QC Affirming Diversity

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BALCONYTV DUBLIN 27/06/2009
The city centre of Dublin was filled with colour, noise, music whistles and chants this afternoon as thousands marched in this year’s gay pride march.

The parade was led by UCD academic Ailbhe Smyth and filled the whole length of O’Connell Street before ending at Dublin council city offices for music and speeches.

“Pride and Prejudice” was the main theme with many dressed in wedding gowns and tuxes. Crowds chanted: “What do we want? Marriage. When do we want it? Now.” Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan marched in the dresses they wore for their Canadian wedding in 2003.

Organisers of the march estimate that 12,000 took part in the event, although other estimates put the figure lower than that.

The parade follows the publication of the Civil Partnership Bill by the Government yesterday that will give statutory partnership rights to gay and lesbian couples.

Some 60 people dressed in a half tux or wedding dress. Organised by Marriage Equality and Noise the move was to symbolise the “half measures” offered in the Bill.

Groups came from all over Ireland to take part including LGBT organisations from Kerry and Galway. Members of gay rugby and football teams marched alongside the gay and lesbian choir, and gay sections of Siptu, Into and Labour.

The Civil Partnership Bill giving statutory rights to gay and lesbian couples will be enacted and operational by the end of the year, the Government said yesterday.

It will allow same-sex couples to register their civil partnership and allow them to enjoy the same statutory protection as married couples across a wide range of areas. However, it stops short of allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.

The rights and obligations include the protection of a shared home, pension rights, the right to succession and equality with married couples of treatment under the tax and social welfare codes.

- THE IRISH TIMES

http://www.dublinpride.org/

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Snoopy, Superman’s crest and nautical star tattoos are all popular choices on a page deticated to pictures of Pride Tattoos.

There are three pages with pictures of terrific tattoos from around the world featured here. Being from Canada, one of my favorites is a multi-colour Canadian flag on page two.

If you’re interested in a Pride tattoo, this is a great place to get some terrific ideas. You’ll see that you’re only limited by your imagination. Please click here.

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If you are new to this subject, then pay careful attention in reading this article. You can have some common world wide terminology for types of lesbians.

Now you will be fully informed about lesbians in perfect way.

The world of lesbians is a woman to woman for love or sex. However, lesbians have different physical features and sexual orientations that shows their personality and predilections. This becomes clear if we see lesbians, Lesbian love and romance is as stronger and possessive as that between straight singles or couples.

The following word list of lesbian terms should make their lifestyle much obvious to people who does not know about lesbian sex or about amature Lesbian

Take a glance about lesbians. After knowing versatilities about lesbians you will be surprised. You will come to know about the types of lesbians. I do not think so that any article might have written as much as I have written about lesbians. I think this is one and only unique article about lesbian world. Some of the lesbians on website are very good-looking. They look like glamorous model.

Amazon: is a name for a physically strong lesbian woman.

Baby Dyke: A younger lesbian or someone who is just coming out of the closet.

Lesbian Beard: A “beard” is a person of the opposite sex who marries or dates a closeted lesbian to cover up their homosexuality. In the past, often lesbians married gay men so that both could “pass” as straight, either for work or for their families.

Boi: is a woman who is Biologically female, but has a boyish appearance. A boi may be lesbian identified or s/he may be trans identified.

Bulldyke: A very masculine lesbian or you can say physically muscular and stronger lesbian.

Butch or Stone Butch: A woman who adopts what would be considered mannish appearance or characteristics.

Crone: In lesbian environment, she is a wise older woman whose life experience demands that she should be treated with respect.

Diesel Dyke or Bulldaggers: is a very butch or manly lesbian and very aggressive.

Dyke: Another word for lesbian women. Usually is only used by people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual.

Femme Fatale: A sexually attractive female who is sexually very good-looking and has the killer looks.

Gold Star Lesbian: is a lesbian who has never slept with a man and, does not want to sleep with a man ever meant to say only want to keep relationship with women only.

Lipstick Lesbian: is a woman who loves other women, but also loves her dress and makeup and shoes. She tends to dress on the femmy side.

Lone Star Lesbian: is someone who has only had sex with one person in their life.

Pansexual: is someone who is attracted people of many genders.

Pillow Queen: is someone who likes to be on the receiving end of sex. She likes to be pleasured and not reciprocate. She wants culmination of sex.

Power Dyke: is a lesbian who has gained a position of top senior level among the LGBT community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender). She could be the head of a non-profit agency, a politician or successful in business.

