The fabulous folks at Proud FM Toronto with Mike Chalut and Acey Rowe invited me on to talk about Brazil following my recent trip there. Here’s the recording from Proud FM’s most recent “Travel Tuesday.”
Click here to listen (4 minutes).
Florianopolis, Brazil: “Like Square Cut-Palooza”
I just arrived in the fabulous gay-popular resort destination of Florianopolis, Brazil, the island capital of the state of Santa Catarina south of Rio de Janeiro.
We sent our intrepid writer Dennis Hensley here last year. He explored the gay beach (hey — it’s a tough job!) and here’s his sexy report.
Provincetown Takes Halloween Very Seriously
Provincetown, Massachusetts is mad about Halloween.
The town and its businesses have organized a lengthy list of events from Spooky Yoga and Witches Brew Ball to a Masquerade to a Spooky Bear Rocky Horror Screening throughout the weekend. For a complete list of events, visit: http://www.ptown.org/halloween.asp. The big night will be Saturday when ghouls, goblins and 7-foot Chers invade town. Watch out for spontaneous flash mobs all over town. Be sure to bring your camera.
Need a last-minute costume idea? Fret not! Lots of stores offer everything you’ll need for that horny sailor look or bedraggled drag queen ensemble you’re envisioning. Ptown.org lists at least two Halloween headquarters near town center: Klymax and House of La Rue at 207 and 244 Commercial, respectively.
Just how seriously do they take it? Your intrepid reporter will grab his pen and pad and spend the weekend in Ptown researching the
scary goings on. Stay tuned for an update.
This reporter’s headquarters will be the White Porch Inn, a luxurious gay-owned inn just east of town center that I’ve visited but never stayed in.
To the right are a few happy guests enjoying complimentary happy hour this past summer at the White Porch.
Info:
Ptown Halloween info: http://www.ptown.org/halloween.asp
White Porch: http://www.whiteporchinn.com
UPDATE: Here’s a recommended pub crawl from an ‘in the know’ Provincetown local:
Tea dance will be open, then Harbor Lounge, Shipwreck (at the Brass Key), Porch Bar and A-house.
A Super Halloween Costume Carnaval in West Hollywood, CA
West Hollywood, CA boasts one of the best and biggest Halloween celebrations and parades. Although it’s become increasingly popular with spectators versus participants over the past few years, it really is still a fun largely gay party.
It’s called the West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval and it attracts about 500,000 people. Purists, the organizers always schedule it for Halloween night no matter which day of the week that falls on.
More info here: http://www.westhollywoodhalloween.com
The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills sent out information about two special offers that may be helpful as you plan your visit, including a make up session — great for all manners of costumers.
It also offers a package price that includes shuttle service to the big event and other goodies described below.
Photo courtesy Flikr/sdoorly
Continue reading “A Super Halloween Costume Carnaval in West Hollywood, CA”
He Coined “Gay is Good”: Frank Kameny, Pioneer
If you don’t know who Frank Kameny was, take a moment to Google him. Here’s a good article from The Advocate.
Below find information about a memorial service for this gay pioneer.
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Madrid To Host 2014 IGLTA Convention
As an elected member of the Board of the IGLTA, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, I’m very pleased to announce that the 31st Annual Global Convention will be hosted by Madrid in May 2014. The following is a statement from the President and CEO of the IGLTA, followed by the full press release on the next page. ¡Hasta Madrid!
The IGLTA will bring its 31st Annual Global Convention to Madrid in May 2014. The Spanish capital presented a successful bid to host the association’s premier event during the October IGLTA board meeting. “I think our first convention in Spain is going to be a huge success,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “Madrid is a transportation hub, supports equality for its citizens and hosts Europe’s largest gay pride event. Plus, the UNWTO, an organizational partner, is headquartered there. All of these things point to a well-run conference.”
Austria’s NYC Pop-up Store: Last Day’s Today
If you’re in New York and in need of a Viennese coffee or a Sacher Torte, hurry on downtown the Austria Pop-up Store at 201 Mulberry Street, open till 9 pm tonight. Tonight’s the last night. Here’s what you can expect:
Begin your Austria travel experience this October in New York and visit our first Austria Pop-Up store. Dive into our authentic Austria showcase: experience true Viennese coffeehouse culture at our temporary Sacher Café, have fun reenacting Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”, and get a first glimpse of art works of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM). This and much more will be on display with the first viewing of an Austria iPad app courtesy of Tripfilms.com
Check back for special event announcements and daily happenings.
WHEN?
October 5 – 19, 2011
Open daily from 12 pm to 9 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 pm.
WHERE?
Join us @ Openhouse Gallery on 201 Mulberry Street in NYC
Map: openhousegallery.org/contact
Info: Austria Pop-up Store
Harlem Oktoberfest: Discover an Up-and-coming NYC Neighborhood
Ask most Chelsea gay men to come visit Harlem and you’ll get a look as if you asked them to make the trek to Kyrgyzstan on a prop plane. It’s not that far, people. In fact you can zip from the northernmost edge of gay-centric Hell’s Kitchen to the heart of Harlem in exactly one subway stop (via the A or D express trains from Columbus Circle).
There is a lot going on in West Harlem. In the culinary scene alone you can experience dozens of new eateries, wine bars, burger joints and fine-dining establishments that weren’t there one, two and certainly five years ago. Many of these new spots are clustered along 8th Ave from around 112th St to about 125th St.
The Harlem Oktoberfest Bar & Restaurant Crawl is an event tailor-made to introduce visitors and locals alike to the distinct and savory charms of Harlem. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25 from 6pm to 10pm. Tickets for exclusive food and drink discounts are $20 at the door and two-for-one in advance.
The crawl features such new and noteworthy restaurants as Nectar Wine Bar, Cedric, Lido, Harlem Tavern, 67 Orange, Zoma Restaurant and 5 & Diamond.
For more information visit their Facebook page: Facebook.com/ExperienceHarlem.
LGBT Travel: Make Yourself Heard (Win $100!)
Our friends at Community Marketing, Inc. have been in the business of gay and lesbian travel research for nearly 20 years. They are conducting their 16th annual LGBT travel survey. If you enter before the end of October, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $100. (Five winners will be chosen.)
Click here to take the survey: app.streamsend.com/public/XBZj/AgV/subscribe. It’s short and sweet and SFW (safe for work).
You can download last year’s survey results here:
http://www.communitymarketinginc.com/gay-lesbian-market-intelligence/
Suite Dreams: Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro
The grand dame of Rio de Janeiro is indisputably the luxurious Orient-Express hotel, the Copacabana Palace. This storied Art Deco gem opened its doors in 1923 and has hosted some of the most famous personalities in the world from Fred Astaire to Madonna.
Simply walking through the lobby, past the expansive pool (surrounded by chic sunbathers) or along the elegant hallways you’re transported back to a more elegant travel landscape than exists in many cookie-cutter chain hotels.
Not stuck in the past, the hotel offers a range of modern amenities including an ample work-out facility, beautiful spa, WiFi throughout the property, and a very hip pool-level bar, the Bar do Copa. Note: the bar is free for guests and worth checking out but note the cocktail prices are sky high and you’ll have to reserve a table to actually sit down.
The location is superb: Directly across one of the most famous beaches in the world. Just cross the street and see how Cariocas (residents of Rio) actually live. Playing, strolling, eating, flirting, exercising, and more, directly on the strand or at one of the innumerable cafes strung along the edge of the sand. It’s an approximately $6 cab ride to the gay beach and handful of gay and gay-friendly bars, cafes and restaurants in the nearby neighborhood of Ipanema.
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author. 