New York City hotels and travel guide: GAY AND LESBIAN NEW YORK

There are few places in America - indeed in the world - where gay culture thrives as it does in New York. A glance at the pages of the Village Voice , where gay theater, gossip and politics share space with more mainstream goings-on, gives a quick inkling.

Socially, lesbians and gay men are fairly visible, and while it's not recommended that you and your partner hold hands in public before checking out the territory, there are neighborhoods in the city where you'll find yourself in a comfortable majority. A strong presence lingers in the vicinity of Christopher Street in the West Village, but it's in Chelsea that gay socializing is most out and open. The other haven is Brooklyn's Park Slope, though perhaps more for women than for men.

Gay media

The following are a selection of outlets with up-to-date listings and insider information on the gay and lesbian scene.

The Advocate www.advocate.com . National gay and lesbian newsmagazine.

HX Magazine www.hx.com . Vital homosexual listings mag.

Metrosource Magazine wwwmetrosource.com . National gay and lesbian lifestyle magazine with a local directory of gay-friendly professionals and businesses.

Out Magazine www.out.com . A lifestyle magazine covering everything from politics to health.

Lesbian and gay resources

GENERAL HELP AND ADVICE

Association of the Bar of the City of New York - Committee on Lesbian & Gay Rights 42 W 44th St, NY 10036 tel 212/382-6600.
The committee recommends legal policies for employers and law schools, and addresses general policy issues regarding lesbian and gay rights.

Bisexual Information and Counseling Services, Inc . 599 West End Ave, Suite 1A, NY 10024 tel 212/595-8002, www.bisexualcounseling.org
Offers help on health and relationship issues; general and professional discussion groups.

Empire State Pride Agenda 647 Hudson St, NY 10014 tel 212/627-0305, www.espany.org .
Political organization lobbies legislature and governor, helps elect gay-supportive candidates through financial/campaign assistance, organizes constituent pressure, educates public about lesbians/gay life.

Gay and Lesbian National Hotline tel 1-888/THE-GLNH or 212/989-0999, www.glnh.org (Mon-Fri 6-10pm, Sat noon-5pm).
Information, help and referrals.

Gay Yellow Pages PO Box 533, Village Station, NY 10014-0533 tel 212/674-0120, www.gayellowpages.com .
Annual directory of gay/lesbian businesses and resources.

GLAAD-NY (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) 150 W 26th St at 7th Ave, Suite 503 tel 212/807-1700, www.glaad.org .
Monitors the portrayal of gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the media, and organizes caucuses and discussion groups on media topics. Volunteers and visitors welcome.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund 120 Wall St, 15th floor, NY 10005 tel 212/809-8585, www.lambdalegal.org .
Active against discrimination affecting people with AIDS and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; publications, speakers and newsletter.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Services Center 208 W 13th St, NY 10014 (west of 7th Ave) tel 212/620-7310, www.gaycenter.org .
The Center's free paper, Center Voice , is mailed to more than 55,000 households, which should give you an idea of how it's grown since it opened in 1983. The Center also sponsors workshops, dances, movie nights, youth services and lots more.

EXCLUSIVELY LESBIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Astraea 116 E 16th, 7th floor, NY 10003, #520 (between Park Ave S and Irving Place) tel 212/529-8021, www.astraea.org .
National lesbian foundation offering financial support, education and networking to lesbian organizations and projects.

Center for Anti-Violence Education/Brooklyn Women's Martial Arts 421 5th Ave, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215 tel 718/788-1775, www.cae-bkln.org .
Self-defense and martial arts classes integrate a political understanding of violence; not-for-profit, feminist and anti-racist.

Social Activities for Lesbians (SAL) PO Box 2270, Church Street Station tel 212/330-6582.
A social group that organizes dinners, parties, cultural excursions, video nights and the like. Call for details and calendar.

AIDS/HIV-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) 332 Bleecker St, Suite G5, NY 10014 tel 212/966-4873, www.actupny.org .
The first and most prolific of the direct action groups, ACT UP advocates group empowerment and action, advocating that silence will only equal death. Meets Mon, 7.30pm, at the Center, 208 W 13th St.

