Stories: Austria | Grand Dames | French Riviera | Germany | Scandinavia
ALLURING AUSTRIA
By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario :: info@bryendunn.com
Published: Gaiety Magazine - Summer 2005
Alluring Austria, it’s the land of coffee, chocolate, and the sounds of music. As a relatively small country (just over 8 million inhabitants), it offers an array of activities and attractions for both culture vultures and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s also a perfect starting off point for further travels within Europe, as it borders seven different countries: Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland.
Gay History
Gay and lesbian Austrians have managed to play a prominent role in public life and in the media. Probably the most prominent homosexual in Austrian history was Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was responsible for stopping the Turkish advance into Europe once and for all back in the 17th century. His summer palace, Schloss Belvedere, is an impressive baroque edifice which today houses the Austrian Gallery with paintings by numerous Austrian artists of the modern period (Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka).
Famed composer Franz Schubert
spent over two years living with his librettist Johann Baptist
Mayerhofer – who was known to be homosexual – in a
sublet room where they even shared a bed. Their affection for
each other is documented in several song texts written by Mayerhofer
for Schubert, as well as in an opera –unfortunately destined
to remain unfinished – entitled “Adrast.”
Vienna Today
Though many historic figures
that have helped shape the city in centuries past are left in
an historical closet, Vienna’s young gay couples are representative
of the new generation of gay and lesbian leaders. While Vienna
doesn’t have a single predominantly gay and lesbian neighborhood,
the city has developed quite a lively and diverse gay and lesbian
scene. Don’t expect a large number of “gay only”
establishments in Vienna, but rather an abundance of “gay
friendly” and mixed places throughout.
The majority of the gay and
lesbian establishments are located around the open-air food market
in the Naschmarkt area, and near the Rosa-Lila-Villa, along Linke
Wienzeile and Rechte Wienzeile. The historic Café Savoy
is a traditional Viennese cafe and bar, complete with chandeliers,
wood panelling, gold lame curtains and the largest mirrors in
central Europe. Why Not is the city’s only exclusively gay
bar.
The main shopping corridor
is Mariahilfer Strasse where you can find everything one needs
to burn up the credit cards. The Ringstrasse Boulevard encircles
the old inner city, following the line of the old Roman walls
that defended the city against the barbarians on the other side
of the Danube.
Dining options abound, with the famous schnitzel being the trademark Austrian delicacy. The Living Room serves classic traditional Austrian cuisine, and Motto – while not exclusively gay – is a stylish in-place with a high celebrity and gay presence. In the inner city, Santo Spirito proves that the scene and classical music need not be mutually exclusive. The tiny restaurant near St. Stephen’s offers delicious food along with baroque chamber music and classical arias.
There are two gay operated hotels within the city, both quite unique in style. The simple Pension Wild provides basic accommodations at reasonable rates, and is located in the trendy 8th district of Josefstrade. The Hotel Urania has 32 relatively spacious rooms each designed quite differently in terms of decor and furnishings. Both are within easy walking distance of the city centre, or easily accessible by public transit.
Celebrations
Vienna’s cultural appeal continues to draw an ever larger number of gay and lesbian travelers to the city. Both the State Opera and the Volks Opera offer some of the world’s best opera performances. The new Museums Quarter is on the list of must-see destinations for practically everyone, and the KunstHaus often showcases major gay-themed exhibits and queer artists from Mapplethorpe to Pierre & Gilles.
Among other things, Vienna
is known worldwide for its traditional Ball events. Two society
events are taking the traditional Ball concept in slightly different
directions. For ten years now tickets to the annual Life Ball
held in May each year, have been among the most sought after event
tickets. This annual fundraiser for local and international AIDS
and HIV services organizations now rivals the famed Opera Ball,
though the two events could not be more different. The Life Ball
is a star-studded fashion show and dance, colorful and definitely
queer. The gay Rainbow Ball held annually in January combines
the best of both classical compositions and the latest dance hits.
The “Wien ist Andersrum” (Vienna is Queer) cultural festival in early June offers a smorgasbord of off-beat cultural performances with G&L sensibilities. The Rainbow Parade (late June) is one of the fastest growing Pride events worldwide, currently attracting 150,000 spectators. Identities, the city’s queer film festival also takes place during June.
Vienna is the home for many
of the worlds most sought after DJ’s and the base of a vibrant
electronic music scene. Of course, being the birthplace of Sigmund
Freud Vienna also has a number of full-on fetish venues. As well,
the international leather and fetish convention “Wien ist
Schwarz” (late October) offers a whole fringe program in
addition to the obligatory leather and fetish party.
