2012 Pride Parties: Editors’ Picks

The hottest clubs, coolest bars, and everything in between

THURSDAY, JUNE 14

DANIELLE PRESENTS ANYTHING GOES

Get your pre-Pride on at Stonewall, with nonstop flip cup action and “sing it loud, sing it proud” karaoke! Share Jell-O shots with your sweetie or sweetie-to-be. And remember: Danielle + Pride = Anything Goes!

PRIDE REGGAE NIGHT

GAL NYC takes over Henrietta Hudson’s regular Twisted Thursdays party with a special Pride reggae extravaganza. Resident DJs Dr. Liar and Mursi Layne pull out the best dancehall, old school, new reggae, soca, hip hop and Top 40 to put you in an island mood. Lady M, straight from Miami, will perform her hits “Common and See” and more.

QUEER PROM

The *Snapshot* crew returns for Pride with the first of two fab parties: Queer Prom at Bar 13. That’s right—now is your chance to rock that taffeta and tux at the posed prom photo booth. Slow-dance (or not) to DJs Whitney Day and Roze Royce. And in traditional prom fashion, drink up on free/cheap booze early in the night and midnight happy hour.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21

REBEL CUPCAKE

Have you been waiting for Pride to work your rainbow legwarmers? Rebel Cupcake 26: Let’s Get Physical invites you to step-ball-change at an aerobics-themed party at Sugarland. The featured performance by electrotext wordsmith Axon (Damien) D’Luxe reveals the secret to reclaiming our bodies through cardio exercise. And, somewhat incongruously, free delicious cupcakes while they last!

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

CHOICE NYC’s QUEER PRIDE 2012

Celebrate six years of the bash voted Best Queer Party by you, dear readers, at Drom, when The Gaysha and guest host Rocco Katastrophe welcome back Princess Superstar to the DJ booth. DJ Lezz Van Halen and DJ Sveta get the crowd hot for two-for-one drinks for earlybirds, free bodypainting, a live show by Rocco and gorgeous go-go dancers. Join your fellow quirky queers for the very last Choice ever!

ELEVATE: GET YOUR LIFE

LovergirlNYC, CJ Milan BBC, Lezplay NYC and Dreamgyrls Ent. take over the Vault for NYC Pride Euphoria 2012! Get down to beats from DJ Missy B and DJ TNT and feast your eyes on the guest host, R&B artist Cheri Coke a.k.a. Cheri Dennis! Get advance tickets online.

HOT RABBIT

The weekly bash for French sex maniacs (and their friends) welcomes DJ Whitney Day for a special Pride dance party that will positively pack Nowhere’s low-slung space. The varied queer crowd and invitingly inexpensive drinks ($3 PBRs, $4 drafts) keeps the energy level at 11.

LESBO-A-GO-GO

The best weekend to be at the Stonewall Inn kicks off with the longstanding Friday fete Lesbo-a-Go-Go—and with the Pride festivities already in full swing, sweat will be running down the walls in the boudoir-like upstairs bar. Catch the slinkiest go-go girls and “star”tenders Sir Sabrina, Poppi and Michelle as they sling the liquid courage. DJ Stacy and DH Kristine tag-team on the decks.

SOCIAL FRIDAYS

Bum Bum Bar threw a post-Queens Pride bash earlier this month, but the festivities didn’t end there. Gear up for NYC Pride weekend at this Woodside Latin spot, where there’s a different theme and promoter every Friday.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

DYKE MARCH AFTERPARTY

Ginger’s Bar hosts two afterparties in one! First, the unofficial post-celebration for the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Then, kick off the official afterparty for the 20th annual NYC Dyke March. Two Djs, creative shots, cold brews and rebel spirit will keep you rocking into the night.

GIRLNATIONNYC

Hana and Co. brings Pride, GirlNationNYC style, to the sexy Gramercy Park venue Bread & Tulips. Watch jaws drop as Sexy Vanessa, the featured dancer at girlbar Dinah Shore, works her moves on top of the bar. DJ Zuleica spins as bartenders Amy and Lana dole out free shots—yes, free shots!—as well as Pride beads and bracelets. Pace yourself!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Chill with your neighborhood peeps at The Phoenix, the East Village gay bar, where DJ Stacy holds court every Saturday night. With dirt-cheap drinks, zero attitude, busy pool table and high-energy mixes from guest DJs, Girls Night Out is the low-key place to let your freak flag fly on Pride weekend.

