Quiet weekend. Rough news from some quarters. Tough week. So right now, here’s a golden oldie and a favorite of the thom blog:
The Song is from “Jerry Springer: the Opera”
Archive for the ‘Dance Clubs’ category
A little night music: I just wanna f**king dance
January 25th, 2010Summer trip to Madrid for Gay Pride (first week in July)?
January 8th, 2010I am thinking of leading a trip to Madrid this year for Gay Pride, which is the biggest in Europe. Madrid has become the most progressive and fabulously gay city in Western Europe right now and Pride is a blast. I would get us back stage passes to special events during pride, the Mr Gay Spain contest, get us on a float, and show you around the city. As you know I’ve been to Spain many times over the last eight years, and lived there recently. I’m trying to get a feel for the level of interest. It could be expensive (first rate hotels) or cheaper (some great hostals (which are like pensiones. Anyone have any interest? I can promise you a very good time with the chance to meet real Spaniards and see some amazing sights. El Prado, Reina Sofia, Palacio de communicaciones, Gran Via, and of course Chueca, a great great gay neighborhood.
Because Spain has such great high speed rail systems, cities like Barcelona, Sevilla, Toledo, Segovia, and much more are only a couple hours a way.
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- The largest royal palace in Western Europe
Everyone is Gay in Madrid This Weekend
July 2nd, 2009
Madrid’s Gay Pride weekend is well underway following last night’s grand opening. The opening night festivities were held at 4 different stages in plazas surrounding the general Chueca neighborhood area (the gayest neighborhood in Europe). The craziest and most crowded part of the festival was the main stage in Plaza Chueca. You simply couldn’t move. I was lucky enough to get back stage and have a little breathing room from the crowd, but what a fun time everyone seemed to be having! I’ve been on main stages in different sorts of festivals before, but what was amazing here was that the crowd actually listened to the speakers and participated with the music, dancing, and general craziness. Madrid really knows how to throw a party. One of my ongoing complaints about the city government is what a terrible job they doing letting people know about what a great LGBT destination Madrid is.
Later we went to Plaza del Rey for the cultural festival portion of the festivities (this is where I finally got to practice my Spanish in front of an audience). There was a much smaller crowd and a really pleasant atmosphere. Afterwards, we had dinner with LGBT activists and leaders from around the country at the very nice Jardin restaurant.
Tonight, the party continues. The Madonna-directed documentary will be premiering for the first time in Spain and tomorrow comes Mr Gay Spain. I have back stage passes for both events, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
There is so much going on all week in the Chueca and surrounding area that you really should check out the official site, or the city’s official information page, available in English. Find out about the high heel race, the month-long cultural festival, and the chill out planned in the Parque de Buen Retiro. And if you like diva pop, you should check out Kyle Minogue at Ventas, the bullring not far from the very center of the city.
Gay or straight, this is all stuff you should not miss as a tourist in Madrid. It can be argued that Madrid puts on one of the best of these sorts of celebrations anywhere in the world. Even the National Geographic couldn’t miss the wonder that is Pride Madrid:
It boasts Western Europe’s largest Royal Palace and its most audacious gay pride parade
The amazing this is that it is all done without any money from the city or provincial governments for a relatively small amount of money, around 300,000 euros.
The big day will be Saturday of course, for the parade and festival. I’ve not had a chance to spend much time with my friends, but I do hope to get to be with them to watch the parade. I hope you will be joining us.
It’s Friday, 100 degrees, Madrid. It’s Gonna a Be a Fun Night
June 12th, 2009
It is the first really hot day of the Spring in Madrid today. The weekend will continue the heat wave. And, yes, a dry heat does make a difference.
Madrid is interesting when it is hot. My apartment is actually pretty cool in temperature, I have an interior unit without a lot of sunlight and it just hasn’t heated up that much. So, I, like many in the city who can, will work from home today. Since my day generally includes talking to India in the AM, Spain in afternoon, and the US and Paraguay later in the day, the schlep to the office on a day like this is a nice option. Not sure my boss likes that I take it, but its effing 100 degrees!
So when I went out with the dog to buy the paper and a pack of smokes, the streets were pretty quiet. There is a distinct difference in the shade. But tonight is when the streets will be alive.
I still remember my first time in Madrid about 6 years ago. It was a day like this, and I had arrived late in the afternoon by train from Malaga. I took a nap. The city streets were pretty empty at 7 PM, but when I woke up at 2 AM and looked out the window, the streets had come alive. Like rush hour anywhere else in the world.
Tonight there will be people out all over the streets. There will be botellones in the plazas. Botellones are (illegal) outside drinking parties, mostly youth, who are getting blasted early in the evening so that they can save their money to go to the dance clubs later at night. The clubs really won’t start hopping until about 4 AM. Restaurants will be full from 10 or 11 PM onward, filled with families, including babies and toddlers. The entire city will be out and strolling.
Fuencarral Street, a fashionable and hip street near the gay neighborhood is being turned into a pedestrian only zone and is almost done. So a lot of people will be out there too.
I will be with the crowds. Sweating, walking, bringing the dog, swigging a beer on a terraza and being thankful for a perfect madrid night like this.
Plaza Cheuca, Madrid's Gay Heart
