Chi Chi has directed many award-winning popular gay porn movies and runs Channel 1 Releasing. Chi Chi is one of the most recognized personalities in the industry directing for multiple studios as well as his own. He has received numerous awards for his films: “Bolt,” “The Back Row,” and the 2006 GAYVN Best Picture Award for “Wrong Side Of The Tracks.” Over the years, he’s discovered stars like Joey Stefano, Alex Stone, Johnny Hazzard, and Zak Spears. Now, Chi Chi is DJing at bars and clubs around the globe and spends his time running his company and performing live around the world at safe sex benefits and nightclubs.

Chi Chi is heading to New Orleans for this year’s Southern Decadence, so we caught up with him by email to learn about his latest project, his new club night in LA and why you should plan your trip to Southern Decadence.

Thanks for joining us, what are you working on these days?
I just released my biggest movie ever, “Link: The Evolution.� I’m now working on finding a new star for my next project “Powertool 3�.

We hear you are DJing at your own club night “Dirty Deeds” at Fubar in LA?
Well, it’s a year old and really fun…and dirty. Very underground and sleazy. Lots of sexy boys and all kinds of music – everything from rock to pop to punk.

When you aren’t going out to your own club nights, where do you go?
To bed!!!!….LOL.

“The gays take over Bourbon Street.”

You have long been associated with Southern Decadence in New Orleans, what keeps you coming back?
This will be my 10-year anniversary doing Southern Decadence. I love the city, I love the people and I love the food!

How would you describe New Orleans’ gay scene to a first time visitor?
Hot, sweaty and fun, fun, fun no hang ups.

So what’s the deal with Southern Decadence?
Think, gay Mardi Gras. The gays take over Bourbon Street. Everyone should go and support this great city and have lots of fun!

Do you have a favorite restaurant there?
I love a good catfish sandwich from this one particular corner market…I can’t remember the name of the place, but I know how to find it.

Well, I guess we’ll have to follow you there. Is there anything that you never miss when you get to New Orleans?
Well, I never miss the Corner Pocket in the French Quarter and you must never miss the Big Dick Contest at the Bourbon Pub that I host on Thursday night. This year, I will be DJIng on Friday afternoon at the Pub so come on by and say “Hiâ€?…you don’t want to miss me!

What is the biggest misconception you think people have about New Orleans?
That it’s all about booze and getting fucked up. It is SO fun to shop in the quirky little shops and eat the amazing foods. I bought my mother and sister some great Christmas gifts while I was there last year.

It seems like your job has you traveling a lot these days, does it wear you out?
I am worn out while writing this to you….LOL…yes, but I love it.

You do gigs in a lot of bars & clubs, and I’m sure you go out on your own as well, do you have a favorite one?
You know, I love so many that it would be hard to answer. I really love the dive bars like Fubar in L.A. and the Rawhide in N.O. They get down and dirty and that’s what I like.

Someone who travels as much as you has to have some amazing travel tips, can you share a few?
Get to the airport early – that is my number 1 tip. My friends think I am crazy that I want to get to the airport hours early, but trust…it won’t fail you…OH and pick up a copy of OK and Hello Magazine from the UK…good reading.

Thanks so much for your time, before we go, tell us your your top 5 restaurants or bars in New Orleans…

1. The Gumbo Shop
2. Red Fish Grill
3. The Bourbon Pub
4. The Corner Pocket
5. And that market that I can’t remember…LOL

Thanks Chi Chi, we’ll see you in New Orleans!

• Visit our Gay New Orleans Guide (Bars, Hotels, Restaurants)
• Check out Chi Chi’s profile
• Visit ChiChiLaRue.com

Besides being a B&B owner, he is the author of Seventy Times Seven, a novel loosely based on his years as a religious brother in the Catholic Church. During that time, Sal taught at an all-boys high school and ministered to people with AIDS, working alongside Father Mychal Judge, the New York City fire chaplain who died in the World Trade Center attacks. Sapienza’s essay on his experiences with Father Judge will be included in the book, Queer Catholic Anthology, which will be out later this year. He has written several cover stories for The Gay and Lesbian Times and writes a pop culture column for ‘The Sentinel’ newspaper. Sal has also appeared in several films, including Runaway Jury, Mr. 3000, and A Love Song for Bobby Long.

So Sal, tell us a little about Saugatuck…
Saugatuck is known as the “Art Coast of Michigan,” and the best way to describe it is as a small, charming lake town with lots of art galleries, boutique shops, antique stores, fine dining and spectacular beaches. People come to Saugatuck to de-stress. It really has a calming effect on people. The area is quiet, safe, laid back and comfortable. It’s a peaceful way of life where you can be who you are.

Some of our readers mentioned that it’s not really like the Provincetown of the midwest, but just a nice (mostly straight) town that’s also gay popular.
Well, it’s certainly not as large as Provincetown, but I think the comparison is still fair. Saugatuck is like a small Cape town with lots of trees, water views, sand dunes, quaint older buildings and much history. As for the gay scene, there is really only one gay bar in the area at the Dunes Resort, which is the largest gay and lesbian resort in the Midwest. Although the gay scene may not be large, Saugatuck has a very high gay population. My partner and I are one of six gay/lesbian couples on our block alone! So, while there’s not a wild, circuit party scene, the gay presence is strongly felt here. And, every summer, Saugatuck is also home to the annual Gay Family Week, which welcomes gay and lesbian parents and their children from all over the country.

