Pride 2019

Gizmo6
#25Pride 2019
Posted: 5/7/19 at 3:33pm

broadwayguy2 said: "Hey!

Just wanting to chime with a few things as someone who spends quite a bit of their time in gay bars. Ha!

As far as show schedules go, yes, it boils down to tradition, really. Some shows get away from that, but most stick to a very standard and expected performance schedule.

As far as Pride itself goes, here a few things:

- In Manhattan, it is NOT a Parade. Organizers are VERY firm in this. It is a MARCH. The Manhattan event began as a protest march and though basically everything had changed, they honor it by always referring to it as the Pride March. Queens, Brooklyn, etc, and every other city has a 'parade'.

- It is always an absolute zoo, but with World Pride and the 50th anniversary, truth be told, I am not sure that any of us know what to expect other than a madhouse.

- PLEASE, absolutely go check out Stonewall, but not on Pride Sunday. You will never make it. Go down visit the Stonewall and Sheridan Square beforehand.

- On Pride Sunday, pretty much every Christopher Street bar has a cover and you won't be able to move much along the street because it is blocked off for the March and it fills to the brim early and stays that way all day.

- In Hells Kitchen, you have nearly 2 dozen gay bars to choose from and some are great for everyone and others are a little more niche, so it depends what you want. That said, avoid Boxers. It is trash.

- Do not be afraid to venture out of the theatre district and West Village. There are some FANTASTIC bars in the East Village, Brooklyn, and Astoria (and of you love some Latinx, Jackson Heights) that will be very busy and a lot of fun and accessible via car or train and will probably be a lot more fun than Hells Kitchen.

- ABOVE ALL,celebrate Pride however YOU want to. Don't listen to someone telling you "THIS is how you do Pride in NYC". You want to go to the bars? Go right ahead? Spend 10 hours at the March? By all means. Hit brunch, and the street fair, and some of the March, and a bar, and a show? Live you best life, baby! That is what it is all there for. Just remember that this city is where this tradition began and remember what it really means and take a moment to honor that and pay your respects in a way that is meaningful to you.

Happy Pride and I hope you enjoy it here.
"

 

Thank you broadwayguy2 for a lovely post. 

I'm from a rural town at the opposite side of the world and I am visiting to commemorate Stonewall. I want to remember and honour what I consider my ancestors. 

My plan is to visit the Stonewall Inn for the commemoration event on the Friday I think, to give thanks to those who paved the way for the freedoms I have. 

I also have a lot of shows booked and I think I will watch the start of the march and I might catch a 3pm matinee and find a bar for a drink later in the evening. 

 

 

 

 

broadwayguy2
#26Pride 2019
Posted: 5/8/19 at 1:00am

That sounds like a great time.

The commemoration ceremony should be lovely, but really DO make a point of getting down there at a different time to see Stonewall and Sheridan Square. Major events for our community usually do come to a rally in front of the Stonewall - celebratory or protest - and the streets pack tightly, so you may not have luck nearing the building itself. Enjoy the event, but find a time were you can walk along, what will no doubt be a very crowded, Christopher Street. That is one of my favorite things to do every Pride Week and I feel incomplete if I do not.

Gizmo6
#27Pride 2019
Posted: 5/9/19 at 7:16am

broadwayguy2 said: "That sounds like a great time.

The commemoration ceremony should be lovely, but really DO make a point of getting down there at a different time to see Stonewall and Sheridan Square. Major events for our community usually do come to a rally in front of the Stonewall - celebratory or protest - and the streets pack tightly, so you may not have luck nearing the building itself. Enjoy the event, but find a time were you can walk along, what will no doubt be a very crowded, Christopher Street. That is one of my favorite things to do every Pride Week and I feel incomplete if I do not.
"

Thanks Broadwayguy2 great advice. 

broadwayguy2
#28Pride 2019
Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:03pm

Very welcome. And don't forget that the New York AIDS Memorial is just a few blocks away as well, if you'd like to pay respects there as well.

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Miles2Go2
#29Pride 2019
Posted: 5/9/19 at 1:16pm

broadwayguy2 said: "Very welcome. And don't forget that the New York AIDS Memorial is just a few blocks away as well, if you'd like to pay respects there as well."

Somehow, despite my multiple trips to NY and The Stonewall Inn, I had no idea about this. If I’m lucky enough to find out I scored tickets to see Madonna at BAM, this would be a nice thing to do on my short trip. 

 

Gizmo6
#30Pride 2019
Posted: 5/10/19 at 6:18pm

broadwayguy2 said: "Very welcome. And don't forget that the New York AIDS Memorial is just a few blocks away as well, if you'd like to pay respects there as well."

Thanks broadwayguy2 I didn't know that but definitely will make my way there on my visit to Stonewall. Thank you. 

 

 

broadwayguy2
#31Pride 2019
Posted: 5/10/19 at 8:30pm

http://nycaidsmemorial.org

It is around the corner and about 4 short blocks north on 7th avenue.