While the gay scene, especially in NYC, is often stereotyped as “in-the-know” about the hottest clubs, many of those who will be celebrating Pride this year probably wish they had a Stefan-esque guide to LGBTQ+ nightlife. This year, New York’s Pride Parade on June 30th doubles as the World Pride celebration, an honor that will flood the city with millions of visitors looking to celebrate all things LGBTQ+. On top of both of these seismic events, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and a half-century of LGBTQ+ liberation.
What all of this means is that the weekend of Pride will be poppin’ and definitely packed, and if you can get access to any ticket pre-sales, you should hop on it. Honeysuckle brings you the hottest, most proud events coming up the weekend of June 28-30th!
The House of Yes is one of the most discussed queer spaces in the United States, and possibly the world. This Brooklyn-based collective of “creatives, performers, and innovators” works with the LGBTQ+ community to fabricate otherworldly, empowering, and outrageous events. They have but four rules: Participate, Yes Means Yes, Respect, and Be Your Best Self. House of Yes is hosting spectacular events all of Pride weekend, but it’s selling out of tickets in all price ranges quickly!
Hot Rabbit, coordinator of NYC queer dance parties, presents PRIDAY, “NYC’s biggest LGBTQ dance party”, June 28thand 29that Stage 48 in midtown. An ethereal experience, Priday boasts 2,000+ queer identifying partygoers, a 15,000 square foot venue and 4 levels of dancing, performances, and wild Pride outfits. Additionally, a portion of all door and presale tickets (between $20-$40 respectively!) will be donated to Gays Against Guns, making Hot Rabbit an over-the-rainbow stop this year.
For a more tailored experience, head to Henrietta Hudson, NYC’s oldest and now only exclusively lesbian bar. While Henrietta is open 365 days a year, this lesbian owned and operated institution boasts the title of Manhattan’s number-one lesbian bar, twenty-five years in a row. Happy hour is from 4-7 daily, and at night, the dance floor is vibrant with rotating DJs spinning. Separate from its iconic home base on Hudson Street, Henrietta Hudson is pairing with World Pride all month, and among other events is promoting: “Pride Soup! Queer on the Pier” the evening of June 28th.
Any list of iconic Pride spots would be remiss without including the one and only Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. Conveniently located right off of the parade route (which commemorates the 1969 riots at Stonewall), the bar has recently been designated a U.S. national monument. Sure to be packed to the brim with gays and gals of all types, Stonewall’s shaded interior could provide a respite and a return to the true fight of Pride after a glitter-and-sweat drenched day of marching.
Just up the street from the Stonewall Inn, another legendary pillar of the queer NYC scene is Cubbyhole, a Village bar that boasts its status as “lesbian, gay, and straight friendly since 1994”. The clientele at Cubbyhole is usually heavily women-identifying, but its jukebox, free popcorn, and flamboyant décor make it a great stop for any Pride-goer. The tiny but vibrant space makes intimacy with strangers a must, and its drink specials and daily happy hour at 7:00 combine with its dynamite dance floor to create a great gay-vironment.
Snapshot is hosting a proud, 15 Year Family Reunion on the last night of pride at the unmistakable Bar 13 on University Place. A revival of its Love Bubble of yore, this “equal and open space for everyone” insists on “kick-ass” music and flowing drinks. The venue includes three floors and an open roof space, each of which includes an easily-accessible bar. At the heart of Union Square and off of the Pride Parade route, the night will feature “super queer” star DJ’s and an evening of celebration without discrimination from within or outside the LGBTQ+ community.
GUSH is an intersectional party space designated specifically for lesbians, femmes, and the entire spectrum of non-binary Priders. These parties feature hosts, DJ’s, and performers who identify as queer people of color living in NYC and displaying their talent. Like many queer party spaces, GUSH employs a graduated ticket pricing system, with femme and non-binary folks grabbing the cheapest tix and straight men purchasing the most expensive, in a reversal of the general economic hierarchy. Wherever GUSH takes up residence this June, be sure to nab a ticket that most suits you.
Whether you’re marching, moshing, or getting married this Pride season, be sure to check out these events before you’re not just topless, but ticketless, too after the parade!
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Annie Iezzi is a second-year student at Barnard College of Columbia University, studying English and Political Science and writing in her scarce (and cherished) free time.
