Gaycation Magazine Issue 13 February 2015 by Gaycation Magazine

Gaycation m a g a z i n e

February 2015 Issue 13

The Heart of the West: Ft. Worth

Responsible Eating in the Caymans

Oklahoma is OK

Tempe, AZ: The Little Big City

www.gaycationmagazine.com Founder/Editor-in-Chief DJ Doran dj@gaycationmagazine.com Editor/IT/Marketing Joe Morales joe@gaycationmagazine.com Social Media Gregory L. Kiep @gregorykiep Contributors James Careless Aaron Drake @theaarondrake Dee Farrell Jessica Fest @jessonajourney Gregory L. Kiep @gregorykiep Ben Lambert @highsocietyhobo David Perry Stevie St John Advertising Department sales@gaycationmagazine.com Subscription Department subscriptions@gaycationmagazine.com Article and Photo Submissions editor@gaycationamagazine.com General Info travel@gaycationmagazine.com Social Media GaycationMagazine GaycationMag +Gaycationmagazine1 GaycationMag gaycationmagazine gaycationmagazine

About the Cover Photo: David Perry snapped this photo on a trip to the Southwest.

February 2015 Issue 13 Send address changes and subscription info to: Gaycation Magazine 931W 75th St Suite 137-215 Naperville, IL 60565

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Feast 34 An exploration of a traditional local dish and how it connects to the culture. Postcards 40 Photos of your favorite gaycation destinations from all over the world. Feature: Oklahoma is OK...For LGBT Travelers 44 A look inside Oklahoma. There’s This Place... 54 Recommendations of unusual LGBT destinations. Tempe Arizona, the little big city. Feature: Babi Guling 60 Dining on roast pig in Ubud, Indonesia What Was I Thinking? 66 Stories submitted by Gaycationers about About the above photo: The Desert Botanical crazy experiences. My Phuket Road Trip. Garden has been teaching and inspiring visitors from the local community and around the world.

CONTENTS

Letter from the Publisher

The Wire 10 LGBT travel news and information Feature: Heart of the West 22 Anybody who calls it “Dallas-Ft. Worth” clearly never went to Ft. Worth Events 29 Found It 30 Must have” travel items for everyone from the novice weekender to the seasoned globetrotter. www.gaycationmagazine.com

Book It! 70 Recommendations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts. Vegas Baby! Gaycationers 74 Photos of people showing off their best gaycation. Advertising Index

COLUMNS

Crusing Corner 80 Gregory Kiep takes a break from Greg’s Gaycations to bring you the latest tips on gay cruising.

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Letter from the Publisher

Sometimes as the saying goes, you just have to do it! Such was the case one summer day in 2012. Joe and I we’re visiting a friend in San Francisco after living aboard our 60’ sailboat for 3 ½ years. After some crazy twists and turns which ended our live aboard boating life, we suddenly found ourselves free to go wherever we wanted to. We had been invited to Palm Springs for a week and after a brief discussion about which route to take, we decided to pack up our Jeep Wrangler and GO! The Jeep was filled with enough luggage for every contingency (we are 2 Gay men after all) and a tank of gas. The 7½-hour drive out of the bay area was typical, with TRAFFIC. We headed south on I-5 toward the mythical gay destination of Palm Springs via Bakersfield and soon the traffic congestion began to thin and it was smooth sailing. As we drew closer to Bakersfield, the weather became increasingly warmer and drier. Our Jeep was running like a top so far, but the lack of air conditioning suddenly became an ugly reminder of what not to take for granted (especially during August). I watched the gauges 6

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to be sure we would not end up stranded in the middle of nowhere like Lawrence of Arabia without the robes, or camel… As we passed through the vastness that is the Mojave Desert I couldn’t help being awestruck by the beauty of the landscape. We drove for miles without seeing anything but sand and the foliage; which thrives in the harsh environment. It appeared that my initial concerns about driving our Jeep through the desert were for naught. We passed through the worst part of the desert and began our southbound heading toward San Bernardino and the highway that would take us directly into Palm Springs. My feeling of relief was shattered by the sudden appearance of a thick plume of blue smoke trailing behind us. As I cursed and pulled over to a sandy area off the road, I could smell some sort of fluid was burning. I stepped out and could see immediately we were leaking something near the front of the Jeep. Joe, comfortable in his seat and waiting for me to assess the situation told me to “Watch out for scorpions” as I lay on my back to get a better look at the situation. Finally after a few minutes of sifting through the dripping fluid I can see the problem. A transmission hose had come off. Luckily it could be easily reattached and tightened but did I remember to pack some extra transmission fluid? Why yes, yes I did! I asked Joe to step outside and keep a look out for scorpions or any other creepy, crawly thing while I made the necessary repair and in a few short minutes we are on the road again. We arrive in Palm Springs later that day and meet up with our friends. A few drinks later and a walk to the 80-degree swimming pool, life is good. Sometimes the best trips are the ones that you least plan for and this one was shaping up to be one for the books, now where to go from here… www.gaycationmagazine.com

PROVINCETOWN your vacation just got sexier

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The Wire

LGBT travel news and information, ranging from new hotel/resort openings to cruise itineraries and travel planning tips and products and services that we like

25 Stunning Pictures of Norwegian’s Newest Ship Launching in 2015 Later on this year – in the month of October, to be exact – Norwegian will be launching its newest cruise ship, and it’s called the Escape. Although much of what’s known about the ship is known through artists renderings and things that Norwegian Cruise Lines has shared about it, it looks as if this will be Norwegian’s most amazing ship yet! Currently though, it is still under construction. Many of the things that make the Escape fun and exciting will be familiar to fans of NCL’s other cruise ships. Naturally, you’re going to find all the aquatic fun you could ever want up on deck, and there are even places to take the family for a little

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spirited competition. Fans of Norwegian’s ropes courses will also have something to truly get excited about. Finally, the Escape promises to offer some world-class dining at a restaurant that’s helmed by a famous celebrity chef. So, come take a virtual tour of the Norwegian Escape. After you see what this ship has to offer, we’re willing to bet you’ll be trying to book passage on it for it’s maiden voyage later on this year. And, when you do, be sure to check out some of the accommodations, which you’ll find at #24 on the list!

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Virgin Australia will install new business class seats across its Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 fleet. ...There’s a large video screen for inflight entertainment – 16 inches in the A330 and a whopping 18 inches in the Boeing 777 – while Virgin’s inflight wifi system will also beam movies, TV shows and music to traveller’s own devices, no matter which end of the plane they’re sitting. “We already have the best transcontinental business class in Australia, and this will take us to a whole new level” Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller at the seat’s launch today in Singapore. ...Australian Business Traveller editor David Flynn (below) took a closer look at the new seat following its reveal in Singapore (prior to the Singapore-Sydney leg of the delivery flight of Virgin Australia’s latest factory-fresh Airbus A330).

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...Virgin Australia’s new business class seat is based on the Super Diamond model from B/E Aerospace, but it’s received a make-over from Virgin design director Hans Hulsbosch and Londonbased design agency Tangerine, says Borghetti, “inspired by a lot of luxury automotive interiors.” As Australian Business Traveller tipped some weeks back, Virgin Australia’s new business class is more of a suite than just a seat, thanks in part to the high walls surrounding the shell which provide a degree of privacy without impeding access to the aisle. ...Continuing this walk-around brings us to the aisle side of the seat and the large dining table, which slides close to the passenger when it’s time to work or eat... ...... then pushes back when it’s time to step into the aisle and make for lav or, on Virgin’s refitted Boeing 777s, the inflight bar and lounge area. ...On the Airbus A330 or Boeing 777, passengers will find their feet projecting under the seat in front of them (into the space beneath that seat’s side workspace). ...Installing the new seats will see Virgin’s business class cabin on the A330 shrink from 24 seats to 20, but Borghetti promised the fares “will remain competitive” against Qantas. ...On the Boeing 777, however, the business class cabin will gain an extra four seats, while the premium economy cabin is shrunk from 40 to 24 seats and repositioned as ‘business lite’.

