Best Places for a Single Male (gay) to travel in DR (besides Santo Domingo)

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frank12

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Sep 6, 2011
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Oops, i guess i should have mentioned that The Garage (40 east long street) in Columbus, Ohio was the largest gay nightclub for several decades running; the owner, Larry Hissner, was previously a Canton, Ohio police officer (also a MP during one tour of Vietnam) before getting kicked off/or forced to quit for shooting out traffic lights with his revolver while driving down the street with his partner, circa 1973-74. Larry was straight, but that didn't stop him from making money. He inherited the bar from his gay uncle who passed away from lung cancer.

London pub (Rosenkrantz gate) is Oslo, Norway's largest gay nightlcub; I had the pleasure of working there for several years as well. My wife used to come in and help everyone out during Gay Pride weekends.

I loved working at both places--the money was great and i never had to break up a fight--although i did warn my straight friends--including fellow football players on my team--that if they were brave enough to come and visit me while i was working, they should be prepared to be knocked down and having their hair re-done.

Both bars are in gay travel guides throughout USA and Europe. Although, the garage got sold in 1998 after Larry Hissner got lung cancer and died. the new owners, Chris???? renamed the Garage to "Fabric."

Isn't that fabulous!

Frank
 
Bronxboy

Bronxboy

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2007
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frank12 said:
O The Garage
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Did they play old funk and techno music?

This type of music attracts the gay crowd. I used to frequent the Paradise Garage in NY in the 80's hosted by the legendary Larry Lavan. He died from AIDS in the 90's.

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frank12

Gold
Sep 6, 2011
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Wow, Great find Bronxboy!!

I don't know what is more scary...the fact that i recognize that song or the fact that i still love this kind of music. Man, i'm getting old!

Thanks, Frank

Bronxboy said:
Did they play old funk and techno music?

This type of music attracts the gay crowd. I used to frequent the Paradise Garage in NY in the 80's hosted by the legendary Larry Lavan. He died from AIDS in the 90's.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MtlBi943Xbs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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siegs

Member
May 9, 2006
241
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Puuuuuuuuuuuuleeeeeeeeeeezzzze...

Chip said:
Homosexuality is nothing new. What we do know is that it is not genetic, it is environmental.

Also, assuming homosexuality here is widespread is just a myth. It has become more accepted by the youth as anything from the US is considered progressive but there are still a majority who disapprove. You are a gringo like myself and have lived in areas where tourists frequent so you are a target for opportunist Dominicans to make a buck. Sadly, apparently most gringos come here just for the sex so they play the odds and assume that's all gringos are interested in.
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I have read this post at least a dozen times since it was written and it is beyond reproach.
The blinders strapped to your head are way tooooooo big.
Get a grip. Please.
 
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greydread

Platinum
Jan 3, 2007
17,477
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siegs said:
I have read this post at least a dozen times since it was written and it is beyond reproach.
The blinders strapped to your head are way tooooooo big.
Get a grip. Please.
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Take it eeeeazy. He used to be an alter boy.



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shawnatmann

New member
Sep 22, 2011
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Greetings!

Frank,
I wish I saw your post a few months ago. I am currently back in Canada, selling my stuff and getting paperwork in order for my residence permit, etc. that my lawyer asked for.
I live in Sosua, and I live and work as Shawna Mann. My passport says Shawna Theresa Mann. Everyone calls me Shawna, everyone from lawyers, doctors, teachers, my realtor, my banker, you name it. I have no problems. As far as gay life goes. It doesn't exist for me. I know of one gay person, but I have never met them. He has a b&b somewhere down the road. I was supposed to meet him for lunch at a restaurant near checkpoint, but I became occupied with business at work and didn't meet. This person was expat. As far as gays go, I heard there are tons of Dominican gays in the capital. I did see a man with an effeminate manner who was Dominican with a fancy hairdo that was rather stylish in a gay sense, but I didn't say hi. I think he was Luthie(arabic word).
Now, being gay, acting gay, all tolerated, to an extent among Dominicans. Half if you actually talked to them about it would say it is between you and God, and leave it at that. Of the other half, half are completely accepting of it, and will defend you to the death. The other half would say it is a deadly sin, and refer you to an American Evangelico to be educated on the subject. Not as accepting as Canada in some way, but in some ways better. I have never been harassed, either in Sosua which is a tourist town or in Jamao del Norte or out there.
Sorry about the long message. I am currently in Toronto. It is my first time here, and the climate is okay for the summer. Interesting place. Like a gay Mecca, literally. I am returning home in 2 months(Sosua). I miss the Dominicans so much. Canadians are so stand-offish. It is so quiet here for the most part. My vecinos and my compadres are writing to me lots too, asking when I am going home. I was hoping to develop business contacts for my business(I do computer tech support, programming, web page design, networking, hardware design) One of my projects: an ereader for Dominicans based on a Chinese generic Android MID tablet. Oh well, not the same line of work as the bar business.
Oh, speaking of bars, here's the point of my message. Sorry, I don't necessarily speak to the point, if you haven't noticed. I would like to visit your bar. Is it still in Cabarete? I am not looking for an encounter. I value friendship and conversation most of all. My first languages are French and English(spoke most of them growing up), but Spanish is starting to mix with French sometimes...oops. I would like to visit your bar and talk sometime. You sound like a good person. The world needs more goodness.

