Category Archives: New York City Information

Britney Spears Musical – Tickets on sale now!

She’s  back!

Tony Award winning producers James L. Nederlander and Hunter Arnold are pleased to announce that the new musical Once Upon A One More Time, powered by the music of Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears, will open on Broadway this summer at the Marquis Theatre in New York City. Helmed by internally acclaimed, Drama Desk-nominated Director & Choreographers Keone & Mari Madrid (Beyond BabelKarate Kid), the musical begins previews Saturday, May 13, 2023, and celebrates its opening night on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Starting today, Britney Spears fan club members have exclusive access to tickets by a special pre-sale, throughout the weekend. Beginning Monday December 5 at 10:00AM ET, tickets will go on sale to the general public at Ticketmaster.com/877-250-2929.

ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME

A NEW MUSICAL POWERED BY THE HITS OF GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ICON
BRITNEY SPEARS

WILL OPEN ON BROADWAY AT THE MARQUIS THEATRE

PREVIEWS BEGIN MAY 13, 2023
OPENING NIGHT JUNE 22, 2023

“AN EVENING OF BUOYANT DELIGHT! Once Upon A One More Time is one of the most ambitious new musicals in a theater world awakening to a creative new day – a most unlikely cultural mash-up, reframing a bevy of storybook characters in an enlightened, modern context.” – The Washington Post

Once Upon A One More Time combines fairytales, Betty Friedan and Britney Spears in a large-scale, Broadway way…resulting in CLEVER, UPROARIOUS FUN. Who couldn’t use a little more fun these days?” – NPR

“INGENIOUS and IMPROBABLY FUNNY!” – Washingtonian

“INSPIRING! Once Upon a One More is a full-fledged, Grade A, gold star success… and exactly the party we need right now. It’s as thought-provoking as it is toe-tapping, as clever as it is hilarious, as bold as it is shiny. I predict it will be AN INTERGENERATIONAL SMASH.” – DC Metro Theater Arts

FAN PRE-SALE BEGINS TODAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2022

 

Praised as “ingenious, and improbably funny” (Washingtonian) upon its world premiere last year, Once Upon a One More Time played a sold-out, extended engagement at the Tony Award-winning Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), in Washington, D.C, from November 29, 2021-January 9, 2022. The musical was described as “an evening of buoyant delight” by The Washington Post critic Peter Marks, , who also wrote in a feature story on the production, “Once Upon A One More Time is one of the most ambitious new musicals in a theater world awakening to a creative new day – a most unlikely cultural mash-up, reframing a bevy of storybook characters in an enlightened, modern context.” NPR said the show, “combines fairytales, Betty Friedan and Britney Spears in a large-scale, Broadway way, resulting in clever, uproarious fun. Who couldn’t use a little more fun these days?” DC Metro Theater Arts raved the show is, “inspiring! A full-fledged, Grade A, gold star success… and exactly the party we need right now. It is as thought-provoking as it is toe-tapping, as clever as it is hilarious, as bold as it is shiny. I predict it will be an intergenerational smash.”

Once Upon A One More Time features an original story written by Jon Hartmere (bare, The Upside) that flips the script on your favorite fairytale icons. Cinderella, Snow White, Little Mermaid and other classic storybook characters gather for their fortnightly book club, when—oh baby, baby!—a rogue fairy godmother grants their wish for a new story, by dropping The Feminine Mystique into their corseted laps. The arrival of this new tome spurs a royal revelation: there is more to life than bird-made dresses and true love’s kiss! The ultimate revisionist fairytale for anyone who yearns to feel “stronger than yesterday,” Once Upon A One More Time weaves the chart-topping anthems of the Princess of Pop herself, Britney Spears – including “Oops I Did It Again,” “Lucky,” “Circus,” and “Toxic” – into a heartwarming and uproarious musical adventure about claiming your own happily ever after.

Cast will be announced at a later date. Once Upon A One More Time was originally developed and produced by Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington D.C. (Simon Godwin, Artistic Director; Chris Jennings, Executive Director).

