVIV is being touted by some
as THE BEST GAY CITY.

Hmmmm, really? The BEST? I am always skeptical by these random voting contests....How many people voted? Was the voting controlled and limited to one vote per person? or could ballot stuffing have taken place? If 1000 people voted, was it a true random sampling?

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.
That said,

According to Tel Aviv's 30-year-old deputy mayor, Asaf Zamir, 16% to 17% of the city's 403,000 population is gay. That's pretty 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, 25% MORE than 2010. So it is growing.

Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Prague...there are so many amazing choices. Just depends on what you want? Value? Nightlife? 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

(* Before traveling to questionable foreign countries, it is best to check for travel warnings online. Trip Out Travel says, Terrorism is a reality in Tel Aviv. Tourists are advised not to take buses and to only take registered cabs with green flags.)

OUT IN AC Present Miss'd America Pageant Jan 21-22

Best Gay Cities — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:31:40 GMT

What sounds like some saucy entertainment will unfold in Atlantic City at Harrah’s Resort and at Boardwalk Hall the weekend of Jan. 21 and 22.

This will be the fourth consecutive year that Caesars Entertainment Corp., parent company of the Harrah’s, Bally’s, Caesars and Showboat casinos, has hosted the gay-friendly “Out in AC” weekend of partying.

Caesars Entertainment has moved up the timing of “Out in AC” this year to have it coincide with the annual Miss’d America Pageant, a campy, drag-queen spoof of the straight-laced Miss America Pageant that made its home in Atlantic City for 84 years before sashaying off to Las Vegas in 2005.

“Every year, these uniquely tailored events bring in new guests ready to experience Atlantic City in a whole new open light,” said Jennifer Weissman, regional vice president of marketing for Caesars Entertainment. “‘Out in AC’ weekend is all about diversity, pride and, of course, having a little fun.”

“I absolutely believe that we’re growing our reputation as a gay-friendly town,” Weissman said.

Other Atlantic City casinos have also staged gay-themed special events or opened attractions catering to the LGBT market. Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort once held gay bingo nights. More recently, Resorts Casino Hotel hired the Atlantic City gaming industry’s first LGBT marketing director and also opened the first gay nightclub inside a casino.

Miss'd America on FACEBOOK

MORE information online

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La Cage Aux Folles National Tour Dates

Best Gay Cities — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:03:13 GMT

New Winner of 3 Tony Awards^® including BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, this hilarious new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is ON THE MOST 'TOP 10' LISTS OF ANY MUSICAL THIS SEASON!

With George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber. George Hamilton is everything Hollywood we know and love—dashing, debonair, and full of tenacity as Georges. The talented Tony Nominated Christopher Sieber played Georges on Broadway, opposite Harvey Fierstein. Now he plays the role of Albin/Zaza.

They are joined on stage by Billy Harringtan Tighe as Jean-Michel, Bernard Burak Sheredy as M. Renaud/M. Dindon, Cathy Newman as Mme. Dindon/ Mme. Renaud, Jeigh Madjus as Jacob, Gay Marshall as Jacqueline, Allison Blair McDowell as Anne, Dale Hensley as Francis, Ashley Kate Adams as Colette, Danny Vaccaro as Tabarro, Matt Anctil as Angelique, Mark Roland as Hanna, Donald Shorter, Jr. as Chantal, Trevor Downey as Phaedra, Logan Keslar as Bitelle, Terry Lavell as Mercedes, Todd Thurston as Male Ensemble (waiter), SuEllen Estey as Female Ensemble Adult, Todd Lattimore as Male Swing, Christophe Caballero as Male Swing and Rylyn Juliano as Female Swing.

LA CAGE tells the story of Georges, the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges' son brings his fiancée's conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! LA CAGE is a tuneful and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves!

With a glorious score of hummable melodies and a dynamite cast featuring the "notorious and dangerous Cagelles," LA CAGE is an indisputable musical comedy classic... and this extraordinary new version shows you why!

The national tour launched this past October in Des Moines, IA. We saw the show in Chicago , this past week. It runs through Jan. 1st then off to

St Louis Jan 3-15th.

Washington DC Jan 17-Feb 12th

West Palm Beach, FL Feb 14-19th

Tampa, FL Feb 21st-26th

Naples, FL Feb 28th-March 4th

Wilmington, DE March 6th-11th

Pittsburgh, PA March 13th-18th

Memphis, TN March 20th-25th

Dallas, TX April 10th-22nd

Houston, TX April 24th-May 6th

San Antonio, TX May 8th-13th

Tempe, AZ May 15th-20th

Charlotte, NC May 29th-June 3rd

Orlando, FL June 5th-June 10th

Ft. Lauderdale, FL June 12th - June 24th

Los Angeles, CA July 10th-July 22nd

Costa Mesa, CA July 24th-Aug 5th

MORE DATES AND CITIES To Be Announced! GET TICKETS ONLINE NOW!

$99 Rooms in Palm Springs This Winter

Best Gay Cities — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:08:45 GMT

WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE THIS WINTER?

$99 Rooms - Sale starts DEC. 1st!
December and January.
*Superior room, weekdays. $129 weekends.
Similar discount on other rooms. Holidays excluded.

