Tag Archives: amsterdam

Awesome: Amsterdam’s Gay Bride Wedding Fair

Leonora EpsteinFebruary 11, 2010 //

The United States could really learn a few lessons from Holland. For starters, they’re all about being eco-conscious—everyone rides a bike, and no one even thinks about going to the grocery store without their reusable totes. Health care. Legalized drugs. And clogs are totally coming back in style. Of course, the Netherlands was also the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. As a result, its citizens have the opportunity to attend awesome events like the Amsterdam Gay Bride Wedding Fair (appropriately happening on Valentine’s Day), where tons of vendors will come to exhibit their wedding wares. It gets better: The event opens with a number by the cast of “Mamma Mia” and attendees get to walk away with a “Gay Bride goodie bag.” So … can we go? [I amsterdam] Keep reading »

The Frisky Guidebook: The Venice Of The North

Leonora EpsteinAugust 28, 2009 //

It was only a matter of time before we covered a city famous for sex. But Amsterdam is really less about the Red Light District and coffee shops than it is about great Dutch architecture, trendy restaurants, and great vintage shopping. Keep reading »

Amsterdam To Bail Out Prostitutes?

Nikki DowlingJuly 8, 2009 //

Although prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, working girls still have trouble getting banks to give them credit and loans. But officials working on “Project 1012″ are trying to change all that. Under this plan, peeps are talking to banks, trying to get them to cooperate with the ladies of the night. They’re hoping that, within the next few months, prostitutes will have more access to the financial support they need. Is it just me, or does this sound a lot like a red-light district bailout? [Yahoo] Keep reading »

Bruno Opens Amsterdam’s First “Pink Light” Brothel

Annika HarrisJune 22, 2009 //

Visiting Amsterdam is a must for many college students hoping to legally smoke weed or patronize a prostitute. But the problem for some looking for good Dutch times is the exclusion of male prostitutes in the red light district. That all changed for a little while on Friday when Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen’s gay fashion reporter character alter ego, opened the first “pink light” brothel in Amsterdam ahead of the Dutch premiere of “Bruno.” “For too long, guys coming to Amsterdam from around the world have been forced to have sex with women,” Cohen said. “It gives me great pleasure to declare Amsterdam’s pink light district officially open for business.” Then, a dozen men wearing thongs stepped up to the windows of a three-story brothel. However, the men went behind the curtain once again, only to be replaced by the real red light prostitutes the moment Cohen drove away from the brothel. I guess Amsterdam will never provide guy-on-guy services under red lights. [Reuters] Keep reading »

Amsterdam Is Ridding Itself Of Sin

Catherine StrawnDecember 9, 2008 //

Amsterdam, known by many for its drugs and its brothels, is trying to clean up its image. The city council’s finance chief has a vision of people walking through Amsterdam’s China Town and the city’s old ramparts, followed by a cappuccino next to the city’s oldest church. The problem is, there isn’t a place to get a cup of coffee in the city center, because that’s the heart of Amsterdam’s red light district. Over the next 10 years, the number of prostitutes windows will be reduced by half, to about 250, and they will be concentrated on just two streets. The number of coffee shops that sell cannabis will also be halved, to 38. In their place, up-market retail chains and food purveyors. So, if you want to experience a dirtier version of Amsterdam, go now; but if you want to have a cleaner, less gritty trip, wait a few years and the prostitutes will mostly be gone. [Der Spiegel] Keep reading »

Roadtrippin’ With Lifestyles Condoms

SimchaMay 28, 2008 //

Traipsing through Europe with nothing but a briefcase of glass phalluses and a bunch of condoms, the silly and sexy team of Noah and Baron make us happy they brought along a video camera to catch all the hilarity on tape. Sent around the continent by Lifestyles condoms to talk about safe sex and cultural differences in the sack, these boys pull lovable Harold & Kumar-style hijinks as they try to cop a feel in each country. They hang off a balcony throwing condoms and telling people to go eff themselves in Amsterdam, they ask drunken Slovaks about penis size, and they get Swedes to come out of their shy shells and talk smack. The film shorts are like tagging along with your favorite guy friends from college as they try to get laid, but they’ll at least succeed at making you laugh. [Ad Freak]

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Stiletto Run: On Your Marks…Get Set…

SimchaMarch 7, 2008 //

When it comes to women and shoes, the relationship is tight. Like men, there’s no limit to the things we’ll do for the ones that look good. In homage to the pairs that keep us on our toes, 150 fashionable women raced through the streets of Amsterdam’s shopping district for the 3rd Annual Stiletto Run. And the competition was steep, with a heel requirement of at least 3½ inches high and a grand prize of $15,000. With a sprint that would make you think they were wearing sneakers, these hot to trot contestants have got a motto: “Shopping is a sport.” (If you’re at a wicked shoe sale, it can even be a blood sport.) The 380-yard race has become so popular with spectators and runners that it has spawned sister events in Germany, Russia, Poland, and Sweden, but next year America should send in a ringer: Sarah Jessica Parker. We’ve all seen the Sex and the City star make a dash for it in her Manolos! [CNEWS] Keep reading »