Author: Jake Hook

What’s the best way to get from JFK to Manhattan?

If you’re flying into New York’s JFK airport, there are a few options on how you can get to Manhattan Island, both Downtown and Midtown. But there’s one way that’s super cheap and really doesn’t take any longer than a cab ride or airport shuttle.

JMZ Train, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If your hotel offers a shuttle from JFK, then you should get on board that baby, but if you’re looking at getting into Manhattan on a budget the best way is by the AirTrain which runs directly out of JFK and then catch the subway to your destination. It takes just under an hour – which if you’re caught in traffic to or from the airport, which is more than likely, it could end up being a quicker option. Obviously, it won’t be as picturesque, but you’ll definitely get to people watch and save a lot of dollars.

A cab ride into midtown currently costs over $60 and once you ad tip you’re heading towards $70 – it’s not the cheap way to start off your trip. Or, you can hop on the airport shuttle bus, you’ll find them in the arrivals hall, which is $18 each – so if there’s two of you that’s $38 – plus tip if you’re feeling generous. Or you can spend under $8 and get the AirTrain, which takes around 50-60 minutes.

How to access the AirTrain at JFK.

Subway, New York City

Look for the signs for the AirTrain, you’ll need to get the one that’s heading towards Federal Circle (which is where you’ll find Airport Hotel shuttles and car rental companies and onto Howard Beach Station. This section of your travel is free, so you don’t need a ticket if you’re getting off at Federal Circle.

If you’re going downtown and Lower Manhattan you’ll need the train heading to Howard Beach. If you’re going to Midtown or Upper Manhattan you’ll the Jamaica Station.

Once you arrive at Howard Beach or Jamaica Station, you’ll need to buy your ticket to leave the station and to get your onward travel to Lower Manhatten. Go to the ticket machine and buy a travelcard.

How much does the AirTrain cost from JFK to Manhattan?

It will cost $5 for the AirTrain (which you’ve just travelled on) and $2.75 for the connecting subway. You’ll also be charged $1 for a Metrocard, which you can refill and reuse each time you use the subway, so don’t throw it away.

Once you’ve cleared the gates at Howard Beach or Jamaica, head to the platform which has trains heading towards Lower Manhattan or Midtown.

At Howard Beach, you need to get onboard the A Train – on the Subway map it’s a dark blue colour. At Jamaica, you need to get the E train, it’s also dark blue in colour.

If you’re heading to Upper Manhattan you’ll need to make a change when you’re in Manhattan. Use the MTA’s TripPlanner to find the best route. Trips up to the Upper island will take another 15 minutes or so.

Where to stay in New York?

If you’re looking for hotels in Midtown we can highly recommend The Moxy, read our full review here. Otherwise, why not check all the deals on Hotels.com or Bookings.com

28th May 2018
This is why it could be taking some guys an age to climax

No two of us are the same and that’s never more so true when it comes to our pink bits and all of it works.

Why does it take some guys so long to explode? calibra / Pixabay

No doubt you’ve encountered a guy that takes an age to cum, or maybe, you are that guy, well, we’ve been chatting to a doctor to find out why it might take some guys so long to climax and why it might not always be a bad thing.

Okay, it might be a bad thing if you’re the bottom and you’re waiting for your guy to finish up, after all, there’s only so much you can take of the D before it all becomes too much (amirite?)

But don’t forget climax doesn’t have to happen in anyone’s butt. It can happen anywhere. His chest/your chest/his face/ your mouth, the options are endless really. Just don’t forget to switch it up if it all gets too much.

But why does it take some guys so long to ejaculate?

But why does it take some guys so long to ejaculate? 4924546 / Pixabay

Well, Doctor Rick Viney consultant urological surgeon at BMI The Priory and BMI Edgbaston hospitals in Birmingham suggests that it’s mostly in the mind rather than physical. He tells us, “Being very aroused will see you cum quickly, being distracted can see you fail to get there all together”.

So is it all down to distraction? No, Viney goes on to suggest that some guys might be trying to actually delay their climax – a bit like edging, but for their partner’s benefit, but if this isn’t working for you, remember communication is the key to practically everything.

Dr Viney also suggests that delayed ejaculation could be happening as a side effect of certain drugs.

He explains, “If the guy is using Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis this will make for great erections but can inhibit climax, making it much harder to cum. If you want staying power, this could be seen as an advantage”.

23rd May 2018
11 ways you can help a friend struggling to cope

When a friend is in need, it can be hard to know how to react, here are some tips to help you listen and help a friend in need.

