Shannon's Guide to McAllen, Texas

My name: Shannon
My age: 36
My profession: Sr. Compensation Analyst
City/town: McAllen, Texas
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Gay
Member name: Buckeye1972

What are some great restaurants in McAllen to go to for a romantic date?

Republic of the Rio and Espana.  Both have patios and we have some nice evenings here.  No one cares if you are gay here and you can be open, within reason, wherever.

If you had a special visitor to McAllen for just four hours, what is the one thing he should do?

Hopefully he’d come down in the evening so we could hit the art district with palm tree bases wrapped in lights, dinner at Espana on the patio and then I’d take him on a stroll by the kinda romantic fountain surrounded by palms at the new $55 million convention center built in McAllen.

What about great restaurants for a night out with gay friends?

Republic of the Rio Grande Valley, The Woodlands, Casa de Palmas and there’s always the stray vendor with warm, homemade tortilla wraps filled with ‘street-meat’  LOL
 
What was the last vacation you took? Where did you go? Where do you most want to go?

Last was NOLA – had a craving for a Sunday jazz brunch at Courtyard of the 2 Sisters.  Want to go to Madrid or Malta
 
What are some of the things you love most about McAllen?

An hour to the beach, half-hour to Mexico, always warm, always something to do

What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs?

Barcode -- folks pay a little more attention to their self when dressing to go out there and it’s a good 20s/30-somethings mix.
 
What are your favorite gay parties or events in your town, if any? What is the crowd or scene like at those places?

Splash – April 23rd-26th.  Huge beachside event on Padre Island.  Hear it’s a lot of fun.  This will be my first time.

Where is the best public place for a gay person to make out there?

Padre Island on the beach, at night.  Has to be - haven’t had the opportunity yet
 
What is the gay community like there? Do you consider yourself to be part of any particular "scene?"

Folks are very nice here.  The majority of guys are Latino and Hispanic.  And I think my scene would be the witty and professional crowd.
 
Where do you shop for clothes?

La Plaza Mall, TJ Maxx sometimes – the shopping is endless here
 
Where do you go for other forms of entertainment -- live theater, concerts, movies, art exhibits? Are there any local gay performance groups, bands, or artists that you're a fan of?

There’s an Art Walk here once a month that is a lot of fun for a few hours on that Friday.  There are live bands in the park that evening and it’s a good art event.  We have Hairspray coming next month so the live theater is happening.  And there’s always a gallery opening if you’re in the know and read those little grocery store event guides every once in awhile.
 
If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some "must-dos" you'd recommend?

I’d play DD and take them to Barcode, Monster Carwash (which is a bar that has live bands so you can get crocked while your car is getting down), and a trip over the border to Progreso for some vacationing hotties.
 
Is there a local cocktail that's popular in your town?

I’ve introduced the northern Duck Fart to my friends.  It’s a shot that is Bailey’s and Amaretto.
 
Where do the hot boys in McAllen tend to hang out?

You more see them out around town.  Maybe a coffee shop downtown off Main or 17th or the beach on the Island.
 
If you had to describe the "average gay boy" style of your town in two words, what would they be?

Latino, festive, fun and funny.
 
Do you have any local celebs?

News anchors count?  I’ve been here 2 months.  Not sure yet.  Haha
 
What bar has the cutest/hottest bartenders?

TradeBar has the hottest bartenders – they all work with their shirts off and are all in good shape
 
Do gay men and lesbians hang out together in your town or is that just unheard of?

The gay clubs here are a true blend of gay and lesbian that I have never seen to this portion.  I’d say at any given time the clubs are 1/3 lesbian, 2/3 gay and there’s also quite a few straight people out at gay clubs here as well.  It's different and makes it more fun!

Do you have a hometown crush?

Who doesn’t?  There’s always one cutie, but I’m for the now and the future.

[Editor's Note: To find out how to submit a Reader's Guide about YOUR town, click here -- you'll be happy you did...].