Salzburg
The quaint surroundings of
this city of 150,000 are well known from the scenes of the 1965
production of The Sound of Music. Celebrating the 40th anniversary
of its release in 2005, it’s the perfect lead up into the
Mozart 2006 celebrations. It was also recently chosen as one of
the candidate cities to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The mighty Salzach River meanders through the city separating
the old town from the new city, and is a focal point for both
tourists and locals alike. Salzburg derived its name from the
salt that once was the main form of income some 4,000 years ago.
Today, one can relive the experience of these early salt mines
at one of the many tourist developed sites, including Salzwelten.
Definitely worth the purchase
is the Salzburg Card, available in 24, 48, and 72 hour options,
and providing unlimited public transportation use and free admission
to all the top attractions. Suggested stops are the two Museum
of Modern Art locations, the Stiegl Brauwelt (Brewery), and of
course the Mozart points of interest. The Salzburg Plus Card offers
accommodations, meals, attractions, cultural events and more,
all accessible and billable to this unique debit card. It’s
the only city in the world to currently offer such a service.
Surprisingly there are three
gay bars within the downtown core, two within the same block overlooking
the Salzach River, and the other hidden amongst the winding cobblestone
streets. Both 2 Stein and Daimler’s Bar offer a cozy atmosphere
with a romantic riverside view. Café Diva is a more upscale
lounge with weekend dance nights. Salzburg doesn’t have
any gay-exclusive hotels, although highly recommended are the
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza and the Sheraton Hotel, both within walking
distance from most attractions. There are also plenty of reasonably
priced two and three star hotels to choose from.
Mozart 2006
Excitement abounds as the
whole country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its
most famous citizen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, starting on his
birth date January 17th, 2006. From Vienna’s urban decadence
to the soft romantic charm within the old walls of his birthplace
Salzburg, Austrians are ready to welcome the world with open arms.
This musical genius is still as popular today as he was 250 years
ago, and Mozart is recognized as one of the top 50 international
brands in the world.
To really do things up in
style there are special train departures between Vienna and Salzburg
that provide first class dining with Mozart music accompaniment.
Train travel is very easy to navigate throughout the country and
more often than not it’s the most economical and efficient
way to get between places. Another popular method of travel is
the bicycle as Austria provides an extensive collection of bike
friendly routes. The Mozart Cycle Path provides 450 kilometres
of travel through the Austrian and Bavarian lake districts, highlighting
related points of interest for the composer’s fans.
There are more than 500 Mozart
themed events already planned, and many hotels are indicating
higher than normal advance bookings. The Salzburg Festival, July
24 to August 31, will feature all 22 of Mozart’s stage works
presented during this period. However, not everything is based
on the past. Mozart AVANT is being organized to highlight culture
and arts from an avant-garde and independent perspective, putting
a modern twist on old traditions.
Welcome
The Vienna Tourist Board openly welcomes gay and lesbian visitors, and has developed comprehensive gay travel information. As one of the last European countries to recognize and accept gay culture, they are making great strides to catch up and forge ahead. On the most part Austrians are reserved and conservative, yet open and accepting at the same time. Why not bring a classical touch to your next vacation?
Tell Me More
Austria
Tourism
Vienna Tourism
Lusanne Tourism
Pension Wild
Hotel Urania
Crowne Plaza
Sheraton Hotel
Austrian Airlines
Mozart 2006
Life Ball
Rainbow Ball
Vienna Pride
Identities
Wien 1st Andersrum
Vienna Hype
City Gay Guide
THE GRAND DAMES
By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario :: info@bryendunn.com
Published: Gaiety Magazine, Winter 2005
Europe has always been a place of historical interest, especially for North American travellers. There are the multitude of century old churches and castles to explore, along with the Victorian charm of cobblestone streets and world famous wineries. To highlight a selection of cities above others is a difficult task however the focus is on history from a gay perspective. Nearly a century ago there was plenty of gay activity happening and Paris, Berlin and Vienna were notorious for a fledging underground scene that included all the alternative lifestyles and misfits of society. There were the artists, musicians, writers, prostitutes, homosexuals, transvestites and transsexuals all mixing it up and having a gay ole time. Here’s a quick look back at the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties, a time of excessive lifestyles between World Wars.
Paris
Paris has always had the distinction of being a cut above in terms of fashion, style, and night life. This was particularly at the forefront during the 1920’s when Parisians and foreigners alike flocked to the city for the sultry atmosphere that dominated the culture at the time. The city combined old world values in the context of modernism and was artistically avant-garde. Everyone who was anyone wanted to be part of the scene. Americans would descend upon the streets to revel in the debauchery, unlike the staid atmosphere they endured at home.
