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Toronto, Canada - Gay adventure travel company, Out On The Water, today announced the launch of two forthcoming expeditions for gay and lesbian adventure travelers.

"Today is a much anticipated day of firsts, and a day of accomplishments for Out On The Water," states company president David Ferguson. "First and foremost, we are thrilled to be able to announce the creation of Out On The Water, which is definitely not your average gay tour company, and absolutely intended that way. As proof, we are delighted to offer two unique destinations for gay adventure travelers in the coming months. The inaugural Out On The Water expedition is to Antarctica in December 2005. And the second is to The Galapagos Islands in the spring of 2006."

"Out On The Water has been created specifically for those gay and lesbian travelers who desire and demand a little more from their vacation travel experience," Ferguson says. "As such, we have made a number of commitments. We are committed to not only creating, but to surpassing, any expectations those who travel with us may have with regard to their vacation travel. We offer destinations-specifically tailored to the gay and lesbian travel segment-that previously have only been read about or seen in movies. With Out On The Water, that's changed. These are truly locations and experiences that defy the senses, and they include our inaugural Antarctica voyage, followed by The Galapagos Islands and others."

"We are also committed to providing the gay adventure travel community an experience that transcends their current knowledge of what all-inclusive means. To Out On The Water, all-inclusive entails not only creating an open and all-inclusive environment with style, comfort, service and a full suite of amenities this community has come to expect. It also means a commitment to the complete adventure travel experience. Certainly we would be remiss without the laughs, the memories, the sites and the camaraderie of the traditional cruise ship experience, and those will absolutely be there, but the Out On The Water experience also means adventure and learning in unique, exquisite environs," Ferguson continues.

"Exploration is the order of the day with any Out On The Water expedition. Our knowledgeable, professional and necessarily experienced staff provide enlightening presentations about history, wildlife, culture, geography and a range of other subjects relevant to the areas being visited. Imagine following those presentations up by leaving the ship, climbing into a Zodiac and going ashore to experience the destination first hand," states Ferguson. "Fortunately, you no longer have to imagine it. With our first full gay adventure travel expedition to Antarctica in 2005, tours of this nature are now a reality. Pride is definitely an understatement."

"Out On The Water is also committed to offering and providing the best gay adventure travel experience possible. In addition to creating an inviting inclusive atmosphere and environment aboard vessels like the 100 passenger Akademik Sergei Vavilov which comes complete with a bar, reading lounge, gymnasium, plunge pool and sauna, or the 48 passenger M.S. Islander, the newest addition to The Galapagos, Out On The Water is committed, wherever available, to using only IGLTA members, or known gay-friendly hotels, airlines and ground operators," Ferguson adds.

"We are also pleased to announce the launch of the Out On The Water web site at http://www.outexpeditions.com/," continues Ferguson. "Not only does outexpeditions.com detail our destinations, vessels, amenities and feature photo galleries about Out On The Water destinations, but our secure services enables and facilitates online reservations and bookings with complete confidence. Booking online at http://www.outexpeditions.com/ also means a savings of $100 per passenger."

About Out On The Water Antarctica Expedition

Dates: December 15 - 28, 2005

Beginning in Buenos Aires, Argentina before continuing to the ship embarkation point of Ushuaia, spend eleven days discovering one of the world's last great frontiers during this 13 night/14 day expedition.

In Argentina, discover the architecture, food and fabric of life that is quintessentially Buenos Aires, where you'll also have the opportunity to visit the tomb of Eva Peron before continuing on to Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula.

Boasting an abundance of spectacular marine mammals and bird life, expedition highlights include five species of seals, penguins, seabirds and some of the best whale watching the world has to offer.

About Out On The Water Galapagos Islands Expedition

Dates: April 29 - May 8, 2006

Discover everything you've ever heard is, in fact, true about the Galapagos Islands during this 10 day, 9 night expedition departing from Ecuador in April, 2006.

There is a place where you can see birds that no longer fly, tortoises weighing up to 300 kilos, penguins from the Antarctic living right on the equator and Blue-footed boobies doing sophisticated mating dances. That place is the Galapagos Islands, and with this Out On The Water expedition, you'll be able to walk, snorkel, photograph and join Zodiac explorations among vast numbers of animals, observing them freely. And do it in the company of friends.

Full itinerary including photo galleries and details are available at http://www.outexpeditions.com/

About Out On The Water

Out On The Water is a gay adventure travel company with the express purpose of creating once-in-a-lifetime adventure vacations for the gay and lesbian traveler. Discover parts of the world until now only dreamed about in the company of friends aboard ships that meet the highest standards for safety under international regulations for ships at sea. While their expeditions go to the furthest reaches of the seas, these fine ships allow travelers to do so in modern comfort and utmost safety.

