UPDATED: The 2009 EDGE Guide to New York Pride Parties
So it's summer-in the City-and you're about to take a bite out of the Apple for the BIGGEST Pride celebration of them all. What to do, where to start? Where to go, what to wear? Fear not, intrepid Pride-goers, we're here to take you on the most phantasmagoric journey through NYC Pride.
Whether you're a local celebutante ready for your close-up or a NYC Pride pioneer, here's the skinny on what's happening and where-with a healthy portion of why it's ALL good for you.
Swallow big: this is the 40th anniversary of Stonewall and everything gay in NYC has plenty to celebrate (and not only that recent survey about NYC being the city with the most tops...). Dig in, Pride babies; it's all here for the sharing.
FRIDAY JUNE 26th
Men @ Midnight Booze Cruise
WHAT: Men @ Midnight and the ultimate Gay Booze Cruise to kick-off Pride
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because James Andersen pumping legendary beats, and because we love partying under the moonlight, and because there's no better way to cruise...
DETAILS: Friday 26 June 2009
Boarding: Midnight @ Chelsea Piers
Music: DJ James Andersen
12:30AM - 3:00AM
TICKETS: Only $26.90 per person available now by clicking here or contact John Barrall @ 646.358.3114
LINKS: http://www.spiritofnewyork.com/
SATURDAY JUNE 27th
LOVE BALL :: The Saint-at-Large in association with The Federation of Ballroom Houses present Love Ball
WHAT: The Saint-at-Large smackdown at Time Square's Nokia Theatre with Alyson Calagna and Chris Cox working it out with the Federation of Ballroom Houses
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because Alyson Calagna is relentlessly fierce and endlessly inventive, and because Guy Smith lives for lighting that creates entire galaxies, and because the Nokia Theatre was once a Times Square movie theatre with excellent bones, and because the people behind Saint-at-Large are professional, creative, and wildly imaginative, and because ballroom battles burn up the house-and because the proceeds benefit Heritage of Pride.
Wait! There's more: There will be a concert featuring a veritable "Who's Who" of gay & gay-loving (& gay-loved) performers before the event. And one ticket gets you into both!
DETAILS: Saturday 27 June 2009
Nokia Theatre, Times Square
Music: Alyson Calagna and Chris Cox
Opening DJ: Vjuan Allure
Commentator: Jack Mizrahi
Lights: Guy Smith
10 pm until dawn
TICKETS: Tickets on sale starting 26 May 2009
LINKS: http://www.saintatlarge.com/
SATURDAY JUNE 27th
WE CAN! :: Peter Rauhofer & WORK! Invite You to PRIDE NYC 2009
WHAT: The extravaganza produced by Peter Rauhofer & WORK! at Roseland, the largest ballroom in Manhattan, home of the Black Party and countless other all-night bacchanals.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because Rauhofer and Offer Nissam throw down seriously addictive beats, and because Paulo and Oscar G. know how to keep your booty bumping, and because Maya and Kevin Aviance are performing, and because that Kevin Aviance, and because Alan T. is at the door, and because this is a group of nightlife professionals that knows how to throw a party.
DETAILS: Saturday 27 June 2009
Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Music: Paulo, Offer Nissim, Peter Rauhofer, Oscar G
LIVE: Maya
Special Performance by Kevin Aviance
Door: Alan T.
10 pm - 10 am
TICKETS: www.wantickets.com
LINKS: http://www.peterrauhofer.com/
SUNDAY JUNE 28th
THE PARADE/THE MARCH
WHAT: The Mother of all Pride Parades and Marches, the reason we're celebrating the weekend
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because it's the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the riots that commenced the modern-day gay rights movement, and because this year there is palpable LGBT political momentum and we owe it to ourselves to stand together and march and cheer for full equality, and because there's nothing like walking Fifth Avenue and following a lavender line all the way into the Village while surrounded by the most gorgeous array of LGBT humanity-and because, simply put, it's mad, over-the-top, wildly good fun.
DETAILS: Sunday, 28 June 2009, Noon
Fifth Avenue @52nd Street all the way downtown Christopher Street
Moments of silence: 2 pm
LINK: http://www.nycpride.org/
SUNDAY JUNE 28th
HADES MUSIC :: THE PARADE PARTY
WHAT: The Annual Parade Party, presented by Hades Music in association with the House of Aviance, which happens in a huge penthouse loft with a wrap-around terrace.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because you get a bird's-eye view of the Parade while it's happening eleven stories below, and because the vibe is cool and hot at the same time, and because house parties are always fun on a Pride Sunday, especially with the house of Aviance and when the net proceeds benefit GMHC.
