With the help of some Calgary salons, money is being raised for some worthwhile causes this September and November. Cut-A-Thon was started in the early 90’s and will occur again this year on September 6, 2004 at Tomkins Park on 17th Avenue. Also, the second annual "Wigged Out" hits the Arena the night of Friday November 12, 2004....

For more than 11 years, 11th Avenue’s Vicious Circle has provided an alternative and unique atmosphere for Calgary’s downtown community. Sporting a casual atmosphere with comfortable couches, local artwork (which is for sale), pool tables and creative lighting, Vicious Circle has become a popular meeting place for gay and straight people alike....

Two decades ago, Jackie Stutt started A Woman’s Place Bookstore. Located in a house, it originally acted as a community center, sharing the space with social workers and psychologists. It was a symbiotic relationship, as the therapists sent their clients downstairs for books on particular subjects. Kim O’Mahony purchased the business 2 years ago, and the store continues to carry many self-help books on topics like depression, anxiety and bulimia..

In the year 2004, the GLBT Community and the world at large are seen as much more accepting and understanding places. It’s a far cry from 1979, when Adult Depot owner Jerry Daiter opened his first adult store. "We were the second Adult store that opened in Calgary. The first one was The Love Shop, which was a fancy high-priced gorgeous looking store. By comparison ours was a hole in the wall. We both carried the same products such as lotions and toys. There was no hardcore anything, magazines were softcore and movies were non-existent. It shocked people, we were a big city "dirty book store" but a cleaned up version,"....

The former "Source Adult Video" has long been a popular choice for purchasing and renting adult films in Calgary and 33 other locations across Western Canada. However, their name amendment to Adult Source was followed by an alteration to what the company offers. GayCalgary.com spoke with Arlie Penny, the store manager at Adult Source’s 17th Avenue location, about how his store has changed since it originally opened 12 years ago......

According to its website, Apollo Friends In Sports is "a volunteer-operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered communities but open to members of all communities." The primary focus of Apollo is to provide its members with well-organized and fun sporting events and other activities to allow them to participate and interact in a positive social framework...

The Arden, owned by Calgary songstress Jann Arden and her brother Patrick, has a motto "Darn good Canadian Comfort Food," and The Arden certainly delivers...

Every year in June the buzz begins to build. People start dusting off their cowboy hats and boots and trying to fit into a pair of jeans in preparation for a wild weekend of "cute cowgirls, warm and sunny weather, tight wranglers and shirtless men." This description could describe any number of summer activities around Calgary, but in this case it refers to the annual Canadian Rockies International Rodeo (CRIR) at Symon’s Valley Ranch from July second to fourth. ...

You definitely know you are walking into a different kind of store when you step through the doors of B&D Emporium’s new location on 17th avenue. As you take in the red walls and unique decorations, one of the first things that catch your eye is a cage containing two white-sided geckos. It’s a distinctive set up for a very distinctive store. Owner Christine Baker sat down with gaycalgary.com a month after opening to reflect on the past, present, and future of B&D Emporium.....

Unless you knew it was there, you might walk by an unassuming two story building without realizing it is a popular gay lounge. The Backlot, with its entrance along the side of the building, has a nice quiet outdoor patio for the summer months, fireplace in the winter and a pool table on the second floor. GayCalgary.com sat down with owner Ken Schultz to talk about the BackLot and its role in the community....

Bearback Calgary is a group designed for Bears, Cubs and their admirers. They define the word "Bear" as "a furry", huggable, gay man. Found in all shapes, sizes, and varieties, they are usually summoned with the words, "WOOF!" or "Grrrr!". On September 23, 2003, Duane Normandeau was crowned "Mr. Cub Calgary 2003." He recently sat down with gaycalgary.com to talk about the organization......

In October 2003, BluBox opened its doors on Calgary’s 17th Avenue. The last eight months have seen their name slowly spread throughout Calgary as a new place to check out clothes, jewelry and home furnishings. Gaycalgary.com spoke with BluBox’s Manuel Alfarela, who is a co-owner of the store along with Tanya Durkin, Mike Jackson, Jeremy Kish, Craig Becker, and Craig Roberts, about how BluBox came about....

In November, Metro Boyztown & the Rekroom celebrated its 15 year anniversary. A private club, it is open to members of guests and caters to Calgary’s gay community. Recently Gaycalgary.com sat down with owners Ken Annebo, Kevin Bateman and Ellie Brewer to discuss their role in the community, the bar, and how the gay life in Calgary has changed since they opened..

