GAY PRIDE IN PORTUGAL

IF YOU PLAN ON BEING IN PORTUGAL IN MAY, JUNE OR JULY HERE ARE THE SCHEDULED DATES FOR GAY PRIDE IN PORTUGAL.
2ª Marcha da Luta Contra a Homofobia e Transfobia de Coimbra 2 nd of March Against Homophobia and Transphobia Coimbra
Terça, 17 de Maio Tuesday, May 17


12ª Marcha do Orgulho LGBT de Lisboa 12th LGBT Pride March in Lisbon
Sábado, 18 Junho 17:00 Saturday, June 18 17:00


15º Arraial Pride, Lisboa 15 º Arraial Pride, Lisbon
Sábado, 25 Junho 16:00 / 4:00 - Terreiro do Paço Saturday, June 25th 16:00 / 4:00 - Palace Square


Marcha do Orgulho LGBT no Porto LGBT Pride March in Porto
Sábado, 9 Julho - Praça da República -> Praça D. Saturday, July 9 - Republic Square -> Square D. João IJohn I


Porto Pride 2011 Porto Pride 2011
Sábado, 9 Julho 22:00 / 8:00 - Teatro Sá da Bandeira Saturday, July 9 22:00 / 8:00 - Teatro Sá da Bandeira




AND FOR SOME OF YOU WHO WILL BE TRAVELING, HERE ARE OTHER DATES AROUND THE WORLD.

Late June to early July: Colombo Gay Pride/Sri Lanka Gay Pride.

Late June to early July: Helsinki Gay Pride/Finland Gay Pride.

Late June to early July: London Gay Pride.
Late June to early July: Toronto Gay Pride.

Late June to early July: Victoria Gay Pride (BC).
Early July: Chicago Black Pride/Windy City Black Pride.
Early July: Cincinnati Gay Pride.
Early July: Cologne Gay Pride.
Early July: Lindau Gay Pride (Germany).
Early July: Los Angeles Black Pride/At The Beach Los Angeles Pride/LA Black Gay Pride.
Early July: Madrid Gay Pride.
Early July: Marseille Gay Pride/Lesbian and Gay Pride de Marseille.
Early July: Nebraska Gay Pride/Omaha Gay Pride/Lincoln Gay Pride.
Early July: Tampa Black Gay Pride.
Early July: Vienna Gay Pride/Austria Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Bellingham Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Binghamton Gay Pride/Elmira Gay Pride/Southern Tier NY Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Bournemouth Gay Pride/Bourne Free.
Early to mid-July: Budapest Gay Pride/Hungary Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Central Coast Gay Pride/San Luis Obispo Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Derby Gay Pride (UK).
Early to mid-July: Warsaw Gay Pride (Poland).
Early to mid-July: Monterey Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Oporto Gay Pride (Portugal).
Early to mid-July: Prince Edward Island Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Prince George Gay Pride (BC).
Early to mid-July: Reno Rainbow Fest/Reno Art Town Festival (NV).
Early to mid-July: Santa Barbara Gay Pride/Pacific Pride Festival.
Early to mid-July: Sitges Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Tacoma Gay Pride.
Early to mid-July: Vancouver Washington Gay Pride/Saturday in the Park Vancouver Washington.
Mid- to late July: Brampton Gay Pride (Ontario)/Peel Pride.
Mid- to late July: Charlotte Black Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Colorado Springs Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Detroit Black Gay Pride/Midwest Black Gay Pride/Hotter Than July.
Mid- to late July: Frankfurt Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Kitsap Pride/Bremerton Pride (WA).
Mid- to late July: Margate Gay Pride/Thanet Gay Pride (UK).
Mid- to late July: Miami Beach African-American and Latino Gay Pride/Miami Beach Bruthaz Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Munich Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Gay Pride (UK)/Northern Gay Pride/Newcastle Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Reading Gay Pride (PA).
Mid- to late July: Rochester Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: San Diego Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Tampere Gay Pride (Finland).
Mid- to late July: Tokyo Gay Pride/Japan Gay Pride.
Mid- to late July: Tri-Cities Gay Pride (WA)/Pasco Gay Pride/Mid-Columbia Valley Gay Pride.
Late July: Belfast Gay Pride/Northern Ireland Gay Pride.
Late July: Bismarck Gay Pride/Mandan Gay Pride/North Dakota Gay Pride.
Late July: Braunschweig Gay Pride (Germany)/Sommerlochfestival/Brunswick Gay Pride.
Late July: Burlington Gay Pride/Vermont Gay Pride.
Late July: Cincinnati Black Pride/Eyes Open Festival Cincinnati.
Late July: Copenhagen Gay Pride.
Late July: Erie Gay Pride.
Late July: Fort Wayne Gay Pride.
Late July: Halifax Gay Pride.
Late July: Huddersfield Gay Pride/Huddersfield Pink Picnic UK.
Late July: Hull Gay Pride/East Yorkshire Gay Pride (UK).
Late July: Harrisburg Gay Pride/Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania.
Late July: London Gay Pride/Pride London Ontario Festival.
Late July: Norwich Gay Pride (UK).
Late July: Nottingham Gay Pride (UK).
Late July: Saarbrucken Gay Pride (Germany)/CSD SaarLorLux.
Late July: Stockholm Gay Pride/Sweden Gay Pride.
Late July: Vancouver Gay Pride.
Late July to early August: Brighton Gay Pride/Brighton Pride (UK).
Late July to early August: Divers/Cite Montreal.
Late July to early August: Oakland Black Out/Oakland Black Gay Pride

