Las Vegas/us - Guidemag.com

travel guide
Las Vegas
Las Vegas/us
A playground for adults, Vegas offers stage shows
and gambling, cruisy bars and prostitutes, steam
rooms and shopping
Michael Darton
L
as Vegas in Spanish means ‘The
Meadows’ — ironically due to
its once abundant wild vegetation. The humble early 19th
century Mexican and Mormon
settlers who came to this interesting
valley would hardly recognize the land
now. Gambling, banned in 1909, was
again legalized in 1931 and marriage
and divorce laws were relaxed, creating
the basis for the “Sin City” reputation
that persists to this day. Despite recent
attempts to remake the city’s image
into something more “family friendly,”
gaming remains the financial lifeblood
of the region.
Prostitution, another big no-no in US
society, has been a misdemeanor in Las
Vegas and other large cities since 2004.
State-regulated brothels are permitted
in rural Nevada counties, but escorts are
still readily available in the casinos and
openly advertised along the strip. When
you think of Vegas, do you imagine the
glory days with entertainers the likes
of Liberace, Sinatra and Elvis; or the
elaborate shows of Cirque du Soleil today;
or the fantastic constructions of the strip
casinos; or legendary mobsters; or the
antics of Howard Hughes; or the Boulder
Dam and atomic bomb tests (less than
an hour drive away) from 1951 to 1963?
This city, in the popular imagination, has
the allure of larger than life, forbidden,
unrestricted and risqué experience with
just sufficient hints of danger to attract
millions of visitors from more conventional hometowns: a “magic kingdom” for
adults.
Bright lights, and endless entertainment
options, vie for attention here, including
many clubs with 24-hour liquor licenses,
and gambling opportunities ranging from
the ubiquitous slot machines to the highstakes tables of the top-end establishments. Elaborate themed hotels including
the Venetian, the Paris and Circus-Circus,
with their tacky interpretations of reality,
can be forgiven as appealingly over-thetop indulgences. Others are modern and
high-tech, including the Wynn, a trendy
celebrity hangout. Huge numbers of
people attend the numerous conventions
held non-stop in this city.
Flying in you’ll land at McCarran International Airport, named for their very
conservative former Senator, just a mile
from The Strip. An estimated 46 million
passengers pass through here each year.
Some 1,800 one-arm bandits grace the
airport, as most everywhere here from
convenience stores to gas stations.
Accommodations
Blue Moon Resort (2651 Westwood
Dr; Bluemoonlasvegas.com), gay
men’s oasis is sex-charged, cruisy, permissive, secure, fun and clean, but very
private and discreet. Massage service,
high-speed wireless internet access, 45
elegant rooms with flat-panel TVs — and
a famous buffet breakfast. There’s uninhibited action in their big steam room,
the clothing-optional lagoon-style pool,
or in the 10-man Jacuzzi grotto and communal video room. A bar, internet café, a
walking path, and a 10-foot waterfall are
other amenities. Regular poolside events
include visits from guys at Rentboy.com.
Day passes are available, so if they’re full
you can still join the fun.
Getting around
Airport limos, taxis, buses or rental cars
will get you easily into town. Shuttle service to the strip is $4. For those staying
and playing close to the strip, a monorail
running between the Sahara to the MGM
Grand covers most places you’ll need to
go with stops along the way on two lines,
one running 24 hours a day.
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Las Vegas at night. A city we already know from TV and movies.
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Bars & clubs
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Pride is May
The Las Vegas Annual Pride events (Lasvegaspride.org) kick off with a May 1 nighttime parade downtown. The following day
is all ‘out’ for the festival. And on May 3,
check out the clothing-optional T-dance
and pool party at The Blue Moon Resort.
lasvegaspride.org.
Las Vegas
GUIDE
of Las Vegas’s first dance clubs.
The largest dance club, Krave (3663
Las Vegas Blvd S), attracts a mixed
late-night crowd and world-renowned
DJs. Weekly cabaret, theater and celebrity
appearances contrast with amateur strip
nights.
Good Times (1775 East Tropicana
Ave) is most popular with the young
crowd on Mondays, when there’s a liquor
and beer bust. But they also have show
nights and they’re open 24 hours, right
next door to the Liberace Museum.
Fun Hog Ranch (495 East Twain)
is a men’s club for Levis & leather guys
and bears. Darts, gaming, and pool and
a down-home “be yourself” atmosphere.
Cheap drinks attract early drinkers before
they hit the dance clubs.
Charlie’s (5012 South Arville) is part
of a chain with venues also in Chicago,
Denver, and Phoenix. A popular country &
western local hangout, they host a variety
of dance classes and hoedowns plus funky
disco nights. Benefits support Street
Teens and the Nevada AIDS Project.
Badlands Saloon (Commercial
Center, 953 East Sahara), offers beer
and liquor busts on the weekends and
domestic-drink specials Monday
through Thursday.
guide travel
While each of Las Vegas’ gay bars has a
unique flair to it, most have gambling and
inexpensive drinks in common. There are
all sorts of machines for you to try your
luck on, and “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 with a nearby
monorail stop (Sahara), Snick’s Place
(1402 South 3rd St) was Las Vegas's first
gay bar — and is still among the friendliest
in town. An early evening stop with wifi and
liquor to go.