Located at 424A 8th Avenue SE. When you go to Calgary Eagle Inc., be prepared to get your fingers sticky. Calgary’s leather-fetish bar offers up finger licking treats – at reasonable prices...

On February 23, The Calgary Eagle will celebrate two years in business by throwing a party for their loyal customers. Free food, drink specials, a bootblack, DJ RMG as well as two masseuses who will be donating money earned to charity. It’s all a special thank you to the customers who have supported Alberta’s only Leather & Levi bar...

On December 18th, the Calgary Men’s Chorus performs their seasonal concert at the Rozsa Center on the University of Calgary campus. Titled "Lux," (the Latin word for light) the show will feature Christmas and seasonal music, as well as pieces in Latin and African. Artistic Director Mike Harding and President of the Board of Directors Greg Oudmen sat down with GayCalgary as the date of their concert rapidly approaches....

For more than 15 years, Calgary’s Gay & Lesbian Community Services Association (GLCSA) has been a multi-purpose organization catering to Calgary’s GLBT community. It offers a broad range of services including Peer Support, Crisis & 24 hour information phone services, a drop in center, library and resource materials and much more. Recently Danielle Ladouceur, President of the Board of GLCSA, spoke to GayCalgary.com about the organization and its role in Calgary’s growing community.....

"Change" is the operative word for this year’s Pride celebrations from June 6 – 13, 2004. It was with a great deal of excitement that Pride Committee Co-Chairs Linda Craig and James Faulkner sat down on the patio at Money Pennies to tell gaycalgary.com about the plans for this year’s festivities...

Calgary’s Pride Celebrations have become an exciting part of the calendar for the past 14 years. Ever evolving, for its 15th anniversary this year, the Pride Board took a giant leap into the future, being one of the first organizations in the world to announce a full month of Pride! Starting from May 27th with Fairy Tales and wrapping up July 3 at the ARGRA Rodeo, June this year will be filled with rainbow flags, and all sorts of exciting events!...

Arts in the Calgary GLBT community continue to flourish with the addition of the Calgary Women’s Chorus (CWC) to its ranks...

On February 13th and 20th, Camp 181 will be holding focus groups to determine the future of their organization. After 23 years of filling a social niche for women, Camp 181 is unsure of their future role in the community, and whether they still have a place in it....

The world of law is one that has become glamorized through the world of entertainment. From Will Truman’s fun loving lawyer in "Will & Grace" to the intense drama of "The Practice" and "The Firm" some people view law as an exciting, thrill-a-minute edge-of-your-seat profession. "That is hardly the case" laughed Darryl Aarbo, who along with Sandra Sebree and Gary Courtney runs Courtney Sebree Aarbo, a law practice in Kensington. "Law doesn’t mirror the TV world, other than Law & Order, which does reflect criminal law. Practicing law is a profession; you are regulated and have certain ethical standards....

In 1996, then-reigning Empress XX Mz. Rhonda del ray Rockafella returned from a trip to San Diego inspired by their court to start "Crown’s for Kids," a charity designed to provide toys to children in need. When she stepped down, she proclaimed that she would continue to do the project "Until I die or pass it on to someone else." Now in it’s 7th year, the toy drive continues to be a success...

In 1971 the early incarnation of Pink Triangle Press (PTP) came into existence. 33 years later, this not-for-profit organization publishes Xtra, Xtra West, and Capital Xtra, in addition to running the popular squirt.org website and CruiseLine phone system. Their mission statement: "Pink Triangle Press is a not-for-profit organization born out of and committed to the struggle of lesbians and gay men for sexual liberation and human fulfillment." GayCalgary.com spoke with Tony Murillo in Toronto about CruiseLine.....

Detour, located in Calgary’s largest and oldest gay space, caters to both gay male and lesbian communities. It also appeals to bi, bi-curious, and straight individuals. This diverse clientele might make some gay people a bit uncomfortable, but there’s nothing to worry about. Everyone who goes to Detour recognizes that it’s a gay space, and they wouldn’t go if they didn’t want to be there..

