Gay Gyms
Active Vacation – Join a Gay Swim Team in New York City
It’s a dreary day in late January, and I’m dreading my assignment. It’s cold, and I’m not feeling 100%, and I have to cover a gay swim team. While that might sound sexy, at first thought – I was on swim team in high school, and I know how sexy a swim meet isn’t. Compared to a sport like football or soccer, where teams of people battle it out in real time against each other, a solitary sport like swimming can seem, well… kinda boring. I mean, once you get over the tight suits…
But the atmosphere is anything but boring at John Jay College’s pool. People are all smiles, and it seems I’ve walked into a party. Everyone is social – beaming at one another and encouraging each other to do well with the day’s task. I’ve come on a very special day. I’ve stumbled into the 22nd annual One Hour Swim, in which teams from all over the country put swimmers in the water for a full hour, pushing them to swim as hard as they can. The goal is to see who can swim the farthest.
Liz Gately, who is registering the swimmers, tells me that Team New York Aquatic (TNYA) takes this annual meet one step further. They use it as a charity fundraiser every year – sort of like the AIDS Walk or other such events. The first time they did it was a few decades ago and it was for one of their own team mates. He was stricken with the AIDS virus and needed help with his medical bills. TNYA stepped in and helped him out. Since that first year they’ve picked different charities to donate to. This year they’re donating to The AIDS Service Center NYC, and Immigration Equality – the only national organization devoted to the intersection of immigration rights with the lives of LGBT and HIV-positive people.
I know, I’m not making it sound like a big party, but somehow it was! The timers were talking and laughing with one another. The registration people were all cheerful and buoyant – chatting each other up between registering athletes to compete. There was even a massage table, and a snack bar – donated by local businesses.
Most of the lanes contain people swimming as far as they can for the hour. However, in the far left lane is a particularly high spirited (and attractive) group of swimmers taking turns swimming two laps each. “We’re doing our hour swim as a relay,” explains the very fetching Kent Lau. “In the last 10 years, the number of LGBT competitive sports teams have exploded. We’re doing this event partly for fun, and partly to ease some of the newer swimmers into the idea of the One Hour Swim.” Kent goes on to explain that TNYA even has a social events coordinator, who hosts a huge swim meet that draws athletes from across the country. It’s an all day event, with swimming, diving, dinner and even dancing afterward. “We have 200 people participate. It’s a real community.”
Indeed, they employ a full-time head coach, a hearty man named Conrad Johnson, who claims he fell into coaching by accident. While that might be the case, he’s been with TNYA since 2005 – overseeing 4 pools with overlapping practices, and 400 swimmers on the mailing list.
“It’s like being the head of a diverse country,” he says, “all walks of life, all ages, all nationalities – all sexual orientations.” Sexual orientations? Yes. Apparently Conrad took some of his female swimmers with him when he left his all lady team to coach TNYA. “Some how, the girls swim team’s energy meshes well with the gay team, and we’re one happy family.”
So it would seem. I got a chance to talk to one of the older swimmers about the social aspects of being on the team. Danny Rosemarin, 57, speaks very highly of his ten years on the team.
“It’s done a significant amount for my self esteem. I can out-swim other swimmers in their 30s and 40s and that’s a clear indication that I’ve made this commitment and benefited from it.”
Danny’s been on the team for 10 years, and says that it accounts for a big chunk of his social life, too.
TNYA offers the first week of practices free to new members, which is perfect for people visiting New York on a short trip. They also have scholarships for swimmers that show promise that might not otherwise be able to afford to join the team. They frequently swim in worldwide events like the Gay Games.
The time clock has gotten down to the final minute. Suddenly everyone jumps to their feet. They are shouting joyfully at the people in the pool – trying to lend support and give them that final push to end the contest strong. There’s a charge in the air – everything seems fun, exciting.
When the clock shows ten seconds to go, everyone counts down the last few seconds in unison. It sounds like New Years Eve in here, and why not?
These gays have managed to take a run of the mill swim meet and turn it into a party.
Gay San Diego – Hillcrest
Are you planning on a trip to San Diego? Undoubtedly you will wind up in Hillcrest at some point, the majority of the gay bars and clubs are located in Hillcrest with a few in Down Town, North Park and Old Town.
Hillcrest has a great selection of restaurants, coffee shops and boutique shops to keep you busy for days. There is an abundant supply of furniture shops, however much of what you see will be nearly impossible to take back on the plane with you and may be a bit pricey to ship. There is a nice selection of clothing shops that have a nice array of lightly used clothing and new designer labels. There have been higher end shops that have come and left over the years, the average gay resident in San Diego cannot afford such clothing. As beautiful as San Diego may be it is not known for big industry due to its high cost and lack of quality talent, I have hired many people in San Diego and have found them to be very lazy and without experience. I am originally from San Diego myself.
