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Out in the World
Gay and Lesbian travel destinations, news, reviews and previews The Inside Story newspaper online since 1996. Did you know out of town visitors can plan an entire trip to Queer Toronto using using the Inside Story? We’re not just an online e-newspaper; we’re a complete resource guide, with detailed listings for: Hotels, B&B, Hostels · Restaurents, Bars, Clubs and other places to hang out · Shopping · Daily, Weekly, and Monthly events, Local and National News. We are a top search result, on most major search engines when using key words such as ‘ queer Toronto’, with a growing number of affiliate links with key websites around the world. The Inside Story enewspaper is committed to promoting the excellence within the Queer West Village arts and culture community, with over 500 listings, which are not exclusively gay or lesbian. Don Quixote, editor: insidestory_toronto@yahoo.ca | Parcel Post & Letters: Box 204, Station C - West Toronto ON M6J 3M9. Phone: 9 am to 9 pm.(7x) 416-551-1709 Subscribe to E-Mail Edition The Inside Story Newspaper bringing you only the best of Queer Toronto has to offer. The 1st Asia Pacific Outgames in Melbourne open in 26 days
Registrations for the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames in Melbourne later this month has surged past 1,000, organisers say. The number exceeds registrations for the 1st North American Outgames staged in Canada last year. While a majority of Melbourne Outgames entrants are from Australia, co-president Peter Sagar said there was also a significant number of people travelling to Melbourne from countries such as India, the Philippines, Singapore, Europe, Canada and America. “This is extremely exciting news for all the volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes making these Games happen and it sends out a very strong message to those who still have not registered to get in fast before it’s too late,” Sagar said. Multi-sport tournaments (including Badminton, Dancesport, Field Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Rowing, Run, Swimming, Ten Pin Bowling,Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo), a Cultural component and a Human Rights Conference are planned as part of the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames. There's also a vast number of premier events taking place as part of the Midsumma Festival, which is one of Australia's largest cultural events. This state of the art venue recently hosted water polo and diving for the 12th FINA World Championships and was home to aquatics, squash and other events for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. The venue is Australia's leading sport and recreation facility, and has an Aquatics area that is world-class, Sports Stadiums and dry-court facilities that are amongst the world's best and a number of multi-purpose function areas that will be sure to impress. The Commonwealth Games outdoor pool is a 10 lane, 50 metre pool heated to 27oC for competition swimming events. The Aquatics area also features a 25m lap pool, a spa leisure area, plus a 14 board diving facility. Melbourne and its thriving GLBT community are looking forward to welcoming participants and their friends from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region including New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and many other countries. The pass also benefits those taking part in Melbourne’s Midsumma
Festival, including special ticket prices to performances, events, previews
and exhibitions and VIP access to special events. The 1st Asia Pacific
Outgames will showcase a number of sports from tennis to tenpin bowling.
For more details on the Melbourne Outgames
visit www.melbourneoutgames.org
/ Midsumma Festival www.midsumma.org.au
/ Victoria
& Melbourne Travel Centre Gay ski ciruit opens across North America for 2008
The calendar includes something for skiers of all abilities, from large events that draw thousands – Aspen Gay Ski Week and WinterPride 2008 in Whistler, British Columbia, for example – to more intimate affairs, including Winter Rendezvous XXIV in Stowe, Vt. There’s even an event targeted to black gay skiers with the four-day Winter Explosion 2008 in Upstate New York. “As gay travel has become this expanding market, more and more ski resorts are wanting to host gay ski weeks,” said Chris French, president of Ski Bums. The 450-member group, which organizes social gatherings and trips for gay skiers and snowboarders, is based in New York City, but includes members in Atlanta. French said skiers should look closely at events before deciding where to go to investigate cost, accommodations and events off the slopes. Some ski weeks are more lesbian-friendly and crowd size can range dramatically, from the 4,000 people expected at the Aspen event and 3,000 estimated for WinterPride to the 300 participants at Winter Rendezvous. Ed Salvato, editor-in-chief of Out Traveler magazine, pointed to four ski events the magazine profiled in its Winter 2007 issue: WinterPride, Aspen, Elevation 2008 and Winter Rendezvous. Aspen Gay Ski Week, in its 31st year, is the oldest event of its kind and the city’s chic offerings and resorts make it a favorite year after year. WinterPride started as the party-centric Whistler event 16 years ago, but has matured with a more diverse offering that includes culinary classes, health and wellness symposiums. Elevation, the Mammoth Gay Ski Week, offers the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and is the newbie at just six years old. But it makes an “attitude free” pitch to participants that has helped grow crowds to about 2,000 people. Winter Rendezvous attracts a high number of East Coasters looking for a getaway, while the event has also broadened its somewhat older and bearish crowd to include lesbians and younger gay men. GayWhistler, the year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community, has set the dates for its annual Whistler Gay Ski Week - the annual WinterPRIDE celebration. The annual Gay Ski Week festival has been set for February 3-10, 2008. Due to celebrate its 16th year, the event is now one of the largest and most-renowned gay ski weeks in the world. Building on the successful launch of the revitalised festival in 2007, WinterPRIDE reflects the evolution of Gay Ski week which offers advanced mountain experiences and a full compliment of non ski/snowboard activities. Organizers are planning for 3,200+ attendees for the 2008 WinterPRIDE with the expanded programming designed to appeal to both ski/snowboard enthusiasts and guests who may never have skied or snowboarded.
