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Philadelphia’s Kensington

Philadelphia has had its ups and downs in the 330-plus years since it was founded, but recently, the northeast neighborhood of Kensington’s hardships have been particularly in focus. It has become the epicenter of opioids and the drug trade in the Northeast, earning it the nickname “Walmart of Heroin” in the press.

However, a new boom is taking over the neighborhood and working to revitalize it, and this one is perfectly legal (at least since 1933). Today, breweries and distilleries abound in Kensington, attracting a wealth of customers from around the city. These business owners are investing in the neighborhood and helping to clean it up.

One of the more notable is Philadelphia Brewing Co. on the corner of Frankford and East Hagert. The brewery is housed in a looming 38,000-square-foot structure, serving the same purpose today that it did over a century ago. First constructed in 1885 for the Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company, the facility was shut down indefinitely in 1939, falling into a state of disrepair with little hope for future use. In 2001, entrepreneurs Nancy and Bill Barton acquired the property to breathe life back into the local brewing scene.

It wasn’t easy, and each window and door was secured behind boards or double-padlocks. Starting a successful business here meant focusing on more than just one business; it was about the entire community. The pair quickly set out to create a positive impact on the local community.

“Early on, we teamed up with New Kensington Community Development Corp (NKCDC) and helped start the East Kensington Neighborhood Association, inviting neighbors in once a month for the meetings,” Nancy Barton says. “We also started a neighborhood cleanup back in 2002 and hosted a BBQ for all the volunteers afterwards. There is now a spring and fall cleanup, in which we host a BBQ afterwards.”

Their efforts to enact change didn’t stop at Kensington’s human population. The Bartons have also rescued local cats and kittens. Some of the more socialized have found homes, while the more feral are neutered or spayed and released back to a colony of cats the Bartons help take care of. Barton’s colony is now down to three cats, and she estimates if they hadn’t done the trap-neuter-return program there would be well over 50 feral cats in the area.

Photo: Philadelphia Brewing Co./Facebook

Philadelphia Brewing Co. is also, of course, about the beer. It’s now a beloved facet of the neighborhood, making craft brews like the Walt Wit, an unfiltered Belgian-style white ale, the Newbold IPA, and the hugely popular Kenzinger beer. But the neighborhood is becoming a hotspot for more than just beer.

Just over a mile away, New Liberty Distillery sits on the outskirts of Kensington. The main building contains horse stalls, a reflection of the property’s former use as a stable. While the owners have preserved the building’s unique architecture, master distiller Robert Cassell is working to preserve Philadelphian rye whiskey, a spirit that was at one time heavily produced in the city. The brand’s spirits are made using a custom-made still, and barrels are stored in an on-site rickhouse. Outside of rye, New Liberty also makes a white rum and vodka on site, ensuring there’s a spirit fitting a wide variety of tastes. For local Kensington residents, the outdoor whiskey garden serves as a bustling hangout spot, while the polished bar and tasting room provide an opportunity for residents from other neighborhoods to experience what Kensington has to offer.

Today, Philadelphia Brewing Co. and New Liberty are far from alone in turning Kensington into a destination for lovers of craft beverages. Another standout brewery is Fermentery Form. Combining non-traditional strains of both yeast and bacteria, the brewery experiments with personally crafted cultures rather than purchasing them off-site. The staff also utilize a Solera system where different beers of different ages are stored and blended in oak barrels. This combination of practices further reinforces the neighborhood’s rising prominence in the drink industry, with operations ranging from routine to unconventional.

Photo: Fermentery Form

While the district isn’t perfect, and still has a long way to go, local business owners have seen abundant amounts of positive change over the past couple of decades.

“Kensington has changed tremendously since we bought our property in 2001,” Barton says. “There are fewer vacant trash filled lots and slightly fewer overall quality of life crimes. There is more development and more retail businesses … Taxi cabs didn’t come to our neighborhood — now Lyft and Uber drop people here! It’s crazy to think about.”

It’s impossible to know what Kensington’s future holds, but current developments seem to point toward better lives and opportunities for its residents. Bars, breweries, and distilleries provide a space for community members to relax, refine their tastes, and pump money into the local economy. For out-of-towners, a fun night at a collection of Kensington’s watering holes could aid in dispelling negative stereotypes about the area. While alcohol may seem like an odd ally in an area so ravaged by addiction, in Kensington, it’s also one factor in creating a safer neighborhood.