In 1994, Different Strokes Calgary (DSC) founder Daniel MacGregor attended a swimming event in New York City and discovered he was the only swimmer between Vancouver and Toronto representing Canada. With that pressing on his mind, he returned to Calgary and with co-founder James Cooke, set the goal of starting a gay and lesbian swim club. Starting in 1995 with 2 lanes at the Lindsay Park Sports Center, the club now has about fifty swimmers who meet twice a week to swim at the YWCA on 5th Avenue...

Egale Canada, formerly known as Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere, is the national equality rights, advocacy and lobby group for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans communities in Canada..

Since 1986 EGALE has been fighting for gay rights in Canada. Originally an acronym for "Equality for Gays And Lesbians Everywhere" it has since expanded to include the Bisexual and Transgendered communities, and is now simply known as EGALE Canada. EGALE is broken up into 5 regions from coast to coast:

Just down the street from the Calgary Tower on 9th Avenue is the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, one of Calgary’s oldest historic buildings. It’s within walking distance of the majority of Calgary’s gay nightlife, making it an excellent destination for gays and lesbians visiting Calgary for business...or pleasure. I usually walk by this building in awe – the appearance of three towers at the front is really quite impressive! So it was quite an honour to have Marketing Manager Nancy Jackson take us on a tour of this fabulous building......

Mark June 2nd-5th down on your calendars for the 6th Annual Fairy Tales International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival! This year’s event promises to showcase top notch programming from around the world highlighting the diversity of GLBTT communities. Organized by the newly formed Fairytales Presentation Society, in collaboration with the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF), the festival will include thought-provoking short and feature length films originating from places as far away as Argentina, Australia and Bulgaria, just to name a few. In addition to international submissions, the festival will also accentuate entertaining films from Canadian and American filmmakers. For the past five years, Festival Producer Brenda Lieberman has ensured that submissions to the festival are diverse and include a little something for everyone. "Whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or straight, this year’s festival will have something for you", Lieberman says..

From May 27th to June 5th, 2005, the GLBT and Film communities will flock to the Uptown Stage and Screen on 8th Avenue for a week of fabulous gay film. Fairy Tales has once again descended upon our city, and this year it’s bigger and better then ever!......

Just off 17th Avenue in the prestigious Mount Royal area lies an attractive Bed and Breakfast called the Foxwood, where owners Brent and Devon have offered their warm hospitality since 1996. The house that many consider their home-away-from-home has been around since 1910 and has quite a history, starting out as a family home and later functioning as a Women’s Shelter, Health Office, and even a Fraternity before arriving at its current ownership. It’s shameful to think this property might have become parking lot had the owners not snatched it up and nursed it back to the stunning Edwardian home it is today!....

Gay porn is not what straight, religious-conservative married couple Barry and Karen Mason thought they’d become known for. But for over 35 years, they owned a bookstore that sold videos like "Confessions of a Two Dick Slut" and "Meat Me at the Fair" in West Hollywood. And now thanks to their daughter, filmmaker and artist Rachel Mason, her parents’ story is a Netflix documentary....

Wow, our first issue! For those of you who are curious, this editorial will shed some light on what the heck GayCalgary.com is and where it came from..

In November, GayCalgary.com was at the "Everything to do About Sex Show" to showcase the debut of this magazine. This was the first time GayCalgary.com hosted a booth at a mostly straight event, so it was an interesting twist being on the other side of the table. During the four days the show ran, we played several drag shows were recorded over the last five weeks at Detour and gave out copies of the magazine and post cards..

Local Rumor. Rumor has it that the building that houses Detour, Arena, Victoria’s Restaurant, Texas Lounge and Goliath’s is going to be demolished. The rumor, depending on the version of it, has it that the site will become a parking lot or condos. Also every time I hear the rumor, the date of when this demolition is to occur always changes too. With Detour recently celebrating 21 years in the gay community, and Goliath’s and the Texas Lounge being around just as long, it would be disappointing to see such a historical building in Calgary gone..

At long last, the much awaited results from the reader’s choice survey we conducted this January. As we mentioned in the Publisher’s Column last month, we had a phenomenal turnout. The majority of the surveys came in through our ballot boxes, which left us the long and arduous task of data entry......

In 1983 as HIV and AIDS was reaching epidemic proportions in North America, four members of Calgary’s gay community were sitting around a kitchen table talking, and out of that conversation AIDS Calgary was born....