EGOTOUR - launch of quality gay travel portal
Whether you’re planning a weekend break or your annual holiday,
whether five-star hotels or small, friendly guesthouses are more your
style – we at EGOTOUR are dedicated to providing online booking
of premium, gay-friendly accommodation and tickets, plus up-to-date information
on destinations, events and special locations to gay travellers and their
friends. No matter where you’re headed, EGOTOUR will speed you on
your way. The portal differentiates, because information about global holiday destinations are provided by travel experts and reviewed. Sharing holiday experiences and ideas with like-minded travellers is the basic idea, taking the risk out of choosing the right time and place for a holiday. Commenting on the launch, Christian Rozsenich, EGOTOUR founder, said; "Until now gay travellers who place more value on suitable surroundings than on clichées had very few reliable sources of holiday information on the internet. The portal closes this gap in supply of information and booking services. By allowing to review and comment on own experiences, it can easily find out what the hotels, bars and clubs are really like". More infos and booking: www.egotour.eu EGOTOUR-founder is Christian Rozsenich, 42, highly experienced in online travel. The company is based in Cologne, Germany. Also Published: Gaiety Magazine By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario - info@bryendunn.com History, Politics, and Personalities
As a fitting tribute to Axel and his life partner Eigil, together for nearly 40 years already, they became the first same-sex couple in the world to be legally married under the new Danish Partnership Law. In 1989 they married in Copenhagen along with 10 other couples. The previous 32 years they had lived under their common partnership name Axgil, first used while in prison for their gay rights activism. Again, both Norway and Sweden soon followed with their own partnership laws in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Sweden leads the way in Europe, and likely the world, with its legislation protecting GLBT rights, including anti-discrimination laws and partnership registration. The legal age of consent of 15 is equal for lesbian, gay and heterosexual individuals. In June 2002, a law was passed allowing same sex couples the same adoption rights as heterosexuals. As well, cohabiting gay couples registered in a legal partnership can now apply for the right to adopt children within Sweden and abroad. The region is also distinguished for its current and past connections to Royalty, and several world renowned personalities. Having existed for more than 1000 years, the Danish Monarchy is one of the oldest in the world. HM The Queen and HRH The Prince Consort currently reside at various royal palaces, which are historically the property of the Royal House. The Royal Collections belong to or are linked to HM The Queen, and include among other things the Crown Jewels, the Royal Stables and Coaches, the Tapestries at Christiansborg Palace and HM The Queen’s Reference Library. All are open to the general public for viewing. Frederiksborg Castle is situated in the centre of Hillerod surrounded by the Frederiksborg Castle Gardens, all originally built in the Dutch Renaissance style at the beginning of the 17th century. Kronborg Castle in Elsinore is one of northern Europe's most important Renaissance castles, known all over the world from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Rosenborg Castle houses the Royal Danish Collections of interiors, portraits, handicrafts, and tapestries, while the Treasury houses the well-guarded Crown Jewels. Christiansborg Palace is primarily the home of the Danish Parliament, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Supreme Court. The prominent Danish author H.C. Andersen (1805-1875) is often portrayed in biographies as being either homosexual or bisexual. He completed nearly 190 writings during his lifetime with his most notable piece of work, The Little Mermaid (1836), still entertaining readers for centuries. The world-famous Little Mermaid statue is still one of the most visited landmarks in Denmark. His grave is located within Copenhagen city limits at the Assistens Cemetery (Section P, Number 32). It’s quite easy to find with well marked sign posts to guide the way. Sweden’s legendary icon Greta Garbo (1905-1990) grew up in the Sodermalm neighbourhood now recognized as the gay area of Stockholm. Garbo was the recipient of a 1954 Honorary Oscar for her “unforgettable screen performances”, was ranked as one of the top female performers of all time by the American Film Institute, and was named “the most beautiful woman who ever lived” by the Guinness Book of World Records. She was born in Stockholm, and undertook her acting studies at