Ladyfest Melbourne 2009

Ladyfest Melbourne 18-22 Nov is the biggest girl festival happening in

Australia this year.

If you're into bands and solo performances, this 5-day event is for you, showcasing the creative talents of women.

The festival is representing independent lesbian and queer female bands and artists performing original work.

Hear and see an acoustic showcase, a rock marathon, an art exhibition, and an electro show. Don't miss the closing night party featuring DJs and more performances.

For full program details and lineups, visit mysapce.com/ladyfestmelbourne. For accommodation help and other news about Melbourne and beyond in Victoria, visit the new destination for gay Australia RainbowTourism.com.au.

Out and Loud Choral Festival is for Australian and New Zealand gay and lesbian choristers but we welcome any gay and lesbian chorister from anywhere in the world.

Held every 3-4 years in different NZ or Australian cities, the Auckland festival in Easter 2010 offers workshops from the Auckland choral glitterati and finishes with a gala concert in the Auckland Town Hall. Individual choirs sing two pieces each and join together as a 200 voice massed choir singing a world premiere by David Hamilton for massed choir and organ conducted by Dr Karen Grylls.

2-4 April 2010 Auckland New Zealand www.outandloud.org

Built Like a Woman: The story behind Almond Hill Bed and Breakfast

A recent guest's comment says it all: "The best spot in South Australia."

Where's Angaston and this charming rustic B&B? Just 70 minutes by car from Adelaide smack in the middle of Barossa Valley.

I'm up for a relaxing getaway after the FEAST celebrations next month, and wine country is high on my list. I can't wait to meet Sandra Broman, owner, builder, writer and artist. (Built Like A Woman. The Feminist Bookshop in Sydney mails out copies anywhere in the world.)

I can imagine myself here...heated glassed-in verandah, telescope for amazing views, bottle of local wine (McLaren Vale shiraz, no other), bowl of almonds, and rugged up with a goosedown quilt.

I'm tempted to take a beginner's Argentinean tango lesson while I'm there with the "On My Own Special."

Women's Gatherings in OZ

Women Wanted.

The Big Lesbian Escape is 16-18 Oct. in QLD at Horizon's gay-owned accommodation at Peregian Beach. It's a pool/dance party and so much more, brought to you by City Lickers.

The event has a - surprise, surprise - L Word theme, and a weekend on the Sunshine Coast might just be your type of escape weekend!

Wild West Weekend

Girls Own Adventures is hosting this weekend of fun, golf, tennis and parties in Kangaroo Valley from 6-8 Nov. Lots of prizes, too. Join us at Kangaroo Valley (in New South Wales) for the 11th year of this great annual event, Australia’s original lesbian golf competition and Women’s Weekend! Sells out every year, so book now.

Salamanca Market in a Day

Favorite shopping experience for lesbian visitors. Food, arts and crafts, music all outdoors.

SWEET & WILD RAINBOW AFRICAN SAFARIS Offer Kenyan Trip

Press Release

Wild Rainbow African Safaris' owner Jody Cole has teamed up with Sweet, the new lesbian travel adventure company, in offering a special price on their first joint venture, a "Sweet Kenyan Safari" set for February 7-16, 2009. The new price of $5995 per person (based on double occupancy) makes the Sweet safari the best deal for women who like to travel in luxury with a touch of adventure. Sweet prides itself on providing lesbian clients with eco-friendly travel and "voluntour excursions" which give their clients the chance to support local non-profits, including animal sanctuaries, schools and clinics, while learning about the culture of the countries they visit. Wild Rainbow African Safari, in turn, believes in eco-friendly travel and includes a giving back component to every safari they offer.

Connecting Women with the Wild Wild Rainbow African Safaris has been providing adventure safaris for the GLBT traveler for over five years, bringing both men and women to Sub-Saharan Africa with their own personal guide, Jody Cole. When Sweet founders Jen Rainin and Shannon Wentworth met Jody at a charity fundraiser, it was inevitable that a "Sweet Safari" would become one of the flagship offerings of this new travel company. By offering this luxury safari at a price well below what other travel companies are offering for comparable tours, Sweet and Wild Rainbow African Safaris believes this initial safari offering will set a new standard for affordable, eco-friendly lesbian travel. More and more, women are looking to find meaning in the things they do and the things they spend their money on. Both Sweet and Wild Rainbow African Safaris share the philosophy of wanting to help magnify that meaning for our guests and find ways to have fun doing it.

PS This trip gets a Rainbow Tourism Recommended star. Sweet, Rainbow Safaris and Rainbow Tourism are all members of IGLTA, and tours offerings are great. Leave me a comment if you've taken one of their trips and have thoughts to share with women who travel the world. -Rainbow Concierge Dee

London bound? Join Pink Ladies Club for safe cabs & more

I stumbled upon this when reading my daily smart marketing brief; who knew I'd find something so obviously lesbian/women-welcoming! The bloke author used Pink Ladies as case in point of target marketing. Don't know if he fully got the club and its benefits, but women who travel the world sure do...

"In London alone an average of 10 women a month are attacked after getting into a cab. A company called Pink Ladies, a women-only cab service in the UK, is solving that problem for women. Booking is done over the phone, and a text message is sent to the customer to let her know the vehicle is approaching, which means she doesn't have to wait outside. Drivers are trained in self-defense and will wait outside a customer's home after a drop-off to ensure she gets in safely." ...

PS Take a look at this clever club, full of travel discounts, trips and services for visitors and locals. I think it's a grand idea worth franchising. How about you? Leave me a comment. -Rainbow Concierge Dee