p.s. I am going to maximize my luggage space, which means if I pay a few extra bucks on Westjet, I get 3 50lb pieces of luggage. NO, I am not going to pack it full of reese's peanut butter cups, but what can I bring for you? I am shawnatmann. If you type it into your address bar, no www and no .com or anything, you should get everything I have written about listed. I have been on the web since before that program, uh mosaic, when it was a text based browser using dialup, so be prepared for alot of information. In some cases you have to go to Google and type shawnatmann there instead. oh well. see you in 2 months I hope.

frank12 said:
Hey KJS,

my name is Frank. i used to work at the "Garage"(40 east Long Street, in Columbus, Ohio for several years and "London Pub" (RosenKrantz Gate.) in Oslo, Norway for several years as well. Stop into Jose O'shay's in Cabarete and ask for me when you get here. i don't care if you like donkey's (I've seen a few good looking ones lately), my girlfriend and i will hang out with you and have a beer or coffee.

My best friend in Columbus, Ohio (where i went to college--OSU) was an All-American and played NCAA Division I football on a full ride/scholarship. he's 6'4, 260. he thought he was gay when he was 7, strongly supected it when he 11, was absolutely convinced of it when he was 14, but waited until after graduating college before coming out of the closet. I'm always highly amused when he and I are sitting around watching football together in a bar and people around us start making gay jokes and comments. He's such a good sport and starts laughing along with strangers and says, "Yeah, those faggots don't know nothing about football!!"

In Columbus, Ohio, i used to have professional baseball and basketball players come into the bar (we were the biggest gay nightclub in Columbus, Ohio other than the Eagle) and sit at the bar with sunglasses and hats on and try to blend in. i got to know a couple of them quite well and a few of them had families (this was during the 80's). if you had asked any of them when they strongly suspected that they were gay, you would have found out that most of them knew it, or suspected it, when they were 5, 6, 7, years old.by the time they were 13 and 14 years old, however, they very strongly suspected it. and by the time they were 17,18, and beyond, they knew it.

All i care about is that your nice, smart, and can hold an intelligent, rational converstion without resorting to pontificating about religion, bestiaity, (unless it involves donkeys) or conspiracy theories.

PS. just do me one huge favor before you leave the USA...bring to me anything that involves the combination of chocolate & penaut butter and i will buy you beers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Frank

Frank
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cubanblunt

New member
Jul 20, 2013
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after reading many opinions

KJS73 said:
I really appreciate the positive feedback. My gut is telling me to go to Cabarete and to stay at the Kite Beach Hotel.
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I will be visiting DR for the first time this summer. I be visiting Puerto Plata. after reading all the opinions posted here I think it will a positive experience. you have to be wise to make the difference between the hate and the good will. will keep all posted of my experience when I come back. and yes I am traveling solo.
 
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PeterInBrat

Gold
May 29, 2006
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Hotel Tropix in Sosua is LGB friendly. Nice little hotel off the radar. There is another place in Sosua that is a bit higher end, but I forget the name.

Tropix is celebrating it's 30th year in business in 2010! Sylvie Papernik and her father built the beginnings of Tropix in 1980. In 1987, Sylvie was joined by her partner, Cory Price, and together made the hotel the welcoming place it is today.
Sylvie's parents were among the 700 refugees who settled in Sosua when it was established as a safe haven for Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution during World War II. Her family moved to the United States when she was 9. After years of living and working in the U.S. and Europe, Sylvie returned to the Dominican Republic in 1980 and began , now beloved by the many who have found her throughout the years. Many "Tropixies" return religiously, year after year.
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Tropix Hotel - european style hotel in the center of Sosua El Batey, Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
 
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cubanblunt

New member
Jul 20, 2013
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well

cubanblunt said:
I will be visiting DR for the first time this summer. I be visiting Puerto Plata. after reading all the opinions posted here I think it will a positive experience. you have to be wise to make the difference between the hate and the good will. will keep all posted of my experience when I come back. and yes I am traveling solo.
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I had a really good tome. full in love and everything. but to early to know the turn out of this, but I am getting a picture and doesn't look good for the frame.
but I did enjoy my self. and no lie it helps when you can speak the local language. I am Cuban so I was right at home. will be more of this.
 
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