The EDGE Guide to New York Pride Parties
Here's EDGE's guide to celebrating New York Pride the right way. From Friday night through Monday morning, we suggest you catch up on your sleep now. We break it down for you by day:
FRIDAY, JUNE 27th
WORK @ discotheque
Kick off your Pride Weekend at Peter Rauhofer's legendary WORK party. Winner of EDGE's Best Weekly Party of 2007 and The Hottest Bartenders of 2007, this is the party to be at!
Superstar DJ Peter Rauhofer and Israeli-sensation DJ Offer Nissim promise to serve fierce beats all night-long, and keep the dancefloor pumping through 10am.
The 12-hour marathon starts with the doors opening at 10pm and advance tickets are available online for just $50 until 6/22 at www.star69records.com.
Our advice: Score your tickets early, as this event will definitely sell out and hit capacity early... And you don't want to be caught outside in a line.
The Party: Work @ discotheque: Pride '08
DJs: Offer Nissim and Peter Rauhofer
Location: 17 west 19th st., new york city
The Time: 10pm - 10am
Admission: $50 until 6/22 at www.star69records.com. $60 after upon availability.
Age: 21+ with valid photo ID.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28th
Alegria @ Webster Hall
The marathon continues at Ric Sena's legendary Alegria party. This year's Alegria Pride will be the first to be held at Webster Hall, and with the theatre's massive proscenium and its ornate ceilings, Webster Hall would appear to be a perfect venue for Sena's expansive imagination.
The invitation for this year's edition of Alegria Pride showcases the dancing waters of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas-and if past Alegria Prides are any indication, attendees can expect to be awestruck by Sena's production values.
As for the music? For the first time, Alegria will have three dance floors, with three different deejays working to keep the boyz dancing all through Saturday night and Sunday morning. That means Rosabel (aka Ralphi Rosario and Abel) in the Main Ballroom, Eddie Elias in the Marlin Room, and Dudu Marquez in the Balcony Lounge.
And speaking of firsts, this is the first Saturday Alegria Pride. The party starts at eleven on Saturday night and, in all likelihood, will run right through to Sunday at noon, just in time for the kick-off of the Pride Parade down Fifth Avenue. Given that tickets are limited due to capacity limitations, it's probably a good thing to purchase your tickets to this Alegria Pride in advance. Because as all good Alegria tribe members know, this is one party that always sells out.
The Party: Alegria Pride
DJs: Rosabel (Abel and Ralphi Rosario), Eddie Elias, Dudu Marquez
Location: 125 east 11th st., new york city
The Time: 11pm - ?
Admission: $90 in advance at www.alegriaevents.com
Age: 21+ with valid photo ID.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
Hades Music Presents The Parade Party
The weekend continues at a beautiful penthouse loft, hosted by Mother Juan Aviance, with DJs Angel Moraes, Michael Hades and James Andersen.
Just five blocks from the Empire State Building right on Fifth Avenue, the views of the parade and Empire State Building are spectacular!
This is definitely a perfect continuation into the parade from the Saturday night parties. This is no small space so bring plenty of friends with you!
The Party: Hades Music Presents NYC Gay Pride 2008
DJs: Michael Hades, Victor Huge, Angel Moraes, James Andersen
Location: 267 5th ave @ 29th st., new york city
The Time: 8am - 4pm
Admission: $20 in advance at www.hadesmusic.com, $30 at the door
Age: 21+
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
The Dance on the Pier
You can't miss the official NYC Dance on the Pier. There is no other event quite like this to experience Pride in New York. The music, the fireworks, the hot boys left and right...
The Dance on the Pier was born out of a time when LGBT persons could not dance openly and proudly together. It is a protest set to music, a celebration set to the western skyline and a reminder of how far we've come.
Plus, all proceeds from the Dance on the Pier benefit New York City's LGBT Pride Week events and community organizations.
The Party: Dance on the Pier
DJs: Tracy Young and Joe Gauthreaux
Location: Pier 54, 13th st. @ the west side highway - hudson river park
The Time: 4pm - 10:30pm
Admission: $55 until 6/28 at boxofficetickets.com, $75 day of
Other: No tickets will be sold at the Pier for the 2008 Dance on the Pier event. However, tickets will be available at Wear Me Out and Universal Gear for $75 each on the day of the event.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
Champions: The After Party
The capsone of the weekend, this is the one everyone is talking about, and no wonder with Stephen Grondin from Montreal starting, superstar Jonathan Peters taking over for several hours, and none other than The Man himself, Junior Vasquez, ending the party well into Monday afternoon. La Vasquez has foregone with his normal post-Pride party for this one.
But it's the combination of DJs and venue (the fabulous Pacha, with its crisp sound system and lights--augmented by Guy Smith and other lighting geniuses; 618 W. 46th St.). It's also a benefit for Heritage of Pride, so you're supporting future marches down Fifth just by showing up. Sweet!
The Party: Saint at Large Champions After Party
DJs: Stephen Grondin, Jonathan Peters, Junior Vasquez
Location: 618 W. 46th st., new york city
The Time: 10pm - ?
Admission: $50 until 6/22 at www.saintatlarge.com, $60 thru day of event
Age: 21+
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For a more comprehensive breakdown of all the parties, from Escuelita and KissMyBlackAss @ Club Ultra to Supersnaxx @ Cielo and the XXL Masked Ball @ Webster Hall, check out EDGE's more comprehensive guide to NYC Pride Parties.