Globalaza

PLAY - Gay & Lesbian Clubbing Weekend
01-03-2009
At last, the epicenter of western civilization gets a decent party! It only took 2400 years! Anyway, Rome is trying to find its way out of the Dark Ages. With it firmly established as a center for art, fashion, music, style and food, it has a lot of catching up to do as compared to its other European sisters.

It is so surprising, considering Italy has some of the sexiest men on the Planet Earth. Rome does not have a lively gay nightlife compared to the US, Europe or our Aussie friends down under or spicy Latin boys in South America. Blame the church, conservatism, or the fact they don't want to mess up their clothes. Who knows!? But in 2009, they are pressing forward and I will be there to see it.

The Clubbing Weekend promises to be fun, but from the planning so far is likely to have a few growing pains. But let's be positive and hope for the best.

Gay Pride Montreal
01-03-2009
Montreal Gay Pride is one of the best. It brings in boys from all over Canada, the US, and parts of Europe. In this most French of cities (other than in France) it has a style and sophistication all its own.

I have enjoyed every visit in the summer -- Globalaza does not do sub-zero temperatures! And, Montreal is fantastic then. In late July and August the weather is as hot as the boys.

The Pride festival is most fun in the final weekend, typically the first weekend of August. The main streets are closed to traffic and boys fill the space. It's hot and fun and easy to get lost and have some sexy man find you. The parties are backed, although sometimes a bit hard to find, and the festival on Sunday is NOT TO BE MISSED. It is free, packed with shirtless sexy boys from all races, heights, sizes and levels of fur. Grrr...!!! There also street vendors selling information, clothes, food and trinkets.

The weekend centers around activities in The (Gay) Village but the entire city embraces our gay brothers (and a few sisters) so the entire city is welcoming and open.

Headlining DJs are at the main (gayboy) party on Friday and Sunday. Women take over Saturday night. Offer Nissim, who seems to LOVE Canada is often a favorite, along with other divas and well-known entertainers. Along Rue du St. Catherine, you will find plenty to do and see. Campus, the large bar with a rooftop bar and awkwardly placed jacuzzi, will be full. Eagle Noir will be full and rowdy, and the whole street will be gay and free. Don't forget to get your gear, outfits, passes/tickets and devices are Priape (gay men's clothing store).

Montreal truly has one of the most diverse, entertaining and fun prides in North America. It's hard to get a good buzz in this country but there are enough boys from all over the northern hemisphere that you will have plenty to occupy your time.

Krave
01-03-2009
Krave is oddly the ONLY gay club on the Strip, but it is fun and very typical of Las Vegas: Over the top in flash and glitch, but not much behind the facade. It is a fun time with incredibly attractive dancers, marginally entertaining music, and decent (albeit expensive) drinks.

For the boys visiting Sin City, there is strangely not much "sinning" going on, but it is definitely worth a visit.

This being Vegas, I don't remember how much it costs to get in but you can get passes from Planet Hollywood or call in advance for guest list access.

The club has high ceilings and a somewhat small dancefloor in the center with an elevated walkway with booths surrounding it facing the stage. Performers and dancers are on each side on elevated stages. A lot of video screens flashing random images and scenes add the ambient lighting.

The drinks cost about $8-10 USD, but are decent, although not strong enough to give you a good buzz unless you have had 2 or more. The music is your standard pop divas and a mixture of local talent and popular remixes. Nothing ground-breaking or innovative. After about $50 in drinks for two, you really don't care that much and they like it that way.

The dancers are hot (models, fitness trainers, or performers in other shows) and know what they are doing. They interact with the crowd for tips and dance until their shift is over. They know how to move and take a great photo, but you will get the impression that it's just a gig. But they do look good in those little outfits.

Of course there is a VIP area with its own servers and a velvet rope "guardian" on the far side of the club. I thought that was a bit much, especially since there wasn't too much advantage in what they could see or do. But Vegas ALWAYS has to have an area where people pay more to feel special. To each his own, I guess.

Krave gets my attention because you would think in a town where SO many of the performers are gay, they would have more gay venues. But since SO many of the performers are gay, by the time you are ready to party hard late night, they are ready for bed. It's a fun place and, frankly, most of what "gay Vegas" has to offer, but it wouldn't be that great in other major cities.

You should visit. You will have fun. But like most of what you see in Vegas, it's all a big show.