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ainbowTourism.com

Destinations, Accommodations, Tours, Events & Services

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Photo courtesy of David Perry

Un rendez-vous élégant L’escale française par excellence, que ce soit pour des vacances ou un voyage d’affaires. Dans le confort luxueux d’une demeure historique située en plein centre-ville de Saint-Pierre, à 200 mètres du traversier. Une expérience exquise vous attend.

For a holiday, getaway or business trip... NSP is the quintessential French experience. Indulge yourself in modern luxuries. In the centre of town and a mere 200 meters from the ferry terminal our heritage building is a haven of elegance. An exquisite experience awaits you.

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Une petite faim? Besoin d’un cadeau ou d’un souvenir? A tad hungry? Need a gift or a souvenir? Rendez-vous au rez-de-chaussée de l’hôtel aux Délices de Joséphine Visit Les Délices de Joséphine on the main floor of the hotel

10 rue du Général Leclerc, BP 4445, 97500 Saint-Pierre et Miquelon 011 508 41 20 27 | 011 508 55 59 82 (cell)

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Heart of the West Anybody who calls it “Dallas-Ft. Worth” clearly never went to Ft. Worth By David Perry

Say what you will, but line dancing is a very

adaptable art form. The sequin-spangled saddle in place of a disco ball took a little getting used to, but the crowd at Billy Bob’s Texas did not miss a beat when the Kenny Chesney ended and the Kylie 20

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Minoque picked up. Things just a little more hipgrindy. The world’s largest honky-tonk — a country music dance hall — Billy Bob’s is one of the undisputed must-dos along the rhinestone-studded roads of Ft. Worth. Outsiders may think of Ft. Worth as nostalgia-obsessed also-ran to Dallas. And they’d be right. Except for the “also-ran” part. While Brokeback Mountain romanticism abounds in places like the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the Ft. Worth Stockyards, this is not a city stuck in its past, however colorful. The city nicknamed “Where the West Begins” may be spun from the www.gaycationmagazine.com

yarns of O. Henry and Louis L’Amour, but Ft. Worth proves any good fairy tale can be reinterpreted to fit the modern age. Learning From History “Everything in Texas is big” and they mean it. The serving sizes, the sequin-counts, of course the hats, and occasionally, the colossal screw-ups. In 2009, Ft. Worth burst onto the gay scene for all the wrong reasons when local police descended in an armed swarm for no reason in particular on a local gay bar, the Rainbow Lounge. Coming on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the city found itself on the wrong side of a stampede of outrage from www.gaycationmagazine.com

citizens and, worse, the media, which reported verbatim the subsequent trial, cartoonish gay-panic defense, homophobic indifference from the mayor, and big, fat slap in the face from the court in favor of the Lounge. There was nowhere to go but up, and the city passed some of the most sweeping LGBTQ protections in Texas. That a place is raid-worthy is all you need to get me on board, but the most damning thing I experienced was the doorman determining I was old enough to enter without an ID-check. Not to trod on any toes, but the Rainbow Lounge is… well, a club. And a dancefloor. And some notably Gaycation Magazine

elastic pole dancers. As these things go, ordinary. But if an ordinary place is what it took to set off an extraordinary event, I’m not one to complain. I ponied up to the bar, enjoyed drinks that are $5 cheaper than in New York, and tipped generously. Highway To Hell To come to Ft. Worth and miss the fabled Stockyards is like going to Mars and never leaving the rocket. Eat your heart out, Dallas: Ft. Worth is made for, and by, cowboys. The last stop on the mythic Chisholm Trail before Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), Ft. Worth, a.k.a. Cowtown, owes its booms, and busts, to the millions of cattle that passed through and the men that drove them — who, FYI, were called “drovers,” never “cowboys.” When the railroads came, the city became a major livestock shipping depot, and the Stockyards, a 98-acre supercomplex of pens, packing plants, a

bourse — dubbed the “Wall Street of the West” — railhead, and marketplace, was born. As was the most infamous red-light district in the West, Hell’s Half Acre. Last-chance saloons like the White Elephant had liquor in the front, poker in the back, and gunfights on the porch; the 1887 duel between Long-Haired Jim Courtright, who started it, and Luke Short, who finished it, is legend. “Liquor in the front, poker in the back” was also the motto of the dance house, burlesque theater, and bordello (think about it). Things slowed down when railroads bowed to interstates. The bordello now houses the venerable M.L. Leddy’s, the place for boots, chaps, hats, and exquisitely embossed saddles for cowboys, and drovers, of today. The Stockyards Hotel, where Bonnie and Clyde once holed up, may retain a measure of rusticness, but only the four-star kind. The White Elephant still serves up the firewater, but 22

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without hot lead flying. Yet, as London has the Changing of the Guards, Ft. Worth has “The Herd.” A twice-daily cattle drive along East Exchange Avenue, the cobblestoned spine of the Stockyards, it is a time warp to when steers flooded city streets on their way to market. Drovers learned some snappy tricks with a lasso to keep their charges in line, and the Stockyards revel with rodeos that keep those tricks very much alive. Once the indoor show facility, the Cowtown Coliseum now showcases almost anything you can do with a cow that is still alive. But the thing about a rodeo: Get a seat close to the gates; it is where all the action is. A bullriding “match” is over in seconds, and calf roping is “fast” taken to high art. First out is the calf, then the horse and rider. The lasso flies. The rider is off his horse, on the calf, and — abracadabra! — has the calf’s front and back legs tied together. Elapsed time: 10 seconds. It is beautiful to watch, but have the camera on Sports www.gaycationmagazine.com

Mode. Go West, Young Man While it is impressive to snag a runaway calf, wrangling the only Michelangelo in the Americas is downright jaw-dropping. It’s The Torment of St. Anthony, it’s the first painting the Renaissance master ever did, and it’s not in the Getty, the Frick, or the Barnes. It’s in the Kimbell, the veritable crown gem of the Ft. Worth Cultural District. For all the raucous history, the “Gateway to the West” is a forward-thinking city with an ambitious eye for cultural treasures of all sorts. Covering ancient Egypt through to Miró, the Kimbell segues seamlessly with the Modern Art Museum, i.e., “The Modern,” which caries viewers into the new-now-next with Warhol and an eerie Jacob’s ladder-looking sculpture honoring of Booker T. Washington by Martin Puryear. The Stockyards, while the top draw, are still three miles from the downtown. It is just enough distance Gaycation Magazine

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for the city center to develop urbanity — and for me to book a room at the Old-West-meets-New Omni Hotel, within walking distance of everything in downtown. Sundance Square, named after Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, a.k.a. the Sundance Kid, is where modern Ft. Worth blooms, from the smoky notes at Scat Jazz Lounge to the aqueous serenity of the Watergardens, a park more water than land. If it wasn’t for all the cattle run murals, you might forget how much the Old West figures in the local character. Much of that character lands in the food. There are plenty of reasons to stick around the Stockyards, not least of which is the carno-copia of Cooper’s Old Time BBQ and its two great vaults of meats smoked to perfection and the beer coming in small fishbowls. Eating in Ft. Worth means sampling traditions close to their roots. Esperanza’s Mexican Bakery and Café remains firmly South of the Border, and any buckaroo would recognize the vittles at the Woodshed Smokehouse, which

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stacks its various woods — hickory, mesquite — in bins outside. To see how sophisticated chuckwagon cuisine can get, I checked out the Bird Café, near Sundance Square. The lesson of the day was that it can get very sophisticated. Did you know Ft. Worth has its own winery? It’s called the Cowtown (natch). But even sophistication gives way to Texan bravura. An icon since the 1800’s, spice emporium Pendery’s is where the city goes to fire things up. And when the hot sauces have names like Weapons Of Ass Destruction and Rectum Ripper, well, gunslinging may be long gone, but duels and dares die hard in Ft. Worth. After one hit of Sphincter Shrinker, I can honestly say whatever was going on at the Rainbow Lounge five years ago pales in comparison. We can all agree chemical warfare is illegal.

