TotallyOz

I remember a few years back a full grown tiger was found to be raised in a public housing project. I am not sure how that happened either but Animal Control finally got wind of it and took it away to the dismay of the residents.

I have decided to watch this show this year. Will I be lost as I have not see the other seasons? As for Dexter, I know what happens. LOL The young psycho takes over Dexter's role and kills him. At least that is my guess.

Thank you very much. I very much appreciate that. I know from years of doing this that I will ruffle some feathers along the way. I have come to accept that I can't please everyone all the time. For this issue, many of these articles have been on this site since 2012 and some before and perhaps people just didn't read them. I understand that as well. But, I guess I don't understand the tone for an article that has been here for over a year now getting anyone upset. In fact, I re-posted the article here in Jan: http://www.boytoy.com/forums/index.php?/topic/12667-the-boy-toy-guide-to-porto-alegre-brazil-home-to-the-best-money-boy-sauna-on-earth/?hl=alegre I guess my campy humor (my thoughts) didn't come across back then as no one mentioned the use of the word fag. But, be that as it may, this would have been easily resolved had someone kindly sent me a PM and said, "Oz, I do not like that word. It would be great if you would remove it from that article on Porto Alegre." I would have said OK. But, when I wake up to a bulldog attack, I tend to shut down. That is life I guess. And, to you Mr. Ihpguy, who gave me the best city tour I have ever had in Rio, I want to apologize to you. As the day went on and I got tired, I am sure I uttered words like, "I am fucking exhausted." or "Jesus Christ, can we sit down yet." Or, perhaps even, "Mother Fucker, I want to get to the sauna by taxi." If I offended your sensibility on that tour, before we got to the Meio Mundo Gentleman's club to talk and discuss "business" with the companions that were there, I apologize. (how is that for a kinder gentler Oz)

Stephen Fry on Vladimir Putin: "He is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews. He cannot be allowed to get away with it." Read Stephen's passionate letter to David Cameron: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/07/stephen-fry-compares-russian-winter-olympics-to-nazi-hosted-1936-olympics-in-letter-to-david-cameron/

I love the email I got from Marriott today.

Can you give me the link to the discussion LAST year? Notice, I said last year as that is what you stated. And, you are insulted by the use of the word meltdown. I didn't have a meltdown. You did. I quote: "As the person who stated his opposition to the word fag being used in an article on this site, I find it insulting that my reaction is now being put to a vote. Thank you for allowing me to post on this site, but my retirement is effective now." The meltdown I was referring to was you leaving the site. You may not consider that a meltdown, but I did. After a lengthy discussion, I said: "OK. You all have convinced me that it is offensive to some and thus, it is removed from my vocabulary for this site." Now, you may have taken that to mean that I would go back to over 90 articles I have written for the site and have my programmers make edits to them immediately, but you were mistake in that thought. It is not as easy as you suggest and it takes time and man hours to accomplish this. However, once again, can you refer me to a post where I said that I would edit all the city guides that have been written? If you can't show me that, or if you can't show me this discussion last year, admit you were mistaken and happy that I agree to your demands not to use the word in the future.

A friend sent me this link today and I found it interesting. http://flavorwire.com/407418/the-25-best-websites-for-literature-lovers/view-all

I am enjoying this show more and more as the weeks go by. I am not sure how well it is doing in the ratings, but The Bridge is really great for me.

The Clinton's are again causing a bit of controversy. This time with the RNC. LOL They don't want documentaries of one of the most influential people in the world to be on CNN and NBC. The RNC has even stated if that happens, they will boycott debates by those networks. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gop-at-war-with-cnn-and-nbc-over-hillary-clinton-tv-projects-20130805,0,1452845.story I myself am looking forward to Diane Lane in the role.

When I lived in NYC, I use to go to the clubs and bars often, almost nightly as my BF was a drag queen and we loved drag shows. One of my favorite nights in NYC for years was Faggot Feud at Blu Bar. It was a hosted competition between 2 groups of guys. We had Campus guys there several times. Other groups would be the softball teams, dykes on bikes, etc. The teams of 5 each competed in a nice game of family feud but the questions were all gay related. The place was packed nightly. And, it was a blast. Not once did I ever question the use of the term Faggot Feud but this was 15 years ago. Looking back, I don't think anyone did. But, I know that event takes place in Portland and Seattle from time to time as I often get the questions and am asked to give answers for it. Again, I am not advocating the use of the word fag. But, I do believe that one must consider context.