Krave
01-03-2009
Krave is oddly the ONLY gay club on the Strip, but it is fun and very typical of Las Vegas: Over the top in flash and glitch, but not much behind the facade. It is a fun time with incredibly attractive dancers, marginally entertaining music, and decent (albeit expensive) drinks.

For the boys visiting Sin City, there is strangely not much "sinning" going on, but it is definitely worth a visit.

This being Vegas, I don't remember how much it costs to get in but you can get passes from Planet Hollywood or call in advance for guest list access.

The club has high ceilings and a somewhat small dancefloor in the center with an elevated walkway with booths surrounding it facing the stage. Performers and dancers are on each side on elevated stages. A lot of video screens flashing random images and scenes add the ambient lighting.

The drinks cost about $8-10 USD, but are decent, although not strong enough to give you a good buzz unless you have had 2 or more. The music is your standard pop divas and a mixture of local talent and popular remixes. Nothing ground-breaking or innovative. After about $50 in drinks for two, you really don't care that much and they like it that way.

The dancers are hot (models, fitness trainers, or performers in other shows) and know what they are doing. They interact with the crowd for tips and dance until their shift is over. They know how to move and take a great photo, but you will get the impression that it's just a gig. But they do look good in those little outfits.

Of course there is a VIP area with its own servers and a velvet rope "guardian" on the far side of the club. I thought that was a bit much, especially since there wasn't too much advantage in what they could see or do. But Vegas ALWAYS has to have an area where people pay more to feel special. To each his own, I guess.

Krave gets my attention because you would think in a town where SO many of the performers are gay, they would have more gay venues. But since SO many of the performers are gay, by the time you are ready to party hard late night, they are ready for bed. It's a fun place and, frankly, most of what "gay Vegas" has to offer, but it wouldn't be that great in other major cities.

You should visit. You will have fun. But like most of what you see in Vegas, it's all a big show.

Paco's Ranch
01-03-2009
PacoPaco/Ranch is the place that you go when you want to be with the local gay Mexicans. It is a large place, with multiple levels, and many hidden corners.

Most hotels (particularly the Abbey Hotel) will give you a free pass to visit when you checkin. Otherwise it is $5USD/M$7-8) at the door. On the main floor is the dancefloor which often gives way to the drag shows that occur frequently.

The drag performers are not as polished (in the execution of the outfits, makeup, or lip-synching) as those at Manana or Blue Chairs, and they are in Spanish, but they are fun to watch and the crowd is totally enraptured by them. They are silent and mesmerized. There are two small bars on the main floor for a good stiff drink -- tequila, of course.

Upstairs, along the winding purple colored and mirrored stairwell, is another cave-like dancefloor with a small stage that looked like it was for karoake (a few video monitors hung from the ceiling), but I can't confirm that. It was sparcely crowded with decent house music as opposed to the spanish music on the main level. Further up will be the rooftop bar that has plenty of room and overlooks the street below. It was nice. The music sounded like the same music from the main floor, so spanish will fill your eyes. It was too loud though.

PacoPaco is fun if you don't mind it being for locals by locals. But, this is MEXICO. That's what you came for.

LaNoche
01-03-2009
La Noche was cute and fantastic. It would fit well in any other gay city of the Americas: Miami, New York, DC, BA, Rio, SanFran, Montreal, Toronto. It is a small, intimate, cozy martini bar with a good list of exotic cocktails and tequilas. It is a bit higher style than many other places in PV, and a bit unexpected in its coolness factor.

It is similar to Halo in Washington, DC and Miami or XL in NYC before it closed. Well lit with ambient purples, greens, blue, orange lighting with small tables and benches in the center floor to see and be seen.

There is a very tiny elevated table for a very tiny person to dance and charm the patrons. The dancer there looked like he had just done his legs and abs today at the gym. Very nice!

La Noche is close to the many other bars and clubs in the area. A quick walk around the corner will lead you to PacoPaco/Ranch and Manana, which are both must-dos.

It can get a bit crowded, especially after 11p.m. when the other bars are getting ready for the night. But if dancing the night away is not your thing, a drink at La Noche is still a fun part of a good night.

This bar is a great meeting spot to get a still (if not a bit expensive, $8 USD/M$90) drink before you go dancing or cruising. I was happy with each visit.