MabelAmber / Pixabay 11 ways you can help a friend struggling to cope

1) Ask if everything is okay

“How are you feeling?” Sometimes someone just needs to be asked if they are okay. Asking a simple, “how do you feel?” will let the other person know you are open to chat.

2) Just listen

If your friend starts to talk, let them speak. Don’t interrupt in the first few minutes. If you’re confused about the timeline or the people involved, circle back round to it in your repeat back.

3) Repeat back

Let your friend know that you’ve been listening by repeating back some of what they’ve said to you. In a way, it can help you summarise what you’ve heard. If you’re unclear on something here is where you can explore.

4) Ask open questions

Don’t shut the conversation down by asking a closed question. These are questions that can be answered with a “Yes” or a “No”. Instead look for open questions which will allow someone to open up and talk. They usually begin with “How”, “Why”, “What”. Closed questions begin with: “Is…”, “Can…”, “Did…” and “Are…”

5) Verbal nods

When someone is talking and sharing with you, you’ll want to show that you’re actively listening. You can do this with verbal nods, which are affirmative sounds, like “yes”, “okay” or “I hear you”.

6) Use their language

Sometimes people struggle with the right terminology or words to express themselves. Echo some of the words that stick out to you. It can act as a way of letting someone explain the way they feel more fully.

7) Don’t judge

It can be difficult not to judge someone and their actions based on what you think you’d do in the same situation. But you’re not in their situation so your judgement is pretty irrelevant here. Just listen. This is a really good moment to check how you’re sounding and talking. How is your tone of voice?

8) Don’t make it about you

Be there for your friend, so let them have this moment. Let them get everything they need to off their chest.

9) Don’t tell someone that you “get it” or “I know you feel”.

The likelihood is that you don’t or won’t. Unless you’ve been in exactly the same situation you won’t know what they’re going through. Even if you have been through something similar to your friend, you are both very different people and will deal with situations differently. It’s best to say something like, “I hear you”, “I understand what you’re saying”.

10) Don’t try and fix it

This can be really tough because you might feel like you’ve got the answer, but it’s always best to let people work out their own answers that will work with their circumstances. Also, how often do people really take advice – especially when it isn’t asked for… never. So ask your friend what they think the solution is and then repeat steps 3 to 9.

11) Speak to a stranger

Suggest that they call the Samaritans or Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline. Speaking to a stranger or someone on the end of a phone, who isn’t connected to them in any way can be a way in which your friend might feel more comfortable sharing their problems with. Samaritan’s phone number is: 116 123 or Switchboard is: 0330 330 0630.

17th May 2018
7 reasons why you should start wearing boxers again

For a while, the traditional boxer reigned supreme. Then tighter, more restrictive undies began to flood the market.

Reasons why you need to rediscover boxers

Surely restriction is the exact opposite of what is truly needed for that area of the body. So here are seven reasons why you should reconsider the humble boxer.

1) Let the air circulate

Letting the air get to your pecker can only be a good thing and the problem with briefs or boxers is that they are generally tight. Tight underwear means sweaty bits. Sweaty bits mean rashes, nasty smells and even crotch rot. It’s not pleasant. Boxers allow for a little extra room and a little extra breathing space.

Don’t forget about your fertility. Sperm production is decreased when the balls are hot. It’s why they’re outside of your body and hang low when you’re warm and all but disappear when you’re cold. Keeping them unrestricted and slightly cooler especially if you’re planning to be a sperm donor or biological father could get you better sperm production outcomes.

2) Let the creativity run free

Briefs, trunks and boxer briefs are quite boring let’s face it. Generally, they come in two colours. Black or white. If you’re lucky you might get a grey. Life is a rainbow, your undies should reflect that. Underwear company, McAlson have created a vibrant set of boxers. From more conservative shades to splashes of colour to suit every wardrobe.

3) You can still get cuppage

How do you stop ball slippage when wearing boxers? One of the biggest moans about boxers is the lack of support for your joystick and the family jewels. When the coconuts make a break for freedom from your boxers what can you do? McAlson has an insider trick, quite literally and it’s going to revolutionise your boxer experience. They’ve included a 100 percent cotton invisible support. It combines the looks of a traditional boxer, but the supporting feeling of a brief. It’s actually ingenious.