Boston Marriages: Many women, particularly those who were college educated, lived in long-term unions with other women. These relationships became known as Boston Marriages.

The usage of lesbian community words are among lesbians themselves or bisexual hot females and males and gays who understand lesbians as sexual encounters between them often take place. Wish you best of luck. Have nice time.

Jwaltz
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/online-lesbian-dating-site-for-lesbian-relationship-and-lifestyle-123321.html

While millions of tourists flock to Mexico every year by land and air, the country has also become the world’s top cruise destination, with cruises becoming more popular and lifestyle specific every year.

According to recent statistics released by Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), some 6.5 million passengers arrived to Mexico’s ports in 2005. The most popular port is by far on the island of Cozumel, located just south of Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean. According to Mexico’s Communications and Transportation Secretariat, 754 ships arrived to Cozumel in the first ten months of 2006, carrying some 1.5 million passengers. The second most popular port is Costa Maya on the Mexican Caribbean, which received 263 ships, carrying more than 500,000 in the first ten months of 2006.

Mexico boasts two dozen port cities. Apart from Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are the most popular ports along the Pacific coast, while Costa Maya in Quintana Roo State and Puerto Progreso in Yucatan State are the most popular on the Caribbean side. In addition to being bustling metropolises in their own right, offering the best in shopping, cultural activities and cuisine to the traveler, most ports are also located just a stone’s throw from the country’s leading archaeological treasures and other attractions. Part of the popularity of cruises can also be attributed to the traveling public’s desire to experience more destinations in one vacation, with most cruises offering stops in at least three or four different destinations.

According to Sectur, in the past two decades the number of cruise ships stopping in Mexican ports has increased dramatically, with most major cruise lines now serving the Gulf, Central Pacific and Caribbean, having incorporated these popular destinations into their itineraries. In 2005, the Mexican government invested more than US $7 million in the development of the Port of Chiapas, Mexico’s newest cruise destination. The port welcomed its first passenger vessel in February 2006.

As the number of cruise passengers increases, the demand for a variety of services and themes have also increased, what the cruise industry often refers to as lifestyle cruises.

Below are just some samples of new cruise offerings:

Sun salutations

The Radisson Seven Seas hosts several lifestyle cruises, among them a yoga cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Cozumel, featuring Michael Lechonczak and Robin Whitney Levine, a New York City-based husband and wife yoga team, who will bring the art and science of yoga to guests of the luxurious 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner. Their daily onboard program will offer a variety of options for men and women, yoga beginners and experts of all ages. Classes on meditation and aromatherapy will round out the mix.

Food & wine

The Radisson Seven Seas also offers a special Food & Wine spotlight cruise on the Mariner in March. The cruise, which sails from Los Angeles and stops in Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Huatulco in Oaxaca, features a Cordon Bleu cooking school and Sonoma Valley wines. Max McCalman, chef formageur from New York’s Picholine Restaurant will provide expert tips, instruction and 24/7 wine tasting.

Mickey on board

Disney Cruise Line is also increasing its presence to Mexico, offering a variety of cruises to Mexico including calls to Cozumel on the Caribbean side, as well as calls to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific side. Disney offers special programs for children, teens and as well as adults, offering something for the entire family. The Disney Magic ship to Mexico’s western ports has been enhanced by a 24-by14 foot jumbo LED screen for poolside movies and an expanded fitness and spa center for adults.

Low carbs and smart kids

Carnival’s Fun Ships will make more than 1,100 calls to Mexican ports in 2005, with Mexico being by far the most popular destination for Carnival. Carnival has also diversified its offerings by adding low carb meals to its menus and expanding its kids programs to focus on art, music, science, reading and physical fitness.

Gay travel

Atlantis (www.atlantisevents.com) is one of the largest gay travel tour operators offering cruise packages to Mexico. The Mexican Riviera cruise is one of the most popular, offering five Mexican destinations in eight days on the new Radiance of the Seas ship. Rated by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice as one of the best ships in the world, Radiance of the Seas offers among its many amenities a rock-climbing wall, two pools and an African-themed solarium complete with 17-foot high stone elephants and waterfalls. In Mexico, the ship will visit Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San

Lucas.

Clothing optional

For au naturel travelers, Bare Necessities offers a variety of clothing-optional cruises. And nudetravel.com also offers clothing optional packages including information on nudist resorts in Mexico.

