On the menu: X-rated ice cream in London

I was wondering why this was dubbed “the world’s first gay ice cream bar”. Well, now I know. It relates more to the special gay-themed menu with at times X-rated ingredients :) Full of cliches, of course, but fun and tasty.

The venue is pretty small but cosy, and I liked the decor.

I ordered "The knicker-bocker-gloryhole" ice cream cocktail ;)) and as a... chocoholic, it was delicious.

I was expecting to see that famous ice cream masseur to try the ‘ice cream facial’ but he was nowhere on sight. Regardless... All in all, it was fun experience.

Gay scene in Batumi (+ updated Georgia Gay Guide)

As summer holiday season is upon us, and many gay Armenians will spend their vacations in Georgia, including Batumi, I thought it would be useful to present below this brief info on gay scene in Batumi, via Gay Batumi blog.

Have a look also at Georgia Gay Guide which I updated for the first time after I first posted it 3 years ago.

I know, despite promises, I did not update my Armenia Gay Guide for the last 2 years. Sorry for that. Will update it within a week.

If you have any updates, comments re Armenia or Georgia gay guides, please do let me know.
***

Batumi gay life is most active during high summer season, when it is mostly crowded.

During low seasons there is still some gay scene, but not as good as during hot summer days.

At the moment there are no dedicated gay bars or clubs in Batumi, but most of them (especially on a boulevard) are gay friendly.

Cruising:

- Alley between boulevard and beach (the best)
- Beach close to the lighthouse in pishcheviki area
- Around old railway station

Letters @ Unzipped: Experience at Yerevan cafe

[...] There's some really interesting things happening in Yerevan in terms of gay and lesbian culture, issues, and rights. Your blog has been a HUGE help for me in understanding things. I am in Yerevan for the first time and I felt totally lost, but your thoughts give me a pretty good navigation of things. 

Also, in terms of the "there are no gays in Yerevan" discourse, I had a really interesting experience at a cafe one morning. I have tattoos all over my body and the waiter came up to me and started to ask me about them. I said that I try to hide them as much as I can (which is hard because it's so hot here!) and he said that people here have them too but they hide them. They hide a lot of things. Then he leaned in really close and said "There's a lot of gays in Armenia but they keep it secret." I have been stuck on the affect of this moment for a couple of weeks now. I keep thinking about it. Why did he tell me this? Did he read me as queer and so decided I was a safe person to talk to about it? Was it his way of coming out to me? Was he just picking up on my sexuality and wanted to let me know that there were people like me here? I'm still rather confused. I talked to my father about it, who lived in Yerevan years ago, and he says that if I look different, my tattoos, piercings, etc., then I most likely also gay. But I don't buy into that. 

I don't know what it was about that moment but I cannot get past it. Any thoughts? [...]

T.S.

Yerevan diaries: Cocktails

 Still, New York is THE place to try quality cocktails. Even in London you may have hard time spotting decent cocktail venues.

 

In Yerevan, it's even worse. I would suggest trying pure drinks. Some people would disagree with me, but over the last few years, I failed to find any venue in Yerevan which provides with quality cocktails. The last example was at a "7 Kadr" new cafe-bar behind the cinema Moscow in downtown Yerevan. Nice design. Slow service. Decent food. Not too expensive. As to the cocktails... I started with the classical ones – Apple Martini and Cosmopolitan. They were anything but... I quit, and ordered mineral water instead.

 

Yerevan diaries: French Terrace cafe

Sadly, one of my favourite places to hang out in Yerevan during summer/early autumn, French Terrace cafe (gay venue), no longer exists, due to the demolition project in downtown Yerevan (picture 1). It was situated right in front of the former Meline's gay bar, across the Arami Street, and was part of the French restaurant called simply "Le Restaurant Français".  However, there is now a terrace cafe area right outside the French restaurant, covered by green leaves (picture 2). Recommended by locals. 