Joseph, I think a lot of this is generational. I am mid 40's and was not around when Stonewall was going on or the gay rights movement was one where danger lurked around every corner. But, I did grow up in the deep south and words like queer, fag, gay, pussy, queen, were used in a way that made me feel terrified. But, they were used by guys I knew to be hateful. When I came out, at 27, I was in NYC and in a different world. I hung out with many younger guys and the words seemed to me to be part of the gay culture. I even remember my first gay pride parade in NYC with the words Queen and Fag used on posters of the marches tell others that were gay. IMHO, that was not used in a bad way. But, some on this board are much older than I am and I don't have their experiences and thus, I do understand their hatred for the use of the word and thus, why I agreed I would be careful with my use of it on the site or in posts. I have no problem with the word fag. I have no problem with its use from another gay man if used in a loving way or even a funny way. But, I try my best not to offend people and thus I will be careful of its use. That does not mean I agree with those who feel the word itself should be banned from society. Today, I got a message from a friend in NYC and it said, "Faggot, get your ass back to NYC. Fire Island is a blast and we miss you." The guy is in his early 30's and I was not offended by his remarks at all. Others have different experiences than I have and I try my best to be cognizant of that.

This was not a joke. It was a hate based crime. How does it relate to someone that is gay and saying they are OK with the word Fag, Queer, etc? Do you believe that if we stopped using the N word, that hate based crimes would stop? Many blacks use that word often and among friends. Are racist crimes today because they use this word themselves? If you believe either of the above, I would disagree, but I would be willing to listen.

I hate and despise the word Queen. I find that offensive and distasteful. I find that gay men that use that word try to relate all of us proper gay men to ladies in waiting. I am not a lady. I am a man. Using this horrendous word just makes the world think we are all ladies born into male bodies. It is taking gay rights back decades. I am appalled when this word keeps getting used. Please, please lucky, don't equate me or others with such disdain. We are as worthy and as valued as anyone else.

Advocating? You are grasping at straws trying to prove a point which is absurd. When the word was used in a "cutesy" way months back, I said that I would not use that word in any other articles for the site. I stand by that and I have not. You don't seem to be happy with that. That is life I guess. I will state once more that I have never had a problem with another openly gay man using the word among other gays. I have no issue with the word queer or dyke or whore or slut used inside that group either. My friends use all the words and I have no issue with it. The younger generation use it often and I am sure some of that has rubbed off on me. Also, being a New York Queer, oops, sorry, gay man, I have a bit higher tolerance for words. I have been told in the past that I use fuck and shit and bitch way too much in my posts but I try to curb that as well. My own language is not curbed at all. I talk like a New Yorker and have for 30 years. Perhaps that shows I am a bit lower class that you, but I am OK with that as well. I do have issues with those outside the group using it. I have issues when those words are used in a hateful or harmful way. When the discussion was held months back, and I saw that some, like you, do not differentiate with context the word was used in, I made sure that all future things were more carefully worded. But, get real, you try to use an article written last year to prove a point you with to make today. That is disingenuous at best.

The articles were written over a year ago before some guys had a melt down over the word fag and queer. I wonder if gay is next?

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-teen-dies-after-being-kidnapped-tortured-russia060813#sthash.Vz2b9WMl.gbpl

OK. First, let me say I am a man with tremendous loyalty. For years, I only used Rit's taxi and then I moved to JC Taxi and have used them for at least 5 years. But, each time gets more and more frustrated as I tell them which way I want to go and they always get off that road and take a cheaper one. Even though I always pay them for the tolls. My friend Firecat was in town last month and he did Pattaya to Bangkok in under 2 hours. I told him he was full of shit as it has been taking me 3.5 hours. After much ado about nothing (think Seinfield) we agreed to disagree. But, today, I decided that I would try his guy, Mr. Toom. I needed a taxi to Pattaya Bangkok Hospital for the dentist and to see a friend and then back to Bangkok. My regular guy quoted me 3200. I called Mr. Toom and he said 2500. I decided I would risk something new. Bangkok to Pattaya - Under 2 hours nice car, nice driver Pattaya to Bangkok - Under 2 hours So, Mr. Firecat, I'll eat my words and ask that you forgive me for calling you a lier or an exaggerator or full of shit, or whatever words I used. You were right. I'll say that only one time this year, so enjoy it. For those that are looking for a nice guy and good driver: toom39@msn.com (66)81-482-7148