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link posted by gay news ed at 2:14 PM

 
VANCOUVER, Dec. 13 /CNW/ - English Bay Weddings is exclusive to the needs
of same-sex weddings and honeymoons. Run by a successful and experienced
innkeeper, and staffed by warm, knowledgeable staff who help you coordinate
the paperwork required to hold your ceremony, they look after all the details,
from the marriage license to the flowers, photographer, catering and
honeymoon.

English Bay Weddings, a lovely, antique-filled private home, perfect for
a wedding ceremony, is located in the beautiful, cosmopolitan city of
Vancouver, where marriage between same-sex people is permitted under the law
of British Columbia and where a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Canada
upheld the rights of same-sex couples to be married under the law. The
private, Tudor-style home is furnished with French and American antiques,
three fireplaces and glistening hardwood floors handsomely adorned with
Persian carpets.

English Bay Weddings is located in Vancouver's "West End" which, although
more subdued than San Francisco's Castro area, is nevertheless internationally
known as Vancouver's (indeed, Canada's) gay area. A quiet, safe neighborhood,
just one block from pristine gay-friendly beaches and Stanley Park, an old
growth, thousand-acre forest, is just a short stroll to Vancouver's Robson
Street, an award winning shopping area known for celebrity sightings, world
class restaurants and a very cosmopolitan downtown core. Warm summer and
floral spring days offer the option of an outdoor ceremony in the garden of
English Bay Weddings. Fall and winter weddings can be quite beautiful as well,
with the house covered in greenery, candles and glowing fireplaces and perhaps
even a rare day of snow to sprinkle a light dustings over the trees. This
year, a perfect vacation following a winter wedding is Altitude 2005, the
largest international gay and lesbian ski and snowboard festival in the world,
held January 29th to February 7th at North America's No. 1 rated Ski Resort:
Whistler, BC.

For further information: For rates, services, further information and
images visit www.englishbayweddings.com or contact: Robert Chapin, Proprietor
- Wedding Planner, English Bay Weddings, 1030 Chilco Street, Vancouver, BC,
(604) 683-8063 info@englishbayweddingscom;
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link posted by gay news ed at 2:32 PM

 
GayWhistler.com launches new travel site targeting gays and lesbians from around the world to vacation in Whistler

Whistler, British Columbia -GayWhistler.com, the leading provider of gay and lesbian travel to Whistler, B.C., has launched its new Website promoting Whistler as a premier year round destination for gay and lesbian vacationers. Guests who visit www.gaywhistler.com will be able to learn about the resort and to make reservations ranging from accommodations to spa packages with guaranteed gay-friendly businesses.

Whistler, consistently rated among the top ski resorts in the world and recently chosen as the site for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, has welcomed the gay and lesbian community to the resort for the past thirteen years with the Altitude ski events. In fact, in February of 2004, Whistler hosted one of the largest gay ski events in the world with over 4,500 guests coming for a week of festivities. Today, to broaden that welcome, Whistler businesses work in partnership with GayWhistler.com to officially invite the gay community to vacation in this four season destination resort 365 days a year.

Beyond providing a valuable resource for gay visitors to Whistler, GayWhistler.com also offers a unique opportunity for partner businesses to drive increased traffic from gay consumers, who have one of the highest levels of discretionary income among any other demographic in the world. "We are rolling out the red carpet to our gay and lesbian guests with a roster of the best partners in the area, all of which are dedicated to serving the gay and lesbian community," said Sean Kearns Founder and President of GayWhistler.com. GayWhistler.com partners include Four Seasons Resort Whistler, The Westin Resort and Spa Whistler, Marriott Residence Inn Whistler, WildFlower Lodging, Avis Rent A Car, Ziptrek Ecotours, Cougar Mountain, Whistler Outdoor Experience and many others. All partners have signed a code of ethics they will follow to ensure a gay friendly experience. See attached copy of code of ethics.

"We are excited to work with partners that are working to bring incremental business to Whistler. GayWhistler.com is one such partner who is focusing on a very specific and affluent demographic. We look forward to working with GayWhistler.com as they develop their business and market Whistler," said Glenn Iles, Director of Sales and Marketing, Four Seasons Resort Whistler.

Although Whistler has earned major attention as a future Olympic Winter Games destination and as one of the top ski resorts in the world, it’s a magical mountain vacation destination for every season from the warm summer days to the crisp autumn afternoons to the snowy winter days. The one underlying fact about Whistler is the lifestyle, the friendly people and "live and let live" attitude of the people living and working here. The international flair of this community and mutual respect that is shown is what makes vacationing here for a week or a weekend the main attraction to the gay market.

