International Womens Festival - Girls in Wonderland Gay Days

In March Planet London started a new 'featured theme of the month'. For obvious reasons March was 'Marriage Equality' and we ran a number of interviews and articles on this subject as well as publishing some informative; yet interesting blog pieces.

April has arrived; and our latest featured theme of the month is 'International Women's Festivals'.

This is the fourth in a series of features and interviews on international lesbian festivals.

This is a review of Girls in Wonderland Gay Days (Orlando, Florida)

  

Enjoy!

Looking for sun, women, music, hook-ups and fun all centred around a fabulous holiday? Look no further: Florida is the place to go. Whether it's June or September- you'll find the most fantastic women's festivals happening in the Sunshine State. The best part is, they've been around for almost 20 years and never fail if you're looking for the perfect gay vacation.

June 5th-9th 2014 Girls In Wonderland Gay Days - Orlando, Florida

Every first weekend of June, lesbians and gay men pack up their flip flops, red t-shirts and sun screen and head for Orlando, Florida for "Gay Days'. A long standing tradition that happens when over 15,000 gays flood Mickey Mouse's neighbourhood for sun, fun & parties. Ladies have their share of options, thanks to Alison Burgos, Pandora events and their "Girls In Wonderland" long weekend. 

Loud, bumping & humping hotel pool parties with kick-ass DJ's, Happy Hour & Cocktail parties, live music at House of Blues, major dance parties, VIP events, and top notch comedy nights make for a non-stop thrill ride of ladies, dancing, music & laughs all within Disney Village and usually with some form of bus transport, if not within walking distance. 

A massive LGBT Expo at the main host hotel is great for a wander through with tons of free goodies, stalls, vendors & product displays. The pillage to DisneyWorld itself happens on Saturday afternoon, when everyone dons their red shirts and heads for the Magic Kingdom. Never sanctioned or acknowledged by Disney, and yet the day creates a most spectacular sea of red throughout the magnificent park and is a sight to be hold.

Some past guests include The L Word stars Leisha Hailey and Pam Grier to The Real L Word personalities Whitney Mixter, Tracy Ryerson and Rose Garcia, reality stars The Kardashians, Dani Campbell and Rachel Robinson, mega music stars Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson and Pitbull, they have all partied with Pandora.

Top name performers also include a wide range of talent including funny girls, Suzanne Westenhoeffer, Julie Goldman and Dana Goldberg, singing sirens and rockers, Uh Huh Her, Hunter Valentine, Betty, Sophie B Hawkins, Melissa Ferrick, Goddess & She, Halcyon and The State Of.. along with the hottest girls DJs like DJ/Producer Tracy Young, Alyson Calagna, and Lisa Pittman from Miami, LA and NYC. 

With so much to do, it's best to research web sites ahead of time and look for hotel & ticket packages that offer the best deals for your stay & entertainment choices.

The website starts shaping up in April with celebrity appearances, entertainment line-up and event announcements. 

Review by Denise Warner-Gregory
Listen to Denise on My Lesbian Radio

International Womens Festivals - WomenFest

In March Planet London started a new 'featured theme of the month'. For obvious reasons March was 'Marriage Equality' and we ran a number of interviews and articles on this subject as well as publishing some informative; yet interesting blog pieces.

April has arrived; and our latest featured theme of the month is 'International Women's Festivals'.

This is the third in a series of features and interviews on international lesbian festivals.

This is a review of WomenFest (Key West, Florida).

  

Enjoy!

Looking for sun, women, music, hook-ups and fun all centred around a fabulous holiday? Look no further: Florida is the place to go. Whether it's June or September- you'll find the most fantastic women's festivals happening in the Sunshine State. The best part is, they've been around for almost 20 years and never fail if you're looking for the perfect gay vacation.

September 4th-7th 2014 WomenFest 2014- Key West, Florida

In the U.S., Labor Day (the first Monday of September) is a holiday that signifies a celebration of "the American Labor Movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers", which I didn't even know until I just now Googled it, because to me, it meant a day off and time for a big bash to say good-bye to summer. Whatever the significance, grab your shortest shorts, a swimsuit, a snorkel, and sunglasses and head to the southern most point of Florida for WomenFest in Key West, Florida. 

With it's laid-back Jimmy Buffet-Margaritaville appeal, this 4 day event has everything you could possibly want in a holiday, with the added bonus of lesbians everywhere! The list is of things to do is nearly endless: jet-skiiing, sunset catamaran cruises, art workshops (a women-only Nude painting class?! Yes!), DJ driven pool parties, golfing, live music, comedy night, cinema night, karaoke nights, dance parties at Aqua Night Club, drag shows, yoga classes, a bunch of different contests, including the SHE Magazine's Beach Blanket Butch & Babe Poolside contest, the annual Pearl's Itsy Bitsy Bikini Contest, volleyball, water sports, snorkelling, dolphin-watching, parasailing, kayaking, island trolley tours from The Gay Trolley Co., dinner dances, afternoon pool side tea party dances, evening Happy Hours and outdoor patio cocktail parties are all part of an event line-up that leaves nothing out. 