David Perry danced with the dead in Japan, raced on horseback across the Western Desert to Saqqara, and kayak-surfed the Irish Sea in gale-force winds. Called “one of the most recognized and well-respected travel writers for the North American LGBT market,” with work appearing in Instinct Magazine, Out.com, Connextions Magazine, and the EDGE Media Network, he is a firm believer that fabulousness can be found anywhere. Even in gale-force winds.

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Photo Courtesy of David Perry

EVENTS

Here are some events and shows Gaycation Magazine will be attending or will have a presence. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always adding more and looking for that special event for us to be at. If you would like us to attend your event, please let us know at travel@gaycationmagazine.com SEE YOU SOON!

Feb 28th to March 1, 2015 August 13 - 16, 2015 The Original LGBT Expo Tropical Heat Key West www.thelgbtexpo.com www.tropicalheatkw.com May 14 - 17, 2015 Kamp Key West www.kampkeywest.org

September 10 - 13, 2015 Key West Womenfest www.womenfest.com

June 10 - 14, 2015 Key West Pride www.keywestpride.org

October 27, 2015 Key West Headdress Ball

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www.headdressballkeywest.com

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Found It! We search the world over for “must have” travel items for everyone from the novice weekender to the seasoned globetrotter.

Yor Leather Impeccable Leather Goods

Run out of Calgary, Canadian leather company Yor Leather specializes in durable, long-lasting, high quality everyday bags. Husband and wife duo Roy and Jill Aguirre make products which look as handsome as they do rough-and-tumble. Each product’s prototype has been handmade in their home, so they’re personally invested in being able to take you from from your next meeting to your next camping trip.

Cut Maps Rep Your City

These intricately cut maps are a the perfect way to make a bold statement about the cities you love. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a native, a transplant or just full of wanderlust for the world, Cut Maps are the perfect way to dress up your walls.

Show some love for the Big Apple with this machined map. This street map is made of stainless steel and cut with CNC precision machinery for a stunning silhouette with a bold typeface.

Commemorate your love for Tinseltown with this machined map. This street map is made of stainless steel and cut with CNC precision machinery for a stunning silhouette with a bold typeface.

FOUND IT LINKS: Leather Back Pack http://www.touchofmodern.com Steel Cut Maps http://www.touchofmodern.com

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Saint Anthony Photo Courtesy of David Perry

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Summer in Salem! Go Out Loud Ushers Summer Sea Cruise Events For EVERYONE This Summer! For the latest events, merch, news & tickets :

GoOutLoud.com

Responsible Eating In The Cayman Islands By Jessica Festa

An in-depth exploration of a new local dish that is helping to save the planet. Touted as one of the Caribbean’s Culinary Capitals, the Cayman Islands are home to numerous quintessential dishes: cracked conch, cassava cake, Cayman-style fish. What’s important to realize about the islands’ culture is their passion for preserving local marine habitats. This dedication has led to a new culturally-important dish: Lionfish. Michael’s Genuine Food & Beverage, a Grand Cayman restaurant focused on seasonal, local food, began serving lionfish, an invasive fish threatening the future of Cayman Islands’ reefs in 2011; however, it wasn’t an instant success. “Some people were willing to try, other people were like ‘no, it’s poisonous.’ There was a lot of information that needed to be communicated,” explains Chef Thomas Tennant of Michael’s Genuine. “It wasn’t until 2012 that lionfish started making its cultural entrance. People know about the issue. And those who try it do enjoy it.” 34

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Feast

An exploration of a traditional local dish and how it connects to the culture, with recipes and recommnedations where to eat. You see, while abundant around the Cayman Islands, lionfish, a scary looking but delicious creature, are not native to local waters. They’re an invasive species that have somehow made their way to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. According to the World Lionfish Hunters Association, it takes just one lionfish to kill up to 90% of a reef’s native species -- which help keep reefs healthy -- in a range of only five weeks. Along with having ravenous appetites, they produce 2 million offspring per year and have no natural predators, aside for the divers who cull them. “Because of lionfish, lobster could be threatened, conch could be threatened,” says Chef Tennant. “If the reef system dies then there’s no food or nutrients for anything of that nature, and a reef system will die if there’s no balance. Lionfish eat the fish that take care of the reef, constantly cleaning up and making sure it’s healthy. If those fish are gone, the reef can overgrow with bacteria and die.” All three Cayman Islands -- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac -- have culling programs where the fish are killed with spears, analyzed for research purposes and eaten. In fact, visitors who have dived locally can join a cull through Ocean Frontiers, even getting to eat their catch (without worry of over-fishing). Along with eating, there’s also a strong investment in the creation of the dish, as even those who aren’t chefs are often divers themselves who hunt lionfish. For Caymanians, diving is a big part of the culture. And as lionfish is an important issue, they’re likely to act on that. Lionfish aren’t like salmon or snapper that www.gaycationmagazine.com

you can fish and filet yourself. These underwater creatures have 18 venomous spines that cause extreme pain when pricked, not to mention the need for antibiotics. Basically, don’t try this at home, kids. When Cayman Island chefs first started serving lionfish, locals were nervous, mainly because they didn’t understand the difference between a poisonous and venomous fish. Here’s the deal: While poisonous fish can make you sick when eaten, venomous fish, like lionfish, are only harmful if they inject you. Once cooked and plated, you’re good to go. Over time diners have not only come to realize they can eat lionfish; they want to eat it -to the point where restaurants can’t keep it in stock. “Lionfish are becoming more important from a culinary standpoint,” says Neil van Niekerk, manager of Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Club, which takes part in culling programs and has an onsite restaurant that serves the delicacy. “In fact, a small business has recently opened in Grand Cayman that is trying to service the demand and is importing Lionfish from Honduras as the demand is too high in Grand Cayman. Restaurants have even approached me in Little Cayman to service them, however, our own demands outweigh them.” Luckily, lionfish -- which is high in healthy Omega 3 Fatty Acids -- has a pleasant, non-fishy taste that mimics the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with. At Michael’s Genuine, lionfish is served in a variety of ways: Ceviche, tacos and fried lionfish sandwiches are the most popular, although it’s not uncommon to find it grilled, pan roasted or wood oven roasted. This allows the dish to lend itself to a variety of palates. Southern Cross Club also serves it in many ways, mainly as tacos. Unlike many culturally important dishes that have been passed down through generations, lionfish isn’t always something locals ate for Sunday dinner. It’s a food that embedded itself into the local culture due to necessity. Says Mr. van Niekerk “The outcome of this invasion is of dire consequence to the Caribbean www.gaycationmagazine.com

region. Because the lionfish is a Generalist Predator -- therefore indiscriminate in it’s approach to food -- it has far reaching consequence to species across the food web. So much so, that the Lionfish is now higher on the Food Web than Sharks! This means that it interacts with more species than any other fish in the region. The only greater predator is Humans. We have to eat this fish. If we don’t, there will be no demand to control the number of fish impacting the reef.” Michaels’ Genuine Food & Beverage and Southern Cross Club are not the only Cayman Islands venues to serve lionfish. Some others include Guy Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar, Stingers Bar & Restaurant, Tukka Restaurant & Bar and The Hungry Iguana. Michael’s Genuine Food & Beverage www.michaelsgenuine.com World Lionfish Hunters Association www.lionfish.co/why-are-lionfish-a-problem Ocean Frontiers www.oceanfrontiers.com Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Club www.southerncrossclub.com