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$70 Mill Public Beach in New York City

New York City is one step closer to getting a big sandy public beach!

What at first appeared a lofty dream is now closer to reality. The Hudson River Park Trust on Thursday announced three requests for proposals for the construction of Manhattan’s first public beach.

The project includes a 5.5-acre public park on the Gansevoort Peninsula in the Meatpacking District that would be home to a resilient “beach” with kayak access, a sports field, scenic lounge spots, and a large public art installation.

The site, located on the western end of Little West 12th Street and what remains of 13th Avenue, formerly served as a parking lot for the city’s Department of Sanitation. In 2019, the Hudson River Park Trust tapped James Corner Field Operations, the team behind the High Line and Domino Park, to design the new park.

The park at Gansevoort Peninsula will include a sandy beach area with kayak and small boat access, a lawn, a seating area north of the waterfront, a sports field, a dog run, lounge chairs, and a salt marsh with native grass and plantings.  More  details  at 6sqft. 

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New York City Reopen Plans

From  ABC  NEWS; After three gloomy months and 21,000 deaths that made it the nation’s most lethal hot spot, New York City slowly began reopening Monday (June 9th, 2020) in the biggest test yet of Americans’ ability to keep the coronavirus in check.

Owners of smaller shops were eager to reopen, even if they didn’t expect much business.

“We are going to be open every day for the sake of showing life,” said eyewear designer Ahlem Manai-Platt, who was reopening a lower Manhattan store.

 

From TRAVEL PULSE; Phase 1 includes construction and manufacturing, mostly, along with some retail clothing, electronics, jewelry and luggage stores, among others.

Each phase will take two weeks before moving into the next phase, unless confirmed cases of the virus continue to drop more dramatically and then New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo will consider speeding things up.

Fortune magazine estimated that New York City is losing $173 million a day. “The coronavirus crisis is shrinking New York City’s economy on a scale far more vast than the squeeze on any other U.S. metropolis,” Fortune wrote.

The short answer to the question of when one of the world’s great destinations will reopen to tourism is not until the end of June, when Phase 3 kicks in. Phase 3 includes the bulk of the hospitality industry, with restaurants and other food-service businesses allowed to reopen for dine-in service, as well as hotels that are not already open servicing overnight guests.

Phase 4 includes arts, entertainment, museums, theaters and movie theaters.

New York City has more than 40 major theaters hosting first-run plays and musicals, not to mention Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions. Now the shows won’t go on again until Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the earliest, and more likely not until after the first of the year. Many people don’t realize how tightly packed a 1,000-seat theater can be, making social distancing difficult. And reduced capacity makes it financially cumbersome for Broadway shows to continue.  READ MORE HERE.

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NYC Pride June 25th 2020 Live Stream

NYC Pride and our partners at WABC Channel 7 are proud to announce a special broadcast event on Sunday, June 28, 2020, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March held in 1970.

In this unique year, NYC Pride is committed to saluting front-line workers alongside several leaders in the community being honored as Grand Marshals:  Dan Levy, The Ali Forney Center, Yanzi Peng, and Victoria Cruz.

While it may be a different type of celebration, the tradition of commemorating the LGBTQIA+ movement will continue!

The special will feature performances by Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Luísa Sonza and more.

Expect to see appearances by Wilson Cruz, Miss Richfield 1981, Margaret Cho and others. WABC’s very own Ken Rosato and Lauren Glassberg will be joined by special guest co-host Carson Kressley, along with correspondents Sam Champion and Kemberly Richardson.

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New York City Subway Explained

NYC  subway can be overwhelming at first!  I know  I avoided it  for  several years!

New York CURBED ran a great piece  this  week – A comprehensive guide to the subway’s history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel.

The subway can also be tricky to navigate if you’re new to NYC, given the sheer size of the system—there are 472 stations throughout the boroughs—and its quirks. But fear not: This primer has everything you need to know, from the history of the subway to how you should behave during a cramped rush-hour commute. If you’re looking for the latest subway news, we’ve got you covered, and scroll to the bottom for an overview of the current situation.  Read the full article  HERE. 