Blind cruises

Damar Travel at 800-999-6101 offers cruises for the blind to Mexico.

Below are some of the many cruise lines that dock in Mexican ports as part of their regular routes:

Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, P&O Cruises

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

# # #

Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517

erick.laseca@bm.com

http://www.visiitmexicopress.com

Erick Laseca
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/you-dont-cruise-you-lose-113301.html

The occurrence of adult dating clubs is widespread in the world especially among the more rich societies. The idea of adult club has been picked up on the Internet and you now have virtual adult clubs, which is same as land based clubs, provides meeting ground for a group of people belong to a gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

Likewise, there are Black adult clubs on land as well as online on the Internet. The online Black adult club is quite famous and all most Black adult clubs are free but membership is compulsory. You need to register only. There are elite and confidential Black adult clubs on land and on Internet that need paid membership.

Same as like on land, an online dating Black adult club is category specific offering Black personals for Black dating as well as Black community resource where you can create your own dating club for friendship or for gay, lesbian and swinger activities. You have adult club for swingers with swinger personals and like you have clubs for lesbian dating with lesbian personals and gay dating clubs with gay personals ads online.

Adult clubs are basically like online adult dating sites for matchmaking with free personals. The difference is that membership is specific community or lifestyle based not like in an Internet dating service with adult personals of very huge number of personals ads of all specific community and lifestyle seekers. An adult club offers much closed community club and dating resource on the Internet.

Alina Farace
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/online-adult-clubs-132131.html

Are all gay men just superficial disco bunnies with only one thing on their minds? The mass media would certainly have you believe that is so, and with figure heads such as Boy George and Julian Clary, who can blame the public for going along with this idea. Of course, straight acting gay men are just harder to detect. So homophobes continue with their prejudices and the 21st century, thinking gay man gets very lonely wondering where all the men like him are! How, then, do intelligent professional gay men meet each other? There are thousands of clubs and pubs, dating agencies and personal ads for cruising purposes, but it can be extremely difficult to meet professional gay friends for purely social purposes, where a deeper relationship may develop. This is where the gay dining club comes to the rescue. I recently tried Out & Out, London’s longest established dining club for professional gay men and was amazed at how civilized an evening with 40 gay men could be.

Out & Out was started by the disarmingly charming and truly scrumptious Julia Melinek. Eleven years ago, opera singer Julia (she’s sung Madam Butterfly for English National Opera) and fellow warbler, Mark Glanville (more recently the author of best – selling book The Goldberg Variations) realised that they were so good at organising dinner parties for gay colleagues that they might as well do it professionally. As Out & Out, they booked a stand at a Gay lifestyle exhibition at Earl’s Court and pretty much became an instant success. Today they’re the biggest dining club for professional gay men in the UK, with a membership that sometimes hits a thousand. They are not just another gay dating service in London. Through the gay dining club format, members can meet new friends, network professionally and chat without any of the posing and cruising obligations of the scene.

How did they do it? Professional fag hag (it’s her description) Julia reckons that, as far as social skills are concerned, “you’re born that way.” But she likens her table – hopping duties at Out & Out functions to those of the circus plate spinner, forever dashing to give the plate at the end another twirl. Having seen her in action, I can confirm that, like the guy with the plates, she performs apparently effortlessly. But what is it with Julia and gay men? “There’s a special relationship between straight women and gay men,” she explains. “It’s like the girlie friendship, opposite sexes getting on with each other without the sexual tension.” The personal touch extends to communications with the Out & Out office. There are no mail-shots. Julia and Mark can spend eight hours a day on the phone, telling members about upcoming lunches and dinners, plus other events including theatre visits, foreign trips and boat cruises. Clearly the label ‘Gay Dining Club’ only reveals part of the picture as members use the club for professional networking purposes, expanding their social horizons, debates, message posting and of course, inevitably, for gay dating.

But, ultimately, is it all about sex? Surprisingly, no. “It’s far less a sexual thing than the scene,” says Julia. I accepted an invitation to the gallery bar of the Cross Keys, a beautiful old pub in Chelsea, where Out & Out celebrated Valentine’s Day. The mix of men was much as Julia had described, all ages, classes and races, but “the common denominator is intelligence, those who enjoy a dinner party atmosphere as opposed to posing and cruising.”