Where to drink in Kensington

Photo: New Liberty Distillery/Facebook

New Liberty Distillery: What was once a stable is now a distillery, bar, and tasting room, though much of the original architecture remains. Standouts include the Dutch Malt Whiskey that uses barley from the Chester County-based Deer Creek Malt House and the Millstone Rye, which uses malted rye from the same malt house and is aged in new American oak to mimic the production methods of the first rye producers in the US. Even if you’re not a whiskey fan, New Liberty is a destination for the bar and tasting room, where the in-house bartender makes cocktails using the brand’s whiskey, white rum, and vodka.

Where: 1431 North Cadwallader Street Enter through courtyard on, N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Philadelphia Brewing Co.: Philly’s oldest running brewery is located in a former brewery constructed by Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company in 1885. The massive space (38,000 square feet) includes the brewery and tasting room. Tours are offered on the first Friday of every month from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and every Saturday from noon to 3:00 PM. The beers cover a wide range of styles, from European-inspired lagers to classic American IPAs.

Where: 2440 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Fermentery Form: Rather than using traditional commercial yeasts, Fermentery Form uses its own cultures of yeast and bacteria to create truly unique beers. While each batch is different (including some aged in wine barrels), all are Belgian- and farmhouse ale-inspired. The bar’s decor includes wooden church pews and a wooden bar, but the real art at Fermentery Form is in the blending of beer. Some bottles are meant to be had immediately, while others can be aged for years.

Where: 1700 Palethorp St, Philadelphia, PA 19122


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World’s largest ghost hunt 2019

If you’re inclined to believe that Ghostbusters was a documentary and not a fictional movie, you’re going to want to mark your calendar for this real-life ghost hunt. This Saturday, September 28, the third-annual World’s Largest Ghost Hunt will take place around the world, in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the Philippines. The hunt is part of National Ghost Hunting Day, which the National Calendar Day Registry officially recognizes as the last Saturday in September.

According to the official website, “National Ghost Hunting Day recognizes and celebrates the novice, curious and expert execution of ghost hunting methods…Its noble intention is to globally promote the most haunted properties in the world while recognizing the work of paranormal investigators dedicated to these iconic locations!”

The hunt will involve paranormal teams in dozens of cities going on a ghost hunt, with the help of anyone who’d like to join. If you can’t attend yourself, the hunt will stream on GetVokl (type #LargestGhostHunt in the search bar to access).

The goal of National Ghost Hunting Day is to raise awareness of the proper way to conduct paranormal investigations — for all you people doing it wrong out there — and to increase appreciation for local history and landmarks. The event will also be raising money for various historical landmarks, which may or may not be haunted, with proceeds from ticket sales going toward local preservation efforts.

To participate, tickets can be purchased online.


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The post The world’s largest ghost hunt is happening this weekend in cities around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Why pop-ups are taking over bars

The undisputed social media star of 2018’s holiday season was a twerking Santa.

It wasn’t an old man in a viral video or some animated version of North Pole pole dancing, either. It was a kitschy robot in a Christmas-themed bar. Or, more accurately, about 100 Christmas-themed bars around America. The Santa — and the Miracle bar pop-ups he came from — became an Instagram sensation, with everyone from Phoenix to Philadelphia posting pictures of previously unused spaces now done up like alcoholic Christmas carnivals.

But why were Americans flocking to these temporary Christmas-themed bars rather than the shopping malls, civic centers, and even corner taverns that have been decking the halls for years? Was it the irresistible lure of Instagram? Nostalgia for childhood? An unending appetite for Mariah Carey Christmas tracks?

The Miracle bars were about more than just Christmas. The string of seasonal bars were about a pop-up craze, where bars, restaurants, and even hotel rooms open for a limited time frame, offering a themed onslaught to the senses that’s tailor-made for social media. Miracle, which started in 2014 in New York City, will repeat its pop-up experience around the US again in 2019. It’ll be far from the last pop-up you’ll see, because the demand for limited-run themes seems to be insatiable.

Nostalgia makes a pop-up the hottest restaurant in LA.

Photo: Good Burger/Facebook

“The idea was to do 300 covers a night, seven days a week, for a month,” says Derek Berry about the first day tickets were offered to Saved by the Max, a pop-up re-creation of The Max diner in Saved by the Bell. “Within 10 minutes we sold out the entire month.”

Saved by the Max extended the timeframe to three months. Within an hour of the tickets going on sale, the place was completely booked.

