Cocktails and cockatoos. Milk-Bones and martinis. Luxury suites and Lhasa Apsos. These are things that your average hotel may not feel go hand in hand. Lucky for you, there’s one hotel group that has nothing in common with average.

With over 50 distinct boutique hotels located in the hottest cities across the U.S. and Canada, you can rest assured that Fluffy will be every bit as spoiled as you are during your stay. And, hey, fabulous, meet frugal! Unlike many other hotels that claim to be “pet-friendly,” this one won’t charge you a dime to bring along your furry, feathered or finned member of the family. And for guests who can’t travel with their pet, some of their properties even offer a free loaner goldfish through their “Guppy Love” program.

Could there actually be a hotel that loves your pet almost as much as you do? You bet your designer dog leash! It’s Kimpton Hotels, and, boy, do they give new meaning to the word “welcome”!
Kimpton Hotels have had an open-door pet policy for decades. That means no weight or breed restrictions. If you’re traveling with more than one, no worries there either. Monkeys, birds and other friends of the family are honored guests, too. Chances are they even have a special organic treat for them on hand. And if not, they’ll get it for you.

Not to mention the complimentary dog park maps, loaner leashes, free kibble (in case you left home without it) and even pet minibars and pet massage sessions at some of their properties. They’re even happy to arrange a pet sitter for a nominal fee, in case your plans include (gasp!) a non-pet evening.
It’s all part of Kimpton’s “Very Important Pets,” or V.I.P., program, and from the moment you arrive at one of their hotels, you’ll wonder how you ever settled for anything less. Kimpton likes to say that each of their hotels tells a story, and with that in mind, they encourage every guest to relax, soak it all in and create a few stories of their own.

At their Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, the story is all adventure. With heart-stirring views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a location that borders Fisherman’s Wharf, the lobby (or living room, as it’s referred to at Kimpton) is the perfect spot to read in front of the fireplace or sip a cocktail in an authentic teak steamer chair that you’ll just swear came off a luxury ocean liner. But wait. What about your pet? It’s right there with you, of course. Pets are allowed everywhere in the hotel, so enjoy. (Well, most city health codes prohibit non-assistance pets in indoor dining areas, but that’s about the only exception.)

Kimpton guests traveling with their pets will never be met with those admonishing looks often received from uptight staff at other hotels. In fact, you’ll find the exact opposite to be true. Most Kimpton staff, from the manager to the bellman, will not only want to meet your devoted friend, but they’ll likely want to find out the story behind how they came to be such a special part of your family. You’ll get this same friendly vibe from many of the petless guests, as well. After all, a Great Dane sharing his dog biscuit with a Chihuahua is great fodder for conversation no matter where you’re from...and probably why many Kimpton regulars have nicknamed this party time “Yappy Hour.”

And when you throw free wine into the mix for the two-legged minglers, what’s not to be happy about? Yes, another perk at Kimpton Hotels is their complimentary wine hour each night in the hotel living room. The bottomless glasses are often accompanied by snacks and the occasional tarot card reading or professional neck massage, set up at different spots around the room. Whether you’re in Boston, L.A., Chicago or Vancouver, the wine hour is more like being at a friend’s cocktail party…and a great one at that.

The guest room experience is equally as spectacular and will run the gamut in design styles: from elegant high-rise chic at the Muse in New York to upscale whimsy at the Hotel Monaco in Denver to the stunning and sophisticated elegance of the Epic Hotel in Miami. This brand-new addition to the Kimpton family is located directly on Biscayne Bay and features an indulgent 14,000-square-foot deck with two outdoor pools.

In the mood for something even more one-of-a-kind? Try booking one of the many specialty or celebrity suites. In San Francisco, you can check into the Kathy Griffin Suite at the Hotel Triton. This suite was designed by the wickedly irreverent comedienne, and her namesake room was even featured on her hit show, My Life On The D-List.

In the mood for some serious art? Why not book the Asian Art Museum Suite at the Alexis Hotel in Seattle? Pining for relaxation and serenity? Fear not. The specially designed Tranquility Rooms at the Hotel Madera in D.C. promise to keep you in a constant state of bliss, even after your 200th chant. You can actually have around-the-clock yoga sessions in your room with just the click of a button: The in-room televisions at all Kimpton properties have a 24-hour yoga channel, and yoga gear is available at the front desk. All complimentary.

If you’re in the mood for something even more indulgent, most of their properties offer spa services, too. Pampering their guests with Aveda and L’Occitane bath products, fun animal-print robes, faux-fur throws on the beds, complimentary Starbucks and even free in-room Internet service, these hotels have got the number of every discerning guest that walks through the door. And don’t ever pass up the opportunity to sample the highly regarded restaurants that Kimpton is widely known to host. Some of the most amazing dining you’ll experience will likely be just a few floors under your room. So order that second bottle of your favorite zin and skip the cab fare. Take the elevator to dinner instead.

Want more? How about free nights after as few as seven stays? Perks like free room upgrades, cookies at bedtime, 2 p.m. checkouts or a celebratory bottle of bubbly delivered to your room on your birthday are just some of the perks you can experience when you join InTouch, Kimpton’s loyalty program.
And Kimpton’s one of the good guys! They’re proud to sponsor organizations that work on behalf of causes like the environment, gay rights and homeless animals, just to name a few.

Numerous national awards attest to Kimpton’s commitment to gay travelers, and you can even get their Pride rate anytime, just by entering the code “PRI” for an extra 10 percent off the lowest room rate. With many of their hotels offering rooms and packages starting at an unbelievable rate of under $100 a night, the cat’s out of the bag.

For more information on Kimpton’s hotels and resorts and their InTouch program, go to kimptonhotels.com .