At one point there were 221 registered brothels where patrons would be pampered with sex and drugs. Many of creative successful women were lesbians, like Gertrude Stein and Natalie Barney. Josephine Baker was a star attraction and a symbol of liberation and sex. Lesbianism was chic and a new sexual revolution was abuzz. Parisians as a whole were, and still are, mainly tolerant and self-reserved individuals. Another popular event was the Bal of the Quartz Arts, held every spring, that was basically one gigantic orgy of alcohol and sex.
Other creative types that either resided in or spent considerable time within Paris are Man Ray, the surrealist photographer, Ernest Hemingway, iconic writer, and Cole Porter, famed for his musical genius. Most could be found within the confines of one of many seedy underground bars filled with hedonism and frivolity. It was also during this time that prolific writer Jean-Paul Satre was construing his thoughts that would later lead to his works on Existentialist philosophy following the Second World War, and eventually win him a Nobel Peace Prize.
The section of the city known as Marais was where several individuals settled who could not afford property elsewhere. The semi-wealthy built mansions on the land that had to be filled in to be habitable. Today, this is now known as the gay district, and has recently become the area within Paris to live and party. Gay and straight alike mingle and socialize both day and night. Many of the original residential buildings from the 17th century are still there and have been modified into hotels and museums, including the famous Picasso Museum. As well, the Hotel Central Marais is the only gay-owned and operated hotel in Paris. Writer Victor Hugo was also from Marais and is best known for his works The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables.
Although all seemed to be going well at the time, as with all good things they must come to an end. The end of excess was Black Tuesday, October 1929, when the stock market crashed and the money stopped flowing. Shortly afterward the Nazi occupation ensured any “deviant” type of behaviour was abolished.
Today however, residents continue with the forward-thinking way of life, and most recently elected their first openly gay mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, reflective of the continuing acceptance and tolerance under the new socialist-ecologist administration.
Berlin
Like Paris, the1920’s was a time of frivolous activity especially within the gay community, with more than 100 gay bars, cafes and clubs. As well, with any underground scene there was an abundance of sexual activity and drug use. At the time there were an estimated 100,000 prostitutes working the clubs and streets of Berlin, and homosexuality was completed accepted and respected.
The Eldorado was a famous transvestite club that attracted the creatively minded crowd. Berlin’s most infamous export, Marlene Dietrich, performed here quite regularly during her time in Berlin prior to defecting to the United States. Ms. Dietrich was a married bisexual with a child, and was the symbol of decadence, glamour, beauty, and sexual freedom, crossing the borders of genders with her androgynous looks. She created politically anti-Nazi songs, worked with Burt Bacharach, and received a Tony Award in 1968. Born in Berlin in 1927, this actress, singer and writer later became an American citizen, died in Paris in 1992, and she is now buried back in her hometown at a cemetery on Fehlerstrasse. Apparently she was still quite politically active up until her death, with regular phone calls to Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Another popular hangout at the time was the Residenz-Casino where cocaine was served through pneumatic tubes. Drugs were quite prevalent at this time as pharmacists and doctors would often prescribe morphine, cocaine and opium to alleviate sexual fatigue.
Berlin was often referred to as the “Babylon of the 20’s”, as decadence thrived alongside desperation in post-war Berlin. Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf, a transvestite all her life, had lived through the amazing twenties, followed by the Nazi horror and the subsequent 40 years of communist dictatorship in East Berlin. These were certainly turbulent and daunting times for her, and recently her life has been depicted in a Broadway show. Anita Berber was a symbol of eroticism and sexuality, and had a penchant for drugs and alcohol. As outrageous a personality as the characters she portrayed onstage, she did not shy from the truth of her marriage to her openly gay husband, then called a “lavender marriage”, or “marriage of convenience” as referred to today. Other famous individuals who occupied their time and left their mark here were Frederick the Great, Heinrich Von Kleist, and Alexander Von Humboldt.
One of the most prominent activists of this era was Dr Magnus Hirschfeld. Not only did he publish Germany’s first gay magazine, Der Eigene (1896), he also spearheaded the world’s first gay liberation movement back in 1897. His goal was to decriminalize sexual activity between same-sex individuals, and this was finally accomplished in just shy of 100 years, as the law was eventually abolished in 1994! In 1919 he founded the Institute of Sexual Science where he explored and developed his theory of the 3rd sex, as he called homosexuality. A new monument was recently erected in his honour for his achievements in gay history, and plans are underway to name a street or square after him as well.
Another well known activist of the time was Dr. Karl Ulrichs, who also proposed changes to the legal code to decriminalize homosexual activity. As well, he was the leader in transgender studies and performed the first “completed” male-to-female operation in the 1930’s. Gay writer Christopher Isherwood wrote “Goodbye to Berlin”, which was the basis for 1970’s movie and stage play Cabaret. There’s a plaque within the city that honours his recollections of the historical significance of the roaring twenties.
