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By
Matt Mathrani
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our April 2008 Las Vegas travel feature!
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Sin City is the place for you to let your hair down -- every single strand of it!
Las Vegas's weather and dry climate are generally pleasant most of the year, with hot, dry summers, mild winters, and wonderful springs and autumns.
Nearly 48 million people traveled through Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport (airport code "LAS") last year, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. But don't let the bustle intimidate: they are well-prepared to get you to your luggage and on your way. And if you do have a wait, you can enjoy some of the 1,800 airport slot machines! Indeed, you will see these "bandits" everywhere, even in convenience stores.
You can ride from the airport in style in a limo, hop a shuttle, taxi, or bus -- or rent a car. An excellent monorail system runs up and down Las Vegas's "Strip," so if you're planning to spend most of your time there, you can get by without a car. The Strip offers a huge variety of places to eat. The casinos have some of the best all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffets anywhere. The most popular are Bellagio, Bally's, Paris, Tropicana, New York / New York, Treasure Island, and MGM -- all on Las Vegas Boulevard. Two other favorites are the Carnival World at the Rio (3700 West Flamingo Road), which is off the Strip and has over 300 dishes prepared fresh daily, making it the largest buffet in town (come hungry, but be prepared to wait in line) and Cravings at the Mirage (3400 South Las Vegas Boulevard), almost over-the-top with its 13 live-action stations, each representing a different culinary theme.
Bars and clubs
While each of Las Vegas's many gay bars has a unique flair to it, something they all have in common is gambling and inexpensive drinks. There are also all sorts of machines for you to try your luck on, and there are "busts" at nearly every club on certain days and times. You can drink and cruise while gambling, and do so 24/7!
Located right by the Strip is
Snick's Place (1402 South 3rd Street). This was Vegas's first gay bar. It's a great venue to start your evening off or to hang at any time of day. Celebrating its 31st year, this neighborhood place is among the friendliest in town. Cozy, quaint, and favored by locals, you might say it's a gay version of Cheers. They also sell packaged liquor to go for those who want to "bring along."
Many of the GLBT businesses are clustered around one another, either in the Commercial Center (953 East Sahara), or in a neighborhood that has become affectionately known as the Fruit Loop, where you will find bars like
Free Zone (610 East Naples) and
Buffalo (4640 Paradise Road), a longtime country-western favorite.
Across the way, is a high-energy dance club
Pirahna (4633 Paradise Road) with the 8 1/2 Ultra Lounge in the back bar. Directly next-door is Gipsy (4605 Paradise Road), one of Las Vegas's first dance clubs.
Krave (3663 Las Vegas Boulevard South), the largest of the dance clubs, has two massive rooms and an amazing stage, attracting a mixed crowd that gyrates to the offerings of world renowned DJs. There are several well-choreographed shows each week.
Good Times (1775 East Tropicana Avenue) is popular with the young crowd on Mondays, when there's a liquor and beer bust.
FunHog Ranch (495 East Twain) is a new club for leather and Levi fans, including many bears. Darts, gaming, and pool are offered here.
Charlie's (5012 South Arville) is a popular chain with other venues in Chicago, Denver, and Phoenix. This country-western bar is a popular local hangout.
Badlands Saloon (Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara), offers beer and liquor busts on the weekends and domestic-drink specials Monday through Thursday.
Back Door Lounge (1415 East Charleston Avenue) has a Latin flair.
Other bars include
Escape Lounge (4213 West Sahara),
Flex (4371 West Charleston),
Backstreet (5012 Arville),
Eagle (3430 East Tropicana), and
Spotlight Lounge (957 East Sahara).
There is a promise of a new club called Fusion Lounge opening soon.
The shows
Las Vegas offers the hottest shows on Earth -- for a price, of course, and you need to reserve ahead. Three of our most revered headliners are vying for the attention of the GLBT community and each is among the highest-grossing Las Vegas acts: Cher, Bette Midler, and Elton John each perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Cirque Du Soleil has outdone itself with their five shows currently being performed in Vegas: Zumanity, Love, O, Ka, and Mystère. Other shows with gay appeal include Danny Gans and Frank Marino as Joan Rivers (at Riviera's La Cage). Tickets to all of these performances are available through TicketMaster.
