news

The good news is APEC is over so there are no more foreign dignitaries cluttering up the streets with their motorcades, the even better news is that over the next few weeks the streets will be full of partying gays from Thailand and all around the world as Bangkok and Pattaya both celebrate as only gays know how!

APEC of course meant traffic chaos and crackdowns on venues, but the upside was everyone who could got out of town (so there was traffic chaos in Pattaya as well) so Bangkok sidewalks etc were not as crowded as they usually are - even more so as the street vendors had been swept away for a few days as well. With APEC out of the way venue owners and customers are hoping for a bit more flexibility in what they can get away with, but talk of zoning laws going to parliament soon and a debate next month on the possible legalisation of prostitution is keeping "new social order" in the spotlight and venues fairly well under control. The on again-off again comedy with the cubicle doors at saunas and special shows and shorts and t-shirts at the go-go bars looks like carrying on for a while!

This however is not stopping the fun, or the expansion of the scene! In Bangkok, Roxy opened in Silom Soi 4, a new sauna/massage complex, Eden Park, is due to open next week in the old Barbiery location in Soi Anuman Ratchathon off Suriwong Rd, the BBB group is opening a new music bar/restaurant called Yes! in Duangthawee Plaza (downstairs from Blue Star) mid-November, and those with fond memories of Apache Bar in Saphan Kwai will be happy to know that Deja View will really give them a feeling of deja vu when it officially opens early next month! Down Pattaya way, Lek (ex BoyzBoyzBoyz) opened a new go-go bar in the Day Night Hotel (were a gay disco almost got off the ground last year) and a new cafe, appropriately called Beach Cafe, opened near Jomtien Beach. And in Phuket the new Fire Island disco opened earlier this month and Sphinx opens their new restaurant and theatre at the end of November!

October is finishing with a rush in Bangkok with the White Party at Roxy on the 24th (gallery), Tawan Bar's 18th birthday the same night and Blue Star selected the "Man of Your Dreams" on the 26th! The Bangkok Pride Loy Nava Koh Kret cruise was again a popular and successful event with lots of good food and fun and lots of money raised as well - details and a gallery should be up on the Bangkok Pride website soon. And to finish the month of course Halloween with be celebrated in style in Silom Soi 4 and Soi 2 and also with special parties at Babylon and most of the Ramkhamhang discos.

Down in Pattaya, October saw the Mister Body Beautiful competition at Throb/Splash (pictures on their web site) and the Pattaya Gay Festival charity dinner was at Casa Pascal (Boxer's gallery), raising 125,000 Baht! And Pattaya will also be celebrating Halloween in style at the end of the month with a Somporn fundraiser at Throb/Splash and parties all around town!

November of course is Pride Week in Bangkok, with Bangkok Pride once again organising a full week of sport, parties and fun starting with Pride in the Park on Saturday 8 November and continuing all week, culminating with the main pride celebrations and parties in Silom on Sunday 16. Also during the week, Balcony is holding an Isan Party - always a popular event, Long Yang is organising a bowling competition (other sporting events will also be held during Pride in the Park), Dick's Cafe is organising a White Night (all those sexy white uniforms again!) and Utopia is presenting their annual awards at Roxy and having a dinner cruise, and you can wind down after pride with the Silom Soi 4 party on the Monday - see the calendar here and the Bangkok Pride website for full details.

Down Pattaya way, the Pattaya Gay Festival climaxes with their beach party on November 29, a gala dinner at Bruno's on the 30th, the parade in conjunction with World Aids Day on December 1 and the "Red, White & You" party in Boyz Town on the 2nd - see the calendar here and the Pattaya Gay Festival website for full details. Earlier in the month Cafe Royale is celebrating their 13th Anniversary with a "Beach Party" on the 19th and for all the US expats, Amor is once again having Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey and all the trimmings on the 27th!

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