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5-6 Million Expected in NYC for WorldPride

Do you have any idea  what 6 million people  are going to look  and feel like  in NYC??  Some people are estimating that number  for   WorldPride 2019!

Pride in New York City is expected to be particularly massive this year, since it is the first time WorldPride will come to the U.S. and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that first started the annual gay pride march.

Some 6 million visitors are expected to come to New York City for Pride month this June. A variety of events are slated, culminating with the annual LGBTQ Pride march on June 30.

THERE IS SO  MUCH TO DO ALL MONTH!

I am guessing  it will be  very difficult  to get around the city, Pride  Weekend. There are only so many cabs, ubers and lyfts! – be prepared to do some walking!  AND   Allow  extra  time  to  get places!

 

SAO PAULO  pride  is  the biggest  celebration in  the world  with 4,000,000

Madrid Worldpride in 2017  drew  3,500,000

NYC normally  gets  2,000,000

Chicago gets  1,000,000

So fasten your seat belts, it is going to be a hell of weekend!

 

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LGBT Welcome Center for WorldPride NYC

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF WORLDPRIDE WELCOME CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY’S WEST VILLAGE

New Center Will Highlight New York State as a Welcoming Place for the LGBTQ Community and Promote WorldPride Events

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the grand opening of the New York State WorldPride Welcome Center, located at 112 Christopher Street in New York City’s West Village, steps from the Stonewall National Monument. WorldPride, the largest international LGBTQ Pride celebration, is coming to New York this month to coincide with the Stonewall 50 commemorations, marking the first time it has been held in the United States.

“Pride is a special month for the LGBTQ community and for all New Yorkers, and with the Empire State hosting WorldPride this year on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall we have a lot to celebrate and commemorate,” Governor Cuomo said. “From the passage of marriage equality and GENDA to our ongoing fight with the Trump administration over critical protections for transgender individuals, New York has been a national leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights and we will always stand alongside this community that we love so much. As millions of people visit our state this June, the WorldPride Welcome Center will highlight the roots and accomplishments of the LGBTQ rights movement in New York and promote the state as a safe, welcoming destination with no place for hate.”

 

Created in partnership with NYC Pride/Heritage of Pride and The LGBT Community Center, the New York State WorldPride Welcome Center is located just blocks away from the site of the original Stonewall Inn. On June 28, 1969, LGBTQ community members began spontaneous demonstrations at the Stonewall Inn that lasted for six days and are recognized today as the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The Welcome Center showcases New York’s role in the struggle for equality through a timeline gallery from the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis in the 1950s, to the Stonewall uprising in the 1960s, to Governor Cuomo signing the state’s Marriage Equality Act into law in the 2010s.

The rainbow pride colors are featured prominently throughout the Welcome Center. Visitors can take a picture at the selfie wall, featuring the I LOVE NY LGBT logo. Overhead, the center’s ceiling showcases a creative deconstructed interpretation of the pride flag, and the rainbow colors are also incorporated into the center’s shelves and lighting.

Senator Brad Hoylman, the only openly LGBTQ member of the New York Senate, said, “The first brick was thrown at Stonewall a half century ago, igniting the global movement for LGBTQ human rights. Since then, our community has been fighting for equality—including this year, when we finally assured equal rights for transgender New Yorkers thanks to the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo. I’m thrilled to see the New York WorldPride Welcome Center open today to mark the beginning of this international celebration of progress on LGBTQ human rights and thank Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development for their efforts.”

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said, “50 years ago, the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village sparked a movement for LGBTQ rights that spread throughout the world, so it’s fitting that this year’s WorldPride is in New York. I’m proud that this welcome center, which is located blocks from the Stonewall Inn and in my Council district, will help visitors for WorldPride navigate Greenwich Village and all the wonders of New York.”