DETAILS: Sunday 28 June 2009, noon - 7 pm
267 Fifth Avenue @ 29th Street, 11th floor
Music: on the rooftop: Fabiano Angelo, Dre, Victor Hugo
In the loft: James Andersen, Michael Hades
TICKETS: $20.00 + $1.00 surchage (discount expires 5/31/09) @ www.myhousebeatz.com
After 5/31, tickets will be $30 online and $40 at the door
Limited amount of tickets sold for this event
LINKS: https://www.myhousebeatz.com/theparadeparty/
http://www.houseofaviance.com/
http://www.hadesmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/motherjuanaviance
SUNDAY JUNE 28th
DANCE ON THE PIER
WHAT: The 23rd Annual Official New York City LGBT Dance on the Pier, where the proceeds benefit New York City's LGBT Pride Week events as well as LGBT community organizations
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because it's Pride and it's New York Fucking City in the heat of summer with more than 7,500 loud and proud happy people from all over the globe crammed together on one pier jutting out over the Hudson River, and because last year Jennifer Hudson performed there (and in years past, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and the Pussycat Dolls), and because the Empire State Building glows lavender, and because there are rainbow regattas and water-spouting fire boats and fireworks-and most of all because the Dance on the Pier was born out of a time when LGBT persons could not dance openly and proudly together, and because now that we can, there are few celebrations more joyful and euphoric-and you need more reason than that?
DETAILS: Sunday 28 June 2009
Pier 54, 13th Street @ the West Side Highway
Music: Phillip Kimball, Jack Reina, and Corey Craig
Lights: Guy Smith
4 pm - 10:30 pm, followed by fireworks
TICKETS: General Admission
$50 each when purchased from May 1 - May 31
$70 each when purchased from June 1 - June 27
$85 each when purchased day of
VIP Tickets
$150 each (limited availability)
Online @ http://www.boxofficetickets.com/
Phone @ 1-800-494-TIXS (8497)
Purchase Locations
Village Apothecary - 346 Bleecker St, 212-807-7566
Wear Me Out - 353 West 47th St, 212-333-3047
Ate Ave - 169 8th Avenue, 646-763-8355
LINKS: http://www.nycpride.org/
SUNDAY JUNE 28th
GAY PRIDE @ LOVE :: Aural Flow in Association with MFT Presents Gay Pride @ Love
WHAT: The beloved deejay Susan Morabito's annual NYC Pride party-and her annual declaration of love to her most ardent fans
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because Susan Morabito's parties always draw a devoted core of true music aficionados who live to dance to the legend's signature soulful grooves.
DETAILS: Sunday 28 June 2009
179 MacDougal Street (@ 8th Street), NYC
Music: Susan Morabito
More info soon...
LINKS: http://www.susanmorabito.com/sm_content.html
SUNDAY JUNE 28th
ALEGRIA PRIDE 2009 :: Ric Sena Presents Alegria in Wonderland
WHAT: The definitive NYC Pride party, producer Ric Sena's Alegria returns for a ninth incarnation at M2 (formerly Crobar), with this year's phantasmagorical theme: Alegria in Wonderland.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Because NYC Pride ain't over until Alegria says so (and traditionally that has meant sometime late Monday afternoon), and because this year's Alegria showcases the music of the maestro, Abel, as well as his partners in acoustic wonder, Tony Moran and Micky Friedmann, an unstoppable triumvirate of beatmasters, and because with Ric Sena's background in theatrical production, Alegria in Wonderland promises to be a blissfully surreal trip down the rabbit hole, and especially when combined with Ross Berger's stunningly hallucinogenic lighting, and because every heartstopping specimen of homo sapiens will be in evidence, and because Alegria is back at its most-beloved home, the former Crobar now called M2, where magic happens and boyz from all around the world fall in love: with music, with the party, with each other.
.
DETAILS: : Sunday 28 June 2009
M2 (former Crobar space), 530 West 28th Street, NYC
Music: Tony Moran, Abel, Micky Friedmann (Berlin)
Lights: Ross Berger and Ric Sena
Production Design: Ric Sena
11 pm until
TICKETS: : Advance tickets $70 until 5/29, $80 (5/30-6/19), $90 after
NYC ticket outlets:
Universal Gear, 140 Eighth Avenue, NYC
Wear Me Out, 353 West 47th Street, NYC
LINKS: http://www.alegriaevents.com/
MONDAY JUNE 29th
MR BLACK :: Pride Closer w/ Junior Vasquez
WHAT: The final event, the ultimate diehard party, the never-say-die contingent, at the notorious dance den, Mr. Black, with that champion Pride closer in the ring, Mr. Junior Vasquez.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE: Hello? Have you been listening? Because this is the classic Pride closing event, the one you've heard about for years, and the one you'll remember all summer, because when Junior closes down Pride, it's a celebration not to be missed or soon forgotten.
DETAILS: : Monday 29 June 2009
Mr Black, 351 West 30th St (7th + 8th), NYC
Music: Ruben Vega (4am-6am), Razor and Guide (6am-9am), Junior Vasquez (9am-til?)
Lights: Scott La Roc and Darren Kawa
4 am until ???
TICKETS: : $30 (Advance tickets $20 at www.wantickets.com/EventDetail.aspx?e_id=60751)
LINKS: http://www.mrblacknyc.com/