The majority of gay bars, clubs and restaurants are centrally located on University Ave, the range stretches from 3rd ave to Park on the far other end. The West end of Hillcrest has Urban Moe’s a fun lively large bar with generous outdoor seating and a large range of diverse events every evening, check their site for details. Fiesta Cantina is also near Urban Mo’s on the West end and is a very open bar with great drinks and a lively crowd. The Brass Rail is also on the West end on 5th St, this bar is one of the oldest and has a difficult time creating an identity for itself so I cannot tell you what crowd you will find as it changes all the time. #1 5th Ave is also on the West end, it is a large venue with outdoor seating in the back, the staff is friendly and they service a wickedly strong cocktail, this bar typically serves a more mature crowd but has a wide range of patrons.
The south end of Hillcrest has a gay hotel called the Park Manor Hotel, there is a very large bar on the roof. Every Friday early is a happy hour that starts around 5pm and gets packed! They have great views of Hillcrest and downtown, I highly suggest if you are not staying at this hotel to stop by for the happy hour, it is a ton of fun and you will likely meet some fun locals or tourists. Some of best hotels are in the Gaslamp District, I suggest hotels from the Starwood chain like the W.
Centrally on University you will find Flicks a small video bar that has a pool table and has a nice range of events nightly. I have had some great times at this bar over the years. Just steps away is Rich’s a large dance club that tends to fill up after 10 or 11pm, there is commonly a cover charge and their drinks are a bit on the pricey side. Recently a club called Universal was just across the street with a mix of Metro Sexual’s and twinky 20 something gay boys. This place had attitude and the staff was very snooty, I was not sad to hear they went under. Baja Betty’s a wonderful restaurant and gay bar is also in the center of Hillcrest with great food, service and a fun crowd. Baja Betty can be quite a mess during Cinco de Drinko or Cinco de Mayo the 5th of May a big Mexican holiday.
On the East end of Hillcrest is Numbers, a large multi room dance club. Numbers is generally your 20 something crowd and has great music, usually a cover charge and pricey drinks on Park. Just across the street is the Flame another dance club with a nice range of events depending on the night, check their website to see what is going on as it changes. 100% worth the trip, my absolue favorite gay bar is on the other end of Park is called Bourbon Street. my personal favorite bar that has a generous patio out back and multiple bars, this is not a dance club but is a ton of fun. Bourbon St now serves food as well, their events change from night to night so check out their website to find out what you are into. Just around the corner is Cheers a small gay bar with a pool table, the staff is friendly and the crowd is a nice range of both younger and older. You will also find Lei Lounge a bar/restaurant right next to Bourbon St. The food is really good, the service is great, there are some really hot waiters there!
Like many gay centers, Hillcrest has a nice selection of gay gym’s. You can find 24 hour fatness err fitness which is located on 5th near University, I went to take a picture of Gold’s and found it to be closed. Also, I been asked several times if their are any Gay Bath Houses in San Diego, there is a very large one centrally located in Hillcrest called Club San Diego, on 4th ave.
Hillcrest Restaurants
While visiting Hillcrest you must eat at either the Tractor Room or Hash House a Go Go, located right across from each other on 5th. They get PACKED! be sure to plan on getting their early in order to get a table.
San Diego Pride is a very large event, the celebration is found all around Hillcrest but the focus of the event will be found in Balboa Park, just south of Hillcrest. The pictures below are of the part of Balboa Park where they setup the festival. Balboa park is very large so be sure you know where you are going. During pride taxi’s are a commodity that is very scarce, you will see tons of rickshaws around. A word of warning, these guys are not cheap and you could pay 3-10x a normal taxi fare. Make sure you ask how much before you hop in, they will try to lure you in. Some of these guys are rather hot, and may be fun to watch sweat while you get a ride to your next bar.
El Castro
El Castro
Si planeas quedarte en San Francisco y piensas pasartela en el Castro por la mayoria de tiempo, el mejor plan es alojarte en Union Square o SOMA (“South of Market” - Sur de la Calle Market). Castro tiene solo un hotel. Mis hoteles favoritos en San Francisco son los siguientes:
Westin St. Francis
En el Castro, Beck’s Motor Lodge es tu única opción
GOLD’S GYM - Es un gimnasio gay muy popular y zona de “cruising.” Con estacionamiento subterráneo.
24 Hour Fitness - Pequeño y si llega a estar bien ocupado, no tan intenso como Gold’s.
The Gym SF Castro – Gimnasio pequeño, no los he probado todavía, pero me encantaría obtener mas informacio de un cliente habitual.
ESTACIONAMIENTO
¡Advertencia! Si tienes la intención de conducir en el Castro, mantiene estas cosas en mente sobre donde puedes estacionarte. Entre semana, un permiso S cubri estacionamiento fuera de los parquimetros en frente de las residencias del Castro, Noe Street, Lower Haight, y el área de Duboce Triangle (Triángulo), tal vez unas calles más. Dependiendo de la calle, puedes estacionarte por 1 ó 2 horas antes de necesitar un permiso. Si te estas quedando en casa de un amigo o incluso un “bed and breakfast” (alojamiento y desayuno) se puede obtener un permiso temporalmente. Pero vas a necesitar una prueba de que te vas a quedar en esta area, de lo contrario no lo vas a pode obtener.
