Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Well, it's starting to get hot. Unless you are at the beach.

It has been very quiet here lately. Everyone is telling me how expensive the flights are. All the hotels are struggling. Went to the Caribe Colonial and they told me they had a total of 9 people. Spoke with someone I know who works at the Jaragua and he told me they were just 20% full. So, for those who don't like a lot of people here, now is the time to come down for a visit. All that said, Punta Cana is still kicking ass with occupancy rates in the upper 80's, low 90's.

Memorial Day weekend is the next time where there is an influx of tourists visiting Santo Domingo. Many of my friends are coming for a visit and I can't wait. David Lee is getting things together at the Sports Bar, in anticipation of the tourist onslaught. Make sure to checkout David's website for the latest happenings for Memorial Weekend. With so many things going on in Washington, D.C., Miami and Puerto Rico over Memorial Weekend, I'm always amazed at the crowd that still comes here. Just while typing this entry I have gotten 3 more airport pick-up requests. Come on down!!!!

Now, here comes the difficult part. I have gotten several emails asking me about "Cabarete Gay Pride." I had been hesitant to address this issue because there is a former employee of mine who seems to be a part of it. There are still some questions as to exactly who is behind this, so I don't want to say that it is a scam, or anything like that, but unfortunately some questions have been raised. My former employee works for the new gay resort in Cabarete (we are trying to confirm if he still works there). In his new capacity, he contacted one of the guesthouses here to come down to work out an agreement so that they could send each other business. A couple of weeks ago he comes to stay at the guesthouse as a comp guest. He brings his "boyfriend" with him and so far, so good. I won't get into all the particulars, as I'm sure the owners of the guesthouse will be addressing it soon, but to make a long-story short, at about 4:30am they are awakened by their security guard to tell them there is a problem in one of the rooms. It seems that my former employee and his boyfriend were involved in a huge fight. His nose is broken and there is blood all over the room. The police are called and as you can imagine, it was not a pretty scene. Now, does this mean that "Cabarete Gay Pride" is not a legitimate enterprise? No. But, it does give one pause if this individual is involved. As I said, the guesthouse owners will be addressing this further in their blog.

Looking for a job in the DR? Click here. (Thanks Mario)

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG!!! It is quite large, isn't it? Speaking of holidays, does anyone know when the Festival del Merengue is this year? I know that it's in July, but what dates? Please, inquiring minds need to make travel plans. Anthony?
From Puerto Rico,
Rafael

Santo Domingo Colonial Zone Apts said...

yes, model. dammit!

LOL

Anonymous said...

Ohhhh Yesssssss! Nice, strong, black man butt. Nothin wrong with a thick Brotha!

The Byron said...

I hope you will be staying with us, Rafel.

Anonymous said...

If you really read that CabaretePride site you spend more time in Santo Domingo or Santiago or Puerto Plata (and on buses at night going between these locations) that you might not even get to see Cabarete. I would find that vacation hectic and not relaxing at all. As far the former employee...do not give out credit card numbers and personal information for anything. I had extra charges from the last place I stayed at and it wasn't just a few dollars it was hundreds. Be Wise and stay away for any business with this individual.

Anonymous said...

Drama Republic indeed! I propose a new soap opera for the Logo channel. Anthony you should write it and I'll produce it. I am serious it would be a hoot! Any suggestions for titles?

Santo Domingo Colonial Zone Apts said...

A series on Logo? Shot right here on the streets of the Colonial Zone?

The possibilities ...

Anonymous said...

More suggestions for the series:
My Bugarons Keeper...
Underground Santo Domingo....
Tengo mucho problemas....
Hell In Paradise....
Paradise In Hell....
The Buggie Zone....
He works easy for the money....

Anonymous said...

the guy on the cabarete pride site isn't even dominican...he's a brazilian porn star name joao pauzoa from kristen bjorn movies. his site is joao pauzoa. couldnt they even use a pic of a dominican model, there are so many!

John K said...

I just read that job posting, and it looks like the Department of State includes "sexual orientation" in its non-discrimination language, which surprised me, because of the Bush administration's overt homophobic actions over the last 6 years, so I wonder if this is a relic of the Clinton administration. Either way, it's good to see those words alongside the others, like "race, religion," etc.

