 Sweating in the city just isn't cute, and sometimes neither is an escape to Fire Island. For a weekend without the sand and the scene (and for some, time in a forest other than that late-night stroll through the Meat Rack), party producer Derek Roberts invites you to an up-and-coming gay vacation burg in Milford, Pennsylvania only 75 miles northwest of Manhattan and easily accessible by express bus or a Metro-North-meets-taxi combo. Milford combines relaxed Poconos kitsch with gay inclusiveness and the lush greenery of the 77,000-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Now, with Float 2007, Roberts is adding a touch of circuit to a day of canoeing, canoodling and sunning down the Delaware River.
Citing a need last fall for some gay nightlife amongst the base of New Yorkers with second homes, Roberts started Fluviarchy (a term used to describe a vast network of waterfalls, for which Pike County is famous), a monthly event at the chic, gay-owned boutique Hotel Fauchère. Harnessing that experience and positive reaction, Roberts is hoping to bring an even bigger crowd—around 500 to be exact—for his inaugural weekend event that combines outdoor adventure with open-air dancing till dawn.
"I had often heard about the Hotlanta River Expo [often called the nation's oldest circuit party] and how popular that event was," says Roberts. "Given the river is right in our backyard, I wanted to create a party that was both different and unique and one that would also introduce people to this beautiful recreation area, Milford, and the river itself. Plus I'm a dancing fool and I love to throw a good party!"
Guys who make the short journey from New York can expect a leisurely afternoon paddling down a 12-mile section of the river in two-person canoes, taking time to lunch, sun, swim or explore a lush combination of open meadows, dense deciduous and evergreen forests and craggy ridges in the federal park. No canoe experience? No problem! The river is deep and calm, perfect for experienced paddlers or a novice water dog, and there'll be guides from Kittatinny Canoes to help get you up to snuff. "Canoeing is both easy and a great workout for your upper body and core," Roberts adds. Think of it as the perfect pump-up for shirtless dancing later!
After the four to six-hour "float" down the river, the bevy of athletic men can rest up and wash off in their rooms at the quaint and cozy host hotel Mt. Haven (which is offering special two-night packages and heart-shaped Jacuzzi tubs), take a disco nap, grab a free BBQ buffet dinner and sauce up in a different way on the four-hour open bar before hitting the floor at the huge open-air pavilion for a nine-plus-hour circuit throwdown courtesy of DJs Sin Morera and Blaster, a young disc jock that Sin has taken under his wing.
"[Expect] love...
lots of love and sexy, dirty beats with vocals coming in and out of the speakers!" enthuses Morera. "I'll be playing all-around feel-good house music, plus some original material I've done such as my Mario Vazquez new dub of "One Shot" and the debut of a record I did with an old pal from the original Sound Factory days, Hiram Reve." Even if you're not the outdoorsy type, dance heads can get their groove on sans river trip for a reduced price of only $10 after 10pm.
"The Pavilion's setting is very beautiful and private," says Roberts, "Float 2007 will give boys a good dose of adventure, green nature and partying. [It's perfect] for athletic men of any age who like the outdoors and a great dance party. DJ Sin Morera really wants to see the sun rise over his turntables!"
The Float 2007 river trip launches Saturday, August 4 from 8am to 1pm and its afterparty begins at 6pm. Visit milfordfloat.com for accommodation packages, tickets and more info.
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