St. Augustine holds its Hispanic heritage close to its heart throughout the year. The tales of the adventures of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who first claimed the land of this town April 3, 1513, and its later settlement by another Spanish explorer, Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, are commonly told in the town. In addition, its 16th century Spanish architecture — complete with narrow, brick-paved streets — is similar to that found in other renowned cities of its kind and time, such as San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, the other oldest city in the U.S. Today, visitors to St. Augustine will find that this is a city where Hispanic culture and history are part of daily life. Historical locations include the legendary Fountain of Youth Archeological Park; the Mission Nombre de Dios the actual location where Pedro Menendez de Aviles and the Spanish settlers celebrated the First Mass and Thanksgiving in the history of the U.S.; and the Castillo de San Marcos, the first masonry fortress built in the country. Another extraordinary, stand-out location Fort Mose, where freed slaves established the first legally sanctioned free black settlement in the U.S. in 1738. Some of St. Augustine’s most iconic and beloved restaurants take their culinary direction from Hispanic kitchens. Columbia Restaurant, for example, offers diners a traditional Spanish setting in the city’s historic district. The restaurant is more than 100 years old and has a menu of award-winning Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Major Hispanic heritage events, some connected to cuisine, take place throughout the year in St. Augustine. On September 9, 2023, the City of St. Augustine will celebrate the 458th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, who along with 800 settlers including artisans, soldiers men, women and children established the settlement of St. Augustine. The commemoration takes place at Mission Nombre de Dios and the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. Activities include a reenactment landing of Menedez and his men, greeted by the Native Timucuan Indians, A Celebration of Mass at the Rustic Alter, a reenactment of the first Thanksgiving and Spanish military encampments. And, the annual St. Augustine Spanish Food & Wine Festival that takes place in February each year to coincide with the celebration of Pedro Menendez de Aviles birthday, the Spanish culinary and wine influences found throughout the city’s dining establishments. This festival features tapas, wine and spirits, as well as a cava dinner reception and grand tasting. More than 100 Spanish wines are available to sample throughout the three-day event, along with Spanish-inspired cuisine prepared by local chefs. In May, Unidos en la Musica: A Latin American Festival celebrates the wide variety of Latin American music and pairs beats perfectly with authentic dance, food and games, From mid-November through January each year, the celebration of St. Augustine’s Hispanic heritage continues during Nights of Lights. Locals and visitors enjoy the city-wide display featuring millions of tiny white lights, a practice inspired by the Spanish tradition of lighting candles in the windows during the holiday season. During Nights of Lights, on December 15, Noches de Navidad” and Las Posadas, a live nativity, Eucharistic Adoration, and a 16th-Century Spanish procession of “Las Posadas” (the Inns) takes place at Mission Nombre de Dios. For more information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com and www.viajaStAugustine.com.

Multicultural Travel News – June is LGBTQ Pride Month and more

News Briefs:
Where to Go This Pride Month – Asbury Park, NJ
Where to Go This Pride Month – Santa Fe, NM
Where to Go This Pride Month – Norfolk, VA
Where to Go This Pride Month – Providence, RI
Where to Go This Pride Month – Brooklyn, NY
Where to Go This Pride Month – Athens, GA
Where to Go This Pride Month – Florida’s Paradise Coast
Where to Go This Pride Month – Columbus, OH
Discover Mississippi’s Essential Civil Rights Experiences and Commemorate Civil Rights Hero Medgar Evers this June
Jewish Heritage Travel in Poland Oct 2-11, 2023
Spacious Skies Campgrounds Partners with Black Folks Camp Too in Latest Example of Fast-Growing Company’s Culturally Conscious Focus

Continue reading →

Celebrate Pride Month this June at Ursula Brooklyn, a queer-owned bakery and cafe created by Chef Eric See in 2021 with the initial goal of bringing his grandmother Ursula’s New Mexican cuisine to Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Restaurant goers can look forward to select menu items benefiting the community, as well as a queer speed dating event upcoming at Ursula’s new Bed-Stuy location on June 12th at 6:30pm. Ursula will also be participating in The Infatuation’s Pride Bake Sale featuring the restaurant’s rosewater concha to benefit the Queer Food Foundation and help support those impacted by food insecurity in the LGBTQ+ community. Chef Eric, who is committed to cultivating an LGBTQ+-friendly environment for workers and guests alike, relocated and opened Ursula’s new Bed-Stuy location in April. As he and his team worked to re-open their fan-favorite New Mexican concept into a larger space with more service capabilities, they also documented their journey across the second season of Opening Soon, a podcast that shines a light on the ins and outs and ups and downs of operating a restaurant – hosted by the founders of the premium hospitality workwear brand Tilit. Over the season’s twelve-episode arc, Eric shares insights on how he pulled together enough capital to open his second location, how he navigated NYC’s competitive commercial real estate market, and how he intentionally supported the LGBTQ+ community throughout the process. For example, Eric ensured that 80% of his staff were queer, hired queer interior designers to decorate the Bed-Stuy location, and brought on queer cocktail and wine consultants to design the drink menu, and he continues to buy from queer-owned spirit and beer companies. Visitors to Ursula this June can enjoy standout menu items like green chile fried chicken sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and stuffed sopapillas in an LGBTQ+-friendly setting.