8th Avenue will never be the same! Catering company by day, Lesbian dance club by night, Indulge opens its doors Friday and Saturday nights for dancing and dining. On a recent Friday night we ventured inside to take a gander at what Indulge has for the hungry homo. They offer a full menu until midnight, and live music with Jenn Swayne from 6:00pm – 8:00pm....

While the world has changed in the past few years and society in general is more accepting, it still isn’t easy to be a queer youth. It is hard enough dealing with puberty, school, friends and relationships without adding the whole "liking the same gender" aspect. While youth groups have been a vital part of the coming out process for several years, Calgary’s Inside Out has proven to have a successful formula. GayCalgary.com sat down with Facilitators Ed, Lucas, Jasmine and Ayanna as well as members Paul, Brad and Rachel about the group....

Most people don’t realize how hard some of the non-profit groups in the gay community work at fund raising. The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch (ISCCA) is one such group. These people work very hard to raise money for different non-profit groups in the city. They sacrifice their time and personal lives when elected, to help serve the gay community of Calgary. It becomes a second full time job. They do all this without pay and with the expenses of dressing up, make up, and other costs associated with doing this fine work..

This year’s Coronation, happening on April 15th at the Days Inn on Macleod Trail, marks the end of one of the most successful years of fundraising in recent court history. Under the Guidance of Emperor XXVIII Alexander Star DeKnight and Empress XXVIII Erica Devine, the court put in a lot of hard work – and it sure paid off!......

The month of February is the month in which St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated. St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers. The day is devoted, as we all know, to expressions of romantic love, complete with flowers, chocolates, cupids, and candlelit dinners. Hallmark makes a killing in gushy cards and florists everywhere positively bloom over the sweet sound of the cash registers’ cha-ching...

Canadians have been dealing with issues around sexual orientation for several decades now – decriminalization, human rights protection in the areas of housing and employment, spousal benefits, inheritance rights, adoption, and equal marriage...

It is rare that one hopes to see their own organization disbanded. However in the case of Canadians for Equal Marriage, there will be no better feeling than the day their existence is no longer necessary. It will mean a long, hard battle has come to an end, and Gay Marriage is legal....

To some, the popular Money Pennies Eatery and Bar in downtown Calgary is just another gay owned and operated business. To many more, however, it is so much more than that. In the words of owner Lorrie Murphy and her partner and "right arm" Michele Flynn, it is home.....

Money-Pennies lets you start the day off on the right foot. You can come in and get buttermilk pancakes, French toast, pan fried potatoes, English muffins and lots more. I did sample one of their pancakes when I was there. I found them very fluffy, pretty thick, and it did not feel like it would weight you down...

For nearly 4 years now, PrideVision TV has been available on Shaw as an Á la Carte (stand-alone) adult service. As the world’s first GLBT television network to broadcast 24/7, aside from it’s popular adult shows, PrideVision contained a wide range of informational programming including current affairs, documentaries, health and fitness, lifestyle, finance, relationships, music, cooking and travel....

Bill C-250 is now law in Canada, after over a decade of going through Parliament and countless months of debate. For those not familiar with C-250, it was the amendment to Sections 318 & 319 of the Criminal Code dealing with genocide and incitement to hatred. The amendment called for the addition of "sexual orientation" to the existing list of colour, race, religion, or ethnic origin protected under these sections...

As an activist, I have certainly come in for more than my fair share of criticism; being cornered in a club with a finger jabbing just below my clavicle and some beery outraged gay man (or sometimes a lesbian) just letting me know what they think of Political-Shit-Disturbers-Like-Me....

The election’s been called, the candidates are campaigning, and most Canadians have no idea who to vote for – the Liberals have shot themselves in the foot with scandal after scandal and too many years, according to some, in office; the Conservatives (the political party formerly known as Alliance, formerly known as Reform, formerly known as...) appear to be The New Great Hope to some and the death knell for glbt rights and other minority rights to others; the New Democrat Party plugs along in third place as per usual, but does seem to be swinging up somewhat in the polls – whether they can garner enough support from disgruntled Liberals and former Progressive Conservatives to actually form any sort of power base in Parliament, let alone the government, is anybody’s guess; the Green Party occupies the position once held by the NDP – a lefty fringe party with no real chance at power but able to play the role of the thorn in the paw of the Federal Lion...