Sólo hay un estacionamiento de pago en el Castro y esta muy bien escondido, la entrada esta en Noe Street justo al norte de Market. Ten en cuenta este garaje se cierra a la medianoche. Si estás buscando por este lugar en cualquier mapa, la dirección se encuentra en Market St. así que puede ser un poco complicado de encontrar.
Los parquimetros se vigilan muy estrictamente! El Castro es la parte más estricta de la ciudad, hay más guardias aqui que en cualquier otra parte de la ciudad. Ve tu parquimetro con cuidado y le las señales con mucho cuidado. Algunos de los lugares de estacionamiento estan solamente reservados para los vehículos comerciales hasta las 4pm y no estoy seguro si los sabados tambien estan reservados para vehículos comerciales o no. Los parquimetros son gratis los domingo, hasta los lugares comerciales tambien. Los lugares reservados para vehículos comerciales estan pintados amarillo. Observa cuidadosamente para parquimetros rojo, en estos no mas se pueden estacionar por media. Si tienes una placa de discapacidad, no se estacione en lugares comerciales cuando entre semana o recibirás una multa. En California, placas comerciales se identifican con una sola letra. Por ejemplo, 1X12345 es comercial, 1XYZ1234 no lo es. Estos parquimetros son muy caros y no conozco a muchas personas que tienen mas de $10 en monedas en su bolsillo. Para ser esto mas conviniente, se venden tarjetas que se pueden utilizar para los parquimetros de la ciudad en la tienda Rossi’s Deli.
Fijate por señales en los parquimetros anunciando eventos o zonas de construcción, esos van a ser enforzados estrictamente. Tambien revisa tus llantas por marcas con gis, si sigues poniendo dinero en el parquimetro más allá del tiempo asignado puedes obtener una multa. La manera fácil de que te estan moderando de encontrar esa marca de gis en las llantas que se da a la calle.
No sé a ciencia cierta, pero me han dicho que una compañia privada fue contratada para encargarse de las multas de estacionamiento. Ya que la multa se haya dado, no hay manera de cancelar, asi que no vale discutir con la gerente o puedes terminar en la cárcel. Esta no es una broma, si se sienten amenazados pueden llegar a lanzarte tras las rejas! Muchos de estos gerente tienen muy mal humor y no toleran mucho. Es en tu mejor interés no molestarlos. Puedes tratar de luchar contra una multa de estacionamiento, pero en mi experiencia, esto es casi una cosa imposible de ganar. Es peor que la lucha contra una multa por velocidad. Si piensas que el gerente se ha equivocado, puedes hacer lo que quieras para justificarte, pero no hay mucho a tu lado.
Ten en cuenta que enfrente del Castro Theater hay 4 o 5 lugares de estacionamiento que en cualquier momento puede cambiar a no ser disponible, solo zonas de carga. Va a ver señales cuando esto pase, asi que fijate. Igual, no intentes discutir, realmente no vale la pena.
Y para tu informacion, estacionamiento con parquimetros adicionales está disponible detrás del teatro, y Sliders está justo en frente. El acceso a este lote es a la derecha de Naia. Hay un segundo lote junto en la calle 18, detrás de Walgreen y a lado de Magnet, la clinica de salud sexual para hombres.
Los parquimetros son caros, $0.25 no te compran más que unos minutos en algunos locales. Puedes comprar una tarjeta de estacionamiento en la página web de MTA, y la estación del MUNI Montgomery los vende durante horas de trabajo regulares.
Tambien puedes comprar tarjetas de estacionamiento en Rossi’s Deli, direccion 426 Castro St. cerca de la tienda Diesel en la interseccion de Market y Castro. El otro lugar donde he comprado tarjetas de estacionamiento es en el la gasolineria Chevron, también en la esquina de Market y Castro, pero ahi no mas venden la tarjeta de $20.
Si estás buscando alternativas para llegar al Castro, estás de suerte. San Francisco tiene un gran sistema de transporte público, y hay un montón de opciones. Durante las ferias como Orgullo Gay y la Feria de Castro Street a lo mejor es fácil conseguir un taxi que te lleve al Castro, pero conseguir una de salida puede ser un caos. Olvídate de estacionamiento, tendrás un tiempo muy difícil encontrar un lugar porque estas ferias son muy populares tambien con personas que vienen desde lejos en sus Vehículos. Muchas de las calles se cierran temporalmente o están configuradas para no ser disponibles para estacionar.
Tambien hay un tren de cable que va encima de Market Street llamado la línea F, estos trenes van desde Fisherman’s Wharf al Castro. Por lo general este servicio termina alrededor de las 11 o medianoche. Puedes tomar este servicio desde Union Square, donde se encuentran la mayoría de las grandes tiendas y hoteles. Pero esta es la manera más lenta posible de transportacion en San Francisco, aparte de caminar. Estos trenes son antiguos y por eso muy lentos!
Si vienes desde Union Square, la forma más rápida a llegar al Castro es a través del servicio de tren MUNI, que se encuentra bajo tierra. Para aliviar la confusión, en Union Square se puede entrar a las estaciónes de Montgomery, Powell Street, o en Civic Center (Centro Cívico). Estas estaciones son los más cerca a Union Square, y Powell Street es la calle más céntrica de Union Square. También hay una parada del la linea F y de BART en Powell.