the prestigious Royal Dramatic Theatre. As with many Hollywood stars of the time, she reportedly had several lesbian and bisexual lovers, including actress Louise Brooks and socialite Mercedes de Acosta. She also had an on-and-off affair with British photographer Cecil Beaton, a known homosexual, and lusted after her drama school sweetheart, Mimi Pollack. She’s also noted to have been linked romantically to Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, and Joan Crawford. Garbo’s biographer Barry Paris notes that she was, “technically bisexual, predominately lesbian, and increasing asexual as the years went by”. She died in New York City in 1990 at the age of 84, and her ashes are buried in Stockholm at the Skogskyrkogarden Cemetery.
Stockholm has a broad range of gay and gay friendly establishments including the Cattelin Restaurant and Club (9 Storkyrkobriken), Roxy Restaurant and Bar (6 Nytorget), and the legendary Gay Sunday Nights on the old steamer Patricia, near Slussen (Stadsgårdskajen 152). Patrons can party the night away on the water, complete with a full dinner menu, three floors of bars, and a large disco. However, the city offers a lot more than a bar and nightclub scene. The capital city is hip to the latest trends in design and culture, great food, top entertainment and their gay history. Quite a few other popular gay restaurants and cafes can be found in the Old Town section. Europride 2008 will take place in Stockholm to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Pride event ever held in the city, which also happened to coincide with Europride 1998. Prior to this, Copenhagen was also host to Europride in 1996 where it had wide support from city leaders and actually ended up with a financial surplus, something not often seen events of this magnitude. Europride is an international event, first established in London in 1992, that is hosted by a different European city each year, typically in conjunction with an already established Pride event. There are plenty of parties, cultural activities, seminars and conferences, and of course the traditional Pride Parade. Stockholm Pride has grown to become one of Stockholm's largest annual festivals and also the largest Pride celebrations in Scandinavia. Some of the more gay-friendly hotels in Stockholm are boutique accommodations such as the nautical-themed Victory Hotel in the Old Town, the stylish Berns Hotel, The Rival (owned by Benny Andersson of ABBA fame), the trendy Clarion Hotel, and the sleek Nordic Light Hotel, once voted “The World’s Sexiest Hotel” by British Elle magazine. There’s also the more contemporary Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, in the heart of the historical district for those seeking a majestic experience. Malmo – The Connected City The Oresend Bridge was opened July 1st, 2000 and now links Denmark and Sweden together for the first time since the Ice Age. The new road and rail project covers 17km between Malmo and Copenhagen, and now physically links Sweden with the rest of Western Europe in about 10 minutes. It took four years to build, and is the second longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,624 metres. The route between the two cities also passes through the world's longest submerged tunnel. The bridge offers the possibility of increased cultural, educational and economic links between Malmo and Copenhagen. In the recent past, unemployment has been higher in Malmo than Copenhagen. However, with the existence of the bridge, it is now possible to live in one city while working in the other. Frequent train service leaves throughout the day and night and takes 35 minutes from city centre to city centre. Malmo, Sweden’s third largest city, lies on the southern tip of Sweden and has quite a liberal gay presence. Only a few minutes walk from the central train station is the “main square” Stortorget and the “little square” Lilla Torg, famous for its outdoor patios in the summertime and a perfect starting point from which to discover the old town encircled by the city’s canals. The town centre has plenty of shopping, entertainment and over 300 cafés, bars and restaurants. Malmohus, a fifteenth century castle located in the beautiful public Kungsparken gardens, is certainly worth a visit. Today the western harbour has been is being redeveloped into a complex of luxury, eco-friendly apartments with dramatic views of the Oresund Strait. Off the usual tourist trail, this site is well worth a wander if only for its extraordinarily eclectic collection of buildings. There were 21 architects from around the world commissioned to build apartments of various styles, with residents being provided with the use of electric cars for short journeys within the complex. There are several gay and gay-friendly establishments in the city, including Café