Email info@inndulge.com or call 1-800-833-5675 for details

INNdulge

San Francisco Site Highlights LGBT Daily Events WSUP NOW

Best Gay Cities — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:33:50 GMT

There are lots of gay and queer events always going on San Francisco - and not one real
place that categorizes it in a easy and quick, digestible way. So Stuart Leung came up with a site that readers can quickly scan and see whats happening in San Francisco.

"I found that even after 7 years in San Francisco, I still didn’t
know what was going on at all the gay establishments in the city. I am
not a party animal or scenester that goes out five days a week, but I
am not a shut-in either.

And when I do want to go out, I want to be able to make the right
decisions. And not knowing what’s going on at 75% of the bars on any
given night, I’ll find myself relying on what is familiar and what I
am comfortable with. Sometimes I do like the tried and true, sometimes
I want to experience something different, and other times I like going
to check out other scenes." says Stuart.

"The site has been live for about four months now, so it’s still in
its infancy. We’ve consciously made the decision to fly under the
radar and grow slowly while we continued to tweak the site, improve on
the features, functionality and user experience." he adds.

WSUPNOW.com

Travel to Berlin, London, Paris and New York City with Taschen Book set

Best Gay Cities — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:51:01 GMT

Travel wisdom in your pocket, at your fingertips.

Get around New York, Paris, Berlin, and London in high style

TASCHEN 4 Cities is a 12 Vol. Boxed set of wonderful books covering New York, London, Paris, and Berlin. Each city is 3 guides - ”hotels”, “restaurants”, and “shops”.

We love that they’ve taken the design-oriented (and coffee-table sized) TASCHEN guide book concept and translated it into pocket-sized companions. Wonderful for gift giving and a great keepsake from these wonderful cities! Great photos and the text gives you interesting and useful information, as well as addresses, phone numbers and website address. $60 retail price, $39 at Amazon.
TASCHEN 4 Cities - 12 Vol. in Box (available Nov. 22)

Highlights include -

London: Number Sixteen, a chic South Kensington hotel in a beautiful Victorian townhouse with romatic gardens, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's restaurant and social project, Fifteen, where teenagers cook the meals, and Dover Street Market, the multi-floor concept store founded in 2004 by Comme des Garçons.

New York: the Maritime Hotel, a former sailors’ dorm, now Chelsea's coolest hotel, the Waverly Inn, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter's exclusive salon for the glitterati, and where to buy New York's best cheesecake

Paris: Ladurée, the best macaroons in the city, the ultra-luxurious Ritz hotel on elegant Place Vendôme, and Colette fashion concept store

Berlin: hip nightspot Green Door, where one rings the doorbell to gain entrance, oriental delight at Edd's, the best Thai restaurant in Berlin (perhaps Germany), and experimental store Bless, "publicizing artistic values through products"

Order yours today!
TASCHEN 4 Cities - 12 Vol. in Box (available Nov. 22)

Hollywood to Dollywood with The Lane Twins Cross Country

Best Gay Cities — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:26:28 GMT

IT ALL STARTED WITH A DREAM....
AND AN RV NAMED JOLENE.

Everybody has a dream. Most of us are only willing to go so far to see it materialize and often find ourselves waiting for the right opportunity to come to us. Not so for the Lane twins -they were not content to send their screenplay Full Circle to Dolly Parton’s manager or publicist. No, they were determined to get it into the hands of their idol and on the 25th Anniversary of Dollywood, no less.

"WE grew up listening to Dolly's music and always thought she was an amazing person. So why not write a screenplay about her, and go on a cross country roadtrip to try to put it in her hands! " say the gay Lane Twins, Gary and Larry.

And that's just what they did.

And the result is An amazing film and journey about courage and acceptance.

Now in 51 Film Festivals Around the World ...They won 6 Awards so far!

The basic synopsis - On the fumes of a dream, twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane have written a script with a
plum roll for one of their idols, Dolly Parton. Having had no luck getting the screenplay
into her hands, they embark on a cross-country journey to personally deliver it to her. They
set off from Dolly’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame heading East for Pigeon Forge,
TN. Driving an RV they (named Jolene) is friend and partner Mike Bowen. All along
Interstate 40 at rest stops, RV parks, bars, and hair salons our intrepid band of travelers
meet everyday Americans, as the encounter everything from Floods in Nashville to an
Oklahoma Tornado.

"Along Interstate 40, and we hit tornadoes, floods, screaming trannies and conservative Christians. It was all a strange trip!" says director John Lavin.

The journey is also one of discovery for the brothers, as well: their
relationship with their parents; their hopes, fears and ambitions; the bigotry they’ve
encountered; as they search for tolerance and acceptance and the joy of realizing their
biggest dream handing their screenplay to Dolly Parton.

"Its hard to open yourself up and put yourself out there, but we would like people to know
we had amazing childhoods, and we love our mom and dad with all of our hearts, this is just
one thing mom cant accept because of her beliefs, but we still love our mom and she is truly
an amazing lady, we talk to her on the phone at least 3 times a day!" the Lane Brothers said.