Today there is a Gay Museum, established in 1985 as a private institution for the preservation, exhibition and discovery of gay and lesbian history, art and culture. A chronological time-line delves into the past and continues into the future. After Nazi occupation troops immediately raided the Eldorado and made this their headquarters. More than 5,000 homosexuals were sent to concentration camps and labeled with the infamous pink triangle. There’s another plaque in the city with a pink triangle inscribed with the words, “Killed and Forgotten - in memory of the homosexual victims of National Socialism.” The memoirs of Pierre Seel, “Deported Homosexual”, tell the tale of a Nazi era lifestyle. It makes for some very graphic and disturbing reading.
Presently there are 300,000 homosexuals that live, work and play in Berlin. It’s the largest gay metropolis after London and Amsterdam, now boasting over 150 gay establishments, and as proud as ever of its past and present. Like Paris, Berliners have recently elected Germany's first openly gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit.
Vienna
Gay and lesbian Austrians have managed to play a prominent role in public life and in the media. Probably the most prominent homosexual in Austrian history was Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was responsible for stopping the Turkish advance into Europe once and for all back in the 17th century. His summer palace, Schloss Belvedere, is an impressive baroque edifice which today houses the Austrian Gallery with paintings by numerous Austrian artists of the modern period (Klimt, Schiele, and Kokoschka). Famed composer Franz Schubert spent over two years living with his librettist Johann Baptist Mayerhofer (a known homosexual) in a sublet room where they even shared a bed. Their affection for each other is documented in several song texts written by Mayerhofer for Schubert, as well as in an unfinished opera entitled “Adrast.”
Architects Eduard van der Nüll and August Sicard von Sicardsburg were partners in both business and life, but unfortunately their relationship came to a tragic end. Plans for the Opera House were finalized before the forthcoming outer passageway, the Ringstrasse, had been designed. As the street level was later raised by one metre, the optical effect on the Opera’s Staatsoper was unfavorable as it appeared as if it had sunk into the ground. As public criticism mounted, van der Nüll, always on the depressive side, committed suicide. Only ten weeks later, Siccardsburg died as well apparently of a “broken heart.”
The last emperor served by Prince Eugene, Charles VI, is said to have had an intimate relationship with Count Michael Johann Althan III, one of the few members of the introverted and eccentric monarch's inner circle. When Althan died, the grieving emperor recalled that they had "loved each other intimately 19 years long, in true friendship." Emperor Francis Joseph was plagued by headaches not only from the toils of government but also from his younger gay brother, Archduke Ludwig Victor, who had a reputation at court for his sharp tongue and his propensity to cross-dress. His brother eventually banished him to Schloss Klessheim near Salzburg, where Ludwig later died.
There are two gay-themed historical walking tours that meander through the streets taking in all the famous sites from a gay perspective. The first visits Belvedere Palace and Naschmarkt, today’s gay district. Also included is a stroll through Karlsplatz with the biggest Baroque church in Vienna dedicated to Emperor Karl VI. The second tour explores the Imperial Palace, Neuer Markt and the famed Opera House, where the story of architects Eduard van der Nüll and August Sicard von Sicardsburg is recounted.
Today, there are an estimated 150,000 gay inhabitants within Vienna, and it’s quickly establishing itself as a gay destination for travellers. Excitement abounds as the whole country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its most famous citizen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, starting on his birth date January 17th, 2006. Austrians are ready to welcome the world with open arms.
Discover the Gay-Way
For those interested in more than the nightclubs and festivals that are a highlight for today’s gay traveller, there is a secret past waiting to be discovered. An excellent documentary was recently broadcast on CBC, Sin Cities, which explored the underground movement from the past. A past that we can all be proud of and look back at to get a glimpse into individuals and lifestyles that helped shape where we are at today - paving the gay-way!
