|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
Philly is not what it used to be. The image of a town that rolls up its sidewalks at 10pm is long gone and this burg has become a place to be. So many people live here and work in New York that some call it the Sixth Borough. The center of town, Center City, is where all the action is for a naked traveler visiting the City of Brotherly Love. Places to stay are plentiful but if you want to stay gay, the Alexander Inn (alexanderinn.com) is the hotel for you. Decorated in a retro deco style, it is located smack in the middle of Philly's gayborhood. Exploring the bars and other treats will tickle your naked sensibility. As always, the Naked Traveler looks for strippers whenever he gallivants. The Post (thepostphilly.us) and Key West serve up strippers on weekends. Key West is a large establishment and draws a varied crowd of friendly people; the strippers are hot, friendly, and make certain to give each patron a few up close and personal moments. At The Post, the oldest existing gay bar in Philly, the back bar is where it all takes place. Talk about intimate! This place is downright close; there is a small stage where the guys do their acts and then hop down to meet and greet. The Naked Traveler and his friends have gotten close to a number of dancers, and all of them make you feel right at home. For some interesting naked pleasures there's the Bike Stop (thebikestop.com): four floors for a cruising good time. A dance floor at the top; a sports bar, Short Stop, on the second floor; the cruisiest nightspot in Philly is on the first floor; and deep down in the dungeon is the Pit Stop, for the leather crowd. Every Wednesday in the Short Stop is Underwear night (there's some itty bitty undies out there) and every Thursday is shirtless night. There are quite a few other naked surprises waiting at this bar. The 12th Air Command (12thair.com) - now that's a hard hitting name for a bar - is another Philly favorite. Two floors and a roof deck make this a great place to spend the evening. Plus, they have hot, hot dancers on varying nights which always scores well on the Naked Traveler's report card. The 12th Air has lots of special promotion nights: Hot Latin Male contests, Gay-Live nights, and special events every night of every week. One of the most popular spots in the city is the sprawling, two floor complex called Woody's (woodysbar.com), a bar with real community spirit and a friendly set of activities. One of the Naked Traveler's favorites is the line dance classes every Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. The Naked Traveler was entranced lately by one guy who added flourishes to his line dance that Texans never dreamt of. It's jam-packed on weekend nights and lots of fun. Other places to try are Bump (bumplounge.com) - great food, and even better martinis. This is a hot spot for guys who want to be seen. The Westbury, an old favorite in the middle of the gayborhood, is one of the friendliest places you'll find. It has the advantage of serving lunch and dinner every day. Though this bar attracts people from everywhere, it has the feel of a familiar local tavern. The bartenders are friendly and the patrons are, too. The Tavern on Camac is another place you'll find food and also a wonderful piano bar. While there's a dance floor upstairs, the piano bar is always packed with men. It's a hot and friendly place. The Venture Inn is another wildly popular bar/restaurant. You've got to make reservations, especially on weekends. The bar is where you enter, and it's a classy affair. Turn left and see the dark wood paneling of the restaurant and the cozy fireplace and you know your evening will be a satisfying one. The waiters here are an attraction in themselves - and do they have a memory. They never forget a face, pretty or not, and treat every patron like a long-lost friend. When you tire of spending time with your clothes on, you can always hoof it over to the Club Body Center. Don't expect the likes of the Ft. Lauderdale Club but it serves its purpose. Though there is a lot of exercise equipment, most patrons are more interested in skipping the weights to head to the steam room. Male Ego - not, it's not a syndrome - is a men's clothing/underwear shop where you can sport your finely worked body while you try on their wares. On occasion, a male model who will try on the underwear of your choice. But you probably won't be noticing the material or how well-made the briefs are. No visit to Philadelphia would be complete without a stop at Giovanni's Room (giovannisroom.com), the second oldest gay/lesbian bookstore in the United States. It has everything, as well as the friendliest staff and management anywhere. Should your bags be overflowing with goodies, they ship books anywhere. One of Philly's recent slogan campaigns said it's the "city that loves you back." Well, someone there will love you back. All you have to do is get there.  Joe DeMarco's latest projects include The Lavender Raven, an online GLBTQ mystery & more journal, at www.lavenderraven.com, as well as Mysterical-E, www.mystericale.com. Joe's website is www.josephdemarco.com Top |
|
||
| ||||