AIDS Hotline tel 212/447-8200.
Information, counseling and referrals available seven days a week, 9am-9pm.

AIDS Treatment Data Network (The Network) 611 Broadway, Room 613, NY 10012 tel 212/260-8868 or toll-free 1-800/734-7104, www.aidsinfonyc.org/network .
Not-for-profit community-based organization provides information on treatment, counseling and referral services to people with HIV/AIDS.

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) 119 W 24th St (between 6th and 7th aves) tel 212/807-6664, www.gmhc.org .
Despite the name, this organization - the oldest and largest not-for-profit AIDS organization in the world - provides information and referrals to everyone.

HIV/AIDS Legal Service Project 153 Waverly Place, NY 10014 tel 212/243-1313.
Free childcare, discrimination, housing and health planning services for people with AIDS/HIV.

Accommodation

The following places are friendly to gays and lesbians and convenient for the scene.

Chelsea Mews Guest House 344 W 15th St, NY 10011 (between 8th and 9th aves) tel 212/255-9174.
All-male gay guesthouse. Local calls are included. $100-160

Chelsea Pines Inn 317 W 14th St (between 8th and 9th aves) tel 212/929-1023, www.chelseapinesinn.com .
Well-priced hotel, whose guests are mostly gay, housed in an old brownstone on the Greenwich Village/Chelsea border that offers clean, comfortable, attractively furnished rooms. Best to book in advance. Under $100-200; three-night minimum stay at weekends.

Chelsea Savoy Hotel 204 W 24th St (at 7th Ave) tel 212/929-9353, www.chelseasavoynyc.com .
This relative newcomer, housed in a new building, makes up for a lack of charm with clean and modern amenities in every room. $100-130

Colonial House Inn 318 W 22nd St, NY 10011 (between 8th and 9th aves) tel 212/243-9669, www.colonialhouseinn.com .
Economical, twenty-room bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Chelsea. Also welcomes straight guests. Boasts a clothing-optional roofdeck. Under $100, with fifteen percent off in Jan and Feb.

Incentra Village House 32 8th Ave (between 12th and Jane sts) tel 212/206-0007.
Twelve-room townhouse, some rooms with kitchenette. Three-night minimum stay at weekends. Also welcomes straight guests. $100-130

Bars

Gay men's bars cover the spectrum: from relaxed, mainstream cafés to some hard-hitting clubs full of glamour and attitude. Most of the more established places are in Greenwich Village and Chelsea, and along Avenue A in the East Village. For women, Park Slope in Brooklyn edges out the East Village and Hudson Street in the West as the center of happenings. Things tend to get raunchier further west as you reach the bars and cruisers of the wild West Side Highway and the Meatpacking District, both of which are pretty hardcore.

MAINLY FOR MEN

The Bar 68 2nd Ave (at E 4th St) tel 212/674-9714.
A longstanding neighborhood hideaway with a pool table in the East Village. Fairly relaxed on weeknights, cruisier at the weekend.

Barracuda 275 W 22nd St (between 7th and 8th aves) tel 212/645-8613.
A favorite spot in New York's gay scene, and as laid-back as you'll find in Chelsea. Two-for-one happy hour from 4-9pm during the week, crazy drag shows and pick-up lines and a hideaway lounge out back.

Brandy's Piano Bar 235 E 84th St (between 2nd and 3rd aves) tel 212/744-4949.
Handsome uptown cabaret/piano bar with a crazy mixed and generally mature clientele. Definitely worth a visit.

The Cock 188 Ave A (at 12th St) tel 212/777-6724.
With amateur "talent" contests and strip karaoke to kill for, it's dirty, sleazy and a social hodgepodge - and a whole lot of fun.

The Dugout 185 Christopher St (at Weehawken St) tel 212/242-9113.
Right by the river, this friendly West Village hangout with TV, pool table and video games might be the closest you'll find to a gay sports bar.