"We are delighted that GayWhistler.com is now providing gay and lesbian travelers with opportunities to visit Whistler during any season of the year. On behalf of the community, it is my pleasure to encourage you to come and visit us in Whistler. We look forward to welcoming you!" says Mayor Hugh O’Reilly.

GayWhistler.com expects to participate in three core gay events each year, targeted at gay travelers. These include a winter ski event, summer party and a romantic couple’s weekend in the autumn.

GayWhistler.com will contribute a percentage of each quarter’s profits to gay charities in Canada and the U.S. to support education, awareness, and equality.

About GayWhistler.comGayWhistler.com is a provider of travel services promoting the resort of Whistler B.C to the gay and lesbian markets from around the world. For more information on the company, visit www.GayWhistler.com or e-mail info@gayWhistler.com.

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link posted by gay news ed at 10:13 AM

 
Derrik Chinn
Las Vegas nightlife has finally come out of the closet and onto the strip.
This month brought the launch of Krave, the city’s first “omni-sexual” club along the Vegas strip to cater toward gay and straight audiences alike. Owner Sia Amiri and event producer Jeffrey Sanker, well known for his annual White Party, recently gave Out in America the rundown of the club’s opening as well as today’s ever-changing club scene. More here: http://www.outinsanjose.com/arts/travel.asp

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link posted by gay news ed at 1:33 AM

 
Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.


Full report by Ulf Mikaelsson @ http://www.365gay.com/travel/TravelFeatures/120804destinations.htm

Southern Thailand is flanked by the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east and enjoys an abundance of beautiful beaches and gorgeous islands. Phuket Island is the pearl of Southern Thailand and is a must for every sun and sea-addicted gay or lesbian.

Patong Beach is the busiest beach with a gay nightlife you never expected to find anywhere. The Paradise Complex is the focal point of the gay scene offering everything from saunas and restaurants to go-go bars and a busy gay disco.

If you are looking for solitude or a more secluded beach holiday you have a
choice of 16 other beaches to relax on in Phuket, but don’t expect much gay nightlife outside Patong. There are also many nearby islands for overnight staying. These are easily booked at one of the travel shops on Phuket.

Read the full report @ http://www.365gay.com/travel/TravelFeatures/120804destinations.htm

link posted by gay news ed at 3:46 PM

 

Carson City, NV (Tuesday, December 7, 2004) - Nevada Gay and Lesbian Visitor & Convention Bureau will host the Tenth Annual Lake Tahoe WinterFest on Lake Tahoe's scenic south shore March 6-13, 2005. WinterFest is a seven day celebration with world class skiing and boarding, snowmobiling, receptions, DJ dance parties and WinterFest Comedy Night starring New York Comedian Eddie Sarfaty.

Boy George will pump up the volume as special guest DJ for the Laser Blue Dance Party on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at the Horizon Casino Resort. Top DJs from London and the US, including Dean Millward, Gerard G and Jerry Griffith will join Boy George at WinterFest.

As Lake Tahoe's only Gay and Lesbian Ski Week since 1996, WinterFest has attracted thousands of Gay and Lesbian skiers to Lake Tahoe. VIP Packages are available now and will guarantee tickets to all events. http://www.LakeTahoeWinterFest.com for information and reservations.

Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.
link posted by gay news ed at 2:13 PM

 
Newsday reports: GAY TRAVEL. Gay travelers concerned about discrimination can find friendly lodgings and hotels at a new Web site, www.zoom.gay.comcq/jrs. The site includes more foreign destinations than a similar service, www.citysearch.comcq/jrs.


Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.

link posted by gay news ed at 10:39 PM

 
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK http://uk.gay.com/headlines/7222

A guide to the gay goings on in Bristol is to be published for the first time in the city's history.

Produced by the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Forum the guide will bring together everything the city's scene has to offer, as well as support networks and services available to LGB residents and visitors.

Additionally, organisations offering advice will be listed, alongside a brief summary of the recent changes in legislation, including Civil Partnerships, new employment laws and issues regarding equality.

Bristol council has been quick to support the publication, which is the first for a city that is often overlooked by the gay press.


Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.

link posted by gay news ed at 11:22 AM

 
Arizona Republic, AZ -

Resort for gay travelersgets national coverageIt was challenging enough opening a new business, billed as the first health resort and spa dedicated to gay and lesbian travelers, but Joe Studer and fellow co-owners then had to spread the word about the facility in Tucson.