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Lionfish Sliders By Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink Makes 12 sliders 1 tablespoons minced garlic 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, seeds removed ½ cup seasoning or shishito peppers, seeds removed 3 egg yolks 3 tablespoons kosher salt 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups canola oil 1 ½ cups Pickled Vegetables (recipe follows) 12, 3-ounce lionfish filets, pin bones removed Kosher salt to taste Freshly-ground black pepper to taste 1 cup all purpose flour Vegetable oil for frying 12 potato rolls 1 cup picked cilantro leaves 1 cup scallions cut on the bias 1 cup baby arugula, washed 3 limes cut into wedges 3 ripe avocados, sliced

soak any excess oil and season with salt. To assemble, slice the potato rolls in half and dry toast the cut side on a griddle. Liberally spread the aioli on both cut sides of the bread. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cilantro leaves, scallions and arugula and dress with a strong squeeze of fresh lime juice. Assemble each slider by placing the fried filets on the bottom half of the sauced rolls. Then thinly slice the avocado and place on the lionfish. Top with pickled vegetables and cilantro/ arugula mix. Place the top half of the roll on top and secure with a sandwich pick.

Preheat a deep fat fryer to 350 degree Fahrenheit with vegetable oil. In a food processor, combine the garlic, peppers and lemons juice and puree until smooth, scraping down the sizes of the bowl every few moments. Once pureed, add the egg yolks and salt then run the food processor until the egg yolks have been whipped enough to be well incorporated with the pepper mix. While the food processor is running, combine the two oils and slowly incorporate them into the processor in the thin stream. You want to have an emulsification, so do not go too fast. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Season the lionfish filets with salt and peppers, then dredge in the flour. Fry until golden brown and cooked through. Place on to paper towels to 36

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Quick Pickled Vegetables Makes about 2 cups 2 cups unseasoned rice vinegar Â˝ cup sugar 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 1 thyme sprig Suggested vegetables: 1 small red onions sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds and separated into individual rings 2 bell peppers, seeded and julienned 1 carrots, julienned Combine the vinegar, 1 cup water, sugar, bay leaves, and mustard seeds in a medium nonreactive

pot. Slowly bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Put the vegetables in a heatproof nonreactive container and pour the hot liquid on top and toss to evenly coat; the vegetables should be completely submerged in the liquid. Cover and cool to room temperature. Chill before serving. The pickled red vegetables keep for months stored covered in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep them completely submerged in the liquid.

Jessica Festa is the editor of the online travel publications Epicure & Culture and Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite trips have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and living with a family in Ghana. You can also follow her on Twitter at @jessonajourney and Instagram at @jessieonajourney www.gaycationmagazine.com

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2014

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MIAMI’S LGBT VOICE

We warmly welcome you to the LGBT Visitor Center, the proud voice of all things gay in Miami and the Beaches. We’re located in Old City Hall in the heart of South Beach at 1130 Washington Ave., Suite 100, Miami Beach, FL 33139. To plan your next vacation in fabulous Miami Beach, go to GoGayMiami.com or call us at 305/397-8914. MAR Winter Party

APR Miami Beach Gay Pride Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

MAY Aqua Girl Sizzle Miami

JUN Out in the Tropics

JUL Miami Beach Bruthaz Conference

OCT Orgullo

LGBT VISITOR CENTER •1130 WASHINGTON AVENUE, 1ST FLOOR, MIAMI BEACH • GoGayMiami.com This ad made possible through the support of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. For a complete listing of events, please visit GoGayMiami.com Additional support generously provided by:

NOV White Party

Postcards

Phuket Thailand Photo Couresty High Society Hobo

Window in Miami made with Rubiks cubes

The Eiffel Tower at night

Perito Moreno Glacier El Calafate Argentina

Show off your Gayation! Send in your vacation photos (with captions) and we’ll put ‘em here and be envious of the great time you had!

Postcard from Ubud. Indonesia’s national motto is “Unity in Diversity,” literally “many, yet one.” Fancy catching the diversity message on Monkey Forest Road, the main tourist thoroughfare

Isla Mujeres Mexico

View from the Pink House where Evita spoke to the People

ABOVE LEFT: Times Square, Valentines Day ABOVE: Sunset in Cancun Mexico LEFT: Breakfast at Croque Madame, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ABOVE: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Mexico

BELOW: Puerto Madero Buenos Aires, Argentina

Oklahoma is OK...for LGBT Travelers by Stevie St John

Above photo: Mary and Sharon Bishop-Baldwin wedding November 23, 2014 at Postoak Lodge near Tulsla OK Some travelers know Oklahoma as a “flyover” or a drive-through state—part of the country’s vast middle, to be avoided in the air or sped through via the interstate. And LGBT travelers in particular might be wary of spending their time and dollars in the OK state, which isn’t known for LGBT-friendliness. In 2004, 44

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fact, Oklahomans voted to adopt an anti-marriage equality measure that amended the state’s constitution. And in 2014, a restaurateur from Enid, Okla., made headlines for saying he didn’t “want gays around.” But a decade after the marriage amendment passed, it was struck down. And two Tulsa women involved in the lawsuit—both longtime Okies—say that their state of residence has a lot to offer. More businesses are showing the support for LGBT rights, and Tulsa’s LGBT center has grown tremendously. That means journeyers can find welcoming hotels and restaurants to patronize, and there’s an easy way to connect with “family.” Mary and Sharon Bishop-Baldwin, the now-married women involved in the marriage lawsuit, live in Broken Arrow, just outside the major city of Tulsa. For the Baldwin-Bishops, the chance to exchange vows was a long time coming, and they got married on the courthouse steps the day the ruling came down in October 2014. Both are lifelong Okies with the roots of their family trees extending back for years into Oklahoma history. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but they’re ready to push back against prejudice. “This is our home,” Mary Bishop-Baldwin said. “We’re going to stay here, and if you don’t like it, you can leave …If someone tells us no, we’re going to say, ‘Watch us.’ ” Though they acknowledge that there is some anti-LGBT sentiment, the two women also think that Oklahoma gets a bad rap. They’ve seen things www.gaycationmagazine.com

Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality change a lot over the years, and they see Tulsa as “a refuge on the prairie.” Even though they’ve played a visible role in fighting for LGBT equality, they’ve received only two pieces of hate mail over the course of a decade. “People in Oklahoma are a lot nicer than they’re given credit for,” Sharon Bishop-Baldwin said. And they laud the state’s offerings for visitors and vacationers. There’s the ballet, the symphony, and an array of museums—not to mention the state’s natural beauty. And for those worried about clashing with a homophobic business owner, Sharon Bishop-Baldwin says, “Your concerns are unfounded. It just doesn’t happen that way … We just don’t experience that.” The tale of the Enid restaurant owner was an isolated incident, they say. But for visitors still concerned about, for instance, how a hotel clerk will react to a same-sex couple, you can find welcoming businesses using the Equality Business Alliance directory, link on page 48 (Tulsa area) www.gaycationmagazine.com

and the Diversity Business Association Directory , link on page 48 (Oklahoma City area). Toby Jenkins, executive director of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, Tulsa’s LGBT center, doesn’t think the state’s political climate has necessarily shifted. Oklahoma is still the state of Rep. Sally Kern, who famously said that gays are more of a threat to the country than is terrorism, and Sen. James Inhofe, who has bragged about his gay-free family and said he avoids adding openly gay people to his office staff. Yet Jenkins believes that Oklahoma’s days as a flyover state are over. And away from the ballot box, many things have changed—including the Equality Center itself. Formerly housed in a small venue with just enough room for mixers, discussion groups and The L Word viewings, the center now has digs in a former torpedo factory in the downtown Tulsa area. It’s more spacious by an order of magnitude, Gaycation Magazine

Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality

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Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality with an art gallery, event space, a computer lab, a family room and a permanent exhibit paying homage to LGBT veterans who hail from Oklahoma. Now the region’s largest LGBT center, the Equality Center offers varied programs, from counseling to HIV testing and support groups, as well as events such as the Falala holiday ball and the annual Equality Gala, a big annual fundraiser slated for April 25, 2015. Oklahomans for Equality, which operates the Equality Center, is also the organizer of Tulsa Pride, held each year in June. Pride season is “a real enjoyable time to be in Oklahoma,” Mary Bishop-Baldwin said, and Tulsa’s free festivities include a picnic in the park that draws thousands of celebrants. Jenkins says that what visitors who come to Tulsa for Equality Center events take away is that “the city is so hospitable, and it’s a beautiful city.”

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Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality

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Oklahoma Tourist Spots Dennis R. Neill Equality Center Oklahomans for Equality 621 E. 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 www.okeq.org Diversity Business Association Directory www.dbaokc.com/directory Equality Business Alliance www.okeq.org/equality-business-alliance.html Will Rogers Memorial Museum 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd Claremore, OK 74017 The Woody Guthrie Center 102 E. Brady Street Tulsa, OK 74013 John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park 322 N. Greenwood Ave Tulsa, OK 74120

Science Museum Oklahoma 2100 NE 52nd St Oklahoma City, OK 73111-7107 Oklahoma Aquarium 300 Aquarium Drive Jenks, Oklahoma 74037 Oklahoma Route 66 Museum 2229 W. Gary Blvd Clinton, OK 73601 Gilcrease Museum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road Tulsa, OK 74127 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge 20539 State Hwy 115 Hwy 115 & 49 Junction Lawton, OK 73505 For more information about popular Oklahoma tourist destinations, visit www.travelok.com.

Stevie St. John is a freelance writer and editor in Los Angeles. She is the VP of Communications for the L.A. chapter of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA-LA).

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Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality Photo Courtesy of Oklahomans for Equality

Gaycation Magazine brings the world of gay travel to your fingertips. Explore new and familiar gay destinations. Learn what to do, what to eat, and what to wear. All this information wrapped up into a magazine which brings the culture of gay travel to life.

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There’s This Place

Tempe Arizona, The Little Big City by Aaron Drake

With the heart of a small town and the soul of a big city, many gay and lesbian travelers find their way to sunny Tempe, Arizona, and are surprised by this little big city. When visiting Tempe you can expect to find all you’ll need to have a blast— shopping, delicious restaurants, sporting events, a thriving arts community, live music scene, and even lodgings with a personality all its own, set in the scenic desert landscape. Visitors will notice right away that Tempe is an LGBT-friendly town. It’s home to the first university to recognize the gay fraternity Sigma Phi Beta and lesbian sorority Gamma Rho Lambda. Tempe also boasts having one of the first openly gay mayors, Neil Guiliano, who served for four terms. The city 54

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still enjoys a progressive mayor who continues to work for the community, Mark Mitchell, who recently helped implement a citywide LGBT nondiscrimination policy. I could easily feel the welcoming vibe just walking down the street. Upon arriving, Tempe’s newest place to stay is the Graduate Hotel—the first of many boutique hotels that will be popping up across the country in “college towns.” The Graduate is a total throwback that will have you wondering if you just stepped into a time machine, and no doubt inspire good memories and warm feelings for the forty and fifty-something set. The hotel is decked out in ‘70s-era kitsch, made to resemble college dorms of that decade, with all the necessary amenities www.gaycationmagazine.com

one could need while traveling of course. Rooms come with double queen or king-sized beds, and even perforated hardboard bathroom walls. You can’t miss the lobby’s ant farm, an overblown (yet fascinating) ode to the popular child’s toy and Arizona State’s renowned insect program. The hotel’s on-property Normal Diner continues the throwback with a dine-in counter and wall of 8-track tapes, a familiar spot to order Southern comfort food. There’s also the hotel’s cantina Tapacubo serving up Mexican street food—and set to begin hosting food trucks in the coming months—a lovely spot to grab a walking taco and sip margaritas from the rooftop deck. Located just across from the Graduate is the Arizona State University campus, home to the Sun Devils. It’s safe to say Tempe has an infusion of younger folks, with it being a “college town” if you will, but Tempe stands on its own legs as a destination even for those not attending the university. Tempe’s taste for unique design is prevalent on campus, at the incredible ASU Gammage, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed theatre, dance, and concert hall, a gem in its own right for its unique architecture. Not to mention the touring Broadway shows that stop here when passing through town (2015 sees Wicked and Phantom of the Opera as only two shows in its packed season!). ASU’s campus is also home to more than 20 free museums, but one of the most popular is the ASU Art Museum—another uniquely designed building that stands out and houses an impressive contemporary art collection. For a look into alternative contemporary theatre at its finest, there’s the Stray Cat Theatre nearby, and the Tempe Center for the Arts regularly plays host to the Tempe Symphony Orchestra and Desert Dance www.gaycationmagazine.com

Theatre. Further proving its dedication to its artistic community, the city hosts the Tempe Festival of the Arts twice a year, in the spring and fall. Moseying on down the road is the Mill Avenue District, Tempe’s version of Main Street. Here you’ll find many independent businesses, an array of new restaurants popping up with many options for creative cuisine, bars and clubs. The district doubles as the town’s nightlife hotspot, too, with craft breweries, and many venues hosting live music the town has become known for—a launching pad for many popular bands. I stopped in for a delicious lunch at the Handlebar during my visit, a “beer garden” with a menu of 48 beers, beer cocktails, full bar, and a few options for bites (an enticing pick of bratwurst sandwiches, hand-cut fries, and fresh soft pretzels with beer cheese dipping sauce). Definitely a spot I would recommend to stop in for evening happy hour or day drinking, as desired. Other restaurants that are worth scouting out include the newly opened Culinary Dropout at the Yard, a warehouse space-turned-rustic, open-air gastropub that pairs savory eats with entertainment, including outdoor games and an entertainment stage; upstairs in the same complex is the Madison, an entertainment-based fitness club; s.e.e.d., a healthy eatery; and coming soon a breakfast eatery called Over Easy. Also look to Revo Pizzabar for good eats, serving authentic European-style pies, and Postino Annex, a former art studio-turned-wine café offering up delicious farm-fresh dishes, craft brews, and wine selections. The craft breweries are high on the must-do list while in town, even if you’re not a beer drinker: Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewing Co. earned top marks as the best in the state, and even garnered attention from the Travel Channel’s Gaycation Magazine

Photo courtesy of Christian Horan Photography

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ASU Gammage Photo Credit Tim Trumble

Photo courtesy of Christian Horan Photography

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Photo courtesy of Christian Horan Photography