Tell Me More
Paris
Tourism
France Tourism
Air France Berlin
Tourism
German Tourism
Lufthansa Airlines Austria
Tourism
Vienna Tourism
Austrian Airlines
Mozart 2006
CBC –
Legendary Sin Cities
Fashion, Flicks and Frivolity In The French Riviera
By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario :: info@bryendunn.com
Published: Gaiety Magazine - Spring 2006
Ah, the French Riviera ~ warm breezes, sandy beaches, beautiful people, and delectable foods. It’s a dream come true for the millions of annual visitors that turn this famous Mediterranean shoreline of France into a seaside playground every summer season. In fact, the Nice Cote d’Azur Airport set a new record in 2005 with nearly 10 millions passengers transiting through at one point or another, including 4 million visitors. The Paris-Nice and London-Nice routes can almost be considered commuter lanes given the regular frequency and high traffic loads. Gliding along the beautiful coast hovering just metres above the water, arriving into Nice by aircraft is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences
Nice
Nice is often viewed as a petite version of Paris in terms of cultural attractions, business opportunities, and other city offerings. It offers a rare architectural diversity of style that includes Baroque, Classical, Belle Epoque, Art Deco and Contemporary. It also has the second most number of museums outside of Paris including Modern and Contemporary Art, Fine Arts, Art and History, and the famous Matisse. As with most European cities there is the old section of winding cobbled streets dating back over several centuries. It’s a great area to get lost within for an hour or two while discovering the quaint patisseries of baked goods, restaurants serving fine French cuisine, or just people watching in the open square. Strolling the beachside Promenade des Anglais day or night is always interesting and entertaining.
There’s a daily Flower Market held in the main square, Cours Saleya, except on Monday when the Antiques Market takes places. There’s also a great Fruit & Vegetable Market and an open-air Fish Market in the centre of town. Olive oil sampling is a must while in Nice, as the freshness can’t be compared to anywhere else, with olive groves throughout the region. Follow this up with a nutritious and filling Salad Nicoise, a tradition around the world. Then work it all off with a climb up to Parc du Chateau/Castle Hill for an amazing view of the city and sea. There are also plenty of other surrounding hills that are interlaced with a network of old rural trails. Although most visitors arrive during the spring and summer months, many in the know head there in February for Carnival ~ one of the biggest in Europe ~ when it’s less crowded and hotels are less expensive.
There are many other locations of interest that make for ideal day trips away from the coastal waters, easily accessible within a couple of hours drive. Mougins has France’s first Shiseido Spa at the Hotel Le Mas Candille, and is also home to the Photography Museum that pays tribute to Pablo Picasso, longtime resident of the area. The town also housed Jean Cocteau, Paul Eluard and Man Ray at one point or another. Grasse is world-known for its perfumeries and flower gardens, so far as it has proclaimed itself the “Perfume Capital of the World.” Many prolific designers have honed their creations here. There are three Parfumeur’s open to the public that offer classes where individual fragrances are developed. It’s a chance to discover the inner Dior! There’s also the southern tip of the Alps, where resorts such as Isola 2000 offer great winter skiing or relaxed summer hiking adventures. The upper peaks offer spectacular views of the neighbouring Italian countryside.
Cannes
A short drive along the coast brings you to another world-known gathering spot for vacationers wanting a taste of the good life. Cannes lends to a more sophisticated taste than the old world charm of neighbouring Nice. Of course it’s most widely known for its Film Festival that first lit the screens in 1939, before closing one day later as World War II was declared. The official run began in 1946 and has now given Cannes the title of “Cinema Capital of the World”. Always a top destination for culture vultures, this year there is the added hype of Ron Howard’s Da Vinci Code, set for international release on May 19th after it opens the 59th annual Cannes Film Festival.
A relatively new event is the Shopping Festival that happens mid-January each year, and coincides with the French version of Boxing Day. All the stores mark down prices, hotels offer special rates and the Shopping Festival provides a week of non-stop fashion shows, theme party nights, and various other events that combines young designers and great creators from different horizons. Several well-known designers, both international and local, enjoy the spotlight in presenting the latest spring collections for both men and women. One of Cannes own is Aline Buffet. If high-end designer names aren’t within the budget, there’s always Rue Meynadier, a pedestrian-only area that offers affordable shopping with many unique neighbourhood shops.
As with Nice there is old Cannes, known to the locals as le Suquet, where many bars and restaurants beckon patrons to enjoy the Riviera hospitality. La Croisette runs along the waterfront and is famous for high end designer shops, beaches, and the Palais des Festivals where several year-round events take place. Cannes is also the only French town with three casinos, the first of which opened on January 28th, 1907 with next year marking 100 years of gambling and entertainment in the city. With such an array of activity, Cannes radiates culture in the widest sense!
The Lerins Islands are just a short boat ride across the harbour where a visit to either Isle of Sainte-Marguerite or Saint-Honorat makes for a great day trip. Sainte-Marguerite is a natural ecosystem of pine and eucalyptus forest, tiny lakes and a bird sanctuary. It’s also home to the 17th century Fort Royal and the famous “Man in the Iron Mask” cell. Saint-Honorat is home to monks of an abbey sixteen centuries old and has an annual production of 30,000 bottles of wine and a grand selection of well-known liqueurs.
