The Philadelphia Flower Show Offers a Bouquet to LGBT Visitors

Travel to Philadelphia to see a flower show? I found that puzzling, till I learned more about the Philadelphia International Flower Show, the world’s largest indoor flower show.

First of all it’s got staying power. It’s been around since 1829 (longer than Cher!). Second of all this year’s theme is Hawaii, a fully integrated partnership including the sights, sounds and magnificent aromas of our hula-happy, pineapple-scented 50th state.

And if you need another reason, the Flower Show proudly sponsors an LGBT night, tonight, Monday March 5. It takes place in a special VIP area outside Hall A, the major exhibition space from 6pm to 8:30pm. OK, count me in: I’m going to Philly!

According to their website at the LGBT night (sponsored by G Philly):

Guests will enjoy an evening of cocktails and food samplings, kicked-off by a special introduction from PHS President Drew Becher in an exclusive VIP area.

Guests will also have the opportunity to meet-and-greet with Phillip Watson, QVC garden expert and author of Pleasure Gardens, his debut book featuring more than 350 photos of gorgeous garden designs.

More information:

The Philadelphia International Flower Show facts (courtesy Pennsylvania Horticultural Society):

The largest indoor flower show in the world blooms in Philadelphia every March at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The country’s premier landscape designers and florists are featured and turn 10 acres of exhibit space into a floral fantasy world with exotic plants and eclectic designs.

ORIGINS: The Philadelphia International Flower Show has been a Philadelphia tradition since 1829. The Show has evolved from a gathering of professional growers showcasing their prized plants to the largest and oldest indoor flower show in the nation.

LOCATION: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

MORE: http://www.theflowershow.com/ShowInfo/generalpress/pifsfactsheet.html

NY Times Travel Show: LGBT Panel, Saturday March 3

They're good looking AND they are LGBT travel experts!

If you are anywhere near New York and love to travel, come to the NY Times Travel Show for the LGBT Travel Panel Saturday, March 3, 4pm-5pm ET moderated by yours truly and including a fine panel of travel experts:

  • LoAnn Halden, IGLTA;
  • Andre Rojer, Curacao Tourist Board;
  • Mike Luongo, Freelance Journalist;
  • David Ryan, Rhino Africa

Come hear as they share their insight into today’s hot destinations, cool events and great new tours for LGBT travelers. Be sure to come armed with questions. This is usually a well-attended and lively panel with lots of great information. Are you bags packed? You’ll be ready to zoom off to Florianopolis, Cape Town or Curacao by the time we wrap up!

You can get a taste for it by clicking here to download the presentation and the lesbian resource guide in PDF format. (Scroll down to where it says “Downloads.”)

Meet and Seat: Could Grindr Be Far Behind?

What kind of business are they going to conduct on board?

Seated next to a talkative bore or a prying busybody on a long flight can be one of the most excruciating experiences for a traveler. Or perhaps you spy an incredibly good looking guy coming down the aisle, approaching your row, and … darn, he keeps  going.

Now, you may have more control over your future airline seat mates. According to today’s New York Times:

This month, the Dutch carrier KLM began testing a program it calls Meet and Seat, allowing ticket-holders to upload details from their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles and use the data to choose seat mates.

This concept has people excited or dismayed but it’s easy to understand the appeal among business people or sales people or anyone looking to engage someone companionable around a topic of mutual interest.

You can’t use Grindr, yet but could it be far behind? Perhaps KLM’s system may be leveraged for more social encounters. (“Meat and Seat”?)  We’ll be on the look out for stories among guys or gals who meet at this new mile-high club.

Read the entire article by clicking here.

Dinah Does Vegas: Girl Bar’s Famous Party Moves to Sin City

From Dinah Shore Week 2011

Girl Bar Dinah Shore Weekend, in association with Fuse Events, announced that Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 will take place April 27-29, 2012 in Las Vegas. (The unrelated but similarly named The Dinah by ClubSkirts will still take place as it always has in Palm Springs, CA, March 28-April 1, 2012.)

Since last year, Girl Bar and Fuse Events have been working exclusively with Caesars Entertainment to create a women’s weekend experience at Caesars Entertainment properties. According to organizers, the official events and hotels for Dinah Shore Weekend will be situated walking distance, across a variety of Caesars-owned properties, including Planet Hollywood and Flamingo hotels. The latter will have its “Go Pool” turned over exclusively to the ladies for ticket and pass holders.

“Our sophisticated ladies wanted ‘bigger, better and more’ in a city that never sleeps with the finest in entertainment and accommodations, with non-stop flights both domestically and internationally,” said Girl Bar producers Sandy Sachs and Dr. Robin Gans. 

The full Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 schedule of events, performers, ticket and hotel information and VIP travel package options, visit www.dinahshoreweekend.com.

What’s Hot in Los Angeles and West Hollywood: Listen In


Proud FM Toronto’s latest travel Tuesday segment aired last week. Find out what’s new, hot and happening in Los Angeles and West Hollywood with their “travel guru” — yours truly. Discover new restaurants, bars, a revitalized downtown and much more.