Dolly has long had legions of gay fans, I think her most public pro-gay remarks were made last year when she appeared on Larry King Live.

"It made us love her all the more and we actually approached CNN and paid for the copyright and we have that footage in the movie. We got the full clearance.

It’s Dolly’s message that she loves her fans and she doesn’t judge anybody. She says only God is supposed to judge you, we’re not supposed to judge each other. A lot of people who have
seen it have said, ‘I never really knew her views but it made me love her even more.’

Dolly Parton herself Is 100% behind Our Movie and Gave us 15 Of Her Songs Free For the Documentary and Her Image for the Movie Poster!"

(FYI - this would normally cost a filmmaker a small fortune!)

DON'T MISS THIS AWESOME FILM -
COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!

Featuring appearances by Leslie Jordan, Chad Allen, Beth Grant, Dustin Lance Black, Ann
walker, and maybe even Dolly herself!

Hollywood to Dollywood is a documentary of chasing dreams down the road of life.

Week of November 3rd:

Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Fest

November 11th: (Opening Night feature)

Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival

November 17th:

International Film Festival Manhattan

November 18th:

Vegas Independent Film Festival

December 18th:

Cinemarosa, Queens NY

March 29th, 2012:

American Documentary Festival (Palm Springs)

Hollywood to Dollywood
Hollywood to Dollywood blog
The Lane Twins

Gay Bears on Maui Hawaii

Best Gay Cities — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:04:16 GMT

Aloha!

It's not news that the economy is difficult for everyone, particularly for those, like us, who depend upon vacation travel. Vacation travel is one of the first things cut in a tough economy budget. So the Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort is working with other LGBT owned businesses to provide special tours at a very attractive price.

First up, Bears in Paradise Tours have put together Bear Break: Maui !!

Group tours are great for three reasons:

1) Group tours allow the 'economies of scale' provide attractive pricing for our guests.

2) They make the trip even more enjoyable for our guests as they can share vacation time with people that have similar interests.

And 3) It removes the stress of vacation planning. Tours make it so easy to have many of the activities already scheduled and booked for you. Plus you'll make many new friends (or more) along the way!

Hurry Book Now for

Bear Break: Maui

March 24-31, 2012

10% Discount on All Bookings Made Before 11/15/11

Bears in Paradise is excited to bring you to: Maui.

The island is known for its lush tropical beauty, while the state of Hawaii is a leading jurisdiction for gay rights. In January 2012, Hawaii will register its first same-sex civil unions. A small but active gay community represented by Both Sides Now organizes social activities throughout the year.

Bear Break: Maui brings you an intimate experience with the destination. Activities are designed to move beyond the standard packed tourist offerings to find the authentic Hawaii.

Stroll miles a brown sugar beaches; explore the historic whaling town of Lahaina; wind your way along the breathtaking Hana Highway through lush tropical rainforest; climb Haleakala crater for a stunning view of neighbouring islands; go snorkelling along the coral reefs and view vividly coloured fish; search out your first - or perhaps twenty-first - Aloha shirt; sample a variety of Hawaiian delicacies, from the working man's Plate Lunch and Loco Moco, through to locally sourced nouvelle cuisine.

Stay at the newly expanded and renovated Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort, the only property of its kind in all of Hawaii. All rooms boast cooking facilities and California King beds. Rooms vary in size, with the largest sleeping six guests. There are clothing-optional hot tubs, sundeck and swimming pool. Amenities include complimentary parking, Wi-Fi, beach towels, local phone calls and much more.

This is a GREAT DEAL for you. Average cost for the entire week's room booking and all tours/meals listed above is about $950/person, based on double occupancy. (Single occupancy, add about $600 on average)

Please visit the Bear Break: Maui page for rates, other details and information on how to book this exciting tour! Or feel free to call us at +1-808-879-1261

REMEMBER BOOK BEFORE NOVEMBER 15 AND GET 10% OFF THE ROOM RATE!!

Best Gay Colleges in US Cities

Best Gay Cities — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:28:39 GMT

For many gay and transgendered students, choosing a gay-friendly campus is almost as important as the college itself.

The climate on campus and in the surrounding town can mean the difference between a positive, memorable learning experience and a traumatic four years. Fortunately, many schools in the United States that have LGBT-friendly attitudes, and researching these campuses is as easy as looking up

college courses online.

Emory University
Campus Pride, a non-profit organization, compiles data on campuses in the United States and ranks them in terms of LGBT campus life. Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia is their top-rated campus. Emory rates high in all areas of the Campus Pride ranking system, including LGBT policy inclusion, counseling and health, campus safety, housing and residency, and LGBT recruitment and retention efforts. There are currently five student organizations at the university for LGBT students: Emory Pride, the President's Commission on LGBT Concerns, Gay and Lesbian Alumni, the Goizueta Pride Alliance, and the Emory Medical Alliance. The school has a no-discrimination policy and offers gender-neutral housing on campus as well.