For a very unique take on Pizza, try: Nanjya Monjya Address:Ground floor, Ascott Building 187 South Sathorn Road Bangkok, Thailand The boys and I met 2 friends from Australia and 2 from China recently and we had a variety of their pizzas. Everyone in the group loved the taste. It was full of flavor and fun to watch as they cook it on the grill at your table. The pizzas are about 350 baht each and we had several types along with some sushi. We all gave the pizza a 4 star average. But, for fun, it was 5 stars.

I just love the smell of a fresh brewed cup of coffee in the morning. Not as much as sex, but it is close.

It is funny you say that as I have always wanted a tear drop on my face but the Thai boyfriends get very upset as they say that only convicts have them. They are so against this they say when I sleep, they would cut it off. And, this is the BF with multiple tattoos. But, he says the face is off limits.

We have just finished out our article on Gay Moscow. i thought you might like a glance before we put it in our City Guides area on the front part of this site. What do you think? Did I go too far? Gay Moscow: Where Traitors Are Welcome, But Gays Are Not At Boytoy, we sort of have a thing for outlaws. After all, it wasn't that long ago that getting your gay on was illegal in many parts of the U.S., and hiring male escorts is still an outlaw activity in most areas. So, when we found out that the notorious traitor Edward Snowden was being given asylum in Moscow after divulging state secrets to British journalists, we started wondering if it was time for us to take our own trip to the city. After all, the president's name is almost exactly the same as the word for “whore” in French – and you know how we feel about dirty whores! But, it turns out that Moscow is really a horrid hive of homophobic hillbillies. It's hard to imagine a non-Muslim country that is more anti-gay than Russia these days – though it's still possible to have fun. Therefore, we are not going to let our research go to waste and will now give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of taking a gaycation to Moscow. The Good Part Of Being Gay In Moscow Despite the fact that Moscow used to be the capitol of communism, it is now the most capitalist country in the world. Money will literally buy you anything you could possibly imagine. If you are rich, nobody will arrest you for anything. You could easily snort cocaine off the balls of seven rent boys at a time, as long as you have enough cash on you to bribe the right people. And if you are rich, your hotel will do the bribing for you. Therefore, if money is no object, then the city will have no problem with you being gay. Hey, they'd have no problem with you being a gay drug lord taking a crap in the middle of the street if you have hard currency. The flip side of this is that if you aren't rich, you are going to have a hard time. And they won't be very forgiving at all, and will be very aggressive in their homophobia. Now, it's true that some gay guys like the danger aspect – and if you are the type who gets turned on by the risk that you might get beaten up when you try to hook up, you might have a blast. On the other hand, if you are poor and value your personal safety, you'll have much less fun. The Bad Part Of Being Gay In Moscow In any other country, an often shirtless leader who goes hunting for bears on the weekend would be considered a gay icon. Here, he probably wants you killed. Or at least thrown in jail for a long time. Moscow used to have a gay neighborhood. But in 2009 the gay bars and clubs there were shut down for “promoting unnatural sexual congress.” Now the only way to find gay bars and clubs – since they can't advertise or put up a rainbow flag - is to bribe the concierge at your hotel. Then he will let you know where the secret clubs are. This year, Big Bad Vlad introduced a host of anti-gay laws. Currently, it is against the law for two men to hold hands in public. It is against the law to wear a rainbow flag. It is against the law to “dress in a way that would make people think you are a homosexual” - so leave your “Fat, Hairy Cocksucker” T-shirt at home. They have also made it illegal to use the word “gay” in any language in any place where someone under 18 years of age can hear it. In fact, that law was recently used to file criminal charges against both Madonna and Lady Ga Ga for “promoting the gay lifestyle” during their concerts. While the U.S. is not likely to turn over either star to be jailed, that's still not a good sign. The Ugly Part Of Gay Life In Russia Ok, so the anti-gay laws are pretty bad. But, shockingly, it gets worse. First off, 43 percent of people in Russia thinks that all gays should be put in jail or psychiatric institutions. And many people are committed to psych wards when they tell their family members they are gay. And still it gets worse: Over the past few months, anti-gay groups have started a public campaign where they use social media to lure gay teens to a “date.” When the teens turn up they are tortured, pissed on, beaten up, and forced to admit that they are perverts. This is all videotaped, and then uploaded onto the Russian version of YouTube. Despite the fact that the groups admit doing this and their faces are clearly visible on the videos, Putin has ordered police not to investigate on the basis, in his opinion, that these exercises help scare the children away from being corrupted by the “gay lifestyle.” This has led other people to correctly believe that they can beat the shit out of men who seem to be gay, and not fear any police interference. Meanwhile, Big Bad Vlad is making statements about how barbaric Gitmo prison is. Deliver me. Things To Do In Moscow Check out Red Square. Pretend to like women. Dress really butch. Make anti-gay jokes. Fulfill your fantasies about getting pissed on by homophobes. Jerk off to shirtless pictures of Putin. See a ballet at the Bolshoi Theater before the entire male cast is thrown in jail. Spend some time in jail. Pray the person you are bribing doesn't beat the shit out of you. Go talk to Edward Snowden about how much more “free” his new country is than the one he betrayed. Or, you know, just go someplace that isn't run by the biggest closet case on the planet. cc 2013 boytoy.com