En la plataforma hay dos direcciones, inbound (entrada) y outbound (salida). Trenes que van de entrada se dirigen hacia el Embarcadero o siguen en dirección oeste hacia la bahía. Trenes de salida van hacia el este, y pasan por el Castro. No utilice la linea J, porque se dirige a Church Street, que si está cerca al Castro, pero no es la mejor opción. La línea N se dirige al distrito del Sunset y recorre todo el camino hasta llegar a la playa. Aunque la linea J y la linea N se paran en estación de Church Street, no pasan por el Castro, aunque se puede caminar desde allí. Tanto las líneas J y N salen a veces a la superficie.
Las líneas de salida que te llevarán a la estación del Castro son K, L y M. Durante las horas pico entre semana, hay una linea S o la línea de Castro Express que salta muchas paradas y es muy rápido. Aungque no es muy buena idea esperar por la linea S, a veces el tiempo de espera entre los trenes puede ser muy largo y he esperado un buen tiempo por la linea S desde Powell no mas para encontrarlo tan lleno que no se podía subir.
No se apoye en las puertas de los trenes en movimiento, he escuchado historias de las puertas abriendose repentemente mientras los trenes se están moviendo a toda velocidad. Estoy seguro de que no es divertido salir volando afuera de estos trenes. No trate de subirse en el tren sin un pase válido, no tire este pase después de pasar por la puerta. Estos trenes tienen policía que comprueban las entradas, y te darán una desagradable multa si te encuentran sin un pase. Yo también no tocaria nada en el tren, algunas personas que viajan en los trenes no son muy higiénicos!
Algunas noches cierran los trenes subterraneos temprano y servicio pasa a los autobuses de la calle, que tendrá las mismas letras que los trenes. Durante los fines de semana hay autobuses que funcionan toda la noche por Market St. que no recurren seguido, pero es una alternativa si no tienes dinero para un taxi.
Aunque el Castro tiene una larga lista de bares gay, se pensaria que habria más lugares para elegir, sin embargo hay un límite estricto sobre las licencias de bebidas alcohólicas dentro del Castro por lo que es casi imposible abrir más bares.
Blackbird es un bar que abrio reciente en el Castro, y tiende a tener un público más joven y mezclado. Es unas buenas cuadras desde Market y Castro, pero vale la pena el esfuerzo. Es el bar más cerca a un “lounge” que tenemos y tambien tiene una mesa de billar.
Blush – Un favorito personal, este bar de vinos sofisticados es muy relajante y ubicado en el corazón del Castro, cerca a 18th St.
2223 es un bar y restaurante, así que puedes cenar y brindar en una sola sesión. Buena comida!
El Café es un bar y club de baile gay muy grande situado en el centro del Castro, con un montón de eventos todas las noches.
Twin Peaks es una barra de buen tamaño en el Castro, que atiende a un público de edad mayor. También se conoce como el “Glass Coffin” (ataúd de cristal0, así que usted puede leer entre líneas.
440 Castro es una barra de buen tamaño, que tiende a satisfacer a los osos y cachorros. También tienen un par de noches que son para chicos más jóvenes y un noches de cerveza barata que son muy popular.
Bar On Chuch (formalmente conocido como Bar On Castro), pero después de perder su contrato de arrendamiento se movió desde el Casto a Church St. El nuevo lugar es muy amplio, y la gente es una mezcla, pero por el lado más joven en general. A unos cortos pasos de Gayway, perdon Safeway.
Trigger es un bar para el público “gay yuppie” (jovenes profesionales), las bebidas son por lo general el doble precio que en cualquier otro lugar. A mi me gustava ester lugar, pero se ha dejado ir en calidad en mi opinión. Incluso page por su “Black Card” (tarjeta negra) el primer año, pero no lo volveré a hacer.
Martuni’s es un bar gay con piano, situado en las afueras del Castro. Aqui hacen sus bebidas y cocteles muy fuertes y diferentes eventos casi todas las noches, es un buen lugar, intimo y elegante.
The Mix es otra barra gay de tamaño medio con una bonita terraza al exterior en la parte trasera. Aqui tienen algunos divertidos eventos y una mesa de billar. Atrae a una gran variedad de público, y en el pasado he conocido a algunos chicos muy agradables aquí.
Moby Dick es un bar pequeño pero divertido con una mesa de billar y un tanque de peces detras de la barra. Un lugar popular para los equipos de deportes gay para brindar despues de un partido.
Harvey’s es un restaurante muy popular y emblemático de la vida gay. Esta situado en el corazón del Castro en la esquina de 18th y Castro, visita obligada para todos los turistas.
The Edge es el bar para osos y cachorros, nunca he estado aquí, pero siempre veo que hay mucha gente por lo general.
Toad Hall es un bar gay muy popular por un patio exterior, la gente es mezclada con una gran cantidad de jóvenes para elegir. Yo lo llamo “Toad Vomit” (vómito de sapo), pero no mas es mi punto de vista.