Georgia Gay Guide

country overview, useful info, gay institutions and venues

*last reviewed: 18 July 2010

As I already mentioned on this blog, even though homophobia is widespread in Georgian society, the attitude towards gay people in Georgia, especially Tbilisi, is more open-minded and gay scene is more developed than in surrounding countries. This was rightly pointed out by Spartacus International Gay Guide (2007). In fact, Georgia was the first country in South Caucasus to decriminalise gay male sex in 2000.

However, recent events in Georgia (here and here) surrounding failed attempts by Council of Europe to promote "All Different - All Equal" campaign which was considered by some as 'gay rally' and, therefore, forced to get cancelled, show that Georgia has a long way to go in terms of human rights / gay rights and equality.

For more Georgia related news and posts, click on Georgia or Tbilisi labels.

I decided to publish this Guide on my blog since the on-line resources on LGBT life and gay scene in Georgia are scarce. There is a sizable Armenian community there, and many gay Armenians visit neighbouring Georgia for various reasons.

Unlike Armenia (Armenia Gay Guide), I do not have much personal insight into the gay scene in Georgia. This Guide represent mainly the information taken from the Spartacus (+ Gay Batumi), with some input/additions from me. I will update this Guide as soon as I learn new info. For convenience, I put easy access link to Georgia Gay Guide under 'South Caucasus LGBT Links' of this blog.

Country overview

"Even under the Soviet Union, Georgia was known to be one of the "gayest" regions. However, a gay scene in the western sense of the word hardly exists. Even in the capital Tbilisi the venues that are listed in this guide are mixed, but they are popular with the community as well. Gay behaviour like holding hands and kissing is accepted in the larger cities only [I would be particularly cautious with this suggestion by Spartacus - even in larger cities you may encounter more than problems with the open display of same-sex affections. As in case of Armenia, although you will see men (and women) holding each other's hands in public or kissing each other when they meet or part, this is not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation but rather established tradition].

On the other hand, gay related violence still exists, notably in the countryside. In September 2001 a journalist was killed by the mafia because of his alleged homosexuality. We also advise to be cautious with cruising: most of the areas in this guide are observed by police cameras. The recordings are said to be used to force gays to work for the police. Unfortunately, the current government has more urgent matters to deal with than the acceptance of sexual minorities."


TBILISI

Bars

Success
Street: 3, Vashvlovanis Street
Description of Location: In Perovskaia district
Commentary: Once very stylish place, nowadays casual cruising bar, frequently visited by straight people.

Unique
Street: 18, G.Akhvlediani Street
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: Former Perovskaia St.
Phone: 93 53 83
Commentary: DJ bar, with very friendly staff and visitors. Open until the early morning.

Cafes

Cafe Cala
Street: 8-10, Erekle II Street
Postal Code: 0107
Description of Location: In Chardin area
Commentary: Good Georgian food, many artistic people hanging out, live jazz performances, frequented by gay people.

Le Cafe
Street: 4, Vashlovani Street
Description of Location: Opposite the Success bar in Perovskaia district
Commentary: Quiet place with European cuisine. Friendly staff.

Rue Chardin 12
Street: 12, Chardin Street
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: In old town Chardin area
Commentary: One of the most popular dining out places. A place to sit and be seen in the heart of old town. The smallest street in Tbilisi is home for number of upscale places that attract many community people. One can also find many other cafes in this area.

Restaurants

Meidani
Street: 2, Right Bank
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: In Chardin area
Phone: (reservations) 32 30 30 30
Website: mgroup.ge
Commentary: Upscale restaurant, very friendly. Offers traditional and fusion cuisine. Has chillout section with Kalian.

Kopala
Street: 8-10 Chekhov st. (On the left bank of old town)
Phone: (reservations) 995 32 77 55 20
Website: kopala.ge
Commentary: Belle-view terrace. Hotel restaurant with extensive menu and good service. Tarace offers one of the best views of old town.

Saunas/Baths

Coloured Bathhouse
Street: Square in front of the Sulphur Springs
Description of Location: In Abanotubani (Bath district)
Opening hours: 10-20h
Commentary: Number of traditional bathhouses with natural sulphur spa. Traditional massage and scrub with traditional gloves (Kisa). Public section is very cruisy especially by evenings. People basically pick up each other and leave together. For more discreet acts one can rent a cubicle. Coloured baths were favourite of A. Pushkin and A. Dumas.