I have stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel (hundreds of nights) the JW Marriott Hotel and the Copacabana Palace. I was able to get guest in every hotel. But, I also always book a double and if they have issues, I register them with the hotel for the night. I'll then deregister them the next AM when they leave unless it is one of my long term guys. Admittedly, that is a PITA, but my one stay at the Atlantico lasted one night and the Internet was dead and not working and it was not worth it for me. I have friends that love the hotel and the convenience. I would have said the cheap rooms but those too are crazy rates IMHO. But, most hotels in Rio are. I guess you must pick and choose what is important to you. And, Lurker is right, if you must have guest that switch on and off, this hotel may be great for you. Or, do like many do and rent apartments.

We have now completed the Gay Porto Alegre area of the site. The listings are also in the forum area called City Guides. We hope this helps some of you that want to visit this amazing to better understand the city and make good choices. If we left off major things that you want to see, please let me know and we'll add them. http://gayportoalegre.boytoy.com/

Porto Alegre Hotels 1 Ornatus Palace Hotel | Rua General Vitorino, 146 | (51) 3221 4555 | http://www.hotelornatus.com.br/ This gay-friendly hotel is in a good location, has a decent continental breakfast spread, and offers laundry services. The interior may not be the most modern you've ever stepped foot in, but the rooms are clean, comfortable and spacious. Wifi is available. 2 Blue Tree Millennium Porto Alegre (note that it is more often than not found online spelled Millenium; not sure which one you would prefer to use) | Av. Borges de Medeiros, 3120 | 51 3026-2200 | http://www.bluetree.com.br/hoteis-e-resorts/millenium-porto-alegre.jsp?language=en Upgrade to a Deluxe room here, as they've been completely refurbished and are super nice; the Standards leave much to be desired. You'll also get more space and they have terraces, while the others have just windows. But all rooms have AC, wifi, and nice bright bathrooms. Don't miss the view from the indoor rooftop pool. 3 Quality Hotel Porto Alegre | Comendador Caminha St. 42 | 51 3323-9300 | http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-porto_alegre-brazil-BR084 What can we say about a Quality Inn that you don't know already? This one has all the amenities you'd expect from a reputable international chain gym facilities, nice breakfast spread, clean comfortable rooms plus park views and valet parking. 4 Plaza Sao Rafael Hotel | Ave Alberto Bins 514 | 51 3220-7000 | http://www.plazahoteis.com.br/saorafael/en/ If you've stayed here in the past, you'll be pleased to know they've redone their rooms not to look so much like your spinster aunt's bedroom. The rooftop lap pool is a stunner, and there's a hot tub and gym up there as well. The Executive Single rooms are the best value. 5 Everest Palace Hotel | Rua Duque De Caxias 1357 | 51 3228-4799 | http://www.everest.com.br/portoalegre/ The regular hotel-style rooms have been redone and are lovely; their apartments have yet to be refurbished, but offer a full living room and kitchen, if you're planning on staying for a bit or want a homier feel. They also have a full circuit gym and even a game room with a pool table. The views are amazing, and it's in a great location to boot. 6 Swan Tower | Avenida Cristovao Colombo 3192 | 51 3326-2222 | http://www.swanhoteis.com.br/sobre/2 A breathtaking atrium, sublimely styled rooms, and a breakfast selection fit for a king (or queen). The only drawback is that is a little far outside of the city center, which depending on your preference could be a plus. It's also massive enough to come and go with whomever you please relatively unnoticed. 7 Mercure Porto Alegre Manhattan | R. Miguel Tostes, 30 | 51 3024-3030 | http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3623-mercure-porto-alegre-manhattan-hotel/index.shtml The Mercure chain is always a solid bet, and this property is no exception. The pool has painted lanes for laps, the breakfast is delish, they have free wifi, and the rooms are tasteful and immaculate. Book a corner Superior room to get a balcony. 