Baltic Seeing: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

by Dan Allen
Tallinn Old Town

LGBT visibility also gets stronger the higher you go, with northernmost Estonia now heading steadily forward toward equality, while Latvia and Lithuania still struggle with some of Europeโ€™s least stellar LGBT rights scores.

Baltic Resources

ESTONIA

HOTELS
Kau Manor, Triigi. Tel: +372-644-1411. Eclectic 13th-century manor, excellently and quirkily renovated. Rooms from $150. www.kau.ee

Pรคdaste Manor, Muhu. Tel: +372-454-8800. Small luxury resort and spa set in a tranquil 14th-century mansion. Rooms from $350. www.padaste.ee

Savoy Boutique Hotel, Suur-Karja 17, Tallinn. Tel: +372-680-6688. Art deco-inspired conversion of an 1890 building, perfectly situated right on the edge of the Old Town. Rooms from $165. www.tallinnhotels.ee/savoy-boutique-hotel

SIGHTS
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Lossi plats 10, Tallinn. Gorgeous and historic Russian Orthodox church. Tel: +372-644-3484

Kadriorg Palace, A. Weizenbergi 37, Tallinn. Tel: +372-606-6400. Stunning palace built by Peter the Great for Catherine the Great. kadriorumuuseum.ekm.ee/en

Kiek in de Kรถk, Komandandi tee 2, Tallinn. Tel: +372-644-6686. History museum inside part of the city’s original fortification wall. linnamuuseum.ee/kok/en

Museum of Occupations, Toompea 8, Tallinn. Tel: +372-668-0250. Focuses on the difficult half century between 1940 and 1991 when Estonia was occupied by Soviets and Nazis. www.okupatsioon.ee

Kumu Kunstimuuseum, A. Weizenbergi 34, Tallinn. Tel: +372-602-6000. The world’s premiere collection of Estonian art. kumu.ekm.ee/en

Museum of Estonian Drinking Culture, Luscher & Matiesen Distillery, Toom-Rรผรผtli 10, Tallinn. Old Town homage to Estonian booze. Tel: +372-526-3065. www.luschermatiesen.com

Town Hall Pharmacy, Raekoja plats 11, Tallinn. Tel: +372-631-4860. Europe’s oldest apothecary, oper- ating continuously for nearly six centuries. www.raeapteek.ee

Town Hall Square, Raekoja plats 1, Tallinn. Ancient city center market square, still bustling after all these centuries. Tel: +372-645-7906

NIGHTLIFE
Club 69, Sakala 24, Tallinn. Tel: +372-660-4830. Gay sauna. www.club69.ee

Club PATT, Kai 5 / Sadama 6, Tallinn. Tel: +372-661-4888. New gay club, weekends only. www.patt.ee

Male Secrets, Pรคrnu mnt 19, Tallinn. Tel: +372-660-5490. Gay cruising bar/porn theater. malesecrets.eu

X-Baar, Tatari 1 (enter via Estonia puiestee/avenue, through courtyard behind Sรถรถgiplats and flower shop), Tallinn. Tel: +372-644-0121. Gay bar. www.xbaar.ee

ORGANIZATIONS
Estonian LGBT Association, Kaarli ave 5-1, Tallinn. Tel: +372-5551-5817. www.lgbt.ee

LATVIA

HOTELS
Wellton Centrum Hotel & Spa, Kalฤ“ju iela 33, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-67-130-674. Sleek hotel, newly converted from an 1870โ€™s building. Rooms from $100. www.wellton.com

SIGHTS
Kalnciems Fair, Kalnciema iela 35, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-26-255-148. Busy neighborhood craft and boutique extravaganza. www.kalnciemaiela.lv

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Raiล†a bulvฤris 7, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-67-212-715. Sobering but captivating museum of Latvian subjugation. okupacijasmuzejs.lv/en

Riga Art Nouveau Museum, Albert iela 12, Rฤซga. Showcases and gives backstory on the ornate art nouveau architecture and style for which Riga is known. Tel: +371-67-181-464. www.jugendstils.riga.lv/eng/muzejs

Riga Bourse Art Museum, Doma laukums 6, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-67-225-209. Six floors of some of Latvia’s best art, housed in the city’s onetime stock exchange building. www.lnmm.lv/en/mmrb