University of Pennsylvania
Newsweek recently published a list of the top 10 gay-friendly schools and placed University of Pennsylvania at the top of their rankings. The university, which is also featured on seven of Newsweek's other "top" lists, is a private Ivy League school in Philadelphia with an undergraduate population just over 10,000. Admission to the school is very competitive and only 17 percent of applications are accepted each year. The University of Pennsylvania actively recruits gay students and has a number of gay-friendly organizations and non-discrimination policies in place.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
This school ranks 11th on Newsweek's list of most desirable large campuses and is rated among the top ten in nearly every academic category. The school is well known for its gay-friendly atmosphere and policies, and has been place in more than one top five list of LGBT-friendly colleges. Over 20 organizations on campus support LGBT students, such as the LGBT Issues Commission, which puts together around fifteen events throughout the year. The University of Michigan offers gender-neutral housing for transgendered students. Scholarships are also available for LGBT students through the University of Michigan Lesbian and Gay Alumni Association.

Overall, these three campuses stand out among the top gay schools for their LGBT-friendly campus attitudes, non-discriminatory housing opportunities and policies, and the number of on-campus organizations that cater to and help gay students. These schools are also highly ranked in terms of academics and stand as very desirable campuses on their other merits. To find more LGBT-friendly campuses in the United States, check the Campus Pride ratings to learn more about policies and organizations around the country.

Christmas Holiday in Prague

Best Gay Cities — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:17:15 GMT

This year, why not spend your Christmas Holidays differently...

Prague is undeniably one of the most alluring cities in the world and its peculiar Holidays and traditions just make Prague stand out among the rest.

This year why not try to experience a different Christmas Holidays in Prague.

It would be great to have a different kind of experience and spending a holiday in Prague can be a refreshing adventure.

Prague has become one of the favorite destinations of visitors all around the world. You can make earlier plans to go to Prague to be in time for St. Nicholas Tradition being celebrated in Prague every 5th of December. On the said day parents make a trip to Old Town Square with their children to see the celebration in full effect between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this time, children in Prague receive their St. Nicholas presents from their parents, family friends, and relatives. The traditional gifts being given to children are sweets and chocolates that will be put inside the stocking and hidden within the room of the child or children. Christmas Holidays in Prague just can’t get any better.

The story of the tradition dates back in 4th century in Greece when a bishop known as Nicholas left something for three poor girls on the windowsill in a form of gift money to help them in getting married. On the evening of St. Nicholas Tradition don’t be surprised to run into some strange characters that represent St. Nicholas, the Angel, and the Devil. All are wearing costumes and St. Nicholas’ costume is almost the same as that of the traditional Santa Claus costume known all over the world. One can say that Christmas Holidays in Prague officially began on December 5th.

Aside from the opening celebration of Christmas Holidays in Prague, there are also Christmas markets in Prague that had been a part of their tradition that tourists also enjoy visiting. Children will have a different kind of experience that will enrich their lives forever. Prague is a city that can offer some unique and memorable experiences that can be treasured forever.

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 JEWEL HOTEL. 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!

December 24 is the most gratifying day of the Christmas Holidays in Prague. Its Czech name when translated means ‘Generous Day’ which can be attributed to the food being served for dinner at Christmas. The eve of Christmas for many Czechs usually has connections with their superstitious beliefs that have something to do with destiny, love, and life. One Czech tradition at Christmas believes that fasting in that particular day will make them see the ‘golden piglet’ when night falls.

Christmas Holidays in Prague will truly be one great experience to enjoy. Czechs have many exciting and peculiar things to offer and all are treasures worth experiencing.

Shopping, Dining and Nightlife in Columbus Ohio

Best Gay Cities — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:24:53 GMT

With the holidays fast approaching, it's time to think about gift giving. I was in Columbus Ohio last month, and got a jump on my gift buying! Columbus has an amazing collection of shops! This is Part 2, in a series.

Take my advice, start your day on a full tummy. And I have 2 words for you; NORTH MARKET.

Butchers, bakers and candy makers. Fishmongers, greengrocers and restaurateurs. They grow, catch, find, make, produce, distribute, cook, create and invent!!

Columbus’ only public market and an incubator for small businesses. This is the place to shop, eat, mingle and people-watch.

The North Market is home to dozens of unique, independent merchants and farmers who deliver personal and personable service every day of the week. Have breakfast or lunch and start your day of shopping. From Crepes to Lasagna, fresh breads to fresh meats, Gyros to fine pastries, there is something here for everyones palate. Over 35 booths.

BOOKS - The Book Loft of German Village (pictured below) is a city-block long store, located at 631 South Third Street. Books are always good gifts for just about anyone on your list. The ultimate, old-fashioned bookshop experience: strolling down German Village brick pathways, gazing through windows the likeness of a Charles Dickens era, and then losing yourself within the 32 room labyrinth of ALL NEW books for every age and interest. You can spend a day here! You have never seen anything like this store, I can assure you! LOTS of coupons online. So browse their site, before you get to the store.

Flower Child has been keeping Columbus (and Cleveland) cool with great 20th century gear, including items from the 1930's up to the 1980's. Around every corner is more great vintage, hand selected and displayed as it would have been when originally sold. They are a true vintage department store and museum. From funky furniture, art, and housewares, to the clothes and accessories that match, Flower Child transforms vintage shopping into a time traveling experience! This is place is jam packed with treasures at all price points. 989 N. High street.