Mississippi, known as an essential American Civil Rights destination, will honor the life and legacy of one of the state’s most notable freedom fighters, Medgar Evers, to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of his brutal murder. June 6 – 12 in Jackson, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute will welcome visitors for a full week of commemorative experiences to remember Evers’ heroic sacrifice, including:

–         A self-guided Medgar Evers Justice Tour tracing Evers’ footsteps

–         Courage and Justice Film Festival

–         Evers Parade, celebrating the life of Medgar, Myrlie and Charles Evers

–         A remembrance ceremony and moment of silence at the national monument

Organized by Evers’ daughter, Reena Evers-Everette, these events immediately precede Juneteenth celebrations state-round and are an ideal bookend to a Civil Rights Road Trip through the state exploring the Mississippi Freedom, Blues and Literary Trails. For more information visit https://www.visitjackson.com/evers60/.

Paducah, KY On June 3, Paducah will be flooded with rainbows for Paducah PrideFest, a celebration of Paducah’s LGBTQ+ community with live music, performances, food and contests. The city’s anti-discrimination policy, the fairness ordinance, aims to protect the LGBTQ+ community by prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations against people in the queer community. Paducah is also home to Cinema Systers, the only all-lesbian film festival in the country.

Athens, GA Athens, Georgia offers a variety of LGBTQ+ events that cater to both locals and visitors throughout the year. From queer trivia nights and drag shows at Hendershots (the home of Athens’ longest-running drag haus Athens Showgirl Cabaret), the highly anticipated Boybutante Ball, the Classic City has something for everyone. The ultimate celebration, the Athens Pride & Queer Collective Pride Parade, taking place on June 3, kicks off the start of Pride Month. The event, full of pride, love and support is a testament to the diversity, creativity and acceptance of the Athens community.

Florida’s Paradise Coast (Naples, Marco Island, Everglades) In June, the destination will be hosting Naples Pride 2023 at Cambier Park. The event will take place on Saturday, June 10^th from 11 am-5 pm to celebrate diversity and unity. The event will be family-friendly and open to the public with musicians, speakers, food and drink vendors and more. The Naples Pride Fest brings over 5,000 attendees every year to celebrate equality and empower the Southwest Florida LGBTQ+ community.

This year marks the 41st anniversary of Columbus’s Pride Month traditions, where now over 700,000 visitors gather throughout the region to celebrate the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March. Festivities and fundraisers are held all month long, including a Pride Brunch, Pride March, Pride Festival & Resource Fair and more.

Asbury Park, NJ Asbury Park, New Jersey is an iconic Jersey Shore town with a rich history and vibrant LGBTQ community. While the town host events year-round, summertime is when it comes alive with festivals, concerts, and of course, gorgeous beach days. The LGBTQ community is credited for revitalizing the city and making it a place where people could be themselves. The rich history of the city helped to shape it into what it is today, with a thriving LGBTQ community, dynamic music scene and some of the best beaches in New Jersey. Fuel up at LGBTQ-owned eateries like indoor or outdoor dining at Moonstruck, quick-serve noodles as you like them from Pasta Volo and tasty lunch and breakfast bites from Chat & Nibble. Follow your days on the beach or along the boardwalk by energetic nights on the town at Georgie’s Bar or back at your home base at Paradise in The Empress or The St. Laurent Social Club.

Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe offers a unique and inspired destination for gay travelers. You won’t find a particular gayborhood, or even a specific gay bar for that matter. Santa Fe’s lack of a visible gay scene is one of its best features, because it allows the community to feel at home no matter where they are; it is all about being able to appreciate the fine things in life all together as one community: art, food, and culture. That said, Santa Fe’s artistic community is open and welcoming and LGBT travelers will feel right at home here – the city elected its first openly gay mayor in 2014. All throughout June there will be events like Disco parties, Queer Prom, Drag Bingo and more with the shining star of the month being PRIDE on the Plaza and the PRIDE drive parade, both held on June 24^th.