Gay - Mais Oui
As with France in general, the Riviera is quite gay-friendly and a great place to go for a honeymoon, but don’t plan to elope here. Despite having an all-gay television station, an openly gay Mayor in Paris, and the joie-de-vivre attitude, it’s still not legal for same-sex couples to wed or adopt. However, the government does recognize same-sex civil unions (PACS as they are known locally) that provides added protection in areas such as finances, housing and social security.
Both Nice and Cannes have a fair size gay culture comprised of gay or gay-friendly dining, drinking and shopping establishments. There is no real gay village per se but there are clustered areas throughout each city, with most everything within easy walking distance. For those hot summer days be sure to check out the gay-friendly beaches of Castel Plage and Beach Klubber in Nice, and Vega Luna in Cannes. French cuisine is all about clogging the arteries, and taking time to do it. There’s no such thing as a “10 minutes or free” lunch guarantee here, just pure relaxation and quality conversation.
When the sun goes down it’s time to check out the nightlife of theatre, performances, lounges and dance clubs. A couple of the hotspots in Nice are Le Flag and Le Six, as well as the newly opened Bar de la Terrasse, while Cannes has Le Hype and Twiggy Bar. Be sure to pick up flyers at local gay-friendly establishments that will let you know of special one-night only events happening.
Trendy Gay -Friendly Accommodations
The list of hotels in the area is as trendy as the designers and musicians who flock to them. The Windsor Hotel in Nice has individually artist designed rooms, and amenities that include sauna, massage room and outside tree-covered terrace. For an even more avant-garde experience, the HI Hotel seems almost as if it was created from a space-age prototype with angular shapes, technology equipped gadgets, and quirky designed furnishing. For a more conventional resting spot there’s the Beau Rivage, contemporary with modern conveniences and the only hotel with a private beach. The Hotel Negresco is a historical privately owned palace decorated with period art pieces and furniture from Renaissance to today.
Not to be outdone, over in Cannes is the Hotel 3-14 that utilizes the techniques of Feng-Shui to create the perfect sleeping quarters with each floor arranged within the theme of continents. The Villa D’Estelle offers very reasonably priced self contained units, and one amazing penthouse suite that has four separate bedrooms with private baths, full kitchen, living and dining room, and ocean view balcony. The Intercontinental Carlton will put you in Seventh Heaven with its seven top floor suites named after stars including Elton John and Sofia Loren. Their “Celebrity Bar” is the place to be seen whether you are a hotel guest or not.
The Riviera is where the trendiest of the trend setters can be seen throughout the year, and it’s an area where artists and designers still have an opportunity to thrive. The amount of people more than doubles during the summer month’s, so why not consider an off-season vacation when it’s less crowded yet equally as beautiful. The Riviera is truly a year round playground!
Tell Me More
Nice Tourism, www.nicetourisme.com
Nice Carnival, www.nicecarnaval.com
Cannes Tourism, www.cannes.fr
Cannes Film Festival, www.festival-cannes.fr
Shopping Festival, www.cannesshoppingfestival.com
Cannes Festivals, www.palaisdesfestivals.com
France Guide, www.franceguide.com
Isola 2000 Village, www.isola2000.com
Grasse Parfumeur’s, www.fragonard.com,
www.molinard.com, www.galimard.com
Aline Buffet, www.alinebuffet.com
Windstar Cruises, www.windstarcruises.com
Air France, www.airfrance.com
Accommodations - Nice
Windsor Hotel www.hotelwindsornice.com
Hi Hotel www.hi-hotel.net
Beau Rivage www.nicebeaurivage.com
Hotel Negresco www.hotel-negresco-nice.com
Accommodations - Cannes
3-14 www.3-14hotel.com
Villa D’Estelle www.villadestelle.com
Intercontinental Carlton www.cannes.interconti.com
Germany A Musical Journey
By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario :: info@bryendunn.com
Published: Gaiety Magazine - Summer 2006
Germany has a long history of musical significance, dating as far back as the 12th century with Minnesingers and Meistersingers. Today the pulse of music still exuberates with a burgeoning hip-hop scene in Hamburg to Berlin’s techno-based Love Parade. This melodious journey through the ages provides a background for music aficionados to trace the trails of their favourite composers and icons.
Bavarian folk music is likely the most well-known style outside of Germany, and is still quite popular today, generally associated with Oktoberfest celebrations, first held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Bavaria's King Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
The first form of German pop music is said to be cabaret, which arose during the Weimar Republic in the 1920s as the sensual music of late-night clubs. Marlene Dietrich and Margo Lion were among the most famous performers of the period, and became associated with both humorous satire and liberal ideas. "Wenn die beste Freundin" (1928) was one of the earliest lesbian-themed song.