FOLLOW UP ON PORTO

FOLLOWING UP ON THE POST ABOUT PORTO, HERE ARE SOME PLACES OF INTERESTS.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Pestana Porto Hotel, Praça da Ribeira 1. Tel: +351-223-402-300. Located in an historic building that is itself classified by UNESCO as part of Porto’s World Heritage site, this four-star property is one of the most charming and best-located hotels. The majority of the 48 rooms and suites have views of the Douro River, the best of which have French windows that open onto lovely little wrought iron balconies. www.pestana.com

 

Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa, Rua Tenente Valadim 146. Tel: +351-220-404-000. Situated outside of the historic center, but close to cultural attractions such as Casa da Música and Museu Serralves, this modern glass, marble, and steel tower has 241 rooms and 25 suites, including an extravagant Presidential Suite boasting a private panoramic Jacuzzi and a grand piano. www.sheratonporto.com

Hotel Teatro, Rua Sá Bandeira 84. Tel: +351-220-409-620. Built on the site of an old theatre, this dramatic and contemporary four-star hotel has a playful theatrical vibe. A member of Design Hotels, there are 74 rooms and suites decorated in shades of bronze and gold, a bar with vintage furniture from the 60s and 70s, a restaurant, and a small gym. www.hotelteatro.pt

The Yeatman Hotel, 9Rua do Choupelo, Vila Nova de Gaia. Tel: +351-220-133-100. Open since August 2010 in an area known for its historic port wine cellars, this newly constructed five-star wine hotel has 82 elegant rooms and suites, a gourmet restaurant, extensive grounds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a Vinothérapie spa. www.the-yeatman-hotel.com

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RESTAURANTS

Barão de Fladgate, at Taylors Port Lodge, Rua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia. Tel: +351-223-742-800. Located within the Taylor’s port lodge, this restaurant serves delicious local dishes accompanied by port wine and is open for lunch and dinner. You can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Porto while you dine, and in summer it is possible to eat outdoors on the sunny terrace. www.tresseculos.pt

 

Casa de Chá Boa-Nova, Avenida da Liberdade, Leça da Palmeira. Tel: +351-229-951-785. Built right beside the Atlantic Ocean in 1963, this restaurant and teahouse was one of the earliest projects by acclaimed local-born architect Álvaro Siza. It’s still a wonderful, well-designed place to enjoy a lunch of fresh caught fish and shellfish. 

www.vieirasoft.bravepages.com/boanovae

Galeria de Paris, Rua da Galeria de Paris 56. Tel: +351-934-210-792. A former textile shop dating to the early 1900s, much of the original interior has been retained, only the cabinets now display collectables and curiosities. The result is a unique space that serves an excellent value canteen-style lunch, and later becomes a trendy and casual bar/restaurant serving home cooked Portuguese food in a lively, candlelit environment. 

O Comercial, Palacio da Bolsa, Rua Ferreira Borges. Tel: +351-223-322-019. Situated within Porto’s landmark stock exchange building, this grand contemporary restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. The classic Portuguese food is beautifully prepared and presented, and the service is friendly yet discreet. At €25 per head, the seven course Menu Degustaçáo is amazing value. www.ocomercial.com

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SHOPPING

Livraria Lello, Rua das Carmelitas 144. Tel: +351-222-002-037. Built in 1906, this magical little place is considered to be one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. Its Art Nouveau interior seems untouched by time, and features a spectacular central staircase, beautifully carved cabinets, and a gorgeous stained-glass skylight. www. lelloprologolivreiro.com.sapo.pt

 

A Vida Portuguesa, Rua da Galeria de Paris 20. Tel: +351-222-022-105. Occupying a building dating to the early 1900s, this emporium is full of genuine and lovely Portuguese products that echo back to a bygone era, including toiletries, stationery, jewelery, food, handicrafts, toys, and gifts. www.avidaportuguesa.com

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GAY & LESBIAN VENUES

Café Lusitano, Rua José Falcão 137. With original décor from the early 1900s, including chandeliers and wood paneling, this grand gay-mixed place is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner aperitif, or pre-clubbing drinks. The local cocktail, white port served over ice with tonic water and mint leaves, is recommended, but local beers including Super Bock are also served.