“That’s when we realized this was a lot bigger than we ever imagined,” Berry says.

Saved by the Max was almost an exact duplicate of the famous diner from the show, with The Max’s same red booths, a row of Bayside High lockers, arcade games, and menu items like the AC Slider and Mac & Screech. The nostalgia-driven Saved by the Max went on for a year, and sold-out in both Chicago and Los Angeles before Barry and his partners closed its doors.

“It was pure nostalgia. (The pop-up) took people back to a finer time,” says Berry. “People come in and say, ‘This show was from a time when I had no problems,’ and they hear 90s music, dress up like the show, quote the show. They come in with their guard down.”

Knowing that escape to childhood can only last so long, Berry and his partners limited the run of Saved by the Max — and their subsequent Beverly Hills 90210 Peach Pit and Good Burger pop-ups — to a year.

“All pop-ups have a shelf life,” he says, perhaps also explaining why Miracle doesn’t offer Christmas in July. “I want to be at The Max when it’s packed, and people are dressed up rather than after people have all been there and it’s half-empty.”

Pop-ups put people in their favorite TV moments.

Photo: SafeHouse

Another reason pop culture pop-ups are so successful is because people want to immerse themselves in a different reality. That can be in the form of a TV show, a holiday, or a world of covert espionage.

That’s part of why SafeHouse — a spy themed bar in Milwaukee and Chicago — has endured since 1966, long past Berry’s suggested one-year shelf life. With its secret location, in-restaurant missions, and memorabilia from movies like James Bond and Austin Powers, its popularity hasn’t diminished.

“People want that two hours of escaping,” says Peggy Williams-Smith, the senior vice president at Marcus Hotels, which runs SafeHouse now. “People just like to feel like part of the spy world for a while.”

The same can be said of escaping onto the set of a favorite TV show.

“We want people to feel like they’re on the show,” Berry says. “We want them to say, ‘I remember this moment from the show, and now I’m living it. Recreating it.’ But I feel like it’s stronger.” He points to a phone at his pop-up that had guests calling 1-800-Crush as a particularly resonating detail.

Of course, to fully immerse oneself in a TV show, living among props from the set is the ultimate experience. Enter the Hamilton Hotel in Washington, DC, which offers a Veep suite furnished with the very couches Julia Louis-Dreyfus sat on as Selina Meyer. And her entire oval office is set up right off the elevator.

Photo: Hamilton Hotel

Whereas Saved by the Max worked with NBC for the rights to The Max without acquiring actual set pieces, the Hamilton partnered with HBO on its Veep suite. That allowed it to do things like hang Selina Meyer’s diplomas on the wall and offer a sitting room with furniture from her DC brownstone. It was the first time in HBO’s history it had lent props for the purpose of furnishing another business.

“It’s really committed to being what the exact experience would have been if you’d visited the bedroom in Selina’s suite, or been in her oval office,” says Mark Driscoll, the managing director at Hamilton Hotel. “But it’s still satirical, like Veep was. So it lets people who may not be happy with the current administration be part of the poking fun the show did in its own right.”

Pop-ups are also, of course, about getting the perfect Instagram moment.

Photo: Miracle in Miami/Facebook

Beyond the nostalgia for yesteryear and novelty of feeling like part of a favorite television show, social media plays a monstrous role in the draw of themed pop-ups. This was obvious to anyone with an Instagram when seeing the Miracle bars in December.

“Ten days in we decided to get a snow machine,” says Amber Love Bond, who was the manager of Miami’s Miracle bar. The machine was set to blow fake snow all over the bar every time the chorus of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ came on. “And after the first couple of nights, people started saying, ‘I know what’s going to happen during the chorus, they do the snow machine!’ They all saw it on Insta, or put it on their Insta, and came in for it. Social media really drives those kinds of activations.”

Social media may also be a big part of why these bars and pop-ups are purposefully ephemeral.

“People want those Instagrammable moments that are only around for a couple months, and they can say they got into,” Berry says. “We took our food and beverage very seriously but still people aren’t coming back more than once or twice. They post it, then their friends wanna go, and they bring their friends, but that’s about it.”

Themed pop-ups get you out of your regular routine, at home or away.

Photo: Hamilton Hotel

The need for new is also a huge driver to these types of activations. Even in a city like Miami, known for its abundant nightlife, the Miracle bar offered something different for locals.