It's a 4 mile-wide island, jam-packed with lesbians, so you won't need to worry about transport because you can rent electric mini cars, mopeds, bicycles, hitch a ride with a babe on scooter or just walk to the nearest party. Plenty of amazing food places, miles of sandy beaches, the legendary Duval Street, shops that never stop, and frozen drinks to keep you cool in the intense heat. Great entertainment includes past guests: musician/singer Jennifer Corday, the completely interactive band Sister Funk, The Voice contestant Bev McClellan, hot moves & music from NY's own Lori Michaels & The Girls, comedy has included Dana Goldberg, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Julie Goldman, Wendy Carlisle, Christine O'Leary, and Susie Comet. 

Always adding new faces, new music, DJ's, bands & singers, keep your eye on the events section of the website as they start announcing the 2014 line-up in June/July. Airline deals, hotel packages and host hotel info can be found at www.womenfest.com  

Review by Denise Warner-Gregory
Listen to Denise on My Lesbian Radio
 

Changes afoot for The Lesbian Lounge @ MyLesbianRadio.com

If you've listened to the "Lesbian Lounge" podcast from October 2nd, you'll already know this, but for those of you who haven't yet tuned in, Denise and Donna made a major announcement on the show, "We'll now be a direct-to-podcast show," they explained, citing the big "T's"- technology & timing as the main reasons. 

If you are familiar with "The Lesbian Lounge" you'll know that for the last 8 years, Denise and Donna hosted a weekly, live-streaming internet radio show from MyLesbianRadio.com every Wednesday night with an unwavering commitment to their live listening audience, very rarely missing a date over the years. 

"Schedules, time differences, day jobs...LIFE...and technology has finally beaten us down," they joked. But, in all seriousness, it was a difficult decision for the girls to make, knowing that being a live streaming show is what has set them apart from other shows you can find online. 

With heart felt thanks to the live listeners who made Wednesday nights such a good time over the years, the ladies bid adieu to the live broadcast days and are focusing on the positive. "We really aren't going anywhere, we'll still be in your ears constantly because we have a bunch of new stuff coming your way, as well as your ol' stand by, The Lesbian Lounge," says Denise. 

The girls will record "Lesbian Lounge" shows on a more limited basis, but with the same helpful, informative and explosively funny, raw format as they always have. "Just because we're going to record the show, it doesn't mean we're editing out anything, so if we fall off a chair, you'll hear it, if we spit soda out of our noses from laughing, you'll still hear it," says Denise. 

In addition to the "Lesbian Lounge",  the MyLesbianRadio.com team in conjunction with ReallyWow Productions, LLC. will be producing some new podcasts with exclusive, extended interviews with some familiar LGBT famous face as well as a variety of new content including book chats with some of our favourite authors, conversations with great indie bands & performers from all over the globe, a multi-part series on the making of an indie film with it's writer, Shiralyn Lee plus special spotlights on creative projects happening from all kinds of international LGBT artists including comedians, singers, actors, directors, producers, authors, bloggers. 

As usual, you can find Denise hosting at many different local gay & lesbian events throughout the UK, and Donna's familiar face at tons of LGBT events in South Florida. 

For interviews & bookings, please contact Denise (denisew@mylesbianradio.com) 

Planet London's interview with Denise & Donna: http://bit.ly/14YcYOY

"Exciting times ahead so stick with us!"- Now is the time to subscribe to the iTunes or Podbean feed so you don't miss anything! 

• iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/lesbian-lounge/id417672606?mt=2 
• or from Podbean: www.mylesbianradio.podbean.com 

 

Big Gay Lifestyle Show 2012 - Planet London brings the community together

VISIT PLANET LONDON AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, BUSINESSES AND GROUPS AT THE UK'S BIGGEST INDOOR LGBT LIFESTYLE EVENT

Free entry, Saturday 20 October

In a move to make sure the exhibitors at the event fully reflects lifestyle for lesbian and bi women, Planet London has arranged for a community stall to ensure the events, businesses, DJs and groups we support have a chance to talk to the lesbians and bi women of London face to face.

So far over 20 businesses, event organisers, DJs and groups have signed up to make sure that the lifestyle element of the website truly reflects what women want. 

Confirmed participants so far include (more to follow):

• My Lesbian Radio
• Scene Nomad
• Blue Monday
• Bar Wotever
• Broken Rainbow
• London Friend
• Hailstone Media
• Elysion Events
• GayGirl Net
• L Fest
• LGBTq Clinic
• Lez is More
• The Glass Bar
• Pace
• Safe Zone
• Van Girls

This year's event:

This year's event promises to be bigger and better than last year.  Taking place in the same venue but with a new format and many additions, this looks like the place to be to celebrate the LGBT lifestyle. 

Last year saw a number of exhibitors aiming to capture the LGBT market, alongside a good range of LGBT comedians and musicians on the stage.

This year, the exhibition is broken down into zones covering most aspects of life... family, health, beauty, community and charities, arts and literature, a fun and games zone, and an expert zone with legal and health experts. The exhibition side is complemented by a number of performers - musicians and comedians and following the day time there are a number of after parties.

Full details from the BGLS 

Read our review from the 2011 BGLS