As a black gay man (US) visiting Warsaw this summer, will I get beat up for nothing?

OP Firesun 1 | 8

31 Mar 2011 / #31

HA! you're funny.

Zman

31 Mar 2011 / #32

If you want to go to gay places in Warsaw then check out (order IS intentional):

- Toro (by far the largest and busiest place in town, especially on Saturdays, may seem a bit dingy for ex-Roxy crowd (whom you may be not), however: all social classes, all races (mostly white) and nationalities, plenty of women included, perhaps faghags :-) )

- Galeria (not so quiet but no more than 100 ppl will fit in there, can be fun too occasionally)
- Glam (only if you're into under 20 crowd, but always friendly, I think)

There are some other smaller places but not too many of them. Look at gayromeo.com (Poland/Warsaw section) and perhaps you will find a guide?

Good luck with your stay in PL!

enkidu 6 | 611

31 Mar 2011 / #33

And phuck the Warsaw anyway. Everyone goes to Warszawa, Kraków or Gdańsk nowadays.
There are a lot of other lovely places in Poland.

I may serve you with some advice, but I am a kind of survival-canoeing-forest guy. I don't know much about a gay places, but You've never said that this kind of entertainment is your main reason to visit Poland. How do you feel about fishing, exploring old bunkers, good food (like Deer roast) and mushroom picking?

Or eating in places like that:

This place was established not so long ago - in 1489. And the food is more than decent. :)

grubas 12 | 1382

31 Mar 2011 / #34

The thread is a oueer drama.First of all dude, tell your your ignorant buddies to first visit the place before expressing their opinion.I understand you want to visit Warsaw and I can't imagine you being robbed or assaulted in Warsaw's downtown or any turist area because you are black and have an ipod.Like other posters said already don't be openly queer and don't ask people on the street about the nearest gay club.Google "gay clubs in Warsaw" or go to Warsawlife.com>gayWarsaw, a review from gayWarsaw:

"When in Warsaw Toro club!!! If you like to dance to great music or chill out at the downstairs bar (Vodka Specials 10zl.)this is the place.Great 2 floor club and bar off Marszalkowski street. Taxi from centrum around 30 zl. It's worth it!!"

reviewed by Joe NYC from United States on Mar.03.2009

Ignorants like your buddies really **** me off, if you venture outside downtown at night and you want you and your ipod to be 100% safe don't use a bus,use a cab instead.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

31 Mar 2011 / #35

Have you seen many gay people "strutting around" dressed like that? Where do you live; by the stage door of a Bangkok cabaret bar?

I was being ironic ( hence the hyperbole ), unfortunately your lack of brainpower prevented you from noticing :-)

I was being ironic too, but it obviously went right over your head. Does that happen to you often?

@Firesun, the list of clubs from Zman is a good one. If you're looking for a good bar as well, try Lodi Dodi, ul, Wilcza 28 - It's right in the centre, on the way to Toro, safe, friendly and ok. 5zl a beer, too.

Zman

31 Mar 2011 / #36

Lodi Dodi is indeed a good one but since it is kind of small I mostly go with my friends there. Termed to be a place for oldies but it DOES vary! :-) However, on your first trip stick to the bigger wilder places :-), if you so like.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

31 Mar 2011 / #37

but it DOES vary!

Definitely. Depends who you consider 'oldies' too - most of the clientele are 30 plus, but not all. Whereas in somewhere like Glam, a 25 year old would feel old. The other two places can fill up with kids too. Lodi tends to get friendlier at the weekend, and there are usually English speakers there. And has music, but not so thumpingly loud as the other places, and no dance floor, which can be a huge plus.

And don't forget Fantom! Still the filthiest and best place in town, and a must see on every visitor's itinerary.

Midas 1 | 571

31 Mar 2011 / #38

I was being ironic too, but it obviously went right over your head. Does that happen to you often?

Pretty much every other Thursday :-)

The thread is a oueer drama.

Didn't notice any "queer drama".

Guys, I'm sorry, but a number of Eastern European states have a reputation as not particularly friendly for dark skinned people. IMO that's very 1990's, but the reputation is still there, people will ask questions.

Kind of funny really, considering German "soccer fans" used to throw bananas at Tony Yeboah when he first started playing there, yet Germany didn't get that kind of rep. Better PR, I guess.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

31 Mar 2011 / #39

Guys, I'm sorry, but a number of Eastern European states have a reputation as not particularly friendly for dark skinned people. IMO that's very 1990's, but the reputation is still there, people will ask questions.