Zenit, a political café with a LGBT-friendly atmosphere opposite Malmohus Castle, Café Banjo (22 Falsterbogatan), a gay-owned restaurant serving local specialties, and the trendy Gozzip Restaurant and Bar (10 Skomakaregatan) offering a fine dining experience in a mixed-crowd environment. For the late-night experience, there’s Wonk at Club Deep (20 Amiralsgatan), a multi-level entertainment extravaganza with performances, international DJ’s and a mixed clientele. One of the trendier hotels in town is Master Johan (13 Master Johansgatan), a beautiful boutique-style hotel located just off the Lilla Torg, with spacious rooms and romantic candle-lit bathrooms. The annual Rainbow Festival is held in various parts of the city each
September, and attracts visitors from across Sweden and neighbouring Denmark.
It’s a combination of gay-themed parties, films and cultural events.
The Malmo Festival is another annual free outdoor event held in August,
offering more than 250 live music performances, a wide range of international
delicacies, cultural events, an amusement park, and more. Copenhagen is a city for the people - pedestrian and bike friendly, plenty of outdoor cafes, and an abundance of canals and green space. The Christianshavn district, just southeast of the inner city, is primarily located on an artificial island. There’s a significant population living in the “Free City of Christiania”, a partially self-governing neighbourhood which established semi-legal status in 1971 as an independent community in an area of abandoned military barracks. The initial band of radicals artists and intellectuals set up residence here as an alternative to mainstream culture, and claimed it as a kind of independent state within Denmark with its own rules and regulations. Today it is one of Copenhagen's most popular attractions, with more than one million tourists visiting each year. However, there’s been recent talk within the government to take back the land for commercial development. Copenhagen is a relatively level city that makes it perfect for cycling, with bike lanes virtually everywhere, well marked and separated from vehicle traffic, and often with their own traffic signals. There’s also a bike loan program whereby anyone can borrow a bike for a day by making a small deposit that is fully refunded when the bike is returned. It’s not a huge sprawling metropolis, which makes finding your way around simple and convenient. Everything is pretty much within walking (or biking) distance, and there’s also a great transit and rail system that can get one to the further reaches of the city and beyond. One cannot visit Denmark without an afternoon dessert stop at La Glace, the oldest Confectionar of Copenhagen, founded in 1870. This place swarms with tourists and locals almost all day long, each seeking a jolt of delectable delights. It’s Danish pastry at its best. As well, a stop at the world-famous Tivoli is a must for visitors of all ages. It’s often described as being a new adventure every day. October 2006 was celebrated with the first ever month-long Halloween themed displays, rides and entertainment. This follows in the footsteps of the popular annual Christmas themed tradition that takes place during the month of December. Unlike other theme parks, there are a plethora of fine dining options available, and a wonderful treed area secluded from the crowds, where one can sit back relax and enjoy some peacefulness amongst the festivities. Construction of a new themed hotel on the property is set to begin soon, with completion scheduled for 2010. Scandinavians are known worldwide for their unique modern styled furnishing, house wares and gadgetry. The sleek design and functionality make it perfect for any fashionable environment, and it can be found throughout the region in hotels, restaurants, bars and individual homes. A good day trip is a visit to The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, located about an hour outside of Copenhagen on the North Zealand coast, and offers a huge collection of both Scandinavian and international art and design. The month of May brings the Copenhagen Architecture and Design Days to the city. The Absolut Icebar Copenhagen is expected to open during the spring of 2007 where the temperature will be kept at a constant minus 5 degrees Celsius throughout the year, and the walls, bar, art, furniture and even the glasses will be made of crystal clear ice. For a more alternative perspective to the city, try the popular live music venue Rust (8 Guldbergsgade), located just outside of the downtown core, or Culture Box (54 Kronprinsesse Gade) offering an eclectic mix of non-commercial films, performances, and music, depending on the night. Copenhagen Distortion is the biggest annual clubbing and nightlife event of the year lasting 5 days and