Marriott Courtyard – Pioneer Square. Where yesterday and today converge.

The day was clear, bright and sunny with a late summer breeze bringing fresh sea air up from Elliott Bay to the front door of the new Marriott Courtyard Pioneer Square. This beautifully renovated and majestic 1900’s building greeted my arrival with classic style and a big city flair. The valet was the first person I met, his broad grin and handshake were both out of the ordinary and welcoming, in fact it made my first impression of the hotel a true 10. So many hotels do not realize that you only get one chance to make a first impression, that your front line team members can color an entire stay just by one simple act, and in this case, the handshake made the day.

This Courtyard is the newest in the Seattle Marriott family. A renovated grand old building, this Marriott is truly a unique blend of historic restoration and modern sensibility. A month earlier I had gotten a sneak peek during a hard-hat tour and even amidst the dust and construction I was impressed with the detailed attention paid to restoring the original beauty of the interiors. Even through the major renovation this landmarked building retained its significant architectural features such as the marble entryway, classic crown molding and striking style you can’t find anywhere else. You can even see the old air-driven mail system in the lobby, although it no longer works it is flashback to a simpler time in design and function.

 

With the remodel finished and the hotel newly opened, I was delighted to be checking in. The lobby is truly something to behold, island style check-in, modern furnishings and a truly unique approach to Courtyard design--where the groove is subtle and the space speaks for itself. The building, guest rooms and colors were only highlights; the true story was anchored in the staff. General Manager Gerry Lamontagne has assembled an extraordinary team that makes any visitor feel like they are coming home rather than checking in. This particular weekend was a bit of a family reunion with my mother, sister, a young niece and a nephew, we weren’t exactly packing lightly. In true kid-induced chaotic fashion we burst through the doors taking the place by storm, where we were immediately met with a Courtyard team that went out of their way to make us feel as though we were only people in the place. From valet to front desk to housekeeping and the café, this group of people truly made our stay the highlight of the trip. I hope the rest of the Courtyards can take note, these folks have set a new standard for Courtyard operation.

The rooms of this hotel are bright, open and each with a unique floor plan, tall ceilings and grand appointments. My niece and nephew especially liked the spacious indoor pool and health center, my mother, sister and I especially liked the glass of wine in the lounge. When you travel with kids, one seemed to go with the other.

Having the opportunity to work with most of the Marriott’s in the Seattle area I can tell you that their commitment to diversity and LGBT inclusion is extraordinary. We currently have 10 Marriott Hotels throughout our region as Travel Gay Seattle members and each has made a commitment to welcome and honor our community. Working with Regional Marketing Manager Josh Bang has been a delight, he ensures that each of his properties are welcoming to not only his guests but to his LGBT employees as well. This is the hotel for you if you want to stay in the heart of our historical district, close to everything, safe and full of people wanting to make your stay one to remember. I should mention that this hotel can also accommodate meetings, events and has a great pool and athletic center.

Marriott Courtyard Pioneer Square 

Jerome M Bader – Travel Gay Seatte
jerome@thegsba.org
206-363-9188


 

Argosy Dinner Cruise: Discover the silent beautiful magic of Seattle!

Argosy Cruises is a Seattle staple just like the iconic image of the Space Needle, the historic Pike Place Market and drinking copious amount of coffee. Being new to the city, I was excited to experience everything Seattle had to offer and an Argosy dinner cruise was high on my list of things to do.

Argosy has a large fleet of ships and for my dinner cruise I boarded the largest ship in the Argosy fleet, the Royal Argosy. The name "royal" was fitting because I experienced a sense of grandeur when I first stepped on board. I was impressed with the inside of the ship. I particularly enjoyed the crescent shaped banquet booth that I was seated at for dinner. The lighting could have been a bit more intimate to match the setting, but this was a room built for style and grace.

Looking around, I was happy to see couples of varying ages and demographics. While I didn't spot a same-sex couples, I was told that Argosy is very popular with the LGBT community. Argosy actually provides a boat for an annual fundraising event that supports Seattle Pride and hosts the GSBA new member cruise each April.