“It’s the novelty of having something different, special, not the regular rigormorol of your regular weekends,” Bond says of Miracle and other bars like it. “It’s not like going to your local bar that’s all the same all year. And people know it’s not there forever.”

The same can be said of travel routines, a concept the Hamilton has understood well. Prior to the Veep suite, the hotel had a newsroom-themed suite, which ran in conjunction with the opening of the Newseum. Hamilton also brought in actor Alan Cumming from The Good Wife to curate a suite. And though he wouldn’t specify, Driscoll said he hoped to theme other suites with HBO once the Veep­ suite’s two-year run is over.

“People want something different. They don’t want cookie cutter, this isn’t just a business traveler trying to get their points,” Driscoll says. “Travelers want something distinctly DC, and this has been very successful in speaking to them in those ways.”

The concept isn’t uniquely American either, as a Barbie suite at the Hilton Cartagena opened in June, following the smashing success of a similar suite in Mexico City. There’s also a Peanuts-themed hotel in Kobe, Japan, and Peanuts Cafe in Tokyo.

So while Christmas bars may not be around all year, we likely haven’t seen the last of them either. Or other themed pop-ups, for that matter. As long as people need a break from their routines and want to escape back into a simpler time, pop-up popularity won’t be waning anytime soon. The only question is who will dethrone the twerking Santa as this 2019’s star of social media.


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Avoid sitting next to babies

If it always seems like you get stuck next to a crying baby whenever you fly, there might soon be a way to avoid that. Japan Airlines is pioneering a new feature in its flight booking system, which identifies where children are sitting with a “child” icon. This will make it possible to avoid children when choosing your seat. The tool isn’t a 100 percent guarantee, however, as seats can always be changed at the last minute and the icon may not appear if the ticket was booked through a third party.

Many are welcoming the new feature, including venture capitalist Rahat Ahmed, who tweeted, “This really ought to be mandatory across the board. I had three screaming babies next to me on my flight two weeks ago.”

It’s worth noting that the tool in no way punishes parents traveling with children, but merely gives travelers the option of increasing their chances of a quieter flight. Hopefully, this will also mean a less stressful situation for parents, who don’t have to deal with the ire of aggravated seatmates.

As with all new innovations, however, not everyone is on board. Twitter user G Sundar said, “We need to learn tolerance or will soon start needing a map of seat locations for mouth breathers, droolers, farters, drunks, and perhaps a lot more things in life.” Another user, Jene Johnson, said, “Wow…get some noise-canceling headphones and go about your day.”


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The post This airline is adding a seat booking tool that allows you to avoid crying babies appeared first on Matador Network.

How this Mallorca hotel is helping

It’s no secret that traveling solo as a woman comes with its pitfalls. The unfortunate truth is that women have to worry about harassment and far worse if they want to explore foreign lands on their own. Finding a place where they feel totally safe is a blessing for women who want to enjoy their travels without stressing over finding the nearest exit or constantly looking over their shoulder. A new hotel in Mallorca, Spain, wants to give women just that, by banning men from the premises.

Insider reported that the newly opened Som Dona Hotel in Mallorca only accepts women guests, 14 years or older. It’s the first hotel in Spain that will open its doors to women only. According to the hotel’s website, Som Dona’s design focuses on “feminine features,” but the hotel amenities sound like anyone would enjoy regardless of gender.

In fact, the modern design makes it the perfect place to spend a vacation focused on rest and rejuvenation: There’s sprawling pool, spa, fitness center, and a sophisticated, minimalist bar decorated with red and pink throw pillows and comfy chairs. And you don’t have to worry about any men hovering nearby asking if you’re single after too many beers.

The hotel seems to have an overall wellness focus: The restaurant menu has “flavorful, healthy and sustainable” cuisine that is aimed at people with a “flexitarian” diet — people who eat a mostly plant-based diet that sometimes incorporate meat dishes.

While women traveling alone are welcome, the hotel is also suited to mother-daughter pairs and groups of friends. Several packages offer the opportunity to socialize with other guests and take part in guided tours of the island.

The hotel pledges to accept women of all sexual orientations, but hopefully plans to extend that invitation to a range of gender orientations, including trans women and nonbinary people, who often also find themselves at risk when traveling alone.

Hotels catering exclusively to women (or at least with one floor dedicated entirely to women) have opened in places like Vancouver to Copenhagen, but Som Dona stands out because the rates are so affordable, ranging from $80 to $176 per night.