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.
Here you’ll find Free Zone (610 East
Naples) with dancing, go-go and shot
boys, drag shows and an informal scene.
Try Buffalo (4640 Paradise Road), a
longtime country & western men’s favorite with a dash of Levis & leather.
Across the way, the high-energy club
Piranha (4633 Paradise Rd) has nightly hot go-go boys, dancing until dawn and
back bar. At 8 1/2 Ultra Lounge porn
stars appear each Thursday. Directly nextdoor is Gipsy (4605 Paradise Rd), one
At Snicks
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Las Vegas
travel guide
Las Vegas

Lodgings
Blue Moon Resort, 2651 Westwood
drive, Las Vegas,Nevada 89109; 866798-9194;
bluemoonlasvegas.com.
Las Vegas’ Only Gay Men’s Resort
featuring 45 professionally designed
guest rooms and suites, heated,
clothing optional pool in a private
compound, jacuzzi grotto, 10 foot waterfall, internet and tv lounge, video
lounge, steamroom, complimentary
wireless internet through-out. Complimentary breakfast daily and BBQ
every Sunday (weather permitting).
Just blocks to the Las Vegas strip! Air
and room packages available through
the website. A
Riviera Hotel / La Cage Show 2901
Las Vegas Blvd, S. W
Saunas & Sex Clubs
Hawks Gym is Las Vegas’ only
gay owned/operated club for men.
Friendly staff, steam room and
sauna, video rooms, lockers, game
room, showers and plenty of play
space! 1200 square foot dungeon
with showers and rest rooms. New
state-of-the-art $40,000 workout
facility. Wide selection of cock rings,
lube and aroma. Hawks is located
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in the same shopping center as The
Rack, S.E. Corner of Commercial
Center at 953 E. Sahara, Suite 102;
(702)731-4295; www.hawksgymlv.
com. B
Entourage Health Club and Spa.
A new concept at the old Apollo.
12,000sq ft steam room, sauna,
large Jacuzzi, internet café, gym,
Alley/Maze, swimming pool. 60
rooms with tv, treatment center,
hydro colon, hair removal, massage.
Open 24/7, 365 for your pleasure
and in-dulgence. Daily Entry Locker
$25, Room $30. Check www.entouragevegas.com for specials. (702)
650-9191 E E
Bars & Clubs
Snick’s Place, 1402 South 3rd St.
Just off the Strip between Sahara
Ave and Charleston Blvd. Tel: 702385-9298. Est 1976. Las Vegas’s
oldest and friendliest gay bar. Open
24 hours, 7 days a week, Where the
locals meet! D
Goodtimes 1775 E. Tropicana F
Las Vegas Eagle 3430 E. Tropicana G
Charlie's Las Vegas 5012 Arville H
Buffalo 4640 Paradise Rd. I
8-1/2 Ultra Lounge 4633 Paradise
Rd. J
Gipsy 4605 Paradise K
Free Zone 610 E. Naples L
Krave 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S M
Fun Hog Ranch 495 E. Twain N
Spotlight Lounge 957 E. Sahara Ave.
O
Ramrod 900 E. Karen Ave. P
Badlands Saloon 953 E. Sahara Ave.
Q
Backdoor Lounge 1415 E. Charleston R
Flex 4371 W. Charleston S
Escape Lounge & Cafe 4213 W. Sahara Ave. T
Shopping & Services
The Rack is Las Vegas’ most diverse
clothing store for both sexes. From
club to swimware, to custom leather,
bondage and fetish-ware, we’ve got
you covered. One of Nevada’s best
selections of cock rings lubricants
and toys. 702-732-7225; 953 E. Sahara Building 16, just north of Hawks
Gym. C
Get Booked 4640 Paradise Rd V
Etc
Gay & Lesbian Community Center
953 E. Sahara U
Sister Sious Saint Semen
Sloth at the Onyx
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www.squirt.org
Las Vegas
HOOK UP
ANYWHERE
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ACCESS CODE: GUIDE
Thousands of Local Cruising Listings
Live Webcam IM & Group Cam Chat
Local Profiles
XXX Pics & Porn
David & Mark at the Rack
Las Vegas’ most comprehensive
on-line GLBT resource
For more information please contact
Jim McNulty, Owner, at 702-882-3766 or [email protected]
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Las Vegas
travel guide
Learn about sex
For the history of all things erotic, the
informative and entertaining Erotic
Heritage Museum (3275 Industrial Way)
has art and artifacts that explore sexual
trends past and present. The toilet on the
first floor has graffiti covered walls with
amusingly explicit jokes and stories. Early
examples of peep-show booths here play
porn films from many eras, but the glory
hole is not intended for use!
Local gay media
Local gay magazines include Las Vegas
Night Beat (Lvnightbeat.com) and Q Vegas
(Qvegas.com). Gaylasvegas.com and
Vegasonesource.com have other gay info,
and Whats-on.com has listings of Vegas
dining, nightlife, gaming and entertainment options.
