SGN June 21, 2013 - Section 3 - Travel

Seattle Gay News

Issue 25, Volume 41, June 21, 2013

PRIDE travel special

by Beau Burriola SGN Contributing Writer When I was a kid, I used to get so excited about travel. Before we went to Disney World, I hardly slept at all, imagination flaring brighter than dreams ever could.

As a well-traveled adult, I rarely find that chill of excitement anymore. So when I hardly slept before my second trip to Palm Springs, I knew this trip would be one for the record books.

Since I first visited in 2009, Palm Springs has been my idea of the Gay Disney World I can’t wait to get back to. This time I was bringing along Iz and Sean, my two best friends, to share the experience.

If Palm Springs is memorable alone, it is unforgettable with friends.

When my plane touched down, I felt that same excited chill I miss so much from kid traveling. This year, I was in a dark place in my life. Having recently been through a hard breakup ending an eight-year relationship, I knew this was the trip I needed.

So, with memories of my first trip strong in my mind, I packed a very small bag (it is a desert, after all) and took a plane 9,000 kilometers to Palm Springs, California, fully expecting another life-changing vacation.

Immediately after unpacking my bag, I slipped on a swimsuit and went straight to the pool. What I love most about Palm Springs compared to any other place I’ve

been on earth – Spain, Greece, and Italy included – is the way you can put on a swimsuit and walk up to just about any pool and instantly feel comfortable with the people around you. Maybe it’s the resort culture, the sun and the beautiful mountains behind you, or just being American-born, but the friendly vibe in Palm Springs just makes me feel open and social in a way I’ve never felt anywhere else in my travels. I am always amazed to see people I’d never imagine mingling anywhere else mixing together effortlessly and openly.

That sense of community – that feeling of belonging and knowing you’ll always feel like you are welcome – is exactly what makes Palm Springs the place you always

want to come back to. Well, that and the ever-present undercurrent of wild, waiting for you to dip your toes into ...

WHERE TO STAY The single most important decision of your trip is where you stay. Don’t stay on a friend’s couch! The unique Gay resort culture is the jewel of the Palm Springs experience and can really make your trip.

Which one you choose depends on who you are and what you are looking for.

If you’ve never been to Palm Springs before, consider what you are looking for. If, like me, you are looking for a memorable, see palm springs page 20

by Albert Rodriguez SGN Travel Writer

Museum of Glass

Station and delivers you to the Tacoma Dome stop, where free light-rail service can bring you into the city center. Go to www.traveltacoma.com for more information.

ACCOMMODATIONS The Courtyard Tacoma Downtown (1515 Commerce St.) is just footsteps away from museums, restaurants, the UW-Tacoma campus, and the light-rail line. Rooms come with modern furnishings, firm beds and pillows, and a terrific line of fragrant, eco-friendly bath products. Some rooms offer amazing views of Mount Rainier. An intimate lobby on the main level provides guests with a comfy spot to unwind, check their e-mail on complimentary hardwired com-

America’s Car Museum

artists on each of its 25 floors. The dozens of artists represented include Costas Varotsos (Greece), Masayo Odahashi (Japan), Richard Whiteley (Australia), Peter Bremers (The Netherlands), Orfeo Quagliata (Italy), and Karen LaMonte (U.S.A.). The hotel’s premier restaurant Bite is quite popular with

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June 21, 2013

FOOD AND DRINK Pacific Grill (1502 Pacific Ave.), practically next door to the Courtyard Tacoma, is an award-winning upscale restaurant that offers simple, great food in a sophisticated environment. Brick walls, illuminated glass pieces, black leather booths, and a curved bar counter accentuate the chicness of the dining space, but even better is the menu stocked with fresh seafood, grilled meats, and Asian-inspired selections.

On the night I was there, the chef’s special of chicken adobo with a wonderful soy glaze and ginger rice was outstanding, as was the Rock ’n’ Roca Blondie Sundae with caramel sauce and Almond Roca buttercrunch for dessert. Other dinner choices are Hawaiian ahi tuna, duckand-pappardelle pasta, filet mignon, and a distinctive cauliflower steak. Seattleites should be familiar with The Matador chain of Tex-Mex eateries, and you’ll find one in downtown Tacoma (721 Pacific Ave.) that’s equally busy, especially during the afternoon and late-night happy

Kristin Kendle

Tacoma’s Union Station

guests and locals for its Northwest-influenced dishes, homestyle favorites, and healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rooms have undergone new color schemes in recent months, such as cherry-red drapes, shower curtains, and art-deco lamps, plus all are now equipped with flatscreen TVs, wireless high-speed Internet access, iPod stations, and the opportunity to choose your own pillow type and spiritual reading material. While at Hotel Murano, check out the on-site Savi Day Spa and Salon Miro. file photo

mike hiran

puters, or sit and have a cup of free coffee. A Marriott property (collect or redeem your miles here), the Courtyard also has an exercise room, small indoor pool, and mini-market stocked with snacks, bottled drinks, packaged food, and travel essentials. Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway) is a sleek, 319-room property featuring stunning blown-glass art pieces by international mike hiran

Tacoma hasn’t traditionally been a place that people plan to visit. If we’re not headed there for a business meeting, a concert at the Tacoma Dome, or an art exhibit opening, it’s likely we’re only gassing up the car on our way to Portland. But newly developed areas of the city such as the Museum and Theater districts, a picturesque waterfront, the oneyear-old LeMay car museum, and an overall burst of pride and energy have given this city of around 200,000 residents a much-needed boost and made Tacoma worthy of an overnight stay.

Getting to Tacoma is a cinch, even for non-drivers. Sound Transit buses 590 and 594 ($3.50 one way) go back and forth from downtown Seattle daily, and the Sounder train ($4.75 one way) departs weekdays from King

Celebrating 40 Years!

hours.

The trendiest Tacoma ’hood at the moment is the 6th Avenue District, where you’ll come across places on both sides of the street to eat, drink, shop, and sip coffee.

Masa (2811 6th Ave.) is a festive eatery/cantina serving Mexican favorites from tacos to enchiladas to quesadillas. Its signature flatbreads and six-pound Jefe de Jefe Burrito, plus flavorful guacamole and salsa, are more reasons to drop in. Across the street are Asado (Argentinian, 2810 6th Ave.) and Medi’s (Italian, 2710 6th Ave.), and further up is MSM Deli (2220 6th Ave.), a half-deli, half-convenience store (the initials stand for Magical Sandwich Makers), and Southern Kitchen (1716 6th Ave.), profiled on the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Nearby is Bluebeard Coffee Roasters (2201 6th Ave.), providing Tacoma’s hipster set an ample, open space fitted with perched windowside seats, round tables, and leather couches to leisurely enjoy finely made espressos, lattes, and freshly-brewed coffee. The Mix (635 St. Helens Ave.) and Club Silverstone (739 St. Helens Ave.) are two well-established Gay bars within a block of each other, or for a more vibrant atmosphere try the Gay-friendly lobby bar at Hotel Murano.