Dusk Lounge 147 W 24th St (between 6th and 7th aves) tel 212/924-4490.
A place to chill out and unwind, this Chelsea stalwart is perfect on a weekday afternoon.

Julius 159 W 10th St (at Waverly Place) tel 212/929-9672.
As the oldest gay bar in the city, this quaint, wooden affair deserves at least one drink.

The Monster 80 Grove St (at Waverly Place) tel 212/924-3558.
Large, campy bar with drag cabaret, piano and downstairs dance floor. Very popular, especially with tourists, yet has a strong neighborhood feel.

Phoenix 447 E 13th St (between 1st Ave and Ave A) tel 212/477-9979.
This relaxed East Village favorite is much loved by the so-not-scene-they're-scene boys and guys who really just want a drink.

Rawhide 212 8th Ave (at 21st St) tel 212/242-9332.
Hell-bent for leather, Chelsea's Rough Rider Room opens at 8am for those who have beer for breakfast (and closes fairly late too).

Stonewall 53 Christopher St (between Waverly Place and 7th Ave S) tel 212/463-0950.
Yes, that Stonewall , site of the seminal 1969 riot, mostly refurbished and flying the pride flag like they own it - which, one supposes, they do.

Wonder Bar 505 E 6th St (between aves A and B) tel 212/777-9105.
Cramped, festive and lesbian-friendly, this is a truly wonderful and unpretentious find for the thinking boy. Still mainly for the men, though.

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Ginger's 363 5th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn tel 718/788-0924.
Relative newcomer that's dark and atmospheric, with a great happy hour.

Henrietta Hudson 438 Hudson St (between Morton and Barrow sts) tel 212/924-3347.
Laid-back in the afternoon but brimming by night, especially on weekends. Lounging, pool and dancing areas are all separated and guys are welcome too.

Julie's 204 E 58th St (between 2nd and 3rd aves) tel 212/688-1294.
Fairly sedate and couply throughout the week, except for Thurs nights when the single girls come out to play. One of your few choices around midtown or uptown.

Marie's Crisis 59 Grove St tel 212/243-9323.
Well-known cabaret/piano bar popular with tourists and locals alike. Features old-time singing sessions on Fri and Sat nights.

Meow Mix 269 E Houston St (at Suffolk St) tel 212/254-0688.
One of the city's hottest girl venues. Bands or performances most nights, for which men are welcome if they behave themselves.

The Rising 186 5th Ave (at Sackett St), Park Slope, Brooklyn tel 718/789-6340.
A relaxed neighborhood favorite, this laid-back brunch spot has live music on Wed, Fri and Sun and a DJ on Sat nights.

Rubyfruit Bar & Grill 531 Hudson St (at 10th St) tel 212/929-3343.
A cozy, friendly place for grown-up dykes, Rubyfruit is all about couches, cheap drinks and good company.

Clubs

Gay and lesbian clubs in New York can be some of the most outrageous in the world, while many of the city's non-denominational nightspots have a very open-door policy (as regards sexuality) and often host weekly gay parties. Again, check out the Village Voice ( www.villagevoice.com ) and HX ( www.hx.com ) for the latest in homosexual hip.

J's Hangout 675 Hudson St (at 14th St) tel 212/242-9292.
Very cruisey late-night spot with very dark rooms and a "buff" Sat night. Open nightly from midnight.

La Nueva Escuelita 301 W 39th St (at 8th Ave) tel 212/631-0588.
Exclusive and elusive, this is also one of the city's very best gay clubs. It's all about kitsch, dress-up, salsa and drag and (wo)men. Expect to wait in line for a while.

The Monster 80 Grove St (at Sheridan Square) tel 212/924-3558.
Every night here brings something different, from Latin grooves to retro hits and a Sun afternoon tea dance (free before 8pm, $3 after). Free during the week, $5 at the weekend.

The Web 40 E 58th St tel 212/978-9988.
A predominantly Asian crowd congregates here for theme-party nights and drag competitions ($5-10), as well as Wed night bingo and karaoke Sun (free).