One year ago, gay actor-director extraordinaire Xavier Dolan shot Adele’s Hello video just outside his native Montreal. The world watched transfixed as our still-heartbroken heroine, wrapped in faux-fur, emoted amid rolling hills, epic maples and twirling leaves.
The clip was a love letter to Canadian autumn. And yet, almost paradoxically, it was filmed in black and white. Don’t get me started. Similarly, standing atop Montreal’s imposing Mount Royal in fall, exploring the picturesque Parc du Mont-Royal thereon, is your chance to channel your inner-Adele in rich, explosive technicolor.
Yes, the surrounding countryside provides the perfect playground for foliage followers. But gay Montreal – home to 1.65 million, the largest in the Quebec province and the second-largest French-speaking city worldwide after Paris – is the natural start to such an adventure.
By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News
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My friend Ming and I had been housemates in London and I was a bit gutted when he decided to move to Toronto. He seemed to settle in quickly to his adopted city, so it didn’t take much persuading from him before I was cashing in my air-miles and making my first visit to Canada.
I’d subconsciously decided not to like Toronto – I was here to remind Ming what he was missing out on in London and, in my own subtle way, encourage him to move back.
I took a taxi from the airport to Ming’s house in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood. After dropping off my luggage, it was straight out to dinner with Ming, his boyfriend Terry, and his friend Moine. It was a short wait for a table at izakaya-style Japanese restaurant Guu but we were soon tucking into tasty sharing plates of chicken, pork, and beef, all washed down with beer. ‘Irasshaimase!’ shouted the happy restaurant staff every time someone arrived – this is a busy, noisy, vibrant place. Undeniably great food.
The best part of the “eat local” trend is discovering a city with incredible regional ingredients. In Halifax, Nova Scotia, diners enjoy an embarrassment of riches, thanks to the region’s especially fertile and productive growing season, and the bold restaurateurs who take full advantage of Atlantic Canada’s best.
In this island province, seafood is of course the star attraction. It’s often so fresh that your fish, lobster, oyster, or other marine delicacy may have been pulled from the bay just hours before. Local chefs complement their prized seafood with well-suited herbs, vegetables, grains, as well as wines and craft brews unique to Nova Scotia. They also excel at making old-favorite dishes their own. Who knew there could be so many delicious versions of poutine or chowder?
Gay-friendly Halifax enthusiastically celebrates its Pride every July, but the rest of the year this midsize city is awash in its pride of food sourced from farms, fisheries, foragers, and small-batch producers. While you’re here, you’ll happily devour some of the tastiest food and creatively prepared dishes that we had the pleasure of experiencing during a recent visit.
Traveling with kids can be a wonderful, memory-building experience. Let’s be honest, it can also be one of those nightmares you can’t wake yourself up from. My wife used to be a travel agent so spends weeks planning our vacations. If our son had his way, the only sights we would see would be toy stores and amusement parks. I, on the other hand, have about a 30-minute tolerance for “family fun” activities before I start punching myself in the face and must be brought wine immediately. Balancing everyone’s vacation needs isn’t easy but if you’re visiting Vancouver, you’re in luck. Here are three uniquely Vancouver spots offering family fun without family breakdowns:
Granville Island
Your littles of any age will love Kids Market with a four-level play area, toy shops, old-fashioned arcade, outdoor water park and, every kid’s favorite, their very own kid-sized entrance door. Now that our son is a tween he’s too tall (and cool) for the door but it’s still the perfect height for me! “Ugh, mom, you’re so embarrassing.”
Granville Island is also home to artist studios, clothing boutiques, gift shops, restaurants and the world famous Public Market. You could spend all day wandering outdoors, taking in busker performances, watching for seals in the surrounding waters, or enjoying an adult beverage on a patio. From Granville Island you can take a wee ferry to several fun places like Science World, the Maritime Museum and English Bay. Not just a daytime destination, Granville Island has the highest concentration of live theatres in Vancouver, a brewery, and a hotel so you could happily spend a weekend there.