Fitness Studios

Vake Fitness
Street: 49b, Chavchavadze Avenue
Website: vakefitness.ge
Commentary: Huge fitness complex with gym, olympic swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnastics, solarium etc. Upscale workout place.

Hotels

Sheraton Metekhi Palace
Street: 20, Telavi Street
Postal Code: 0119
Phone: 77 20 20
Fax: 77 21 20
Email: smpht@sheraton.com
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton
Commentary: Luxury hotel with 182 rooms with data port, safe, TV, phone, mini-bar and bathroom phone. Cruisy sauna.

Marriott Tbilisi
Street: 13, Rustaveli Ave.
Phone: 77 92 00
Commentary: 5 stars luxury hotel.

Cruising
- Underpass in front of the circus (dangerous)
- Rustaveli Ave. daytime cruising.
- Central station (Metro Vagzliss Moedani)
- Tchelouskin bridge (In the centre of the city, between central station and the
circus)
- Blumentrasse (Boulevard between central station and the circus)
- Underpass in front of the circus (Dangerous)
- Pushkin park (Metro Thavisouphlebis Moedani)
- Exit Metro Rustaveli
- Baratachvili bridge (first level, Mutual masturbations, Piss and Scat)
- Between Liberty Square, “Thavisouphlebis Moedani” and Avlabari street
- Metro Issani (near the military barracks, ideal for those who like soldiers)


BATUMI

Batumi gay life is most active during high summer season. There are no dedicated gay bars or clubs in Batumi, but most of them (especially on a boulevard) are gay friendly.

Cruising
- Alley between boulevard and beach (the best)
- Beach close to the lighthouse in pishcheviki area
- Around old railway station


KUTAISI

Bars

Theatralouri (opposite the National Theatre)

Cruising
- Park opposite the National Theatre


ZUGDIDI

Cruising
- Lenin park


National Groups

Inclusive Foundation (in English and Georgian)
website
The first openly LGBT rights organisation in Georgia and in South Caucasus, ILGA member. Main areas of work is advocacy and lobbying information and public awareness campaigns, study and research, empowerment of LGBT community, HIV/AIDS and STI prevention.


National publications

"Me" magazine (quarterly; in Georgian, with English summary)
Available to download here

Georgian National Gay Resource (in Georgian)
website


Other useful links:

ILGA-Europe: Georgia Country Guide
website

Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
Advocacy, lobbying, individual legal counselling, surveys
website

Information and Counselling Centre "Tanadgoma"
Psychological and health counselling, HIV/AIDS/STI prevention measures, surveys
website

Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC)
Organisational development, trainings for organisation staff and volunteers
website

Women Initiative Support Group (WISG)
Women programme, surveys
website

*source of pictures: Spartacus (cover page); Lonely Planet (map of Georgia); Wikipedia (flag of Georgia)

Armenia Gay Guide

country overview, useful info, gay institutions and venues

[inspired by and partly based on Spartacus International Gay Guide]


*last reviewed: 1 September 2008

Spartacus guide is the most famous and popular gay guide worldwide. The fact that Armenia entered the guide is the recognition of emerging gay scene. It may attract more gay tourists to Armenia.




Important notes re Armenia Gay Guide:

*This guide is partly based on Spartacus, with the additional info from other sources if available and appropriate.

*This guide will be updated regularly as/when new info is available. For convenience, the link to this guide is provided on the main page of my blog (see upper right corner).

*If you think that the info or listings in this guide are incorrect, please let me know your additions based on reliable sources. If you are aware of other gay or gay-friendly venues and attractions in Armenia or any other info which you think may be of interest or relevance to gay people who live in or visit Armenia, please let me know so that I will update this guide.


Country overview



In December 2002, Armenia adopted a new Criminal Code and abolished the anti-gay article 116 that dated back to 1936. Since then, homosexuality [strictly said, gay male sex] is no longer punishable. At the same time, a "gay scene" started to emerge in the capital Yerevan.