Riga Central Market, Nฤ“ฤฃu iela 7, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-67-229-985. Huge and lively market still used by locals old and young. www.rct.lv/en

St. Peter’s Church, Skฤrล†u iela 19, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-67-181-943. Ancient and iconic church with breathtaking tower-top city panorama. www.peterbaznica.riga.lv

NIGHTLIFE
Golden, ฤขertrลซdes iela 33/35, Rฤซga. Gay bar and club. Tel: +371-25-505-050. www.mygoldenclub.com/en

KKC (Kanepes Kulturas Centrs), Skolas iela 15, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-29-404-405. LGBT-friendly bar/cultural center. www.kanepes.lv

Osiris, Kriลกjฤล†a Barona iela 31, Rฤซga. LGBT-friend- ly cafรฉ. Tel: +371-67-243-002. www.cafeosiris.lv

Top, Alfrฤ“da Kalniล†a iela 4, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-22-808-202. New gay club. www.facebook.com/TopClubRiga

ORGANIZATIONS
Mozaika, Stabu iela 19, Rฤซga. Tel: +371-28-440 340. www.facebook.com/mozaikalv

LITHUANIA

HOTELS
Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square, Universiteto g. 14, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-220-1160. The city’s grandest property, in a historic building situated right across the street from Vilnius Cathedral. Rooms from $255. www.kempinski.com/en/vilnius/hotel-cathedral-square

SIGHTS

Amber Museum-Gallery, ล v. Mykolo gatvฤ— 8, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-262-3092. Gives a great historical overview of Lithuania’s centuries-old amber industry. www.ambergallery.lt

Church of Sts. John, ล v. Jono gatvฤ— 12, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-212-1715. Home to the Sts. Johns’ Bell Tower, the tallest building in the Old Town. www.jonai.lt

Gediminas’ Tower, Arsenalo gatvฤ— 5, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-261-7453. Last remaining tower of the city’s ancient castle complex and is one of the most important national symbols of Lithuania. www.lnm.lt/en/gediminas-castle-tower

Museum of Genocide Victims, Aukลณ gatvฤ— 2A, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-249-8156. Set in the country’s former KGB headquarters, includes actual prison cells once used to hold Nazi and Soviet prisoners. genocid.lt/muziejus/en

Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Katedros aikลกtฤ™ 4, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-212-7476. 15th-century castle that now serves as an ever-expanding national museum. www.muziejai.lt/vilnius/valdovu_rumai.en.htm

NIGHTLIFE

Cafรฉ de Paris, Didzloji gatvฤ— 1, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-261-1021. LGBT-friendly cafe/weekend clubs. www.cafedeparis.lt

Cozy, Dominikonลณ gatvฤ— 10, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-261-1137. LGBT-friendly cafรฉ/restuarant. www.cozy.lt/en

Paviljonas, Pylimo gatvฤ— 21B, Vilnius. Tel: +370-621-77-016. LGBT-friendly jazz club. www.facebook.com/Paviljonas

Soho Club, ล vitrigailos gatvฤ— 7, Vilnius. Gay bar with DJs. Tel: +370-699-39-567. www.sohoclub.lt

We are Propaganda and Gender Wrongs. Queer social media communities. www.facebook.com/propagandaweare; www.facebook.com/gender.wrongs

EVENTS

City Fiesta, festival, September 1โ€“3 in 2017. www.vilniusfestivals.lt/en/vilnius-city-fiesta

Kreivฤ—s, Vilnius. Queer film festival, September 14โ€“18 in 2017. www.festivaliskreives.lt

Loftas Fest, Vytenio g. 50, Vilnius. Alternative arts, music and culture festival. www.menufabrikas.lt/loftas-fest

ORGANIZATIONS

LGL (Lithuanian Gay League), Pylimo gatvฤ— 21, Vilnius. Tel: +370-5-261-0314. www.lgl.lt/en

CROSS-BALTIC
EVENTS

Baltica. Rotating annual Baltic folklore festival. Latvia will host in 2018. www.festivalbaltica.com/en

Baltic Pride. Rotates annually among Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. Riga will host in 2018. www.facebook.com/pg/balticpride

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