Montreal Launches 3rd Annual Queer of the Year Contest

Competitors from last year’s Queer of the Year competition

Montreal Tourism and business partners announce the kick-off of their third annual Queer of the Year competition including online voting and in-person competitions among five lucky finalists flown into Montreal during their Pride celebration (August 13-19) to compete for the title of Queer of the Year.

For more information, prize info, rule:

• Visit Tourism Montreal “Queer of the Year” Facebook page
• Visit Tourism Montreal’s Gay Life blog
• Follow Tourism Montreal “Queer of the Year” on Twitter

Eventi Hotel Pride Special

Happy pride participants enjoying a gorgeous day in NYC.

Lots of hotels offer NYC Pride specials, but since we particularly love the Kimpton Hotel Group, we are happy to include the Eventi Hotel‘s contribution: the I Swing for PRIDE package which includes the following:

• A bottle of bubbly
• A 2-hour trapeze class for two at The Trapeze School
• PRIDE-only wine hour on the 5^th floor terrace on the night before the parade
• Sleep in and enjoy breakfast in bed and morning mimosas the day after the parade
• Complimentary upgrade to next room type if available
• 10% of your rate will be donated to Broadway Cares

Fine print:

• Starting at $449, guests can book online or call 1-866-996-8396 and mention rate code PRIDE for travel now until July 31, 2012. Rates subject to availability. Taxes and gratuities not included. Blackout dates may apply.

From Kimpton:

• Kimpton is proud to be the only hotel brand to score 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality index for four years in a row and has provided continual support to the LGBT community through KPride, the company’s employee resource center, along with many other initiatives.

 

Halifax, Nova Scotia: Atlantic Canada’s Gay Heart Celebrates Milestone

One of the friendliest spots in Canada (and that’s saying something considering how amicable our northern neighbors are generally speaking) is Halifax, Canada.

It’s also beautiful, rich in history and into its gay and lesbian culture. To wit, they are unspooling their first annual OUTeast Queer Film Festival this weekend (through June 17). And they celebrate the 25th anniversary of Halifax Pride July 20-29.

From the organizers:

• Halifax Pride is bound to be a crowd-pleasing festival that’s not to be missed; from the parade, the parties, and the cultural events like Queer Acts Theatre Festival and the Song Writer’s Circle, to sport events like the annual Dykes vs. Divas Softball Game, and symbolic events such as the vigil, flag-raising and inter-faith service.

There are LGBT-friendly and popular events all year round and great TAG-approved accommodations and terrific dining (seafood is a speciality, natch). Visit Rainbow Halifax for a few LGBT-specific and general travel planning tools.

Los Angeles: Mid-Summer Pride Fetish Ball

I haven’t been to the Pride Fetish Ball, but trust me: These are not the most scandalous costumes you’ll see.

We love the new and ever-improving downtown L.A. area. What used to be a gritty, scary, urban wasteland is now transforming into a fabulous, must-go destination in its own right.

And what to the folks at TwistMyNight.com, creators of Unusual Earth Events, do? They decide to turn part of it back into a gritty, scary, event called PRIDE FETISH BALL. Though of course the difference is you’ll really want to check this out. Halloween is one of West Hollywood and L.A.’s most exciting time to visit with folks really dressing up (this is home to Hollywood, for heaven’s sake), especially with slutty, sexy, and fetish-type costumes.

This “scandalous masquerade,” is scheduled for Friday, June 8 from 9pm-2am at Infusion Lounge at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles.

Information:

• Tickets: $20, available in advance at 665 Leather-West Hollywood, Stockroom-Hollywood and Rough Trade-L.A.; online atwww.twistmynight.com or at the door.
• Recommended dress:  Tasteful fantasy/fetish.   Ages 21 & over.  I.D. required.  Infusion Lounge is located at: 1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Ste 208 Universal City, CA  For more information, visit www.twistmynight.com

Deal of the Week: Kimpton Hotels Invites You to Get Your Pride On

Looks like someone got a 15% Pride discount!

The incredibly gay-friendly Kimpton Hotels is offering a special Pride package (15% discount, cocktails, a welcome gift and more) at their hotels, approximately 50 properties across the U.S. (in many of the cities where you may be celebrating Pride).

Click here for more information including restrictions relating to their Pride packages.

Click here to explore their InTouch Loyalty Program, a frequent stay award program that grants free WiFi and other perks. Click “LGBT” to receive information and specials designed especially for us.

World Pride is in London This Year. Cheery Ho!

Photo from London Pride 2011

WorldPride, an LGBT event incorporating parades, festivals, cultural activities and, oh yeah, parties held every five years, is organized by InterPride. The first WorldPride was held in Rome in 2000, followed by Jerusalem in 2006.

This year it is to be held in London from June 23 through July 8, 2012.

