Pride Parties: Editor’s Picks

Pride Season ’09! For dates, times and locations of these and all June & July Parties, check out the nightlife listings section

WATERFRONT MEGAPARTIES
Dance the night away with thousands—yes, thousands—of women at one of these renowned mega-parties. As major Pride events, they draw serious crowds of New York’s finest, and all are located on the twinkling Hudson River. It wouldn’t be Pride if you didn’t hit up at least one of these annual she-bangs!

Friday, June 26
PRIDE KICKOFF 2009 @ CHELSEA BREWING CO
Start your Pride weekend off right with LoverGirlNYC, Exclusive Ent. and over 1,500 women at this upscale extravaganza. DJs Mary Mac, Missy B and China keep the pier thumping till the sun comes up at the 12,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor (smoker-friendly) venue. VIP entry gets you one-on-one time with celeb host Free, which already has 106th & Park fans scrambling for tickets.

Saturday, June 27
HERITAGE OF PRIDE PRESENTS RAPTURE @ PIER 54
Revel post-Dyke March at this early evening event. All of Rapture ‘09 proceeds benefit New York City’s LGBT Pride Week events and community organizations. The official women’s dance on the pier features DJ Susan Levine on the decks to keep all the gorgeous ladies gyrating into the night.

PIER PRESSURE @ CHELSEA BREWING CO
Henrietta Hudson and LoverGirlNYC host the 10th Annual Pier Pressure dance party, the official after-party for the HOP’s Women’s Pier Dance, Rapture. DJs Stacy, Kim Dazy and Sandman will be rockin’ the beats at this beautiful waterfront event, along with thousands of women and a plethora of rotating go-go dancers.


CROWD PLEASERS

These soirees are traditionally huge draws. You’ll be practically swimming in a sea of women, which, on these hot days of summer, sounds just fine and dandy.

Saturday, June 27
ALL WHITE AFFAIR @ LE POISSON ROUGE
Don your best whites for this swank event at the hippest new lounge in New York City. LoverGirlNYC and Exclusive Ent. host more than 1,200 women from around the country, as well as TV star Prancer from Flavor of Love and I Love Money.

GIRLNATION @ NATION
This long-running Saturday night girl-bash always excites, with whipped cream-armed shot girls roaming the electric dance floor, amped up by none other than DJ Stacy. Tonight, doors open an hour earlier (9pm), because we just can’t wait for Pride to start.

SHESCAPE’S PRIDE WEEKEND EXPLOSION @ APPLE
The lovely ladies of Shescape close out their party season with a serious bang at hot Village spot Apple. The upscale, gorgeous set always make appearances at this fabulous party.

SOFT N WET @ SAPPHIRE
LezPlay is back in town for its second annual dance marathon. Hundreds of women from all over the country spend a hot afternoon writhing to the tunes of DJs Mary Mac, Missy B and Maya.

Sunday, June 28
CUBBYHOLE
After flag wavin’, whoopin’ and hollerin’ at the parade, soothe your throat with a cocktail at Cubbyhole, the West Village’s local queer bar. It’s the perfect location to mix and mingle with your fellow parade-goers—all hundred-zillion of them!

GRAND FINALE @ SHADOW
Arrive early for LoverGirlNYC and Exclusive Ent.’s famed finale party. You’ll be saying goodbye to a wonderful Pride weekend, but you’ll be saying hello to lots of lovelies while gettin’ down to R&B and reggae on Mary Mac’s dancefloor.

HENRIETTA HUDSON
Join this jam-packed club full of hotties for a spectacular sidewalk gathering after the parade. Prolong the celebrations with Pride-themed contests all day and night. (Best Rainbow Wear will be the toughest category, we’re sure!) Of course, stop by all summer long for crazy good times—Hen’s is open seven nights a week!

MIXX PRIDE AFTER-PARTY @ HONEY
Lori and Marcela of LaReiNas Mixx move slightly uptown from their usual West Village Mixx to sweet spot Honey for this one-night-only blowout.

SNAPSHOT @ THE DELANCEY
Join the “most eclectic” ladies from the Snapshot float at the ultra-cool Delancey after the parade for their fifth-annual Roof Deck Party. With three floors and rotating DJs, you won’t be able to stop movin’ and groovin’ till the sun comes up over the LES.


PRE-PRIDE PARTYING

Why wait for the last weekend in June to show your rainbow love? Go crazy all month long at these advanced chances to mingle.

A GIRLS’ NIGHT IN @ XA
Get pampered before Pride at this weekly primp-fest. Every Thursday, the gay-owned Chelsea salon invites New York’s lesbians to a fabulous night of girly fun, including a blowout, skin consultation and, of course, booze.