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WorldPride NYC 2019 Parade Route

NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride NYC 2019 and Stonewall 50, announces the 2019 LGBTQIA+ Pride March route, as an unprecedented number of people are expected for the events planned for June 2019.

 

The 2019 Pride March, which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, will step off at noon on Sunday, June 30th. Starting from 26th Street and 5th Avenue. Some 150,000 marchers will proceed south on 5th Avenue before heading west on 8th Street. After crossing over 6th Avenue, the March will continue on Christopher Street, passing the site designated in 2016 by President Barack Obama as the Stonewall National Monument. It will then turn north on 7th Avenue, passing the NYC AIDS Memorial, before dispersing in Chelsea just north of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue.

 

“As we prepare for the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride event in history, NYC Pride has worked closely with the NYPD, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office, and Council Speaker Corey Johnson to determine the most efficient and safest route and staging areas possible for the 2019 March,” said Julian Sanjivan, NYC Pride March Director.

 

“As we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, it is fitting that we will march down Fifth Avenue, past the Stonewall Inn and through the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and Chelsea. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio, the NYPD, NYC Pride and all their partners for their hard work in planning WorldPride NYC 2019, a tremendous logistical feat,” said NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

 

“New York City stands ready to welcome people from around the world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the significant role our city played in advancing equality and justice for all,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I commend NYC Pride, the NYPD, and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson for working together with my office to determine a Pride March route that provides for a safe, affirming, and meaningful experience to commemorate this historic milestone for the LGBTQ community.”

 

“NYC Pride is thrilled to welcome millions of LGBTQIA+ people from around the globe for World Pride as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Uprising,” said Chris Frederick, Executive Director of NYC Pride. “From our Opening Ceremony in Brooklyn to the largest Pride March in history to the Closing Ceremony in iconic Times Square, it is clear that New York will embrace Pride like never before. We welcome everyone to experience a million moments of Pride and make history with us in 2019.”

 

Heritage of Pride –

Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events. Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate and celebrate our diverse community.

 

For more information about Heritage of Pride, WorldPride 2019 NYC, and Stonewall 50, including opportunities to volunteer, sponsor, or purchase tickets, visithttp://www.worldpride.org.

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NY Passes Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act

HRC celebrated the historic passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in New York as well as legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” GENDA would solidify existing law by explicitly adding gender identity and expression to the New York Human Rights Law. The bill has passed the New York Assembly 11 times, and today marks the first time it has passed both chambers. Both bills will now head to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk to be signed.

Today’s passage of GENDA is the culmination of efforts that reach back for over a decade. In 2016, Governor Cuomo directed the New York State Division of Human Rights to adopt regulations, consistent with state case law interpreting the meaning of ‘sex,’ to make it clear that transgender people are protected from discrimination and harassment under the state’s Human Rights Law. Additionally, the bill adds protections on the basis of gender identity to the state’s hate crimes law. The passage and signing of GENDA will explicitly codify these protections into law once and for all. With the passage of legislation banning conversion therapy, New York joins 14 states and the District of Columbia in protecting LGBTQ youth from this dangerous practice.

Read More  at HRC

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World Pride NYC The Gayest Day of the Year!

NYC Pride Guide: WorldPride Preview

Our  2018 NYC Pride Guide and WorldPride Preview is F I N A L L Y H E R E! And guess what? WorldPride Closing performer Melissa Etheridge is gracing the cover!

Check out an exclusive interview with Etheridge, our snowed-in survival guide, and an in-depth interview with artist, Shantell Martin.

Read Now
WorldPride Closing Ceremony in Times Square
Mark your calendars for June 30, 2019 as NYC Pride welcomes all to a final celebration of pride from 7-10pm in NYC’s iconic Times Square.Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter, Melissa Etheridge is slated to perform for the evening.

That night, Times Square will serve as a home to a multitude of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies on a truly momentous evening of love, pride, and community” said Etheridge.
The evening will provide a full slate of influential speakers and global musical talents. The official lineup for the WorldPride Closing Ceremony will be announced in February.