The Nazis came to power in Germany during the 1930’s, and many musicians fled the country. Following the war, German composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen and Hans Werner Henze began experimenting with electronic sounds in classical music. The strict regimentation of youth culture in Nazi Germany through the Hitler Youth led to the emergence of several underground protest movements, through which adolescents were better able to exert their independence and sexual permissiveness. Through the 1950’s and early 1960’s, everything became Americanized and directed toward consumer behavior.
During the 1960’s, Germany was virtually missing from the map of rock music, but the late blooming of psychedelic music changed the German scene in a dramatic way around 1968, when three young musicians (Conrad Schnitzler, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Klaus Schulze) founded the "Zodiak Free Arts Lab" in Berlin. This became the first venue for popular electronic music in Europe. There was a concerted attempt to create a distinctively German popular music as a means to counter Anglo-American centrism.
At the time, the German musical avant-garde had been experimenting with electronic music for more than a decade, including such krautrock groups as Tangerine Dream. German chanteuse Nico who sang with the Velvet Underground in New York before returning to Europe, was once described as “straddling the line between aristocratic and prostitute with the elegance of a ghost.” Kraftwerk are likely one of the most well known German bands that emerged from the late 1970’s. They stand at the bridge between the old European avant-garde and today's Euro-American pop culture. They were presented with a blank slate in postwar Germany, which their early music reflected by way of long moody electronic pieces that used noise and industrial elements indivisible from everyday sounds.
Klaus Schulze (Tangerine Dream) was one of the most significant, influential and original composers of the 1970’s. He pioneered a number of genres that would become popular during the following thirty years, from disco to ambient. Neue Deutsche Welle was an outgrowth of British punk rock and new wave which appeared in the mid-to late 1970s. It was at this time that German born keyboardist and producer Giorgio Moroder brought forth the beginnings of euro-disco music and synth-pop, and worked with Silver Convention and Boney M to produce international hits.
The 1980’s brought further world recognition and experimentation into music with such classics as Trio's metaphysical anthem Da Da Da (1981), Falco's funk jam Der Kommissar (1982), Nena's pacifist ditty 99 Luftballoons (1983), and Peter Schilling's epic synth-pop ballad Major Tom (1983). A more experimental approach was carried out with Nina Hagen's Nunsexmonkrock (1982) and Liliput's self-titled release (1982). Klaus Nomi bridged the gap between opera and rock and was recently paid respect in the amazing documentary, The Nomi Song. Einsturzende Neubauten was a strong voice of this rebellious generation that bridged the gap between 1970’s progressive-rock, and the newer underground industrial, punk-rock, and back beats. KMFDM was a cross of blues, dub, Gospel, hip-hop and heavy metal. Enigma also reached international success with their ambient ethereal sounds. It was a fun and exciting time of creation for musicians.
During the 1990s, the German scene exploded even further. More than in the 1970’s, Germany overshadowed Britain to become the real alternative to the American scene, with many bands achieving international acclaim, including Atari Teenage Riot, Mouse on Mars, and Rammstein.
Today, Hamburg is well known for producing some of the most popular German hip hop acts, such as 5 Sterne Deluxe, Samy Deluxe, Beginner and Fettes Brot. Outside of the United States, Germany generates the most sales for recorded hip hop, and has one of the more vibrant scenes in the world. Hamburg is also famous for an original kind of German alternative music called Hamburger Schule ("School of Hamburg"), that incorporates intellectual lyrics with postmodern theories and social criticism. Of historical significance, both Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms were born in the city.
Germans are proud of their musical heritage and continue to celebrate each year by way of various festivals that happen throughout the country. This year in particular there are a couple of significant celebrations worth noting. The city of Dresden is celebrating its 800-year Jubilee, with special events planned during the week of July 14th to 23rd. “Time for Dresden” is an ambitious project of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra promising a spectacular multimedia event. Together with the Pet Shop Boys, the gay priests of electro-dance pop, they are planning a live performance of the film music to Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein's cinema classic “Battleship Potemkin”, high atop a building on Prager Strasse.
One third of Schumann’s complete works were composed in Dresden and there are numerous concerts to be held in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of the composer. Visitors will also have the opportunity to hear by many composers who had some sort of connection to the city. These include greats like Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner, as well as Peter Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss.
