Head west to see the Sistine Chapel

Story by Aefa Mulholland, photo by Berglind Hafsteinsdottir

Don’t have the time or the budget to get to Rome? Head west instead. This week Seattle Art Museum opens a Michelangelo exhibit, Drawings from the Sistine Chapel -- the only place it’s showing in the U.S.

The nearby Alexis Hotel is offering an Art of Michelangelo package including deluxe accommodations, two VIP tickets to the Michelangelo Exhibit: Public & Private-Drawings for the Sistine Chapel and other Treasures from the Casa Buonarroti, a $10 gift certificate to the Seattle Art Museum Gift Shop, two Painters Delight cocktails at the Bookstore Bar, and Complimentary Valet Parking.

The package is available from October 15, 2009 through February 1, 2010, with rates starting at $219 a night. For a few dollars more guests can request to stay in the Seattle Art Museum suite.

For more information, see www.alexishotel.com and seattleartmuseum.org.

Stockholm, Sweden: Photo Gallery

Story and photos by Jeffrey James Keyes

Above: Hey Mr. DJ StockholmThere's a reason Stockholm's Group F12 was awarded a Michelin-Star with flying colors. You can sit outside and listen to your favorite Scandinavian DJs, take in the full gastronomic experience of celebrity chef duo Danyel Couet and Paul Svensson, or head up to the terrace club and feel the body and soul of the Viking next to you.  This is Stockholm at its best. 

Stockholm 3AM
Head to the Patricia on Sunday night for the best gay club in Stockholm.  Head to the roof for the best crowd and a gorgeous view.  I stepped off the ship around 3AM and started to head back to the Hilton Stockholm Slussen and was surprised the sun was already rising.  By the time I reached the Hilton I was surprised with what I saw: the lobby had turned into yet another club.  Paris would be happy to know this was the place to be.  I had a nightcap and momentarily had a flashback to New York's Body and Soul in the late 90's.  

Millesgården
A visit to the Millesgården is an experience like no other.  Walk through the terraces, fountains, columns, and sculptures created by the master himself.  Carl Milles had the most spectacular view of the Värtan waters, and you can catch a RIB boat to explore the archipelago just steps away from the artist's house.  The staff at the Millesgården is extremely accommodating and hysterically funny.  I could have spent the whole day trading stories and enjoying the landscape and artwork. 

Drottningholm Palace 
I took a the steamer boat out to the Swedish Royal Family's summer residence.  On my arrival, I got a first-rate view of the Drottningholm Palace and spent the day exploring the baroque park surrounding this stunning masterpiece.  From the chinese Pavilion to the world-famous theater, it's obvious why this palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Eat your heart out, Versailles! 

Libra
It doesn't get much gayer then Stockholm on a Saturday night.  You can hop from bar to bar and the night (and music) gets better the later you stay out.  Libra is a good place to go when you just need to dance. Take a liking to a Viking, on the dance floor. 

Copenhagen, Denmark: Photo Gallery

Photos and story by Jeffrey James Keyes

Above: Rosenborg Soldier - Copenhagen, Denmark
What's better than day dreaming about the Crown Jewels at the Rosenborg Castle? Day dreaming about the sexy men who guard them, of course!  Denmark has some of the most attractive soldiers in the world.  I caught this one "off guard" by snapping a few pictures of him.  He tried to hide behind his gun but I still found him.

Tivoli at Dusk - Copenhagen, Denmark: 
Copenhagen's pristine Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843 and is the best place in town to kick back and relax. The park is fun by day, everything becomes magical at dusk when the sky gets dark and festive lights illuminate the rides and games.  I had a lovely dinner with some friends at the Divan 2 Restaurant in the park and they all went off to the Oscar Bar for drinks but I stayed in the park snapping pictures of everything at night.  

Kings Square - Copenhagen, Denmark: 
The luxurious Hotel D'Angleterre overlooks the bustling King's Square in the middle of Copenhagen.  Just around the corner you will find some of the best shopping in Europe.  Shops like Magasin du Nord and Illums Bolighus will give you a crash course in Danish design and nudge you to come back with a new sense of style.  

Copenhagen View - Copenhagen, Denmark: 
Views are easy to come by in Copenhagen with it's red rooftops and canals reaching out into the Øresund.  If you have some extra time, be sure to take a Canal Tour so you can see the city from every angle. Or, just sit back in a cafe with a Carlsberg and watch the city unfold before you.  