Reasons why you need to rediscover boxers

4) Just as sexy, maybe even more so

Sometimes, more is best. With briefs or boxer briefs you see it all. The tight material can reveal the outline of your Lil Buddy when maybe what you want is a little more mystique. Let’s face it, there’s no great reveal with a brief. Because boxers are just that little bit baggier, the mystery continues until the full reveal.

5) For all sizes

It doesn’t matter if you have a Washington Monument or a bean sprout, boxers are incredibly accommodating. Boxers are for every size and every man.

6) Muffin top be gone

Thanks to an elasticized waistband you’re less likely to get the dreaded muffin top effect, you’re likely to get with briefs. A better fitting waistband means you’ll get a much more flattering silhouette leaving your bulges to exactly where they should be. Plus how great not to be marked by the clothes you wear.

Boxers by McAlson

7) Less of a fumble

When it comes to toilet time, the less time you spend fumbling around at the urinal the better. Especially if you’re at a service station. Some briefs and boxer briefs are near on impossible to fish out the little guy. Some have horizontal openings, some have multiple layers of fabric to get through. With boxers, you have a simple centre opening, with buttons. It couldn’t really be simpler.

This article was produced in-house by THEGAYUK.com editorial team for McAlson

17th May 2018
HOTEL REVIEW | Moxy Times Square

Unashamedly hip, effortlessly cool, functionally beautiful.

Moxy Times Square in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan

Overview | The Room | The People | The Location | The Gay Scene | The Verdict

If you’re a Manhattan novice, or even if you’re not, you’ll probably want to stay close to Times Square. The hip and the cool amongst us will tell you that you need to stay on the lower west side where you’ll find the meatpacking district, Chelsea Greenwich but the newly opened Moxy, brings that effortlessly cool vibe right to Times Square’s backyard.

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16th May 2018
What is ghosting and why does it happen?

This brave new world of ours is full of terms and acronyms, but what does Ghosting mean?

In a world where there’s an acronym or term for everything, Ghosting is where a guy you’ve been chatting to on an app, or even have hooked up with, simply doesn’t return your messages or calls. Not even a tag…

That’s right, you’ve put in the time, even gone to dinner and then, without explanation he’s gone into the night, like a ghost. Never to be heard of again.

Bastard.

pedrofigueras / Pixabay What is ghosting?

Why does ghosting happen?

There could be a number of reasons why a guy might suddenly stop messaging you. Perhaps he wasn’t totally up front with you about his personal circumstances, he could be married or in another relationship.

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It could be something you said that really offended him or it could be that he said something that totally embarrassed him, and he’s too ashamed to speak to you again.

Where can ghosting happen?

The crazy thing about ghosting is that it can happen IRL and virtually. You can be ghosted on dating apps or on social media. On Grindr, we’ve found that ghosting is quite common. In a recent survey, we found that 88% of Grindr users had said that they had been ghosted on the app.

StockSnap / Pixabay

If he’s gone off social media or his dating profile is no longer active, then something even more final could have happened. The problem is that you’ll never know.

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The best thing is to be happy for the time you had together and move on. Don’t live in the past, look to the future.

Is Ghosting the same as Zombie-ing?

Although they are linked, Ghosting and Zombie-ing are different. Zombie-ing is where your ghost, the one that you thought you’d never hear from again, suddenly comes back to life and starts wanting to hang out again. Let’s face it Zombie’s and Ghosts should be ignored and your attention should be focused on the land of the living.

15th May 2018
In defence of gay hotels and resorts

Our editor in chief, Jake Hook looks at why gay resorts and hotels are still necessary in 2018.

I’ve just come back off holiday – and while I battle the post-holiday, aeroplane lurgy, I can’t help thinking that one of the most memorial moments of the holiday was our 2 days in a gay-only hotel.

There was a time when the idea of choosing a “gay hotel” as a place to vacay was totally off the cards. Why would I want to segregate myself from the rest of society? Why would I want to just limit myself to “gay conversations”? And anyway, aren’t guys who go to gay resorts just after one thing?

Perhaps some of them are. But here’s what I learned from my stay at Key West’s The Equator Resort, in Florida.

Not everyone who’s at the resort is looking for sex

Okay, some are. Whacking on your Grindr will identify those around you who are looking for something a little more than a suntan, but there aren’t people actively pursuing you around the pool. Guys are there to chill, check out the sights, get to know new people and generally hang out in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes

My historical success with nudity is somewhat patchy, but what I learned from this stay was that us gay men come in all shapes, colours, sizes and well dick sizes – and it’s all good. Yes, even I may have slipped off my trunks in the pool.
Even better, however, is that seeing all those bodies really helped me tackle my own body insecurities. Seeing others in the altogether help me reevaluate my relationship with my love handles.

