There's enough parties, parades, film screenings, and performances in honor of NYC Pride to make even a Sober Sally's head spin. This year we're hoping to make your party-hopping easier (and maybe a little more efficient) by whittling down the list to the coolest 15 events taking place. And if you're in need of an after-party (or after-after party), scope Michael Musto's list of the Top 30 Gay Bars in Manhattan. Wednesday, June 25
UNCIVIL UNION: A benefit concert for THE ALLY COALITION, New Alternatives and Broadway Impact
Broad City funny ladies Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer headline a bill that also includes comedians W. Kamau Bell, Nikki Glaser, The Daily Show's Michael Che and music acts like Mates of State and Wakey!Wakey! among several others. Proceeds from the benefit go to THE ALLEY COALITION, a group founded by Fun. and designer Rachel Antonoff that promotes LGBT equality through awareness, education and advocacy; Broadway Impact, a grassroots organization of theater artists and fans promoting marriage equality; and New Alternatives, an organization that provides support to homeless LGBT youth. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $98 for a VIP package.
(Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, 8 p.m.; Tickets HERE
Thursday, June 26
How To Survive A Plague Screening
The Wythe Hotel hosts a special screening of filmmaker David France's 2012 documentary about the onset of the AIDS epidemic and how activist groups like ACT UP and TAG successfully brought attention to the crisis and fought for the development and testing of innovative new drugs that have since saved lives. Ahead of the film's screening at 8 will be a series of shorts curated by filmmaker Jonathan Caouette.
The Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn; 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Calendar Girls: Pridecon
This n' That's monthly drag show will give a special nod to trailblazers like Bette, Barbara and Britney with an evening featuring Brooklyn Nightlife Award's "Drag Queen of the Year," Horrorchata. Rumor has it, she'll be performing a killer Selena number.
This n' That, 108 N. 6th St.,10 p.m.-4 a.m.
Pride@DMAC 4 Gay Short Films
Enjoy a free screening of four gay-themed short films: Brighton, Taking it for Granted, Narcissist, and Grind (you can find synopses here). The quartet of flicks were all official selections of the 10th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival.
DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center, 62 E. 4th St., 8-10 p.m.; Tickets HERE
Friday, June 27
RIOT
In a nod to the LGBT movement's riotous roots, Ivy House will explode with an evening of drag performances and radical art installations. The 8-hour evening will lead to a climactic wrestling match between Brooklyn drag queens Merrie Cherry and Macy Rodman. Macy may be scrappy, but our bets are on Merrie.
Ivy House, 1040 Metropolitan Ave., 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
Everybooty Pride Party
Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts their queer party/artspace Everybooty for the second time after its explosive sold-out debut at last year's Pride. Presented by SPANK, HEY QUEEN!, Earl Dax and Big Art Group, the "multi-genre, multi-gender celebration of queer culture" will be home for one night to everyone from the LGBTQ editor of BuzzFeed and Justin Vivian Bond to Scissor Sister's Del Marquis and Murray Hill.
BAM Fisher, 321 Ashland Pl, Brooklyn; 8 p.m.- 2 a.m.
The Rally
This year, the official kick-off to NYC Pride will be hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race veteran Michelle Visage and feature live performances by another Ru Queen, Sharon Needles, and buzzy singer-songwriter Betty Who. General admission for the Rally is free and for all ages.
Pier 26, Hudson River Park, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28
22nd Annual NYC Dyke March
Thousands will take to the streets in celebration of LBTQ women and in protest of ongoing discrimination, harassment, and anti-LBTQ violence in schools, workplaces, families and beyond. But don't get it twisted: this is a protest march, not a parade. Participants are urged to "Make some noise. Be visible. Be heard."
Bryant Park, 5 p.m.
KUNST
Expect to find hot to trot club kids at Susanne Bartsch's newish Brooklyn party, which will feature a who's who of NYC's gay, drag and trans scenes. Keep an eye out for Amanda Lepore, Honey Dijon, Juliana Huxtable, Light Asylum's Shannon F., Jonte Moaning, Gage ofthe Boone, One-Half Nelson, Trey LaTrash and more -- they'll all be throwing down. (An extra special s/o for Brooklyn queen Lady Simon, who's expected to be dripping with blood, per usual.)
Verboten, 54 N. 11th St., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Tickets HERE
Pride With JD Samson at Ace Hotel
JD Samson (Le Tigre, MEN) officiates an "all-inclusive midtown bacchanalia" at Ace Hotel that also features performances from Alexis Blair Penney, Lauren Flax of CREEP, W Jeremy, and Amber Valentine.
Ace Hotel, 20 W 29th St, Manhattan; 10 p.m.
SUPREME
Get down with "212" gal Azealia Banks as she headlines Supreme Pride Festival 2014's main event. DJ duo Chus & Ceballos will be on the 1's and 2's and up-and-comer DJ Cindel will close out the night. Tickets range from $49-$199.99.
Capitale, 130 Bowery, 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.; Tickets HERE
Duh Does Pride
Models, cute fashion kids and the party boys who love them will descend on Up&Down for Duh's Pride bash. DJs MNDR, DJ M.O.S., Mazurbate and Chapman will be behind the decks and there'll be an Absolut-sponsored open bar from 11-midnight. In other words, come early.
Up&Down, 244 W. 14th St., 11 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Sunday, June 29
NYC Gay Pride Parade
Join the annual civil rights demonstration and take part in the biggest pride celebration of the year. This year the parade's Grand Marshals are Paper Beautiful People Laverne Cox and Jonathan Groff, along with Rea Carey, the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The event is free and open to the public, and tickets are not necessary.
Parade begins at 36th St. & Fifth Ave., 11 a.m.
A Club Called Rhonda: New York
L.A.'s wildly popular underground dance party is moving to New York for a night of uninhibited booty shaking and pansexual lovin'. When you've become a sweaty mess with makeup dripping off your face, cool off in the rooftop pool to a soundtrack of disco and house music.
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, 18 9th Ave., 10 p.m.-4 a.m.
LOGOTV Pride Party
Pride wouldn't be complete without RuPaul (or at least her sisters), and this year the Liberty Theater will host a big bash to close out the weekend featuring the season six finalists, last season's Miss Congenialities, and Ru's VH1 talk show co-host, Michelle Visage.
Liberty Theater, 233 West 41st Street, Manhattan, 8 p.m.; Tickets HERE