  Øresund Bridge - Malmö, Sweden: 
I took this picture just over the  Øresund Bridge  in  Malmö, Sweden.  You can sit outside in front of the healthy Salt & Brygga restaurant and watch modern-day Vikings park their bikes and watch the sunset over the Bridge. 

Ed Salvato on Sirius/XM Radio

 

Photo: courtesy Derek and Romaine, Sirius/XM OutQ

Our editor, Ed Salvato (below right), was a guest of Derek and Romaine on their eponymous show on Sirius OutQ (Sirius 109; XM 98).

It was a lively 45 minutes with lots of calls from listeners. They discussed a wide range of travel topics from an assortment of Sirius OutQ listeners: gay men, lesbians, singles and couples  Here are a few topics they touched upon:

• Travel to India and Sri Lanka
• Washington, D.C. hotels
• San Juan, Puerto Rico gay scene
• Gay-friendly Istanbul
• Punta del Este, Uruguay for an older lesbian
• Best getaway for New Year's, where to go for Thanksgiving and much more!

Click here to listen to the show. (It's in four parts)

Download 01 Track 01

Download 02 Track 02

Download 03 Track 03

Download 04 Track 04

New Yorker loves his Delhis, old and new

Story and photos by Ed Salvato, seen here at Humayan Tomb

Only recently arrived in India via the fabulous Jet Airways (more below), I've been instantly confronted with the (in)famous sights, sounds, of smells of the nation's capital city. There are two parts to Delhi: New Delhi is a bustling metropolis with skyscrapers, traffic jams, construction sites everywhere (the Commonwealth Games will be here in 2010; there's an extension being created for the Delhi Metro) and an expanding airport. Old Delhi is a labyrinthine series of alleys, dilapidated-looking storefronts, and a upturned-bowl-of-spaghetti system of electrical wires with an extraordinary hustle and bustle of pedestrians, rickshaws (really pedicabs), stray dogs, goats, taxis and small trucks all competing for a few feet of turf at a time. At the very bottom of this post, I've included a brief video from an exhilarating pedi-cab tour of Old Delhi.

This city of 14 million souls isn't necessarily high up on the tourist to-do lists of most Americans but it should be. Both old and new, there's a lot to keep visitors occupied. The conquest by the Moguls left many impressive monuments to discover. And slowly but surely Delhi's beginning to emerge as an important world city. India, which I will be exploring over the next week, is a fascinating, absorbing, and -- so far anyway -- a demanding destination to experience. Like most things requiring an effort, the rewards will also surely be great.

For those who may have some reluctance to jump into the Indian fray with all its cacophony and movement, my suggestion is to do it in style and comfort. There's nothing quite like a welcome dose of pampering at the end of a day exploring dusty monuments, haggling over purchases and interacting with a few persistent locals.

My method included a trip on Jet Airways, a relatively new (approximately 16 years old in India and operating two years internationally) private Indian airlines. With two classes of service, Jet offers a very modern fleet of aircraft, a young, attractive and attentive staff of flight attendants, a fairly extensive network of flights considering how new it is to the world scene and, in Premiere (business class), private sleeping modules. (That's me in my sleeping pod.)

Prices are incredibly reasonable right now. And with connections in Brussels it's also a good way to get to Europe inexpensively and in style even if India's not on your travel agenda this time. Premiere class travelers also are escorted from the arrival of the flight (from the exit door actually!) to and through customs and immigration. International arrivals just don''t get easier than that.

For a pampering, peaceful (literally, it's in the name: Aman translates as serenity or peace) and secure way to stay, check out the Aman Resorts. Known for their exclusive, small, ultra luxurious resorts, many in remote destinations, Aman opened its first truly urban resort hotel in New Delhi, the Aman New Delhi. It's also the largest of the hotel collection's properties. Just a handful of the many luxe features include huge, airy, modern rooms with private plunge pools, a contemporary Western/Indian restaurant, a tapas restaurant, a 150 foot long lap pool, a state-of-the-art gym open 24 hours, and free wireless throughout the property. Staff is super attentive. The hotel's rates includes pick up and drop off at the airport and a small fleet of hotel cars that can drop you off and pick you up most anywhere in the city. But its key attribute is the calm oasis it affords visitors amidst the seemingly never-ending motion of Delhi.

Today I head out of town to Jaipur. Check back for my next update! First, here's the video of our roller-coaster rickshaw tour of Old Delhi. As a fellow traveler said to me, I experienced more in that 30 minute rickshaw tour as I did in the first 20 years of my life.