nights, starting on the Wednesday before the first Sunday in June. Copenhagen Music Week is set to become a vibrant platform in the Danish and international music scene. Also be sure to check out Museum Erotica for a tantalizing historical walk through all things naughty, with a recently added gay section. The queer activities of the annual summer solstice celebrations known as St. Hans, take place in June on the island of Amager with a beach party, bonfires and plenty of food and music. The Queer Festival happened in July 2006 for the first time as an avenue to explore queer culture, politics and activism. The program included workshops, seminars, performances, and an array of music and parties. It’s a festival for anybody with a queer perspective regardless of gender or sexuality. Then there’s Copenhagen Pride happening August 18th to 26th, 2007 that is seemingly more for the tourists and local heterosexuals nowadays, not unlike many other Pride’s in Europe and North America. The annual Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes place in October and has become a fixture of cultural life, not only attracting the gay and lesbian subculture but also an increasingly mainstream audience, as well as the city's media, cultural institutions and businesses. The first gay bar, Centralhjornet, opened over 80 years ago, and is still operating today along with a many other newer cafes & bars. There are plenty of interesting places to grab a bite and a drink before heading out on the town. The Jailhouse Restaurant and Bar (12 Studiestræde) mimics the interior of a prison, with the wait staff appropriately dressed in uniform attire. The food is well presented and quite tasteful, and the bar attracts an assortment of locals. Oscar Bar and Café (77 Radhuspladsen) is situated just off the town square and is quite a popular spot for after-work cocktails or pre-clubbing drinks. One of the newest dance bars is Boiz (12 Magstræde) located within a multiplex building that is also home to art studios, cafes, a theatre and a live music club. It’s just another example of how integrated the GLBT culture is with the mainstream. Copenhagen is proud to be hosting the second edition of the Outgames, taking place from August 1st to 8th, 2009 in conjunction with Copenhagen’s Pride Festival. This event will build upon the legacy started at the 1st Outgames held in Montreal in 2006. The week-long affair will feature a multi-sport event, a cultural program to celebrate LGBT culture, and a human rights conference. There are approximately 15,000 participants expected, and between 100,000 and 200,000 tourists anticipated to visit during this time period. This event will also act as a stepping stone to obtaining the 2020 Olympics. Accommodations in Copenhagen are plenty, with several boutique gay-friendly hotels recently added to the scope of the mix. The Square Hotel is situated right at City Hall Square blocks from the train station, Tivoli and the longest pedestrian street in Europe. Its minimalist look begins in the lobby with the combined reception/bar area that is tastefully punctuated with Danish designer Arne Jacobsen’s famous red circular chair, “The Egg”. The 268 rooms are stylishly crafted, with many of the executive rooms having fantastic views overlooking the city. On the other side of town, along the popular Nyhavn canal and across from the marvelous new Opera House, is The Front Hotel. The 133 rooms are each designed with the modern traveller in mind, fully equipped with wireless internet, flat-screen televisions and stylish amenities. Enjoy a quiet dinner at the hotel restaurant followed by a relaxing evening at the bar, which is quite popular with locals on weekends. In the summer of 2007 Denmark's first floating hotel, Copenhagen Living, will open. It will be an exquisitely designed 12-room hotel each uniquely decorated by some of Denmark's most successful young artists and arranged with a combination of specially designed furniture. As well, the Bella Centre is currently building an 800 room 4-star hotel that will be the largest in the Nordic region. An interesting concept for visitors to the city is Meet Gay Copenhagen, where one can “Dine with the Danes”, whereby your hosts will prepare a dinner for you while you have the opportunity to learn more about a local’s view on politics, art and what’s worth visiting in the city. This is just another way that the Scandinavian community welcomes you to their world. Tell Me More QX (www.qx.se/english)
offers both a print and online version of what’s happening in Scandinavian
GLBT circles. It’s distributed free throughout Stockholm, Malmo and Copenhagen. Copenhagen Outgames 2009, www.copenhagen2009.org Stockholm Nordic Light Hotel, www.nordiclighthotel.se Malmo Wonk, www.wonk.se |
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