To this date, there is no gay rights movement in Armenia [well, not organised or obvious, more subtle gay rights movement exists in form of emerging gay institutions/venues, with the support of Diaspora organisations] and society remains extremely homophobic. The first gay bar Meline's opened on 12 November 2004. The first LGBT NGO called We For Civil Equality (WFCE), also known as 'Menq', was formally registered by the Ministry of Justice in July 2006. Second LGBT related NGO - PINK Armenia (Public Information and Need of Knowledge), was registered in December 2007. In May 2008, Armenian gay women group, the Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective, was established. Despite this little progress, Armenian society remains homophobic and therefore we strictly advise not to hold hands or kiss in public [although you will see men (and women) holding each other's hands in public or kissing each other when they meet or part, this is not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation but rather established tradition]. Even if some venues listed in this guide are frequented by gays and lesbians, that doesn't mean they can be compared to western gay bars and discos.

Nevertheless, Armenia has much to offer: as one of the cradles of Christian civilisation, it has over 40 000 churches and the capital alone has over 20 museums. The month of July is rich in events. In the beginning of the month, Yerevan hosts Golden Apricot Film Festival followed by more and more popular Yerevan Jazz Festival. Outside the capital, there is a sometimes stunningly beautiful countryside. Apart from the widespread homophobia, Armenians are said to be tempered, but friendly and welcoming people.

Famous Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Armenians, as compiled by Armeniapedia (with additions), include:

• Armenian pre-Christian King Pap
• Byzantine Emperor Basil I the Macedonian
• Gay Catholicos Grigoris I or Grigor Aghtamartsi
• poet Vahan Tekeyan
• poet Yeghishe Charents (see also here)
• poet Sarmad the Naked Mystic
• filmmaker Sergei Parajanov
• Armenian American literary pioneer George Stambolian (see also here), a key figure in the early gay literary movement that came out of New York during the 1960s and 70s.
• musician, writer and activist Chastity Bono, daughter of pop duo Sonny Bono and Cher

YEREVAN

[at this stage, only listings for Armenian capital - Yerevan, are available]

For more general and useful info about Armenia, Yerevan, including travel, visitor info, entertainment, activities, sites of interest and attractions, visit Armenia Info and Armeniapedia.



Bars

Cheers
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; dancing/discotheque; more popular at the weekend; younger crowd of 18-29 years old)
Hours: 7pm-5am
Address: Nalbandyan Street 48
Phone: (+37410) 580 416
Website: http://www.geocities.com/cheerspubyerevan
It's the only disco-bar that stays late, where other places are closed. Most of the clients are foreign students who study in Yerevan.

Meline's (CLOSED DOWN!)
(gay and lesbian mixed crowd; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages)
Hours: 9pm-5am (closed on Monday)
Address: Abovyan Street 2 [according to the bar non-official website - Aram Street 30, Aram and Abovyan streets' crossroad]
Phone: (+374 10) 564 414; (+374 10) 544 644; mobile (+374 91) 112 893
Website (non-official): http://melinesbar.narod.ru/
Opened in November 2004. This is the only openly gay bar in town with gay staff and clientele. It is situated in the basement of French restaurant called simply "Le Restaurant Français".

Best time to go - around or after midnight.

Meline's bar was closed down in June 2007 for unknown reasons, but re-opened in August 2007.

Meline's was closed down due to financial reasons, as well as ongoing renovation projects in central Yerevan. The very last party was held there on 31 July 2008.

Cafes

Artbridge
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; full breakfast; extensive menu available; mixed ages)
Address: Abovyan Street 20
Phone: (+37410) 521 239
Email: artbridge@netsys.am
Great food and nice social place, a very American "Barnes & Noble Cafe"-type atmosphere. New and second hand books, souvenirs, and handcraft works are available here. Offers original coffee, a light European cuisine, daily breakfast and very good pasta.

Not necessarily food-wise, but atmosphere-wise, this is one of my favourite places in Yerevan.