What should I do if I’m coming for the weekend?
There really is something for everyone. There’s Oval Beach, which has been ranked as one of the top 25 beaches in the world by Conde Nast. There’s the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, where the likes of Michael Feinstein and Bea Arthur have appeared in recent years and which is also the home of Mason Street Warehouse, an upscale theatre which has brought regional productions of shows like ‘Altar Boyz’ and ‘Cabaret’ to town. And, of course, there are so many unique boutique stores, art galleries and antiquing for those who love to shop.

Do you live in Saugatuck full time or is it a vacation getaway for you?
Saugatuck has traditionally been a summer resort community, but in recent years, more and more people are living here year round. My partner and I own a bed and breakfast, and we stay open all year long, as do a large number of the shops and restaurants. I love all the seasons here.

When is the best time to go there?
Most people come here in the summer to enjoy the great temperatures, the beaches and Lake Michigan. We rarely have to run the air conditioner in the summer months, as it stays quite cool here by the lake. However, the fall is also a very popular time to come to watch the leaves changing and to enjoy the fall foliage. Although things slow down quite considerably in the winter, it’s still a great time to come to Saugatuck. There’s cross-country skiing and the town sparkles with lights for the holiday season.

If I were visiting where would you suggest that I stay?
Well, I have to be a little biased here, as I’d highly recommend our bed and breakfast, Beechwood Manor Inn. All of our guestrooms have digital cable TV, CD players, WiFi and their own private baths. Our guests also love that they are within walking distance of all the shops, restaurants and theatre in Downtown Saugatuck. We also have a three-bedroom cottage for couples traveling together or people coming with children or small pets. In Douglas, there’s the brand new Roxie, a boutique hotel run by women, for women, and, of course, there’s the Dunes Resort, which offers a range of accommodations from motel-type rooms for the budget conscious to spacious cottages.

Saugatuck seems like a really great place, thanks for telling us about it!
You’re welcome. Saugatuck/Douglas is such a welcoming place, where you can be just as you are. It’s resort-life at its best. Wake up each morning to the sounds of birds chirping, spend the day shopping or at the beach, take an afternoon nap in an outdoor hammock, then have a wonderful dinner and maybe take in some live music. Many people who come here to visit for a weekend, end up looking at real estate, which in itself is a testament to how easy it is to fall in love with the area. I’m here to stay.

• See Salvatore’s Profile and all of his reviews
• Our gay Saugatuck/Douglas guide: hotels, restaurants, bars
• Salvatore’s Seventy times Seven Book Website

Just over an hour outside New York City you’ll find the closest thing to an all gay summer camp, a car-free strip of barrier island called Fire Island. While there are many other towns on the island, two adjoining communities, Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, and make up one of the most memorable gay summer getaways you’ll ever have. The only way to get here is by ferry boat and once you are here, prepare to walk to your final destination on the miles of boardwalks that serve as the main streets of “The Island”. “The Pines” and “The Grove” each has its own unique vibe, but wherever you visit, you are bound to want to stay longer than you planned.

Michael Lucas, gay porn producer and star, is a long time resident of Fire Island Pines, and has shot numerous films here including his hot Fire Island Cruising series. This year he directed and starred in “Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita” which took home 14 GAYVN awards (the gay porn oscars). He’s currently working on “The Intern” starring Ben Andrews (and Michael himself). He also writes his own, sometimes controversial, blog at lucasblog.com.

As one of Fire Island’s most recognized residents, we thought he’d be perfect to introduce you to the charms of this private spot on the Atlantic Ocean. Lucky for us, Michael wasn’t shy sharing his opinions.

How would you describe Fire Island to a first time visitor?

adamsofen/ flickr

Fire Island is a beautiful island with no cars or bicycles allowed. All transportation is done by walking. It’s very narrow, you can cross from bay to ocean in ten minutes. The nature is divine with a lot of wild animals, especially deer walking around. It’s not a place where you can go for a day without knowing anyone. Thank god it’s not a tourist-friendly place. You will not find any public showers, bathrooms, etc., and you cannot sleep on the beach, the police will chase you off immediately. You have to know a friend or stay in a hotel. For a very basic room you should expect to pay $500 or more depending on the weekend.

The Pines is a more upscale community. Much more expensive and much more established. Many famous gay men own houses there from TV personalities to fashion designers.

Cherry Grove is an older community, with many lesbians. It’s a very diverse community, although its not as rich as the Pines, it’s a very fun and friendly place.

Walk us through your typical weekend when you head out to the Pines starting from the city – how do you get there, is the trip part of the fun? What do you do when you first get there?

You can either have a relaxing time or you can party your brain out

There are several ways to get there, either by car or by train. Because I have a big dog—a Great Pyrannes—I usually take a car, but the train is actually fun. You always meet up with a lot of friends on the train especially if you go on a Friday or Saturday. So then, if you take a train, you take a taxi from your apartment to Penn Station, then the train for about 1.5 hours to Sayvile, then a minibus for 5 minutes to the ferry station. The ferry usually leaves every hour and usually takes about 20 minutes. Then you walk to your house from the ferry stop. By the time I get there I am very hungry and all I want to do is eat.

Ok, you arrive hungry, are there restaurants you’d recommend?
I don’t think there are even five restaurants on the Pines! The only ones I go to are the Blue Whale and the Pines Bistro and Pizza. The food is good, but always remember not to go there when you are starving because it always takes time for the food to arrive.

If a friend from out of town was coming to the Island for a weekend, what would you do for the weekend?

Low Tea
koitz/flickr

You mean if he is coming to my house in the Pines? Well I would definitely make him a great breakfast/brunch. Then I’m sure he would be off to the beach (I don’t do the beach). Then we will probably hang out around the house or by the pool. Around six o’clock we will go to Low Tea where hundreds of gay guys are drinking in the open area by the bay. Everyone in the Pines is there. There are also a lot of private parties going on in different houses at all times of the day, which have anything from 20-1000 people.