Accommodations
Blue Moon Resort (2651 Westwood Drive; 702-361-9099) is sex-charged, cruisy, permissive, secure, fun, clean, and very private. There's free high-speed and wireless internet throughout. The 45 rooms are elegant, with leather-tufted headboards, flat-panel TVs, and 600-thread-count sheets. The management is kind, courteous, and knowledgeable. Every morning there's an extensive continental breakfast. Enjoy uninhibited action in the state-of-art 400-square-foot steamroom, a clothing-optional lagoon-style pool and bar, video room, locker room, ten-man jacuzzi grotto, showers, walking path, and internet cafe.
Shopping
Las Vegas is a shopaholic's dream town. You can buy just about anything here. There are malls and outlet centers throughout the city. The casinos all have shops, many of which are the best of the best. Some must-sees include: Fashion Show Mall (3200 Las Vegas Boulevard), which is one of the largest shopping malls in the USA; Las Vegas Outlet Center (7400 South Las Vegas Boulevard); and Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard).
For especially gay shopping, check out
The Rack (Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara). They have dozens of categories of merchandise including leather gear, rubber gear, gothic gear, an arsenal of toys, jewelry, adult novelties, pumping accouterments, and more. Some of the leather brands you will see include Colt, Kookie, Zony, 665, and Nasty Pig. Check out their website for convenient online shopping.
Onyx Theatre (Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara) is located behind The Rack and offers the community cheap tickets to great movies and shows. There's live stand-up comedy weekly, and bi-monthly showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show , for which the community comes out in force.
Adult World Arcade / Mini Theaters (3781 Meade Avenue) has video rental/sales and a bookstore, along with cruise opportunities.
Price Video (700 East Naples) offers gay video rental and sales.
Get Booked (4640 Paradise Road) offers books, videos, gifts, magazines, and t-shirts.
Leather Addictions (700 East Naples) offers leather, fetish wear, and toys.
Saunas and such
Hawk's Gym (Commercial Center; 953 East Sahara, Suite 102), located in the Commercial Center's northeast corner, is Las Vegas's only gay-owned-and-operated club for men. There is a brand new $40,000 state-of-the-art gym to pump your muscles in. This joint is ultraviolet-light clean, with 22 rooms and the biggest and best-equipped communal dungeon room I've ever seen (12,000 square feet). Mondays are Service Industry Night (that spells "SIN"), Tuesdays are Members' Night, and Wednesdays feature a blackout night with free lube. Hawks Gym members also get a discount at The Rack.
Entourage (953 East Sahara, Suite A-19), formerly the Apollo, in the Commercial Center's northwest corner, is "the hottest and safest playground in Sin City" and offers 65 rooms and 60 lockers, dry sauna, indoor Roman style pool, gym, jacuzzi, dark room, sling room, and a huge, cavernous maze steamroom.
Upcoming events
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary April 30 through May 4. This coincides with
Las Vegas Pride's (Lasvegaspride.org) 25th anniversary celebration May 2 to 4, with a parade, festival, and t-dance.
The BigHorn Rodeo will be held September 19 to 21, produced by the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association, which hosts events throughout the year. The Sin Sity Sisters corralled many local gay leaders into red dresses for a benefit for SADAP, the local AIDS drug assistance program this February 17; check their website for info on next year's "radiant blight"! AIDS Walk Las Vegas happens on April 20 this year, and benefits Aid for AIDS of Nevada.
Gay-friendly businesses and community organizations will host the 2nd annual Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas, welcoming GLBT visitors from around the world; the promotion launches on July 3 with 24/7 activities and entertainment. Gay Days and Nights is presented by Cirque du Soleil, Travelocity, host hotel Paris Las Vegas, and Q Vegas magazine. Events benefit the Gay & Lesbian Center, Las Vegas Pride, and the Liberace Foundation.
Las Vegas is where you will need to be for HustlaBall and the GAYVN Expo, thus yet unscheduled for 2009, but likely to be scheduled once again for January.
The
Gay and Lesbian Community Center (953 East Sahara Avenue, Suite B-31; 702-733-9800), in Commercial Center, has a competent staff ready to serve you. There you can find out comprehensive calendars of events for all local organizations.
Pick up a copy of the local gay magazines
Las Vegas Night Beat, Q Vegas, and a new rag
Entourage
for maps and helpful information.
And of course, best of luck on your trip to Las Vegas!
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