Discotheques

Note: In Armenia when people say "nightclub", they most commonly refer to “striptease club”. To avoid possible confusions, if you intend to go to “dance clubs”, I would advise using the word “discotheque”.

There are number of discotheques/danceclubs frequented by LGBT Armenians; sometimes they organise 'invitation only' club nights by hiring specific venues. However, preferences and venues change frequently and it is therefore advisable to find out about relevant club nights and discoteques in place. If more 'stable' information becomes availabe in future, I will update this section of the Guide accordingly.

There are regular/occasional popular DJ nights organised in Square One (see below). Recommend it!

Monte Cristo (CLOSED DOWN!)
(gay and lesbian mixed crowd; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; extensive menu available; mixed ages; outdoor seating, terrace or garden)
Address: Nalbandyan Street 48 (above Congress Hall)
Phone: (+37410) 545 007
With French operated restaurant. Free entrance on Thursday. More gay on Friday & Saturday.


Restaurants

Square One
(gay-friendly venue; extensive menu available; mixed ages)
Hours: 9am-2am
Address: Abovyan Street 1/3
Phone: (+37410) 566 169
Website: http://www.squareone.am/
A newly opened eatery offering American dishes in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere from 9-2h. It has very gay-friendly staff and many mostly young gay and lesbian people come here to taste the best burgers in town. Occasionaly they hold popular DJ nights here. Highly recommend it!

The Club
(not gay, but of interest to LGBT community)
Restaurant, cafe, tea room, gallery, concert hall. They regularly hold art exhibitions, concerts, film screenings.
Address: 40 Tumanyan st
Phone: (+37410) 531 361
Website: http://www.theclub.am/club/home/


Museums / Galleries / Cinema / Theatre

Parajanov Museum
Hours: 10.30am-5pm (open seven days a week)
Address: Dzoragyugh Street 15/16 (off Proshyan Street)
Phone: (+37410) 53-84-73
E-mail: parajanovs@web.am
Websites: http://www.parajanovmuseum.am/home.html
http://www.parajanov.com/museum_info.html


Yeghishe Charents House-Museum
Hours: 10am-5pm (closed on Monday)
Address: Mashtots Avenue 17
Phone: (+37410) 53-55-94
Website: Armenia Info




Armenian Center For Contemporary Experimental Art
(“NPAK” in Armenian acronym)
Exhibitions, art projects, cinema, experimental theatre
Address: 1/3 Pavstos Biuzand Blvd., Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+37410) 56.82.25, 56.83.25, 56.02.18
Fax: (+37410) 56.02.16
E-mail: info@accea.info
Website: http://www.accea.info/main.php



Cascade
The massive white steps that ascend from downtown Yerevan towards Haghtanak Park (Victory Park). The Cafesjian Museum of Contemporary Art will be located at the top of Cascade (under construction, will open in 2010). (source: Armeniapedia)

It will host Cafesjian’s permanent art collection, comprising of works in glass by internationally known artists Stanislav Libenski and Yaroslava Brichtova, paintings by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, and the distinctive sculptures of Fernando Botero, as well as influential traveling exhibitions. The arts centre will include open air cinema, decorative pool, sculpture park, and public spaces for arts education, seminars and discussions.
(source: Unzipped)

Some statues by various artists have already been brought in and placed all along the monument, including works by Lynn Chadwick, Barry Flanagan, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova, and Paul Cox. There are two statues by Fernando Botero a black cat at the bottom and a Roman Warrior at the top platform. (source: Armeniapedia)


Excellent place to hang out, enjoy art, listen to music etc.



Independent and arthouse cinema -
National Gallery of Armenia
This is the best place for independent and arthouse cinema in Yerevan, from Pasolini to Fassbinder and other gems of cinematorgraphy, with regular Q&A sessions, thematic screenings, restrospectives, festivals. A rare pleasure. Highly recommend it! Screenings are normally held over weekends, but check out the programme from the National Gallery to get the full listings. You may also wish to enjoy permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Gallery.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:30 - 18:00, closed on Mondays and Major holidays
Address: Republic Square, Yerevan
Phone: (+374 10) 580812, 561812
Website: http://www.gallery.am/
E-mail: galleryarmenia@yahoo.com

Note: For up-to-date listing of art related events, check out ArmeniaInfo's "Calendar of Events".