Who doesn't love the gift of chocolate?

le Chocoholique, 601 N. High street. Artisan chocolates in every shape, size and flavor. Chipotle Cherry, Bacon Toffee, Coconut Curry and Bananas Foster - it's all here! Chocolate is their passion! Perfect for gift giving. Online ordering coming soon!

There is a great body care line called Le Chateau Du Bois - made with fine Lavender from Provence. CATERINA LTD, 571 S. Third, is the ONLY PLACE IN THE US that stocks it! This is the BEST lavender products I have ever tried. Caterina Ltd. imports housewares from all over Europe. Our mission: bring to market at affordable prices functional works of art of enduring quality. Made with time-honored techniques by true artisans, our Italian hand-painted maiolica ceramics, French woven and printed table linens, lavender body care, furniture and other offerings are hard to find elsewhere. Shop online!

Need some new duds? Jeans, shirts underwear and more at TORSO. This Columbus gay clothing institution has been around for years. 772 N. High St. Hundreds of brands and styles. Even online shopping, if you can't make it by the store.

There is so much shopping in Columbus that is special and unique. POSH Pet stuff, fresh baked foods, cool art things for the home, and shopping till you drop. We can not possibly cover it all here. Looking for something particular? Check out the Experience Columbus site.

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN......After all that shopping, how about Martinis with the gays? HYDE PARK PRIME STEAK HOUSE is voted one of the top steak houses in America. Massive and elegant dining rooms, plus small intimate dining rooms that attract celebrities. But on Fridays nights after work, the bar area and patio become a mix and mingle gay bar for the hip crowd.

Great Drinks, Great Food, Great People, Great Fun! It’s a great place to meet friends for cocktails before dinner or the perfect after work happy hour spot. Famous $4 martinis! Enjoy some of the Chef’s small plate creations from the bar menu, which features everything from mini-kobe beef burgers to Russian caviar. The Bar at Hyde Park boasts an offering of 40+ wines by the glass, extensive martini lists. 569 North High Street. (pictured below).

Then perhaps dinner at Barcelona. Tucked away in historic German Village - 263 East Whittier Street, an authentic global dining experience awaits. Inspired by seaside sangria and a walk on the Ramblas, Barcelona is a culinary fusion of metropolitan chic & Old World European charm. The patio was BEST PATIO 2011! TOP 10 Best Restaurant and Most Romantic Award as well! Gorgeous!! - "I am extremely proud that Barcelona has become one of the premier restaurants in Columbus. Barcelona is continuously growing and evolving and has so much to offer you, my valued guests. None of this would be possible if it were not for the very talented managers and staff that I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by every day. They are the true reason Barcelona is so successful. " says owner Scott Heimlich.

Lots of amazing food here. But one of the most unique things we had was the Iberico de Bellota ‘Fermin’ – one of the culinary world’s most exquisite products. This “royal ham” comes from the acorn fed black-footed pig that roams the Dehesa; a wooded mountain range in Western Spain. This ham, produced by the Fermin company, is sea-salt cured and aged for at least three years! It is like the pork equivalent of fine Kobe beef. The ham is $200 a pound! AMAZING! Average entree is $20-$30.

or Union Bar + Food for something a little more laid back. This former video bar has moved and is refocusing on food & cocktails. 782 N. High St. - Union is located in the heart of the Short North Arts District. Union Cafe is one of Columbus’ most popular neighborhood cafes and cocktail lounges, serving our community since 1996.With an amazing patio, friendly staff, mind bending martini menu and Modern American Cuisine served at popular prices, Union Cafe is affordable and welcoming. Come dressed as you are for a laid back yet sophisticated experience. Lots of specials and happy hours - check out their site!

If you choose to go out SATURDAY as well - hopefully you can catch the gallery hop.

Short North Gallery Hop

Presented by Short North Business Association

The first Saturday of every month, thousands of visitors converge on the strip, the epicenter of the High Street Experience. They come to celebrate art and partake in an evening of sights, sounds, food, shopping, and cosmopolitan fun.
The district is very gay-friendly and many of the establishments are gay-owned.

Countless art experiences. District specials. Prize drawings. Ramped up entertainment. Unexpected surprises. Lots of fun and an unforgettable experience. 4-10pm. FREE.

SWEET TOOTH? All dessert tour of Columbus

Presented by Columbus Food Adventures

This van-based tour featuring some of the best desserts in Columbus. This tour will start at the acclaimed Pistacia Vera in German Village, visit the new Sugardaddy's downtown location to sample some of their sumptuous brownies and blondies, and then head north to the Pattycake bakery in Clintonville. Of course no dessert tour of Columbus would be complete without Jeni's splendid ice cream, so we will visit their new Clintonville location to try some of their newest seasonal flavors. Finally, we'll finish our tour with a fabulous dessert cocktail created by mixologist extraordinaire Cris Dehlavi at M Restaurant (there will be a non-alcoholic drink option available for those under 21 or who do not wish to consume alcohol). Please purchase tickets in advance.