Be sure to check out the July 2009 issue of Instinct Magazine for more furry family fun in our First Annual Pet Issue!

BO BENTON hasn’t been in the music biz long, but she’s quickly making a name for herself. Not only did Bo start her own independent record label, GoldStarr Entertainment, but also, as of press time, her “I Know You Want Me” music video was available on-demand (Music Choice: Hip-Hop and R&B: 100 Percent R&B), parked right between pop superstars Beyoncé and Ciara. Not bad for a musician whose debut album, Queen of the Night, doesn’t even drop until July 28. What else would you expect from Ms. Benton whose got music written in her DNA (her father was a bassist; her mother, a pianist; and her grandmother, an opera singer)? This summer, the family’s musical heir apparent—possessed with “the soul of a Queen”—will be in fine company, joining thousands of shirtless gay boys—also possessed with souls of queens—for Pride celebrations across the country.

You recently played Orange County’s Gay Pride (who knew?) at Knott’s Berry Farm. How did that go?
It was awesome. There were some really beautiful people there.

One of the main themes in your work is female empowerment. How does that theme translate to gay men?
I think it translates in the fact that no one should let anyone box them in. We’re all here because God put us here to live freely. It’s about each soul living its own existence. How’s someone else going to tell you how you should live or what’s good for you? If you’re gay—and you find love and happiness in being gay—so be it. It’s all about happiness and love in the end.

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
Exciting, fun, energetic. If you want to get into a car and drive to Vegas from L.A.—or wherever you are driving for a couple of hours—this music is a driving force. It’s a bit of light and a little bit of darkness.

What is something that you hope those beautiful gay boys take away from your music?
I hope when they listen to my music, they will feel empowered. This industry is a hard-core struggle. I had to make my own road. I hope they can see, by listening to my music, that it’s okay to carve your own path.

Bo Benton’s debut album Queen of the Night drops July 28. To see if Bo will be performing at your city’s Pride celebration, go to bobenton.com

To read more of this interview, be sure to pick up the July 2009 issue of Instinct Magazine!

VEGGIE VARIABLES
I’ve recently noticed that certain canned veggie drinks claim to have seven servings of vegetables. Can you really get all that in a can? Is it the same as really eating all those vegetables?
Tim Earl in Greenwich, CT

Although many of these canned veggie drinks do contain those vegetables, the amounts contained are way too low. The primary dietary model is to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially those high in fiber, decrease sources of omega-6 fatty acids from domesticated land animals (though that might be debated by individuals with type O blood and strict Atkins followers) and increase the consumption of omega-3 fatty acid foods like fish (just beware that certain fish contain higher amounts of mercury). I feel some essential supplements should be vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E, fish oils, B complex, selenium and choline. I am not advocating a vegetarian diet—a diet has to be individual. And for many people, it’s impractical to go on a strictly vegetarian diet, while others feel it is impractical to eat steak, eggs and pork rinds. -PF

OLD BLUE EYES
I look nothing like either of my parents or my siblings. They swear I am not adopted or the product of some scandalous affair, but c’mon now: Why do I have dark, curly hair and brown eyes and everyone else in the fam has blond or light brown hair and predominantly green or blue eyes (though my dad does have brown eyes)? What gives?!
Bryan in Keene, NH

You should have paid attention in seventh-grade biology when your teacher discussed Gregor Mendel and Punnett Squares, devised by geneticist Reginald Punnett to determine the mathematical probability of inheriting a specific trait such as brown or blue/green eyes. A Punnett Square can be drawn out as so: Let’s define “B” as being the dominant gene representing brown eyes and  “b” as the recessive gene representing blue/green eyes. Your dad has brown eyes, so he’s either BB or Bb. BB is for all dominant brown eyes and Bb is dominant for brown eyes with a gene for blue/green. Your mother is bb because she has blue/green eyes. If their children each received one B from Dad and one b from Mom, then all the children would have brown eyes, Bb. However, seeing as how some of your siblings have blue/green eyes, this isn’t possible. Therefore your father has brown eyes but is Bb, not BB, and Mom is still bb since she has blue/green eyes. When you view the possible color combinations when Dad is Bb and Mom is bb, the outcome is 50 percent will have Bb (brown eyes) and 50 percent will have bb (blue/green eyes). If both parents had blue/green eyes, the recessive gene bb, then you would NOT be part of the family, as you have brown eyes. But, since your father does have brown eyes, and is therefore a Bb, it’s safe to assume you were not adopted. You just need to pay better attention in biology. -PF

MUSCLE ENVY
Since coming out of the closet, I’ve been exposed and infected with the gym bunny virus. I watch what I eat, exercise regularly and avoid bad carbs year-round. Recently, however, my friends have been saying I look Nicole Richie-esque and that I’d look better with a little more meat. I’m not anorexic, but how can I tell if I’m still underweight? And how can I get more muscle mass?
Trevor via Internet

Being too thin is just as unhealthy as being overweight. To tell if you are too svelte, check your body mass index (BMI). It’s an easy and basic test to administer on your own. However, the test is skewed when applied to athletic or heavily muscled individuals. A person with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 is classified as normal; below 18.5 is considered underweight, and over 24.9 is overweight. Determine your BMI by using the following formula: BMI = weight (kg) / height (m2). If you fall into the normal category but look underweight, consult a certified trainer or physician to get your body composition tested. As far as gaining muscle mass, there’s two things that you need to do: lift heavier (75-95 percent max intensity, 3-5 sets, 4-10 reps) and eat more! -MD

Have a question for one of our caring physicians?
Always be sure to ask your own doctor, but we’ll try our best to heal you. E-mail your health and fitness concerns to health@instinctmag.com .