See ManAboutWorld At NY Times Travel Show

Screen Shot 2013-01-09 at 6.06.09 PMHave budget and PTO but don’t know where to spend them? Looking for the right gay-friendly getaway? Your wife wants a spa weekend but you want a camping trip?

Help is on the way!

Please come by the New York Times Travel Show’s annual LGBT travel panel on Saturday, January 19 3pm-3:50pm and hear from a knowledgeable group of avid, savvy travelers: Merryn Johns, Michael Luongo, Jerry Portwood, Joseph Pedro and myself. Free tickets to the consumer days are available, first-come, first-serve, with the code IGLTA13! http://ow.ly/gGcZT.
Before or after the show be sure to visit the IGLTA booth 342 to pick up the latest magazines by these and other media partners as well as information about gay-friendly hotels, destinations, attractions and events around the world.
Also be sure to come with your gay/lesbian travel questions. The panel can help you spend those dollars, discover the gay (and lesbian-)-friendlest destinations around the globe, and hopefully maintain vacation and same-sex marriage bliss with a perfect luxury/wilderness combo at what promises to be a lively session.

Weekly Travel Roundup By TravelingIQ

princeharryshirtless (1)Global Correspondent Ivan Quintanilla is an actor, traveler and blogger extraordinaire. Once a week he provides a re-cap of noteworthy travel stories. We pilfer his round-up (with his permission) so you don’t have to. Follow his travels at TravelingIQ.

*Royal babe, indeed!   Refusing to be overshadowed by his future niece or nephew, a mural of a shirtless Prince Harry now permanently hangs in the London gay club, Manbar  (via Evening Standard).

*Not without controversy, “Europe’s first gay-friendly mosque” opened in Paris this week–welcoming gay Muslims and allowing men and women to pray together (via France 24).

Continue reading “Weekly Travel Roundup By TravelingIQ”

Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade Becomes A Drag

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Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia

And that’s a good thing!

For the first time in its very long history, the Mummers Parade — a fantastic costumed/sequined/choreographed extravaganza that takes place every New Year’s Day in Philadelphia — there will be an all-drag contingent. Lead by Philly drag star Ms. Brittany Lynn, the Drag Brigade will be part of what is normally a super straight event (despite the 10-foot-tall feather headdresses and superb dance numbers). The Mummers Parade is thought to be the oldest folk festival in the U.S. with roots reaching back to the mid 17th century.

Read the official press release (and ticket information) after the jump.

Continue reading “Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade Becomes A Drag”

Weekly Travel Roundup By TravelingIQ

Contemplating clothing

Global Correspondent Ivan Quintanillais an actor, traveler and blogger extraordinaire. Once a week he provides a re-cap of noteworthy travel stories. We pilfer his round-up (with his permission) so you don’t have to. Follow his travels at TravelingIQ.

*You can leave your heart in San Francisco, but keep your privates to yourself.  The city’s supervisors have voted to officially ban public nudity, marking the end of an era for the City by the Bay.   Exemptions, however, are being made for Folsom Street Fair and similar festivals.   (via Huffington Post)

*Uganda plans on passing anti-gay laws carrying life imprisonment for homosexuality… wait for it… as a “Christmas gift.”  (via BBC News)Continue reading “Weekly Travel Roundup By TravelingIQ”

Park City, UT For The Non-Skier (Hint: Lots To Do)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwinnie/2921018728

But what if you don’t like to ski, snowboard or slalom? Is Park City for someone who hopes the urge to exercise passes? Yes.

Even if you never venture outdoors, Park City offers a slate of attractions to pack a no carb burn itinerary. Spend time on Day 1 at the Park City Museum, a must visit for all visitors. Here splendidly detailed exhibits trace the city’s history to its origins as a tough mining town whose jail had the occupancy rate of a  swank Park City Hotel during Sundance.

Continue reading “Park City, UT For The Non-Skier (Hint: Lots To Do)”

Upside Down Christmas At Boston’s Liberty Hotel

Gravity defying Christmas trees!?

We love the Boston’s Liberty Hotel hotel and covered it in our Boston Now/Next (ManAboutWorld October issue).

They’re getting a little funky for the holidays hiring handsome designer John LaRoche of blueGuava Design Group to transform their already dramatic interior lobby into an upside down Christmas tree-a-palooza. Check out the picture from last year above. If you’re not staying at this national historic landmark and architectural gem built in 1851, stop by for a drink and to gaze upon this unexpected holiday treat.

The installation is scheduled to go up November 26, 2012 and will remain in place till just after the new year.

Amy & Freddy, Gay-Popular Duo, Plays OUT NYC’s XL Friday, Nov. 30

Amy (right) and Freddy get ready for the holidays

If you’ve ever been on an RSVP Vacations cruise, you’ve probably seen — and loved — Amy and Freddy. She’s the sometimes foul-mouthed but beloved crooner. He’s the ivory tinkler, and they make beautiful music together.

Legions of long-term gay fans see them in intimate venues on land often following them around from city to city. You have your chance to see them (again) on Friday, November 30 at  XL cabaret, a first-class venue at the OUT NYC urban resort/entertainment complex located on 42nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. They’ll perform their holiday special for one night only.

According to XL’s spokespeople:

Get ready to “Deck the Halls” and “Don We Know our Diva Apparel” as cabaret chanteuse AMY ARMSTRONG and her ivory tickling sidekick  FREDDY ALLEN, better known as “AMY & FREDDY” ride their sleigh bells into The Big Apple for a holiday songfest.  Their “Holiday Evening with AMY & FREDDY brings the Chicago-based duo to XL CABARET, New York City’s NEWEST AND LARGEST nightclub for one night only, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30.  Show time is 8:00 P.M.