CIRQUE D’EROTIQUE @ HAPPY ENDING
Burlesque rules on Monday, June 15, at this alluring soiree located at a former massage parlor. A face and body painter will be in attendance to make your skin sparkle with sensuality.

EDEN @ UNION SQUARE LOUNGE
Every Wednesday, Eden welcomes some of the city’s most beautiful women. Resident DJ shErOck* plays music to get you dancing and shimmying under the romantic lighting of this laid-back lair.

GOLDSTAR @ FAT BABY
The hot and hip ladies who bring you Proposition every other Friday at Kion Lounge are branching out. Beginning Thursday, June 25, DJ Frances of Nina Sky and MTV2 VJ Jasmine Solano join Radio Rose at this event for “gold star” women-lovin’ women.

HISTORY IS HOT
Celebrate Pride where it all began, at the legendary landmark and super-chill two-floor watering hole, the Stonewall Inn. Write your own history this Gay Pride month.

Thursday, June 25
ANYTHING GOES
Danielle and her Thursday night crew do Pride Bollywood style! Dancers amaze, and vodka specials help it all go down easy. DJ Stacy provides the night’s international soundtrack.

Friday, June 26
GIRLNATION DOWNTOWN
GirlNation Downtown celebrates Pride with DJ Stacy hitting the beats that make you sweat and shake up this historic downtown spot.

LESBO-A-GO-GO
This Friday and every Friday DJ Stacy spins and Sir Sabrina takes chargebehind the bar. The music is always good, the drinks are always strong and
the queers are always there.

JOVE BALAN PRESENTS MAKE ME HAPPY HOUR @ RF LOUNGE
6pm-10pm, $50/$90 combo, @ RF Lounge 531 Hudson St.(@ Charles St), West Village, 212-414-9500,  Jové Baiän proudly presents Cater To You Pride 2009! Start off your Pride weekend with this exclusive affair! Catered Fine Foods, Premium Open Bar with DJ Stacy! Hosted by RF Lounge!

JOVE BALAN PRESENTS EVENING DELIGHTS @ RF LOUNGE
10pm-4am, $50/$90 combo, @ RF Lounge 531 Hudson St.(@ Charles St), West Village, 212-414-9500,Jové Baiän continues to Cater To You with a fresh line up of delectable treats, amazing cocktails, and more! Catered Fine Foods, Premium Open Bar & DJ Stacy! All Hosted by RF Lounge!

Sunday, June 28th
JOVE BALAN PRESENTS PRIDE BY DAY! @ RF LOUNGE
Noon-6pm, $50/$90 combo, @ RF Lounge 531 Hudson St.(@ Charles St), West Village, 212-414-9500, Wave your flags during the parade, then stop in to enjoy some treats, a drink, and a smile! RF Lounge is located right in the HEART of the Village! Free flowing open bar, yummy munchies, and eye candy delights abound DJ DanniGirl makes you move!

JOVE BALAN PRESENTS PRIDE BY NIGHT! @ RF LOUNGE
6pm-Midnight, $50/$90 combo, @ RF Lounge 531 Hudson St.(@ Charles St), West Village, 212-414-9500, Wrap up another great PRIDE day with Jové Baiän at RF Lounge! DJ Hollaback spins into the night, lovely ladies sipping cocktails and serious yummy goodness well into the night! Special guest and surprises!


OUT IN THE BOROUGHS

Who says Manhattan has all the fun?

249 BAR LOUNGE
This two-floor Park Slope hangout is happening every weekend, but is especially hot on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, when it celebrates Brooklyn Pride.

BUM BUM BAR
This hot Latin club celebrates Pride ‘09 with a series of fun events that will make the trip out to Woodside feel like a cool summer breeze.

CHOICE CU*TS @ KALLI LOUNGE
After the Dyke March on Saturday, June 27, haul your whistles, banners and signs over to Brooklyn and party to the sounds of DJs Lesbian Van Halen, Jane Bang, Huckwild and SoHo.

GIRLCODE @ SAPONY NIGHT CLUB
Hit up Astoria with DJs Mike Da Wizard and JENRG every Friday, and of course on the Friday of Pride weekend, June 26, for drink specials, hot go-gos and over 200 girls from Queens and beyond.

RIDE THE RAINBOW @ CABANA
Ok, it’s actually a docked boat on the Manhattan-side of the East River, but the view of Brooklyn is spectacular, so this Friday, June 26 event deserves special borough props. LaReiNas Ent’s two-level party boat boasts music by DJ Mike Da Wizard.


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