Then around 8:30 everyone moves to the High Tea, then around 10′oclock we will have dinner in my house with about ten other friends, or we will all go to one of the local restaurants. After dinner we’d go to Sip and Twirl, which is one of the big bars out there. Then I will leave my friend there because it will be way past my bed time when disco starts at Pavillion. That goes to about ten o’clock in the morning, when I usually wake up. But by that time I’m sure my friend would have met so many people that he would never be alone. So many nature-loving gays.

When’s the best time to go?
It’s good to be on Fire Island in June and July when it is unbearably hot in the city because it is usually ten degrees cooler on Fire Island. But I also like September very much when there are not that many people out there, and it’s still very warm and very peaceful.

What’s the biggest misconception you think people have about Fire Island?
That its all about the drugs and sex. Of course those things are there, but they’re anywhere. But like in Manhattan, you can always have a choice. You can either have a relaxing time on Fire Island sleeping ten hours a day since it’s so quiet and peaceful and the ocean air relaxes you and can go on long nature walks with friends, or you can party your brain out as some people choose to do.

You’ve shot a number of films on Fire Island, what about the location inspired you?

timotheyhartleysmith/flickr

Well, it’s just beautiful, everything from the beach to the bay. And then there is the wooded section between the Pines and Cherry Grove called The Meat Rack, which is a persevered wild forest where people cruise. And of course it helps that I have a house there to shoot indoor scenes.

Thanks a lot Michael! I appreciate you taking the time to share Fire Island with us. How’s this summer going out there?
This year the demographic of the Pines has changed a lot. There are a lot of new, fresh faces, since before the crowd was mostly way over 45. This year you can see a lot of kids in their 20s and 30s. Which I’m sure makes everyone very happy. That’s probably because of the efforts of Eric von Kuersteiner, who has done a great job promoting events on the island all summer long. Thanks to you too and enjoy your visit to Fire Island.

• Check out our Gay Fire Island Guide
• Check out Michael’s Profile on GayCities
• Lucas Entertainment Website (NSFW)

This week, Allan’s new series “Rick & Steve – The Happiest Gay Couple in all the World” premieres on the LOGO cable channel.

Allan filled us in about the original short film that started it all:

“Rick and Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World� was the first thing I made when I came to LA. Its actually kind of based in the Seattle scene but I just stuck some Palm Trees in there. It was a short film and a homework assignment. It was all made out of lego and shot in stop motion animation. The assignment was to make a film about relationships, so I made a film about a gay couple and a lesbian couple who hate each other but decide to have a baby together. It hit the film festival circuit and made it into the festival of animation. The best thing I ever did was–just on a whim–I put “Episode One� in the title, not even thinking of making more, just to make it feel like a TV show. Because of that, everyone asked when other episodes would be coming out. I made more short films until lego sued me to stop. And so the concept of the show I kept and tried to sell as a regular TV show and then LOGO came along and they got behind it almost immediately. I got some amazing cast that I only ever dreamed of working with: Peter Paige, Wilson Cruz, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho are all doing voices in it. It premieres in June on LOGO as a half hour TV show.

Read the full interview and all about Los Angeles in our archive »

You can’t find a more New England experience than in Cape Cod Massachusetts. It’s here that the pilgrims landed first, where presidents vacation and all kinds of people flock to beach cottages along the way. Provincetown (or “Ptown”) sits at the very tip of Cape Cod and has long been a summer getaway for artists and gay men and women. Here at GayCities, it’s one of our favorites.

One person that shares our love of Ptown is former Genre Editor-in-chief and blogger Andy Towle. Andy’s Towleroad has become a daily must read for the gay community for news, technology, pop culture, travel and more. Long time readers of Towleroad know that Andy often shares his thoughts and amazing photos of Provincetown.

We caught up with Andy to learn more about where to go and what to do in this beloved summer getaway.

You blog about Provincetown a lot, what is it about this place that fascinates you so much?
Provincetown is a really interesting mix of cultures. It’s not only the gayest town you’ll probably find in America, but it has a rich history as an artist’s colony, a place in American history (the Pilgrims landed there first before heading to Plymouth), a large Portuguese population, but it’s also the quintessential New England fishing village. You’ll not find another place like it. Being out on the tip of Cape Cod, it also really does feel like you’re at the end of the earth when you go there. The quality of the sunlight and the beauty of the dune landscape are hypnotizing at times.

Can you tell us about your first time in Provincetown. When was it and what stands out in your memory about that first visit?

I remember thinking, where the hell am I? In a good way.

I drove in to Provincetown in October 1991 after getting a residence at a historic artist and writer’s colony there called The Fine Arts Work Center. I was to spend the next eight months, all winter, in this strange place I had never been before, writing. I remember parking my car and walking down Commercial Street, the main drag. It was a late fall afternoon and the street was busy, like a crazy carnival stage set. I remember thinking, where the hell am I? In a good way.

How would you describe Provincetown’s gay life to a first time visitor?
Ptown has a real mix of gay culture. Various weeks during the summer are set aside for subsets of the gay community – there’s a women’s week, a bear week, a gay family week, and the 4th of July holiday, when just about every kind of gay descends upon the town, although it has been positioned as more of a “circuit party” week. There are also plenty of year-round residents and seasonal residents, street performers, drag queens (think Cher on roller skates and a much-loved 70-something transgender singer named Ellie).

If a friend was coming to Provincetown for a weekend, where would you take him/her?

I would spend an afternoon going up and down Commercial Street visiting the art galleries, rent a bike and ride around the dunes, go to Herring Cove beach and walk down toward Hatches Harbor to watch the sunset. Then have a lobster dinner, go to the Atlantic House (A-House) bar for drinks and hit Spiritus Pizza afterwards, which is a Ptown post-bar tradition not to miss.

