^ Monthly Film series announced
^ MTV returns For poly Follow-up
^ Draggin' out in the Queen City
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Vacate, or staycate!
Best bets for fun and downtime this summer
compiled by qnotes staff
Hot fun in the summertime! Thank good
ness. It's finally here. Warm weather, sunny
skies and late evenings out on the town
(thank you for staying up late, Mr. Sun!) ff
you haven't done so already, now's the time
to start planning for your summer vacations.
After last issue's few travel pieces, qnotes
staff got to thinking about other ways to have
some fun this sunny season. So, we scoured
the websites of visitors' bureaus across the
South and found six sure-fire best bets for
summer travel this year.
Elvis at 75
This year marks the King of Rock-n-Roll's
75th birthday. The caretaker of Elvis' legend,
Graceland, is celebrating it big. This year,
they've unveiled the first-ever Elvis fashion
exhibit and the special "From Tupelo to
Memphis," an exhibit following young Elvis'
path from childhood to international music
sensation.
Dates vary
Memphis, Tenn.
elvis.com
Key West Pridefest
We can barely think of anywhere gayer.
Well, maybe San Francisco. But here on the
East Coast, Key West is the place to be! Hot
fun, hot guys and gals and all the Pride you-
can handle. Key West's Pridefest kicks off
with a reception at the nationally-renowned
Island House resort and ends with a fabulous
parade.
June 9-13
Key West, Fla.
pridefestkeywestcom
Bonus: See our full list of Pride festivals
across the Carolinas and nationi
Big Apple RaUnch
If Country Western dancing is your thing,
and you happened to miss the Carolinas'
Queen City Stomp, head up to New York City
for the Big Apple RaUnch. And, while you're
in the Big City you might as well enjoy NYC
Pride!
June 26
bigappleranch.com
Highland Games
For more than 50 years. Grandfather
Mountain has played host to North Carolina's
most well-known Scottish Highland games.
Bagpipes and music, dancing and heritage,
contests and sport It's all there. And, its all
within a day's drive.
July 8-11
Grandfather Mountain (near Linville, N.C.)
gmhg.org
Bele Chere
Arts and crafts, food and drink, activities
for the kiddies and adults alike, homegrown
and diverse entertainment Downtown
Asheville's Bele Chere festival brings out more
than 300,000 visitors each year. It's a perfect
and affordable getaway.
July 23-25
Asheville, N.C.
belecherefestival.com
Satchmo Summerfest
The sweet seducing sounds of Jazz.
New Orleans: there's no better a place to
experience it first-hand. For lovers of Louis
"Satchmo" Armstrong, the French Quarter's
Satchmo Summerfest offers everything you
love: life, music, food, entertainment Relax
and submerge yourself in the culture of
Satchmo's New Orleans.
Aug. 5-8
New Orleans, La.
fqfi.org/satchmosummerfest/
[Ed. Note — Slated to appear online with our
May 15 print edition content, this article's pub
lication was delayed due to several technical
difficulties. It was published online May 18
and reprinted in this issue as well. We regret
dny inconveniences.]
The Bela Chere Festival annually draws more than 300,000 visitors to the cute and quaint downtown of
Asheville. Within days drive from anywhere in the Carolinas, K's best bet for fun on a budget
Photo Credit Zen, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Travel with
Pride
Capital Pride
Washington, D.C.
June 4-13
capitalpride.org
Los Angeles Pride
June 12-13
Los Angeles
lapride.org
SF Pride
June 27
San Francisco
sfpride.org
Chicago Pride
June 27
Chicago
chicagopridecalendar.org
NYC Pride
June, various dates
New York City
hopinc.org
Atlanta Pride
Oct 9-10
Atlanta
atlantapride.org 1
— See our full list of upcoming
Carolinas Prides and events at
goqnotes. com/qguide/events/.
Caption of the team
Ten years ago Brian Sims made history. Yet most folks didn't know
it until recently. Sims, the first openly gay football team caption
in the history of the NCAA, made waves when he gave his first
interview about his college football days in 2009. Today, Sims finds
himself in Philadelphia, He's attorney and president of the Equality
Pennsylvania board of directors. Catch our interviewwSh Sims and
learn more about his football past, his LGBT advocacy work and his
thoughts on pop culture, politics and current events.
Only online at goqnotes.com.
online only
at goqnotes.com
Str8 acting
Masculinity is in. Or, at least, acting like it is. Has "str8
acting masculinity" become a gay fetish? qnotes' spring
intern Nathan James addresses the question, only at
goqnotes.com.
May 29-June 11.2010 qnoteS 17