25. July 2009 by admin.

It breaks my heart to admit this…
Summer is half way over.  How can this be?

The kids are at Kennywood with their grandparents.  Ed and I are faced with an uncommon issue.  What should we do today?  Our weekends are always lively.  A lot has to do with having kids plus a house in the suburbs.  Ed’s hobbies keep us very busy too.  He suggested we clean the garage so that at least one car can be housed indoors.  My suggestion, although selfish, is the Meadows Casino.  Our best friend, Sharon invited us to meet her there and Ed’s sister Susan and her husband Joe headed to WV for table gaming.

I love the Meadows and grew up on that racetrack.  My family has had racehorses for 35 years and my brother and nephew are still very active with them.  It warms my heart to see the place turn into a casino and grow in popularity.  It didn’t hurt that the race purses are some of the highest in the country and that the Meadows has become one of the fastest harness tracks in the world.  Yesterday, three races went in 1.49, which is a record.  A lot of people don’t know that the legalization of casinos in PA was primarily done for the survival of the horse racing industry and the jobs that come with it.  Now, the Meadows has some of the best quality stock of horses in the country because of the massive increase in race purses.  Of course, this puts the local owners and trainers at a disadvantage, however the system permitted time for them to upgrade their stock.  Hopefully, most will survive as they were the purpose of the change of  the law. 

The August 2009 issue of Out will be available on Thursday.  In this issue, we are premiering the Buy Gay In The Out Neighborhood program.  You should check it out.  It has a lot of purpose and will get people to think.  At least that is the thought behind it.  It’s like this…LGBT businesses are suffering from the progression of LGBT people.  I know we have a long way to go, but no one can argue that things are changing.  

Once upon a time, we as a community did not feel comfortable spending our gay dollars at mainstream businesses.  We were not welcomed.  Fast forward to 2009,  to a time where we feel more accepted on the surface.  Now, we spend our gay dollars just about everywhere inside establishments that do not invest or contribute to the LGBT community.  

I want people to think about the impact this has on our LGBT community.  By no means am I asking you to only buy gay or gay-friendly.  What I am suggesting or implying is for you to think about where your dollar goes and to support the businesses that support you. 

The next time you are looking for that gag gift and find yourself heading towards the mall, consider heading to A Pleasant Present, a gay owned and operated store in Sq. Hill instead.  Think about what your gay dollar will do for Pegasus compared to that straight trendy bar on the South Side.  Maybe visit both?

The gay dollar.  Think about your gay dollar being spent at a gay or gay-friendly business (when I say gay, I mean LGBT) especially ones that have exclusive LGBT customer bases.  That gay dollar pays gay employees who in turn, along with the business owner spend it at other gay businesses.

The lost gay dollar to gay and gay-friendly businesses translates into one tough decision of either closing the doors or going straight!  Yikes!

What do you get out of it?  The answer is simple.  You get or keep more LGBT businesses that respect you, your beliefs and support you.  Not to mention, you help make our community stronger, healthier and more vibrant by simply Buying Gay In The Out Neighborhood.

I hope my point was clear.  Think about it LGBT Pittsburgh!

 Keep reading…
Tony

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

15. July 2009 by admin.

I am busy getting the ads together for the August issue of Outand the planning of the BUY GAY IN IN THE OUT NEIGHBORHOOD program. 

Great response Pittsburgh! 

Many of my advertisers have mentioned that a lot of LGBT community members are no longer buying gay and their businesses are suffering because of it.  I personally believe that if we support each other both mentally and financially, we are a bigger, better and healthier LGBT community.  

This program starts August 1 and is a public service.  More details in the August issue of Out.  All LGBT businesses are strongly urged to participate. 

Visit LGBT and LGBT friendly businesses, state that you “Buy Gay”, enjoy yourself, make the community stronger and have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate.  How cool is that?

By no means am I asking that you stop buying from non-gay businesses.  What I am saying is to support the businesses that support you too.

Keep Reading (and buy gay!).

Tony
tony@outpub.com 412-381-3350

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

13. July 2009 by admin.

Where did the weekend go?

Friday night, Ed and I had no kids…none.  The younger boys slept over a friends and Chris was at school.  You would have thought we would have gone out dancing, drinking or at least catching Boris.  I am happy to say we didn’t.  I got home around 7pm that evening.  Although, we had offers to go dinner and gamble at the Meadows Casino and a personal invite from Wayne for his party at the Real Luck Cafe, we did the couple thing and a nice dinner at Damon’s in Monroeville.  We also got to check out the puppies at store.  No, not those types of puppies.  We hung out at the house that evening and enjoyed each other’s company. 

The week before we were in Rehoboth and had the chance to have some drinks with friends at the Blue Moon… the very crowded Blue Moon.  It was great hanging with owners Randy and Time late night.  We have know these guys for 18 years and we enjoy seeing them each summer.   Very entertaining personalities and good friends.   One surprise was seeing Rob who currently is working for them (again).  Our memories of Rob have been good.  We met Rob through Randy and Tim.  Long story.  We haven’t seen him in years and were curious to see how he changed.  Last time we saw Rob, he was sporting a very tight wetsuit and oozing sex appeal.  Sorry Rob for saying spandex outside the Moon on July 3.  We would never forget that wetsuit…

One time, many years ago, the five of us went Sea Dooing down the ocean to Ocean City.  We parked the Sea Doos at Seacrets Bar to get something to drink and eat.  Several hours later, and a several hundred dollar bar bill, we headed back to the water…

Rob is almost as charming now as he was then…

If you are planning a get-a-way to Rehoboth Beach, check out http://www.lighthouseinn.net.  Not only do they advertise in Out, but they have a beautiful Bed and Breakfast that is 1/2 block from the beach and near all the action.  The owners are Matt and Jerry.  They met in the DC area.   Jerry grew up in Altoona.   They fell in love, left their jobs to buy an B&B in gay friendly Rehoboth and are two of the most sincere people one could meet.  Today, they have been together years, have a wonderful relationship and love their thriving business.  I would like to add that these guys are true friends of me and Ed.  We consider them family. 