The Largest LGBTQIA+ Street Festival in New York City!

All eyes will be on New York City as we commemorate 50 years of the Stonewall Uprising. Our attendees are from all five boroughs and beyond making PrideFest the single best opportunity for businesses to connect directly with the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sunday, June 30, 2019
11:00AM – 6:00PM
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World Pride 2019 New York City

From Towleroad –

Next summer, WorldPride comes to the United States for the first time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The sixth edition of the culturally-diverse WorldPride will attract millions of LGBTQI+ revelers for the largest celebration of Pride in history. In honor of this incredible event Towleroad is celebrating 50 years of LGBTQI+ history with a series examining queer life from the 1960s through today.

The June 28, 1969 Stonewall Riots enflamed the LGBTQ liberation movement, but it wasn’t until 1970 that the protests transformed into the earliest iteration of Pride.

The first Christopher Street Liberation Day, June 28, 1970, included the first Gay Pride March from Christopher Street to Central Park. (Chicago Gay Liberation hosted a march the day before to commemorate the riots taking place the last Saturday in June.) In the subsequent years, Pride celebrations spread to Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Paris, London and more.

Increases in visibility led to increased tolerance as well. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association board voted unanimously to remove homosexuality from its list of psychiatric disorders. States began decriminalizing sexual relations between consenting adults.

It wasn’t all progress, though. Singer, activist and villain Anita Bryant spent the ’70s crusading against local anti-discrimination ordinances. Galvanized by some of her early successes repealing legislation, LGBTQ rights groups organized boycotts of oranges (Bryant was the spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission), and once was pied in the face by an activist.

Read the full article  with all kinds  of  70’s  LGBTQ  information,  you probably had no idea was out there!

Learn more about the Stonewall 50th Anniversary and  World  Pride  NYC  here!

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Unwritten Rules of New York City

Found this on Quora – and just had  to share it!

By:
Marissa Tjartjalis, lives in New York City

Follow these rules and you just may survive here.

  • Walk fast. Never stop dead in your tracks on the sidewalk. You are fair game to get pushed if you do this.
  • You’re “on the train”, not “on the subway.”
  • You order plain or regular pizza. We do not call it “a cheese slice.” Unless you want Kraft.
  • You must fold your pizza. Don’t do a balancing act with it resting flat on your hand. Never, never (!!!) eat it with a knife and fork!
  • Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and (eugh) Papa John’s are not real pizza. They are an entirely different food group. We do not consume them unless there are no other pizza places in the vicinity.
  • Never purchase anything from a convenient store, newsstand, or food place anywhere within a five street block and/or one avenue block’s distance from either Penn Station or Times Square. Unless you would like to be ripped off of an extra 3–5 dollars per item.
  • Never buy a hot dog, or any food or drink within Central Park. Same reason.
  • Root for the Patriots or the Red Sox at your own risk. Mets and Jets are acceptable.
  • You are required to hate the MTA in order to live here. No matter how much cheaper it is than any other mode of transportation, it is always too expensive. It will go up a quarter a ride every 2 years but we will continue to pay it.
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Rainbow Flag Dedication

RAINBOW FLAG TO BE DEDICATED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11,

AT STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT

ON MANHATTAN’S CHRISTOPHER STREET

 

 

NEW YORK CEREMONY MARKS FIRST TIME

THAT THE INTERNATIONAL LGBT SYMBOL

WILL BE DISPLAYED PERMANENTLY ON FEDERAL LAND

 

The Rainbow Flag, the international symbol of LGBT liberation and pride, will be unveiled in a special ceremony on Wednesday, October 11 at 12:00 Noon at the historic Stonewall National Monument, where, thanks to the efforts of activists, it now claims a permanent home. This historic event marks the first time that the LGBT flag waves over federally-funded land, under the permanent stewardship of the National Park Service.