“FA LA LA LA LA  LA WITH FRIENDS” arrives in New York City as part of a handful of national touring stops for these fast rising performing sensations.   Hellzapoppin in Hell’s Kitchen with these two and tickets are expected to sell quickly!   Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance on the club’s website at www.xlcabaret.com or at the door.  For additional information, call (212) 239-2999.

 

Travel Weekly Roundup by TravelingIQ

 

More reasons to travel!

Global Correspondent Ivan Quintanillais an actor, traveler and blogger extraordinaire. Once a week he provides a re-cap of noteworthy travel stories. We pilfer his round-up (with his permission) so you don’t have to. Follow his travels at TravelingIQ.

*It was a good political week for gay destination weddings.  In the United States, voters made history by endorsing gay marriage–for the first time by popular vote–in Maine, Maryland and Washington state, and rejecting a ballot measure that would have enshrined anti-gay marriage law in the Minnesota constitution (via Huffington Post).  In Europe, Spain’s highest court upheld their law legalizing same-sex marriage, and the French Cabinet pushed ahead a bill that could see gay marriage legalized by next year.  (via Bloomberg)

*Will Puerto Rico become the 51st U.S. State?  Well, it’s complicated.  (via Miami Herald)

*Sri Lanka tops travel list for 2013.  (via Lonely Planet)

*Snacking on a cannoli on the Spanish Steps… Fuhgeddaboudit!  Rome is cracking down on public eating and drinking at historic sites.  (via New York Times)

*157 million (North, Central and South) Americans traveled to Europe last year, with London being the most popular destination.  See how your favorite city stacks up.  (via European Parliament News)

*Want to go fruit picking in Sweden?  Take the elevator.  A vertical farming building, currently in construction, will move plants on tracks from top to bottom floors to take advantage of sunlight and make harvesting easier.  (via Wall Street Journal)

What did I miss?  Share your favorite travel news in the comments below or by posting on the Traveling IQ Facebook page.

Hotel Monaco Philadelphia: Gayot Named It One of Top 10 Hotels

I stayed at the fabulous new Hotel Monaco Philadelphia this past weekend. I only got to spend one night but with a late check out I felt as though I was able to get a good feel for the new property. Gayot named it one of the top 10 new U.S. hotels.

The property is in the totally renovated historic (but previously neglected) Lafayette building, built in 1907 as a homage to Revolutionary war hero General Marquis de Lafayette. The building imposed some layout constraints so when you enter from the street you have to turn right into the ample lobby, the site of a free nightly wine hour from 5pm-6pm. (On the left from the entrance is the Red Owl Tavern.)

It’s in Old City so if you are visiting with the intention of getting a big gulp of historical Philadelphia, you can’t find a better location. It’s right on Independence National Historic Park with more early American history than you can shake a copy of the Declaration of Independence at, which was actually signed very near hear. It’s a quick easy cab ride or a nice 10- to 15-minute walk to Philly’s vibrant Gayborhood.

The room I enjoyed was a one-bedroom suite with stunning (third floor) views of a number of important historic buildings and museums including the home of the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center. The furnishings are reminscent of others in the upscale Monaco brand, very modern and tasteful with a dark, masculine palette, with localized touches like the words to important early-American legal documents in the wall treatments.

The Red Owl Tavern has become a very popular restaurant in the short month it’s been opened. What the staff may lack in seasoning (which will come), they more than make up in warmth and earnestness. I personally don’t like to be greeted as “friend” by my waiter every time he walks by the table, but there are worse infringements and it did not diminish from the hearty, tasty options like the fresh-caught seared Marlin special I enjoyed.

I briefly checked out the Stratus Rooftop Bar & Lounge, which drew a cool young (25-40), mostly hetero crowd. The view of the faint stars above was great but high walls obstruct actual city views.

For more information about Philadelphia, download ManAboutWorld’s inaugural issue by clicking here.

More info:

Travel Weekly Roundup by TravelingIQ


Gee, thanks, Sandy

Global Correspondent Ivan Quintanillais an actor, traveler and blogger extraordinaire. Once a week he provides a re-cap of noteworthy travel stories. We pilfer his round-up (with his permission) so you don’t have to. Follow his travels at TravelingIQ.

*It has been a rough week for the eastern coast of the United States.  Much of the region devastated by Hurricane/ Superstorm Sandy is still without power and is reaching an economic damage pricetag of $50 Billion.  (via USA Today)

*For those still trying to coordinate travel during the aftermath, every major U.S. airline is waving changing fees (via USA Today), and though the hotel situation in New York is grim, one website guides you through the options.  (via Hotel Chatter)

*In other news, the U.S. is electing its next president on Tuesday.  Take a politically inspired trip to get you in the spirit (via CNN), or escape the sound bites, talking heads and potential four years of horror–after voting, of course–by burying your head in warm sand.   (via CNN)

*Your vacation album will be the envy of all your Facebook friends after posting pictures from these top photography destinations.  (via Lonely Planet)

*Navigating a new city can be challenging, your iPhone can help.  (viaAupairJobs.com)

*When it all just becomes too much to handle, escape to one of the “World’s Most Sensational Spas.”  (via Passport)

What did I miss?  Share your favorite travel news in the comments below or by posting on the Traveling IQ Facebook page.