Where’s your favorite place to grab a meal in Provincetown?
There are a bunch but my current lowbrow favorite is Clem & Ursie’s, a seafood shack on Shankpainter Road. I can’t do without having a lobster roll when I’m there.

What part of the season is your favorite?
Definitely the time around the 4th of July because Ptown is a place that feels very, very American and I think there’s no better place to celebrate the independence that the holiday signifies.

What’s the biggest misconception you think people have about Provincetown?

I think the biggest mistake is people coming to Ptown with a preconceived notion of what they’ll find there. It can have a quaint rustic quality to it that disappoints some people if they are looking for somewhere really upscale like Nantucket or the Hamptons. People also think that they’re going to be very limited in the things they can do there, and think that it’s just about bars and clubs. While there is a great nightlife, there are also amazing seafood restaurants, tons of art galleries, bike trails through the dunes, gorgeous beaches, shopping, and whale watching.

What’s a typical day for you while you are there?
A typical day for most in Ptown begins with a good brunch somewhere like Cafe Heaven or Cafe Edwige and then some outdoor activities, whether it be heading to Herring Cove Beach to lie in the sun (HC is where the gay men go, despite the rocky quality of the sand), biking through the National Seashore, or heading out on a boat to do sailing or whale watching. Some go to the boatslip and rent a chaise lounge and lie on the deck. It can become quite a scene, but it all ends at 3pm when tea dance begins. After tea dance people typically go to dinner and then out to a party or a bar or club. On Friday nights, the galleries have openings. After the bars close at 1am, people head to Spiritus for the unofficial after-party in the street, which can get quite raucous when the crowds are large enough. After that, if you’re still up for it, you might find a late night party to go to.

This month’s Out talked about “the graying of the gay resort” and included Provincetown as a place that’s getting older and more affluent. Your reaction? Is this a place that’s welcoming to people under 35?
Definitely. I think every place goes through its cycles and Ptown is still great for people under 35, although maybe not the place you’d currently look to buy a house. Real estate has become outrageous. I agree that Ptown is changing somewhat though not to the extent that the media portrays. I’ve been going there for 15 years. Everything changes though, doesn’t it?

Thanks Andy! Is there anything else we need to know before planning our trip?
If you have an opportunity to fly in on Cape Air, in their 9-seater Cessna, do it. Once I flew in and the pilot dipped down to circle a humpback whale. The ferry from Boston is a less expensive way to get there if you don’t have the cash on hand to treat yourself to a flight. It’s relatively quick and really scenic. If you’re there for more than a couple days, make sure you rent a bike. I’d recommend Ptown Bikes.

Check out Andy Towle’s Picks for Provincetown:

• Atlantic House – The A House is Ptown’s oldest gay bar and is littered with nautical artifacts, pieces of art, musical posters (Ella Fitzgerald used to sing there back in the day), and has a hearth that burns during the cold winters. It’s open year-round and though it may not attract the trendiest DJs during the summer months it’s still my favorite place to go out.
• Clem & Ursie’s - A seafood “shack” on Shankpainter road with an enormous menu serving everything from fried clams to burgers, to corn on the cob. It’s a great post-beach stopover.
• The Lobster Pot – This restaurant is in the most unique-looking building on Commercial Street covered on the outside with red neon. While it’s something of a factory in terms of its culinary output – popular with tour groups and such, it’s definitely the place to go if all you want is a traditional Cape Cod lobster dinner with drawn butter.
• Spiritus Pizza – If you end up going out at night until the bars close, no doubt you’ll be drawn to this longstanding pizza joint where the crowds gather for the unofficial after-party. In the summer, the crowds can get so big they have to close the street down.
• The Mews – One of the more upscale restaurants in town, it’s definitely somewhere to have a “nice” meal. A clean, modern environment and windows that look out to Cape Cod Bay.
• The Boatslip – This is a popular place for tea dance from 3-6. Right on the water. Some folks spend the afternoon there laying out on deck chairs which you can rent for a few bucks.

More:

• See more on Towleroad about Provincetown
• See Andy’s profile
• See our Gay Provincetown Guide – Bars, Hotels, Restaurants
  ]]> http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/88/towleroads-andy-towle-takes-us-to-provicetown/feed/ 8 http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/74/boy-culture-seattle-and-the-actors-and-models-of-la/ http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/74/boy-culture-seattle-and-the-actors-and-models-of-la/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:14:13 +0000 Scott http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/74/boy-culture-seattle-and-the-actors-and-models-of-la/ Allan’s interview is part of our Guest Reviewers series Boy Culture, the film adaptation of the novel of the same name, opens in San Francisco, New York and LA this weekend (and comes to a theatre near you in April and May). Boy Culture is racking up great reviews for its portrayal of love, sex [...]]]> Allan’s interview is part of our Guest Reviewers series

  Boy Culture, the film adaptation of the novel of the same name, opens in San Francisco, New York and LA this weekend (and comes to a theatre near you in April and May). Boy Culture is racking up great reviews for its portrayal of love, sex and the complicated story of gay escort ‘X’ (played by hottie Derek Magyar). While it has plenty of eye candy and sex it’s not your typical bubble-gum gay film. X has fallen for Andrew, his roommate (Noah’s Arc’s Darryl Stephens), X’s other roommate–young horny Joey (Jonathon Trent)–has a crush on him and X develops a relationship with an older potential client. All of these stories show how X struggles with commitment, love, and living a modern gay life.