8 InterCity Premium Porto Alegre | Av. Borges de Medeiros, 2105 | 51 3022-9100 | http://www.intercityhoteis.com.br/hotel/sobre-hotel-intercity-premium-porto-alegre?lang=en Divine rooms, a sexy rooftop outdoor pool, sauna, gym, and wifi. Book a room that has a view of the sunset you won't be disappointed. They also have a decent happy hour if you want to stick around close to home before heading out. 9 Harbor Hotel Regent Suites | R. Vigário José Inácio, 700 | 51 3025-3200 | http://www.harborhoteis.com.br/en/inicial/3/harbor-hotel-regent-suites Ok, so this is not the most modern hotel room you'll ever stay in. But it's comfortable and in a great location, and you have a little kitchen, a living room area and a balcony, and there's wifi and laundry services. And there's 24-hour room service, too. 10 Sheraton Porto Alegre Hotel | Rua Olavo Barreto Viana 18 | (51) 2121 6000 | http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1398 Let's not mess around here this Starwood hotel property is going to be flawless, and you can book it using points! The rooftop pool area (indoor, heated, divine) alone is worth the stay, but there's also the top of the line in everything from room design to massages to the gym. Why the wifi is USD16 per day we'll never know, but there it is. I love the fact it is next to a great Bars 1 Mixx Bar | Conde de Porto Alegre, 232 | (51) 3264 7953 | http://mixxbar.blogspot.com Drag queens and go-go boys abound at this small, colorful bar. Oh, and did we mention the tasty strippers? Get a seat up close for the best view, as the stage isn't exactly built for the back of the house. 2 Pier 174 | Rua da República, 174 | 51 3061 7162 | www.pier174.com.br (doesn't work) At Pier 174 you'll find decent bar food, live music, and a crowd that spills out the door and onto the street, making for a lively, chatty atmosphere. And it's a good thing, since the place is unmarked. It opens at 6pm with a decent happy hour. 3 Circuito Bar | Rua: Lopo Gonçalves, 66 | 5132275454 | www.circuitobar.com.br Circuito isn't the best place to cruise or chat, as it's set up more like a Vegas showroom than a mingle-friendly bar. But they have these great little bar counters dedicated to specific drinks, and you can grab a bite to eat as well, and the shows are highly entertaining. 4 Novo Era Uma Vez | Rua 18 do Novembro, 31 | 51 3907 0917 | http://novoeraumavez.blogspot.com Sometimes there's a DJ. Sometimes there are (hilarious and amazing) drag shows. Sometimes there are (drop-dead gorgeous) go-go boys. Sometimes, this all happens on the same night! Whatever's happening there at any given time, everyone is having a blast. A must-visit. 5 Anexo 456 | R. Fernandes Vieira, 456 | 51 3737-2880 | no website Anexo 456 is a gay bar that opens early (7pm) and closes only when the last person leaves, so you can definitely settle in for the night and watch the action. They have live music that's not too distracting, so you can get your flirt on. 6 Venezianos Pub Cafe | Rua Joaquim Nabuco, 397 | (51) 3221.9275 | http://www.venezianos.com.br/index.php?acao=100 This place does have a decent food menu, but make no mistake it's a bar. The early-hours acoustic sets give way to laser lights and a DJ later on. There is some bear action here, but it's a mixed-gay crowd that's fun, friendly and lively. 7 Cia de Arte Pub Café | Rua dos Andradas, 1780 | (51) 3228-3789 | no website They serve a nice lunch buffet (and excellent coffee), and at night it has a pretty chill ambience, with a mixed, artistic-leaning crowd that considers karaoke "letting loose." There's live music on the weekends. Very West Village by way of Brazil. 8 Bar Ocidente | Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 960 | 51 3312-1347 | http://www.barocidente.com.br/ A popular bar all week long, its gay nights are on the weekends. Dress light, becuase it gets hot and packed in there but the beers are nice and cold. They play a fun mix of old and new music, so there's something for everyone. 