news

Zoning laws are now a reality in Bangkok and elsewhere but don't be surprised if you don't notice the difference - but if you been around the scene recently you would have seen that there is certainly no shortage of new places to go to and fun things to do!

The zoning laws set closing times for bars at 1:00 PM inside a zone (or 2:00 PM for the few venues with a full nightclub license) and midnight outside the zones. Massage places are usually already closed by there slated time of midnight but those outside a zone may be more concerned about 6:00 PM opening times compared with midday within the zone! But anyway most of the Silom, Pattaya and Phuket gay venues are "in", most of the Jomtien and Sukhumvit venues aren't looking too worried and Chiang Mai remains to be seen. And of course it all really depends on what type of venue the powers that be say that you are, so there is always a chance to be re-classified!

But who cares about petty bureaucracy, girrrls just want to have fun, and there was fun aplenty to be had - even the teddy bears got to have fun with both Balcony in Bangkok and Throb/Splash in Pattaya donating a teddy bear a day during the whole of August with lots of bears also donated by customers, culminating in the Teddy Bear's Picnic on the 26th of August. The bears were donated to the Rayong Children's Orphanage, and an additional 10,000 Baht was raised on the night which was used to buy rice and other food for the orphanage - pictures of the night are on the boxer website.

Bangkok Pride has also been busy, with more than 23,000 Baht being collected at functions in July and August at Telephone and Balcony, and in September Bangkok showed its support for the Pattaya Gay Festival with the annual Bangkok PGF event - this year sponsored by Balcony, Tarntawan and Dick's Cafe and held at Balcony. Entertainment was provided by BoyzBoyzBoyz, X-treme, Arsenic & Old Lace and "the usual suspects" from the Balcony staff. The event raised 15,000 Baht for PGF charities - pictures are in the gallery here. Bangkok Pride is now gearing up for Pride Week in November - see the BPC website for the latest details. And still to come in the next few weeks in Bangkok is the "Miss BBB Beauty Thailand" at BOYS Bangkok, the X-Treme Bar's 3rd Anniversary party and the "Sports Men" contest at ICK Pub.

The PGF has been its usual busy self in Pattaya as well with Throb/Splash showing lots of flesh with "Rear of the Year" in August raising 95,000 Baht, followed by "Mr Body Beautiful" last week, but there has also been funds rolling in from smaller venues around town too - Dick's Cafe raised 20,000 Baht at their popular 1st Anniversary night, and more than 16,000 Baht was raised at the special appearance of Maisie Trollette and Phil Starr at Cafe Royale just before their appearance at Balcony as "Arsenic & Old Lace". Pictures from these events are in the gallery here and on the boxer website. Upcoming PGF events include a dinner at Casa Pascal, a wine and cheese night at Cafe Royale and Mardi Gras night at BoyzBoyzBoyz - the full schedule is in the calendar here and on the PGF web site .

For all the latest venue changes and events as they happen see the calendar here and the directory listings.