Badlands es el bar gay más popular en el Castro, gente muy joven, con pantallas LCD en todas las paredes. Esta es la trampa para todos los turístas porque cuando entres no vas a querer salir, los precios de las bebidas son muy razonables y una buena hora orientada a matar a las personas con intoxicación alcolica.
The Mint, técnicamente está fuera del Castro, pero que está cerca de Martuni’s que vale la pena mencionarlo. Este es tu lugar si quieres una noche de karaoke.
Best in Show – Una boutique de juguetes para tu perrito, tu ser mas querido.
PERSONAS SIN HOGAR:
San Francisco es la capital para personas sin hogar de Norte America. Y los turistas son los principales objetivos. Sé que vas a sentir lástima por ellos y ellos te dirán todo tipo de historias locas sobre todos sus problemas. Si les das dinero, te seguiran preguntando, una vez que observen que le diste a uno, los otros te perseguiran por mas cambia. Tan feo como suena, es mejor no hacer contacto y decir no gracias y seguir caminando. Si les das un cigarro abres las puertas para que empiezen a pedir dinero. La ciudad les ofrece dinero, alimentos y vivienda.También tienen decenas de opciones de educacion, ayuda a conseguir un trabajo y asistencia médica. Ellos o tienen problemas mentales o elegin sequir molestando no mas para arruniar tu dia.
El Castro tiene una gran selección de restaurantes para elegir, todos muy fáciles de llegar a pie. En el extremo major en terminos de precio, hay Catch, un restaurante de mariscos que es realmente delicioso, está situado en Market St. en el Castro. Igual que Eureka, que se encuentra el la calle 18, tres quartos de cuadra desde Castro St. en dirección hacia “Dolores Park” (Parque Dolores). Una de las mejores novedades es Starbelly, en la esquina de la calle 16 y Market. Puedes hacer reservaciones en “Open Table” (Mesa Abierta) para ambos Catch y Eureka. Starbelly, a menos que haya un grupo muy grande es por orden de llegada, hacie que espera una espera.
Francés
Bisou – Esto es mi restaurante Francés favorito en San Francisco, sin duda alguna! Tienes que probarlo!
Americana – Alimentos para satisfacer a los borrachos
Harvey’s – Debes probarlo, concinan muy bien la comida Americana, tiene tambien una barra grande y el personal es muy amable.
Home Restaurante – Este es el restaurant que debes de ir para probar el almuerzo, asegúrate de conseguir una reservacion y trata los panes hechos en casa.
Cafe Flore - Un café al aire libre, con un bar y un restaurante, agradable en los días soleados.
Orphan Andy’s – clásica cena Américaca, abierto las 24 horas, también tienen una gran seleccion de comida con bajas calorias y carbohidratos para los borrachos en dieta.
Brandy Ho’s – Uno de mis favoritos tambien, su estilo es Hunan asi que puede ser picante.
Nirvana – Comida aqui es más fusión asiática. Los fideos valen la pena probar. Y tambien los excelentes cócteles!
Osaka Sushi – buena comida, excelente ubicación, por lo general algunas de las opciones de pescado son bastante buenas.
Kasa – Kasa es un pequeño restaurante y único en como sirven la comida India, he comido aquí decenas de veces y siempre me encanta.
Méxicana – Latina
Café Mystique – Una adicion más reciente en el Castro y un buen cambio de las típicas opciones.
La Mediterranee – no lo he probado, pero otra opción.
Italiano – Pizza
Nizarios – Pizza servida en rebanadas y siempre rico.
The Sausage Factory – Uno de mis restaurantes italianos favoritos en San Francisco, debes probarlo.
Escape From New York Pizza – Un buen lugar para una rebanada o si tienes apetito, toda la pizza entera. Tambien entregan a domicilo.
Marcello’s Castro – Pizza por la rebanada
Anclaje Oyster Bar – Una gran opción para los amantes de ostras!
Catch – Cena de lujo, tambien uno de mis lugares favoritos.
Vietnamita
Zadin – Un gran restaurante vietnamita, tambien incluye un menú sin gluten.
Castro Tarts – Un café pequeño, es un poco difícil de encontrar.
Hot Cookie – Una pequeña panadería que hace unas galletas que parecen muy similares en el sistema reproductivo humano, pero mas sabrosos.
The Cove Cafe – Una pequeño café con postres.
Gay Friendly Cities
Gay Friendly Cities
I and many of our amazing contributors have been all over the US and over the world. I am adding this page to try and help you determine if a city is friendly enough to visit. Some places can be down right dangerous, for example its illegal to be gay in Jamaica, I have heard many horror stories.
But Moving on to my current home to start.
Austin - Is a very gay friendly town, a very large selection of Gay Bars, very gay friendly hotels like the W. The new W is actually just around the block from Oil Can Harry’s. Great restaurants as well, Santa Rita, Kerbey Lane Café and South Congress Cafe too name a few. It’s sorta like San Francisco in a strange way, and a big music town.