So far, so good since Coyote Moon Health Resort & Spa, a former guest ranch, opened last month. And since going national with their plans and subsequent opening, the partners have advertised in national gay and lesbian publications and on Web sites and have been featured in news stories. Much of their exposure was arranged through a New York public relations firm, Development Counsellors International, turning media onto Coyote Moon's story.

More @ Going national: Gay-oriented resort in Tucson gets wide national attention


Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.



link posted by gay news ed at 6:22 PM

 
Global BC @ http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=c948d6a9-b9fa-4f1a-833e-787961b28c13
Friday, December 03, 2004
A new online travel agency is promoting Whistler as the best gay-friendly resort in the world. (Global BC) A company based out of Seattle is touting Whistler-Blackcomb as the best gay- and lesbian-friendly resort in the world.
Whistler is already one of North America's top resorts, with annual skier visits topping two million.
For more than a decade the town has hosted a popular gay ski week, which draws about 3,000 people and pulls in more than $1 million.
Now an online travel company from Seattle, gaywhistler.com, is selling ski vacations by pitching the B.C. destination as safe, beautiful and gay-friendly.
The travel agency is getting plenty of support from the resort's restaurants and hotels, which take a tolerant attitude about sexual orientation.
"We have what we call the golden rule, which is treat everyone the way you would like to be treated, so it doesn't make a difference to us," said Rudy Mack of Four Seasons Whistler.
Mack points out that gay clientele are by and large a "discerning" group well worth courting. "Obviously, yes, they do spend more money because they have more disposable income," he said.
Whistler Mayor Hugh O'Reilly has also endorsed the website, saying it promotes the resort to a worldwide audience.
"Canadians have generally always been very open, and there's been little or no backlash from our perspective in the 14 years that we've been involved (in gay ski week)," said O'Reilly.
© Global BC 2004

Check back for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; and the Gay Travel Blog. And please try tyo do some of your holiday shopping at the Gay Book Blog where you willl find books, CDs, DVDs & Digital Cameras at low prices.



link posted by gay news ed at 1:41 PM

 
By Chesley Plemmons
NEWS-TIMES THEATER CRITIC

As Becket (Dougray Scott), now the Archbishop of Canterbury, prays, an assassin approaches in a revival of Jean Anouilh‘s "Becket." The English adaptation, by Frederic and Stephen Raphael, opened last month at the Haymarket Theatre in London.

There's something about the Charles Dickens look of London that makes its Christmas season seem more charming and filled with spirit than New York's, even with the swank Fifth Avenue windows and the towering tree at Rockefeller Center.

Rewarding myself, as I do each year, with a birthday trip to London, I surrendered almost immediately to its myriad charms — unrivaled theater, of course, but a civility and charm that is hard to match.

One caveat, and a serious one for Americans headed to England, is how expensive things are now that the dollar is so weak against the English pound.

My hotel was only two blocks from the Covent Garden area with its maze of vendors and cobblestone streets filled with mimes, clowns, living statues, roasted chestnut stands, and musicians of every ilk.
King Henry II (Jasper Britton), left, shares a boisterous, boozing life with his long-time friend Thomas a Becket (Dougray Scott) in Jean Anouilh‘s classic historical drama "Becket."

It was there I spent a great deal of my time, including a visit to the Royal Opera House for ballet and a long-anticipated, candle-lit baroque concert in the famous church St. Martins-in-the-Fields.

Time only allowed me opportunity to see three plays, but each was extraordinary in its own way.

Paradoxically, since I suspect England's female stars (such as Judi Dench and Helen Mirren) are currently better known to audiences in the States than their male counterparts, it was the men and their roles that took center stage on their home turf.

My pre-holiday rewards included "The Old Masters," a new play by Simon Gray, whose "Butley" and "Otherwise Engaged" were Broadway hits, and a surprisingly interpretation of Jean Anouilh's "Becket.
Joseph Duveen (Peter Bowles), left, a famous art dealer of the 1930s, offers a disturbing proposition to his old friend Bernard Berenson (Edward Fox), a renowned art critic in "The Old Masters." Simon Gray‘s provocative comedy-drama, inspired by actual events, is directed by Harold Pinter at the Comedy Theatre in London.

Then, there was "The History Boys," an absolute knockout of a drama about students and their professors by Alan Bennett, who also wrote "Talking Heads" and "The Madness of King George." (More on "History Boys" next Sunday.)

In addition to peerless performances by the casts in all three plays, two actors — Jasper Britton in "Becket," and Dominic Cooper" in "History Boys" — shone like matinee idols. If you like to keep your eyes on the theater horizon, make a note of their names and hope they'll be in New York soon.

