May 19, 2010

Anytime you go to New York City, there never seems to be enough time to do everything you want to do or see all the people you want to. This trip was particularly hectic because the GT team was helping to promote the FIRST ever Gay Travel Guru search. The Suite LifeWhile in NYC, we stayed at The Algonquin Hotel on West 44th Street. More than a hotel, the Algonquin in an important part of the city’s history. The location of the “Algonquin Round Table,” famous writers, including Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and Robert E. Sherwood would lunch here on a regular basis. Some of these writers contributed to Vanity Fair. So it was fitting, and an AMAZING opportunity to stay in the Vanity Fair suite. Covers of past issues were the perfect accent to the heavenly king bed and other comforts that were offered. At first I was puzzled by the stuffed animal sitting near the couch. I asked the reservation manager about the cat. He told me her name was Matilda. She was a toy replica of the real Matilda, The Algonquin’s “resident feline” that roams the lobby. Not only are there stuffed animals made in her likeness, she also has business cards and an email address. Most of the accommodations and amenities at the hotel are top notch. The gym is small but it does have all of the essential equipment you need for a workout. Without a doubt, The Algonquin is the perfect place to stay if you are looking to experience classic New York elegance and luxury.Hitting ChelseaA 10 minute cab ride later, we were in Chelsea, New York’s most prominent gayborhood. We met friends at Cafeteria. Open 24 hours a day, Cafeteria is a great place to grab a drink or a great meal. From seared yellow fin tuna to chicken and waffles, there’s something for every taste. Most of the waiters and patrons are gay, so it’s also a great place to check out the Chelsea boys.Next came G Lounge, I remember going there years ago. It’s a popular spot that offers great drinks, hot dancers and dance music. Be prepared to knock elbows – the venue is small and draws a rowdy crowd.On Thursday, after window shopping on 5th Avenue and strolling through Central Park, it was time to head to our first launch party at Splash. In a city where bars open with a lot of hype and close when they are no longer fashionable, Splash has stood the test of time. Here we found a great selection of applicants for our Gay Travel Guru job search. Many have blogs, some are published writers and are well-connected in the New York City gay scene. “Today” Wasn’t Our DayFriday was an EARLY day. At about 3 in the morning, we grabbed our “Get Paid to Sleep Around” banner and headed to Rockefeller Center for a chance to be seen on “The Today Show.” For anyone planning on doing this, don’t get there at 3! Nobody shows up until 5:30. Luckily, three older ladies from Long Island kept us company in line. They saw our gaytravel.com banner and promptly showed us photos they had taken with a drag queen after seeing “La Cage Aux Folles.”We got through the barrier to get on “The Today Show,” but didn’t get much air time. The camera crews avoided us at every turn, but we did sneak our way on air in back of a cooking segment in the last hour. From the mixed results of “The Today Show,” it was time to rest up for our second launch party at Boxers NYC http://boxersnyc.com/. For only being open for a week, the sports bar seems to already be a popular spot with locals and out-of-towners like us. Boxers displays rugged “Abercrombie-esque” portraits and plasma TVs tuned to sporting events. The perfect décor for their laid-back patrons.Needless to say, New York City was a crucial stop on our Guru launch junket. The applicants here are sophisticated, social media savvy and well-connected. With so much to experience, the second you leave you start thinking about what you’ll do when you come back!Written By: Jon Fairbanks

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