9 Hangar Bar | R. da República, 191 | 51 8136-9664 | no website Despite the name, this is an intimate space on the bar-packed Rua da República. It's not a huge scene, per se, but they have a decent selection behid the bar and it's a great place to canoodle. Grab a seat outside so the acoustic guitar plaer isn't sitting on your lap unless that's what you're into. Clubs/Discos 1 Vitraux Club | Rua Conceição, 492 | (51) 3221-7799 | www.vitraux.com.br As is the norm in Brazil, there is a mixed crowd here despite the overall vibe being gay, gay, gay. Stay on one level to enjoy their legendary drag shows, or head to the second level for dancing. You never know who's going to show up on the weekends, from top DJs to famous live acts. Strangely, they have a coffee bar as well, if you need to have your wits about you. 2 Refugius Megadanceteria | Rua Marcílio Dias, 290 | 51 3231-3158 | http://refugius.com/nova/ This is a club, and it is a gay club. But there's a mixed crowd, and sometimes there are acoustic sets, and sometimes the action stops dead for a drag show. Just go with the flow, because it's a great night out and without the constant thumping bass, you can actually get your flirt on. 3 CABARET! | Av. Independência, 590 | 51 3227-8998 | http://www.cabaretpoa.com.br/ Lesbians! Bears! Theme nights with names like Amnesia and CRAZY and Dirty Job! And a young, gorgeous crowd that will make you feel tingly. This is a fun, raucous place where you can see what the kinds are into today. Who knows? They might be into you! 4 Astro Club | Av. Goethe, 141 | 51 3062-9166 | http://astroclub.com.br/ Young, adorable gay hipsters are a-plenty at Astro, and they range from twinks to otters and everything in between. Baby lezzies are dancing here, too, under the laser lights and pounding bass. If you like 'em young (but legal), this is the place to do some leering. 5 Casa do Lado | R. da República, 546 | 51-9143 1401 | http://www.casadolado.com.br/ With theme nights like Sex on the Beat and Party Hard, this scene hits the ground running. Get your groove on, laugh and chat with locals, and make your mark by writing on the chalkboard before you head home. 6 Cine Theatro Ypiranga | Av. Cristóvão Colombo, 772 | 51 3286-2408 | http://www.cinetheatro.com.br/ (doesn't work) This place does have legit club nights, but it's more of a concert venue, so check in advance so you're not stuck having to watch the stage instead of the talent, so to speak. But regardless, it is gay, friendly, and there are plenty of cuties to chat up. And its massive space can get seriously heaving when the DJ is burning through those records. Sauna/Massage 1 Termas Plataforma | Av. Pernambuco, 2765 | 51 3395-1633 | http://termasplataforma.blogspot.com This is a sauna, and you can get laid here. There are 40 masseurs on staff, and a video room, and private cabins and even decent food service. But the focus is on their nightly parties, which run the gamut of themes, from drag to strippers to cabaret acts. That being said, the boys are gorgeous. 2 Thermas Point Sul | Rua Cabral, 468 | 51 3331-6324 | http://www.thermaspointsul.com.br/ Point Sul's facilities are super clean, and their lounge areas are fantastic for cruising. Many rate their massages among the best in Porto Alegre. Their garden is a relaxing outdoor space to chill out before hitting the nightlife scene. 3 Sauna Floresta | Rua Dr. Vale, 88 | 51 3312-6248 | http://www.saunafloresta.com/ Floresta has dry and steam saunas, and massage services. There is not much for ambience; it is more like an actual men's sauna than a comfy cruising spot. But it does exactly what it is supposed to do, which is put you in close, sweaty contact with gorgeous Brazilian boys who want to do naughty things to you. 4 Sauna Arpoador | Rua Prof. Ivo Corseuil, 210 | 51 3338 4306 | http://saunaarpoador.blogspot.com This sauna, tucked away in a residential section, is a pretty big facility, laid out on six levels. There's porn, private rooms, a steam room and dry sauna, and comfy changing rooms. Note that you probably won't find super young guys here, but they're hot nonetheless. 