After a 17 year relationship broke up, lawyer David T found it very difficult to “let loose” again. “In the bars I was very conscious of being older,” he told me, “but here, as you can see, the age range is very wide.” At Out & Out he has made a lot of gay friends, some men he now sees independently. What about romance? None as yet. David feels that Out & Out is primarily a social group. But then I met David L and William R who have been together for three years after meeting at an Out & Out function. “Jules is very good at judging,” said David. “She sits people next to each other if she thinks they’re going to get on. With us, she got it right.” “I didn’t want a gay dating agency when I joined Out and Out,” said William “I was far more interested in networking with professional gay men and meeting new friends….but then I met David, and the rest is history!”

Now David is trying to get William to County Hall! “We’ll invite Mark and Jules,” David promised.

Pankaj Mohan
http://www.articlesbase.com/sexuality-articles/more-to-gay-life-than-sex-55292.html

Florida Congressman Mark Foley has resigned from Congress amid charges and allegations that he had inappropriate e-mail contacts with a former teenage page in the House of Representatives. So what’s the real deal? What’s really going on? You can read the mainline press, and watch television, but you’ll never get to the real story that way. You have to ferret it out for yourself, and that’s what we have done. We have talked with the movers and the shakers, to learn what’s really happening.

First off, no one has a right to violate the sanctity of a teenager’s world. In our country young people are protected and given rights precisely because they are young. They are at an age where they can not protect themselves. It is the sign of an advanced society that we choose to protect them, as well we should.

People who would prey on our children should go to jail for the rest of their lives. There is no need to give such “scum” a second chance. We shouldn’t take that chance by giving them another chance. It is also the symbol of an advanced society that the framers of our constitution went out of their way to protect the rights of criminals. Compared to every other society on earth, here’s one observer that thinks we do a fairly good job. Now having said that what’s going on in Washington?

First off, neither party has a stranglehold on ethics. The Democrats have stolen just as much money through the years as the Republicans. What they spend it on may be different, but the money in both cases seems to DISAPPEAR, with very little to show for it. The first rule of government, and I learned this personally from Noble Prize winning economist Milton Friedman is that, “Whoever is in power, loves to spend money.”

Ronald Reagan was a hero of mine. Nobody could spend money like him, until this President that is. At least Reagan bankrupted the Soviet Union and drove them out of power. What does Bush have to show for his trillions? A war without clearly defined objectives, and hundreds of billions in pork spending that no society can afford. He is the first President in my lifetime that has chosen not to exercise the power of the VETO.

This gay Congressman was not a sleeper. People around him knew his peculiarities. They chose to ignore them for their own reasons. Foley was running to be Senator from Florida a couple of years ago, and the party torpedoed the nomination to give it to Mel Martinez out of fear that word would get out.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives knew something was up and decided to keep quiet. Don’t these guys realize by now that ‘THINGS DON’T BLOW OVER”. Word gets out; it always does; whether it’s Hewlett Packard trying to snuff out corporate eavesdropping, or Enron trying to bury their financial worries in lies to Wall Street. You can only keep that game going so long, and then somehow it goes wrong.

If the impotent Democrats are smart, they will say nothing, and do nothing about this Mark Foley affair. The world of the Republicans is vaporizing right before their eyes. These are men who say they are conservatives, and yet know nothing of conservatism. Barry Goldwater the Arizona conservative Republican Senator who started it all, would be appalled at what is taking place in his party today. He might not be able to call himself a conservative anymore if he were alive.

Foley was in charge of a subcommittee in the House that dealt with exploited children. You talk about living a lie. Where are we as citizens of a free society, if elected officials think that it’s okay to espouse one thing in public, and then do the opposite thing in private.

I would ask our elected officials, “How dumb can you be”? What contribution do you make to society? The rest of us are out here supporting ourselves, making our schools better, and improving our local communities. You guys are just living off the collective decency of the rest of us. You spend money like it’s unlimited. You eat in the finest restaurants, yet your basic paycheck isn’t big enough to support your lifestyle. Who’s paying for these lifestyles? If it’s not the citizens than who, what is expected in return.

Mark Foley is symbolic of something terribly wrong in both parties. It’s an atmosphere of anything goes, and I am above reproach. I am not accountable. Is this really the message we want to send to the next generation. Foley, this sick, mindless Congressman wants to hide behind the notion that he was drunk when he committed these acts. Really, does he really think that the rest of us are going to fall for his mindless chatter?

