Japan: Lady Gaga Says Go!

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When the reigning queen of pop says jump, we say, “how high?”

While in Japan for a tour, Lady Gaga said, “I would like to use my position here today and all week long to run around Tokyo and enjoy the beautiful city, and kiss all the beautiful little monsters and scream at the top of my lungs that everyone should visit this beautiful place.” (From http://news.travel.aol.com)

We are all familiar with the devastation that occurred in Japan this past March. However, not everyone realizes that only a very small percentage of the country was directly affected. For the rest of the country, it is business as usual and everyone from pop superstar Lady Gaga to senior tourism officials are proclaiming as such.

Magnet Tours, the first and only tour operator in Japan focused on the LGBT market believes that gay and lesbian travelers can play a significant role in Japan’s post-disaster recovery. They are sharing this message alongside recent announcements from Japanese tourism officials and Lady Gaga’s current stay in Japan, where she will be performing tonight (Saturday, June 25, 2011) for the MTV Video Music Aid Japan.

For more information on Magnet Tours, visit http://www.magnettours.jp/ or call +81-3-3500-4819 to book your next trip.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

TOUR OF THE WEEK: ISLA MUJERES RESORT WITH SWEET

Suzanne-westenhoefer-smWelcome to your lesbian fantasy, an island of women.

Join lesbian-ownend but everyone-friendly Sweet for a fun-filled week in Isla Mujeres (which means “Island of Women” in Spanish), September 24 through October 1, 2011.

It’s an all-inclusive and exclusive (meaning only for Sweet customers) week of fun, activities (or utter leisure or both).

That’s Suzanne Westenhoefer to the left, one of the entertainers you’ll enjoy.

Tranquil beaches, pristine marine parks and sculptured cliffs, this is nature at its best.”We’re taking over this charming resort for a week of unbridled fun (unless you bring your bridled, but that’s totally optional),” says Sweet’s sweet owner and CEO, Shannon Wentworth.

More info: http://discoversweet.com/sweet-isla-mujeres-resort2/

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

 

SUITE DREAM: MADONNA INN, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.

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By John O’ Ceallaigh

You could well imagine that the Madonna Inn was named after that synonymous songstress, so outlandish, ostentatious and gay friendly is its design. It’s not though.

It’s named after Mr and Mrs Madonna, who worked in construction and interior design respectively before developing the hotel round 50 years ago.

The Madonna Inn is their interpretation of style and elegance, drastically removed from the sleek but homogenous designs you might find in New York or London. Each of the 110 rooms is unique, with a name emblazoned on its door to give a glimmer of what lies in store.Those titles are almost arbitrary though.  It’s like when you ask a child to draw a picture of their family and in return you get a picture of green-skinned gargoyles and a cat with seven legs. It’s probably not what you expected, but it’s all the better for it.

The Caveman Suite, for example, is a cavernous chamber carved from local rock and decked in leopard print; the Carin suite (Carin is a Swiss term meaning endearment) is a curved pink room with sequined walls and decorated with garlands of flowers.

It’s preposterous but wonderfully so. As is the dining room. Draped in fairy lights and again finished in pink, it stands next to a dance floor. In truth the food – bland steak and soggy, tasteless lobster – is disappointing, but there are compensations.

On band nights, elderly local couples take to the floor to cha-cha-cha and samba with precision and assurance. They’ve obviously been coming here for years. As has Mrs Madonna. Although her husband is now deceased she still visits the Inn frequently. It seems we’d just missed her on the night of our visit, but you might see her during yours, proudly presiding over her pink-hued palace.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Info: http://www.madonnainn.com/

 

 

 

 

“OUT IN CHICAGO” EXHIBIT, CHICAGO

 

Our history (meaning LGBT history) has largely been eradicated, erased, ignored or just swept under the carpet.

The Chicago History Museum attempts to reverse that unfortunate trend with an exploration of 150 years of dynamic LGBT history in a new exhibit this summer.

(For dates and more information, click here.)

Image, left: Bronzeville’s female impersonators

Out in Chicago spans diverse stories and perspectives and explores issues such as language, gender expression, formation of identity, the role of LGBT people in politics and culture, and family relationships. It balances private stories with public perspectives inrelation to gender, community, and identity and spotlights the inspiring and charged heritage of this diverse Chicago community, whose history truly belongs to all of us.

QUEER BEER FESTIVAL, TORONTO

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Leave it to our friends up north to create the first Queer Beer Festival in North America on Thursday, August 4, 2011 starting at 4pm.

The Queer Beer Festival celebrates Canada’s rich brewing history, hosted by experts of the brewing craft from around the world. Featuring more than 120 brands, great live acts and delicious food from gourmet BBQ to oysters and more. Canada loves its beer!

Toronto’s Queer Beer Festival is located at Bandshell Park on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition.Tickets are available here: http://www.queerbeerfestival.ca/tickets/buy-tickets-now

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

JACOB’S PILLOW DANCE: “WEEKEND OUT”

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Attention arts, culture, dance, performance lovers. Yes, you!

The second annual “Weekend OUT” will take place Aug 5-7, with a packed schedule of events to provide opportunities for LGBT families, couples, and individuals to take advantage of all the Pillow has to offer while meeting and mingling with old and new friends.