Interestingly, the three plays run a gamut of dramatic sexuality, with heterosexual themes in "Masters," bisexual ones in "Becket," and homosexual revelations in "Boys."

"THE OLD MASTERS" by Simon Gray, at the Comedy Theatre.

In 1937, the time of this play, Bernard Berenson and Joseph Duveen were two of the most renown figures in the art world. Berenson was a famous critic, writer and collector, and Duveen was perhaps the richest and most successful dealer.

Both men were instrumental in influencing acquisitions by the super-wealthy of the day, including Andrew Mellon, Samuel H. Kress, Henry Clay Frick and J.P. Morgan.

Gray has taken these two larger-than-life figures near the end of their lives and supposed an encounter that may or may not have happened. Set at Villa I Tatti, Berenson's home outside Florence, Italy, the story takes place over an afternoon and evening.

Hitler and Mussolini are in ascendance, so it is not just Duveen, Berenson, and Berenson's terminally ill wife, Mary, who are at the end of an era. A whole world of elegance and riches is about to be altered.

The setting and the air of the play seems to reflect the world as seen through the somewhat jaded eyes of Maughm, Waugh and Coward, with Gray's witty and acerbic humor added as veneer.

As a note of the fraying sophistication of the period, Nicky, Berenson's secretary and Mary's unofficial nurse, is also Berenson's mistress, a fact well known by his wife.

Though they had been business partners, Berenson and Duveen are now at odds. It is Duveen's assistant Fowles (Michael Simkins) who brings a message for Berenson, while the art dealer waits at a hotel near the villa ready to fight his own battle should Fowles not succeed.

At issue is an attribution — recognition by an authority about who is the rightful painter of a piece of art. Duveen, in failing health but ever ambitious for a deal, wants Berenson to rule the artist Giorgione is the talent behind a painting he plans to sell to Mellon.

Berenson belives strongly, however, the piece is really by Titian, rendering it not nearly as rare and valuable.

Did I mention that playwright Harold Pinter is the director? That alone should promise a sharp take on this old-fashioned drama of ideas.

Edward Fox plays Berenson with humorous arrogance, sounding uncannily like Franklin D. Roosevelt — now that's a true patrician accent.

Peter Bowles is excellent as the hard-driving Duveen, and Barbara Jefford is the long-suffering Mary. Her haunting portrayal brought to mind a similar character with the same name, Mary Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey into Night."

As the mistress with many masters, Sally Dexter is perhaps too pretty for someone who has supposedly been around the household for a long time. She's clearly a charmer when it comes to men, wrapping Fowlers around her little finger.

Scenic designer Eileen Diss' handsome villa with a surrounding panorama of the Florentine hills is a testament to the taste — and pocketbook — of the Berensons.

The action, carefully paced by Pinter and his cast, draws us ever closer to these old friends who find again that money can poison even the best of relationships.

"The Old Masters" is a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the theater and, although the ethics of manipulation in the art world is open to debate, there is no way to evade the final tragedies, personal and political, that approach.

Symbolic of the dangers at hand, the walls of the villa seem to disappear as the play ends, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable as bombs are heard in the distance.

"BECKET" by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Frederic and Stephen Raphael. At the Comedy Theatre.

If you're willing to suspend the facts in the well-documented relationship between King Henry II and Thomas a Becket, later the Archbishop of Canterbury, you'll find a playfully erotic — make that homoerotic — interpretation of their lives, together and apart, in the current revival of Jean Anouilh's 1961 play "Becket."

The concept of Frederic and Stephen Raphael, who wrote the English adaptation, is that the two men had a much more intimate friendship, bordering on a love affair, perhaps even consummated.

Though Becket was, in fact, 15 years older than Henry, this production suggests they were both about the same age and both fond — at least initially — of boozing and whoring.

This demands that one ignore Becket's reportedly austere lifestyle and sense of duty to the church and replace it with boyish camaraderie.

Each time Henry has a line in which the word "love" appears, he delivers it as if his heart were bursting with affection for Thomas. Though the two actors in the lead roles are as close to romantic leading men as one could wish, it's a fanciful reach to believe this passion actually existed.

That this works at all despite the all-too-familiar truth, must be attributed to the vibrant direction of John Caird, who stages the work in almost grand opera style, and to the sexy performances of Dougray Scott as Becket and especially Jasper Britton as Henry.

Caird turns the stage into a shadowy world that appears to be inside an archway. Stephen Brimson Lewis has conjured up handsome costumes and engrossing visual images. There are several scenes in which Henry and Thomas meet on horseback. Their mounts are manipulated by actors dressed in black.