Denver – Is an amazing, mostly gay friendly city. This city also has its share of religious nut cases who cause some trouble from time to time. From what I know of, there isn’t a specific gay hotel in Denver. However you have many options
downtown, including the Westin and Sheraton, which are both gay friendly. The mile high city also gets more sunny days than any other major city in the US. The Westin actually has this fairly strange indoor-outdoor pool, its rather unique as well as a gym. The famous Palms steak house is attached and is very good. Personally I prefer to patronize gay owned restaurants, so I wind up at Hamburger Marry’s a very large gay bar/restaurant/drag show. You can find a good selection of Denver’s Gay Bars.
Las Vegas – This one is really on the fence for a full recommendation. If you have other options, I think you should consider them. Even with such a huge service industry, overall Las Vegas is not all that gay friendly. Promoters like J.Son are
trying to change that; he was able to convince the Luxor to host the only weekly gay pool party throughout the summer season. In the 90’s their spa became a little hot spot for gay men, however the Luxor had security in they’re at all hours throwing them out. This is a big change in direction. On the other hand you have hotels like the Encore who have pages promoted online about being gay friendly. They forgot to tell their staff about that. Even the high priced hookers wouldn’t leave me alone; she couldn’t believe I was gay.
Las Vegas has only 1 all gay hotel that is clothing optional called Blue Moon Resort, located just West of the North end of the strip. On the strip there is one gay nightclub called Krave. It is not open every night, there is always a high priced
cover and the drinks though strong are very expensive. It’s on the south side of Planet Hollywood off Harmon. Just east on Harmon a few blocks and a right turn on Paradise will get you into what’s known as the fruit loop. You have multiple
bar options here, 8 ½ and Piranha are connected, and this is a higher end bar/dance club. As well as Gipsy, which is just next-door. Across the street you will find Buffalo, a mixed crowd with pool tables. Just to the right of Buffalo is an adult video and toy store. Across from The Buffalo is Free Zone, make sure you check out their calendar before going, they host many ladies nights as well. There are quite a few more gay bars, my personal favorite is Charlies which is located West of the strip off Tropicana and on Arville in what looks like an industrial business building. Starwood has one hotel just east of the strip on Flamingo, its a Westin, has a small casino as well.
San Diego - My home town, most of the gay activity is centralized in one area called Hillcrest. You will find a nice selection of gay bars, restaurants of all types, gay gyms like 24 hour fitness, and shopping galore. However, like San Francisco there are few hotel options. There are tons of gay friendly hotels in down town San Diego near the Gas Lamp District that has great restaurants, shopping and gay bars. San Diego offers lots of beach options, however I believe all of the beaches are now alcohol free and the police will check coolers. San Diego does not have a very user friendly public transportation system, so consider renting a car.
San Francisco - Ok yeah, duh San Francisco is a very gay friendly town. You might be surprised to know that its not the highest population of Gay people, Dallas I believe is number 1 then Los Angeles and then NYC. San Francisco is very diverse, although the Castro is the heart of anything Gay, you can find gay establishments all over the city. The city is broken into many districts, The Castro, The Haight, Lower Haight, Nob Hill, Lower Nob Hill, Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf is a huge tourist trap, avoid at all cost. The older gayborhood was on Polk St. so you can find a few bars in that area as well. I can’t think of any major hotel in the city not being friendly, now some of the smaller cheap “weekly” rate type places. The largest concentration of Gay Bars is in The Castro, then in SOMA there are some of the more leather, daddy type places. My current favorite bar in The Castro is Blackbird, a laid back gay bar with an awesome staff. My other favorite is a wine bar called Blush, amazing wine, food and people! San Francisco also throws and incredible pride event every year, you just missed it this year but if you have the chance you must see it. The Castro has very few options when it comes to lodging, I would suggest trying Union Square. Most of the best shopping is in Union Square. There are also several options for gay gyms in The Castro, 24 Hour Fitness and Gold’s Gym to name a few.
Seattle – Other than the lack of warm days, Seattle is extremely gay friendly with the majority of activities, including bars and restaurants are located in Capitol Hill. Very close to down town, it’s a bit of a hike if you choose to walk it. The hills are nowhere as steep as San Francisco but if its cold enough you will regret not taking a cab or driving. Be very mindful of the parking signs, they have some of the strangest parking restrictions I have ever seen in the US. They do not color the curbs either, my first visit I wound up getting a nice fine, nowhere near a fire hydrant.
Like Portland, there is a large hipster community, however not as intrusive. Washington State also has the highest taxes on alcohol so when you walk into a dive bar and get charged $10 for something most other places would be $4-5. Gay Bars and Night Clubs list.
As any big city, Seattle has tons of hotel options. My personal favorites are Starwood properties. The Westin is one of the largest and is not owned by Starwood, it is a franchise. They are undergoing renovations; their new rooms are very nice if you can get one. Some of their older rooms do show their age, ask if you can get a remodeled room. We have a short list of gay friendly hotels in Seattle.
This article is a work in progress and not close to being done.