THINGS TO DO LeMay – America’s Car Museum (2702 E. D St.), located directly across from the Tacoma Dome, is the newest city attraction, featuring more than 350 vintage automobiles and rare models dating back to 1906, all under a hangar-like structure with an exterior shaped like a giant armadillo shell (you can’t miss it!). Among the rides displayed are a 1909 Regal, 1964 Lotus Elan, 1929 Franklin, 1924 Rickenbacker, and a convertible Lincoln made especially for a former Pope. The facility also holds a

small theater, a snack bar/cafe operated by Pacific Grill, and an outdoor balcony with an elevated view of downtown. The Museum of Glass (1801 Dock St.) is always an eye-popping experience, showcasing the world’s top glass art under its iconic steel cone building. Aside from permanent collections, a few temporary exhibits are definitely worth the visit, including the wonderful “Benjamin Moore: Translucent” installment extending through October. Recently unveiled is “Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest,” running through January 26, 2014. Less than a five-minute walk away is the Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Ave.), which hosted the very interesting “HIDE/SEEK” exhibit last year that addressed the important roles of gender identity and sexual orientation in modern American portraiture. A somewhat similar installment, “Sitting for History: Exploring Self-Identity Through Portraiture,” opens July 27 and runs through January 12, 2014.

The Pantages and Rialto theaters, comprising most, if not all, of the city’s Theater District, routinely schedule internationally known artists and Broadway-style productions, from Rufus Wainwright (October 30, Pantages) to “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience, a Parody by Dan and Jeff” (October 29 to November 3, Rialto). And for those wanting to stretch out and get some exercise, the two mile-long Ruston Way Park along the Commencement Bay waterfront promises a scenic setting to stroll, jog, ride a bike, rollerblade, picnic, or wine and dine at one of the more than 20 restaurants and bars along the waterside strip.

So next time you find yourself in Tacoma, don’t just zip through. Stay awhile and see what the city has to offer. You’re sure to be pleasantly surprised.

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Jus Roux & More Catering Creole cuisine for every occasion

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425-614-7288

"Best Gumbo Ever"

June 21, 2013

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by Andrew Collins SGN Contributing Writer

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stout-brined Berkshire pork chops. Down the street, trendy Aqua Grill (aquagrillrehoboth.com) serves eclectic and reasonably priced international fare – Thai mangochutney burgers, coconut shrimp, potstickers – and then morphs into a fantastic Gay video and dance bar, with a sprawling patio, as the evening proceeds.

Drag brunches and T-dances are part of the fun on weekends. In the same neighborhood, Mixx (www. mixxrehoboth.com) is another high-energy, stylish restaurant and bar with a strong LGBT following, excellent food (macadamia-crusted local rockfish, seared scallops), and a see-and-be-seen cocktail scene. There’s live music some evenings.

Another hip spot where you’ll see plenty of family, Espuma (www.espuma-restaurant.com) serves contemporary Spanish and Mediterranean fare, including great lobster paella.

And don’t miss the casual Purple Parrot (www.ppgrill. com), a good bet for burgers and diner food. It’s a lively hangout for drinks and conversation, too, with a popular happy hour each day. Other notables include the Seafood Shack (www. seafoodshackrehoboth.com), which serves tasty fried-oyster po’ boys and tender crab cakes and is known for its live entertainment, which includes pianists, female vocalists, and acoustic bands.

Dos Locos (www.doslocos.com) is a great standby for Mexican food and cock-

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and historic town of Lewes and accessing the park from Dunes Road. Lewes itself is a lovely Dutch colonial town founded in 1631, The unofficial Gay and Lesbian sum- with a neatly preserved downtown of tony mer beach resort of the mid-Atlantic shops and inviting restaurants overlooking states, charming Rehoboth Beach is situated along a sweeping, sandy stretch of the Delaware shore that’s within a threehour drive of Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Over the past decade, many of the town’s guesthouses, shops, and restaurants have received stylish makeovers, and this once low-key, largely middle-class town has developed a see-andbe-seen cachet that extends well beyond nearby cities. Prices also have risen, but Rehoboth largely retains a laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes it a perfect destination for summer fun – and a romantic weekend retreat during the quieter spring and fall shoulder seasons.

The town began developing a subtle Gay following in the 1950s, probably owing to the fact that closeted Washington types, unwilling to risk braving the nightlife of D.C., found this relatively secluded beach region a relatively safe and anonymous place to be themselves (or at least a beautiful, narrow yacht harbor – it makes test the waters). Lesbians and Gays con- a great little day trip, by car or bike. Toptinued to settle here gradually, and then notch Gay-popular restaurants in Lewes Glenn Thompson opened a full-scale include The Buttery (butteryrestaurant.

Gay resort, the Renegade, on the western com), which occupies a romantic Victorian outskirts of town in 1980. Soon after, the house with a large veranda, and Café AzafBlue Moon restaurant and bar opened ran (www.cafeazafran.com), a Spanishdowntown. Nowadays, Rehoboth (see inspired tapas bistro open for breakfast, www.beach-fun.com for general tour- lunch, and dinner – there’s a branch in Reism info and www.camprehoboth.com hoboth, too. for details on the LGBT scene) teems SHOPPING AND DINING with Gay-owned or oriented businesses, Another popular daytime diversion is including cafes, restaurants, bars, and about a dozen guesthouses. Although the shopping. Rehoboth Avenue, the main drag, Renegade was razed in 2002 to make way has plenty of fun retail as well as a few galfor condos, the Blue Moon is still a first- leries. A block over, Baltimore Avenue is the hub of the town’s Gay scene, home to rate place to dine and socialize.

Although an increasing number of a few boutiques, home-furnishing emporia, trendy, urbane businesses have opened and the small but well-stocked Proud Book here in recent years, Rehoboth’s beach- Store, which carries LGBT-oriented books front is still lined with a bustling, honky- and gifts. Delaware has no sales tax, and tonk boardwalk of saltwater taffy parlors, out on Route 1 you’ll discover a bounty of video arcades, and souvenir shops. Many outlet shopping centers. Back in town, take visitors spend afternoons catching rays a break from browsing to grab a delicious at the beach. The largely Gay male sec- lunch (maybe the best chicken salad sandtion, known as Poodle Beach, runs from wich you’ll ever taste) at Lori’s Café (www. about St. Lawrence to Penn streets, at the lorisoyveycafe.com), or enjoy a snack or a southern tip of the Boardwalk. Women latte at the Coffee Mill (www.coffeemillresunbathe here to some extent, but more hoboth.com), a cheerful coffeehouse.

Rehoboth has an excellent dining scene, Lesbians and a fair number of Gay men flock north of downtown to the beach at and several trendy newcomers seem to open Cape Henlopen State Park (aka North each season. On the high end, the superb Shores), about a 20-to-30-minute walk or Blue Moon (bluemoonrehoboth.com) – site of the Gay bar of the same name – turns 10-minute drive via Ocean Drive.

You can also access other parts of the out high-caliber contemporary Ameripark by driving 10 miles north (via Route can fare like Maine lobster spaghetti and 1 and U.S. Highway 9) to the charming

tails. The ornately furnished, Asian-inspired Planet X (www.planetxcafe.com) scores high marks for its creative cocktails and unusual vegetarian and organic fare, from tofu satay with ginger-peanut sauce to grilled ahi filet with asparagus, scallion herb salad, and lemon aioli. Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats (www.dogfish.com) is one of the most esteemed craft breweries in the country and a fun place to sample a flight of unusual beers such as Chicory Stout, Positive Contact (Wit-style), and Chateau Jiahu (brewed with rice from an ancient Chinese recipe). The kitchen serves tasty modern pub fare.

For cocktails and entertainment, most folks drop by the lounges at local restaurants to socialize before or after dinner,

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a large and luxurious property with great views of the lake after which it’s named and close proximity to Poodle Beach; and century-old At Melissa’s B&B (www.atmelissas.com), an inviting six-room inn in a leafy residential neighborhood close to the beach and restaurants. It’s a nice option for families, as one room has a king and bunk bed, and another has two queen beds. The Royal Rose Inn (www. royalroseinn.com) is right in the heart of Baltimore Avenue’s Gay scene and has seven charming and attractive rooms, plus a rooftop hot tub and sundeck.

Perhaps no property in town draws

Andrew Collins

Seattle Gay News

WHERE TO STAY Rehoboth has no shortage of appealing, atmospheric accommodations.

Among the top guest houses, the Lighthouse Inn (www.lighthouseinn.net) is an attractive 1904 house that’s steps from the beach and has light-filled, nautically themed guest rooms with gas fireplaces, refrigerators, and TVs with DVD – the top-floor rooms are especially romantic and roomy, and a separate two-story cottage sleeps up to four. Rehoboth Guest House (www.rehobothguesthouse.com), two blocks from the beach and steps from Baltimore Avenue nightlife and dining, is a vintage three-story inn with clean, basic rooms, a friendly and helpful innkeeper, and some of the best summer rates in town – the simplest rooms, which share a bathroom, start at just $120 midweek in high-season, which is a bargain considering the location and lovely grounds and sun decks.

Other good bets include the spacious, spotless, and contemporary Cabana Gardens B&B (www.cabanagardens. com), whose rooftop sundeck is one of the best in town; the Silver Lake Guest House (www.silverlakeguesthouse.com),

Rehoboth retains a laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes it a perfect destination for summer fun.

The dunes near Poodle Beach, a favorite spot of Gay sunbathers in Rehoboth

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with the aforementioned Blue Moon, Mixx, Aqua, and Seafood Shack among the favorites. Early in the evening, a lot of Lesbians and Gay guys head to the Frogg Pond (www.thefroggpond.com) tavern for karaoke and conversation, or nearby Rehoboth Ale House (rehobothalehouse.com), which has live music some evenings and a drag brunch on Sundays. If you’re into the leather-and-Levi’s scene, be sure to check out the Double L Bar (www.doublelbar.net), which has a patio, two pool tables, and a cruisy vibe.

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more praise for its colorful personality (and high camp factor) than the Lesbian-owned Bewitched & BEDazzled B&B (www. bewitchedbnb.com), a decadent 13-room property that consists of two neighboring houses. One is playfully furnished as a tribute to the ’60s TV classic Bewitched, and the other pays tribute to the glamour of Hollywood, with dozens of autographed photos of movie stars. Another romantic option, the Canalside Inn (www.canalside-inn-rehoboth.com), overlooks the historic LewesRehoboth Canal and offers 12 elegantly outfitted rooms done in cheerful, pastel hues.

It’s a 20-minute walk from the beach, as is the spacious, well-kept Shore Inn (www. shoreinn.com), a male-oriented 14-room resort popular for its festive pool, deck, and hot tub. Guys on the make should try the clothing-optional Ram’s Head Inn (www.

theramshead.com), a 15-minute drive from the beach, which caters largely to butch leather-and-Levi’s types.

If you’re partial to larger, more anonymous mainstream properties, Rehoboth has several chain hotels, including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Comfort Inn out on Route 1. But to fully experience the bustle and charm of this increasingly hip and trendy Gay getaway, try to book a room in town and spend as much time as possible wandering the boardwalk, beach, and quiet residential streets – places where the real Rehoboth springs vibrantly to life.

Andrew Collins is the editor in chief of the LGBT travel magazines OutAloha and OutCity, and he covers Gay travel for the website GayTravel.About.com. He can be reached at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.

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by Albert Rodriguez SGN Travel Writer

that accommodates 617 standing and 300 sitting; a Youth Center complete with pool table, 75-inch TV, and social gathering space; a clinic offering tests for HIV and

other STIs; an AA meeting room; a library; and computer stations with free Internet. The Center also has its own café, called Bronze, known for its sinful treats and signature LGBTQ Sandwich.

The Las Vegas PRIDE Night Parade & Festival (www.lasvegaspride.org), presented by MGM Resorts International, is scheduled for September 6 and 7. The weekend event, beginning at West Charleston Boulevard and ending two blocks from the Fremont Street Experience, is expected to draw thousands of revelers.

Krave Massive (www.kravemassive.com), now claiming the title of the largest Gay club in the world, welcomed its first guests on June 15. Taking over a vacated movie theater complex, it currently includes an expansive dance floor with speaker columns, flashing strobe lights, and VIP booths. An independent cinema for LGBT-themed films is in the works. A floor below Krave, and under the same ownership, is Drink & Drag (www.drinkanddrag.com), a drag queen-run bar that doubles as a bowling alley with scantily clad go-go boys. On the opposite side of town is Share Nightclub (www.sharenightclub.com), a sizzling dance lounge with sexy Albert Rodriguez / seattle gay news

It’s ridiculously hot, noisy, crowded, somewhat expensive, and dotted with massive hotels that individually employ more people than the population of most small towns. Sounds like a place you’d want to avoid, right? Nope.

We’re talking about Las Vegas, one of the most exciting destinations in the world for all walks of life, from grooms-to-be celebrating their last days as bachelors to couples commemorating a milestone anniversary to anyone wanting a weekend of “anything goes” under the sun.

“Sin City” is wild and over-the-top, but that’s what sets it apart – everything is bigger and crazier and hotter in this desert oasis of nearly two million residents. In recent years it’s managed to reel in a prestigious consumer, the Gay leisure traveler, with boutique-style hotels, upscale restaurants, festive LGBT events, mainstream entertainment, and premier clubs.

Where else can you party in your Speedos with a thousand other men, then watch Celine Dion belt out “My Heart Will Go On” later that evening, then dance the night away at the largest Gay bar on the planet? Only in Las Vegas. Flights from Seattle are frequent on both Alaska and Southwest airlines or through Bellingham (Allegiant), with a gate-to-gate time of two hours and 15 minutes. If consider-

ing a trip to Las Vegas, get started at www.lasvegas.com/gaytravel.

Here’s what I recommend putting on your itinerary.

GAY CULTURE/NIGHTLIFE Newly opened on April 6 is The Center (www.thecenterlv.com), a valuable resource for Las Vegas’ LGBT community and the only one of its kind in the whole state. Operating on a yearly $1.8 million budget, its converted hardware store facility incorporates an Event Hall Temptation Sundays at The Luxor

see las vegas page 16

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by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN Travel Writer Visiting the city of Victoria, British Columbia, is like going to a distant vacation spot, but with less expense and no need for driving. And with Washington state’s new marriage equality law, it also presents beautifully serene honeymoon opportunities. Although it is another country – a passport or enhanced driver’s license is required for entry – it’s an easy journey and a relaxing destination.

No matter what season you visit, there’s beauty to be found in Victoria.

GETTING THERE The Victoria Clipper is a high-speed ferry that sails from Seattle directly to Victoria. For $75 round-trip, you can sit back, relax, enjoy the views, and leave the driving to the captain. Carry-on luggage is easily brought with you, or if you are enjoying an extended stay, your bags can be checked. Although it is a passengeronly boat, parking downtown at one of several locations is easy enough. Present your Clipper boarding pass on your departure and parking is only $10/night at the garage at Elliott and Vine. Check out the Victoria Clipper website (www. clippervacations.com/clipper-ferry/) for this and other parking suggestions. The Clipper offers a good variety of food and beverage service, and even offers motionsickness pills to help make your twohour, 45-minute voyage even more pleasant. Remember, the Clipper is a cashless vessel, so be sure to have that credit/debit card handy.

WHERE TO STAY Most of Victoria’s hotels (and attractions) are within an easy walking distance of the ferry terminal, so there is no real need to rent a car. In just a few minutes you could be checking in at the Inn at Laurel Point (www.laurelpoint.com). Facing the harbor with glass windows and panoramic views, this fully capable hotel offers a variety of rooms, views, and options. Ballrooms holding up to 250 people can host the wedding of your dreams. Catering services are available through the hotel, and the in-house restaurant Aura can be the perfect setting for a rehearsal dinner – or an intimate dinner just for the two of you. Members of the friendly staff can easily arrange spa and banquet services, or for that important connection to your work, business centers are readily available. Good weather can provide a beautiful accompaniment for smaller weddings on outside balconies with breathtaking scenery provided by nature.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO Victoria is called “Canada’s most walkable city” for very good reasons, with a good transit system and shuttle services available for the few attractions that aren’t within foot-traffic distance. Sightseeing options are plentiful and ready for your exploration. Boat tours are easily booked for extensive views of the city or an “underwater garden” tour. If staying on land is more to your liking, then a museum like the Royal BC Museum (royalbcmuseum. bc.ca), which explores the history of British Columbia, is only a few paces away. If art is more your thing, try the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (aggv.ca), with collections from Asia, Europe, and North America (emphasis on Canada and Japan), housed in a 19th-century mansion called Gyppeswick. Shopping is plentiful no matter what your taste, but do be sure to stop by The English Sweet Shop (www.englishsweets. com), which offers an incredible variety of candies not found (or extremely difficult to find) stateside.

For the not-to-be-missed activities that are not within walking distance of the ferry terminal but are still easily accessible, try the Cruise Victoria Service (www. cvscruisevictoria.com) sightseeing packages. Two such options (packaged with a CVS hop-on/hop-off shuttle service) are the Butterfly Gardens and the famous Butchart Gardens.

A wonderful activity for children or adults is the Butterfly Gardens (www. butterflygardens.com). Butterflies of every variety fly freely about you as you explore the small, tropical environment set up for these beautiful creatures. Displays of all stages of the butterfly’s life from egg to fully formed wingspan are shown throughout.

Glass cases show live poisonous (and very colorful) dart tree frogs, as well as several lizards. Tortoises, parrots, flamingoes, and colorful plants are all set up for a beautiful habitat and a fun excursion. Note that this is the first stop on a CVS package hop-on/ hop-off transportation offer, and is easily experienced within an hour. Then hop on the next CVS shuttle bus and continue on to the famous Butchart Gardens.

Perhaps the best-known sightseeing destination in Victoria, the Butchart Gardens (www.butchartgardens.com), originally called “Benvenuto” (Italian for welcome), are over 100 years old. The original estate, now a National Historic Site of Canada, is still owned by the original family’s descendants. The Butcharts bought the property to mine the quarry for limestone and became extremely prosperous. Wanting to give back to the land, Mrs. Butchart decided to turn the quarry into a garden and set out on the still-growing project. No matter what the season, plants bloom around the decorative pathways, with statues and waterfalls adding to the serenity of the majestic natural beauty. The paths are kept simple, with few if any plaques naming the plants, to help keep guests’ focus on the gardens themselves. In the summer months, fireworks are set off over one of the many scenic ponds.

For the full experience, enjoy afternoon tea in the original dining room. Children’s tea, vegetarian tea, and high tea are all offered, as well as a small luncheon/ dinner menu.

For those not wanting to leave the beauty of Victoria Harbor, there are many options as well. Several neighborhoods wait to be explored, each offering a different taste or history of this incredibly serene city.

If all that sightseeing is making you hungry, have no fear – restaurants of all types abound. Stage Wine Bar (stagewinebar.com) is a delightful restaurant offering a variety of small plates paired with the perfect beverage. No matter what you choose – the chicken paillard or the incredible sautéed mushrooms, for example – you are bound to enjoy the delicious food put before you, and the portions are big enough to share. After dinner, it’s only a few steps to enjoy a live performance at The Belfry Theatre (www. belfry.bc.ca) next door. Check ahead for performance schedule and tickets.

Victoria is an easily accessible getaway. Currency exchanges are available, but most Victoria businesses accept our greenbacks with no issues. The city, like most of Canada, is Gay-friendly, with marriage equality having been passed nationally over 10 years ago. For those wanting a stress-free vacation close to home, to a destination that feels far away, Victoria awaits.

photos by eric andrews -katz

The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC

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After decades of decline, Pittsburgh’s coming back strong

by Andrew Collins SGN Contributing Writer

GAYS AND THE ARTS The Pittsburgh area’s Gay community is well-integrated within its mainstream population. The city has numerous theaters with artsy and Gay-themed films and a high appreciation of “alternative” culture – consider that two of its top attractions are the Mattress Factory contemporary art museum and the Andy Warhol Museum. Also, the city hosts the well-attended Pittsburgh International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival over 10 days in October, and a fast-growing Pride Theater Festival over two weekends in June.

Although downtown contains but a fraction of metro Pittsburgh’s top attractions, its handsome, contemporary skyline strikes a regal pose over the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela rivers. You can’t miss the city’s most remarked-upon skyscraper, PPG Place, a neo-Gothic monolith designed by the late Gay architect Philip Johnson.

Nearby, Liberty and Penn avenues form the spines of a 14-block cultural district

life (and his homosexuality). Close by are the Carnegie Science Center, the National Aviary, and the Mattress Factory Art Museum, known for its provocative, largerthan-life installations created by visiting resident artists. file photo

of theaters and performance halls, housing the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Opera, Once one of the country’s pre-eminent among others. You’ll also find numerous industrial powerhouses, with a 1950 theaters, including the Gay-popular Cabapopulation of nearly 700,000, Pittsburgh ret at Theater Square, where you can enjoy has – like many similar American cities – changed considerably over the past few decades. Although now less than half the size it was during its heyday, this hilly and historic metropolis in the Ohio Valley is enjoying a dramatic renaissance, with a number of formerly downcast neighborhoods now abuzz with hip restaurants, indie shops, and rehabbed factory buildings, apartments, and row houses. Having received a bump in Gay visibility as the purported setting of TV’s Queer as Folk (which was actually filmed in Toronto), Pittsburgh has also steadily developed into a very popular weekend destination among LGBT travelers.

Other signs of rebirth are evident as well. Pittsburgh has re-emerged as a thriving center of health and medical research, education, and the computer software industry. Air and water pollution have been sharply curtailed, and many former industrial sites now house cultural attractions.

Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History

cocktails and tapas while taking in a show.

Penn Avenue continues into the historic Strip warehouse district, which has several nightclubs and restaurants interspersed among produce and food markets and offbeat shops. The neighborhood, which is also home to the superb Sen. John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, leads northeast into the cool 16:62 Design Zone, home to boutiques, home-furnishings shops, and galleries.

Pittsburgh’s North Side lies just across the Allegheny River from downtown and is home to the city’s relatively new sports stadiums as well as the Andy Warhol Museum, which celebrates the life of the late pop art icon, who grew up in nearby Oakland. Created inside an eight-story 1911 warehouse, the museum contains more than 8,000 works and is an outstanding, engaging, and often very funny museum, laid out with abundant commentary on Warhol’s

South of downtown, the city rises sharply above the Monongahela River toward Mt. Washington, a workaday neighborhood with spectacular views of downtown. Ride up the slope via the Monongahela Incline, which leads to a viewing platform and a small museum. A short drive east is the bohemian South Side, a repository of funky shops, galleries, and eateries that once anchored Pittsburgh’s Lithuanian and Polish communities.

EAST OF DOWNTOWN Still farther east of downtown, Oakland was built from the gobs of money generated during Pittsburgh’s industrial heyday and today contains hospitals, universities, and high-tech firms. Forbes and Fifth avenues anchor the University of Pittsburgh and formidably endowed Carnegie Mellon University campuses. Be sure to visit the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, which contain well-conceived architectural and decorative arts exhibits, a cache of arti-

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June 21, 2013

THE STRIP DISTRICT In the Strip District, Lesbian-owned Pamela’s Diner, aka P&G’s (www.pamelasdiner.com) is a fine spot for hearty breakfast fare and delicious sandwiches at lunch – the blueberry crepe pancakes are a favorite. There are other branches in Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, and Mt. Lebanon. And the original Primanti Bros. (primantibros.com) has been doling out huge sandwiches, topped ridiculously but

andrew collins

Downtown Pittsburgh, viewed from across the Allegheny River

facts from ancient Egypt, and the nation’s third-largest dinosaur collection. Nearby Schenley Park, ideal for a stroll, is anchored by the 1893 Phipps Conservatory, comprising 13 rooms of exotic flora.

East of Oakland is Shadyside, a gentrified patch of neatly kept yards and attractive old homes, many of them Gayowned. Ellsworth Avenue (around the 5800 block) has several Gay-popular eateries and businesses, and more chichi Walnut Street (along the 5500 block) holds mid- to high-end chain stores. It’s a short drive east to Clayton, the former estate of industrialist Henry Clay Frick – it now consists of a magnificent mansion and other historic outbuildings, including the Frick Art and Historical Center, which has an outstanding collection of European master paintings.

Pittsburgh’s dining scene has really blossomed of late, especially in some of the hip, outlying neighborhoods like Lawrenceville, East Liberty, and Bloomfield. Along Butler Avenue in Lawrenceville, you’ll find all sorts of cool eateries: Coca Café (www.cocacafe. net), which also has a branch in the Mattress Factory Museum, serves modern American fare is a great pick for brunch; Cure (curepittsburgh.com) is known for innovative, meaty fare such as pig’scheek ragu and oxtail ravioli; and Tamari (www.tamaripgh.com) is a gorgeous space acclaimed for artful Asian-Latin fusion dishes, such as Asian tamales with chicken, Chinese sausage, and green curry. In Garfield (near East Liberty), Salt of the Earth (www.saltpgh.com) serves fine renditions of farm-to-table fare, including a hanger steak with collards, bacon, and Dijon mustard.

Celebrating 40 Years!

deliciously with french fries and cole slaw, since 1933.

The elegant Eleven Contemporary Kitchen (www.elevenck.com), well-suited to special-occasion meals, is part of the Gay-friendly Big Burrito group (www.bigburrito.com), which operates several slick, loungy restaurants around town, including the fun Pan-Asian restaurant Soba and the colorful and lively Cal-Mex restaurant Mad Mex. For a terrific meal near downtown’s Gay bars, check out Meat & Potatoes (meatandpotatoespgh.com), a lively gastropub serving sophisticated yet accessible burgers, sweetbread tacos, bone marrow with grilled bread, and other carnivore-driven delights.

Among coffeehouses, the local chain Crazy Mocha (www.crazymocha.com) has several fun locations around town, including a particular Gay favorite at Shadyside.

And Espresso a Mano (espressoamano. com) is a sleek, artisan roaster in Lawrenceville.

The 900 block of Liberty Avenue downtown has a few of the city’s top Gay nightlife options, including neighborhoody There Ultra Lounge, the popular and long-running Images video bar, and 941 Saloon, which has an after-hours upstairs section that pulses late into the night. Relatively new Cruze Bar (www.cruzebar.com) in the Strip is a very popular dance club in an attractive space – it’s arguably the snazziest Gay bar in the city. Nearby, low-keyed Real Luck Café (www.realluckcafe.com) draws a mix of men and women and serves pub food and drinks. A few blocks away is the popular Gay bathhouse Club Pittsburgh (www.clubpittsburgh.com). Not far away, on Polish Hill, Donny’s Place is a countrywestern dance bar with a pool hall drawing a mixed-gender crowd. Downstairs is a guyoriented basement nook known as Leather Central.

Shadyside’s quintessentially Queer 5801 Video Lounge and Café (www.5801videolounge.com) is a hip but friendly place for cocktails, good homestyle cooking, and great conversation, and nearby Spin draws a similar, mostly Gay mix of scenesters, young professionals, and fairly collegiate sorts. In increasingly trendy

Lawrenceville, the Blue Moon is a fun and welcoming spot with videos, karaoke, and an easygoing crowd, and Cattivo (www. cattivo.biz) – especially popular with Lesbians but friendly to all – stands out as a great place both to drink and eat (pizza, hoagies, strombolis, and the like).

toral acres. Rooms have unfussy but elegant the LGBT travel magazines OutAloha and furnishings.

OutCity, and he covers Gay travel for the website GayTravel.About.com. He can be Andrew Collins is the editor in chief of reached at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.

BLOOMFIELD In nearby Bloomfield, the hipster livemusic bar Brillo Box (www.brillobox.net) draws an eclectic, Queer/hetero crowd and serves very tasty food, from burgers to Korean-BBQ seitan. And Lawrenceville’s New Amsterdam Bar (www.newamsterdam412.com) caters to a similarly cool crowd with microbrews and tasty pub fare.

Among accommodations, you can’t beat either the location or the swank decor of the Westin Convention Center (www.westinpittsburgh.com), which sits near Liberty Avenue’s Gay nightlife and the Strip’s restaurants and markets. But for sheer history, check into the old-world Omni William Penn (www.omnihotels.com), a 1916 beauty in the heart of downtown. The excellent, mid-priced Doubletree Pittsburgh Downtown (doubletree3.hilton.com) offers nicely appointed rooms (many of them suites) and a great central location.

In the Cultural District, the Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown (www.marriott. com) occupies four adjacent historic buildings. A few miles east, the Courtyard Pittsburgh Shadyside is close to Gay-popular shopping and dining along Liberty and Ellsworth avenues.

The Gay-owned Inn on the Mexican War Streets (www.innonthemexicanwarstreets.com) occupies a grand mansion with seven elegantly furnished rooms and suites.

It’s steps from the National Aviary and near the Warhol and Mattress Factory museums. Also on the North Side, the Parador Inn (theparadorinn.com) is another lovely, Gay-owned option occupying a stunningly restored red-brick mansion with beautiful original interior details, including stainedglass and ornate woodwork. Another Gayfriendly establishment, the Arbors Bed & Breakfast (www.arborsbnb.com), occupies a handsome 19th-century house on two pas-

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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splash around in a shallow pool with a DJ playing tunes by today’s biggest artists, all continued from page 6 the while watching cute boys strut their stuff in skimpy swimsuits. Straight friends go-go boys, a locals-mostly crowd, reserved are welcome (and some hotel guests do wander in and end up staying). Admission VIP area and remixed Top 40 music.

“Temptation Sundays” at Luxor (www. fees are posted on the event website, and luxor.com/lgbt) draws mainly Gay men to private cabanas are perfect for groups.

las vegas

ACCOMMODATIONS Of the many hotel-casinos in Vegas, I recommend the MGM Grand (www.mgmgrand.com). It has a couple of distinctions: (1) MGM Resorts International, the property’s parent brand, is a huge LGBT supporter that donated generously to The Center, as well as sponsoring ongoing events from “Temptation Sundays” to the PRIDE Night Parade; and (2) the amenities are abundant and impressive throughout its premises, from Michelin-star restaurants to major concert venues to well-designed, tastefully decorated rooms (5,044 total) with some unique features, such as automatic blinds and MGM’s signature line of bath products.

Common room furnishings include flatpanel TVs, glass-top work desks, mini-bars, USB/iPod ports, and shower-tubs. Turndown service is offered, as is free WiFi. Of course, the casino floor is filled with slot machines and card tables, but you’ll also encounter a Starbucks, a food court with latenight/early morning offerings, the MGM Grand Arena (Beyonce, iheartradio Festival, Billboard Music Awards), Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ, and plenty of retail shops.

EAT & DRINK What’s changed in Las Vegas in the past 10 to 15 years with the food scene is that the focus has shifted from buffets to sophisticated dining. The major hotel-casinos have lured celebrity chefs and trendy chains, who now dominate the eating selections. Andrea’s (www.wynnlasvegas.com), inside the Encore, serves wonderful Asian-infused dishes from made-to-order sushi rolls to specialty fried rice (pineapple, crab, tofu, egg) and noodles (pan fried, lo mein, phad thai) to succulent meat dishes, like five-spice garlic lobster, Saikyo miso black cod, and Wagyu rib cap, all in a posh, slightly retro ambiance. The wok-fried broccoli or bigeye tuna and crispy rice are must-tries at Andrea’s. The Border Grill (www.bordergrill.

Cuts & Styles 16 Seattle Gay News

EARL LANCASTER Master Barber June 21, 2013

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7AM - 6PM, Mon - Sat Celebrating 40 Years!

com) is another great spot to hit and woos a significant Gay clientele. Nestled inside Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and helmed

by Top Chef stars Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, the menu features sensational dressed-up versions of Mexican and South American dishes such as Peruvian ceviche, plantain empanadas, Yucatan pork tacos, chile relleño burgers, and a wonderful plate of chicken poblano enchiladas that comes with a colorful presentation. Even for a quick stop, to sit on the outdoor patio with a view of the swimming pools over chips with house-made guacamole and a blackcherry mojito, the Border Grill is definitely worth it. Suggested for a fabulous brunch is Simon Restaurant at Palms Casino Resort (www.palms.com), where adorable servers don printed pajama bottoms and complete your meal with complimentary cotton candy. The dining space has a clean, modern appearance with lots of windows, allowing the bright sun to come through, and has an intimate bar-lounge that invites brunchers to concoct their own Bloody Marys. You can opt for the buffet-style brunch, offering everything from sushi to carved prime rib to pastries, granola, and mini-desserts, or you can order from the kitchen menu that includes egg bennies, wood-fired pizzas, and a “White Trash” selection of chickenfried chicken, pigs in a blanket, biscuits and gravy, and Simon baby-back ribs.

For drinks, I recommend The Chandelier at The Cosmopolitan (www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com), a multilevel lounge that is sexy and spirited. The main floor area is highlighted by a live music stage, where local bands perform blues, swing, and jazz-pop music, while the upper levels have snazzy bar counters with dim lighting and scattered, plush couches. The Chandelier’s innovative cocktails, using freshly sourced out-of-the-ordinary ingredients, are both tempting and fun to sample. Park on Fremont (www.parkonfremont.com) is closer to downtown and a good place to go for Bloody Marys. They list four varieties,

aside from the standard version, including the Texas Tuxedo (Ciroc vodka, cucumber, basil, grape tomatoes, and Bloody Mary mix), delivered to your table in oversized mason jars. While you’re there, check out the risqué patio art and the bar’s teeter-totter in the back.

SPAS If you’re gonna play, you’ve gotta recover, right? And the best way is to recharge is at the spa. BATHHOUSE (www.mandalaybay.com), inside THEhotel Tower Rooms & Suites, is not easy to find but well worth the challenge. The clothing-optional soaking baths, with separate sections for men and women, are particularly lush, with high ceilings, black tile floors, and beach chairs, along with self-serve fruit-infused water, gourmet trail mix, and cucumber slices for fatigued eyes. My treatment of choice was the Luxe Noir Massage, a 50-minute session that allowed two enhancements (hot stone, etc.) worked into the actual massage. I also have good things to say about Reliquary Spa & Salon at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (www.hardrockhotel.com), which is actually more elegant and sultry than drugs, sex, and rock ’n’ roll. The baths are about the same size as those at BATHHOUSE, though in a brighter setting. Their treatments have catchy names – “Help,” “Cloud Nine,” “Tenderness” – and I loved being massaged while listening to a Coldplay playlist, rather than the cheesy music you succumb to at most spas.

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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palm springs continued from cover

social experience with strong undercurrents of wild, read the list below carefully. If you are looking for even wilder, refer to the “wilder place” section below.

INNDulge 601 S. Grenfall Road This is the place I keep coming back to. I have stayed at and visited many Gay resorts in Palm Springs to find the best place for me. As I’ve said before, where you stay depends a lot on who you are and what you are looking for to make the best vacation. I am a slightly shy person who is looking for a

20 Seattle Gay News

great vacation experience with new friends and loads of flirting, fun frivolity, with the option but not expectation for something wilder – and that is why INNDulge remains at the top of my list. When I feel social, there is the daily social hour with all the guests, plus your hosts John and Sandy.

I can meet everyone at the resort, which I did. When I am feeling flirty, I only have to leave my room and sit by the pool, go to the gym, or walk over to breakfast. When I am feeling wild, there’s always the pool and hot tub at midnight, the Internet, and a load of friendly strangers within a stone’s throw.

the bears. The newest of Palm Springs’ clothing-optional Gay resorts is located away from the others and closer to the strip along Indian Canyon Drive. Owners Glenn and Jerry, proud bears themselves, have created the ideal bear oasis in a stylish red, midcentury-themed, pool-focused resort, complete with large sliding doors, stocked kitchens, and (ahem) reinforced beds that can hold the larger man at play.

underwear night (see “What to Do”) when invited by some lodgers for a side party. The size of the resort makes it more approachable, perhaps for the shy traveler who wants to start with a smaller group of folks, but it is no less wild for the size, I can promise you. Even the towels are better, perhaps because it boasts a much larger pool than its bigger resort neighbors. This place oozes friendliness.

Tortuga del Sol 715 San Lorenzo Road In the five years since my last visit, Tortuga del Sol may be the least changed of all Bearfoot Inn the Gay resorts. I visited twice, once to look 888 N. Indian Canyon Drive around for this article during the day and The name says it all – this is a resort for again later on at night, after the Tool Shed

Triangle Inn 555 San Lorenzo Road When I stopped by to see the Triangle Inn, I walked into a small party and immediately slipped on my swimsuit to talk to the locals. My previous visit made me want to stay here, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet.

June 21, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Triangle Inn boasts a very dedicated following and encompasses the feeling that guest David said “makes me come back here every year even though I have tried some of the other resorts.” That dedicated following keeps this smaller resort among the most social and lively resorts around, particularly during the day. If you are more comfortable with a smaller group of people than INNDulge offers, this place or Tortuga are your best bets.

Hacienda 586 S. Warm Sands Drive The Hacienda is the more luxurious of the resorts, the sort with the huge, flat fireplace lighting up a five-room suite, heated bathroom floors, and a pillow menu. Only recently clothing-optional, you have as good a chance to find a rich man looking for you as you do a man looking for a rich man. Stay here if your belt, hat, and bag all scream luxe.

Wilder Places If the only goal on your trip is endless wild sex, you will not have trouble finding a Gay resort right for you. For the sexfocused traveler, there are “The Notorious Two,” built for men searching only for instant pleasure, and as is my custom, I do not include these places in my article because I have not been to visit. My idea of a vacation is some wild plus something else big – without the “something else big,” it reduces the experience for me to something you can find in any city in the world, and certainly nothing you travel across the world to see.

If that is your thing, Google away. These places have affordable day passes, as their large signs indicate.

WHAT TO DO When you want to leave the resort, you will not necessarily leave Gay people. Palm Springs is half-Gay (no, really, half the population is Gay!) so you will feel right at home. Below is a list of places I was able to visit on this trip in just a few days. No doubt you will discover some of your own.

R&R Menswear 333 N. Palm Canyon Drive The first place to visit is R&R Menswear, an unassuming little boutique from the outside which inside boasts a huge offering of designer pool wear and casual wear for men. On my first trip, I stumbled onto this place by accident. When I met the Gay owner, Rick (who works Sundays and Mondays), I was desperate to find a swimsuit I could wear since I live in a cold, damp place. Rick took one look at me and provided me with what is now the best of my wardrobe and he did it with a friendly, fun-loving demeanor the whole time. What makes this place again my favorite clothing shop is Rick’s impeccable taste. It was the swimsuit I wasn’t sure about, but which he insisted on, that really made my trip. Whoever you are or whatever you are looking for, Rick will find what you should wear in minutes. Make this your first stop!

us was waving white napkins and cheering the musical speech of Madonna (Eva Peron) and singing along. Oh, they had sung along to every other Gay musical movie or theater-clip moment, but this was the only one with props! It was an education for me in more ways than one – I finally saw a clip of Mommie Dearest, a movie I don’t ever intend to watch.

money and you could easily take your massage and facial without the perks and save a whole pile of cash. By the way, this was the first time ever I had a spa facial and I just would like to say, “Ouch!” (I had no idea those things hurt.)

Palm Springs Arial Tramway 1 Tramway Road No trip is complete without a bunch of Gay folk cramming into a car and heading off to the aerial tramway to stand with a bunch of strangers on a cable car to the top of a mountain. This very light brush with nature can be as simple as a walk with a view and as hardcore as an endless hike along the rock and brush. The ride up is adventurous, the pictures you take are worth saving, and the memory you make is priceless.

The Tropicale 330 E. Amado Road The Tropicale is simply the best place to have a patio dinner with a sizeable group of friends. With better seafood offerings than many of the other stylish, upscale restaurants in Palm Springs, there is also a special Sunday night sushi chef who visits, providing a few extra options on the menu. If the wind is calm and the night is right, get a spot under the strung lights on the patio Walking Tours where the festive air will make this feel like The midcentury homes of Lucille Ball, a perfect dinner party, only one where you Judy Garland, and all your favorite goldendon’t have to do the dishes. era film stars can be seen on a Palm Springs Historical Society walking tour. If archiPinocchio in the Desert tecture is more your thing, there is a walk134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way When you walk up a street so hot that in- ing tour for that, too. There is also a “Heart stalled mist machines cool you, you want a drink – never mind that it is only 10 a.m.

Look for the colorful umbrellas and the small Marilyn Monroe statue out front of Pinocchio in the Desert, whose $3.95 bottomless champagne breakfast and greasyspoon menu will prepare you for your arduous vacation spa day or the tedious long hours sitting by the pool. This place has a laid back-crowd, no pretension, and a drink menu in the morning.

of the City” tour where you can get a look at the busiest, happening parts of the city.

Tours are $15 per person and at this time can only be booked only by phone. Call (760) 323-8297.

THE BEST PART OF ALL With another incredible Palm Springs trip under my belt, I am already planning a third. This time, not just because of the brilliant vacation with friends, food, and fun, the endless postcard moments to look back on throughout the work year, or the brilliant clothes I bought – no, this time it is also because of a special person I met who made me forget all about that stupid breakup and everything else around it.

That’s the magic of Palm Springs – come with a raincloud and leave with a rainbow, a unicorn, a tan, a spring in your step, and four swimsuits that fit. What more can you want from a vacation?

Beau Burriola is an American expat who always finds time to get back to Palm Springs. Contact him at beaubrent@gmail. com.

Wang’s in the Desert 424 S. Indian Canyon Drive Upscale pan-Asian food with a patio, a pond, and hordes of Gay folks make this the place to have your drink and your dinner. On Friday nights from 5 p.m. on, this is definitely a very Gay place to be – so iron your shorts, polish your beach footwear, and make your reservation ahead of time if you plan to eat.

Hamburger Mary’s 415 N. Palm Canyon Drive Here is what I love about America: some places have absolutely perfected the burger.

If you’ve ever visited the Hamburger Mary’s in Vancouver, this one is very similar, except that all the windows are open, the air is warm, and the passers-by wear less. A triedand-true burger joint, it’s best to stop by on your lunch shopping walk up the strip. Every server I have had here has been friendly, and suggestions for slimmer burgers will be happily provided. Also, you will certainly have plenty of Gay folk around whenever you visit.

Azul Tapas Lounge 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive This place still has the best patio for drinks in Palm Springs, if you are lucky enough to get a spot. Since it sits right on North Palm Canyon Drive, it is the perfect place to sit in the cooling misters with your friends, drink in hand, and watching the people go by. With tapas more Americana than Espagna, you’ll have plenty of choices so long as you aren’t a vegetarian. Still, what Azul lacks in menu offerings it more than makes up for with excellent outdoor seating.

Hunters 302 E. Arenas Road Every city has its go-to Gay bar. For Palm Springs, Hunters is that place. Whether you’re hoping to win (or just watch) the Wednesday underwear competition, or whether you want to start out your night Friday before cheap drinks at Toucan’s, you will not be disappointed with a staple like Spa Resort Casino Hunters. With a mixed crowd, you’re sure to 100 N. Indian Canyon Drive find the folks you want to hang out with, on I am not normally a spa kind of guy. their way to wherever they want to hang out. Dropping money on pampering doesn’t come easy because I find my money to be SpurLine Video Lounge comforting enough, but for the second time 200 S. Indian Canyon Drive in a row, I went to this desert spa for the best We were all four of us standing, watch- full-body massage of my life. The ritual ing a scene from Evita at 10:30 on a Sun- around the massage is nice enough – the day night (only one of the endless musical soak in the mineral bath, the steam room clips that make up a night Friday through and sauna, drinking your cucumber water, Sunday at SpurLine) when suddenly, out of and sleeping by a blue-lit fountain – but nowhere, everybody in the bar except for these little pleasures aren’t the best value for

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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