Click here to listen: http://www.proudfm.com/interactive/podcast_player/554

 

Tulum. Everybody’s Talking About It

Caribbean Heat 2012, one of the most anticipated Latin America gay events, expects several hundred gay men from all over the world

Located at the tip of the Yucatan peninsula in the gay-friendly state of Quintana Roo, Tulum is best known for well-preserved ancient beachfront Mayan ruins (below).

It’s less known for having an incredibly fun party called Caribbean Heat (that’s a photo from last year’s above), seven days of events, parties and culture (optional exploration of the nearby ruins) for gay men that kicks off August 1, 2012. Prices start at $1,180 per person. For more information, click here.

The event is centered at the Adonis Gay Beach Resort in Tulum, Riviera Maya, Mexico and attracts hundreds of men from around the world. I haven’t been personally yet, but the Adonis is a gay resort that gets very high ratings on Tripadvisor. Check the resort out here.

The seaside view of El Castillo at Tulum

Marriott.com Got A Little Bit Gayer

From Marriott.com/gaytravel

When Marriott International Inc. first developed its LGBT-specific landing page back in 2010, Marriott.com/GayTravel, it was a little light on, well, gay travel.

But Marriott recently announced a fresh relaunch of their site, www.marriott.com/gaytravel, which they assert is “the first hospitality portal tailored for LGBT consumers worldwide,” available in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

There is now a good amount of there there. You will find new hotel openings, special events, destination information and ongoing deals and promotions, some of which are designed specifically for LGBT guests. The site also provides wedding and honeymoon packages in gay-popular destinations around the world.

Marriott hosts events on behalf of well-known gay organizations like HRC, so if you time your visit you may see a Marriott transformed into a very gay hotel. The imagery is, at times, daring, like the shot of the implied mixed-race gay couple and their kid to the left.

Hide/Seek: Major Gay Museum Exhibit Appears in Washington

Berenice Abbott, Janet Flanner, 1927. Gelatin silver print. 9 ½ x 7 3/8 inches. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. © Berenice Abbott/Commerce Graphics, New York.

In time for the developments in same-sex marriage equality in the state of Washington, HIDE/SEEK, the first major museum exhibition to spotlight gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender identity,  is making its last stop and only West Coast appearance at Tacoma Art Museum in Washington beginning Saturday, March 17.

From the organizers:

This compelling exhibition, which offers an unprecedented survey of nearly 150 years of American art, debuted at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery last year.HIDE/SEEK was originally organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and has been reorganized by Tacoma Art Museum and the Brooklyn Museum.

“Tacoma Art Museum is excited to be a part of the national discourse. HIDE/SEEK redefines how modern American portraiture is viewed through the lens of gender and sexuality identity,” says Stephanie A. Stebich, Director of Tacoma Art Museum. “This exhibition comes at a time of historic legislation and we have a rich history of presenting compelling programs that spur ideas and dialogue within our community.”

Minor White, Tom Murphy (San Francisco), 1948. Gelatin silver print, 4 5/8 x 3 5/8 inches. The Minor White Archive, Princeton University Art museum. Bequest of Minor White, MWA 48-136. © Trustees of Princeton University.
 

Deal of the Week: 2 for 1 (or 40% off) Fab Out Adventures Tours

I guess they like the discount!

Our friends at Out Adventures send you a little love.

You just have to show them a little love. Share a picture; like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and couples get to travel two for the price of one. Solo travelers get a whopping 40%. Choose among the following 2012 trips. But hurry, this deal is valid only from February 13-15, 2012.

  • Comfort India March 04-13
  • Comfort Morocco April 15-25
  • Comfort Peru April 29-May 07
  • Comfort Turkey May 20-June 03
  • Active Peru with the Inca Trail August 12-19
For more information on the offer check out the OUT Adventures website.

Our Thoughts Shift to Provincetown’s Independence Day Parties

From last year's pier dance (Independence 2011)

It’s never to early to daydream about Provincetown in the summer. Here we are barely a third of the way through February and our mental travels take us to the tip of Cape Cod for July 4.

It definitely isn’t too early to start planning. That is after all an incredibly busy week. Some guesthouses sell out as do some of the key parties. It’s also the week most of the party crowd from NYC and LA heads to P-town. So take that as a heads up to act or as a warning to steer clear!

Our friends at the Crown & Anchor, organizers of Independence 2012 sent us some useful, partyplanning information. (After the fold below.) Tickets go on sale around March 6, 2012.

The Crown & Anchor dance complex is home to Ptown’s July 4th nightclub celebrations-and they promise an outstanding lineup from Saturday, June 30 through Friday, July 7.

Info

  • Ticket sales for INDEPENDENCE 2012 will be available starting on or around March 6, 2012 at www.onlyatthecrown.com or call 1-888-CROWN29 for more details.
  • Email inquiries please send to rick@onlyatthecrown.com.

Continue reading “Our Thoughts Shift to Provincetown’s Independence Day Parties”