Westin SOMA San Francisco Hotel
Westin SOMA – San Francisco Hotel
When one hotel does well, why not buy another one and slap your name on it? Well there is a second Westin in San Francisco, its located just south of Market St. on 3rd. So technically its in SOMA, it is listed as the Westin Market St, however it’s not on Market at all. In comparison this Westin is much more modern than the Westin St. Francis located in the heart of Union Square. I love both, I have stayed in both. But the rooms in this hotel are much nicer and the views from the high floor rooms are amazing! I have also had a much higher chance of getting a much better upgrade with the Starwood Preferred Guest program. I have platinum status with them, I am a big fan of the upgrades. If you are stuck living in hotels, its a nice place to get stuck in.
This hotel is a hair easier to get in and out of compared to the Westin St. Francis and its very close to the Powell St. MUNI/BART train station. As a tip if you are in the Bloomingdales/West Field Shopping center, on the bottom floor you can directly access the train station and not have to enter from the street. A helpful tip if it happens to be cold out.
If you choose to drive in to this hotel, either with a rental car or your own, this Westin has Valet parking. I have never had the feeling that they are going to wreck my car parking here. So I wouldn’t worry about parking here, other than it is not cheap. There are plenty of self parking structures around, not terribly close but you can throw a rock in any direction and find one.
This Westin is fully loaded with amenities, including a nice restaurant and of course room service at all hours. They do not have an indoor pool, the W just down the street has that. This Westin has a nice gym that is well maintained. You are also just steps away from all of the great shopping in Union Square, all of the top brands are available like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Sacks Fith Ave, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, the Apple Store and so on..
The Castro also has a nice selection of some unique shops, clothing, shoes, jeans and of course some hot underwear choices that will make any gay guy go nuts. Except if you like food too much, stay out of the thongs, I don’t want to see you in it, nor does anyone else. Personally when I am doing my homework on where I want to stay in a city I usually start my search close to all of the gay bars. SF is one of those cities that does not offer great accommodation options in The Castro, which is the gay center of San Francisco. You can be sure that this Westin is an easy place to grab a cab and if you decide to stay out late at a bar in The Castro, you can find a taxi line right at 18th St and Castro St. It’s right in front of the Bank of America, if you do not see a cab waiting just stand there, one will show up in a few minutes. Most of the cab drivers in the city know its a active spot.
If you happen to be visiting the 3rd week of the month and want to see the gay nightlife in full swing. Ruby Skye, located in Union Square has a gay night called Fresh. This only happens on Sunday of the 3rd week, any other night is full on breeder central.
If you book with this link below, you will get the best rate that they offer. Plus this site will get a small commission, not enough for a steak dinner, but it helps pay for the hosting.
Below is a direct link to book on Starwood, which will allow you got get points and earn stays for status.
If you are looking for the best rate, I suggest hotels.com. Its a little hard to find exact hotels on their site, so I have done the work for you.
50 Third St, (415) 974-6400
W San Francisco
W Hotel San Francisco – Gay Friendly Hotel
If you are a fan of modern hotels, the W in San Francisco is a great option and one of my personal favorites. The location is hard to beat, it’s located in SOMA “South of Market area” near the Moscone convention center and close to all of the great shopping in Union Square. It’s just a few blocks walk to Market St and another block to the left will put you at Stockton where there is an entrance to the MUNI station, specifically the Powell St. station. Which is also a BART station, be sure not to confuse the two or you might end up in Oakland rather than the Castro.
The W has a very popular bar in the lobby, as with most W hotels they call it XYZ. As with most hotels in SF the elevators are coded with your door key to keep the unwanted out. This W also has a great indoor pool, which is a rare thing in SF, you can also find one at the sports club LA located on Market St. I do not believe you can get a daily pass there, but its worth checking. The W also has a work out room, they call it “Sweat”.
This W as most has valet parking, if you are driving in your own car and care about it, be very careful to watch them mark down scratches. I speck of dust is a scratch to them, I have a distinct feeling they have severely damaged many cars and use the overly marked up tickets to get out of it. I happened to drive my brand new car, not even 24 hours old in and they marked down that every panel had scratches and dents on it. If you drive around the alley located on Minna St between the museum and St. Regis Hotel you will find a city park. You can access this alley via 3rd st, the address is 147 Minna Street. Do yourself a favor and park your car yourself! Trust me!!
I have stayed at this W 5 times and love this property, however the standard rooms are very small. If you can get a high floor room you will love the view. The North East corner will give you a great view of the bridge behind the sky line, its quite something to see on a clear day or night.
The front desk staff is friendly, even under the pressure of long lines of people they seem to hold together and try to help. Even if you are a Starwood Gold or Platinum member, upgrades are difficult to obtain especially if you are staying more than one night. Flirting helps, but not a guarantee of anything. Acting like a NYC pompous ass, will get you a crap room next to the dumpster. The disabled room trick also applies here, the rooms are slightly larger.
The typical rates are about $200 a night, but if they are busy or have a conference it can be $400. Try and book early if you can, be aware their super special rates are non refundable. It may not be clear on the website, trust me I have had to argue my way into getting a credit. If you are planning on earning a stay towards your Starwood status, do not book the room on any of those travel sites like Expedia as that will not go towards your status, no matter how much you pay. Just having Gold will get you slightly better rooms and the ability to get as late as a 4pm check out. Which after a wild night can really be a nice feature.