  Director and Writer Q. Allan Brocka (Eating Out, Rick and Steve) delivers what Instinct Magazine called “a better than book adaption” and FilmCritic.com calls “One of the more literate and substantial gay-themed movies to come along in a while”. We caught up with Allan from his home in West Hollywood to talk about the film, his coming of age in Seattle and where the good stuff is in LA.

  
  Instinct called your film a “better than the book adaptation”, what about it attracted you?
  Wow. I like the book a lot. The producer Philip Pierce read it and wanted to turn it into a film, so I was hired on to write it. I really responded to the book. I thought it would make a great movie because the main character was someone who was a lot like me. He has a dark and cynical view of love and of the gay community. He saw all the flaws in it, but he loved it for that and wouldn’t change it for the world. And that’s exactly how I feel. I hadn’t really seen that in a character before or in a portrayal of the gay community. I’ve only seen it as a dark and scary place or a wonderful, magical place. In reality, it’s kind of a mixture of the two, and I really like the way he saw it.

  You mention that you relate to the character…what resonates with you?.
  His views of sex and sexuality. He’s very judgmental, not just about other people, but about himself and he’s earned a right to be because he questions everything, including his own judgments. His internal monologue in his own head is so much like what’s going on in mine. There’s one scene where he’s watching two boys in a club as they circle each other, then meet and then come together. He loves watching that, he loves it. Yet, he also recognizes this cycle of destruction and rejection that can happen with that, and the hopes of finding love.

  The film was shot entirely on location in your hometown of Seattle, why Seattle?
  Seattle is where I came of age as a gay man. It is where I learned the ups and downs and the ins and outs about the community. As I wrote the adaptation, in my head I was just putting Seattle places in–like Chicago’s Hyde Park I imagined like Volunteer Park–so when I got to go back and rewrite it and put all the Seattle places back in, it just fit perfectly. And the theme of the rain and the fall just worked so well with the story, I was just excited to go back and shoot there.

  How would you explain Seattle to someone who has never been there before?
  The best way to sum up Seattle is what I hear everyone say...it’s beautiful, except for the rain. It rains a lot there, but it is a beautiful city. And on those two non-consecutive weeks of summer that you get, it is so beautiful that it’s easy to forget what the rest of the year is like.

  You live in Los Angeles now, how would you describe the LA gay scene?
  LA, I think, is the toughest gay scene I’ve encountered anywhere in the world. Imagine that the most beautiful boys of every high school all across America who are constantly told their entire life that they are so hot, and that they should be a model or an actor. Imagine if they all moved into one neighborhood and they gave up everything in their lives to go away and become famous. That’s my neighborhood and it’s really intimidating. When you have someplace like New York, there’s such a huge mix of careers there, there’s definitely a pretty boy culture there but you are just as likely to run into someone who is a doctor or a lawyer a vet or in a rock band than you are an actor. Here they are actors.

  Imagine that the most beautiful boys of every high school all across America all moved into one neighborhood. That’s my neighborhood

  If you had a friend coming to LA for the weekend, where would you go?
  I would take them to the beach definitely, to Venice. I’d take them to West Hollywood, we’d go to The Abbey which you just have to do. Various and sundry clubs and we’d do plenty of driving. We’d probably go for a hike in Runyon Canyon, that’s a very cool thing to do, there are a lot of gay people around and a little bit different than going to a club. It’s this great little park that’s in the Hollywood Hills in the middle of the city. You just hike up to the top of the Hollywood Hills and you have this amazing view of Los Angeles and if there’s not a lot of smog you can see downtown and the beach in Santa Monica and on the other side you can see the San Fernando Valley. It’s pretty amazing. It’s also a dog park a lot of gay men with dogs there. There’s husband material there–rather than just drunk guys–you know that they are healthy and actually appreciate nature. It’s a nice way to get out of the city without having to go through the trouble of driving.

  What’s the latest hotspot in LA that you can’t get enough of? Any places visitors ought to check out?
  I went to this place called Area last month that was really awesome. That only happens once a month on a Sunday. There really hasn’t been anything like this in LA in a while. It feels upscale but there’s dancing, which is a really hard mix to find in the gay clubs around here.

  My favorite bar right now is the East West Lounge on Larabee and Santa Monica. It’s on my street; I just walk to the corner and get drunk. It’s a really nice bar right down to the music and the crowd. It’s never too crowded that you can’t move, but it’s never empty.

  
  Club TigerheatI would definitely go to tigerheat because it’s quite a scene. It’s like the underage thing and it will definitely make you feel old if you are over twenty…two. But it is so much fun. Everyone is just there to have fun and there’s an upper level for us seniors to go up to have a drink and watch the petting zoo below.

  I also really like Hot Dog, its kind of a little bit punk–punk for West Hollywood. It has a little bit of trashiness. It’s a little crazy I guess. The music is really good.

  What is the biggest misconception of LA? Something that people don’t know about LA that you just think is wonderful?
  It can’t just be the weather, it can’t. But it is really nice and it is always nice. You know right now its gorgeous and sunny and I’m driving around with my top down. You can always find a nice calmness and center anywhere you are in the city because it is so spread out. It is also laid back. You don’t need to ever own a tie unless you get nominated for an Oscar. I like that.

