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. 

Helsinki by Night

When summer inches north in June to Finland, put sleigh-bells, reindeer and naked ice swimming out of your mind. When the Nordic summer sun rises it stays out exhilaratingly late, a formula Finns seem to mimic with their nightlife.

Long hours of daylight notwithstanding, pack a raincoat! And, if you are in Helsinki, make sure it is stylish. The seaside capital, long a cozy alternative to neighboring, jet set Stockholm, is shedding its  famously shy exterior and seeking deserved attention for its top notch design industry, chic hotels and lounges, and unpretentious -- but surprisingly edgy -- art.

 Located in the heart of the city’s Design District, the Klaus K hotel (where I've been staying this past weekend) is a good example of this new Finnish face. Exceedingly hip but pleasantly friendly, this design hotel includes two restaurants -- one Italian (Toscanini) and one more traditionally Finnish (Ilmatar) -- alongside Ahjo, a cool, all-white lounge with a streetside terrace and an intimate, similarly high-design club in back.

Late into Saturday night, well-heeled young Finns in designer suits and dresses poured out of taxis and  into Ahjo's live, pounding house. Thankfully, I couldn't hear a thing from my room when I, too, finally called it a night.

A small city, it still helps to stay near Helsinki's center and -- if you're going to frequent the gay nightlife -- as close to the Design District as possible. Around the corner from three of the city's most popular gay spots, Klaus K is hard to beat for this.

Two blocks south of the hotel is Hugo's Room , Helsinki's newest gay lounge. Impeccably cool -- although somewhat pricey -- Hugo's Room is great for dressing up, claiming a window-side booth and watching the busy street outside.

Crowded by 10pm (especially on weekends), folks tend to drift out of Hugo's Room by midnight, either  going directly across the street to Don't Tell Mama -- DTM for short -- or stopping by Hercules first, a dance club one block north of the Klaus K hotel. None of these venues charge a cover, but entry is supposedly restricted by age -- 20 at DTM, 22 at Hugo's Room and 24 at Hercules. Local Finns, however assure me that no reasonably-aged young man is denied entry.

By 1 am, the crowd really picks up at Hercules, a fun and well laid-out club that spins roaring pop remixes and dance tracks. There's a spacious back lounge where conversations can actually be heard, too. Until recently, when the city closed them all, Hercules maintained an appreciated dark room, but its absence hasn't dampened the club's popularity or the mixed patrons' forwardness!

DTM is Helsinki's most iconic gay place. A friendly café with an outdoor patio by day, a bar by evening, and a busy club later on, DTM is more or less open 24 hours a day. Locals grumble a bit that it's cool factor, multiple dance floors and good music have begun drawing a sizeable straight population, but all agree that it is still the place to be seen, to bring your female friends, to dance all night, or just to have a quiet afternoon coffee.

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.

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.

Summertime Events in San Francisco

Story by Nif Leder
Photo: Getty

Since Gavin Newsom is already taken and Pride madness is behind us, check out these other hotties that San Francisco has to offer this summer. All of these events are heterofriendly, so don’t be afraid to bring straight friends to support the community. There is a mix of opportunities to learn history and celebrate from the Castro district to the Capital.

Gus Presents Sundance at the Russian River
August 21-23
Trip out at the gay Woodstock of dance events.

Beach Blanket Babylon Gay Night
September 4
The longest running music revue in theater history pays homage to a huge percentage of its supporters as part of their 35 year anniversary.

Desperate Divas Calendar Competition
September 25
The competition will be fierce between local drag queens to see who makes the cover.

Folsom Street Fair
September 27
From live entertainment to food it’s all fun at the largest street fair of its kind. All types of gay lifestyles are welcome and will be represented, from leather to fetishes.

Crusin’ the Castro Tours
Year-round
Kathy Amendola has owned and operated these cultural walking tours through the district since 1989. Locations relevant to Harvey Milk’s history recently added for a fresh perspective.

Hayes Valley Follies
Every Saturday
Let Miss Galilea school you on the ABC’s of what it means to dress drag. The show starts at 10PM and there is no cover.