PIER PRESSURE #13 RELOADED

Danielle Presents, Las Reinas, Stacy of Stonewall Inn and LoverGirlNYC join forces for the official Rapture afterparty on the pier for the thirteenth year! L.A. superstar DJ Brynn Taylor and New York’s own DJ Stacy spin for more than 2,000 sexy women on the main floor, while Brooklyn’s DJ Shomi Noise rocks the Latin room. Plus: Celebrity reality star Big Ang of VH1’s Mob Wives hosts the festivities and judges the wet t-shirt contest! Two dance floors so you can dance under the stars!

RAPTURE ON THE RIVER

After 8 years, Rapture on the River—the official women’s pier party of NYC Pride—gets a new venue and a new attitude! Check out the ultra-spacious Pier 57’s weather-proof dance floor and easy access to the fully stocked bars. DJs Missy B and Trini warm up the crowd of thousands for headliner Whitney Day, the DJ who seems to be everywhere at once.

SIREN

Henrietta Hudson, Spice NYC and Sir Sabrina return to the Beekman Beach Club with Siren, where 2,500 women will revel on the East river with the Manhattan skyline at their backs. Soak up the beats from DJ Roze Royce and DJ Kim Dazy amidst a 20,000 square foot oasis of palm trees, sand and burlesque mermaid go-go dancers. The indoor and outdoor bars are fully stocked to supply cool cocktails to a dance floor packed with beach babes.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

C.R.E.A.M.: THE FINALE

LovergirlNYC, CJ Milan BBC, Lezplay NYC and Dreamgyrls Ent. keep Pride going on all night with celeb host Po Johnson. Party away in five rooms: rooftop, main floor, reggae room and separate VIP areas! Tireless tunes by DJ Mary Mac, DJ Kidd Swag, DJ Poison, DJ Maya and DJ Debbie.

POST-MARCH AT HENRIETTA HUDSON

Join the throngs of women outside a jam-packed Henrietta Hudson after the Pride March and prolong the party!

PRIDE SUNDAY BBQ and CHURCH

Post-Pride March, head back to Brooklyn and load up on free grub at Metropolitan’s legendary Sunday BBQ in the back garden. Cheap drink specials, a plate full of burgers and Kings County queers—that’s how we celebrate Pride! Later, DJs Sweet V and Natasha Diggs take you to church with sensational soul, gospel and funk tracks.

*SNAPSHOT* PROUD AS F*CK

Eight years strong! *snapshot* takes over its longtime home, Bar 13, for another round of kickass DJ sets, cocktails and communing under the stars. Get your grub right after the parade on the roofdeck at Chef Josie’s (Top Chef) taco truck! She’s whipped up custom gourmet tacos just for Proud As F*ck. Then, work off the calories to the sounds of Pride’s most diverse DJ lineup: DJ Sveta, DJ Roze Royce, shErOck*, Elli Vader, Heather M and Angelboi. It only happens once a year, so make the most of it!

STILETTO PRIDE

Two words: Cyndi Lauper. The pop superstar hits the massive soundstage at Maggie C’s annual Stiletto Pride blowout at the eye-popping Beekman Beach Club! She’ll perform a selection of her incredible catalog of hits. DJ Lezz Van Halen and DJ Brynn Taylor spin for more than 2,500 gorgeous women. Three giant bars keep thirsty partyhounds well hydrated. Expect surprise performers, VIP perks and the infamous dunk-tank! If girls just wanna have fun, they’ll be at Stiletto.

STONEWALL PRIDE

Witness a live broadcast of the NYC Pride March with shooter girls and boys and drinks galore! Celebrate gayness where it all began at the uberqueer, madcap scene that’s right smack on the parade route.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

GET IT! PRIDE EDITION

Wait, you thought Pride was over at 4am Monday morning? Nope. Indulge Entertainment kicks it into high gear at Get It!, the super-fun monthly girl party at Sugarland. The indefatigable DJ Lezz Van Halen drops a signature mix of electro, rock and anthems along with Elli Vader, Soozee and Jennifer Martin. ‘Intoxicologist’ Mila slakes the masses. Remember, you can sleep when you’re dead, right?


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