The tour starts at Pistacia Vera desert boutique at 2.30pm on alternate Saturdays, thru Dec. 10, and will last approximately 3 hours. The cost is $55 per person. Please check the calendar for dates. Parking is available in the lot at the German Village Society visitors center 588 South Third Street. CALL Box Office: 1-800-838-3006 or reserve online.

We highly reccommend dinner at LEVEL. Hip spot for chic dining! High standards of quality while boasting some of the most innovative displays of mixology and culinary excellence. Signature martini's like Level Luau and Banana Cream Pie. Innovative dishes like Buffalo Style Ravioli and Pork Cacciatore, all very reasonably priced. For the elegance of the space, you would expect to pay a lot more. Average entree only $10-$18. Burgers and Wraps $7-$11.

LOTS of bars and nighclubs in Columbus to choose from. OVER 20! Which rivals the amount of bars in Chicago!

Level has a bar and lounge area which has a big gay crowd and lots of eye candy.
Union has a very large bar. AXIS is one the BIG nightclubs on the strip. Havana is a cool video lounge.

For late night fun, Columbus offers LOTS of choices. Check out Gay Cities or Outlook Columbus for listings.

Experience Columbus! You'll be glad you did.

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Jack Mackenroth Calendar for Charity!

Best Gay Cities — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:12:58 GMT

OK, so this has nothing to do with Gay Travel or Gay Cities! BUT, it is a very important cause, close to my heart and I wanted to share it with you.

EVERYONE needs a calendar, right? And they make great gifts! And who doesn't want hottie, model and activist, Jack Mackenroth hanging on their wall?

This AUTOGRAPHED, high-quality, glossy, 15-month calendar is available for sale now!

The calendar begins in January 2012 and continues through May 2013. Each month features a different photographer with a very different style.

Photographers taking part int the project include Adam Bouska (NOH8), Rick Day, Carsten Fleck, Frank Louis, James Franklin, Karl Giant, Tommy Synnamon, Mattheus Lian, Richard Gerst, Ray John Pila, Sonny Tong, Thomas Evans, Krys Fox and Preston Cros with over 17 amazing images in total.

The calendar’s dimensions are 8.5 x 11 inches, and are available online for $14.95 (plus tax and shipping). Please allow 2 weeks for shipping as Jack is signing and shipping them all personally. Please be patient.

100-percent of the proceeds from the calendar will go directly to amfAR, The American Foundation for AIDS Research (www.amfar.org) to help find a cure for AIDS.

Mackenroth has been living with the disease for 22 years. As the first television personality since Pedro Zamora to be vocal about his HIV status, Jack Mackenroth has quickly become the most visible, out HIV+ advocate and educator in the country… if not the world. With the release of his 2012 calendar, he hopes to raise both money and awareness for AIDS research, and to show through his photographs that a person living with HIV can be in top physical form, healthy and sexy.

Houston and Dallas Texas Gay and LGBT Events in October

Best Gay Cities — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:34:28 GMT

People from across Texas and beyond will converge in Houston this October to celebrate National Coming Out Day with several key events.

The weekend of October 8 and 9 will be packed with celebrations geared toward every taste. And it's a great time of year to visit the nation's fourth-largest city.

The Houston Coming Out Party, now in its fifth year, promises to be bigger than ever, with an all new venue and a guest performance by Raja from RuPaul's Drag Race. Local performer Tye Blue will produce a special drag show and acclaimed DJ Joy de la O is providing the tunes. The open bar party will include a special art auction featuring Houston's own John Palmer . The evening wraps up with an after party at the city's newest gay nightlife spot, F Bar. Proceeds will benefit homeless LGBT youth in the region.

Saturday Oct. 8, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Sycamore Heights Bed & Breakfast, 245 W 18th St.

Details.

On Sunday, things go really wild when the Bayou City Boys Club Inc. hosts Jungle 19, an outdoor tea dance party in the center of Downtown Houston. DJ Joe Gautreaux will spin for this unique event, which will also feature performances from musical artist Jacinta and the Houston Fly Boys. Participants will be able to dance all afternoon under the skyscrapers of Houston. F Bar will also be the site of the Jungle after party, with Raja as the host.

Sunday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Jones Plaza, 600 Louisiana Ave. Details.

For those looking for something more family oriented, Victory Fund Houston is hosting an Old Time Family Picnic for LGBT families on October 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Traditional picnic foods, entertainment, games and much more are planned for this inaugural event.

Saturday, October, 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cherryhurst Park, 2601 Windsor St. Details.

THEN IN DALLAS -

Out & Equal Annual Summit: 25-28 October in Dallas, USA. The Summit boasts more than 2,300 attendees who participate in more than 125 workshops and caucuses all designed to create an inclusive workplace. The Summit justly deserves its international reputation as the premier conference on LGBT issues in the workplace.

Outandequal.org/annual-summit

BestGayCities.com

What's Hot? What's New? What's Next? Gay Columbus Ohio

Best Gay Cities — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:36:25 GMT

Like a snowball rolling down the hill, gaining momentum, Columbus Ohio continues to dominate in Gay Travel News this year!