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The post New Mallorca hotel doesn’t allow men appeared first on Matador Network.

World’s longest waterslide opens

The rainforest of Penang, a northern Malaysian state known for its street food culture more than its theme parks, recently opened an attraction for the ages. The ESCAPE theme park has just debuted a 3,645-foot waterslide that sends riders cruising through the jungle and into the heart of the park on an inflatable tube. The slide starts 230 feet above the park on a hillside, its blue and yellow track twisting and turning revelers down the hill and into a pool awaiting at the bottom. Riders access the slide via chairlift. The park provides the tubes — all riders must have is a willingness to let their wits go for a full four minutes on the way down.

Photo: Escape Theme Park, Penang/Facebook

Building a waterslide in the rainforest appears, at first thought, as a keen way to disrupt local flora and fauna and stand as just one more step in humankind’s encroachment on the natural world. However, the developer of the slide — Sim Leisure Group — maintains that environmental precautions were taken during planning and construction. The ride was built manually in order to avoid bringing heavy machinery into the wildlife-rich rainforest.

While this slide will be the world’s longest mountain waterslide, China is home to the longest traditional waterslide — the city of Lishui boasts an 8,900-foot-long water-powered ride. Still, it gives visitors and locals alike one more reason to consider heading down to Penang on their next Southeast Asian trip.


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The post The new world’s longest waterslide takes you 3,645 feet through the rainforest appeared first on Matador Network.

What is mu kratha

Mu kratha (sometimes also spelled mookata), meaning “pan pork,” is a style of Thai cuisine that combines Korean barbecue and Chinese hot pot into a perfect symphony of sweat, spice, and joyous gluttony. You can find mu kratha restaurants all over Thailand, which offer a DIY dinner where you pay a fixed price for a buffet of food that you cook using a special skillet and charcoal grill.

While mu kratha is quite the indulgence it does take some getting used to. To enjoy mu kratha, you need to know the rules: what to wear, how to be safe while cooking, and how to choose a restaurant with quality meat, seafood, and vegetables.

What to wear

Prior to indulging in mu kratha, it’s imperative that you know how to dress for the occasion. Between the scorching Thailand heat, the bubbling mu kratha broth, and the scalding cookware, you want to make sure you’re wearing something breathable. Sweatshirts and sweaters are not recommended attire.

During mu kratha you will be reaching over hot grills, hot skillets, and plates piled high with food to cook your meal. The space on the table is normally jam-packed with uncooked cuts of meat and vegetables. It’s best to wear something with short sleeves so you can prevent any unwanted mishaps or spills. People with long hair must pull their hair back because nobody wants their hair swinging into a hotbed of coals.

You’ll also want to remember that the heat emitted from the skillet and grill combined with the Thai heat will drive up your body temperature, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.

How to cook mu kratha

Photo: Tee Williams

Tourists always say some version of, “Wow. This is kind of dangerous,” when they sit down for their first mu kratha dinner. They see the sizzling skillet, the burning embers flickering from the grill, and their close proximity to all of it, and immediately start to feel uneasy. But there’s nothing to fear if you know how to navigate the mu kratha pot.

The mu kratha pot has a dome in the middle, which is surrounded by a moat that holds a meat broth, similar to hot pot. The dome is used to grill meats and should be greased up by a fatty piece of pork, while the moat is used to cook vegetables.

Most restaurants charge a flat, all-you-can-eat rate, and have a buffet-style setup, where you will you serve yourself dishes of raw sliced pork, meat, chicken, fish balls, meat skewers, and vegetables like lettuce and carrots. You’ll take your ingredients of choice back to your table, and cook them on your own.

If you don’t have a solid grasp on how to use chopsticks, be sure to use the tongs that can be found around the buffet area. Also, be sure that you’re not eating prepared food with utensils that have touched raw meat. That is a sure-fire way to get a bad bout of food poisoning. Speaking of food poisoning, be sure to thoroughly cook your meat as well — don’t take the sliced pork, chicken, or beef off the grill until it has browned completely.

Once your meats and veggies are cooked and ready to eat, dip them in the Thai suki sauce (or nam chim) at your table. The sauce is made from garlic, fresh red chilis, sugar, and bean curd. This sauce combines the perfect amount of sweet and spicy and is sure to leave you fanning your tongue.