With elections happening just around the corner, we feel that the Calgary gay community in needs to know where each one of the candidates in their riding stands in regards to some issues that concern us as gay citizens. GayCalgary.com Magazine decided to ask each candidate 3 simple questions - we could have asked more, but knowing how busy their schedules can be, we felt we should just stick to the main issues. All answers you see are the unedited responses that we received from the candidates. Those that did not respond to the questions are also listed. We hope this will help your decision of who to vote for in the upcoming federal elections...

In our increasingly electronic and information-laden world, communication within our respective communities is crucial. One of the ways this has long been accomplished is by various media. Since the start of the modern queer movement, periodicals such as newsletters and community newspapers and magazines have played a crucial role in disseminating information to members of our communities and serving as forums for discussions about the key issues of the day...

Sex in advertising has a long history. We are familiar with the bikini-clad, large-breasted, longhaired and nubile Young Thing lounging across the hood of the latest vehicle, her back arched in a simulation of orgasm, her moist lips parted as if panting out her lover’s name. In more recent years, men’s bodies have been used to sell everything from vodka to underwear. Open the pages of any gay publication in Canada, the US, Australia, or Europe/UK and one will see chiseled, butch, well-hung studs smiling, glowering, and gazing out at you enticing you to attend this bar opening, buy that brand of lubricant, or promoting some event within the gay men’s community. ...

As a minority, we are well aware of hate directed toward us. Many of us grew up experiencing it from our schools, classmates, faith communities, and even our families. We recognize it every time it rears it ugly little head. We are aware of queer-directed hatred from individuals like the Supposedly Reverend Fred Phelps and his odious GodHatesFags.com website. We know neo-Nazi skinheads loathe us and have a philosophy of hate towards us just as they have a philosophy of hate towards Jews, people of colour, Catholics, and Aboriginals ...

It’s election time again, and your vote is needed! Our June 2004 issue featured an article where we surveyed the candidates in the federal election. This time it’s the municipal elections – you’ll be voting for Mayor, an Alderman for the Ward you live in, and also Public or Separate School Trustees. To try and keep it simple, we decided to contact just the Mayor and Alderman candidates, and once again asked them 3 simple questions. Their answers will hopefully help you gauge their views toward the gay community, and perhaps factor into your voting decision. Some responses have been edited for spelling and typographical errors. We will add a section on the new GayCalgary.com website (http://www.gaycalgary.com) that contains the answers you see here, as well as those ones that candidates were unable to submit in time for our press deadline....

It’s interesting how seemingly disconnected events intersect at certain times to create a ‘snapshot’ of how a community – in this case, our community – is treated or perceived. A small article in the Calgary Sun on October 27th, 2004 detailed how a gay male couple staying at the Calgary Drop-In Centre, one of Calgary’s homeless shelters, were being actively discouraged from showing affection toward each other on the premises. Meanwhile, all around them heterosexual couples could at any time be seen "kissing, holding hands, cuddling on the couch, and hugging..."..

Phew, another election article and hopefully our last for a little while. In last month’s article for the Municipal Elections, we promised to post online any responses to our questions that we received after we went to press. Unfortunately we didn’t receive any more, so thus we had nothing to post online! This month we have the Provincial Elections occurring on November 22nd, and we have once again polled all of the candidates that are running. This article contains the responses we received before going to press, and once again if we receive any more, we will post them online at www.gaycalgary.com......

Albertans go to the polls on November 22nd to elect their provincial government. It’s quite a coincidence that Premier Ralph Klein is running for his final term in office at the same time as Bruce Chambers’ "Dear Mr. Klein" takes center stage at the Pumphouse Theatre. "It’s not preplanned in the least," laughed Steve Gin, Creative Director of Teatro Berdache, who plays ‘Christopher.’ "We booked the space back in February and have been working on the play and trying to find funding for three years. Ralph Klein has done a nice thing for us with free publicity now, but it was a total fluke.". ....

Hollywood is all about make-believe, and never claimed to be anything else but an industry cranking out entertainment on celluloid (or digital, as the case may be). Yet when Hollywood twists the facts around or ignores them completely, I think we need to hold them accountable. One of the most enduring fakeries Hollywood perpetuates is the making of homosexuals into heterosexuals. A recent biopic of Cole Porter, a well-known bon vivant of the Jazz Era and throughout the 30s and 40s, glossed over his homosexuality. Given the era in which he lived, Porter was openly gay, and certainly his song lyrics played with that. ("Mad About the Boy"? I mean, come on...)..