5 Convés Sauna Clube | Avenida Maua 1897 | 51 3287 7820 | http://www.convessaunaclube.com/convasauna/ This sauna is convenient, right in the city center, so depending on where you stay you won't have to worry about a taxi. It has a dark room as well as video rooms, private cabins, and lounge areas. It may not be the sleekest, chicest place you've ever looked to get laid, but it gets the job done. 6 Thermas Hera | Rua Buarque de Macedo, 54 | 51 3312-1471| no website Here you are going to have your pick among a huge selection of working boys. Because of the boy/client ratio, though, they can kind of go in for the hard sell, but stay firm (so to speak) and don't feel bad about saying no. 7 Thermas Mezzaninu | Rua São Salvador 108 | 51 32737776 | http://www.mezzaninu.net/ Where the boys are beautiful, beautiful boys, every color of the rainbow. The big scene here is the bar area, which I comfortable and big enough that some serious scoping and flirting can happen. The video room isn't the most comfortable but who's here to watch a movie? Decent theme parties as well. Restaurants 1 Koh Pee Pee | Rua schiller 83 | (51) 3333 5150 | http://www.kohpeepee.com.br/koh_pee_pee_restaurante_tailandes/index.php Missing Thailand? Head to Koh Pee Pee for excellent food in a Thai-inspired ambience that may have you hopping on the next flight to Bangkok. It has a full menu of all the Thai favorites, authentically made, and also has a great wine list. 2 Polska | Rua Joao Guimaraes, 377 | XX | http://www.polskarestaurante.com.br/localizacao.htm OK. No one is going to Porto Alegre for Polish food. But if you're looking to eat something that doesnt even remotely resemble Brazilian cuisine, this is your place. It's delicious, real Polish food that is ultimately satisfying. The buffet is a great deal. 3 Lancheria do Parque | Avenida Osvaldo Aranha 1086 | 51 3311-8321 | http://www.revistainternet.com.br/2009/02/06/a-lancheria-do-parque-em-porto-alegre/ This high-ceilinged eatery with not the most flattering lighting on the planet attracts everyone from crotchety seniors to emo rockers to hipsters to, yes, the gays. Laugh all you want, but it will quickly become your go-to place for a down-home lunch in a give-no-fucks environment. It turns into more of a bar at night, with an equally mixed crowd. 4 Panápaná Pub Bistrô | Rua da República, 174 | 51 3024-3559 | www.pier174.com.br/pana/ This is the restaurant that is connected to Pier 174, so you can make a whole night of it without worrying about leaving to grab a bite. It's good in its own right, especially being that the bar is what makes this location so popular. And, it's still quite the scene. 5 Bar Ocidente | Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 960 | 51 3312-1347 | http://www.barocidente.com.br/ We included this in the bar section because at night it is definitely a hot spot, but don't discount it for a lunchtime spot, either. Most notably, they're big on vegetarian dishes which can be a welcome respite from the heavier meat dishes that tend to weigh you down in Brazil. Businesses/Organizations 1 Bourbon Assis Brasi | Av. Assis Brasil, 164 | 51 3072-1111 | http://www.bourbonshopping.com.br/site/index.jsp?shopping=assis-brasil You can definitely do your shopping here, but build in some extra time for all of the cruising that you are definitely going to want to take part in. The bathrooms are the only spot for action, but come on you've seen worse. 2 Rua da Praia Shopping | R. dos Andradas, 1001 | 51 3211-6600 | http://www.ruadapraiashopping.com.br/ What is it with Brazilians and shopping mall cruising areas? Don't ask just multi-task. The scene here is as follows" cruise inside, then head to the park outside to get it on. 3 Parque Farroupilha | Av. Osvaldo Aranha | http://www.aredencao.com.br/ (website is down) If you like your rent boys al fresco, this is the park after dark for you. Cruise around, and find a boy to take you into the bushes for a reasonable fee. Not the safest thing to do in Brazil, but the cruising scene is populated enough that it should be OK if you're street savvy.

We have now completed the Gay Rio de Janeiro area of the site. The listings are also in the forum area called City Guides. We hope this helps some of you that want to visit Rio to better understand the city and make good choices. If we left off major things that you want to see, please let me know and we'll add them. http://gayriodejaneiro.boytoy.com/