  Thanks for taking time with us Allan, before we let you go, tell us a bit about your next project, the LOGO series Rick and Steve.
  “Rick and Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World” was the first thing I made when I came to LA. Its actually kind of based in the Seattle scene but I just stuck some Palm Trees in there. It was a short film and a homework assignment. It was all made out of lego and shot in stop motion animation. The assignment was to make a film about relationships, so I made a film about a gay couple and a lesbian couple who hate each other but decide to have a baby together. It hit the film festival circuit and made it into the festival of animation. The best thing I ever did was–just on a whim–I put “Episode One” in the title, not even thinking of making more, just to make it feel like a TV show. Because of that, everyone asked when other episodes would be coming out. I made more short films until lego sued me to stop. And so the concept of the show I kept and tried to sell as a regular TV show and then LOGO came along and they got behind it almost immediately. I got some amazing cast that I only ever dreamed of working with: Peter Paige, Wilson Cruz, Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho are all doing voices in it. It premieres in June on LOGO as a half hour TV show.

  Thanks!

  • More about Boy Culture and where its playing
  • See Allan’s profile and LA recommendations
  • See our guide to Gay LA and West Hollywood
  • See our guide to Gay Seattle
  ]]> http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/74/boy-culture-seattle-and-the-actors-and-models-of-la/feed/ 2 http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/34/dan-renzis-real-gay-miami/ http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/34/dan-renzis-real-gay-miami/#comments Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:05:09 +0000 Scott http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/34/dan-renzis-real-gay-miami/ Dan’s interview is part of our Guest Reviewers series. Dan. Hotel in Dubai. Mirrored Ceiling. Say no more. As the winter cold sets in many northerners seek out the warmth of the east coast’s most southern city. Miami has a rep for hot weather and hot people, but there’s more to Miami than meets [...]]]> Dan’s interview is part of our Guest Reviewers series.
  
  Dan. Hotel in Dubai.
  Mirrored Ceiling. Say no more.

  As the winter cold sets in many northerners seek out the warmth of the east coast’s most southern city. Miami has a rep for hot weather and hot people, but there’s more to Miami than meets the eye.

  One person who often comes to mind when thinking about Miami is Dan Renzi from MTV. Dan got his start right here in Miami for the Real World Season 5. Dan continues to host shows for MTV, writes a popular blog and is a “cyberjournalist”? for Miami’s NBC affiliate (check out this funny clip of him covering a ballroom dancing competition).

  With winter in full swing and the upcoming Miami Winter Party in March, we thought this is was the perfect time to ask him where to go and what to do in Miami and South Beach.

  So is this a good time of year [Jan/Feb] to visit Miami?
  I think right now is when it’s best—the weather is amazing, it’s literally the perfect temperature–when you walk outside, you can’t even feel the air. And there is always something to do.

  Summer is a tough time, itâ’s so hot; but that’s also a great time to visit, everything is really cheap. All the restaurants run “prix-fix” specials, called the “Miami Spice” program, and you can eat for half the cost.

  How would you describe Miami’s gay life to an out-of-towner?
  Gay life here is very integrated–there aren’t the humongous gay megaclubs that were here in years past. There are dance clubs downtown; Twilo is all gay, Club Space is mixed. But I don’t have any friends who go to those places, honestly.

  Personally, I really like Club Azucar, which is further south–it’s very, very Latin, a total change of pace from South Beach. I think this place is a blast. The drag queens don’t speak a word of English, and when they play Latin music all the guys pair up and dance. I should mention my friends don’t like it, though, they think it’s cheesy, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

  In South Beach, the “gay” clubs like Score and Twist have their moments, but they can be really tired. The owners don’t seem to think they need to put any effort into updating the interiors, or bringing in interesting shows, or cleaning once in a while. Instead, the best places to go are the parties on promoted nights, at restaurants or hotels or wherever. They change a lot. Go to www.gaymiami.org, you get a full list of happenings, night-by-night. And check out the reviews on GayCities too.

  I’ve heard Ft. Lauderdale nightlife is pulling all the boys up north.
  Fort Lauderdale versus Miami is the ‘quality vs quantity’ argument. Yes, there are more gay men in Fort Lauderdale, but I think the men in Miami are much better.

  What’s your favorite part of town to hang out?

  
  Lincoln Road
  Photo from Flickr

  I live 1 block off Lincoln Road, so I just walk out my front door and I’m in the middle of everything. It’s always busy, and at night it is packed. The best days are Sundays–they have the Farmer’s Market, where you can get fresh fruit and vegetables and stuff. On good days, you can get the best oranges, grapefruits and tangerines you’ve ever had in your life. (This is Florida, after all.) Just try not to think about the fact that the person working the fruit stand is 10 years old. Sometimes there’s slim pickings…but on a good day, it’s really good. They also have an “antiquesâ€? sale once every few weeks, which is basically a glorified flea market. I bought a chair. You can come by my apartment and I’ll show it to you, I’m very proud of my purchase.

  What’s the biggest misconception about Miami & South Beach?
  People seem to forget that Miami is a huge city, that stretches far beyond the boundaries of Miami Beach. Coral Gables is beautiful; Key Biscayne is great for a day of kayaking through mangrove swamps and other outdoor-ish kinds of things (and an amazing Ritz-Carlton hotel). And the best restaurants are not in South Beach, they’re further north.

  Any lesser known spots that you’d recommend?
  Well, my favorite place for lunch in South Beach is The Raleigh Hotel, by the pool. Truly fabulous, and it’s never crowded.

  Also, Zeke’s Roadhouse is a tiny hole-in-the-wall on Lincoln Road, that is not gay–but in South Beach, it doesn’t matter much. They serve over 100 types of beer–and each bottle costs $3. This is UNHEARD OF in Miami. Water usually costs $4. Imported, micro-brewed beer from England? Shudder to think of what it would cost, but at Zeke’s it costs $3. (And the water? One dollar!! Amazing!) The great thing about it is the location right on Lincoln Road–you sit out there and watch the world wander by. If you’re not a beer drinker, try the “Efes,” a Turkish beer that is very light–the bartenders recommend this for beginners. (Pronounced like our favorite Dreamgirl, FYI.) For gay guys looking to drink somewhere that’s not such a “scene” as the patio at Score, this is perfect.