Microbrew Madness. Choose from the long list of craft brews, like the Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale or seasonal brews. If it’s gay nightlife you’re looking for, Tempe doesn’t have it’s own round of gay bars. But not to worry, the METRO light rail connects Tempe to Phoenix (and Mesa), making it easy to access Phoenix’s gay bars. Charlie’s Phoenix is one of the local favorites. There are more than a dozen, each with its own bevy of nightly themes depending on what you’re looking for. Alcohol is served until 2 a.m. here, but it’s not unlikely you’ll find places open later. For outdoor experiences, head just north of downtown. Tempe has its own man-made lake, Tempe Town Lake, a popular spot to catch a sunset or spend sunny afternoons partaking in one of the city’s many water activities, like paddle boarding, boating, fishing, or kayaking. The lake is also the center of many festivals, concerts, and annual events. Coming up March 28-29, Tempe sees the Dragon Boat Festival take over the lake with recreational and competitive dragon boat races, and Asian/Pacific-influenced entertainment. Papago Park is another lovely spot locals like to go, with 13 miles of hiking trails (keep an eye out for “A” Mountain while you’re in Tempe) and 175 miles of paths to mountain bike. Here you’ll also find the Phoenix Zoo, the world-renowned Desert Botanical Gardens, and Arizona Historical Society Museum. If it’s shopping you want, Tempe has that too: Tempe Marketplace houses more than 100 shops and features live music Friday and Saturday nights. 58

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Arizona Mills Outlet, given the distinction of the busiest attraction in the state, has a long list of name-brand and designer stores and entertainment venues like GameWorks, IMAX, and an aquarium. It’s a place you can easily spend an afternoon— and a whole lot of dough. No matter what you might crave during your travels, whether it is adventure, entertainment, or satisfying your taste buds, Tempe is waiting to satiate.

Aaron Drake is freelance travel writer based in Los Angeles. He frequently contributes to ManAboutWorld.com, Out Traveler, Amtrak Ride With Pride, and is the former editor of Frontiers magazine. When he’s not writing and traveling the globe, you can find him at the beach, at the movies, or playing with his two mischievous dogs. Follow his travels and travails on Twitter and Instagram at @theaarondrake.

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Gay Travel Planner www.lgbtintem pe.com Arizona Dragon Boat Festival: www.adba.com Arizona Mills: www.simon.com/mall/arizona-mills 5000 South Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 491-9700 ASU Art Museum: asuartmuseum.asu.edu 51 East 10th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 965-2787 ASU Gammage: www.asugammage.com 1200 South Forest Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 965-3434

Handlebar: www.handlebaraz.com 680 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 474-4888 Postino Annex: www.postinowineannex.com 615 South College Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 927-1111 Revo Pizzabar: www.revopizzabar.com 200 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 248-7700 Stray Cat Theatre: www.straycattheatre.org 132 East 6th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 227-1766

ASU Museums: museums.asu.edu Tempe Center for the Arts: Charlie’s Phoenix: www.charliesphoenix.com 727 West Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602) 265-0224

www.downtowntempe.com/go/tempe-center-for-the-arts

The Dropout at the Yard/The Madison/s.e.e.d. Café/Over Easy: www.foxrc.com 5632 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 (602) 680-4040

Tempe Marketplace: www.tempemarketplace.com 2000 East Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 966-9338

700 West Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 350-2829

Photo courtesy of Christian Horan Photography

Four Peaks Brewing Co.: www.fourpeaks.com 1340 E. 8th Street, Ste. 104, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 303-9967 Graduate Hotel: www.graduatetempe.com 225 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 967-9431 www.gaycationmagazine.com

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The Quest for the Best: Babi Guling in Ubud

by Food & Wine Blogger Dee Farrell

Eat Like a Local, Not an Eat, Pray, Love Tourist

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Babi Guling is one of the most famed dishes in Balinese cuisine, and Ubud relishes the title of best place for savoring suckling pig (unweaned piglet). At first, the dish was a communal treat cooked only during special festivities and ceremonies. Nowadays, Babi Guling can be found widely, generally at tiny warungs (small family restaurants) or street food kiosks. The trick is to find a good one that specializes in this traditional dish - and serves nothing else but the fixin’s. In Ubud, Anthony Bourdain recommended Warung Ibu Oka a few years back when he taped a Discovery Channel episode on preparing roast pig in their kitchen. The restaurant is now overcrowded with “Eat Pray Love” tourists. Who wants to be just another face in a sea of tourists? Getting off the tourist trail in the central district, you can find the iconic dish at several places around Ubud’s villages. You just have to take two knowledgeable locals as your lunch dates to find these hidden-from-bule (Westerners) warungs. My escorts were Ketut, a resort wear designermerchant, and his Australian-native boyfriend Rodney, a good spice-wielding cook and fabulous cake designer-baker. I’m a plain Pennsylvania Dutch-raised American nomad living in Indonesia and Australia; I’ve been eating and wine tasting my way around downunder for a decade. One Tuesday, our trio dined at Babi Guling Nyuh Kuning, where locals flock for a late breakfast or quick lunch. By our arrival at 1pm there was no cracklin’ left, but tasty chunks of everything else. (Usually there’s none left by about 3PM, so best to get in early before they close the doors and get the next hog butchered for overnight cooking. They do it 7 days a week.) Ask a Balinese person what their favourite food is and there is a good chance they’ll say babi guling. (The Hindu Balinese often keep pigs behind the house, feeding on food scraps, for that important time when they will be killed and eaten.) Ask a Westerner if they want to try it - and you’ll get the same reaction as if you mentioned scrapple www.gaycationmagazine.com

or vegemite! Babi Guling is not really a dish most foreigners will ask for. But when in Rome, you must at least try it. If I see a gaggle of scooters parked in front of a pig signboard, I know where the locals are lunching. They haven’t discovered drive-through dining here, but I reckon it would go over big. Of my three Babi Guling pit stops (pun intended), I paid the most at Ibu Oka’s ($6), learned the name of everything at lunch with the boys (cheap dates @$4), and enjoyed my “No Spice” version at Ibu Suan’s the most. Best Sunday pork roast ever - just $2.50! What is Babi Guling The whole pig (“babi”) is stuffed and infused with a spicy concoction (typically involving turmeric, coriander seeds, lemongrass, black pepper and garlic). Then it is spit-roasted (guling means rolled) for hours till crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. A typical plate will have white rice topped with suckling pigskin, grilled sausage (deepfried intestines), chunks of pork, green vegetables, Gaycation Magazine

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and secret sauce (Yes, it’s HOT!). Look out taste buds! If you’re planning a trip to gay-welcoming Bali and want to learn how to cook with native herbs, fruits and spices, there are cooking classes galore. Plus bespoke tours that offer an authentic village style experience - including visiting the local fresh food markets and selecting vegetables for your own gastronomic creation. You’ll learn that Balinese food is a culinary cocktail of fresh ingredients, intricate flavors and aromatic spices - with a lot of heritage rolled into the mix. Not going to Bali for a gourmet getaway? Try these DIY cooking instructions. In Bali, If you order babi guling for a special occasion like a birthday, you might be asked if you want the honour of killing and preparing the pig with the villagers’ help. (City slickers usually decline, citing squealing and being squeamish around blood.) If you try this back home with a butchered hog, you just need to stuff it and put it on a spear and cook over a wood or charcoal fire. No spit in the back yard? Bake in a moderately hot oven for 2.5 hours. Rub the outside of the pig with turmeric water (fresh is best, but can use powdered) until the skin is shiny yellow. Baste with oil or beer & water during cooking. Test if the meat is done by inserting a skewer into the thickest part. If the liquid runs clear, the piglet is cooked. Dee’s Tips Tip 1: Babi guling is to be slow cooked. You don’t want to burn it, so patience is necessary. Drink more beer while you wait and baste the pig with some too.