That's true. The back streets of Ostrava, Stalowa Wola or Debrecen need care, and more so if you're black. Visitors are usually welcomed in Warsaw, once they get used to the strange locals. I notice that in Lodi, foreign visitors are rarer than they used to be - maybe because the zloty is strong, or perhaps the days of the ducks' regime made it kinda exciting?

Midas 1 | 571

31 Mar 2011 / #40

If You meant "Lodz" I'd say that the drought in foreign investment has a bit more to do with how quickly the Irish and the British lost their money in the last few years.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

31 Mar 2011 / #41

Why's that?

OP Firesun 1 | 8

31 Mar 2011 / #42

I may serve you with some advice, but I am a kind of survival-canoeing-forest guy. I don't know much about a gay places, but You've never said that this kind of entertainment is your main reason to visit Poland. How do you feel about fishing, exploring old bunkers, good food (like Deer roast) and mushroom picking?

the gay thing is NOT my main reason for visiting Poland. If that was the case, I'd just go across the bridge to Brooklyn. lol I want to experience the country, the people the food and all that comes with it. Deer Roast? never had it, but will try it in a heartbeat. Will only have 4 days there so can't do everything but I'm down for what'evs!

And don't forget Fantom! Still the filthiest and best place in town, and a must see on every visitor's itinerary.

Zman, JonnyM and Midas, you all seem RAD! private email me, when I get there at the end of June, let's hang and have a few beers or vodka or whatever is flowing from the tap.

Ignorants like your buddies really **** me off, if you venture outside downtown at night and you want you and your ipod to be 100% safe don't use a bus,use a cab instead.

try not to be upset buddy, it was not my intention. I didn't think it was *all* true and that's why I wanted to find this forum, speak to some locals and now, I'm educated. I'm very excited for my first trip to Poland this summer.

Grrrrrrr......

Midas 1 | 571

1 Apr 2011 / #43

Zman, JonnyM and Midas, you all seem RAD! private email me, when I get there at the end of June, let's hang and have a few beers or vodka or whatever is flowing from the tap.

Sounds wonderful, though the chances of me being in Poland and Warsaw around June this year seem rather slim at the moment, to be fair.

Wroclaw Boy

1 Apr 2011 / #44

Deer Roast

Deer Roast,

I'm writing to let you know.....

Its venison mate, the same as a cow = beef.

Olaf 6 | 955

1 Apr 2011 / #45

The title of the post makes just as much sense as e.g. me writing (paraphrassed): As a caucasian straight man visiting

Harlem NY

this summer, will I get beat up for nothing?
You do have some real problems, I hope?

Ice cold - | 43

1 Apr 2011 / #46

Harlem is totally gentrified now. Full of lawyers and doctors.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

1 Apr 2011 / #47

though the chances of me being in Poland and Warsaw around June this year seem rather slim at the moment, to be fair.

Same here - early June I'll be there, late June, probably on board a ship. If my job changes, I'll PM you and suggest a beer.

Its venison mate, the same as a cow = beef.

Tastes totally different. Much better. Not much deer roast in Poland though - but try wild boar or sucking pig stuffed with kasza - very Polish and tasty!

OP Firesun 1 | 8

1 Apr 2011 / #48

The title of the post makes just as much sense as e.g. me writing (paraphrassed): As a caucasian straight man visiting Firesun: Harlem NY this summer, will I get beat up for nothing?

Point Taken.

Harlem is totally gentrified now. Full of lawyers and doctors.

and don't forget us Sound Engineers. I mean, who else is gonna make Rhianna and Katy Perry sound radio-able

Wroclaw Boy

1 Apr 2011 / #49

Tastes totally different. Much better.

what does venison or beef or cow or deer?

enkidu 6 | 611

1 Apr 2011 / #50

Oh come on - deer meat or wild boar meat is something... Hm.. This sentence started well, but I don't know how to finish it.

I can't really explain it.
Of course - one may say that the deer or wild boar meat is the same as cow or pig meat.
But once you taste it - You will know the difference. It makes you some harm in the way that for the rest of you life you will know that the pork you eating is a fake. Just the distant reminiscent of the real thing - wild boar's meat.

The same if you compare the real wild forest honey, the real butter made from the fresh milk or the real wild mushrooms with the products you can buy from your local store. And many other things. Like real beer for instance.

We are all conned.

As for the Firesun - I did not know that your holidays will last for 4 days only. In this case - stay in the city.

I would recommend you Toruń - my favourite town in Poland. It has got everything the man can desire.