Whenever you go to the gay city of New York, there never seems to be enough time to do everything you want to do or see all the people you want to. This trip was particularly eventful because the GT team was helping to promote the FIRST Gay Travel Guru search.

suite life

While in gay New York City, we stayed at The Algonquin Hotel on West 44th Street. More than a hotel, the Algonquin is an important part of the city’s history. The location of the “Algonquin Round Table”, famous writers including Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and Robert E. Sherwood regularly ate lunch here. Oh gay New York. Love you.

Some of these writers collaborated with Vanity Fair. So it was fitting and an AMAZING opportunity to stay in the Vanity Fair suite. Back issue covers were the perfect accent to the Heavenly King bed and other amenities that were offered. At first I was puzzled by the stuffed animal sitting near the couch. I asked the reservations manager about the cat. He told me that her name was Matilda. It was a toy replica of the real Matilda, The Algonquin’s “resident hen” who roams the lobby. Not only are there stuffed animals made in her likeness, she also has business cards and an email address. Only in gay New York. I am right?

Most of the accommodations and services at this New York gay hotel are top-notch. The gym is small but has all the essential equipment you need to work out.

Without a doubt, The Algonquin is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to experience classic New York gay elegance and luxury.

hitting chelsea

A 10-minute cab ride later, we were in Chelsea, New York’s most prominent gay neighborhood. We met friends at the Cafeteria. Open 24 hours a day, the cafeteria is a great place for a drink or a nice meal. From seared ahi tuna to chicken and waffles, there’s something for everyone. Most of the bartenders and patrons are gay, so it’s also a great place to watch the Chelsea boys.

Then came G Lounge, I remember going there years ago. It’s a popular spot that offers great drinks, hot dancers, and dance music for New York’s gay scene. Be prepared to bump elbows – the venue is small and draws a rowdy crowd.

On Thursday, after window shopping on Fifth Avenue and strolling through Central Park, it was time to head to our first launch party at Splash. In a city where bars open with much anticipation and close when they’re no longer in style, Splash has stood the test of time. Here we find a great selection of candidates for our Gay Travel Guru job search. Many have blogs, some are published writers, and are well connected in the New York City gay gay scene.

“Today” was not our day

Friday was an EARLY day. Around 3 in the morning, we grabbed our “Earn Money to Sleep” banner and headed to Rockefeller Center for a chance to be seen on “The Today Show.” For anyone planning on doing this in gay New York, don’t show up at 3! No one shows up until 5:30. Fortunately, three older ladies from Long Island joined us in line. They saw our gaytravel.com banner and quickly showed us photos they had taken with a drag queen after seeing “La Cage Aux Folles.”

We crossed the barrier to get on “The Today Show,” but we didn’t get much airtime. Camera crews avoided us at all times, but we made our way through the air at the back of a cooking segment in the last hour. I guess not all of gay New York is excited about this contest.

Following the mixed results of “The Today Show”, it was time to kick back for our second launch party at Boxers NYC http://boxersnyc.com/. For only being open for a week, the sports bar seems to be a popular spot with NYC gay locals and out-of-towners like us. Boxers showcases rugged “Abercrombie-esque” portraits and plasma TVs tuned to sporting events. The perfect decoration for your relaxed clients.

Needless to say, the gay city of New York was a crucial stop on our Guru launch trip. Applicants here are sophisticated, social media savvy, and well connected. With so much to experience, the minute you leave you start thinking about what you’ll do when you return to gay New York!