All photos courtesy of Going Places Photographics...Photos from the Island of the Gods

Gray Nomad Dee Farrell writes about her “have camera will travel” dee-tours. To date, her wanderlust and spirit of adventure have taken her hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, skydiving, skiing, scootering and eating her way across both hemispheres and five continents. Dee’s called Australia home for a decade, but hails from Hershey, Pennsylvania. She visited Lombok for the third time in January 2015 after celebrating New Year’s Eve in Bali with her partner.

Tip 2: Drink ice tea to aid digestion or beer to quench the fire in your mouth. Have water for dessert, or applesauce which cuts the fatty taste and lessens your gall bladder’s job. www.gaycationmagazine.com

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What Was I Thinking? Stories submitted by Gaycationers about crazy experiences that left them scratching their heads and opining, “What was I thinking?”

My Phuket Road Trip

by Ben Lambert

Oh shit! I’m gonna die. Why the hell did I do this? I thought to myself, life flashing before my eyes. Jon struggled to get control of the bike as we careened right into the path of a double-decker bus. I held on for dear life, knowing that the bus was going too fast and the road was too narrow for it to miss us. It was all up to Jon, the Malaysian guy I’d met only a few hours before to save us. I closed my eyes and prayed that he did in fact have the crazy-bike-driving DNA that most Southeast Asians seem to possess. We sped up, the bike jerked and I felt the bus 66

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whiz pass, so fast the rush of air it created shook me. Horns blared as I opened my eyes to find us safely on the shoulder. We were live. He’d done it. Barely. We were less than two miles from Patong Beach, Phuket, our destination, and our butts were so freaking sore that even the tiniest bump caused us to curse in pain. Our conversation for the last twenty minutes had consisted entirely of curse words, followed either by “my ass” or “that was our turn”. I was already seriously dreading the prospect of making the return trip the next day. The only upside was that we’d make the return trip in the afternoon, plenty of light, not after dark with a barely functioning headlamp. You see, just about four hours before, I’d been having coffee with Jon in Khao Lak, about 75 miles north of Phuket, on the Thai mainland. I’d come to Khao Lak because I wanted to get some work done and a friend’s family offered up a room above the shop they own there. For several days I had enjoyed the ability to get some work done. It’s a quiet place with lovely, not-so-crowded beaches and a large national park with nice, easy hiking trials. If you’re looking for a very relaxed beach vacation, this is a good option, provided you don’t come alone. Which is exactly what I had done. Unfortunately, the majority of tourists here are families or couples on vacation. There are a handful of hostels and hotels, but the majority of lodging options are beach resorts. There are some nice restaurants, cafes and bars in town, but as a solo gay traveler on a budget, there really isn’t all that much to do once the sun goes down and the beaches empty. Added to that was the fact that www.gaycationmagazine.com

Grindr told me there were all of twelve other gay guys to be found in a 20 mile radius. Needless to say, I needed a little change of pace. Fortunately, about the time I was going stir crazy, I got a message from Jon, a Malaysian in Khao Lak on a diving course. He had the day off and so we met for coffee. After two hours of lamenting the lack of even a single gay bar, we were about to hop on my bike and head off to Khao Lak’s white sand beach when Jon said, “Let’s drive down to Phuket for the night. I know a little place near the beach.” It was an absolutely crazy suggestion, we’d known each other for only two hours and here he was suggesting we hop on my 125 cc scooter (not even a Vespa, so totally lame), drive 75 miles along winding, two-lane roads, spend the night and come back the next day. I immediately said yes. Despite the fact that four hours later my little Honda scooter was nearly t-boned by a Provost bus (the Mac truck of buses) and I was almost road www.gaycationmagazine.com

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kill it was totally worth it. Sure, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d driven nearly the whole way down after dark, my Ray Bans were covered in dead bugs and I was so sore I limped, but the return drive was stunning. It took us 5 hours to get back, but they were five hours filled with coastal roads snaking through the hills and a ridiculous number of picture/butt relief stops.

Ben is a former attorney, avid foodie, full-time slowmad and cultural explorer. He likes street food, street art, photography and random off-beat adventures. In his spare time he writes, maintains a blog and does consulting work. Find Ben at www.highsocietyhobo.com

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BOOK IT!

Recommendations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts that help you engage with the identity of a destination.

The Many – and Unexpected – Sides of Las Vegas by James Careless

When it comes to Las Vegas, the image most people conjure up is the Strip; the glittering cluster of mega-casinos that have teased the public’s avaricious imagination for decades. And yes, Vegas is all about the Strip: It is an utterly over-thetop collection that includes the Sphinx, the New York skyline, a castle, and high-rise Roman villas that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. I like to think of it as being a circus midway with an unlimited budget. But there are many more sides to Las Vegas than the Strip, and all are worth seeing by the insightful LGBT tourist. And you don’t have to make the venture on your own: In my travels, I discovered a handy duo of local guides who can show you parts of Vegas you never even knew existed! First, the Strip; the undeniable symbol of Sin City. You should spend time here; if not to gamble, then to soak up the atmosphere, ency. the incredible food and drink, and see a few shows. In my case, I stayed at the Paris Las Vegas 70

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Resort and Hotel. Located in the heart of the Strip, the Paris is meant to transport the guests to the romantic world of France ... as imagined by southwestern Americans in the desert. This is why the hotel has a mock Arc de Triomphe outside its front door, and a scaled down Eiffel Tower whose legs penetrate the casino floor. Inside the Paris is done up as a Parisian street scene of shops and restaurants, complete with a blue-sky-and-cloud painted ceiling overhead. I stayed in a spacious Red Room Premier suite on the 28th floor. My suite looked out over the Eiffel Tower and its ground-level octagonal swimming pool; with the Bellagio Hotel and its fountains behind it, and, in the distance, the Las Vegas mountains. The room was luxurious and well kept, worthy of living the high life in Vegas. For dining, I tried out the BLT Steak steakhouse in the adjoining Bally’s Las Vegas Casino and Resort. The filet mignon was superb, as was BLT’s utterly amazing Tuna Tartare (sushi raw) with avocado and soy-lime dressing; signature popovers, and truffle mashed potatoes. Dessert included the biggest yet lightest banana cream pie I have ever tasted. Try it with a sweet after-dinner wine that James, our server, told me was called, ‘Stinky Chardonnay”. (Bally’s is also home to a classy new LGBT nightclub called Liaison. It is the first gay nightclub on the Strip with two rooms with DJs, lots of space, and the status of being the go-to destination after Britney Spears’ regular show at Planet Hollywood.) On the entertainment side, I saw Cirque du Soleil’s adult-themed Zumanity at the theater in the www.gaycationmagazine.com

New York, New York Casino/Hotel, and Jubilee inside Bally’s own theater. Zumanity is what you get when you combine Cirque’s famous acrobatics with burlesque, the Rocky Horror Picture Show (namely the Frankenfurter-dressed drag queen MC) and Cabaret. Zumanity was risqué without being obscene, naughty without being nasty, and a lot of plain old good, dirty fun. Jubilee is an old-fashioned Vegas showgirl (and showboy) revue, with all the big headdresses and champagne glass-sized bare breasts that one would expect. It covered the waterfront in presenting skits and numbers from various ages of live entertainment. The most striking was one set on the Titanic, which eventually resulted in the audience watching the Titanic sink on stage. (And yes, the effect worked.) www.gaycationmagazine.com