A disturbing number of Canadians (over fifty percent) are not even aware six million Jews were gassed and cremated at Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps. Likely even more Canadians are totally unaware that amongst the Jewish victims of the Nazi machine, there were an estimated 600,000 to 1,000,000 gay men sent to concentration camps and slave labour camps, and worked to death. Those who survived that were sent to Auschwitz....

One of the rules of polite company has long been that one does not talk sex, politics, or religion at social gatherings. I’ve always had difficulty following that particular guideline as those are, after all, three of my all time favourite subjects. When one considers that virtually all my activism over the last 25 years has been around sexual politics -- the place of homosexuals in society, improving the sense of self worth amongst lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and in recent years transfolk, pushing for equal rights, and insisting that we as GLBTQ people have every right to live our lives as we live them – it’s not hard to see why I don’t get invited to many dinner parties anymore....

So, this bishop sends a letter to his local parishes and a local tabloid newspaper – stop me if you’ve heard this one, okay – denouncing equal marriage, right, and calling for the "coercive power of the State to proscribe and curtail" homosexuals. So everybody gets upset and the bishop says the gay lobby groups are trying to curtail his freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Thing is, they aren’t – and this is the punch line – the national gay lobby group in Canada actually supports his right to say that. Funny, huh?....

From January 21st to 23rd 2005, the beautiful Chateau Lake Louise will be taken over by hundreds of Gay and Lesbian outdoor enthusiasts for the first annual "Powder & Pride" event. Geared towards uniting members of the gay and lesbian communities from across North America, the captivating weekend promises new friendships and fantastic skiing and snowboarding at the Lake Louise ski area. UB Productions launched this year with the goal of providing high quality events to Alberta’s Gay & Lesbian community. Owners Nicole Buday and Dawn Tournier are excited about the weekend and shared more details with us....

For thirty years, PRIAPE has existed in Canada. Based out of Montreal, Quebec, the company does brisk business throughout Canada using its catalogue mail order service. In July of 2003, local customers rejoiced when PRIAPE opened a store on 17th Avenue, offering the convenience of on the spot shopping without the wait or shipping costs. Gaycalgary.com sat down with PRIAPE’s Marcel Larochelle to talk about the first year’s success....

Fashion show held at Metro Boyztown. Models for Grand Opening provided by I Model Management...

The University of Calgary has an abundance of groups and clubs in which its students can participate. The Gay and Lesbian Association of Students and Staff (GLASS), has been a vital part in creating a gay space and presence on campus for over twenty years. GayCalgary.com met up with Co-Chair Paul Sereda and member Paul Theriault at their new office in the Professional Faculties building to talk about the organization and it’s role at the University.....

I’m writing this on June 1, the beginning of Pride month. Simultaneously, across the country people are protesting and tensions are escalating over the issue of racism. This is, of course, related to Pride. Many cite the Stonewall Riots in 1969 as the pivotal moment in the LGBTQ rights movement. You can only oppress people so much, abuse them for so long before they start to fight back. We’ve had a problem with racism in the U.S. for over 400 years. Many police departments began as an effort to protect the system of slavery. The roots of this problem are deep....

On December 12, 2002 over thirty police officers (including female officers), along with representatives from a variety of government agencies, raided Goliath’s Sauna-tel, a gay steambath in Calgary..

News Item, circa 1981 – police raid gay bathhouses in Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton. Toronto’s Richmond Street Spa is so badly damaged it never re-opens. Toronto’s gay community rises up in frustrated anger and marches for three nights down Yonge Street and surround Police District 52 chanting "No More Shit!" Examples of police misconduct are cited in gay press. All those charged as found-ins plead not guilty. Following the publishing of his name in local press, a man charged with being a found-in in Edmonton’s Pisces Spa commits suicide...

Goliath’s Charges Stayed. The staff and owners of Goliath’s Saunatel are breathing a sigh of relief today (February 2nd). It’s still business as usual, after the 3 year trial incited by the Police Raid back in December 2002. We received word that the charges had been stayed for 1 year for all parties. We spoke to one of the owner’s of Goliaths, Darrell Zakreski, while he hosted a celebration party at the Texas Lounge to express his happiness with the court’s decision. After the court’s finding today, he believes there is little likelihood that charges will ever be laid....