If there is a flaw in this idea of love destroyed by duty, it's the sudden change in Thomas when Henry insists that he allow himself to be named Archbishop. He goes from playboy to purist, leading to his estrangement — political rather than passionate — from Henry and to his assassination in his own cathedral.

The production features a large and expert company of actors who play multiple roles. Notable among there are John Quentin as the Archbishop before Thomas; Michael Fitzgerald as France's silly King Louis; Bethan Bevan as Gwendolen,who comes between the two men — dying in great style by expelling from her stomach a long ribbon of bright red fabric.

There are excellently drawn characterizations by Ann Firbank as the no-nonsense Queen Mother, Bareth Llewelyn as the Little Monk, and Polly Kemp as that paragon of bed-jumping, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

You'll be impressed also by the moody, sweeping lighting design of Peter Mumford and John Cameron's original score, which lends a regal air to the proceedings.

The final scenes of murder and repentance are staged to stunning effect.

You'll probably leave with a mixed reaction to the history and histrionics. Scott has already established himself on stage and screen as a macho presence, and Britton's eager, desperate longing makes him an appealing lover — whether or not Henry actually was.

"The Old Masters" is playing through Dec. 18 at the Comedy Theatre on Panton Street in London, just off Leicester Square, with performances Mondays through Saturdays at 7:45 p.m., and matinees Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30. Tickets are approximately $30 to $75 in U.S. dollars. In London call (870) 060-6637.

"Becket" is playing through Feb. 19 at the Haymarket Theatre, Haymarket Street, London, with performances Mondays through Saturdays at 7:45 p.m. and matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3. Tickets are approximately $22 to $80 in U.S. dollars. In London, call (870) 901-3356.

link posted by gay news ed at 1:31 AM

 
Boston Gay Men's Chorus The Holiday Serenade A Holly Folly Event sponsored by the Provincetown Business Guild Saturday, December 4th at 8:30Town Hall
This annual concert event is one of the many great events part of Holly Folly, a celebration of the season that includes just about everything you could want to make your holiday a merry one. The renowned Boston Gay Men's Chorus brings cheer galore to the Outer Cape with their performances of seasonal favorites, just in time to get you in the spirit of things to come!
Call for tickets, and be quick, little elf, ëcause this one is a sure sell out! Ptown Tix, 508-487-9793.

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link posted by gay news ed at 1:30 AM

 
Check out winter ski trips for gay men and lesbians over at PlanetOut.com that in part advises you check out:

"Gay and lesbian clubs specializing in winter sports include

Skiers and Gay Athletes (SAGA North) (San Francisco)Tel: 415-995-2772. Web site: www.saganorth.com

Sundance Outdoor Club (New York)Tel: 212-598-4726.

Or check out live ski conditions around the world with Resort Sports Network: www.rsn.com "

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link posted by gay news ed at 3:30 PM

 
Travel: What to do in Denver
Though Colorado has not always been a gay-friendly place, life has gotten better in the past decade, especially in Denver.


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link posted by gay news ed at 2:28 PM

 
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE – Lake Tahoe will host its first ski and activities festival this winter targeted toward gays and lesbians.

The week-long event, billed as "Ascent: the Winter Party at Lake Tahoe," will feature the Indigo Girls and Judy Shepard as the keynote speaker.
Shepard is the mother of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in October 1998 in Laramie, Wyo.

The event will run Feb. 27 through March 6.

David Ewing, president of the newly formed Lake Tahoe Gay and Lesbian Foundation that is organizing the event, said Tahoe is always seeking to attract new visitors, and the outreach toward gays is part of that effort.

"We have incredible weather here, a supportive community and 24-hour entertainment," Ewing said. "We want to show that to everyone.

"It's a great way to put Tahoe on the map in a way that hasn't been served."
Ewing believes the exposure also will introduce Tahoe-area residents to the local gay community and visitors who will return if they feel welcome.

"There needs to be an educational effort," he said. "The gay and lesbian community is part of the greater world."

Lake Tahoe casino executives welcome the event.

"We should put the welcome mat out. As a destination, to turn our eye or to make judgments on people would be horrible," said Harrah's General Manager Don Marrandino, who was speaking on behalf of the Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance. The gaming group helped line up the entertainment for the event.

"As the Gaming Alliance, we continue to look at ways to grow our market. And we thought it important to have the first one be a success," Marrandino said.

Patrick Kaler, the new executive director for the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, agreed the festival will go a long way to market the area.