Where to eat mu kratha

Photo: Davidology YW/Facebook

In Chiang Mai there are tons of mu kratha places, but not all of these restaurants are created equal. Some have flies buzzing all over the flood, wilted veggies, smelly meat, and generally unsanitary conditions. The best way to find the best mu kratha spot is by following the quintessential Southeast Asia travel rule: If a restaurant is crowded then that is absolutely where you want to be.

Once you get inside a restaurant take a second to do a subtle look around. Check to see if the tables are actually cleaned after people depart, and if the food and sauce stations look clean. Has food been left to sit or is someone making sure the buffet is fresh? Following these tips will help you find the best quality restaurants.

Once you get the hang of mu kratha, you won’t want to eat anything else. It’s certainly the most bang for your buck meal in Thailand, but it’s also probably the most labor-intensive dinner outside of home cooking. A typical mu kratha meal can last for two to three hours. So when you head to a mu-kratha restaurant, make sure you have an empty stomach, your sleeves rolled up, and elastic pants on.


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Otter pup naming contest

Five months ago, two southern sea otter pups were rescued along the California coast by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Since early July, the pups have been at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where staff have been helping them learn skills like diving, foraging, and grooming. But while the baby otters are thriving, they still lack something essential: names. Currently they are known as pups 870 and 872. In naming the two pups, the aquarium is asking the public to vote on their favorite name.

No, you can’t choose “Otter McOtterface.” You must pick from a list of five names provided by the aquarium, all of which reference locations along the California coast. The options are Cooper (for Cupertino, California), Watson (for the town of Watsonville, near Monterey, and Port Watsonville where one of the pups was found), Bennett (for Point Bennett on San Miguel Island), Simon (for Simonton Cove on San Miguel Island), and Obi (for San Luis Obispo).

The contest is an effort to generate public enthusiasm about sea otter conservation. Once hunted for their fur, sea otters are still a struggling species, listed as endangered by the IUCN.

The preservation of sea otters is also important to the ecosystem as a whole. A predator of sea urchins, otters keep the urchin population in check, which in turn stops them from wreaking havoc on kelp forests that many marine creatures need for survival and which absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The voting ends on September 28, with the winners announced on September 30. To vote — and to see more pictures of these cute creatures — check out the


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The post This aquarium needs your help naming two adorable otter pups appeared first on Matador Network.

Best US hotels for LGBTQ travelers

Though it still has a long way to go, the US is one of the best countries to visit for an LGBTQ traveler. Annual events such as the NYC Pride parade draw in huge crowds of both LGBTQ visitors and allies alike. Small towns such as Providence, Massachusetts, are filled with queer-friendly venues, as well as rustic New England beachfront charm. There are even resorts designed solely for queer guests. The best LGBTQ-friendly hotels in the US range from large international brands based out of nearly every major city to small boutique hotels localized in specific areas. Whether for work or for pleasure, finding accommodation in the US that is LGBTQ-friendly is essential for any queer traveler.

1. Hotel San José

Hotel San José is founded by queer businesswoman Liz Lambert. A stay at the Hotel San José guarantees a warm welcome to members of the LGBTQ community. The layout of the hotel is unique and boutique, with a focus on music, arts, and urban renewal. Liz Lambert also runs other renovated hotels throughout Texas, all of which have the same attention to detail and comfortable elegance.

Where: 1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

2. Kimpton Hotels

Photo: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants/Facebook

Kimpton Hotels is a major hotel chain with a focus on supporting the queer community. It was the first official hotel sponsor of The Trevor Project, which is a crisis and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. The company also has an LGBTQ-specific section of its website offering promos for travelers. Kimpton Hotels has boutique hotels in over 60 locations, so regardless of which US city you are looking to visit, chances are high that there is a Kimpton close by. Washington, DC alone offers multiple Kimpton options, such as Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle, a neighborhood widely known for its prolific LGBTQ history. The company has maintained a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Index.

Where: Nationwide

3. Marriott International

Marriott International is a readily accessible hotel chain that is a welcoming choice to LGBTQ travelers. It is focused on creating an accepting environment for queer customers, as well as sponsoring and marketing specifically to potential queer clientele. The company has previously sponsored Pride events in Washington, DC, San Francisco, and NYC. Marriott is a nationwide brand with locations all throughout the US, and therefore makes a convenient and comfortable choice for accommodation. It also recently launched its #lovetravels campaign to raise awareness for global queer travelers all over the world.