Back Door Lounge (1415 East
Charleston Ave) with a Latin flair,
hosts frequent Naked Papi Parties, muy
caliente, with top DJs and special shows.
Other bars include: Escape Lounge
(4213 West Sahara) in Liberty Square
(with a Statue of Liberty you can’t miss);
Flex (4371 West Charleston) with
weekend DJs and Thursday night ‘Adultery’ parties; Eagle (3430 East Tropicana) known for busy underwear nights
Wednesdays and Fridays; and Spotlight
Lounge (957 East Sahara) friendly and
popular for their daily drinks specials. Fusion Lounge on the East Side on Sahara,
the long-promised never-to-close bar, has
yet to open.
Event planner
May
Las Vegas Pride
May 1-3
lasvegaspride.org
July
Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas
Gay-friendly businesses and community
organizations host an annual welcoming
for GLBT visitors from around the world.
gaydaysandnights.com for dates, details.
September
BigHorn Rodeo
An annual event from the Nevada Gay
Rodeo Association
ngra.com for dates, details.
Michael at Blue Moon
Charlies
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January
GAYVN Expo
Annual adult entertainment expo.
gayvnexpo.com.
Restaurants
The casinos have some of the best allyou-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. For an economical buffet, try The Sahara with a
choice of meats from their cavery, chicken,
fish and ample cakes and desserts.
Shopping
Las Vegas is a shopaholic’s dream where
you can buy just about anything at malls
and outlet centers throughout the city.
The casinos all have shops, some of the
best around. Some must-sees include:
Fashion Show Mall (3200 Las Vegas
Blvd), one of the largest shopping malls
in the USA; Las Vegas Outlet Center
(7400 South Las Vegas Blvd); and
Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (3667 South
Las Vegas Blvd).
For gay shopping, check out the
Rack (Commercial Center, 953 East
Sahara) for dozens of categories of
merchandise. One whole room is devoted
to underwear and thongs with a range of
styles, one with a built-in cockring! Leather, rubber and gothic gear, toys, jewelry,
adult novelties, pumping accouterments,
and even kilts, adorn these shelves.
Leather Addictions (700 East
Naples) has leather & fetish wear, and
toys too.
Get Booked (4640 Paradise Rd) has
books, videos, gifts, & magazines — all in
both hard-core & soft-core varieties, plus
T-shirts and undies.
The Onyx Theatre (Commercial
Center, 953 East Sahara) behind
the Rack has inexpensive tickets to
Warm Welcome at Blue Moon
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Las Vegas
great movies and shows that include
stand-up comedy acts, and Rocky
Horror Picture Show screenings on first
and third Saturdays with the usual dressup shenanigans. They also host Porn
Bingo to aid local charities, often hosted
by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
In late April, La Cage Aux Follies will be
presented by Off-Strip Productions.
Saunas & playgrounds
Hawk’s Gym (Commercial Center;
953 East Sahara, Suite 102) gets busy
everyday with locals and out-of-towners,
and just celebrated a 7th Anniversary as
Las Vegas’s only gay-owned and operated
men’s gym for men. On special occasions
they fill fast, so arrive early. Hawk’s has
a state-of-the-art gym, a reputation for
cleanliness, 22 rooms and a huge, wellequipped communal dungeon room.
Entourage (953 East Sahara, Suite
A-19), in the Commercial Center's northwest corner, is “the hottest and safest
playground in Sin City” with 65 rooms and
60 lockers, dry sauna, indoor Roman style
pool, gym, Jacuzzi, dark room, sling room,
and a huge, cavernous maze steam room.
On stage
Las Vegas offers the hottest shows on
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Earth — for a price, of course, and you
need to reserve ahead. The Colosseum
at Caesars Palace wraps up Bette Midler
in The Showgirl Must Go On at the end of
January, to be followed by Elton John and
Cher later in 2009.
Cirque Du Soleil has outdone itself with
six shows now being performed in Vegas:
Zumanity, Love, O, Ka, Criss Angel Believe
and Mystère.
The Riviera hosts three shows with gay
appeal: Frank Marino as Joan Rivers in La
Cage; Fab Four Mania, a Beatles tribute;
and Ice, a show with some 42 very fit
Russian performers on a frozen stage.
Now playing the Sahara, Raw Talent
Live, is a dance spectacle with 45 hot
dancers. Also here are the classic R&B favorites the Platters, the Coasters and the
Marvelettes. Musicals on and around the
strip include Jersey Boys at the Palazzo,
Mama Mia at the Mandalay Bay Theater,
Phantom at the Venetian —which also
houses the Blue Man Theatre — and
Menopause the Musical at the Hilton.
For an interactive experience as part of
the show head to The Rio to enjoy Tony
and Tina’s Wedding. In this Italian-American wedding, the action takes place with
you as one of the guests! Dinner included.
Resources & information
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center
(953 East Sahara Ave, Suite B-31), in
Commercial Center, has comprehensive
calendar of events for local organizations.
Sexual health clinics, film-club nights and
social groups — plus internet access.
The Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have a calendar of events for hole-y
worship to benefit worthy causes. See
Sinsitysisters.
At La Cage
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