Travel and Transport

Hyur Service
Address: Nalbandyan Street 50 (going up from Sakharov square to Tumanyan intersection, on the right)
Phone: (+37410) 560 495
Website: http://www.hyurservice.com/
Furnished apartments for short and long term rentals in the capital; hotel reservations; airport transfer; tour packages; day trips; car/minibus rent etc. The company has offices in Los Angeles and in Paris.


Hotels

Ararat
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; hotel or other accommodation welcoming gay men; air conditioning; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; full breakfast; extensive menu available; mixed ages; outdoor seating, terrace or garden; swimming pool; dry sauna; video shows; work-out equipment available)
Address: Grigor Lusavorich Street 7
Phone: (37410) 541 100
Website: http://www.ararathotel.am/
52 rooms and 5 suites with sat-TV, mini-bar, phone, internet access; WC/bath with floor heating and king size beds. Non-smoking rooms available.


Cruising

- Opera Place (AYOR (At your own risk. Danger of personal attack or police activity): discretion recommended, only a place for picking up people).

- Kom-aygi (also called Pleshka) - close to the Yerevan City Hall and the French Embassy - best place to pick up at night but beware of police raids.


National Groups

We For Civil Equality
Location: Yerevan
Mobile phone: (+37491) 641 046
Email: wfce@cooperation.net
Website: http://www.wfce.am/
The first local NGO working for promoting LGBT issues and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention.

PINK Armenia
Websites:
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/pinkarmenia
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8328868419
Blog - http://pinkarmenia.blogspot.com/
This is the second LGBT related NGO in Armenia registered in December 2007. (announcement)

The Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective, Armenian gay women group
http://queeringyerevan.blogspot.com/

Yesoudo: LGBT Discussion Group
http://www.yesoudo.com/groups_home.php?gid=7

Blogs by transgender Armenians
Transgenders in Armenia
Hye Trent


Online publications/personal adds

The Pink
Website: http://thepink.agla.info/
The gay and lesbian online magazine available only in Armenian. It provides press reviews, articles and analyses on LGBT issues, HIV/AIDS prevention info. [no updates since 2006]

Gayarmenia.com
Website: http://www.gayarmenia.com/
GayArmenia.com is a meeting place of LGBT Armenians around the world, with some useful links and personal adds in Russian, English and French.

Another personal adds website popular among Armenian and ex-Soviet LGBT people (mainly in Russian): http://love.mail.ru/. Have a look also at HyeGay.


National Centre for AIDS prevention

Address: Acharyan Street 2, Yerevan
Hot Line: (+37410) 61-08-20
Phone: (+37410) 61-07-30
Fax: (+37410) 61-05-71
E-mail: armaids@armaids.am
Website: http://www.armaids.am/

AIDS Prevention in Armenia (in Armenian): http://www.agla.info/aids


Links to Armenian LGBT Organisations in Diaspora

AGLA France (CEASED TO EXIST!):
http://www.agla.info/
LA Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS):
http://www.gayandlesbianarmenians.com/
AGLA NY (formerly known as 'HyeQs of New York'):
http://aglany.org/
Interview with AGLA NY President Chris Atamian
AGLA NY blog
http://aglany.wordpress.com/
Q-Hye - San Francisco GLBT Armenians:
http://www.q-hye.net/
AGLA Sydney:
http://www.geocities.com/haigay_sydney/
AGLA Boston:
E-mail: aglaboston@earthlink.net
GALAS Montreal:
E-mail: galas-mtl@home.com
Toronto QueerHye:
E-mail: queerhye@yahoo.ca



*Source of pictures: Spartacus (cover page); Lonely Planet (map of Armenia); armeniainfo.am; websites of venues; Henrik Nydell (Republic Square in Yerevan at night); Unzipped: Gay Armenia (Cascade)