My dinner guests for the night were Peter Robinson and Michele Hanson of Argosy Cruises. "If you're going to see Seattle Joshua you need to see it from the sea," Michele expressed as she gestured towards the glowing skyline of downtown Seattle. "Here at Argosy we are selling a first class dining experience but what we are really selling is Seattle," said Peter. There is something remarkable about the Seattle skyline from the water.

The dining room was alive with music provided by Argosy's house band Mary & The Rave. To start the evening, I ordered a glass of champagne. It seemed fitting since I was dressed to impress and I wanted to have something a bit classier then a rum and coke. As I sipped my champagne and listened to the music, I almost felt I was in some swanky jazz club. The Royal's main dining room has a full bar and a fantastic wine list to meet the needs of even the most discerning spirit lover.

The first course of the evening was a three-tiered appetizer platter. I wasn't sure what was more pleasing to the eye, the appetizer or Zak, our server. The appetizer covered each of the "fabulous" food groups, seafood, cheese and fruit, everything a classy champagne drinking gay man could need. On the first tier of the platter were pretzel crusted crab cakes which were a true delight and were possibly the best I've ever had. The lower tiers consisted of an assortment of different fruits and cheeses which paired wonderfully together.

Following an amazing bowl of Dungeness crab and corn chowder, the main course arrived. I was happy to see favorite server Zak bringing my dinner. My eyes grew wide as the plate of halibut was dropped off -- the smell of the cooked fish was stunning. I couldn't believe how tender the halibut was! I was more then happy to clean the entire plate and was almost tempted to lick up the last remaining bits.


After dinner I was faced with the hardest decision of the evening: to dessert or not to dessert? The New York cheesecake with raspberry sauce proved to be too tempting and ultimately was my choice. The raspberry sauce tasted as if it had just been made prior to the cheesecake being brought out and it was the right balance of sweet and tart. It was a fabulous garnish for the cheesecake and it all blended wonderfully with the champagne. Once again I posed the question, what doesn't taste good with champagne?

After watching the Seattle skyline from inside the dining room, I thought the best way to finish the evening would be a stroll across the deck. The bow was full of people admiring the glowing Seattle skyline, people taking photos to mark their dinner cruise experience and couples embracing. There was a slight breeze that evening blowing across Elliot Bay and aside from the low hum of the boat engine, there was silence. It was interesting to be able to see, but not hear the busy streets of downtown. It was a beautifully quiet moment and definitely one that I would like to share with a special someone.

Seattle is a city that demands to be seen from the water and Argosy provides the perfect excursion and opportunity. I would even go as far to say that that you haven't truly seen the city until you have seen it from Elliot Bay. As I stood on the bow of the Royal Argosy ship I couldn't help but think back to what Peter had said earlier, "We sell the city, we sell Seattle." Watching the glowing skyline grow larger as the boat started its trek back to port I couldn't help but feel completely sold on this beautiful city. Discover the silent beautiful magic of Seattle aboard an Argosy dinner cruise.

JOSHUA MICHAEL RUMLEY

TRAVEL GAY SEATTLE

Travel@thegsba.org





http://www.argosycruises.com/

The Lobby Bar: Check Into One of Seattle's Best

The sign for The Lobby Bar, illuminated in a neon green light, instantly grabbed my attention and pulled me across the busy intersection of Pike and Broadway like a moth caught on it's final flight towards a bug zapper. Unlike the moths final experience I'm happy to report that my experience was defiantly buzz worthy.

At The Lobby Bar I found it incredibly easy to approach and strike up a conversation with people around the lounge. This was a refreshing experience to have in a gay bar because other times it has felt like I wasn't only approaching one person but their entire group of friends who would be circling around them like winged monkeys. In fact I was surprised to actually have multiple people come up and start conversations with me.