"I'm really impressed. They really have it action packed," he said. "I think it will be a great thing for the community.

"It's a good opportunity for the gay community to come to the South Shore, and they're going to leave behind a lot of money," Kaler said.

The event is modeled after the Aspen Gay Ski Week, which attracts about 3,500 visitors to the Colorado town and pumps an estimated $12 million into the local economy.
Some of the proceeds from the event will be shared with seven charities, including the nonprofit foundation founded by Judy Shepard dedicated to educational efforts that embrace and accept diversity.

Other beneficiaries include the Sierra Foothill AIDS Foundation, Sierra Recovery Center, Tahoe Youth & Family Services, Tahoe Arts Project, The Point Foundation, and the South Lake Tahoe Women's Center.

Information from: Tahoe Daily Tribune, tahoe.com/tribune

Find this article at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20041124-1352-nv-gayskifestival.html

Check back thru the day for the latest news at the Gay News Blog, - news posts at the Gay Religion Blog; or the Gay Opinion Blog; the Gay Book Blog and nhere at our Gay Travel Blog.

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link posted by gay news ed at 11:12 PM

 
Head on over to Gay.com/Planetout.com Travel for a

"Ah, the holidays. Just when you think the masses at the mall have worked your last nerve, it's time to pack your bags and fight your way through even more envervating crowds at the airport. Holiday travel is one of the most universally dreaded experiences, and often with good reason. Long lines, cranky children, unpredictable weather and the inevitable delays make travel at this time of year a proverbial minefield.

"We can't make the lines shorter or the weather better, but we can help you prepare and make your journey that much more enjoyable. First, check our top 10 holiday air travel tips for the basics on getting to and through the airport with ease. Then, consult our tips on packing your bags and staying stress-free and stylish to make sure you arrive composed and refreshed. Of course, it's no good looking good if you don't feel good, so brush up on your travel health pointers and keep that cold at bay." More.

link posted by gay news ed at 11:20 AM

 
By JAMES MCGINNIS Bucks County Courier Times

Visitors to the county-run tourism Web site (www.experiencebuckscounty.com) will find same-sex commitment ceremony packages offered by area hotels.
There's an entire section devoted to attractions for gay-friendly travel. Nine restaurants and shops owned by gays and lesbians are highlighted.
And the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau has spent almost as much money on niche advertisements targeting gay and lesbian visitors this year as it did on ads targeting families with children. Tourism bureau staff said they will continue that campaign into the new year with advertisements in publications such as the Philadelphia Gay News and Passport Magazine, an alternative lifestyles travel publication.
The campaign began in response to requests by hotel, shop and restaurant owners seeking to cash in on the gay and lesbian market.
"Gay and lesbian tourism is a $54 billion-a-year industry," said visitors bureau Executive Director Keith Toler.
The agency spent about $12,000 this year for niche ads in gay-oriented publications. By comparison, about $20,000 was spent on ads that specifically promoted Bucks as "a family destination." The county spent $8,000 on ads to specifically promote local wineries, Toler said.
A tourism bureau member, the Holiday Inn Express at 4700 Street Road, has offered gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies for about nine months and lists its packages on the county Web site, said catering manager James Cancglin.
"We've had two or three ceremonies since that time," he said. "Gay and lesbian couples are basically looking for the same things as you would see in a typical wedding ceremony because, for all intents and purposes, this is their wedding," said Cancglin.
Brady Barr runs the Out of the City and Inn to the Woods Bed and Breakfast in Washington Crossing. Barr said he spends about 25 percent of his own advertising dollars for ads in publications such as Philadelphia Gay News and Out Magazine.

He's also on the visitors bureau board of directors.
"We will continue to go after the gay visitor. This is about business. It's about putting the heads in the beds and filling the shops," he said.
"In Bucks County you've got all the shopping and the hotels, antiquing and the outdoor activities," he added.
Toler said the tourism bureau was selling the "same product to a gay audience as we would to a straight audience.''
"The gay audience simply wants to know that they will be accepted at any of our member locations," he added. "If two men request a room with a king size bed, they want to know that's not going to be an issue."
The county tourism bureau is funded through a 3 percent hotel tax on Bucks hotels and through membership fees. This year, the agency reported a 6 percent increase in daily hotel stays compared with 2002.
County Commissioner Sandy Miller said she's aware that county tourism officials are reaching out to the gay community.
"Anything that might boost this major industry for us is a plus," she said. "Obviously part of the marketing that they're doing is just to bring to everyone's attention that Bucks is gay-friendly."
Commissioner Charley Martin agreed.
"I knew that they were engaged in this endeavor this year to draw gay and lesbian tourists," Martin said. "Their money is just as good as anybody else's."