JUST ANNOUNCED! Columbus was just nominated for Best NewNowNext Up-and-Coming LGBT Travel Destination by Orbitz and LogoTV!

Columbus is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States and they boast one of the hippest, coolest gay communities in the Midwest!

Please take a moment and visit tripouttravel.com/vote/ to vote -- there about 12 categories, and you submit your vote on each page. You can skip over a page, if you wish.

ANDREW DAVIS from Windy City Times just did an excellent article on Columbus, highlighting shopping, restaurants, clubs and more!

ALSO if you are in Columbus Oct. 7-10 - Special Sales, deals and pricing all weekend!

We hope you'll vote for Columbus in their category! (look for the second to the last category.)

They really deserve it!!

BestGayCities.com

Dallas Gay Pride Sept. 18th

Best Gay Cities — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:28:15 GMT

Dallas gay pride parade celebrates theme ‘It only gets better’ !

The Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Our 28th Edition.
Sunday, September 18. Parade steps off at 2:00 pm.
This year's theme is "It Only Gets Better".
Multiple announcer's stands along the route.

Special Guest VIP Ben Cohen , English Rugby Star STAND UP FOUNDATION

The Parade travels down Cedar Springs Road from Wycliff Avenue to Lee Park on Turtle Creek Blvd. Entries line up on Wycliff Avenue. Festival right after parade!

GET ALL THE DETAILS ONLINE!

Dallas Gay FundRaising Super Hero Patti Le Plae Safe

Gay Lesbian LGBT Travel — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:20:45 GMT

DALLAS VOICE did a great article this week on Rodd Gray aka Patti Le Plae Safe.

For 25 years now, has lived sort of a double life: By day, he is mild-mannered hair stylist Hott Rodd the Hair God, but by night he transforms into , fundraising super hero! Raising thousands of dollars for AIDS charities, as well as other causes.

Gray described himself as an independent person who can take care of himself, and who also wants to try to help take care of others, too. It’s a philosophy that grew, he said, from his Orange Power, the name he has for his personal spirituality that grew out of a blend of what he saw as the best teachings from more traditional teachings.

“I just think of it as this warm, orange glow that surrounds me and protects me, and that makes me want to keep doing the right thing,” Gray said. “That’s what it’s about, really: doing the right thing. Paying it forward.

“I watched that movie, Pay It Forward, back when it came out, and it really changed my life,” Gray continued. “That’s what I had always tried to do anyway, but that movie really made me think about it, really made me recommit myself to that.”

Gray said he “stopped counting” years ago, but that he estimates that Patti Le Plae Safe, in all her incarnations and at events around the country, has raised “well over $1 million” for charity through the years. But he is also quick to add that it’s not the amount that’s important; what’s important is that he tried.

PLEASE read the full article at the Dallas Voice. It is very heartwarming, inspirational, and motivational!

Made in Columbus Ohio - Gay and Gay Friendly

Best Gay Cities — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:32:00 GMT

On our recent trip to Columbus Ohio I was very impressed with the cities' strong farm-to-table attitude and the amount of home grown industry happening there! Sure they've got big business companies like Abercrombie & Fitch / the Limited Brand and also modern Columbus has emerged as a technologically sophisticated city, Forbes Magazine ranked the city as the no. 1 up-and-coming tech city in the nation.

But we saw the big trend here of producing locally and delivering locally, EVERYWHERE. The freshest ingredients and unprocessed food and products. Businesses in Columbus Ohio are really trailblazing. Farm-to-Table, Cow-to-Cone, & Silo-to-Still.... Columbus is blessed by its proximity to fertile farmland and wonderful seasonal produce.

In the coming weeks, we'll talk more in depth about great dining spots, things to see and do, and gay clubs - but today I want to share a few of our Columbus Ohio discoveries.

Who doesn't want a SUGAR DADDY? I mean the brownies. Award-winning Sugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties^®, Purveyors of The Edgeless Brownie®, has redefined the cozy, American classic brownie into a truly luxury dessert indulgence, gifting, and special occasion experience. Sugardaddy's has extended its fresh-baked luxe brownie and blondies line with Sugardaddy's Brownie Biscotti, Brownie Truffles, Brownie Cheese Cakes, Brownie Cakes, and Brownie Trifles. Sugardaddy's has been named "Best of the Best" by Food Network among MANY other awards. (Ellen is one of their biggest fans!)

In 2004, Tom Finney and Mark Ballard launched an online store and in 2005 they opened their first storefront! Today they have 3 locations in Columbus, but sell and ship ALL OVER THE WORLD. They use only the BEST ingredients and ship fresh to your door. Hey, cupcakes are for sissies!

JENI'S ICE CREAM has been growing at leaps and bounds in Ohio, and now it is reaching freezers around the country. Handmade American ice cream. "We build every recipe from the ground up with luscious, Snowville milk and cream from cows that eat grass." Ice creams, yogurts, sorbets, sundaes and macaroon ice cream sandwiches - amazing flavors made with evolving and flavorful thoughtfulness. Your mouth will water!

Now with nine storefronts in Ohio and now you can find pints of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at fine markets and groceries across the United States.

