Whether you celebrate that mid-February day as the holiday of romance or celebrate being liberated from a relationship, here are just a few ideas about what you can do this month with your significant other, friends or maybe even Mom or Dad. Shake off any blues you might have, and go out and have fun, regardless of the reason for the celebration.
Here are a few suggestions on doing something perhaps a bit different than the typical restaurant reservation.
Val-O-Ween
Here�s a great way to celebrate Valentine�s Day on Feb. 11 and help the AIDS Service Foundation raise money for needed services. It�s our cover this issue. Read more about this evening of entertainment in CampBiz on page 4.
Sharp�s 63rd St. Grill
Marty Junkins is always coming up with a creative way to celebrate the holidays at Sharp�s in Brookside, and Valentine�s Day has some great specials. On Saturday night, Feb. 12, they are having a Singles Party in the bar, starting at 7 p.m. On Monday, Valentine�s Day, they are offering free cheesecake and champagne in the dining room for all couples.
Sharp�s 63rd St. Grill
128 W. 63rd St.
Kansas City, Mo
816-333-4355
www.sharpsgrill.com
Bistro 303
Gene and Jeffrey are always doing something special at this Westport bar and restaurant, and I�m sure Valentine�s Day will be no different. They serve a delicious brunch on weekends and have nightly specials. Become a friend of Bistro 303 on Facebook and you�ll be up-to-date on all they�re doing. When that warm weather finally arrives, check out their patio -- it�s one of the most pleasant in town.
Bistro 303
303 Westport Rd.
Kansas City, Mo.
816-753-2303
www.bistro303kc.com
Hamburger Mary�s
This hamburger hot-spot on Southwest Boulevard has been a hit since opening in Kansas City last year, and I�m sure it will be popular on Monday night, Valentine�s Day. For those not interested in celebrating on the specific day, you might want to go to their Sunday Drag Brunch. It�s become very popular. What could be more romantic than a drag queen lip-syncing showtunes in your ear over brunch?
Hamburger Mary�s
101 Southwest Blvd.
Kansas City, Mo.
816-842-1919
www.hamburgermaryskc.com
Missie B�s
Dirty Dorothy will be hosting a Sweetheart Dance on Sunday night, Feb. 13, at the 10 p.m. show. And later that week, on Feb. 18, they will be hosting the Girl2Girl social in the upstairs bar (where they will host all monthly Girl2Girl socials in the future).
Missie B�s
805 W. 39th St.
Kansas City, Mo.
816-561-0625
www.missiebskc.com
OutABounds
For the slightly cynical among us, OutABounds is having a �Cupid�s Broken Arrow� evening on Feb. 14. (They serve great food, so I�m sure the romantic diners can still find a nice meal there that night.) On their Facebook page, they say, �Come on down to Outabounds for the overly commercialized, unimaginative, poor definition of a romance day. Happy hour from 4-7 with $2 wells. $3 mini pitchers all night long. Specialty drinks: He Loves Me Not, Cupid�s Broken Arrow. Specialty shot: Love Stinks. Wear all black (from stem to stern) and get a free shot (bartender�s choice). Why are we having this event? Because my knight in shining armor turned out to be a loser in aluminum foil.�
OutABounds
3601 Broadway
Kansas City, Mo.
816-756-2577
facebook.com/outabounds
Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates
If you haven�t been to this locally owned, exquisite chocolate boutique, you�re in for a real treat. Their chocolates are not only delicious -- they are also works of art in terms of design. They have special Valentine�s day assortments of chocolates that will be sure to impress your significant other. And if hot chocolate on a cold winter day sounds good, you have to try their European-inspired �Drinking Chocolates.� You can find more information at www.elbowchocolates.com or make your purchase at these two local locations.
Christopher Elbow Chocolates
1819 McGee St.
Kansas City, Mo.
816-842-1300
Au Marche
931 Massachusetts St.
Lawrence, Kan.
877-386-5551
Studio Dan Meiner
This beautiful floral and gift shop has been an institution in Kansas City since 1993. Last year it moved into a new, much larger building that also includes a great event space. Their floral arrangements are truly unique, and they also have some great prices on beautiful orchids, if you�d like some floral beauty you can enjoy all winter long.
Studio Dan Meiner
2500 W. Pennway
Kansas City, Mo.
816-842-7244
www.danmeiners.com/
Magnetic Valley Resort
This men�s resort in Eureka Springs, Ark., is a great place to spend time around the private pool when the weather�s nice. But it�s also a great weekend getaway in the off-season if you don�t care about sunning, and you benefit from great winter rates. For their winter special, through March 15, all rooms are 25 percent off. This one�s good for celebrating both Valentine�s Day and Mardi Gras.
Magnetic Valley Resort
597 Magnetic Rd.
Eureka Springs, Ark.
888-210-8401
www.magneticvalleyresort.com
And while you�re at it, help Eureka Springs, our gay mecca of Arkansas, reach the status of one of �America�s Coolest Small Towns.� It�s a city where you can walk hand in hand with your partner down the main streets, with lots of LGBT-owned businesses, and it�s the home of Diversity Weekends throughout the year. You can vote at this link, and by the way, Greensburg, Kan., where the tornado struck in 2007, is one of the 20 cities spotlighted on this map as well.
www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/coolestsmalltowns/CST2011.html
The Elms in Excelsior SpringsLove Birds Getaway Package
The Elms Resort is a lovely historic hotel, and it�s now in its current third incarnation since 1912. It�s a beautiful resort with great food, spas and other amenities. They have a Love Birds Getaway special through February. The booking date was to expire in January, but they have extended it for Camp readers on this package through the end of February if you mention �Camp� when making your reservation. The package includes an overnight stay and a 45-minute Love Birds Couples Massage.
The Elms
401 Regent St.
Excelsior Springs, Mo.
816-630-5500
1-800-THE ELMS
www.ElmsResort.com
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.