The Solar Café is the newest business to burst onto the downtown scene. Featuring a variety of "comfort foods," they boast a menu that ranges from coffee and biscotti to full out meals. None of the entrees are over $7.50, which makes it ideal on a budget, and its hours make it a great option whether you are starting or ending your day.....

It’s been one year since Solar Café opened its doors, and while they’ve had their share of up and downs as any business does in its first year, it was with a great deal of anticipation that they signed a five-year lease earlier this year. Owners Dean Heath and Eric Jackson sat down with GayCalgary.com to discuss a year in business, and their plans for the future.......

Since 1987 The Texas Lounge, which shares a building with Detour and Goliaths, has been a gathering place for members of the gay community who are looking for an alternative to the club scene. It is named after Texas Corey, a man who was well known in the community and served as a Maitre D’ at a number of Calgary’s high-end four-star restaurants. He passed away in 1986, and the lounge features a plaque on the wall in his name as a lasting tribute to a man that, owner Darrell Zakreski calls "a Gentleman’s Gentleman." Zakreski spoke with GayCalgary.com about the Texas Lounge and the secret to staying in business for 17 years...

Timothy’s 10th street location has long been a popular gathering place for the gay & lesbian community. Whether people-watching through the large bay windows or taking in the sunshine at the outdoor tables, it remains one of the places to grab a coffee, read a magazine or daily newspaper, and chat with your friends. They also offer wireless Internet access (through Telus Hotspot) if you’d rather putz around on the internet.....

In recent years, a new component within the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community has emerged. Transsexuals, those who have had -- or are in the process of having -- sexual reassignment surgery, have started to organize and speak out about the social, economic, health, and political issues that affect them. Some factions have continued to align themselves with the greater gay, lesbian and bisexual community. Others have turned within themselves to organize, believing the general gay, lesbian, and bisexual community has placed a low priority on the issues that affect them...

Calgary’s gay community has already discovered The Twisted Element as their newest popular gay hangout, but there is another gem buried there. When their doors open at 4:00pm every day, they are a fully licensed restaurant!...

Upon entering The Verge, you’ll notice that it has a comfortable atmosphere – combining the ambiance of an upscale martini bar with the coziness of overstuffed couches. It’s a great place to spend time with old friends or meet new ones...

For four years, The Verge Restaurant and Bar has been operating on 4th Street S.W. Sporting a casual lounge atmosphere, it offers a unique environment on the edge of downtown. Fresh off of a day working at the popular Izo Bizo salon, which she also owns, Annette Nelson sat down with Gaycalgary.com to talk about her experiences in the bar business...

For twenty years, Victoria’s Restaurant has been enticing Calgarians with tasty meals in a charming Victorian atmosphere. Menu offerings vary to appeal to every taste. The Brunch menu features various egg dishes including quiche, and Eggs Benedict and omelettes. Some of the featured appetisers are escargot, Gourmet Pate, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Calamari, and Spanikopita....

Apollo, Friends in Sports will bring Calgary the 23rd annual Western Cup this Easter Long weekend (March 24th to 27th), bringing both local and out of town athletes together for social activities and sporting events. Spectators and participants will be heading out to the University of Calgary to check out badminton and volleyball, the Calgary curling club for curling, and Bowlerama in the northeast for 10-pin bowling. While competition is the foundation of the event, Apollo also has a number of social events planned throughout the weekend at the Westin hotel in Downtown Calgary....

Nestled in the Mission District in South West Calgary lies the Westways Bed and Breakfast, a luxurious three-tier house furnished with antiques to give a delightful old-fashioned ambience......

Many people travelling past the intersection of 16th avenue and Edmonton Trail do a double-take at the house that is painted like a cow, and in the summertime has elaborate gardens. They wonder, "What in the world is that?" When their curiosity gets the better of them they are quick to discover a world filled with unique treasures. Owner Michelle Mouat is often behind the counter with a smile, welcoming them to discover "What’s in Store."...

You probably took one look at the cover of our magazine this month and though "what the heck does that have to do with Pride Month?" So I guess an explanation is in order. To date, the only "gay" advertising that we’ve noticed around the city was GLCSA’s "Gay OK" bus campaign a number of years ago, as well as the more recent billboards for Interactive Male. There has probably been a couple that we’ve missed, but still it’s rare to see an explicitly gay presence in Calgary’s mainstream advertising....