OK, back to my weekend. 

It was a beautiful Saturday morning in our neighborhood.  Ed and i enjoy a coffee on our back deck, followed by a dip in our pool.  How sweet!  Later that day and when we were forced back to reality, we took our Aunt Donna bird cage shopping.  Yep, I said bird cage.  She adopted two of our 14 babies.  If you get into birds (the kind that fly), check our C&B Birds in East Oakmont in Plum.  Good selection and reasonable prices.  Our friends Mark and Dennis turned us on to this place a while ago and it has saved us a lot of money.  They have a bird social this Sunday.  Check it out…you know I would never stare you wrong…

Mexican was the choice for dinner.  Since we were heading to Pittsburgh Mills, we decided to give Three Amegos in Harmerville.  I found the on restaurant.com.  Thumbs up was the consensus in my group.  Lots of food and the best salsa you can find in an restaurant.  Ed and I had the Fajitas for two.  Fajitas for 5 would have been more like it.  Unfortunately, a midnight raid of the frig by Chris who came home that evening put an end to our Fajitas for breakfast thoughts.

Sunday is never a day of rest in the Molnar-Strejcek household.  Yesterday, we cleaned and weeded around the pool, cleaned out the shed (hard to believe we have only purchased this house 3 years ago), cut shrubs, cleaned the deck and picked some delicious veggies from my Ed’s garden.  Later that day, I went to visit my mom.  On the way back, I picked up some pizza from Pizza Hut to enjoy on the deck once home.  A couple of pieces of pizza later, and we all were ready to swim.  We ignored the “no swimming for 20 minutes” rule.  Sorry mom…

Here I sit…  Monday.  I am thinking…what’s for dinner Edward.  I am on my way to you… lucky you.  LOL.

Keep Reading…

Tony

To my readers - Thanks for being patience.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

10. July 2009 by admin.

Be part of the BUY GAY (OR GAY FRIENDLY) IN THE OUT NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM which starts August 1.  This program will remind our readers to support LGBT and LGBT friendly businesses in the region.  The program encourages readers to visit businesses for a chance to win an $50 gift cards at 4 select locations.  Locations will change monthly.  Participating businesses that are chosen for one of the monthly awards will receive an $75 advertising credit to off-set $50 gift card.  Each month, 4 business will be notified that their establishments will be a Buy Gay gift card location and given additional information for when and how to choose a winner from the customers that come in and state “I buy Gay”.  At your request, your business can have its logo included in the advertisement starting with the August issue of Pittsburgh’s Out.  This program is open to all regional gay or gay-friendly businesses that contribute to our community.   Several bars and retail stores have already committed to this incredible “win-win” program promoting our local LGBT community. For more details on the program or to join, please contact tony@outpub.com.   Don’t be left out!   

WEDNESDAY IS DISPLAY AD DEADLINE FOR THE BIG AUGUST ISSUE!  07/15/2009 

Advertise in the August issue of Out and be part of Buy Gay (or Gay Friendly) in the Out Neighborhood program.  Deadline is Wednesday, July 15 for the BIG August issue.  More details to come.   

Support lgbt and lgbt businesses program is designed for you to be part of the community to drive lgbt consumers to your business and make the region’s lgbt community stronger. 

www.outonline.com has tons of new updates.  This means new services like the region’s very own social network www.out-connect.com and several new local, national, international, entertainment stories, updated resources, calendar, Night Life, Out and About and so much more.  

When you place your ad by 7/15, don’t forget to go to www.outonline.com and enter to win the UTIMATE MANILOW VEGAS PACKAGE valued at $1200!  See the website or our July issue for more details.

It’s me!  It’s almost deadline time!  It’s summer.

IT’S TIME TO DRIVE THE BUSINESS BACK TO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT OR EVENT.

Advertise in the AUGUST ISSUE OF OUT or online www.outonline.com.

DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING IN THE AUGUST 2009 ISSUE IS JULY 15…  It’s next week! 

It gives me great pleasure to announce that our June issue was the largest printed issue ever. And, just as pleasing, when dropping newspapers at our many locations, we discovered that most establishments went through all of their newspapers. Our pressrun was the largest ever and while having LIVE 6 hour http://www.outonline.com OTV broadcast from our booth at Pride Sunday, we gave thousands of newspaper away. 

Something new:

Everyone in the region needs to join OUT CONNECT! A site just for you and them! Add photos, chat, design your own page, blog, LIST YOUR EVENTS, forum and more. http://www.out-connect.com. Check out how many people have signed up. TELL YOUR FRIENDS! http://www.out-connect.com

Keep Reading…

Tony

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

6. July 2009 by admin.

Everyone in the region needs to join OUT CONNECT! A site just for you and them! Add photos, chat, design your own page, blog, LIST YOUR EVENTS, forum and more. http://www.out-connect.com.    Check out how many people have signed up.  TELL YOUR FRIENDS!  http://www.out-connect.com

 It gives me great pleasure to announce that our June issue was the largest printed issue ever. And, just as pleasing, when dropping newspapers at our many locations, we discovered that most establishments went through all of their newspapers. Our pressrun was the largest ever and while having LIVE 6 hour http://www.outonline.com OTV broadcast from our booth at Pride Sunday, we gave thousands of newspaper away.

We are back from Rehoboth Beach and have lots to tell you!  Check back soon.

Keep Reading…

Tony

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »