Winter Party: All Kinds of Beautiful

Typo?

Winter Party 20, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force‘s celebration of 20 years of partying with a purpose, climaxed with Winter Party Beach Party on Sunday, March 10. And what an explosion of male (and female) pulchritude. What’s arguably the hottest collection of gay men on the planet at that time, Muscle Beach coaxes hot fellows from the entire world but mostly North and South America with the promise of the company of other hot fellows. Though it mostly skews to younger age range (20s-40s), there’s pretty much someone for every taste.

Though the party is over, for those in the Northeast this is a great time to go to Miami with reliably warm and sunny days and pleasantly cooler evenings. ManAboutWorld recently visited Miami. Check out ourJanuary/February issue for our reportage. We also checked out the fantastic hidden-in-plain-sight Betsy Hotel and the Grand Beach Hotel. Stay tuned for write ups about these two properties and other discoveries.

Winter Party Festival 20 Launches March 6

And this is just a fraction of the crowd.

For those needing a reason beyond weather for visiting Miami, our favorite event is Winter Party Festival, celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2013 from March 6-11, when those sad saps stuck in winter climates are at their wits’ end and ready to party under the hot Florida sun.

This year, the Shelborne Hotel will serve as the pool party host, though all of South Beach is convenient to the large roster of parties and events. All Winter Party proceeds benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and local Miami nonprofit organizations serving the LGBT community. Our favorites: the “Under One Sun Pool Party” on Saturday and the actual Winter Party on the beach on Sunday, both outdoor daytime events so you get to drink and dance in the daylight, surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful men, wearing the least amount of clothing.

(Excerpted from ManAboutWorld’s January/February issue, including Miami. To download the entire issue for free, click here.)

Miami Beach Pride. Hurry! It’s This Weekend

He's looking for you! (Maybe)

Itching to get your Pride on?

A nice, early (warm) kick-off to our favorite gay holiday season is Miami Beach Gay Pride taking place Sunday, April 15, from noon to 9 p.m., along Ocean Drive.

Irreverent? Hysterical? A few drops of each perhaps: their drink packages are named for gay-popular icons. Try the Liza Minelli, Judy Garland or Elizabeth Taylor drink packages.

They promise this Pride is “diva-licious” beloved lady belters from Frenchie Davis and JoJo to Kristin W and more.

AquaGirl 2012 in Miami: A Week of Hot Parties For A Cause

AquaGirl, now in its 13th year is bigger and better than ever.

With nearly a full week of events stretching from  May 2 through May 6, women from Southern Florida (and throughout the U.S. and even abroad) flock to Miami to dance, splash around, catch an LGBT flick, meet other ladies and much more.

Check out the line-up of events here from VIP receptions and pool parties to film festivals and cool work outs. Purchase tickets here.

Winter Party Miami Will Burn a Hole in Winter

Pool party

Each year Winter Party Miami seems to get a little bigger.

This year’s event stretching from February 29 through March 5, 2012 promises six non-stop days of parties and events. The big event is the Winter Party Beach Party on Sunday, March 4 (12:00 PM - 06:00 PM) at Lummus Park, Miami Beach.

Prices for most events are discounted till January 15, 2012. (Discounted women’s events passes are valid through February 1, 2012.) For more information, visit WinterParty.com. Prices at the host hotel — Surfcomber, now a Kimpton property — rise January 7, 2012. Click here for more information.

A portion of the net proceeds of WPF support the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force‘s efforts to take action, build power and create change for LGBT people.

Miami: Show Your Rainbow Colored Orgullo October 1

Just a few of the fun Orgullo events in store for October 1, 2011

Tomorrow, October 1, 2011, marks the first-ever gay Hispanic heritage celebration in Miami Beach.

We just heard about it. If you’re near Miami, consider checking it out.

Free to the public, Celebrate Orgullo showcases the cultural contributions of the Latino LGBT community and provides a good reason for having some fun on the beach with other queer folks.

Head to 12th and Ocean Drive from noon to 6pm. For more information visit CelebrateOrgullo.com.

Be sure to click on the video with its colorful montage and catchy background music.

 

Suite Dreams: New Hotel, North Beach, Miami

By Paul VanDeCarr

North Beach is perhaps not the first area that springs to mind for LGBT travelers to Miami. But it’s got a lot to offer, thanks partly to the hip and homo-friendly New Hotel.

Each of the hotel’s 10 guestrooms has an easy-on-the-eyes minimalist design that encourages lounging and late sleeping. But you won’t want to stay in your room. There’s low-key fun to be had out by the poolside at Lou’s Beer Garden, on the hotel premises, where guests and neighborhood residents alike mingle. Lou’s offers dozens of wines and beers, and a nice selection of tasty foods—cheese plates, wings, pulled pork, salads, crab cakes to die for, and more.Weekend brunches, regular art shows, and full-moon parties with live music and fire-dancers make for a festive atmosphere. Even with the activity at Lou’s, the guest rooms are quiet, and the feel of the place is intimate and relaxed. For the environmentalist in all of us, it’s good to know that the hotel sports a green roof, low-flow water, and energy-saving lighting systems. Guests also get free use of hotel bicycles, making it that much easier to venture out into the neighborhood (known both as “Little Buenos Aires,” and as the “MiMo District” for its Miami Modern architecture).

Within just a few blocks, you’ll find Latin American cuisine—including a Mexican restaurant, a Cuban café, an Argentine steakhouse, the pleasingly spacious café Manolo’s, and more. The hotel is just two blocks from the ocean, and only a few miles down the road from the clothing-optional Haulover Beach, where both straight and gay visitors disrobe. South Beach is about a 30-minute bus ride. The queer traveler looking for a place off the beaten path would do well to stay at the New Hotel.

THE NEW HOTEL: http://www.thenewhotelmiami.com/

LOU’S BEER GARDEN: http://www.lousbeergarden.com/

MONK IN THE TRUNK: http://www.inletbrewing.com/About.html

MANOLO’S: http://www.churrosmanolo.com/

PHOTO: The New Hotel patio, and Lou’s Beer Garden — a lazy morning before things have picked up. By Paul VanDeCarr.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Suite Dreams: Edgewater Hotel, South Beach, Miami

By Paul VanDeCarr

It was a hotelier—Conrad Hilton—who emphasized the importance of “location, location, location” in real estate. The folks at the brand-spanking-new Edgewater Hotel (it opened up in February 2011) must have taken that injunction to heart, as they occupy a fantastic spot right across the street from Miami’s South Beach, at Ocean and 14th.

That means it’s far enough from the bustle just down the street as to be quiet, but close enough that you can put on your flip-flops for a jaunt into the action. That includes the gay Palace Bar (which has an open-air counter facing the sidewalk, making cruising rather easy), and the gay section of the beach, both at 12th Street.Plenty of other nightspots, like Twist, are within a short walk. And what of the hotel itself? The newly renovated building retains its handsome art-deco façade from 1939, and its 45 rooms each have a kitchenette, and a simple, attractive design that accentuates the light and views. (Rooms can be decorated in advance for birthdays and romantic getaways, including in “Adam and Steve” and “Oprah and Gayle” themes.)

For a small extra charge, the “Spoil Me Plan” gets you beach chairs and towels, wireless service, and a continental breakfast and daily happy hour on the rooftop terrace. Those gatherings, as well as the attentive staff, give the Edgewater the personal feel of a boutique hotel, even as it has the hum of a mid-sized place. Barely a month old as of this writing, the Edgewater does not yet have a defined personality, but that’s sure to change as its amenities—including a hotel restaurant, planned for summer 2011—increase. In any case, there is that fabulous location. (The Edgewater is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.)

• MIAMI: Out Guide
• EDGEWATER: http://www.edgewatersouthbeach.com
• PALACE: http://www.palacesouthbeach.com
• TWIST: http://www.twistsobe.com
• OTHER GAY BARS: http://www.sobegayinfo.com/nightlife.asp <http://www.sobegayinfo.com/nightlife.asp&gt;
• PHOTO: Edgewater Hotel rooftop terrace. By Paul VanDeCarr.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Suite Dreams: Lords South Beach

Amid South Beach’s Art Deco hotels–pastel princesses that parade their facades along the main drag of Collins Avenue—one establishment crowns itself with gold: Lords South Beach, a newcomer to the scene.

While preserving its own Deco exterior, this hotspot decks itself out in bold golden hues and has undergone a complete interior makeover. Gone are the musty, dated rooms typical of some other famed but fading beauties of the strip; Lords promises a sleek experience from start to finish, all in an attempt to make loyal subjects of us gays.And by gays, that means gay men; you’ll find few lesbians here. From the room’s do not disturb sign (“Oh Yes!” and “Oh No!” it proclaims, suitable for hanging on a doorknob or any other protrusion) to the complimentary copy of OUT magazine, Lords makes it clear who they’re trying to pick up. Judging from the attractive crowd at their popular Sunday brunch, they’re succeeding. It gets festive fast, thanks to the giant cocktail bowls, plus the free Jell-O shots served at the poolside party that follows.

If there are any lingering doubts, Lords’ proximity to Equinox gym (free for Lords guests), the gay section of the beach, and gay bars like Twist should convince you that you’re in the right place. For gay men, Lords rules the scene.

Out’s Miami guide.

Miami Beach Gay Pride Cruise Aboard Norwegian Sky

From Ocean Drive to the ocean, Miami Beach Gay Pride is once again setting sail for “Pride Celebration at Sea,” Monday, April 18 through Friday, April 22, 2011 aboard Norwegian Sky.

The Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade and Festival — with grand marshall Andy Cohen from Bravo TV — is set for Saturday, April 16 along South Beach’s Ocean Drive, and this cruise is an ideal way to extend the magic of Pride for another five days at sea.  The event also represents an opportunity to “cruise for a cause,” as a portion of the tickets sold will be donated to Miami Beach Gay Pride.Prices for the Pride Cruise begin at just $479 per person, based on double occupancy.  For reservations or further information, visit www.SourceEvents.com/pridecruise or call (888) 768-7238. 

For more Miami, click here.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.