  It seems like there are a million hotels in Miami, where would you tell a friend to stay?
  Depends on how rich my friend is. If he is like most of my other friends, and is totally poor, I’d tell him to stay at The Clay Hotel on Espanola Way. It’s a hostel, but they also have regular hotel rooms—for, like, 60 bucks. And they’re nice—small, but clean. Just request a room that’s quiet, Espanola can get noisy at night; and some of them have shared bathrooms, but go with friends and rent two of those rooms, and you can share. Problem solved. And it’s right in South Beach!

  “I’m realizing how many hotel rooms I’ve been in, and I feel like a trashy whore. Yikes.�

  You can also get good deals sometimes at The Palms, which is cab-distance to South Beach; and there’s a hotel/condo called Sixty Sixty, it’s little north of South Beach (just a few miles, no big deal, you might want to rent a car if you’re staying up there). Both will rent rooms for under $100 sometimes, but you have to catch it on the right day. If you can’t get a good rate online, try calling the desk and asking them to work out a deal.

  But it’s also important to remember, if you’re going to be hanging out in South Beach, you might as well stay down there and walk everywhere. The money you save on a cheap hotel room, you spend on cabs getting back-and-forth. So plan wisely.

  If you want something in South Beach, my vote is for The National. It’s right next door to The Delano, but it’s much less expensive and I think the rooms are a lot nicer. You can just wander over to The Delano for their bar. The best buy here is definitely The Albion–it’s one short block off the beach, right next to Lincoln Road. You can get a great room for around $250, much lower than if it were directly on the sand. And it’s nice! Very low-key, and big bathrooms.

  If you’ve got lots of money to spend and you want to be glamorous, The Setai and Hotel Victor are both great—the Victor is much trendier, while The Setai is more refined and quiet. If you want something a little bit out of the craziness of South Beach, stay at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, it’s BEAUTIFUL (the one in South Beach is nothing special). If you’re rich to the point of having no concept of money, stay at The Tides for a zillion dollars a night and have butlers wait on you. And now that I’m thinking about this, I’m realizing how many hotel rooms I’ve been in, and I feel like a trashy whore. Yikes.

  It should be said that pretty much all hotels in Miami Beach are very gay-friendly. Nightclubs are a different story, gay couples often get harassed by bouncers at the wrong places; but hotels, you can stay pretty much anywhere and share a bed, and no one gives a damn.

  Dan, thanks for all the great tips, we can’t wait to book our trip. Before we let you go, we love travel here at GayCities and you’ve traveled to a lot of places, if you could recommend one place to visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

  I would suggest a drive across the US. So many people have been to Europe, yet they wouldn’t be able to name the states in the country they live in. I’ve made the drive a few times, taken different routes each trip, and it’s always been amazing.

  One of those trips started when my friend and I were on the beach in North Carolina—which are the best beaches, I think—and we decided to drive back to Los Angeles where we lived. So we bought a Cadillac Brougham for $800, got a month of cheap insurance for $50, and spent three weeks wandering west, city-by-city. Nashville and Louisville were really fun; western Texas, not so much, but you just make the best of it. (PS: The day we got back to California, I was in a wreck—totaled the Cadillac. So sad. But the insurance money was more than what we paid for the car! It was like a free trip.)

  Another good drive is up the Pacific Coast Highway, along the cliffs of Big Sur [about two hours south of San Francisco]. Amazing! Amazing amazing amazing. And that’s a short easy trip, a day or two. On many occasions I almost drove off the road and plummeted to my death, from saying “Oh my God!� over and over and not paying attention to the road.

  Thanks!

  • See Dan’s profile and all of his reviews
  • GayCities Miami gay hotels, bars, and restuarants
  • Visit Dan’s Blog: How was your day, Dan?
  ]]> http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/34/dan-renzis-real-gay-miami/feed/ 3 http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/20/insider-secrets-to-gay-atlanta/ http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/20/insider-secrets-to-gay-atlanta/#comments Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:00:57 +0000 Scott http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/20/insider-secrets-to-gay-atlanta/ ATLANTAboy takes us inside Atlanta as the first of our Guest Reviewers ATLANTAboy’s Matt Burkhalter If you are looking for the old south, look again, Atlanta, the belle of the south, is getting an extreme makeover. Today’s Atlanta has a thriving and diverse gay community, trendy neighborhoods and new restaurants and bars are popping [...]]]> ATLANTAboy takes us inside Atlanta as the first of our Guest Reviewers
  
  ATLANTAboy’s Matt Burkhalter

  If you are looking for the old south, look again, Atlanta, the belle of the south, is getting an extreme makeover. Today’s Atlanta has a thriving and diverse gay community, trendy neighborhoods and new restaurants and bars are popping up everywhere.

  Here at GayCities, we’re constantly adding to our Atlanta Guide and one source we always turn to is Matt Burkhalter. An Atlanta native, Matt is a graphic designer by day, sings and volunteers with the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus by night, and still finds time for “fine food with fine friends” and a drink or two around town.

  Matt, recently wrote GLBT Atlanta’s first ever gay guide. ATLANTAboy: An Insider’s Guide to Gay Atlanta is a fun and witty take on all that there is to see and do in town. Matt also runs ATLANTAboy.com which features celebrity interviews and the latest events in Atlanta.

  We recently caught up with Matt to hear some of his “Insider Tips” on Atlanta.