Last summer, Montreal’s Gay Village offered its customary seasonal flourish with the return of “Le Projet de Boules Roses,” artist Claude Cromier’s annual stringing of “Pink Balls” above a kilometer-plus long stretch of Sainte-Catherine Street. Part of the annual May to September Aires Libres public art event, the installation featured 200,000 balls this year, up from 170,000.
With Sainte-Catherine Street closed to vehicular traffic between Saint- Hubert to Papineau, the enhanced pink canopy provided its usual ambassadorial welcome to the summer surge of gay tourists enjoying the Village’s clubs, outdoor patios, restaurants, bars, shops, and other establishments. According to Community Marketing Inc.’s 2014 LGBT Tourism & Hospitality Survey, Montreal is an equal favorite alongside Toronto and Vancouver for gay travelers from the US, with Canada heading the list of preferred international destinations.
All would seem swell in the heart of one of the world’s most popular LGBT tourism destinations, n’est-ce pas? Well, not completely. As publicized earlier this year by the Montreal Gazette, the Village has been experiencing off-season blues for some time.
In keeping with the general trend of these technological times, the Internet is reportedly to blame, as Montreal’s younger gay crowd steers toward mobile dating applications instead of hitting the Village’s bars and clubs. As I learned from renowned Montreal journalist Richard “Bugs” Burnett, however, there is more to the story.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we welcome you to the Trinity House Inn. Our completely restored Inn offers individually appointed guest accommodations, fine dining, sofa lounge, open air rocking chair porch and sun verandah and award winning Victorian Waterfall gardens.
Trinity House Inn is for those who appreciate old-world charm and hospitality, together with the genuine beauty of surroundings and the quality of comfort it brings.
From the beautiful profusion of summertime flowers gracing the front steps to the distinctive lines of the bronze blue herons poised just inside the vestibule entrance to the exquisitely restored 1859 dwelling, the intrinsic beauty and old-world charm of Gananoque’s Trinity House Inn is readily apparent for all to see.
Today’s look encompasses one of exceptional attention to detail, from the proliferation of wonderful antiques throughout to the silky elegance of the rose on the pillow.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through our Victorian perennial gardens with ponds, statues and a small waterfall where the chefs harvest herbs and flowers for your dinner.
The Innkeeper gave the suites names like ‘Camelot’, ‘Beau Rivage’, ‘Prince Regent’ and ‘Aubrey’ to commemorate favourites among the Thousand Islands. Each of the eight guest rooms are individually appointed and offer modern amenities for the sophisticated traveller.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Situated in Montreal downtown east (Gay Village), Le Cartier Bed & Breakfast is 10-20 min walk to main city attractions: Old Montreal, downtown core, fireworks, Latin Quarter, Formula One Track, Palais du Congres, Summer Festivel (Intl Jazz, Just for Laugh, etc), Bell Centre, China Town, universities, casino, Mount Royal, cycling path, and much more.
All of our b&b rooms and suites are equipped with A/C, cable TV, audio CD, wood floor, and a high speed wireless internet connection. We also offer kitchenette facilities (microwave, refrigerator, etc) for guests (no cooking). Laundry service is available at extra cost (long term customers only). Continental breakfast is included.
We also offer private furnished apartment (please inquire).
Le Cartier Bed & Breakfast is just 1 minute away from the Montreal subway (Metro Papineau), bus station & Jacques-Cartier Bridge. We’re also close to the train & central bus station.
Le Cartier B&B is one minute from Ste-Catherine street (but away from noise on quiet side street) – a lively Montreal neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, night clubs, theatres, supermarkets, and more.
The Bed and Breakfast is newly renovated & decorated by local artists, and the 100-year stone house provides warmth and charm. The B&B is cozy, quiet and stylish. Le Cartier B&B has a beautiful front/back yard & balcony, providing ideal relaxing & meeting places for guests.
Fun local host who knows Montreal from A to Z offers great advice in exploring the city.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Welcome to the Gull River PostCard, a 3 bedroom waterfront rental with over 1700 square feet of living space and 500 square feet of deck overlooking the scenic Gull River. With one entire wall of windows overlooking the river and the forest beyond, the PostCard is perfect for any season.
