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New
York - the Big (gay) Apple and centre of the Universe (as the native New
Yorkers see it). From Chelsea Boys to Leather Men, Greenwich Village to the Fire Island
Pines, and 7 days a week nightlife; you'll need a vacation to recover after visiting this
non-stop city. journey agent's favourite time of year to visit is in summer when the heat is
up, and the Chelsea Boys are out there shirtless. Grab your map of Manhattan and let
journey agent be your guide...
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journey agent is in the enviable position of not having to spend valuable party dollars on accommodation when visiting New York, (this is where friends are invaluable). But we can recommend the following places to try for somewhere to lay your head (if you ever get time to sleep, that is).
New York B&B Reservation
Center Ph (212) 977-3512. Price: $ - $$
A gay & lesbian reservation service that can get you a whole apartment or a guest room
in someone's apartment.
The West Side YMCA or
Vanderbilt YMCA (Westside) 5 West 63rd St @ Central Park West, Ph (212)
787-4400. (Vanderbilt) 224 East 47th St bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves, Ph (212) 756-9600. Price:
$
Make like the Village People and rough
it with backpackers and students at the "Y".
Chelsea Pines Inn 317
West 14th St bet 8th & 9th Aves. Ph (212) 929-1023. Price: $$
Located on the border of Greenwich Village and Chelsea, this is an 1850 townhouse that's been
converted into a gay B&B.
The Royalton
Hotel 44 West 44th St bet. 5th & 6th Aves. Ph (212) 869-4400. Price: $$ -
$$$ ![]() A guide to architecture in New York had this to say about the Royalton: "Chic and silly, this is an entire hotel dedicated to the fashion victim.Do not bother arriving unless you are clad in black and own a mobile phone. Do not be intimidated by the relentlessly beautiful staff." In other words, queers will love this place. At least visit for cocktails in the impressive lobby or champagne bar if you can't afford to stay here. |
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OK, so if it's a happening fad food thing, then you'll find it happening in New York.
LIPS 2
Bank Street (off 7th Ave), Greenwich Village ph (212) 675-7710 Price: $$ ![]() Publicised as "New York City's Most Entertaining Drag Restaurant" - and rightly so. Be prepared to be waited on by some of New York's funniest drag queens. Give 'em a hard time and they'll give you one right back (they love it). These Divas don't just lip-synch during the dinner shows, but some actually sing (and pretty well too, or maybe that was due to one too many cocktails). Mid week they also host Bitchy Bingo - bingo with a load of bitchiness - e.g. the hostess said one of the diners puts ice down her panties - why? - to keep her crabs fresh! They also do a Sunday Champagne Brunch. journey agent recommends that if you only have time for one restaurant in N.Y., then this is the one! Gusty Winds (I think her sister must be Gail Force), and the girls will really look after you. |
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Markt 401 West
14th St @ 9th Ave. ph: (212) 727-3314 Price: $$
Belgian food and imported Belgian beer seem to be popular in the Big Apple.
Markt is a big Belgian style brasserie in the Meat Packing district, with a noisy buzzing
wood-panelled dining room. They have a list of Belgian beers as long as your arm,
and some are very pricey - try the Lambic fruit beers at US$12 a bottle. journey
agent rates Markt well for good food & those
potent Belgian brews, but the minus is the very noisy dining room.
Belgo Nieuw-York
415
Lafayette St (bet. Astor Pl & 4th St). ph: (212) 253-2828. Price: $$
Yep, another Belgian restaurant. Belgo in London opened a few years ago in a cavernous
designer warehouse, and Belgo Nieuw-York is not too different with an interior somewhere
between a science fiction movie set and an Eastern European factory. The waiters are
dressed as monks, but journey agent doubts that they are celibate. More mussels, pommes
frites, stews, and an unbelievable list of Belgian beers.
Food Bar 149
Eighth Ave, Chelsea. Price: $+
Right in the middle of Chelsea gay-boy territory. The food's really quite good, but the waiters are
even tastier !