Where: Nationwide

4. W Hotels

Photo: W Hotels Worldwide/Facebook

W Hotels, which is now part of Marriott thanks to the Starwood merger, has shown consistent support to the community in terms of both outspoken alliance and assistance to charities and nonprofit organizations. LGBTQ travelers can rest comfortably at one of the many unique locations throughout the US. W Hotels, partnered with Jennifer Hudson, manages an LGBTQ organization called Turn It Up for Change, which fundraises and creates positive publicity for the queer community. It was also one of the first hotels to publicly sponsor the Pride parade in NYC.

Where: Nationwide

5. Hyatt

Hyatt Hotels is another major hospitality company that has maintained a perfect Human Rights Index score for a subsequent number of years. It was one of the first hotel brands to offer benefits to domestic partners, in addition to the standard benefits offered to a heterosexual married couple. Hyatt has been named one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality and has made public strides to show equality to all of its employees, no matter their sexual orientation. This commitment carries over to customers as well. In 2019, Hyatt offered multiple packages and promotions during Pride month, such as discounts for staying three days or over and food and entertainment bundles.

Where: Nationwide

6. Villa Royale

Photo: Villa Royale/Facebook

The Villa Royale is located in Palm Springs. It is situated close to Dinah Shore Weekend, an annual lesbian music festival, which features excellent parties, live music, and dance performances. The hotel is owned and run by women, and features a variety of rooms with carefully curated style and a luxurious outdoor pool area. It is located right near the deserts of California and has the capability for hosting large events, such as weddings. The boutique hotel offers a few special discounts and packages, including a “rosé all day” offer, which features a late checkout, a reserved poolside cabana, and a bottle of rosé paired with a fruit platter.

Where: 1620 S Indian Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264

7. Brass Key Guesthouse

The Brass Key Guesthouse is located in Provincetown and is queer-run, queer-owned, and queer-operated. The accommodation has traditional East Coast beach-style cottage housing as well as a courtyard pool. The hotel clarifies in its mission statement that it caters to guests of all orientations and that open-mindedness is valued most. Provincetown is well-known for its queer community, so LGBTQ travelers can find plenty of spots to enjoy outside of the hotel, in addition to the whale watching, paddleboarding, and beach-combing that the Cape is famous for.

Where: 67 Bradford St, Provincetown, MA 02657

8. La Dolce Vita Resort

Photo: La Dolce Vita Resort & Spa/Facebook

The La Dolce Vita Resort is an all-male, clothing-optional gay resort in Palm Springs. The backdrop is not bad either as mountains and desert surround the resort on all sides. It caters specifically to queer men and includes outdoor pools, saunas, massage parlors, and hot tubs. The hotel itself is located in a quieter area outside of the Palm Springs “gay” neighborhood, yet is still within walking distance to many restaurants.

Where: 1491 Vía Soledad, Palm Springs, CA 92264

9. Rainbow Mountain Resort

If the name isn’t obvious enough (or the unmissable rainbow logo), Rainbow Mountain Resort is an accommodation intended for traveling members of the queer community. Since 1981, the hotel has been dedicated to serving LGBTQ guests. It is located high in the Pocono Mountains, outside of NYC, and can be accessed best from either NYC or Philadelphia. Guests can stay in a wide array of unique quarters, such as cabins or lodges. The hotel regularly hosts different events and parties that guests can attend, and the website has a complete events list available.

Where: 210 Mt Nebo Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

10. Alexander’s Guesthouse

Photo: Alexander’s Guesthouse Key West/Facebook

Alexander’s Guesthouse is an LGBTQ accommodation in Key West, Florida. The hotel used to be geared more specifically toward gay men but has since expanded to include a broader clientele and now LGBTQ travelers of all orientations are welcome. Inclusion and acceptance of all members of the LGBTQ community are core focuses when it comes to the accommodation’s hospitality, with its famous happy hours being a perfect example of the importance it places on community. Note, the property is intended for guests over the age of 21.

Where: 1118 Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040


More like this: The 10 best LGBTQ-friendly small towns in the US

The post The best LGBTQ-friendly hotels in the US appeared first on Matador Network.

How to get married at Niagara Falls

Fans of the popular sitcom The Office waited years for Pam and Jim to get together. And when they finally secretly married, away from Michael and the rest of the team’s wackiness, they did it in the most romantic way possible: on a boat touring Niagara Falls.

