Summer in the Southwest
From Albuquerque to Amarillo (and everywhere between): Hot Happenings in our Sister Cities
by James Villanueva, Editor in Chief

Say good bye to those dog days of summer and hello to the new and improved gay friendly southwest - the hottest spot in the country. Southwest LGBT Press is your only guide to the mega parties and events. So throw on some sun screen and grab an ice cold drink to quench that pallet, you’re in for a long hot summer.

El Paso
The Sun City es muy caliente, that means hot ya’ll! Earlier this summer I had the opportunity
to discover what made El Paso so spicy, and believe me it wasn’t the bowl of menudo you can get at three in the morning. There is a friendly and unpretentious vibe that drifts through the warm night air along with the cumbas beats that can be heard throughout downtown till dawn. The Sun City is definitely the next hot spot and the best way to start the night? Tequila shots at “The Toolbox”, don’t cha’ know.

Lubbock
If its cowboys you’re into, its cowboys you’ll get. But, then again, the cute boys that come in from Dallas or the hot girls that migrate from Austin offer a variety of diverse people that make the Hub City their home. However, summer in Lubbock means one thing – foam party! This legendary event takes place at Heaven Night Club in the Lower Depot Entertainment District every Thursday night. Come early and bring your bathing suit because the place fills up fast and, even if you don’t plan to, you will get wet.

Las Cruces
Ah, escape to Cruces. If it’s relaxation you want, its relaxation you’ll get in this sunny city. There is no better way to nurture that May thru September romance than with an escape to this quiet town thirty minutes outside of El Paso. The town itself has been featured as one of the gay friendliest small towns in the country. Of course, with the beautiful scenery and growing arts community, its hard to be a hater in this town.

Amarillo
Whisker’s Lounge is still as hot and happening as Texas Barbeque. Amarillo’s gay life is in and around the downtown area. What? A gay area in Amarillo, well, yes and the city offer a wide variety of bars and nightclubs. Check out Sassy’s while you’re there. This place is a local favorite and is a true staple of the Amarillo scene.

Albuquerque
Albuquerque, or as some might say, Albu-queer-que, is really the place to see and be scene. Unlike the raucous rowdy Texans that choose night clubs over bars and beer over wine, Albuquerque has an elegance and class all its own. Plus, many of the homosexuals who flock to this community and call it their home tend to enjoy a more integrated homo-existence. Nothing wrong with that!