Nena Nuyorican said...

Anthony, please tell your "model"damnit..that his new jeva/mami/chula/esposa will come to see his big culo~and HIM soon!
Yea, the AA tickets to SDQ are way over $450.00.....!
I got elected as head union delegate, so many I can try and swing a few extra days off...i'm looking into IT!
OK now...i said "head" union delegate...now i'm sure some will run with that, hahahaha!!!!
xox!

Nena Nuyorican said...

DR series "Desperate locas"~!
haahahha all in fun now all in fun!
no offense gang!

Nena Nuyorican said...

ohhh for those who are not familar with the term "loca"...while it means crazy in spanish...it's an old term used for "gays" of all types in the hispanic community....at times it's used in jest, a term of endearment,etc and some attempt to use it as a put down..
BY NO MEANS, did I use "locas" as a put down to my brothas and sistahs, "mi locas" ;-)~~

Anonymous said...

How about a game show? Bugarones vs. Patos...Coqui can be the Host of the show and run it on the most Popular Dominican Station. Since no one there would like the "The Learning Channel" I bet the whole country would tune in (and many of us would get satellite dishes) just to see Coqui's outfits and the debates between the two teams...Kind of a modern "Family Feud" Dominican Style!

T-D Moderator said...

Hey, watch it Mario!!!! LOL I have friends in Oklahoma.

Anonymous said...

I don’t understand why no one could come up with a name, it’s been bothering me! Could this individual be John from the old Monaga? But he was such a nice guy!

Anonymous said...

your so lucky if you get your tickets for 450.00$ or less because we have been way over that for years, no other choice so feel blessed not upset.I fine all this so much fun and amusing, kep up the good work guy's

Anonymous said...

I got my ticket for $69.00 each way from Fort Laurdale but the taxes were over $100.00.Try Sprit Airline they are always having specials.

Anonymous said...

I stayed at a so called gay resort on samama 2 yrs a go. It was in el limon and called cayo el limon. It was a nice resort but rather small. Anyway I believe it was managed by the shady person Anthony mentioned. I foget his name but this person spent quite a few years in nyc and was tall. I only mention this because my credit card was billed 2 times the cost of agreed upon price. Stay far away from this shister!

Anonymous said...

Hi, all. This is Byron from Hotel Arcos in Cabarete. The aforementioned neerdowell was working for me here, but after the events at Casa New Yorker I sacked him. He is now carrying out a hate campaign against mne. He has gone down the road and convinced a failing neigbour to let him run his hotel, which he now called Cabarete Colors. The Cabarete Gay Pride is a non existent event, and frankly I feel sorry for my neighbour for being duped. We now have three hotels here. Hotel Arcos, La Plantacion and Isla Verde. Please see www.fonthot.com. Anthony, I have been trying to get in touch with you about all this, but ofcourse, your monaga email no longer works, and I have only now been able to find your blog on a google search.
Another interesting footnote about THAT person, we recently got a visit from an inspector of the ministry of commerce and economy, saying they had received a complaint about our hotel from non other than THAT person. He acused us of taking and selling drugs (which is ironic because that was one of the many reasons we sacked him for), holding nude parties by our pool (when I told the neighbours about this accusation they said 'oo, whens the next one?'), that I have a secret second passport for illegal activities (it seems he found a scan of my old passport on my computer when he was working here and copied it), and above all that we are a GAY hotel. Aparently, that's illegal here in this country. Fortunately, during Semana Santa weekend one guy turned up with some straight friends and they stayed here, so that proves that we don't break the law on being prejudiced on sexual orientation by turning away straight money. Oh, yes, he also accused us of unfair competition by throwing better parties than his and drawing away people who might want to visit his hotel. Erm, not hard to do. Anyway, the inspector was satisfied with our answers and went down the road to get the complainant's side of the story. He pretended not to be in. We told him he was in because we saw him pass by. While the inspector was there he noticed a number of illegal Haitian employees there, and scampered back to Santo Domingo to make his report. I think that's called Blowback. Hopefully that means Cabarete Colors won't be around for much longer.