Sunny Meadows Flower Farm is operated by Steve and Gretel Adams and is located 6 miles from downtown Columbus, on the city’s southeast side. "Currently we farm about 7 acres of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. We use organic practices and although we are not certified, this still means no chemicals are used, just lots of love!

Our mission is to educate the public about the quality and vase life of local flowers. Although you can get flowers for dirt cheap flown in from the equator, the workers do not have the same rights and protections, and there are fewer restrictions on chemicals. So, who knows what you are really buying into? As a farm specializing in all naturally grown fresh cut flowers, we are trying to show people just how important supporting your local flower farm really is." - I fell in love with Gretels Soap! Gretel's natural soap is formulated for the health of one's mind, body and soul.

Perfect for everyday use or as a gift, every ingredient in these hand-made soaps serves a purpose and has been carefully harvested and selected. A balance of coconut oil, palm oil, beeswax, and soybean oil provide a great lather and keep your skin moist. Additional ingredients, like herbs or coffee, provide a brilliant texture to gently exfoliate the skin. I have a bar (Sweet Earth) sitting on my bathroom sink, and it makes the room so fragrant! ORDER YOURS ONLINE.

Local beer lovers are "uncorking" ROCKMILL, the artisan sensation handcrafted in the Central Ohio countryside. 40 minutes from downtown Columbus is Rockmill Brewery. Located a sprawling property, this one time horse farm is now a special kind of place where invigorating flavors are brewing. This modern, certified organic "nano-brewery" taps into an ancient, glacier-created underground spring to produce a world-class Belgian-style ale. One barrell at a time! Handcrafted with a stubborn adherence to old-world methodologies.

Matthew Barbee is the young brewmaster at the helm. "Thousands of years ago as the glaciers melted, this water carved out the blackhand sandstone which today forms the origin of the Hocking River. A unique geographic feature that is only a short walk west from the Rockmill Farm. Many thousands of years after the glaciers melted, savy farmers in Wallonia, Belgium came to the genius conclusion that an ale is easy to produce, store and is an excellent vitamin-rich, motivator out in the field. This miracle beverage is now known as Saison, a farmhouse ale.

Roughly 150 years later we came to the realization that the water on our farm is almost identical in mineralitiy as the water found in Wallonia. How convienent! This was the primary inspiration for our four brews. Our water combined with all organic yeast, hops and malt is what gives our brew the aromatic qualities and taste that it does."

His four brews are currently available at restaurants and retail outlets in Ohio, and he is having a hard time keeping up with the growing demands - but he plans to grow and take his product all over the country, very soon!

Not every city can boast a truly local micro-distilled spirit of choice, but Columbus has one : Short North-based Middle West Spirits makes a vodka called OYO (“O-Why-O”), the original Native American word for the Ohio River Valley.

Founded and run by Ryan Lang (left) and Brady Konya ( right), the company uses grain from within a local 50-mile microclimate, and relies on small batch precision and drop-dead gorgeous German-made artisanal equipment to produce a superior product.

WE HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED in America. That vodka should have NO TASTE. The common American idea is that vodka needs to be as tasteless as possible.

Rather than fix their product on the back end with flavor additives or over filtering, OYO works almost like a single malt Scotch producer, using carefully controlled distilling and blending to hit their target flavor profile. OYO is not anything like your standard, made for the American market, vodka. “Big distillers, because of how they produce, aren’t able to cut bad stuff out up front, so they have to filter it,” says Konya. “So you’ll see a lot of smart marketers talk about filtering — lava, ceramic, diamonds — six times, eight times, 20 times distilled — all of that is marketing.” - Can you believe that?!

The Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) is a marketing service company that provides reviews for spirits, wines, and beers. It uses numerical scores and publishes books of its test results. BTI gave OYO Vodka a 92 last fall! 90-95 is EXCEPTIONAL. (Dan Akroyds Crystal head is a 89, Effen is an 84, and Vox is a 96, to give you some comparisons).

In just one year, OYO is spreading all over Ohio - and soon, to a State near you!
Weekly tours and tastings - check their site for details. They have a storefront with their three main drinks as well as cool t-shirts and things. 1230 Courtland Ave , Columbus OH, 43201

Mead Wine? Simply put, mead is wine made from honey. It takes 6 months to 2 years to make a mead, depending on the recipe. The longer mead is aged in tanks and in bottles, the more amazing. "Our mead is meant to be aged like the finest artisanal products and enjoyed leisurely," says BROTHERS DRAKE owner Woody Drake. Brothers Drake makes award-winning mead in Columbus, Ohio using pure honey and the best locally-sourced ingredients.

Since 2008, "We continue to grow and expand a selection of exquisite meads made locally in Columbus, OH from as raw local wildflower honey as we can get and all natural ingredients sourced as organically as is possible in Ohio. " Mead is arguably and understandably one of the oldest beverages known to mankind on every continent. Over the many centuries, people have modified the recipe and, with over 150 meaderies in the United States, the current century is no exception.

Brothers Drake is open for Open for Tastings, Tours, & Sales. 26 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201

More to come soon, from Columbus Ohio!

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