link posted by gay news ed at 4:58 PM

 
For thousands of years, Peru's extraordinary beauty has been both the backdrop of incredible cultural and spiritual expression and a pallet for architectural artists. Today, it has become one of the world’s most welcoming and enticing destinations for gay travelers.
In fact, one can find more rainbow flags in Peru than perhaps anywhere on Earth. This same symbol of gay pride today has been a major symbol of the Inca people for centuries. Rainbow flags adorn governmental buildings, hotels, and of course flag poles throughout the country. While it is not intended as a special welcome to gay travelers, one can always pretend.
A typical journey will take you through the cultural heart of Lima, charming Cusco, and the Valley of the Incas (all UNESCO World Heritage sights). But perhaps what will impress and inspire you most is a visit to one of the world's most important archeological sights: the ancient mystical city of Machu Picchu.
Many visitors to Machu Picchu report a strange energy they felt, walking among the ruins. Perhaps it's simply the beauty of the Inca's mass stone structures set atop high mountains over the winding Urubamba River below. Or, perhaps it is the leftover blessings of an ancient Inca Priest. Whatever it may be, nothing can truly prepare oneself for the "magic" of Machu Picchu.
On your way to Machu Picchu, you will encounter the enchanting city of Cuzco, which is as rich in Incan ruins and Spanish colonial buildings as it is in fine restaurants and wonderful accommodations. Most notable is the Orient-Express Hotel Monestario, a gay-friendly, luxurious, lovingly restored monastery-turned-hotel, whose staff will cater to your every need. They will even pump oxygen into your room to compensate for the high elevation. Of course, chewing the native coca leaf or drinking coca tea will also assuage the travel weary.
Whether you choose to hike the Inca trail, or take the lavish Orient-Express Hiram Bingham train from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, it will be an experience you will never forget. Round out your stay with a journey to the scenic Sacred Valley of the Incas, and a visit to Peru’s vibrant gay-friendly capital, Lima.
Lima’s cosmopolitan atmosphere affects all aspects of the city, from art, to culture, to cuisine, making it a tourist’s delight. Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, and native influences are apparent everywhere, inspiring unique architecture as well as a fusion cuisine unlike anywhere else in the world.
Only in Lima can you have an authentic lunch in South America’s oldest inhabited mansion, just a few miles away from where you will enjoy a gourmet dinner in one of the world’s best restaurants, nestled against a 2000 year old ruin.
While many of the world’s larger cities may have a more vibrant gay scene than Lima, Peru’s largest city shines with stylish gay-friendly and gay-owned restaurants, and bars that are more balanced and mixed than one might find anywhere.
Lima enjoys unusual, yet wonderful weather conditions—it rains only a few days a year. However, its proximity on the coast, amidst gentle waters flowing to the ocean, makes it surprisingly lush and green. It’s a wonderful city to spend the last days of your vacation.More At Onlypunjab.com Travel Section

link posted by gay news ed at 10:09 PM

 
Washington's gay bar scene is centered west of Dupont Circle, the real local scene is located just east of the Circle, on 17th St., NW. A couple bars east of the Circle are popular draws, but it's really the restaurants lining the east side of the street that make this strip so inviting. More on DC's Gay Restaurant Row.
link posted by gay news ed at 1:43 AM

 
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa in The Walt Disney World Resort has been decided as the premier partner host resort and official Welcome Center for Gay Day Orlando 2005. This is the second consecutive year the property has been designated a host resort by www.gayday.com, and Reunion Events, Inc., organizers of the annual Gay Day event.

"We are delighted to be named 'Gay Day Central' and official host resort for Gay Day 2005, celebrating its 15th anniversary this June," said Gregory J. Hauenstein, area director of operations and general manager, Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa. "Not only does Gay Day have a substantial impact on the region's tourism by bringing hundreds of thousands of guests, but it also focuses on an important and growing market for both Wyndham and Orlando."

"We chose to work with Wyndham based on their high Human Rights Campaign (HRC) index score on diversity issues and positive marketing within the gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender (GLBT) community," said Brian Bottorff, president of Reunion Events, Inc. "Wyndham is emerging as a leader in the hospitality industry for its gay and lesbian outreach and inclusiveness efforts, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the company."

Held the first weekend in June, Gay Day attracts more than 120,000 guests from around the world annually to Orlando. Founded in 1991, Gay Day has grown to become a large gay and lesbian travel experience centered around area theme parks and attractions.

For further information, visit either www.gaydayevents.com or www.gayday.com.



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