I mentioned in this article that I am generally optimistic regarding my country. What keeps me optimistic today is the power of the Internet. It is something the founding fathers would have marveled at. Yes, there’s too much “NOISE or CHATTER” out there. Yes, you have to be focused to get pass the sheer density of information that is available to each of us. Ah, once you get passed that noise though, there’s a liberating experience awaiting each of us. We have the power to obtain whatever knowledge we desire on just about any topic.

We are not using that vast knowledge yet, but we will be. It is conceivable that by 2008, the Internet will completely change the look and feel of American politics. The political process as we know it will be unrecognizable compared to where we are today. With information there is power, and people will have choices that they do not have today. There’s a new freedom coming, and with it, a shift of power back to the people.

Richard Stoyeck
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/mark-foley-gay-congressman-resignsthe-real-deal-62402.html

Gay Life in Andalucia Background to Andalucia’s Popularity with
the Gay Traveler The Gay traveler has always had an affiliation
with Spain, and since the countries increasing popularity as a
holiday destination in the 1960’s and ‘70’s, Andalucia’s gay
community has thrived. Not only due to the widely open and
accepting Spanish people, holidays are typically a time when
beliefs and prejudices are put aside and the desire to relax,
unwind and to have a good time doing whatever you do takes over.
Perhaps the fact that people are displaced from their usual
surroundings whilst on holiday, results in the removal of
barriers and stereotypes that they may normally have. Several of
these stereotypes exist around the lifestyles and habits of gay
people, and therefore, rightly or wrongly, it is widely accepted
that the climate, beaches, club culture and shopping facilities
of the Costa del Sol have increased Andalucia’s popularity with
the gay market. Likewise, the trend towards rural tourism and
multi-centre holidays has increased gay travelers awareness of
communities that exist in other significant destinations such as
Cadiz, Seville and Cordoba. Another stereotype revolves around
the notion of the ‘pink pound’ which in the UK refers to the
spending power generated by gay consumers. This group has been
historically assumed to be part of a family unit of just two, is
less likely to have children and thus is more likely to be
professional individuals who have concentrated on their career
rather than their family. It has been concluded that these
individuals are more likely to have greater earning potential
and less daily outgoings upon which to spend. During a time when
Andalucia has seen so much change so rapidly, and where the
Costa del Sol has been considered a fashionable and exclusive
resort, it’s perhaps not surprising that much of this ‘pink’
money has been spent in Andalucia. Gay Marriage A key
influencing figure in the prospect of increased gay settlers in
Andalucia will be the recent legalization of gay marriage, with
Spain being one of a handful of countries that has done so.
Homosexuality was illegal in Spain before 1978, when the
constitution within which it was legalized was agreed. This
acceptance of gay unity as a viable and now legal alternative to
the more traditional one man one woman marriage earned Spain
much notoriety within the Catholic Church where it was still
seen as unacceptable. But, to there credit, Spain decided that
it was the right way to go, and the recognition of gay
relationships in a legal and formal capacity was realized. Gay
Lifestyle Much of gay lifestyle centres around the café/club
culture, and in Andalucia, this is in abundance. Due mainly to
the climate, the café scene thrives where outside and pavement
dinning and socializing is the norm. Licensing laws in Spain
have a larger effect on the gay scene and most clubs stay open
into the early hours of the morning, with few opening much
before 10.00pm. Club life in Andalucia centres around current
music fashions and trends, and most famously amongst the
community, within the Nogalera area of Torremolinos on the Costa
del Sol. Cabaret, which still proves to be an extremely popular
theme in many gay friendly establishments, will be found in any
significant resort, and it’s not unusual to see very colourful
cabaret with a gay or camp undertone even in the smallest of
provincial towns! Support Groups There are several groups
offering support to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
people in Andalucia. You can normally find associations within
most large towns and cities, and likewise within the provincial
towns there will be a presence of some description, no matter
how small. Such organizations will help gay people to integrate
into the community, offer help and assistance in most matters,
and give advice about socializing and community groups where you
can meet new friends Information can be obtained from one of the
larger groups, COLEGA (Colectiva de Lesbianas y Gais en
Andalucia) which will be found in all the major cities and on
the internet at http://www.colegaweb.net Conclusion It goes
without saying that the gay community has embraced all that is
on offer in Andalucia and has really made it its own. Admirably,
gay people have utilized and added to the already colourful and
vibrant Andalucia life in a way that other communities have
never even considered. It’s not unusual to assume that the gay
communities’ love of Andalucia will continue to grow, with more
people using the region for holidays, a place to live and work
and to ultimately retire and settle.