Another tip, if you fly United and have status it may be possible to get Gold via a promotion for members. Check out their website to see if they have anything going on.
As all Starwood Properties the W is one of the most gay friendly hotels in San Francisco. I see lots of gay men every time I am in the building.
If you are a beer fan, across the street is a place called Thirsty Bear Brewing Company. They have some great micro brew’s to try and the food is great.
If you are a Starwood point collector or just collecting stays, you need to book on Starwood.com. The link below will take you directly to this hotel on their site.
If you are looking for the best rate, I suggest hotels.com. They do not make it easy to find a specific hotel with their search, so I have done the work for you. Link just below.
See the W’s rates on hotels.com
The W is at 181 3rd St, (415) 777-5300 – Don’t confuse it with 3rd Ave as that is in the opposite side of town.
Gay Bath House Las Vegas – Entourage
Gay Bath House Las Vegas – Entourage
I get asked often enough about Entourage I thought I would write about my experiences visiting this place. This place was formally called Apollo Spa. Before it was taken over I visited this place several times and was fairly grossed out by the level of housekeeping. The steam room, used to smell like it was cleaned maybe once a year if it was working at all. Since the take over, they have re-modeled the place and its kept very clean and sanitary. The steam room is now much smaller but still a decent size. They have 2 hot tubs, usually only one is working. They also have a dry sauna, a large indoor pool and a nicely equipped gym.
Unfortunately the week nights are slow, but this is common with all of the gay bars in the Las Vegas area. They have private rooms or lockers available and a few tv rooms as well as a room with computers for the avid Manhunt users. Entourage is hidden away in a strip mall, off the Las Vegas Strip. Strangely enough many cab drivers know exactly where it is.
They also employ a massage therapist who I have used several times and found him quite good. There is nothing sexual about what he does, so don’t use him if you expect anything but what you pay for.
If you can afford a private room and one is available I would suggest getting one, especially if you have not been to one of these before. The ability to get away if the place get crowded is a nice thing. Especially if you are the most attractive guy in the place.
There are rumors that some of the large hotels on the strip have bath houses as well, these are true. However, hitting on the wrong guy in one of these places like the Luxor or Wynn hotel can land you in the hospital. The prices can vary so I suggest you look at the Entourage website for pricing and their calendar of events. It may be helpful for you to know that some nights are black out nights, that means most of the lights are off, not something I personally find appealing.
Be smart, use protection, these places can be quite dangerous if you are not thinking clearly. Don’t go drunk or high, is one night of fun really worth all the humiliation you will go through with your DR? The sex clubs in SF at least have condoms all over the place, in fact the health code requires that there isn’t a private place for sex. The operators are required to monitor the use of condoms and enforce it. Entourage hands one with your towel upon entry.
They have plenty of free parking available just out front or you can take a cab, they will call you one as you exit. Below is a picture to help make it easier to find it, it took several passes at my first attempt.
953 E Sahara, Suite A-19, 702-650-9191
24 Hour Fitness Hillcrest
Staying in shape is a very important part of the gay life style, so I think it’s important to know what your options are for gay gym’s while you visit San Diego. 24 Hour Fatness err Fitness is located in the heart of Hillcrest on 5th Ave near University just below the Hillcrest Cinema. I have been going to this gym since it was converted from a video store. This gym is very busy and during peak periods it can be very annoying, especially when you are just trying to get on a stationary bike, so if you can avoid going just after 5pm you will be best off. They have ample parking just below in their structure, make sure to get your parking card validated.
This 24 hour fitness has a finger print system setup, so you can set your account to bypass without having to show your id. This gym is near #1 5th Ave a gay bar so after a good hard workout you can become a cheap date. I attempted to stop by Gold’s Gym and take a few pictures but the sign was taken off the building so I think they are gone.
3965 5th Ave, 619-683-2424
Max Muscle
There are only a few nutrition/health supplement shops in the Castro, this one is rather large and just across the street from Gold’s Gym a large gay gym. When I walked past the shop it had a sign that they are moving, the new address was not posted so I am not sure how long this will be valid for. Max Muscle is located on 16th St near Market. It’s just below the Lookout bar and across from Cafe Flore.
3600 16th St, 415-626-2244
The Gym SF Castro
The Gym SF is a bit hidden, you can see people working out on the second floor from Market St. But the entrance is just to the left of Active Nutrition. You need to walk through the hall way and then up the stairs in the back of the atrium I guess you can call it. I have personally not been to this gay gym, but I always see a decent amount of guys doing cardio from the window on Market St. There are not a whole lot of gym’s in the Castro, you have Gold’s Gym which is very popular, this gym and 24 Fitness just a bit further down on Market St.
For travelers their website says that they offer 1 day passes as they may change their prices I don’t want to post it and have it wrong down the line. They also state that they do not have contracts so it seems like they would be a great place to try out. At this time is also says that you can try out their gym for free.
2275 Market St, 415-863-4700
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