 

Boys’R’Us, 5Rua Dr Barbosa de Castro 63, Porto. Tel: +351-917-549-988. Open for over a decade in the center of town, this lively little place is Porto’s best-known gay venue. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 P.M., it is especially crowded on weekends when you can dance until 4 A.M. www.portugalgay.pt/pub/boysrus

Pride Bar, Rua do Bonjardin 1121. Situated just outside of the historic center, this fun and friendly place shows its true colors by displaying a rainbow plaque on its door. With occasional drag and stripper shows, it attracts a young and alternative gay crowd, and is also popular with lesbians. www.pride-bar.com

Zoom, Beco de Passos Manuel. Tel: +351-918-353-282. Housed in a former warehouse close to São Bento railway station, this is Porto’s current gay hotspot. Muscular go-go boys perform on metal bridges above the dance floor, and the DJ plays predominantly pop house. Open only on weekends, it’s busiest and best on Saturdays after 4 A.M.

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ATTRACTIONS

Casa da Música, Avenida da Boavista. Tel: +351-220-120-200. Open since 2005, this irregular polygon-shaped building is Porto’s 1,300 capacity concert hall. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, it’s an innovative and critically acclaimed structure. www.casadamusica.com

 

Museu Serralves, Rua Dom João de Castro 210. Tel: +351-226-156-500. One of Portugal’s premiere contemporary art museums, this vast, white, contemporary structure by famous local architect Álvaro Siza sits alongside a pink Art Deco mansion in 45 acres of parkland. There is no permanent collection, instead the museum hosts regular shows by Portuguese and international artists. www.serralves.pt

Ramos Pinto, Av Ramos Pinto 400, Vila Nova de Gaia. Tel: +351-223-707-000. Dating to the 1800s, this famous port wine cellar is open Monday to Friday 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. for tours and tastings. Original prints of company’s famous advertisement posters from the 1920s are also on display here. www.ramospinto.pt

Sandeman Cellars and Porto Wine Museum, Vila Nova de Gaia. Tel: +351-223-740-533. Founded by a Scotsman in 1790, this renowned port wine cellar is open every day 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. for guided tours in eight languages including English and Portuguese. Entrance is €4 per person. www.sandeman.com

Solar do Vinho do Porto, Rua de Entre Quintas 220. Tel: +351-226-094-749. Operated by Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (Port and Douro Wines Institute), here you have the advantage of being able to sample port wine from every single producer all under one roof, so it’s time efficient, and the port is very keenly priced too! Housed in a grand old mansion, there’s a bar-like vibe. Open 4 P.M. to midnight, Monday to Saturday. www.ivp.pt

Taylor’s Port Lodge, RRua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia, Tel: +351-223-742-800. Still a family-run firm after over 300 years, this port wine cellar is open Monday to Friday 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. for tours and tastings. There’s also a great on-site restaurant, as well as a luxury, new five-star wine hotel next door. www.taylor.pt

For a more opulent fine dining experience, you can’t beat O Comercial. Located within the Palácio da Bolsa, Porto’s grand neoclassical stock exchange, this upscale restaurant brings a cool contemporary vibe to the historic surroundings. It seems like a real privilege to be allowed to enter this impressive building after hours, and once seated at your table you’ll feel equally privileged when presented with a menu that includes locally inspired dishes such as ribs braised in Douro wine with celery, and shrimp bread pudding, but remember to leave room for what is called “the best warm chocolate cake in the world.”

Although major chains like the luxurious Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa are present here, Porto also has a good selection of smaller and more individual hotels that are full of flair and personality. The Pestana Porto Hotel is a lovely, traditional-style, boutique option that enjoys possibly the best location in Porto. Situated right on the Ribeira waterfront, the majority of rooms in this distinctive, butter-colored historic building have views of the Douro River, some complete with charming little balconies. If you prefer something more contemporary and closer to the gay scene, Teatro Hotel Porto makes a bold statement by curtaining out natural light from most of its public areas to suggest the dramatic ambience of a theatre. A reception desk disguised as box office and rails of theatrical costumes add to the illusion—drag queens will love all the drama and draped velvet! The rooms themselves are spacious and modern, with fixtures and furnishings that all have a lovely golden hue. Built on the site of a revered theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1888, this brand new hotel was created by Portuguese-born architect and designer Nini Andrade Silva, and is a member of Design Hotels.