According to InterPride

WorldPride Parade, rallies, and street parties will be all over central London on July 7th. Festival listings will include events from the world of art, film, music, nightlife, literature, theatre, and politics and the finalized schedule will be announced over the coming months. … The parade day events and times will be added to the website soon. Visit InterPride onFacebook and Twitter and our website for announcements on everything happening at WorldPride 2012. 

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.

 

Preview of Miami Beach Gay Pride

By Ivan Quintanilla; photo by Felix Becerra

This week, Miami Beach gets a little gay(er).

It’s raining men.

Hallelujah! On Saturday, April 16, it’s time to celebrate the 3nd Annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade, now the city’s largest single-day event.

Starting at noon on 5th Street, elaborate floats will shake and shimmy their way up Ocean Drive to 15th Street.  Last year’s parade brought out over 35,000 people from all over the world, proud to enjoy an inclusive celebration in one of America’s most popular cities.  This year, “Watch What Happens” when Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen serves as Grand Marshal.   Following the parade, the festivities continue at the Pride Festival at Lummus Park, along Ocean Drive between 10th and 14th Streets with music, food, and live performances.Enjoy a prix-fixe brunch and bottle of champagne, with a heaping helping of eye-candy, directly along the parade route at Ocean Drive’s favorite gay spot, the Palace Bar.  Seatings begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day; call 305-531-7234 for reservations.Don’t stop ‘till you get enough.

Following the fun-in-the-sun of the Parade and Festival, bop over to The Official Gay Pride Closing Party at Ice Palace Studio West on 71 NW 14th Street, featuring music from DJs Abel and Paulo.  The party starts at 10 p.m. and goes well into the next morning.

All the single ladies can whip their hair back and forth alongside the hot Go-Go-Girls of the MEGA Dance Ladies Party at Score on 727 Lincoln Road from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

If we took a holiday… took some time to celebrate.

Want more?  The official Pride at Sea sets sail on a four-night cruise to the Bahamas on Monday, April 18.  Relax, unwind and dance the last dance aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Norwegian Sky.”

More Miami info. Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Berlin’s Annual Festivals and Celebrations in 2010

Taking a hot bath in "Soap"

Photo courtesy Berlin Tourism

German’s undivided capital presents an extensive schedule of yearly festivities, highlighted by festivals, parades, and special events. Alongside the annual mainstream events, Berlin’s tourism officials proudly promote festivities for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual visitors. Check out a few highlights here. For more information and to access the entire calendar of events, visit Berlin Tourism Marketing’s homepage.

Long Night of Museums

January 30, 2010 / August 28, 2010

The “Long Night of Museums” has become a favorite among Berliners and tourists alike. Around 100 museums, large and small, featuring established and new collections, open their doors from 6 pm Saturday evening until 2 am Sunday morning. (www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de ).

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)

February 2-21, 2010

The annual Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is not only the city’s largest cultural event, but also one of the most important dates on the international film industry’s calendar. More than 19,000 film professionals from 120 countries, including 4,000 journalists, are accredited for the Berlin International Film Festival every year. (www.berlinale.de).

Lesbian and Gay Street Festival

June 19/20, 2010

Berlin’s Lesbian and Gay Street Festival has enjoyed growing popularity among gays and lesbians and with the public at large. In 2010, Berlin’s Rainbow Fund will present its seventeenth annual Lesbian and Gay Festival, which is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. Expecting some 35,000 visitors, the festival will again take place around Nollendorf Platz in Schöneberg district, one of Berlin’s traditional gay stomping grounds. (www.gay-stadtfest.de ).

Christopher Street Day

June 25-27, 2010

Berlin’s Christopher Street Day will celebrate its 32nd anniversary in 2010. The popular event promises to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the German capital to celebrate equality and tolerance for gays and lesbians around the world. LGBT residents and visitors can again expect to see some 50+ floats, and look forward to partying with half a million in the streets between Kurfürstendamm and the Victory Column (www.csd-berlin.de ).

Classic Open Air Berlin Gendarmenmarkt

July 15-20, 2010

Classic Open Air Berlin, held annually al fresco at Gendarmenmarkt, the city’s most beautiful square, features all-time favorites in operetta, opera, classical and contemporary music. (www.classicopenair.de).

14th Berlin International Beer Festival

August 6 – 8, 2010

Like Beer? During the 14th annual Berlin International Beer Festival, Karl-Marx-Allee will again turn into the world’s longest beer garden and bar. (www.bierfestival-berlin.de).

Christmas Fairs and WinterMagic

December

The Yuletide season offers a wide variety of events and celebrations for visitors and Berliners. Beginning at the end of November, Berlin is home to about 60 Christmas markets, including Germany’s largest fair in Spandau’s Old Town, the historic market at Gendarmenmarkt square, and the nostalgic fair at the Opernpalais Unter den Linden. More information and a calendar of events at (www.wintermagicberlin.com) .