Getting there

I was in Sitges (Cordoba 4119) on Saturday night and although was it very busy I noted that it was nowhere near as packed as it used to be. When I left at 2 a.m. there was a queue of people 2 to 3 deep stretching for 60m waiting to enter. The method of control (simplified) is for the door control to issue a coloured printed plastic card to everyone that enters. This card is exchanged at the cash desk for a card of another colour after the purchase of a drink. This card is handed back to the door control on exit. Limiting the number of cards controls the number of people that enter, and exchanging the card ensures that everyone buys at least one drink. This method has been in use previously here and in other places but the number of cards issued exceeded the licensed capacity.

Inspections of discos in the city have started and this weekend two were open for business again (but neither were our family). The city government has started to publish the schedule of inspections and inspection reports on the web site http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/ (in Spanish of course).

It seems to me that in future with the number of customers being allowed to enter discos and bars now being controlled to numbers much lower than before and with some discos never re-opening then there is going to be a big disparity between demand and supply. Looks like a business opportunity for someone!

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/

Next meeting of Gays Away in Buenos Aires

The next meeting of Gays Away in BA will be held on Thursday 3rd March 2005 from 10 p.m. in The Titanic Club.
Directions as follows -
The Titanic Club, Av. Callao 1156 (subsuelo), Recoleta.
Tel: 4816-1333. Website: http://www.the-titanic-club.com.ar/
Nearest Subte is Linea D - Callao. From there walk three blocks along Av. Callao, cross Av. Santa Fe, and continue half a block more.
On arrival ask for Ian (that's me - the organiser). If it helps, I vaguely resemble a bald, overweight version of the actor Anthony Hopkins (you can see my pic on this bLOG).

That's OK then

Here is a snip from yesterdays La Nacion. It is ok for transvestites to show their breasts in public. A court here has ruled that something that is in bad taste, inappropriate or immoral is not necessarily a crime. Men and women are often bare-chested or bare-breasted in public, so on the grounds of equality transvestites have equal rights. Janet Jackson should be welcome here in that case.

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/

A Further Ray of Hope

No tittle-tattle from the gay scene this week as I have been out of the city. However I did read in yesterdays paper that approximately half of the city's discos will have been inspected by the middle of next week and could re-open next Friday night.

In the accompanying Gays Away MSN Group I have added a new bulletin board for recommendations. This is to enable group members to add their recommendations for hotels, apartments, restaurants, clubs and just about anything or anyone that provide an excellent service at excellent value that can benefit both residents and visitors alike.

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/

A Ray of Hope?

I was in Sitges early on Saturday evening and heard that there is a possibility that some licences may be granted this week so that some venues may open this next weekend. On the other hand it may be just a rumour.

One way of finding out what is happening on the gay scene in Buenos Aires is to pass by the corner of Av. Santa Fe and Av. Puerreydón around 1 a.m. on a Saturday night. There are guys there handing out flyers for some of the gay venues (some have discounts) and you can bet that as soon as anything re-opens then there will be flyers out. I noted from one flyer I picked up on Saturday night that the show bar Parada Obligada has moved temporarily to Scalabrini Ortiz 1721 in Palermo (that used to be the address of the bar Confusion).

I was just in time for the show at Search (Azcuenaga 1007) but had some trouble getting in the bar; it was packed wall-to-wall. It is a mystery to me why some venues have been closed while this bar is allowed to continue to operate week after week when it is grossly overcrowded. The show, as always, was excellent.

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/

Will it never end?

The inspectors are going through this city like a dose of salts. I am pleased to report the re-opening of Toms (after a very brief absence) but regretfully report the closure of Parada Obligada and even the just-opened Flush. (There seems to be no discrimination in operation; also closed this week were the Caballito Shopping Mall and the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club principal stadium where there is an ATP tournament scheduled for next week.) All discos will remain closed for a while longer as the city authorities annnounced this week that they have now decided to change the licensing regulations for discos.

Last night myself and friend returned to the restaurant-showbar Chueca (Soler 3283) which had a month off in January for staff vacations and renovation. This is a really nice place in an old house, and with an imaginative menu. The show by Luis Guadalupe and Gonzalo Costa was very funny but fairly short at just 40 minutes. Tip: A table reservation is necessary at Chueca (4963.3430) to be sure to get a good view of the show.

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/

Gays Away in Buenos Aires meeting

The meeting of Gays Away in Buenos Aires on Thursday night held in the new bar Flush (Marcelo T de Alvear 980) was well attended. It was nice to be able to finally put faces to the names of some of the gay resident expats here in Buenos Aires. Any visiting gay expatriates and friends are welcome to come along to the group meetings which are held on the first Thursday of every month.

My Gay Buenos Aires bLOG http://gaybuenosaires.blogspot.com/
Gays Away in Buenos Aires http://groups.msn.com/GaysAwayinBuenosAires/