This October marks Jim and Pam’s 10th anniversary so, to celebrate this benchmark in the history of the show, and to help couples who want to replicate Halpert and Beesly’s big day, we put together a guide with some hot tips on how to get away from it all and commit to each other in one of the most beautiful and iconic posts in North America.

The ceremony
Get married in the mist.

Photo: Joan Vendrell/Shutterstock

If you are planning your elopement and want to play it up in the style of The Office, then booking a cruise with Hornblower affords you the same view of the falls as Jim and Pam.

Just contact Hornblower ahead of time with your plans, and the company will iron out the details, such as reserving a viewing area for your ceremony and allowing you to preboard, using one of its specialized elopement packages. All you’ll need is a marriage license.

If you have your heart set on being married by the boat’s captain, unfortunately that was only a made-for-TV experience. It’s the captain’s job to keep everyone safe in the falls so they have no time to marry passengers. Bring a licensed officiant along, or have Hornblower help prearrange one (it can also aid in securing a photographer). Hornblower has areas on land to host a reception in view of the falls after you say “I do,” but if you want something intimate for your post-wedding meal, head to Table Rock House Restaurant. Grab a window-side table to take in the majestic views of the falls and enjoy the delicious, locally sourced food.

Stay dry and have a ceremony on land.

Photo: Niagara Parks

Couples who would rather stay on land can consult with Niagara Parks for either an intimate event or a Kelly-worthy guest count of up to 600. With several locations including restaurants, a floral show house, chapel, and butterfly conservatory, there are venues — both riverfront or with a view of the falls — for a variety of tastes. For a worry-free event, the parks system has wedding planners on staff to help you plan from afar.

Elope in Niagara wine country.

Photo: Two Sisters Vineyards/Facebook

Turn all that rushing water into wine and head to the Two Sisters Vineyards, which is the perfect spot for a romantic event. The on-site restaurant, Kitchen 76, can cater up to 100 seated guests or curate a romantic dinner for two among the vines. Two Sisters has a full events team that will put Angela’s party planning to shame. Renting electric bikes and visiting various wineries such as Reid Family Vineyards and Trius Winery on your honeymoon is a fancy way to further experience the area.

A thrill-filled celebration

After you’ve tied the knot, it’s time to celebrate, and there’s nothing like getting some adrenaline spikes together to get ready for life as a couple and all of its ups and downs.

View the falls from above on an exhilarating helicopter ride.

Photo: TRphotos/Shutterstock

Celebrate your union by sitting close together on a ride with Niagara Helicopters as you are lifted high above the water. From up there, you can view the Canadian and American falls along with the Niagara River.

Glide together on a zip line.

Photo: Igor Sh/Shutterstock

For an up-close view of the falls, encounter the excitement of zipping together with WildPlay’s Zipline to the Falls. Safely harnessed and donning helmets, you and your partner can run at the same time on separate tracks. Riders glide 2,200 feet at speeds of over 40 mph. If the thrill isn’t romantic enough, rides are offered after dark while the falls are lit with a rainbow of colors.

Bond while completing an adventure course.

Photo: WildPlay Niagara Falls/Facebook

If you yearn for the experience of working together to complete a goal, then WildPlay’s Whirlpool Adventure Course is in order. There’s nothing quite like traversing suspended obstacles, such as swinging bridges, rope walls, and log ladders, to figure out how to collaborate. Cheer each other on as you reach your goal while strengthening your communication skills within view of the whirlpool and Niagara Gorge.

Experience the thrill of a jet boat ride.

Photo: Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours/Facebook

Another way to enjoy the falls and commemorate being together is by taking a Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour. Laugh and hold on tight as you experience high velocity turns and make your way through the twists of the Niagara River in an adventurous, memorable way. The tour provides all of the gear needed (including disposable ponchos), but you will get soaked, so wear waterproof shoes.

Take a romantic walk by the rushing water.

Photo: Artsy Shot Photography/Shutterstock

For those who crave a bit of privacy, head to the White Water Walk and overlook the Class VI whitewater rapids of the Niagara River. A boardwalk houses several viewing platforms for observing the rapids. Another option is the Journey Behind the Falls, comprised of a set of tunnels built behind the falls, which is perfect for stealing a kiss or two — if Dwight and Angela don’t beat you to it.


More like this: The 7 coolest things to do in Niagara Falls, other than see the Falls

The post 9 tips for having your own Pam and Jim elopement in Niagara appeared first on Matador Network.