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I’m betting that most people haven’t had the restaurant experience that is drag dining. Lips Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is a popular spot that features drag shows such as Dinner With the Divas, where you’ll nosh with Bette Midler, Madonna and many more celebrities. Tuesday is drag karaoke, while Retro Superstar Sundays are all about glamour. There’s something going on no matter which day you stop by, although I do think they are closed on Mondays for private parties.

The menu is quite large, with everything from Surf and Turf to lasagne to quesadillas. Try the frozen cosmos, which are often on sale for something like $3. You will pay a $5 or $7 cover fee for shows (except on Tuesday and Wednesday nights), which will be added to your bill.

Lips in Florida is located at 1421 East Oak Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. For event info and menu, see their website.

Read our other post on gay and lesbian Fort Lauderdale.

The gay and lesbian Chicago bar @mosphere fits with the vibe of Andersonville: laid back, friendly and down-to-earth.

The good news is that gay and lesbian bars are growing in the North Clark St. area, and neighbourhood bars like @mosphere are becoming favourite spots to grab a drink and maybe even a date.

Like most other gay and lesbian Chicago drinking holes, this place is small. There’s a small dance floor across from the one bar, and the French doors in the front open into the street (it’s great in the summer). There are the dance club staples – drink specials, DJ’s and dancers – however, @mosphere is also offering various dance lessons, theatre group performances, piano players, and even Tea Dances. They are definitely trying to go for a more upscale spot, but without the attitude and pretentiousness that seems to affect some of the gay Chicago spots.

If you’re looking for lesbian bars in New York, let me tell you a sad story. The Cattyshack was a favourite in the Big Apple (it was previously Meow Mix Bar). It was located in Park Slope in Brooklyn, and closed earlier this year. I was surprised to hear that as it always seemed packed, and I’d heard no rumblings of a closure. On the first level were pool tables, a dance floor, and of course, a bar. If you walked up to the second floor, there was another dance spot and a bar – very necessary when things got busy on the weekends. The highlight of the Cattyshack was the outdoor patio, which offered a city view and places to sit with a cocktail on warm summer evenings.

Where to go now? You can head to Posh (405 West 51st St) – the name should really not be Posh – for some drinks and dancing. It has a friend’s-stylish-apartment feel to it, and Happy Hour is from 4-8 if you want to get your drink on for less before everyone arrives. A lot of locals and Broadway actors stop by Posh in New York, and the staff are friendly and laid back. The dance floor gets crowded on weekends.

Another favourably-reviewed haunt is Sugarland in Williamsburg (221 N. 9th St). This place has an old time saloon bar, exposed brick and low lighting, making it feel cozy and more like a neighbourhood pub than club. G Lounge in Chelsea (223 W 19th St) is also relaxed, but is way more trendy than Posh or Sugarland. There’s no cover – a definite bonus in pricey New York. Happy hour is from 4-9 on weeknights, and various nights have different things going on (DJs, electric parties) and unlike other clubs in lesbian New York, G Lounge is open and airy, not dark and divey, so if you’re thirsty for a cosmo, this is the place to get it.

It is time, once again, for the world’s largest leather event. On Sunday, September 7, from 11 am to 6 pm, check out fairgrounds packed with leather, fetish and rubber attire. A beloved annual event, the Folsom St Fair in San Francisco draws about 400,000 people. The event covers 13 city blocks, making it the largest leather party in the world.

Besides seeing people strolling around in outrageous leather garb, there will be 250 vendors, food, and entertainment, including DJ’s and a dance area.

San Francisco’s Folsom St Fair is in the South of Market district, on Folsom St between 7th and 12th Sts.

I’ve already mentioned the Luxor LGBT pool party, which was the first LGBT pool party on the Strip. Mandalay Bay – often dubbed Mandalay Gay for its attraction of same sex loving clientele – has followed suit with Splash Sundays at the South Lagoon Pool. Lay back in a cabana (book two weeks in advance, they go fast) or unwind on a lounge chair with a cocktail while you listen to DJ’s and check out the other beautiful people. The party goes from noon until 6 pm, and the cost for Mandalay Bay’s LGBT pool party is $10 for hotel guests and Las Vegas locals, or $20 for tourists.

Mandalay Bay has got to be the best pool in Las Vegas. It was actually voted just that back in 2006 (TripAdvisor.com), and has a wave pool, lazy river you can float down on inner tubes, three swimming pools, and tons of real sand. Now with the Splash Sundays, there’s really no reason not to hang out poolside, is there?