Bring your boat! Launch either upstream at the Lutterworth Township Public launch or downstream at the Elliot Falls Public launch. Either way, your boat can dock @ the PostCard, waiting to carry you up river to Moore Lake and East Moore Lake, popular destinations for fishing, swimming, and pleasure boating.
Bring your water toys! The Gull River, with its soft current and beautiful water, welcomes you! Swim, kayak, canoe, paddleboard … all are common uses of this lovely waterway. Kids love the beach area and parents appreciate the shallow “wade in/play in” swim space between the docks. Guest WIFI extends to the waterfront area so you can stream tunes and stay connected while enjoying the sun, water, forest and sky.
Bring your fishing gear! There are terrific bass fishing spots downstream, upstream and in Moore and East Moore Lakes. Moore Lake is regularly stocked with lake trout. A seemingly endless supply of rock bass and other sunfish are easily caught right off the dock. If you are in a boat, check carefully along the east shore of the Gull River for pockets of hard-fighting perch – delightful fun to catch!
Bring your hiking boots, camera, and binoculars! In addition to the lovely woodland surrounding the Gull River PostCard, you are 10 minutes from the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Reserve, Ontario’s largest nature reserve. Just to the north, Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park is a highly rated “backcountry” hiker’s dream, offering some of the most unspoiled wilderness you will ever see in Ontario.
Bring your friends and family! The Gull River PostCard can sleep 6-8 people without using the great room. With the great room, groups of 12 are possible. With three comfortable bedrooms, as well as a pullout couch in the living area, a full kitchen, and a living room that is approximately 35 feet x 17 feet, you will not be wanting for space. Bring the gang that never has time to just hang out together. In the cooler weather, enjoy the cozy fireplace. In the summer, swim, boat, roast some marshmallows, and tell some stories at the outdoor fire pit. Relax and enjoy some “together” time.
Green living is a growing trend, which has expanded exponentially over the past few years. Travellers are now planning their holidays and booking hotels based on their eco-friendliness.
The tourism industry has evolved with many hotels and attractions changing their habits to match the growing demand to be eco-friendly. Today we introduce 5 of the best green spots around the world with a bit of help from our friends at the Travel Ticker team.
#1 LAOS
Tourism in Laos has really taken off in the past decade with tourists heading in their numbers to places like Vang Vieng and the UNESCO protected Luang Prabang. There’s more to the country of course, with a lot of undiscovered beauty, particularly in the more remote South.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Welcome to Montreal’s La Logia Art B&B, where you’ll find casual elegance and a romantic atmospherein each of our guest rooms & annex accommodations. Our Montreal guesthouse is furnished with unique art and furniture that your hosts have purchased from the local antique & retro boutiques.
Each of our guestrooms features private & shared bathrooms, king/queen sized beds, central air conditioning, and cable TV.
Each of our guest rooms includes exquisite linens on our antique beds, cotton towels and bath accessories.
We serve a complimentary expanded continental breakfast in the dining room, outdoors on the terrace (in the summertime) or in the common breakfast area. We also have snacks and refreshments available all day long. We want you to feel at home while you to enjoy your stay in total privacy.
We’re also happy to help with directions, reservations for local restaurants, information about plays or any other local evetns.
Our rooms also include fax service and computer hook up for your convenience. The subway (the metro) is only three blocks away and will connect you to all parts of the island.
Just three minutes away from La Loggia on foot, and you’ll be in the heart of every available diversion you may need, shopping, restaurants, clubbing – everything’s close-by.
There is plenty of metered and private parking right outside the door.
Pur Montreal accommodations also offer daily newspapers, magazines, and books. There’s even a barbeque area available for any guests who may want to grill a steak and enjoy the privacy of our beautiful terrace area before going out to the clubs.
The Terrace also has plenty of room to take in the sun as well as an outdoor shower just to cool off when the temperatures start soaring.
Looking for a great friendly place to stay in Montreal? Come stay with us at La Loggia Art B&B!