Designing Helsinki

Story: Nikko Lencek-Inagaki; Photos below: Courtesy Companies

Although Helsinki's gay nightlife, restaurants and cultural offerings are well-worth the trip on their own -- at least in summer! -- the city is also an emerging design capital, marked by its current finalist bid to be 2012's World Design Capital.

There are also plans for a new design university to accommodate all the talented young Finns who are building on older international A-listers like Eero Aarnio -- remember this chair? -- and Alvar Aalto.

Of course, the best place to see chic new Finnish design work -- famously simple, eco-friendly and functional, but still statement-worthy -- is at the annual international design fair.

Barring that, downtown Helsinki's Design Forum combines showroom, shop and café into a stylish multi-use space where you can see (and purchase) work by both established and University-fresh designers.

At the top of the rising star list (look for his watch work with Issey Miyake) is Harri Koskinen, whose elegant but pleasantly whimsical glasswork for Iittala is simply beautiful. His furniture can be harder to find -- and transport -- but will be online soon.

Dotting Helsinki's Design District, you'll also find a handful of cool boutiques stocking the wearable version of new Finnish design. IvanaHelsinki, for example, the first label invited to Paris' main catwalk, has their flagship womenswear shop in the heart of the neighborhood. Beam and Tiger are the best places to start for menswear by Scandinavian designers, but neither carry Finnish labels. A few can be found, along with everything else one needs in life, at Stockmann, Helsinki's massive department store.

For something funkier -- but still very Finnish -- check out Secco, a small shop on Fredrikinkatu that specializes in recycled streetwear and accessories by forty or so local designers.

After a long day of the new Finland, unwind with one of the culture's oldest traditions: the dry sauna. A beautiful, central sauna -- and, built in 1926, perhaps Helsinki's oldest -- can be found at Yrjönkatu alongside a huge pool and a Turkish steam room. Check for mens' and womens' days and be comfortable sweating nude with a bunch of Finnish men of all ages.

Nikko will be reporting from his travels in Helsinki, Stockholm, Paris and Berlin this month. If you have a tip on a new place he should visit, e-mail him here.

Sunny, summery Helsinki

Story and photos by Nikko Lencek-Inagaki

Although Helsinki's weekend gay nightlife might keep you up (and sleeping in) late, the days in between can afford a useful opportunity for sight-seeing and sampling the amazing restaurants that have popped up in the last few years.

The best way to spend a morning is at the open-air produce, knick-knack, flower and antique markets. They're impromptu, weather-dependant affairs but thankfully dependable if you have a clear-skied day to bring the local farmers, fishermen and attic-cleaners out in force.

Just west of the Design District, at the end of Boulevardi street, you can unearth occasional gems at the lively, ragtag flea market known as Hietalahti. The main show, though, is the adjacent indoor antique market where you can pick up anything from a 19th century English birdcage to vintage Iittala glassware.

 Nearby, No. 9 is a relaxing gay-friendly café that serves a popular, tasty lunch. The Atkins salad is recommended, but make sure you want a whole steak with your greens.

Catering more to souvenir needs is Kauppatori market, located at the small harbor at the end of the Esplanade. Weekends are packed with stalls, but you'll find deliciously fresh seasonal produce, local fish and a variety of kitschy Lapland Reindeer-based handicrafts every day.

From Kauppatori, it's easy to take an afternoon trip to Suomenlinna, a small UNESCO heritage-classified island 15 minutes from the market by hourly ferries. This hilly former fortress has plenty of history -- some Finnish, some Swedish, some Russian -- but its chief appeal is picnic-ing amid grassy knolls and sea breezes. Cafés dot Suomenlinna, in case you don't port around lunch yourself, and there's a cute shop selling works by the Finnish artists who inhabit it if you need a souvenir.

Back on the mainland, don’t miss Kiasma, Helsinki's Museum of Contemporary Art. The institution's  stunning permanent collection of Scandinavian and Nordic artists is full of clever, often funny and surprisingly edgy work -- like this neon, flaccid Darth Vader.

To 'finnish' -- pun! -- off the day, I recommend Juuri, a five-year old restaurant run by two women chefs who are as warm with their patrons as they are talented in their profession. Mid-range by price thanks to their stellar seasonal 'Sapas' or tapas menu, Juury is decidedly top tier by taste.

Modern riffs on traditional Finnish cuisines combined with intimate, unpretentious décor make Juuri popular with small dinner parties and dates alike. Dress decently, make a reservation and take the chefs' recommendations -- it's a dinner you won't regret.