For those seeking to capture some musical history or explore the
musical future there are several festivals to choose from below:
Beethoven Festival in Bonn (Sept) www.beethovenfest.de
- drawing leading singers and artists from all over the world
Dresdner Music Festival (May) www.musikfestspiele.com/cms/en/home/
Wurzburg Mozart Festival (June) www.mozartfest.de-
ensembles and orchestras with chamber and symphony concerts at various venues
Munich Opera Festival (June – July) www.muenchner-opern-festspiele.de
– join the greatest
Bayreuth Festival (July) www.bayreuther-festspiele.de-
Wagner’s operas are reinterpreted in innovative, energetic and modern
ways
JazzFest Berlin (Nov) www.berlinerfestspiele.de
- one of the world’s best
Carnival of Cultures (June) Berlin www.karneval-berlin.de
– Party with one million people celebrating culture and diversity
Cologne Christopher Street Day (July) www.csd-cologne.de
- Pride Celebrations
Munich Oktoberfest (Sep/Oct) www.oktoberfest.de
– Nothing else to be said
Love Parade (July) Berlin www.loveparade.net
- largest techno gathering in the world
Mayday (May) www.mayday.de -
one of the oldest and most reputed electronic music festivals
Nature One (June) www.nature-one.de
- large open air Techno festival, featuring many renowned DJ’s from Germany
and all over the world
Rock am Ring (June) www.rock-am-ring.com
- held annually at the Nürburgring racetrack.
Hurricane Festival (in the north) and Southside Festival (in the south) are
twin events held in June that happen simultaneously and cater mainly to alternative
music fans. (www.hurricane.de)
(www.southside.de)
M'era Luna Festival (August) www.fkpscorpio.com/meraluna
– largest goth festival in Europe
Wacken Open Air (August) www.wacken.com
– largest metal festival in Europe
Music education starts early for German students, who often take up the piano or violin while still in elementary school. Music is a compulsory subject and participation in ensemble music is encouraged. Today, more than 300,000 people earn their livelihoods as composers, performing artists, music teachers, and specialists within the music industry in Germany. Many receive training at one of the country’s 34 music academies or 65 universities.
With this impressive legacy, active public interest and participation, and robust government funding for musical activities, Germany is a haven for music makers and lovers. Germany invites music fans from around the world to travel in the footsteps of their musical geniuses!
Tell Me More
German Tourism, www.cometogermany.com,
www.germany-tourism.de,
www.about-germany.org
Berlin, www.berlin.de
Hamburg, www.hamburg-tourism.de
Munich, www.muenchen.de
Frankfurt, www.frankfurt.de
Dresden Celebrations, www.frauenkirche-dresden.org,
www.dresden.de/800
Klaus Nomi,www.klausnomi.com,
www.thenomisong.com
Lufthansa Airlines,www.lufthansa.com
QUEENS OF THE NORTH
By Bryen Dunn, Toronto Ontario :: info@bryendunn.com
Published: Gaiety Magazine - Spring 2007
History, Politics, and Personalities
Scandinavia has always been recognized for its progressive attitude and politics with regard to gay and lesbian rights. In 1948 the first Danish gay society was founded by Axel Axgil, which was soon followed by a Norwegian and Swedish section in 1950. In 1998 the organization marked its 50th year jubilee as the oldest still operating gay society.
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 Today
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 Community
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.
Gay Tour Operators – Either Pink Viking (www.pinkviking.net)
or Out Scandinavia (www.outscandinavia.dk)
can assist with local travel itineraries.
Denmark Tourist Information, www.visitdenmark.com
Sweden Tourist Information, www.visistsweden.com
Copenhagen
Outgames 2009, www.copenhagen2009.org
Tivoli, www.tivoli.dk/composite-3351.htm
Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, www.cglff.dk/english.php
Copenhagen Pride, www.copenhagenpride.dk/uk/
Queer Festival, www.queerfestival.org
Rust, www.rust.dk
Culture Box, www.culture-box.com
Oscar Bar and Café, www.oscarbarcafe.dk
Jailhouse Restaurant and Bar, www.jailhousecph.dk
Boiz Nightclub, www.boiz.dk
Copenhagen Architecture and Design Days, www.cphadd.com
Copenhagen Distortion, www.cphdistortion.dk
Copenhagen Music Week, www.copenhagenmusicweek.com
Front Hotel, www.front.dk
The Square Hotel, www.thesquarecopenhagen.com
Museum Erotica, www.museum-erotica.dk
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, www.louisiana.dk
Copenhagen Tourist Information & Gay Life, www.visitcopenhagen.com,
www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk
Meet Gay Copenhagen, www.meetgaycopenhagen.dk
Stockholm
Nordic Light Hotel, www.nordiclighthotel.se
Stockholm Tourist Information, www.stockholmtown.com
Victory Hotel, www.victory-hotel.se
Berns Hotel, www.berns.se
The Rival, www.rival.se
Clarion Hotel, www.clarionstockholm.com
Lord Nelson, www.lordnelsonhotel.se
Malmo
Wonk, www.wonk.se
Malmo Festival, www.malmofestivalen.se
Master Johan Hotel, www.bestwestern.com
Malmo Tourist Information,www.malmo.se
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