Out of Town
by Victor Zorn

HERE AND THERE

Get away this month or just play tourist at home

The chilly months—such as they are in Houston—have passed. You want to get out of town. Here are a few suggestions away from the Bayou City. Or impersonate a savvy traveler and kick up your heels at home.

DOWN MEXICO WAY

The yearly Cancun International Gay Festival spices up the Mexico resort city May 6–10. Planned activities for the five-day fest, which welcomes men and women, include a tequila welcome fiesta (olé!) a beach party, and sunset Caribbean cruise.

As some Mexico trekkers know, Cancun, established in 1974, is the rather bland Yankee version of our southern neighbor. Fortunately, a guided tour of nearby Maya ruins will appeal to those looking for a bit of culture.

Prices begin at $699 for all-inclusive accommodations at the beachfront Akul Hacienda Hotel, a personal tour guide, and admittance to festival events. Details: www.arcoisistours.com, 800/765-4370.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

The spring music festival at the lesbian-owned Highlands Inn in New Hampshire continues with a stellar lineup of women performers, including Karen Grenier (April 23–25) and Rachel Sage (April 30–May 2). The bed-and-breakfast offers special deals this month. Details: www.highlands-innhn.com.

ALL WHITE

Like many gay guys, I have never danced shirtless at a circuit party with a mass of half-naked, pixilated men. But many queer boys have (and you know who you are). This month marks the 15th anniversary of the granddaddy of these hoedowns, the White Party in Palm Springs. Activities begin on April 9 with the event Dungeons & Drag Queens and wrap up with April 11 and April 12 pool parties.

Tickets to the Jeffrey Sanker-produced White Party events start at $100 for individual ducats to $450 for something called a Titanium VIP Pass. Grizzled community activists continue to ponder why massive money-generating events like the White Party are not enormous fundraisers for our causes. They aren’t.

At any rate, several area hotels offer special packages, which include more parties. Details: www.jeffreysanker.com, 310/860-8101.

Travel advisory: If you aren’t young, pretty, or buff or Daddy Warbucks, attend at your own risk.

JUST STAY HOME

The organizers of two local circuit-style bashes, the Easter-weekend Jungle 12 and Bunnies on the Bayou, hope you will play tourist and sign up for both the main events as well as the many affiliated events. The Jungle host hotels, Holiday Inn Select Greenway Plaza and Crowne Plaza Downtown, offer room discounts for the weekend.

Bonus: Both annual parties raise thousands of dollars for community organizations. The April 10 Jungle, presented by the Bayou City Boys Club, focuses on AIDS groups, including The Assistance Fund. The April 12 Bunnies will benefit 12 groups, among them the Houston GLBT Community Center.

Details: www.bcbc.info, www.bunnies.org.

PLAN AHEAD: NAUTICAL NUPTIALS

Same-gender couples seeking to cement some pre-election domestic-partnership bliss (at least the ceremonial kind) might check into the gay/lesbian wedding cruise, “Celebrate Your Love,” departing Galveston on September 6. Minister Deb (www.ministerdeb.com), well known for blending same-gender couples in California and the D.C. area, will conduct the en masse ceremony during the five-day voyage, organized by MyCruiseClub.com. All-inclusive rates range from $550 to $610 for an oceanfront cabin aboard the Carnival Celebration.

Details, reservations: www.mycruiseclub.com/celebrate.html.

Victor Zorn reported on Olivia’s L Word cruise in the January issue.

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