Nikko will be reporting from his travels in Helsinki, Stockholm, Paris and Berlin this month. If you have a tip on a new place he should visit, e-mail him here.

South Beach workout SEP 25-27: Fitness from A to Z

Photo courtesy Z Ocean Hotel

Z Ocean Hotel, a chic, intimate, luxury boutique hotel on Ocean Drive in the heart of South Beach is teaming up with Crunch Fitness to offer  Z-Fit: Personal Fitness Weekend -- a unique way to stay fit while on vacation. The Z-Fit Personal Fitness Weekend, led by a Crunch instructor, will take place Sept. 25-27, 2009. Participants will begin each day with Z Ocean’s Spa Breakfast, including fresh fruit, juices, yogurt and more. Following the energizing breakfast on Saturday morning, fitness enthusiasts will engage in an invigorating 90-minute beach workout with a Crunch instructor.

The intense session on Miami Beach will focus on all muscle groups delivering a complete workout.  From stretches and lunges to sit ups and sprints, the beach boot camp-ists will feel the burn, made even more effective because of the pliancy of the sand.  After the boot camp session, guests will partake in a Q&A with the instructor to address their individual fitness concerns before heading back to the hotel for a revitalizing dip Z Ocean’s glass-bottom pool and some poolside refreshments. The Z-Fit Personal Fitness Weekend at Z Ocean Hotel South Beach is available for $478 for the two night stay, excluding taxes and resort fees. Space is limited. To reserve a spot in the boot camp, guests can call toll free 877-688-4232. All participants will be eligible to enter to win a Crunch Annual Membership and a 3-day, 2-night stay at Z Ocean Hotel South Beach.  

To (and from) Manchester with Pride

Story by Ed Salvato; photos courtesy of Manchester Pride (above and below); Ed Salvato bottom.

I recently had the pleasure of discovering Manchester Pride. I'd heard a lot about how fun it was but thought, a Pride is a Pride is a Pride, right? Wrong! This 10-day celebration of the arts, culture and sense of fun of the LGBT community really is one of the best Pride events I've ever attended. It seems to have just the right balance of really fun events, cultural events and even a stirring candlelit vigil to honor those taken away from us by HIV and AIDS.

Here are a few photos so you can get a sense the experience, but the best way to really do that is to plan now to attend. It's held the last week in August to coincide with a national bank holiday. It's especially fun to discover something new about England if you've already visited London or elsewhere in the United Kingdom. And the best part is the Mancs or Mancunians, as the locals are known: They are incredibly hospitable hosts!

I've written a short guide for enjoying Manchester beyond Pride. Click here to see it. For more official gay and lesbian trip-planning information from the Visit Manchester tourism folks, click here.

Getting there gay

To get to Manchester, I flew direct on American Airlines in business, which really is the only way to travel to  Europe or any destination that requires an overnight flight, and discovered that the American's gay and lesbian employee Group, GLEAM, was founded in 1994, thus celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. AA.com/rainbow, their dedicated LGBT-specific website, founded in 2006 and also a first for any major carrier, is still going strong. It's a great place to find exclusive offers for gay and lesbian travelers.

In addition to these, AA boasts a whole slew of LGBT-related firsts, like being the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits in 2001. You can read more about it at AA.com/rainbow and book your next gaycation on a demonstrably gay and lesbian friendly airline. Also, it's worth nothing that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Admiral's Club.

Maine's Sweet Spot

Story by Nif Leder; Photos courtesy Camden Harbour Inn

Things are heating up in Maine now that same-sex marriage is legal, so keep it in mind on your list of places to stay and play.

About two hours up the road from Portland, Maine's largest city, you’ll find Camden, a quaint port city that the state calls, "The Jewel of the Maine Coast." The area's peaks and valleys create a unique, beautiful landscape perfect for getting outdoors and doing some hiking and kayaking. Of course, there's nothing wrong with taking it slow, steady and relaxing by simply cruising around town by bike.

Composed of only about 5,000 residents, Camden has the cross-over appeal of being both an artist and farmer community. This also means that camping is decidedly not the only accommodations option. One place to shack up in style is the Camden Harbour Inn, which is owned, designed and maintained by a gay couple originally from the Netherlands who haved earned their inn a Four Diamond rating from AAA and  inclusion in National Geographic’s "129 Hotels We Love" and The New York Post’s "100 Best Summer Destinations."

The Inn's restaurant, Natalie's, dishes up French cuisine with a free side of sweeping views, so take in the sunset while indulging on oysters, herb encrusted lamb, or a classic local lobster dish with brown butter. Yum!