Walking into the lounge I was quickly greeted by a friendly bartender named Dave who offered me one of The Lobby's newest signature drinks, the 23 oz Lobby Long Island. Thankfully it was Long Island Thursday because the drink was only $6.00! How could I say no to a drink of that size, quality and price? I could get two Lobby Long Islands for the price of a smaller drink at another bar and still have enough cash left over to sample one of the items from the food menu.

The patrons of The Lobby Bar that night covered almost every demographic present on Capitol Hill. From gays, lesbians, straight couples and Seattle hipsters, the crowd was defiantly mixed but yet delightfully gay. I enjoy going into mixed bars, the atmosphere is usually more relaxed and less intense then when you get an entire lounge full of gay men or women.

The Lobby Bar is the official viewing party for Ru Paul's Drag Race and will be having its grand kick off in January when the new season kicks off. I was happy to find out that I could still get my weekly drag dose on Wednesday nights at 8:30 pm when The Lobby Bar hosts an outrageous version of the classic game show Family Feud.

The Lobby Bar is the perfect place to meet people, connect with friends or enjoy one of The Lobby Bar's premium cocktails. The Lobby Bar is the newest LGBT lounge and defiantly one of the best.

JOSHUA MICHAEL RUMLEY

TRAVELGAYSEATTLE.COM

The Inn At The Market, As In As It Gets

My stay at the Inn began on a sunny summer afternoon with the sun sparkling off the waters of Elliott Bay and The Pike Place Market alive with activity. The valet parking and intimate courtyard entrance immediately sent me into vacation mode, I was ready to play. The lobby was furnished beautifully with an amazing collection of artwork. The woman that checked me in had a wonderful sense of humor and minutes after I arrived I was checked-in and ready to go. Although my room wasn’t immediately available I was shown to a smaller room to freshen up and then on to the roof top patio to soak up the sun. I also took this opportunity to snoop and I found out that this little hotel in the middle of the city isn’t so little.

I discovered that the guest rooms range from intimate to 2-story spacious.  There are two meeting/event rooms that are capable of hosting up to 50 guests and a wonderful array of amenities such as free wifi throughout the hotel, fluffy bathrobes in every room and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries—it’s all about the little luxuries here. The most extraordinary feature is the rooftop deck with a 180-degree view of Elliott Bay, the Olympic mountain range and the city skyline. My room was lovingly appointed with windows that seemed to flood light in from all directions. The whole place screamed, “relax."

Yahoo! Travel Names Seattle Top Travel Destination

Yahoo! Travel just ranked Seattle the #3 travel destination in the country based on weather, family friendliness, parks and farmer's markets. Our sister city in the Pacific Northwest, Portland, took the top spot.  There are so many reasons to come visit.

Here's a link to the full article:
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-34887215

Chill Out With a Northwest Rafting Adventure

As I’ve come learn from living here in Seattle the past few years, this is one of those special places that offers myriad appealing and accessible outdoor activities.  As an avid outdoorsman, it’s one of things I treasure about the Emerald City. 

I’ve enjoyed cycling around Lake Washington, running around Green Lake and hiking beautiful Lake Annette.  Always looking for a new adventure, I was ready for something different.   At a corporate retreat I had a blast white water rafting in Colorado some time back; I was excited to discover guided trips in our own back yard.

Gay Pride Seattle 2010 Makes History

Seattle Gay Pride 2010 had many firsts, starting with an historic, symbolic and highly visible surprise.  Almost like out of a movie script, the celebration commenced ceremoniously Friday afternoon with city officials and representatives of the GSBA raising the rainbow flag 605-feet in the air atop the iconic Space Needle.  With our colors waiving high in the Seattle sky, the party was set to begin!

The huge flag, which was visible from almost everywhere revelers traveled throughout the weekend, served as the apropos backdrop for Seattle's first pride after the groundbreaking approval last fall of Washington's Referendum 71 domestic partnership law.

Seattle Gay Pride Starts With Historic Flag Raising

Yesterday officials from the Greater Seattle Business Association joined state and city officials to make history, hoisting the rainbow flag high atop Seattle's landmark Space Needle for the first time ever. The flag will stand as a beacon of the city's support of the LGBT community throughout the Gay Pride Celebration.

