Gay Travel
Gay Travel Review - New Orleans
Leather and Feathers:
Gay N’awlins Gets Decked Out for Southern Decadence
By: Jon Fairbanks
Bourbon Street has a carnival atmosphere on most weekends, but Labor Day Weekend is a party like no other in the Dirty South. Southern Decadence, SoDec or Gay Mardi Gras is a legendary circuit party that has gone on for more than three decades. Hurricanes, oil spills and other disasters haven’t stopped LGBT travelers from flocking to the Crescent City. If anything, it’s given “the city that care forgot” another reason to lift a plastic cup.The center of the action takes place where Bourbon Street meets St. Ann Street. This is the area where you’ll find most of the gay bars. The most popular, the Bourbon Pub and Oz couldn’t be easier to find. They’re across the street from one another on Bourbon. If you’re looking to dance, these are the two venues you’ll want to check out. If you’re looking for something low-key there are plenty of options nearby, including Cafe Lafitte's in Exile, Napoleon’s Itch (both on Bourbon Street) and Old Friends (on St. Ann).
Southern Decadence isn’t just about going to the bars, there are also outdoor concerts and parades. On the Sunday before Labor Day, many will don their most elaborate dress and gather to see the floats, performers and half to completely naked partiers. This year the theme is “Leather and Feathers” and the colors—black, powder blue and purple. Keep in mind this is “Gay Mardi Gras” so expect requests to flash for beads or get hit in the head with a set intended for someone else.
During any trip to New Orleans you will meet more than your fair share of fun and eccentric people. The laissez-faire lifestyle of the people who live here, like a good hurricane (the drink), is intoxicating. Where else could you see a Drag Race? Drag queens racing each other in the middle of Bourbon Street in shopping carts! Take that RuPaul!
If you’ve shot your wad on summer getaways to Provincetown or Fire Island, New Orleans is the perfect spot for a fall gaycation. Hotel rates are reasonable, drinks are cheap and depending where you go, you can eat very well for very little. Despite the oil disaster in the Gulf, local restaurants still prepare and serve seafood better than any other city in the country.
Weekend passes are available for special events and entry into clubs like Oz and the Bourbon Pub, but they’re only worth buying if you actually plan on going to the bars in the evening or plan on going to a lot of the events. Most bars on and around Bourbon Street are open 24 hours and during the day, most don’t charge a cover. If you do plan on just showing up and paying general admission, be prepared to wait in line at many of the venues past 9 pm.
There are two great bars just for the ladies. Rubyfruit Jungle is in the French Quarter. Three dance floors packed with beautiful ladies?! Needless to say, you’ll never get bored. The other venue, Club Tribute is arguably the most popular lesbian bar in the area, however, it’s located in Metairie, a city close to but not exactly in New Orleans. Drink specials are offered every night of the week, this may keep Club Tribute packed, but the hot women working behind the bar don’t hurt either.
Since Hurricane Katrina, more and more gay and lesbian tourists from around the world are discovering Southern Decadence. Approximately 100,000 LGBT out-of-towners gather for this uninhibited celebration, according to neworleansonline.com
Maybe I should have told you sooner, but if you are planning on going to SoDec, it’s a good idea to book your hotel room early. The best locations (to make sure you’re never too far away from the fun) are on or near Bourbon Street or Canal Street . A major tourist destination,
there’s no shortage of great properties to stay at when you’re in New Orleans . W French Quarter is next to Jackson Square. This is an eclectic area where you’ll find street performers, palm readers and artists selling their wares. After a long day of living it up, head back to the hotel and lounge around in the outdoor courtyard or take a dip in the illuminated outdoor pool. Now if want to goose lady luck, W New Orleans is located close to Harrah’s Casino, great shopping and the Warehouse District.
Not to far away from W New Orleans on Canal Street, you’ll find the New Orleans Marriott. Offering more than one thousand guestrooms and suites, this lavish property offers a chic wine bar, rooftop swimming pool, fully-equipped fitness center and a number of other amenities. These are just a few options. There are a variety of hotels, fitting pretty much any budget.
Gorgeous people, incredible food and music … you’ll find plenty of all three in NOLA. New Orleanians have seen and been through it all, but they always bounce back, put on a smile and find a reason to celebrate!
More travel information can be found at www.gaytravel.com.
Gay Travel Review - San Diego
Hillcrest: One Weekend, Two Stories!
Tenille and Josh bring you the best of San Diego’s Gayborhood!
