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Even with all the moves by the powers that be to spruce up Bangkok for the APEC meeting next month, and the new social order's advances, there were good times aplenty to be had around the country over the last few weeks, and lots more planned for next month!

The current pressure on venues to tone down is resulting in more clothing and less exposed flesh in the go-go bars (gay and straight) and some innovative shows as bars improvise to fit into the current environment. Some of the saunas have closed certain areas or restricted activities for a while as well. The raid at Cruising Sauna and the TV discussion program last week on gay saunas has brought unwanted publicity at a difficult enough time. Everyone is saying it will start to ease up again soon, but as can be seen from the flood of events last month and over the next few months it is still very much party time around town anyway!

August got off to a great start with the Bangkok Pride kick-off parties. The first was the Pink party in Silom Soi 4, with a packed soi entertained by Rainbow Connection, the Throb, Icon and Xtreme dancers and Khun Meng from DJ Station, and of course the contestants for Mr and Miss Pink. The night raised 19,000 Baht for Bangkok Pride. Further kickoff parties were held at G-host Pub Rachada and the bars in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 89/2 with the Rainbow Connection performers and the Bangkok Pride executive taking the message beyond the usual Silom audience. Pictures and details in the gallery here and on the Bangkok Pride website.

Still in Bangkok, Xtreme celebrated their 2nd Birthday in September with special shows all night, and the Pattaya Gay Festival came to Bangkok for a night of fun at Dick's Cafe Bangkok on the 2nd. And Telephone Pub is offering the chance to perv on some farung bodies for a change on the 25th with their "Sexy Farang Contest"! This will be followed by the more usual focus in the "Miss Dream" competition at Blue Star on the 29th.

Coming up next month is Bangkok Pride's Loy Nava Cruise to Koh Kret on October 12 - very popular last year so book early for this year's (see the Bangkok Pride website - and the Duangthawee Plaza soi party on the 19th, also a Bangkok Pride fundraiser. Blue Star will be searching for the "Man of your Dreams" and Tawan Bar will also be celebrating their birthday in October, and of course everywhere will be celebrating Halloween on the 31st - see the calendar for full details.

Down Pattaya way, the Pattaya Gay Festival has had a very busy schedule as usual, with a Talent Contest at Boyz Boyz Boyz on 14 August, a Charity Dinner at Le Café Royale on 23 August, then the Miss PGF Contest on the 31st. Events continued in September with a party at Dicks Cafe Bangkok on the 2nd. And coming up in October is Mister Body Beautiful at Throb/Splash on the 2nd and the charity dinner at Casa Pascal Restaurant on the 20th. As at the end of August more than 1 million Baht had been raised by PGF in 2003.

Also in Pattaya, Throb/Splash had a full month of fun collection teddy bears from around the world for their "Teddy bears Picnic" on August 28, the bears were then donated to a local orphanage.

And the ever popular Dick's Cafe in Bangkok opened there new premises in the Jomtien Complex with a great opening night party on 13 September - pictures on the Dick's web site and in the gallery here. Opening next month in Pattaya is the Poseidon Guest House, also in the Jomtien Complex - the place for new venues in Pattaya!

Comings and goings down in Phuket as well with the closure in September of the Uncle Charlie's bar in Paradise, with most of the staff moving to the new Doorman Bar a bit further up the soi. Now open in the old location is Golden Boys. Opening 3 October is Fire Island disco - a new gay venue in the Paradise complex, a real disco with large dance floor and lighting and sound system to match. The opening night is advertised as a foam party so get your dancing swimware on and be there! Details on their web site.

Opening in November in Phuket will be the new Sphinx Restaurant and Theatre. Located just a few blocks from the Paradise area, the restaurant will offer the same great food, service and ambiance of the Bangkok restaurant. Upstairs will be shows featuring the Pharaoh's dancers, previously based at the ICON Showbar in Pattaya. Look for more details here and on the Sphinx website next month.

See the calendar for details of what else is coming up next month and the directory listings for the latest venue changes!