As I sit on the patio of my boyfriend's 15th floor downtown apartment which looks west with a bird's eye view of the city and the Needle, a tremendous sense of pride in our progressive city overcomes me. Welcome to all who have come to our city to celebrate with us. We stand together!

Photo courtesy of Seattle Gay News photographer James Whitley

Welcome to the Emerald City!

The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) and the City of Seattle welcome you to the new Travel Gay Seattle blog. Our goal is to become the definitive source for LGBT travelers interested in visiting our gay friendly city. For more visitor information or to make travel arrangements, visit http://www.travelgayseattle.com/

Thanks for checking us out; let us know what you think of the city and our site!

Barrio Restaurant: Modern Mexican on Seattle's Capitol Hill

Contributed By John Wong (excerpted from May/June 2010 issue of GSBA's "Perspective" newsletter)

A couple of friends recently asked me to join them for dinner at Barrio, a new Mexican restaurant on Seattle's Capitol Hill (aka "gayborhood"). When they said Mexican, I was expecting sombreros, a lot of green and red, and a menu where they take the same ingredients, cook it in different ways and call it different names. I was pleasantly surprised!

Barrio blends Old World and modern elements to create a rich atmosphere in very subdued lighting. When I opened the menu, the first thing I saw was tacos and enchiladas and I thought, "Yep. Regular Mexican food." I read on and was immediately drawn to the smoky shredded pork tacos with golden raisins, almonds, caramelized onion-poblano rajas, jack cheese and guajillo pepper-tomato sauce. And I could order it in the “cazuelas” mode where the ingredients are put on a platter and you build your own tacos with warm homemade corn tortillas.  

Seattle Breaks Top Ten

Did you know in 2010 Seattle broke into the Top Ten in LGBT travel destinations, according to the 2010 Community Marketing Survey? Interesting, considering the city has the second highest percentage of openly gay residents in the country.

A Renaissance in Seattle

Stay in the clouds in the heart of Seattle. Located at the foot of Capitol Hill, The Seattle Renaissance Hotel has it all, gorgeous rooms, impeccable service and a top floor lounge offering breathtaking 180 degree views of this magnificent city.

My experience began curbside. I had just an overnight bag with me, however the polite, and handsome, valet insisted on carrying it for me through the beautifully remodeled, high ceilinged and open lobby.

Purr Cocktail Lounge: Purr-fect Pride Party Place

I'm already making plans to meet my posse at Purr for Gay Pride this year. Perhaps you should do the same. I recently met with Barbie, owner of Purr and former bartendress extraordinaire at legendary Manray (so sad it's gone), to get the dish on what's she has up her sleeve for this year's annual celebration. She most definitely has a reputation to live up to. Ask anyone and they'll tell you Purr Cocktail Lounge was the place to be last year.

She wouldn't unveil everything to said blogger but I was able to glean a few of the exciting events planned at what has become the mecca of gay bars in the Emerald City. The big news is a huge block party hosted by the bar again this year. On Saturday, June 26th from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., eleventh Avenue (between Pike and Pine Street) in the heart of Capitol Hill (a.k.a. Gaytown) will be cleared for partygoers. Guest DJ's The Perry Twins from LA will be spinning tracks to get people moving. Music will play all day and well into the night!

What else is happening? Well, I suggest you arrive early in the week and catch none other than Kim Kuzma, award-winning Canadian pop/soul singer with an amazing voice. She'll be performing live Thursday night, June 24th at Purr. I just checked out some of her tunes and let's just say she's uber talented. BTW, Purr also serves excellent Mexican inspired dishes if you get hungry. Try the Grande Burger; it's amazing!

We'll keep you posted on all of the events at Pride Seattle 2010. Also check out Purr Cocktail Lounge's website, purrseattle.com, and become a Facebook fan, search for Purr Seattle.

See you here!

-- Doug Aguiar