Tenille: 
“Homo is where the heart is,” and for San Diego’s gay and lesbian community that means—Hillcrest! Spanning less than a mile’s walking distance, this easy going neighborhood will keep you occupied until your wallet’s empty, you can’t walk anymore (this could be for an assortment of reasons).
Aside from shooting up espresso beans, a cup of joe from Filter Coffee House turns out to be just as invigorating. Like a gay man, it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Geared with free WI-FI and European-style outside seating, any homework, work assignment or break-up coffee date can be vanquished here.
The grueling Monday through Friday work week of surfing and laying out is sure to exhaust anyone, and, let’s face it, happy hour can’t come soon enough for Hillcrest-ites. So, leave it to Baja Betty’s to invent “Papi Hour.” 2 o’clock is the new 4 o’clock. $3 drinks, appetizers and quesadillas for four solid hours! With this kind of deal, you’ll never go sober or hungry again.
At this point, you begin hearing a faint whisper…soft at first, but growing louder with each sip, the raspy voice won’t give up. “Just dance your way to the beat,” the voice summons, “follow the lights.” As you start fumbling your way down the street, you begin to wonder if it’s the vodka talking, or that voice that tells you when to cross the street, when suddenly you find yourself outside of Rich’s, the gay dance club of Hillcrest. DJs make love to their turntables, bartenders pour drinks as if they want you to blackout, and, like ants to a lollipop, hotties are all over you. Just keep your fingers crossed that you can remember his/her name in the morning!
Waking up a bit shaky means it’s time to head over to Lei Lounge. No stranger to Sunday brunch, you will find an assortment of recovering gays thanks to the night before. With $3 drink specials lasting well into the later part of the afternoon and a delectable brunch menu, nursing that hangover away never seemed so affordable! Satiated, you sit back in your cabana as the sun is licking you up, and you can’t help but realize, you’re in Hillcrest, the best city to be gay and proud!!
Josh:
Three points in a triangle! One magical means of transportation to get you from point A, to point B, and then point C. Genius? I say yes. I like to call it San Diego’s Gay Triangle, and unlike the Bermuda Triangle, you will not get lost at sea. Urban Mo’s, one of the most well-known gay restaurant and bars in San Diego, offers rides on their Mo’s-Mobile to their sister locations; Baja Betty’s and Gossip Grill. The Mo’s-Mobile is an open-air golf cart capable of seating six of your crazy drinking buddies when you want to bar hop.
I gathered a few friends, and we started our adventure in the Gay Triangle at Urban Mo’s for a frozen black lemonade. It’s basically a Slurpee with booze. We just happened to be at Mo’s before 5:00 pm and took part in their five o’clock shot; the bartenders count down to the end of the traditional work day and pass out complimentary shots to anyone at the bar. We got our buzz going, and then jumped on the Mo’s-Mobile. It’s always a little more fun after a few cocktails.
Nino was our driver for the evening, and he played classic Madonna for us on his iPod as we cruised down University Avenue. Packed with my crazy friends it felt more like a party bus on a Friday night… We were definitely putting on a show for our neighbors sitting in traffic!
After that exhilarating first ride we found ourselves at Baja Betty’s; home to the best margarita’s in Hillcrest. Betty’s is known for their $3.00 happy hour margaritas, welcoming atmosphere, and cheese queso dip that many call “cheese crack” because it’s addicting, just like crack. We took our margarita’s street-side to Betty’s patio for some fabulous Hillcrest people watching.
It was time to pile my friends back into the Mo’s-Mobile as Nino had returned to take us to our next destination. The third point in the gay triangle is the newest addition to the Mo’s family; Gossip Grill. This lesbian hot spot is gender friendly, so more often than not you will find gay boys mixed in with the eclectic groups of women enjoying some great food and cocktails. We made it just in time to take advantage of Gossip Grill’s buy one, get one free happy hour. Being in a social mood we grabbed a quick cocktail and headed to their patio. Feeling very social we made some new lesbian friends, and had a round of Pink Pussy shots.
With the evening fading to black, we see Nino and the Mo’s-Mobile pulling into the Gossip Grill parking lot… We took the rest of our drinks like a shot and started our ride back to Urban Mo’s to close the Gay Triangle. The perfect end to an adventurous evening of bar hopping with friends… now only if the Mo’s-Mobile could drop me off at home!
More travel information can be found at www.gaytravel.com.