There’s no heteronormativity

We live in a world where 99.9 percent of everything is geared towards heterosexual couples and gender binaries. Hanging about with other guys who identify as gay or bisexual, makes being gay at the front and centre. Gay literally becomes the norm at a gay resort.

You don’t have to watch what you say

You probably realise that there aren’t many subjects that are off limits when you hang around with other gay guys. Everything goes: anal to sunscreen, hooking up to the best restaurant in town to coming out. Honestly, my conversations were so varied.

There are no screaming kids

There is nothing worse than seeing that the expensive resort you’ve booked has a “kids’ zone” or “kids’ pool”. I don’t want to spend my holiday listening to screaming, whining kids. I can whine enough for anybody. I simply don’t need the competition. Sorry, not sorry.

Lifelong friends

I’ve been on a gay cruise and stayed at two gay resorts, every time making new friendships that have lasted. The moment you arrive, there’s always someone to talk to, get to know – and you know, if it feels right to take things further.

Here’s to gay stays and long may they last.

Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

13th May 2018
Will having anal sex cause anal cancer?

Nothing makes us happier than healthy bottoms… So here’s what you need to know about anal sex and what might cause it.

Healthy bottoms are happy bottoms

Anal cancer, although rare, is still a killer disease if it’s not caught in time, but the act of anal sex will not cause cancer, Dr Rick Viney, consultant urological surgeon at BMI The Priory and BMI Edgbaston hospitals in Birmingham told us.

In fact, less than 1200 people are diagnosed with anal cancer in the UK every year.

Apparently what you need to look out for is for the transmission of HPV, the virus responsible for genital warts. “The virus responsible for genital warts (HPV) can ultimately lead to the development of a type of anal, penile, cervical and oral cancers called squamous cancer, Rick warns.

HPV is the name for a group of viruses that affect the skin and moist membranes lining the body such as the cervix, anus, mouth and throat. HPV infections are highly contagious when transmitted sexually.

Some strains of the HPV virus can cause genital warts, and cancers of the anus, penis, mouth and throat. In some cases, it can also cause head and neck cancer.

In the UK, teenage girls are offered the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. There is no plan to vaccinate teenage boys. However, in 2016, 40,000 gay and bisexual men were offered the HPV vaccine to ward against contracting HPV.

What else can cause anal cancer? Well the NHS website suggests that smoking can be a cause and having a weakened immune system, for example, if you have HIV could also be a cause. For women, cancer history also plays a part. If you’ve had cervical, vaginal or vulval cancer could be cause for concern.

What are the symptoms of anal cancer?

Symptoms for anal cancer are very similar to other, less serious conditions. If you’re worried about your bottom’s health, go see a doctor.

Anal cancer can be symptomless and the symptoms that can occur can be similar to less serious conditions like piles and anal fissures.

According to the NHS website, these include: bleeding from the anus, an itchy or painful bottom, small lumps around the anus, a mucus discharge or loss of bowel control.

If you have any concerns, as always, we suggest you consult your doctor.

9th May 2018
TV Presenter Dale Winton dies, 62

One of Britain’s best loved TV Presenters, Dale Winton has died at the age of 62.

The TV presenter, Dale Winton has died, from an, as of yet unconfirmed reason at the age of 62.

The TV presenter, Dale Winton has died, from an, as of yet unconfirmed reason at the age of 62. He had recently returned to our small screens on his show, Dale Winton’s Florida Fly Drive.

In a statement, his long-term agent Jan Kennedy said that he had died at his home earlier on Wednesday.

Dale Winton is probably most famous for his stint as a daytime telly presenter. The programme, Dale’s Supermarket Sweep catapulted him to fame in the early to mid-1990s. The show ran from 1993 to 2007. After the programme ended he also presented, In It To Win It and Hole in The Wall. He’s also worked in radio and has appeared in various charity TV shows.

Dale Winton came out as gay in his 2002 autobiography My Story. In the book, he revealed that he never told his mum that he was gay before she died from suicide, which it has been said is something that he regretted. Although he is gay, he’s not open about his relationship status. It is known that a break up of a relationship did cause him to suffer from long-term depression.

Kennedy said, “While we know many will share this terrible loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time of grief.”

She did not give details on the cause of death.