  
  What inspired you to write ATLANTAboy?
  My friend Jordan called me one day when I was in the local gay bookstore, Outwrite, and he asked me if I could find a book about gay life in Atlanta… but there wasn’t one! Our city, commonly known as HOTlanta, had been left out and we decided it was time to show everyone what we really have to offer and that we really do have a gay culture here!

  Atlanta’s gay scene seems to be very mixed and relaxed…there’s plenty to do!

  How would you describe Atlanta’s gay scene to an out-of-towner?
  Atlanta’s gay scene seems to be very mixed and relaxed. Most of the time it’s just a t-shirt (tight, of course) and jeans crowd. I’ve heard that a lot that people thought that there was not a lot to do here, especially for the GLBT community. We wrote a whole book about it, there’s plenty to do!

  What’s new in atlanta’s gay scene now?
  Amsterdam is the newest bar in town, it’s great and has a really interesting crowd there. It’s like a neighborhood bar combined with a sports bar, a restaurant and a dance club. They play host to DJs on the dancefloor, but if dancing isn’t your thing you can play pool or darts or watch a game on TV, or when the weather is nice head out to the patio. With two full bars and everything else – it’s packed on the weekends! There’s also WETBar on Fridays they are the spot for Charlie Brown’s Cabaret – it’s Atlanta’s longest running drag show! They have a HUGE dancefloor, a VIP area, five full bars and a patio with a great view of the city.

  
  
  ATLANTAboy:
  An Insider’s Guide
  to Gay Atlanta

  $9.95 (Amazon)

  What’s your favorite part of town to hang out with your gay & lesbian friends?
  Definitely Midtown, but if what we want to do isn’t in Midtown, it’s usually just a 5 or 10 minute drive to what we want! Most of the in-town neighborhoods (the original “suburbs” of Atlanta) have had a great revitalization over the last 15 years and are gay-friendly, but the “gayest” neighborhood would have to be Midtown and the area surrounding Piedmont Park.

  If a friend was coming to Atlanta for a weekend, where would you take him/her?
  The Georgia Aquarium would have to be in the plans, it’s absolutely beautiful, I’m already wearing out my own season pass! The Fox Theatre is always hosting a great Broadway show or play. There’s always shows playing at a number of local play-houses as well. We would definitely go to the High Museum to see what exhibits are on display with the Louvre exhange program that month.

  As far as nightlife, we’d probably head to Jungle for a night of dancing, or Mary’s for a little more of a low-key scene with a beer and some fun watching, listening and laughing to people singing Karaoke! AND we would have to swing by Blake’s and Wet Bar for a drag show and some Martinis!

  Where would you tell your visiting friend to stay?
  If my friend wasn’t staying with me, I’d recommend a hotel or bed and breakfast in Midtown.

  What’s your current obsession in Atlanta right now?
  The restaurant Two Urban Licks has been open and the talk of the town for a while, but I just never made it there. Finally I did… I realized what everyone was raving about. The food was fantastic, great ambiance and good service. We even bumped into Atlanta’s biggest little gay celebrity, Leslie Jordan.

  For the morning after an all night dancing binge, Thumbs-Up Diner serves the best breakfast in town! I am ALWAYS raving about this place and I’ve been eating there for several years.

  The aquarium is really a big hotspot still, it’s been open for just over a year and has had well over 3 million visitors! Plus their ballroom space is prime for events!

  What experience/place do most out-of-towners miss that they shouldn’t?
  The best and most moving experience that I wasn’t aware of until we wrote the book was visiting the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The entire quilt is housed here in Atlanta. At the time we visited, it was just a block away from my home and I never knew it was here. It’s very touching to see the panels and read the stories behind them.

  What’s the best time of year to visit Atlanta?
  The best time in Atlanta is definitely the warmer months. I love to pack a picnic and a bottle (or two) of wine and go to Piedmont Park for Screen on the Green when they show movies outside, or for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concerts or for Improv in the Park when Whole World Theatre puts on an improv sketch comedy show. Plus, Pride is in June in the park too… it’s great!

  Your book focuses on “insider tips” for Atlanta, give us one.
  Atlanta is a huge city and very spread out. There are a lot of places to go for fun and they can be miles apart. There are even gay bars that are 20 miles apart from each other, so be prepared and pick up resources to help you get around. Of course, you need a copy of ATLANTAboy, which contains city maps!! There’s also a couple of great free publications – Southern Voice Newspaper lists events and news in the city and David Magazine has a great nightlife calendar bar map.

  Also, to get to your destination be prepared to drive, take a taxi or map out your route using Atlanta’s transit system MARTA. Keep in mind that weekdays rush hour from about 5pm to 6:30pm can be a bit stressing, Jeremy Piven from Entourage was here for a radio inteview and said that Atlanta traffic is worse than LA’s! But if you know where you’re going and you plan your evening ahead of time… you’ll have a great time!

  Thanks for all the great tips Matt!

  • See all of ATLANTAboy’s Reviews on GayCities
  • GayCities Atlanta’s guide to bars, clubs, hotels and restaurants
  • Atlantaboy.com
  ]]> http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/20/insider-secrets-to-gay-atlanta/feed/ 7 http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/26/our-new-guest-reviewer-series/ http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/26/our-new-guest-reviewer-series/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2007 23:50:45 +0000 Scott http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/26/our-new-guest-reviewer-series/ Starting in the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing a new editorial feature here on the GayCities Out There travel blog.

  We’ll talk to local personalities, bloggers, authors and other interesting people about their hometowns and their favorite places to travel. You’ll get insight and tips about where the current hotspots are and those “hidden gems” that most guidebooks leave out.

  If you know of someone that we should talk to, contact us and nominate someone as a guest reviewer.

  ]]> http://www.gaycities.com/outthere/26/our-new-guest-reviewer-series/feed/ 0