3 Gay Days in Stockholm, by OutTraveler.com

Stockholm has long been one of Europe’s design centers, known for its purist aesthetic. But lately it has found the balance between pared-down style and flat-out fun.


http://outtraveler.com/features/story.asp?did=1722

Win a Trip to the IceHotel and Visit Gay Sweden and Stockholm

TWICE AS COOL - CHILL OUT AT
THE ICEHOTEL, JUKKASJÄRVI AND
MELT INTO THE CITY LIGHTS OF STOCKHOLM!

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Enter to win a 7 days trip that will evoke all your senses, a trip that will unlock the doors to new exciting experiences from our saturated heritage and culture to really cool activities in Stockholm and Jukkasjärvi. The participating hotels are the world-renowned Nordic Light Hotel - ICEHOTEL and Grand Hotel so you are in for a treat!

Grand Prize:
2 Trans Atlantic Roundtrip Economy tickets with Scandinavian Airlines from any of SAS' US gateways; New York (Newark), Chicago, Washington DC to Stockholm and 2 return Economy tickets Stockholm to Kiruna.http://www.flysas.com/en/flight-to/gay/LGBT-Stockholm

Click here for more information and to enter to win:

http://www.passportmagazine.com/ICE/?rand=1

The Incredible Mälarpaviljongen

One of the hottest places you can go in Stockholm is a lakeside bar and restaurant called Mälarpaviljongen. Every city has that one place where all the chic urbanites hang out, but in Stockholm they raise the bar incredibly high.

Located along the Norr Mälarstrand promenade, you can come here to see the beautiful people of Stockholm. You can’t help but get so completely caught up in the vibe of this place, especially on those magical summer Swedish nights where the sun stays out so long and you find yourself making life-long friends. This remarkable spot really is a bastion for the stylish, fun crowds of Stockholm.

Mälarpaviljongen is not only a great bar that is pretty unique, but the food here is also quite extraordinary. The kitchen boasts a lunch and a la carte menu with different types of food to satisfy anybody’s desires with cuisines from around the world. People can dine among the lively visitors or in a pagoda over-looking the lake, and regardless of which you choose, the ambience dances with the food.

For those looking for more drinks and less food, Mälarpaviljongen makes incredible, unique cocktails and they have a vast selection of wine and beer that make for an extremely good time. Their main bar exists on a jetty that extends into the lake for a wonderfully beautiful environment. They very often have live music which is an added treat to the bar, and between the entertainment, the people watching and the food it’s guaranteed that nobody will leave unsatisfied in any way.

Getting to Mälarpaviljongen isn’t difficult; it’s a little walk from the nearest subway stop, Radhuset. Other than that, any taxi cab in Stockholm will show you the way. During the winter months the venue shuts down only to re-open again when the days get incredibly long and you find yourself getting caught up in that Scandinavian summer evening. The one where the only thing you can do is embrace it and head over to Mälarpaviljongen to make some great friends and see some of Stockholm’s coolest people. www.malarpaviljongen.se.

Win 3 Nights for two in Stockholm's Nordic Light Hotel

Jumped from 50 fans to 150 fans in less than a couple weeks, but we're still aiming for 5,000 by Oct.1. And the offer is still on the table. Suggest the Stockholm in Full Glory Fan Page to all your friends, let us know you did it, and you'll be entered to win three nights for two, including breakfast, at one of Stockholm Gay Network’s partner hotels, the Nordic Light Hotel. You’ll also receive Arlanda Express Train Tickets for two, as well as Stockholm Cards for 72 hours which will entitle you to access over 60 museums and free rides on the public transportation, among other great offers.

Sponsor Links: www.nordiclighthotel.se | www.arlandaexpress.com | www.visitsweden.com/gay

Our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/StockholmInFullGlory

Nightlife in Stockholm: Patricia

Who would have thought that one of the most fun gay nightlife experiences in Stockholm would be called Patricia!? Patricia, one of the oldest gay clubs in the world, is situated on a multi-level boat nearby Slussen and is the place to be on Sundays both winter and summer. There are several bars, dance floors, a restaurant and a casino on board this former English ship, with one of the dance floors outdoors on the open deck.

Among the different scenes were a small hip-hop bar and a large dance floor and light show featuring house and techno. But my favorite was the upstairs lounge which played Swedish pop and disco favorites of the last 30 years. It was packed with gay people of all kinds singing along to their Swedish favorites. If you've ever wanted to hear all the Swedish contributions to the Eurovision Song Contest, this is the place for you! And if you have an impression of the Swedes as entirely a dour and serious folk, spending some time on the Patricia will certainly expand your understanding.

It's like a gay-themed episode of "Love Boat" and is THE place where Sweden's biggest gay icons perform and party with their fans, including Abba and Ace of Base. Every Sunday night the hostess Babsan is entertaing; joking with the crowd and maybe singing one of her infamous hits. On special nights, Patricia also has theme parties such as Pirates, Christmas in July and a Foam Party. The food is great if you decide to dine, and the staff is really cute and friendly.

So come on down, party like a real Swede on the dance floor and come up for air to mingle and meet the handsome boys on both sides of the boat. Be sure to take your disco nap so you can climb up to the roof and watch the sun rise with all of your new friends, as you'll be dancing all night long until closing at 5 a.m, while watching the summer sun rise over Stockholm. Just remember...even though the sun has risen the night is still young.

More info online at: http://stockholm.gaycities.com/bars/2114-patricia

Patricia

Stadsgårdskajen 152, Stockholm

www.patricia.st

Stockholm Pride Says I'm Very Gay

You'll need to check out this new Twitter tool put out by the folks at Stockholm Pride. Entitled "How Hetero Are You?" it analyzes your twitters and by finding certain key words and their frequency in your "tweets", tries to determine just how gay (or straight) you really are!

http://www.stockholmpride.org/howhetero/

mattskal is 1% HeteroHow hetero are you? How hetero is Martha Stewart? Try out any Twitter name and get the real picture. Are we really the words we use? Hope to see you at Stockholm Pride!

Stockholm Hotel Spotlight - Hilton Stockholm Sussen

On our recent trip to Stockholm, we had the pleasure of staying in the Hilton Stockholm Sussen, a wonderful hotel right on Södermalm, facing the Old Town of Stockholm and the City Hall just across the waters of Riddarfjärden. Shopping, museums and theatres were easily within walking distance, and with underground and commuter trains at the Slussen station next door, the entire city of Stockholm is right at one's feet.

Better yet, two of Stockholm's hot spots for gay nightlife are just blocks away - Paradise for Saturday night and Patricia's for Sunday night.

We were treated to a cocktail at a very enjoyable outside bar terrace by the GM, Henrik Friskopp. Touring the hotel, we learned the basics: 289 rooms with a fitness center, pool, sauna and beauty parlor. Getting to chat with Henrik a bit more, we learned about the history of this hotel designed by Gert Wingårdh, an acclaimed Swedish architect. Gert was assigned with the interior design and architecture of the hotel and took inspiration from the circles in the waters of the lock, Slussen, lending its name to the hotel.

Gert Wingårdh’s designs were inspired both by nature and by existing architectural landmarks of the world. The staircase in the breakfast area, for instance, was inspired by the stairs of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, while the circular shapes dominating the hotel, from reception areas over staircases to bathroom sinks, were inspired by the circles in the water of the nearby lock.