Valentine’s Day is different for every queer. Some of us spend the day stuffing our faces with chocolate while crying over rom-coms, while some of us celebrate with our partners (or lovers! Or just really close friends!). For those of us who are single and ready to use the extra electricity in the air to our advantage, a party is where you’ll find us this holiday weekend.
Whether going out means looking for a new cutie to smooch or dancing the night away with your Valentine, here are 13 of the hottest Valentine’s Day parties in NYC — as picked by GO’s editors. We heart you, so we promise you’ll heart this list!
Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque Valentines Spectacular
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St.
DETAILS: Live jazz music with Queen Esther, and steamy burlesque & circus performances by Miss Coney Island 2017, Tiger Bay, the cat who comes when you call Puss N Boots, the bendiest boy in burlesque, Topher Bousquet, the Asian Sexsation, Calamity Chang, The Chocolate Charmer of Burlesque, Samson Night, the one woman riot, Minnie Tonka, and the problem you wish you had, Qualms Galore! — Tickets: $20
WHEN: 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Spot Hookah Lounge Astoria, 42-21 Broadway
DETAILS: Join your hosts Dot Katsias and Crazy Maria Cherry Lips at The Spot Astoria for Valentine’s Day! DJ Soul will be mixing up some beats, so come through and show some love. — Tickets: Free
Select All: Valentine’s Gay—a Queer Mixer
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: C’mon Everybody, 425 Franklin Ave.
DETAILS: Select All offers a little something for everyone. This broadly inclusive LGBTQIGNCTS+ mixer sets the stage for making new connections, whether new friends, professional networking, or sparking romantic interest for singles and the otherwise available. The mellow, after-work atmosphere makes even the shyest people comfortable. — Tickets: Free
Mrs. & Mrs. 2020 Valentine’s Dinner Party
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Address Upon Ticket Purchase
DETAILS: Celebrate love day with food! Come for an elegant and romantic evening that includes appetizers, entree, and dessert prepared by an on-site chef. Mrs. & Mrs. Dinner Party will be equipped with a full-staff so you and your boo can fully enjoy the experience! — Tickets: $150
WHEN: 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Six26, 128 Christopher Columbus Drive, Jersey City
DETAILS: Hosted by Lillian Bustle, with performances by Abel Rey, Anthony Grey, Beau, Britches, Tigger, Vera Safire, and Falana Fox, this party is sure to slay. A Valentine’s Day pre-fixe menu will be available with a choice of three courses per person. — Tickets: $40
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
DETAILS: The only live band, queer, “grrrls to the front” Valentine’s Day Party. Inspired by parties like RocknRoll Fag Bar, Meow Mix and Squeezebox, by bands like Tribe 8 and The Runaways, and by films like Times Square, this defiant and celebratory concert’s lineup features mostly female & femme-fronted bands with trans, dyke, and straight allies, including: Tracy City, Monte, Grace Bergere DJ MzzzMullett and the Queers of Noise Supergroup: fronted by very special guests Eileen Myles, Pamela Sneed, Cristy C Road, Reuben Butchart, Michael Love Michael, and more. — Tickets: $15
RetroFactory Presents: Voulez Vous? ENCORE!
WHEN: 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: 3 Dollar Bill, 260 Meserole St.
DETAILS: Throw it back to another time and place as 3 Dollar Bill is transformed into Belle Époque Paris, arguably one of the sexiest eras in history. With Carlos Falu (Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY) choreographing flash-mob style dance numbers alongside some of New York’s most prominent queer voices/influencers including Glow Job, Domenic Mykel and Thee Suburbia, this V-Day will be iconic. — Tickets: $15
LGBTQ Valentine Dance Lizard Lounge
WHEN: 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Lizard Lounge, 4589 Sunrise Hwy, Long Island
DETAILS: Come and celebrate the holiday with your love or meet your future Valentine! DJ Tina will be dropping the beats at Lizard Lounge, light snacks will be served, and 50/50 raffles and prizes will be given out. — Tickets: $10
WHEN: 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Union Hall, 702 Union Street
DETAILS: In honor of her new book, Build Your Own Romantic Comedy author Lana Schwartz and her co-host Ilana Michelle Rubin have invited some of the funniest comedians in New York City to spend an evening celebrating all that we love (or at least like-like) about the romantic comedy genre: From the meet-cute to the happy ending kiss and all of the hijinks in between. Will the adorable bakery go out of business? Will the funny best friend find herself? Can a young comedian still have a meet-cute in New York City? Come to the show to find out. — Tickets: $8
Hot Rabbit’s •◊• INFATUATION •◊• LGBTQ Valentine’s Stoplight Dance Party
WHEN: 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Paper Box, 17 Meadow Street, Brooklyn
DETAILS: A stoplight party means free glow bracelets to help tell the hotties on the dance floor if you’re single (green), in a complicated thing (yellow), or taken (red). Expect to see your favorite Hot Rabbit DJs and performers, Vogue-Go Magic by the House of Olympus and glam photos! — Tickets: $15
WHEN: 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pianist Envy Piano Bar, 100 York Street, Jersey City
DETAILS: Come for cocktails and canoodling — featuring cabaret performances, all while we’ll be raising funds to support emerging LGBTQ+ leaders in the community. — Tickets: Free
WHEN: 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street
DETAILS: Lea DeLaria returns to Joe’s Pub for a very special Valentine’s Day performance. Special guests include Adina Verson, Emily Tarver and Vicci Martinez, the Village Voices, and a guest surprise! — Tickets: $35
Valentine’s Day Stoplight Party @ Henrietta Hudson
WHEN: 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Henrietta Hudson, 438 Hudson St.
DETAILS: Join Henrietta Hudson and M.C. ROSE GARCIA (@therealshotcalla) of the “The Real L Word” (yes you heard that right!) for the singles party of the year with LA Dancer Divinity Ray (@divinityray) and music by DJ Mary Mac (@marymac5star) and DJ Monstar (@milathemonstar). Grab your friends and come out for the annual Stoplight Party. HH will have glow-in-the-dark wristbands for you to attract just the right kind of attention: GREEN if you’re ready to mingle, YELLOW if it’s complicated, RED if you’re just there to hang with friends. — Tickets: Free
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