Pridewatch: Manchester

Photos Courtesy of Manchester Pride
Story by Joseph Alexiou

Across the Atlantic sea, as they say, is Manchester, the second city of England. Well known for its culture and vibrant nightlife, if you missed London Pride but still want to party with the rude boys, then you would do well to make it over there the weekend of August 28 for Manchester Pride.

And if that isn't enough to get your tweed vests out of the cedar closet, we have one word for you: Bananarama. That's right, the legendary 80's sensation will perform in the beginning of Pride Weekend.

But you have a whole week to travel, the festivities actually begin on Monday August 24 and continue on leading up to "The Big Weekend," as the Mancunians refer to the weekend of the parade. Additionally, our own Editor-in-Chief, Ed Salvato will be one of the specially invited attendees, a great opportunity to meet our resident travel expert first-hand! Tickets to the festival are £12.50 ($21) and can be purchased at www.manchesterpride.com/tickets (VIP tickets, which include three free drinks a day, exclusive views of the Main Stage and a luxury goody bag, are available on the website or by calling +44-1-612-367-474).

Some interesting pre-weekend happenings: the Lesbian and Gay Film Season at Cornerhouse; a Pride Gallery Tour; "Burlesque and drag king workshops and honest disucssions about sex" at Secrets of the Lady Garden; a pre-weekend canal bank run followed by eat and drinks; and short films dealing with trans issues by MORF and Transforum Manchester.

Once the Big Weekend rolls around, say goodbye to your Cruel Summer by dancing to Bananarama's Opening Ceremony show on Friday August 28. Other top festival acts include The Whip, The Blow Wave, and the newest electro-pop diva to hit the charts, Little Boots (performing Saturday—no need to upstage Bananarama!).

The parade itself is on Saturday, August 29 from 1-3 p.m. at the city centre (that's how they spell it in England!). You can bet your tuppence on some excellent color, sexy folks of all genders and orientiations, and all of the general parade insanity, including the undoubtably sexy Greater Manchester Fire Brigade—with any luck they'll require hosing down from the late-August heat.

After the parade, the Lifestyle Expo and Market Area will continue on through Monday, with lots of cute guys and gals hawking their products while heavily socializing. There's also the Sackville Gardens stage, which will be chock full of local bands and good old Manchester entertainment—local bands will play during the Sparkle space event on Saturday.

Partygoers will be happy with the list of great gay nightspots in the festival brochure—Manchester has a vibrant gay bar and club scene that will not disappoint those interested in late night revelry.

The celebrations culminate on Monday evening with the heavily attended candlelit George House Trust Vigil at 9 p.m. An AIDS memorial, quiet reflection in the idyllic Sackville Gardens is the "spiritual heart of the Macnchester Pride festival." Organizers describe the atmosphere as "magical and moving."

Looking for lodging? The Macdonal Manchester Hotel and Spa is a great 4-star property and is the official Manchester Pride partner, but there are a variety of great suggestions on the event website.

Kings of San Francisco Drag

Photo Courtesy DragStrip Productions
Story by Joseph Alexiou

Queer travelers need practically no excuse to visit the Bay Area, but fans of the art of drag will be happy to know about the 14th Annual San Francisco Drag King Contest, hosted by DragStrip Productions.

This year's "Surf Saga-Themed" event takes place on August 15 at  DNA Lounge, and the San Francisco Bay Times has called this yearly event as "Sexy, campy, draglicious, professionally executed, and full of talent."

This year's featured performers include 2008 Solo King winner Papa Don Preach, 2008 reigning troup Fella-Fem, special guests Arty Fishal, Dee Dee Luxe, and the Psychobilly Punk Band.

The judges will rate everything from studliness to sex appeal and fashion sense—this year's panel will include previous titleholders Rusty Hips and Jay Walker, as well as SF scene celebrities Anna Conda (hostess of Charlie Horse at the Cinch, Herr-a-Chick, and Simone DeLaGetto (of Harlem Shake Burlesque).

Door open at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at DNA Lounge—the show will benefit P.A.W.S., a volunteer organization that provides companion animals to people with debilitating diseases. Dress code looks are as follows: Drag of all kinds (faux, king, and queen), Fetish, formal, High Femme, Surfer (and Surfette), and Bikini Beach Babe (of all time periods) and/or "Festive."

For more info call 415-282-2636 or visit sfdragkingcontest.com