More information of living, working and settling in Spain can be
obtained at http://www.acsentra.com Acsentra S.L., Plaza de
España, 41564 - Lora de Estepa, Sevilla, Spain

Barry Joinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/gay-life-in-andalucia-620.html

If you like sports, shopping or having a good time in bars and nightclubs, then you will love visiting Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Whether it’s business or leisure that brings you to Manchester, you’ll find plenty of things that will keep you entertained and fascinated. To illustrate this point, the following is a quick tour of the most popular Manchester districts, starting at the city outskirts and moving inward.

Altrincham and Sale lay at Manchester’s south west end. Both are hugely popular and fashionable shopping destinations. Aside from shopping, Sale also gives visitors a taste of Manchester’s highly-touted sporting lifestyle through the hometown Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club. The nearby Sale Water Park is also worth a visit.

Bolton and Bury, two traditional Lancashire towns with distinctly unique personalities, sit at the northern side of the city. Bolton is young and vibrant and its residents have made entertainment and shopping a way of life. The district’s most popular attractions are the Bolton Octagon Theater, the Last Drop Village and the Pennine moors. On the other hand, Bury has an old world feel owing to its many historical attractions such as the East Lancashire Railway. Bury is also popular for its vast open air market, considered to be the best on this side of England.

Castlefield and Deansgate host exceptional shopping, dining and entertainment venues such as Castlefield Basin, King Street and St. Ann’s Square. The Ox is a great choice for lunch or dinner while the Dukes 92 waterfront bar is ideal for drinks.

Manchester’s local Chinatown houses one of the biggest Chinese populations in the country and some of the best Chinese restaurants. Visit during the Chinese New Year and witness one of the city’s most impressive annual celebrations.

When it comes to shopping, the Manchester city centre is in a class of its own. Reputed to be one of the best shopping areas in the United Kingdom, it features such showcase stores as the largest Marks & Spencer outlet in Europe and the hugely popular Exchange Square. You may also want to visit Albert Square for great Victorian gothic architecture and the G-Mex Center and Bridgewater Hall for their rock concerts and classical performances.

There are more fine restaurants in Didsbury, south of the city centre, such as the renowned Lime Tree and the Metropolitan. Didsbury, along with nearby Chorlton and Withington, is one of the city’s most popular and fashionable residential areas, home to an upscale class of professionals and entrepreneurs who have gravitated to the area because of its excellent eating, drinking and shopping options. Chorlton is the more bohemian of the three while Withington hosts the local café society. The latter also features more of a student population and a lively main street lined with popular shops and bars such as Solomon Grundy.

Manchester’s massive student population is situated mostly south of the city centre in Fallowfield, Rusholme and Whalley Range and accounts for the distinct character and cultural diversity of the area. There are many hip bars and pubs in Fallowfield, especially near the numerous University Halls of Residence. Rusholme hosts a large Asian community as well as top flight restaurants like Sangam. Whalley Range is beginning to catch up with the other two with its increasing number of impressive new bars and restaurants.

The gay community will feel right at home in the Gay Village on Canal Street, just west of Piccadilly. The Gay Village has a wide array of bars, restaurants and clubs, including Essential, the city’s first multi-million pound super club.

The fashionable Northern Quarter houses some of the most stylish shops in Manchester as well as trendy music bars like Fat City Records and Dry Bar. The fine old Victorian buildings in the Northern Quarter contain media offices and alternative shopping centres like Affleck’s Palace and the Coliseum, which is famous for its jewellery stores.

The city’s sporting side is best seen at Old Trafford and Salford, home of such famous sports institutions as Manchester United and the Lancashire County Cricket Club. The area’s recent redevelopment is most evident when you look at the resplendent Trafford Centre, the shopping complex that cost £600 million and features the only Selfridges & Co store outside London. The Lowry and Quays in Salford are also worth a visit.

Manchester’s three main universities are on Oxford Road, a major thoroughfare leading into the heart of Manchester. Revolution bar leads the roster of trendy student-directed bars in the area. The Manchester Museum and the Cornerhouse arthouse cinema and gallery are also on Oxford Road.

The Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton area is popular among foreign tourists because of the rolling foothills of the Pennines and the northern Peak District as well as the attraction of the Portland Basin Museum and Rochdale Pioneer Museum.

Article by Susan Ashby of Manchester Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Manchester visit http://www.manchester-singles.co.uk

Susan Ashby
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/sports-shopping-and-good-times-in-manchester-79117.html