Arte Pasta 81
Greenwich Ave @ 7th Ave. Price: $-$$
Reliable, affordable pasta and Italian food, just around the corner from the heart of the Village.
Manatus 340
Bleecker St (West Village). Price: $+
Reasonable food and service at good prices. A good place to go for brunch any day of the
week, especially after a hard night on the town.
O Padeiro 641
Avenue of the Americas. Price: $
This is a great upscale but authentic Portuguese bakery, cafe and bar to hit for a break
during retail therapy. Try the sandwiches, salads & coffee.
Dean &
Deluca Broadway, Soho. Price: $-$$
London has Harrod's foodhall & Fortnum & Mason. New York has Dean &
Deluca. For foodies, this is heaven.
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And partying HARD is what it's all about in New York. Whatever you're in to, they'll be a bar or club for it. And it's happening 7 days a week, when even Monday can host some funky dance clubs.
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The Spike 120 11th
Ave at West 20th St
A popular Levi / Leather bar just one block away from The Eagle Bar. There's a large
circular bar room, pool table, coat check, and cruise space. On one visit, journey
agent &
friend Dirty Craig got really plastered while spending the night cruising the barmen who
were very friendly. journey agent ended up in the bathroom getting into some trouble
with some guy called "Beer Can" ...
Splash
50 West 17th St (bet. 5th & 6th Aves)
![]() A hang-out for Chelsea boys - buff and beautiful, damn it. A large trendy bar space with lots of TV monitors playing videos, a dance floor, podium go-go boys, and models doing the shower shows. The lower floor has table seating, a bar and cruisy bathroom. All the barmen were drop-dead gorgeous (or maybe they just looked that way after one too many cocktails). |
![]() Brian from Splash |
The Pyramid 101
Avenue A
The Pyramid hosts "1984" on Friday nights. If back in high school you were
listening to Madonna, Haircut 100, Prince, Erasure, ABBA and Eurythmics, then
"1984" will be a time warp. There's a long bar in front with a packed dance
floor room out back. Surprisingly, it's a young crowd who were probably only in Junior
school back in 1984.
Roxy
515 West 18th St (@ 10th Ave) |
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When checking out the Chelsea boys gets too much, maybe it's time to head to the gym yourself
David Barton Gym
552
Sixth Ave, Chelsea
The motto at David Barton Gym is "Look Better Naked". The Chelsea branch has
more than its share of Chelsea boys and famous New Yorkers. Aside from the work out area
with machines and free-weights, there's a steam room and shower room (with the most
bizarre art-deco panels between each shower stall, with strategically (?) placed holes in
the design - at one time there was a "Shower Monitor" keeping an eye on the gym
members). All manner of strangeness can happen in the main gym - including drag queens
spinning disco records while you pump.
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New York offers some excellent Retail Therapy experiences. As expected, US labels can be found at reasonable prices and bargains can be had!
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If you have limited time in the Big Apple, then journey agent rates the following tourist stops as not-to-be-missed:
The Statue of Liberty Go early - especially if you decide to climb to the top, as there's always a line.
The Empire State Building (350 Fifth Ave). Visit at sunset with the boyf for a romantic start to the night.
Museum of Modern Art
(11 West 53rd
St). An amazing collection of recognisable modern art. They have a good museum shop across
the road selling classic and modern design desirable objects and knick knacks.
Times Square (Broadway & west 42nd St). Worth a visit just to remind yourself that you're in New York, especially good at night when the neon signs are in overload mode.
West Side Highway Not necessarily a must-see, but if you're in NYC during summer, it's a good place to go on a sunny day. Unfortunately the piers are all being dismantled for a new West Side park, but there are still lots of gay guys roller-blading, cycling or walking during summer.
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For further info on New York, journey agent recommends these sources:
Gay
publications (all weekly) HX (Homo
Extra) - free |
Travel
Guides (website links) : The Rough Guide
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this page was last updated on 12/11/2001