Picking up a some milk and eggs the other day, or wait.. I guess it was  lube and poppers now that I think about it.  I found a new face on the newsstand.

Walking out of Off Chute Too, I noticed Desert Knight News.

The name initially caught my eye.  There is a gay porn company called Hot Desert Knights.

Another gay paper in Phoenix?  Isn’t the local market already saturated, I thought.    How much more ad revenue could be out there?

Kevin and Jack already put out a first class arts and entertainment guide over at IONAZ.  Echo Magazine provides us with a more  traditional keep-it-clean-and-proper publication.  N’Touch is a fairly new-comer, taking the all-news, nothing but the news approach.

After the demise of X-Factor, I really do not see the leather community having an outlet here.  Niche publications can have an edge, filling a need mainstream news sources do not.

This is an exciting new addition to Phoenix and beyond, az gays wishes them well.

Their premier issue can be found at Off Chute Too and other Valley retailers.  You may also view  online at the Desert Knight News website.

marky – az | gays

Sister Spotting at Park Central is the first in a series of posts on where the gays are in Phoenix.

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My favorite place for a hung-over Sunday morning brunch is  Park Central in the Queer Corridor.

Park Central is located at Central Avenue @ Earll.  On the light rail, exit at Midtown Station and walk south from Osborn to Earll.  Alternately, there’s another station at Thomas and Central on the southern side of the property.

Originally known as Park Central Mall, now simply as “Park Central” served as the city’s first outdoor shopping mall.

Major anchor stores like Goldwaters and Diamonds disappeared in the subsequent years to later house business offices and form what is now a mixed-use property.

A typical stroll starts at Starbucks on the south east corner of the property. You’ll undoubtedly notice an occasional nod of sister-spotting-sister, yes, there’s tons-o-gay-family.

Moving north past the Qdoba (great fast Mexican food) over past the outdoor dining at Good Egg. At this point you may wonder if there may have been a leather bear convention nearby. Then, if its not too early, stroll down the open-air mall, just past the Green Woodpecker gift shop you’ll find  a hidden little gem of a bar: Kobalt Let’s not forget in the very back, there is a gay owned store called Cinnabear. Mmmm… ask them to pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds!

marky – az | gays

Yikes!

I just Googled “gay arizona new years eve” and as of today, my site azgays.com is in #1 position!!

That means people are looking to me to tell them where the fun is!   OK… quick, think…

Marky’s Top 5

Sanctum
4343 N 7th Ave
602-264-1700

From the man who brought you the Works, Crowbar and Transylvania … I give you SANCTUM!   Great new space right in the heart of gay Phoenix’.  Just the right mix of music,  an enlightened straight crowd  and gay Phoenicians come together here to make this an excellent choice to ring in 2010.

Velocity Leather Bar
2303 E. Indian School Road
602-956-2885

Velocity recently took over Cell Block’s title as Phoenix’ Gay Leather Bar.  I’m listing them here in hopes that they will run with their new black, white and blue title.

Charlies
727 W. Camelback @ Melrose Station
602-265-0224

A local favorite for cowboys and regular gay boys alike.  Just when you set your sights on the exit door, head ringing from the country music twang, the DJ rescues you by suddenly spinning “normal” gay dance music.

Forbidden
6820 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale
480-994-5176

This is the place where the transexual in the bathroom incident caused the whole club to go gay.  Remember that?  Personally, I just wish it were closer to home and not so far out in Scottsdale.

BS West
7125 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale
480-945-9028

If I had to choose based on website only, BS would win… hands down!

Marky’s Top 10+ from az gays

Gay Phoenix Sister Spotting Places of 2010

I am compiling a list of non-gay-bar places where you can spot other gays and lesbians.  I have a few under age friends who caused the spark in my head.  Although the list shouldn’t be age specific, it should not exclude those not old enough to drink.

Here is a rough first draft of the list.  Your input is valued and needed.  Please post any other things I may have overlooked.

Goals:

No Gay Bars
Public Places Preferred
No Annual Events
Not Limited to a Gay Subculture / Group
Not Strictly Cruising / Hookups

1. One Voice Community Center
2. Park Central Sunday’s in Midtown
3. Jenny’s Late Night in Uptown
4. The Melrose Curve on First Friday’s
5. Roosevelt @ 3rd Street First Friday’s
6. Xavier Square in Uptown (Lola’s / Unique / Hula’s)
7. Clarendon Poolside Summer in Midtown
8. FEZ in Midtown
9. Gayway Safeway Osborn in Midtown
10. Steele Indian School Park, Midtown
11. Arizona Center / AZ Center Movie Theatre
12. Gallo Blanco & Rooftop @ Clarendon
13. Scottsdale Fashion Sq Food Court
14. Oregano’s in the Camelback Corridor
15. Unlimited Coffee at Glendale Ave and 7th Street
16. Elevator at Landmark, Exec. Towers, Embassy
17. LUX Campbell Station Uptown

Driving home the other day I noticed chain link fencing had been recently put up around the vacant lot next to Uptown Station.  Currently dominated by a huge billboard, the lot is shaped like a big triangle on the southwest corner of Camelback Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix.

Curious about potential development in my neighborhood, I Googled it.

From what I’ve read, the developer has the green light for a project as high as 250 feet (76.2 m).

Reid Butler, president of Butler Housing Co. has submitted a proposal for towers up to 36 stories or about 400 feet (122 m) tall.  By comparison, Phoenix’ tallest building is currently the Chase Tower, 38 floors reaching 483 feet (147 m).

Such an addition to the Valley would balance our north to south skyline and help to further rejuvenate the  surrounding Uptown Phoenix neighborhoods.

The development includes 1,000 residential units, a 300 room hotel,  retail & office space.

The coolest thing about the project is that it incorporates Uptown Station into the plans.

Butler will face the zoning department in March 2010, allowing time  for Butler to address the concerns of local residents.

This is such an exciting project for our area.  I can’t wait to see how things work out.  Finally, I have something that makes me want to stay in Phoenix.