19th April 2018
The biggest selling singles by a British gay artist

The Brits are here, queer and releasing music by the millions…

Which gay British artist has sold the most records?

From Sam Smith to Elton, Freddie Mercury to Will Young but which are the biggest sellers? We collated this list from available sales figures available online. Actual sales figures may be higher or lower than printed here.

Joe McElderry <1 million

X Factor’s Joe’s debut single, a version of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” went on to sell over 800,000 copies in the UK. Like another constituent of this list, Joe’s sexuality was unknown during his time on the talent show which made him famous.

Pet Shop Boys 1 million (at least)

“Always On My Mind” ending up selling over 1 million records for LGBT+ identifying duo Pet Shop Boys. It’s the biggest selling single of their career.

Callum Scott 1.363 million

Relatively unknown and newcomer Callum Scott managed to secure a million-selling single with “Dancing On My Own”. Released in 2017.

Will Young 1.7 million

When Will won the first ever Pop Idol nobody actually knew he was gay, until the very next day when there was a huge splash across the tabloids. His debut single, “Evergreen” / “Anything Is Possible” went on to sell a huge 1.7 million records

Boy George / Culture Club 5 million

Culture Club, fronted by Boy George sold a whopping 5 million records globally with their song “Karma Chameleon”. The song was released in 1983 and became a huge disco hit for the group.

George Michael 6 million

George’s biggest selling record to date is “Careless Whisper”, which he released after splitting from WHAM! The song was a huge world-wide hit for the singer. It went to number 1 in 25 countries selling over 6 million singles. His most charted song is “Last Christmas” (2 million copies and counting) which reenters the top 10 almost every Christmas. It’s the biggest selling song to never get to number 1.

Freddie Mercury / Queen 8 million

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the biggest selling singles (and apparently the most expensive ever made) of all time and it was written by Freddie Mercury. During his life, Freddie admitted his sexuality fears to his ex-girlfriend, apparently, that he didn’t know whether he was gay or straight.

Sam Smith 8 million

Sam Smith’s is the second newest artist on our list after Calum Scott, but he’s already racked up 6 number ones, including, incredible the only number 1 song for a Bond film. The song “Stay With Me” has sold over 8 million copies (digital).

David Bowie 10 million

It’s impossible to know how exactly how many copies of “Let’s Dance” David Bowie sold, but the album with the same name sold 10 million copies when it was released in 1983, making it his best selling album and single of all time. Note: David Bowie never identified as gay, but his sexuality was often considered to be bisexual.

Elton John 33 million

The granddaddy of music, Elton John has sold millions and millions of records. His biggest-ever seller single was the 1997 tribute to Diana Princess Of Wales, “Candle In The Wind”. It apparently sold over 33 million singles. It has a double A-side – the other song was “The Way You Look Tonight”.

** UPDATE: A previous version incorrectly labelled David Bowie’s track “Let’s Dance”, “Just Dance” and has been corrected.

6th April 2018
You’ll never guess how Marc Jacobs picked up Austin Armacost

Back in the day, when Austin Armacost was an unknown model living in New York he was discovered by Marc Jacobs on a website…

In 2007, Austin Armacost and fashion designer met on a social network

Remember Myspace? Well, that’s how Austin Armacost was discovered by fashion designer Marc Jacobs before they became boyfriends for 6 months in the noughties.

Speaking to THEGAYUK.com at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in London, Celebrity Big Brother star Austin Armacost explained, “It was 2007…He wasn’t in my top 8!”

Not expecting any response from the famous designer, Austin reveals, “I sent him a message saying, “you’re a great artist, you deserve better, all the best…”

At the time Marc was going through a very public split from a previous boyfriend.

Marc Jacobs in 2007 – was going through a very public, tabloid split from an ex boyfriend.

Austin added, “I never thought that he would respond… about 9 minutes after I sent the message, he said “hey great to meet you, great to hear your words of support, do you want to come over”

So what was that first meeting like?

On his way over Austin bought himself some knock-off Louis Vuitton sunglasses, which Marc Jacobs immediately noted, after giving the password “Mickey Mouse” to get up to his hotel suite.

Marc Jacobs more recently.

The pair went out to dinner and when they returned to the fashion icon’s hotel room, there were $10,000’s worth of Louis Vuitton men’s collection sunglasses that he had bought Austin to take home with him.

The pair were seen as boyfriends for around six months and Austin went on to star in the reality TV Series, The A-List: New York.

6th April 2018