A highlight of “Weekend OUT,” on Sunday at noon, Director of Preservation Norton Owen leads a behind-the-scenes historic tour of Jacob’s Pillow, focusing on iconic Pillow-founder Ted Shawn, his company of Men Dancers, and his mission to represent strength and masculinity in dance. Get a sneak peek: read The Untold Story of Jacob’s Pillow, published in 2006 by The Gay and Lesbian Review.For more information click here: http://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/2011/08/a-weekend-out-at-the-pillow/

 

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

TOUR OF THE WEEK: PERU WITH ZOOM VACATIONS

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One of the things that makes Peru such a fantastic destination is that it constantly surprises people. (Above happy “Zoomers” in Peru.)

Zoom Vacations has for years been the main organizer of gay group tours to Peru. Last November, as in past years, Zoom Vacations started its trip in Lima, and especially after visiting its colonial center, Zoom Vacations’ owner, Joel Cabrera said that guests kept commenting that they couldn’t believe how beautiful Lima was.

“Then they had dinner alongside a 2000 year old pre Inca ruin, and people exclaimed, “the food in Peru is so good!”  Add to that a private dinner in a stunning 16th century mansion and they instantly created over 30 Lima cheerleaders.Zoom Vacations’ owner, Bryan Herb said, “As our tour leaves Lima and continues to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu, and finally Cusco, it is so fun to watch the effect that Peru and its people has on our travelers. Fun surprises await them at every turn. Hotels are more beautiful, the landscape is more stunning, and then of course there is the shopping!”

But above all, the thing that one can always count on when they come to Peru is that Machu Picchu will be as incredible as they thought and hoped it would be. Mystical Machu Picchu, no matter rain or shine simply does not disappoint.

It is truly the trip of a lifetime that could quite possibly change your life!

Info: http://www.zoomvacations.com/peru.htm

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

 

 

 

 

 

SUITE DREAMS: NINE ZERO HOTEL, BOSTON

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If Beantown is in your summer plans — and it should be! — check out the fabulous Nine Zero Hotel. Managed by the super gay-friendly Kimpton Hotels, Nine Zero is located in a historic part of town along the famous Freedom Travel, near the Boston Common.

Some of the rooms overlook a historic cemetery that’s a popular stop along the Freedom Trail. Have a glass of wine during the complementary happy hour, every evening from 5pm to 6pm in the lounge with floor-to-ceiling views of the hustle bustle along Tremont Street.

Or just grab your laptop and enjoy the free (with caveat) wireless. The very minor caveat is you have to join the In-Touch Loyalty program to get free wireless. You can even check a box letting them know you are LGBT and receive specials and deals you may find very interesting.

Speaking of gay, here is a list of Kimpton’s LGBT programs.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

JETBLUE PLUS CAPE AIR EQUALS EASY ARRIVAL IN PTOWN

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Best way to get to Provincetown, Massachusetts, especially if you are short on time, is via JetBlue and Cape Air.

The two airlines have a marketing partnership which allows for seamless travel between any cities JetBlue serves and this famous and fabulous gay summer resort destination at the curly-cue tip of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.

“The Boston to Provincetown portion is usually 26 minutes and drops you minutes from Herring Cove Beach,” says Cape Air’s Michelle Haynes. “There is also a handy shuttle stop at the airport and for the grand total of $2 you can get a ride directly to Herring Cove or to downtown P’town. Leave the car at home! ”

I recently experienced the service flying from New York (JFK) to Boston with an easy switch — it’s only a few gates away in the same terminal — to Cape Air and onto Provincetown. Each flight is well less than an hour so depending on close you cut it arriving at the airport, it is usually the quickest way to the Cape.The return trip is even better.
The tiny Ptown airport only has one flight at a time so you can arrive 30 or even 15 minutes prior to your flight.Tip, if you are checking luggage: You must purchase your entire ticket on JetBlue to be able to check your bags all the way through to Provincetown. Otherwise you may have to exit the airport in Boston to collect and re-check your bag. That’s not fun!
Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

WEDDING PLANNER OFFERS ADVICE FOR SAME-SEX NUPTIALS

By Jerry BartellAndy and Chris Kraus

If you’re planing a wedding, especially a destination event where you and your guests must travel, it may be prudent to engage the services of a knowledgeable wedding planner.

We spoke to one who offerd plenty of advice.

Susan Southerland had been planning weddings for five years when two men engaged the services of her firm, “justmarry.com”.“There wasn’t much deviation from a traditional wedding except there were two grooms,’ says Southerland. “Now we’re seeing more creativity and personality.”Consider the gay wedding she just planned.

“The couple wanted a Joan Rivers drag queen. So we found one and she went around insulting the guests. The couple also wanted an alligator, so we had to hire an alligator handler.”

With 20 years of experience, Southerland offers advice aplenty for couples planning to marry.

First:  engage a planner.

“It’s insurance,” she says. “A planner knows the vendors that match your style and budget. And she knows who’s reputable. You won’t have to worry about who will disappear or disappoint.”

To find a planner comfortable with gay weddings she suggests checking rainbowweddingnetwork.com  and a poster with the handle “Gay Weddings” on Twitter. Two other websites, perfectweddingguide.com andweddingwire.com review wedding planners.

Southerland advises couples to select a venue that reflects their personalities.

“The Hard Rock Hotel Orlando is great,” she says, “if you love that rock and roll feel.  Take the whole wedding party on the honeymoon, a cruise or a hiking trip.”

A good planner, she says, will be sure everyone is comfortable from the get-go.

“I’ve had occasions when one or both parents won’t come to the ceremony. I reassure them this is a celebration of a solid relationship and that’s what everyone should be concentrating on, not what other people think of what they’re doing.”

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.