This was the side of Vegas I expected to see. It took the assistance of tour guides Babs Daith and Richard Hooker of Las Vegas Pop Culture Tours to show me the sides I hadn’t. Babs is a firecracker who, before getting into offering personal guide tours, was an actress, comedienne (it shows) and one-time social secretary to Frank Sinatra! (“Frank was very generous to all of his staff,” she said. “But you always made sure to listen to him, and take him very, very seriously.”) Richard is a ‘Cultural Urbanist’. Before starting this company with Babs, he worked as Las Vegas’ Urban Arts Coordinator. Piling me into their Mazda SUV, Babs and Richard took me to all kinds of Vegas highlights. Some, like the gorgeous Art Deco Smith Center for the Performing Arts -- home to many traveling Broadway productions like Wicked and Pippin – and the uber-chic downtown Container Park (yes, Gaycation Magazine

a park/plaza made out of repurposed shipping containers) were completely unknown to me. Others, like Fremont Street with its original Vegas casinos and their classic 1950s’-era neon signs, were not unknown; I just had never ventured off the Strip to see them. I also had never seen Vegas’ landmark Stratosphere casino, hotel and tower up close. It’s worth the visit: Not only does the Stratosphere have all the regular Strip amenities, but it has an unmatched view of the Las Vegas valley and mountains; made possible by the Stratosphere’s indoor and outdoor observation decks, at heights comparable to the old World Trade Center in New York. One thing I wouldn’t try are the thrill rides here, which include being spun and/or nearly ‘dropped’ over the side of the outdoor observation deck. There’s also an indoor harness/rope ride that lets 72

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you safely jump from inside the indoor observation deck to the ground. Thanks, but I’ll stick to the elevator! The most outrageous and fun place Babs and Richard took me to was the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. This is actually a former motel that has been remade to offer all kinds of themed weddings – Elvis, Star Trek, Blues Brothers, Camelot, Hollywood – you name it – with costumes and limos supplied on site. The main chapel features drive-in doors, allowing Elvis to bring the bride directly to the chapel inside his authentic pink Cadillac. When I visited, chapel GM/resident Elvis impersonator Brian Mills was getting ready to play Elvis as a zombie for Halloween weddings. “So how do you play zombie Elvis?” I asked as we walked around the property, half-full champagne glasses in hand. (It was a great tour!) “Well, you just kind of drag one of your legs like this,” Brian said in full Elvis hairdo, as his right leg shot out straight to his side. “You then jerk your head around every now and then” – which he did – “and make your voice lower and more gravelly when you talk.” Beyond offering all kinds of weddings – with a longstanding commitment to serving the LGBT community – Viva Las Vegas also has an onsite dinner theater, and offers wedding packages that include stays at its own beach property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So you can get married by Elvis in Vegas, and then head to the beach for the honeymoon! All told, there are many sides to see in Las Vegas, for both the LGBT and non-LGBT tourist alike. In general, Vegas’ hotels and attractions are LGBT-friendly. They understand the value of a dollar, and are betting on the LGBT community having lots of them to spend. The arrival of the Liaison nightclub is also a sign that Vegas is beginning to see LGBT clients as being like any consumers, and worthy of selling stuff to. That said, the local gay bar theme – which is well off-Strip – is still pretty gritty and sexual. Meanwhile, despite its risqué reputation, Las Vegas www.gaycationmagazine.com

is actually a conservative place; in part because of all its middle-American tourists. As a result, groups of openly different people – such as transpeople in full dress – may find themselves standing out uncomfortably. When it comes to full LGBT acceptance, Vegas ain’t San Francisco, or even Toronto. Nevertheless, Las Vegas is still a must-visit location; especially when you get off the Strip. Just tell ‘em that Zombie Elvis sent you! Liaison Las Vegas Nightclub www.liaisonlasvegas.com Las Vegas Pop Culture Tours www.lasvegaspopculturetours.com

James Careless is an experienced travel journalist with credits at the Huffington Post, Montreal Gazette, National Post, and OUTVisions magazine.

Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel www.vivalasvegasweddings.com

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Cruising Corner

by Gregory L Kiep

You booked your gay cruise and now just have to solve the question of, “What do I bring with me?” First off, calm down and have a cocktail. You will get through this and you will look fabulous. After numerous gaycations, I am a bit of an expert and will hold your hand. Here are 7 tips when packing for your fabulous gay cruise: 1. LESS IS MORE. You do NOT need those salmon colored sneakers to match one outfit - it will be ok. Try to coordinate around color schemes with complimenting outfits so that your accessories, shoes, belts, etc. can match a bunch of things. You are gonna shop, girl. Don’t get so close to that 50 pound limit that you can’t buy some new outfits along the way. 2. SWIMWEAR. Probably the biggest piece of concern for cruising gays. “What kind should I wear?”, “How many suits do I need?”, “What is in right now?” Well, as someone who owns over 100 pieces of swimwear, I can tell you that I have shopped for

speedos more than jeans. Try on different cuts to see what works with your body. Typically, square cuts look best on more muscular guys and smaller cuts on you twinks. But try things on. I always say bring 1 gaything suit per day on a gay vacation. Rewearing can get you glances on the pool deck. 3. PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION. I mean sunscreen, queen. :) Don’t forget ALL kinds of protection as you get your toiletries together for your gaycation. Coppertone and Trojans, people. Be safe. 4. SPEAKING OF YOUR CARRY ON… Make sure you have an extra outfit and swimsuit in it. Things happen with luggage and you need to be prepared. There is nothing worse than flying down to your gay vacation in jeans and a sweater only to arrive without your luggage. Have a smart pair of shorts and blouse so that you can be comfortable while you figure things out with the airlines. 5. NIPS IN YOUR CARRY ON. Wait. What? What? Yep, nips are under the TSA limit and can be checked just like that shampoo when you go through security. I get a lot of questions

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from people asking what nips are and it makes me sad. Nips are those little bottles of booze you get on airplanes, in hotels, etc. So pack some up and save yourself a few pennies for ship excursions. You’re welcome. 6. DON’T BE AFRAID OF COSTUMES. Serioulsy. Costumes make it fun. You don’t have to go all out but doing a “lil something” can be cute and fun. Think you will look silly? Trust me, when you are on the pool deck with 2,000 gays you will be loving it and not care. And I guarantee someone will have a more over-the-top costume than you have. Still think you will feel silly? Come find me, I promise I look sillier. 7. SHOES. I love a smart stiletto just like anyone else, but that is not the best choice of shoe when walking around the Parthenon. Choose shoes that you can walk in and be comfortable. Some excursions on gay cruises can be over 8 hours long and you need a flat for that. Bring those, some sandals, maybe another cute pair and leave the rest of the space for costumes. Now go get yourself a cute suitcase and luggage tag, pour yourself a cocktail, and get to packing. I will see you onboard :)

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About Greg Greg travels the world from one gaycation to another, all the way from Iceland to Mykonos. Whether a speedo-filled beach or a cultural excursion, he has been around the world once or twice! He funnels this expertise into his work as one of the premier marketing consultants for the LGBT community. Based between Los Angeles and Boston, he goes from coast to coast working with events and companies to propel their brands and social following. You can find out more about him at www.GregoryKiep.com. www.gaycationmagazine.com

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Crossword

Edited by Timothy Parker Solution can be found on page 86

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OutClique 13

Trip Out 80 Zenbiz Travel

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UP NEXT Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Ready for Spring! March 2015 Issue 14 The Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, Arizona St. Pete, Florida Out in the Vineyard

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