July 1, 2009 /
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Gays & lesbians have not just created entire gayborhoods in the world’s best cities. They have created their own beaches, smack in the middle of those urban enclaves. Which is particularly handy in tough economic times like these–you can simply pack the sunscreen & water bottles, and wander a few blocks to the beach haven in the middle of cement monstrosities. Of course these “beaches” are usually just small stretches of weeds in a park taken over by speedo-clad gay men, but you get the point. There’s no better way to spend an afternoon. So we rounded up a sampling of such urban spaces for your enjoyment as you prepare for the holiday weekend.
The city of London was creative enough to make its version of the gay beach–Hampstead Heath Ponds (which allows nude sunbathing)–a centerpiece of its marketing to gay tourists with a funny video.
photo by epaul-07
New York’s Central Park has plenty of gay cruising in the brambles. But if you are looking for a beach, check out sheep’s meadow, near the center of the vast urban park. Our friends at Popnography captured this group of frisky, camera-friendly guys there on a summer day:
San Francisco’s Dolores Park, just a short walk down the hill from the Castro, is famous for the gay beach in the southwest quadrant, which of course boasts the best view and is also home to the annual “hunky jesus” contest:
Then there is Chicago’s Hollywood Beach, which is actually on the lake. So there’s a real beach, not to mention plenty of gay boys sunning, socializing and just plain showing off on the southside near Andersonville, which they long ago colonized as their own. Sundays tend to be the best days to hang out there, but any warm summer day will do.
photo by albany_tim
Washington, D.C.’s P Street Beach in at the start of the vast Rock Creek Park is a lush green oasis that abuts the end of the heavily gay block of P Street, lined with gay bars, cafes and eateries. The park has a long tradition of cruising (be wary of the park rangers) but in the daytime it’s a great place to sun, meet guys, and watch the nearby volleyballers before heading back to P Street proper (or 17 Street) for a night out on the town.
Filed Under:
London - New York - San Francisco - Washington DC
July 1, 2009 /
No CommentsAs summer settles in, our thoughts turn to those weekend beach escapes. And, if Provincetown is your beach getaway, this video probably rings waaayyy too true.
Enjoy this NSFW video (sung to the tune of Downtown) about the how the boys may well ignore you in Beantown but are all over you in [...]
June 26, 2009 /
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It’s not too late to check out one of the hottest New York Pride celebrations, Saturday’s Saint-at-Large Love Ball at the Nokia Theater produced in part by Vance Garrett, who told us all about it in his GayCities “MyPride” interview.
Towleroad came up with this shot from a Times Square preview with some of the performers:
More great pics [...]
June 26, 2009 /
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Jon Mejia is board member of Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), which puts on the city’s annual Pride Parade, held June 28. He talked to GayCities contributor Barbara Wilcox about fun stuff to do in Seattle during pride week–and beyond.
What was your first Pride like?
My first Pride, in Los Angeles, was a revelation of the [...]
June 25, 2009 /
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Lee Decker is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand DJs in San Francisco. His high-energy mix of progressive house, vocal house and tribal sounds have kept many a dance floor raging into the early morning hours. In addition to a weekly spot on Saturday nights at Lookout’s Social Club (one of the hottest events in the [...]
June 24, 2009 /
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Sami Grisafe is quarterback for the 2008 Eastern Conference Champion Chicago Force (of the professional Independent Women’s Football League). Unlike many of the more than 10,000 women who play the full-contact sport–mostly on boys’ youth and small-school teams, but increasingly on all-women’s squads like the IWFL’s–Sami is a veteran, having played for 15 years. Her Force [...]
June 23, 2009 /
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WILL CLARK has been entertaining for the past 15 years in ways most of us can only imagine: first as an actor in XXX films and then later as an MC for hundreds of fundraising events across the country that have brought in nearly $1 million for LGBT non-profits. He created the absurdly popular Bad [...]
June 20, 2009 /
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Gays & lesbians are making their presence known outside the major metropolitan areas, boding well for the marriage equality movement. Robin McGehee is one of those trailblazers. The Fresno, CA, mother of two created the pro-marriage force Meet in the Middle for Equality, which drew thousands to Fresno in May. Her message: bring the fight [...]
June 16, 2009 /
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Chicago bar owner Geno Zaharakis takes an interesting approach when it comes to hosting soon-to-be brides in plastic tiaras and their gaggles of feather boa clad bridesmaids. His Boystown bar, Cocktail, displays a sign as easy to read as the seductive looks that shoot across the small lounge after last call. The message? “No Bachelorette [...]