Stonewall National Monument is located in Christopher Street Park in New York’s Greenwich Village. The park is on the corner of Christopher Street and 7th Avenue South.

The event will be emceed by Gay USA television co-host Ann Northrop. Performers will include Telly Leung, who plays the title role in Disney’s “Aladdin on Broadway” and Cantor Steve Zeidenberg of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. Speakers will be Leslie Cagan, an organizer of the 1987 March on Washington for LGBT Rights, National Park Service’s Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services Barbara Applebaum, Kiara St. James, Executive Director of New York Transgender Advocacy Group, and LGBT and AIDS activist Michael Petrelis who spearheaded this initiative.

“It is a victory for our Community to have these symbolic colors flying majestically over our Stonewall, designated as a National Monument by President Obama, even as our LGBTQ brothers and sisters are under attack by the current regime in power,” said Michael Petrelis. He went on to say, “As we gather today, we are reminded of another October 11, thirty years ago, when the names of our fallen comrades were symbolically celebrated on another national monument – the AIDS Quilt — during the reign of another President  who waged an attack against us.”

October 11 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the historic 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian Gay Rights–when the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt was unfurled on the National Mall.  The date also marks the annual National Coming Out Day, a day celebrating the idea that all members of the LGBTQ community should be able to live their lives openly, honestly, and with pride.

The flag, which was originally designed by the late artist and activist Gilbert Baker, consists of six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The flag is typically flown horizontally, with the red stripe on top, as would appear in a natural rainbow.

Support for the ceremony is being generously provided by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS helps men, women and children across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance. broadwaycares.org

Gilbert Baker died in New York City on March 31 at the age of 65. Memorials to the internationally known activist were held across the globe in subsequent weeks.

The Stonewall Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

 

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

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Stonewall LGBT History Tour

Leading U.S. tour operator, New York Tour1 is thrilled to announce the premiere of “Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT History Tour,” an exclusive tour created in honor of NYC Pride, celebrating the leaders of New York’s LGBT community.

Named the #2 U.S. attraction on TripAdvisor earlier this year, the company has partnered with the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, a nonprofit organization providing educational, strategic and financial assistance to grassroots organizations supporting LGBTQ communities and individuals who suffer the indignities and fear arising from social intolerance here in the United States and around the world.

Together they’re strengthening New York Pride Month by going beyond the parade and parties; offering the public a chance to discover, commemorate, and remember the pioneers, artists, and leaders of LGBT history.

“Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT” is a two-hour walking tour that will start at 4:00 pm on June 21, 23, and 24. Expert guides will lead guests through decades of LGBT history as they journey through the streets of New York City’s Greenwich Village. The itinerary includes visits to the historic Stonewall Inn (the birthplace of the Gay Rights Movement), as well as sites significant to New York’s LGBT pioneers and leaders, including: the Larry Kramer residence, the Waverly Theater, and the Gay Liberation Monument.

“We’re very excited to host this event. New York Pride is so much more than the wonderful parties and glorious parade that it’s globally known for. There’s an extensive amount of history and information about the sacrifices people made for LGBT progress, right here in NYC. We wanted to highlight and honor those courageous events with this tour.” – Marcus Carlsson, Marketing Manager

About New York Tour1

Since its founding in 2010, New York Tour1 has been offering a range of award-winning walking tours to locals and international visitors alike. Every day, it runs tours throughout multiple neighborhoods in Manhattan. The company prides itself on designing “authentic” experiences that give guests stories and memories to hold on to even after they leave. Guides are knowledgeable storytellers who have personal connections to or professional expertise in the tours they give.

Pricing: $25 with all proceeds to Stonewall Gives Back Initiative

Tickets to “Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT History Tour” cost $25 and are available for purchase over the phone or online.  

Website: https://www.newyorktour1.com/the-pride-tour

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Finding an Apartment with your Dog or Cat in New York

Finding a pet friendly apartment anywhere can be a real challenge, but perhaps no place more than in New York City.  For some people, opting to get rid of their pet is the hard choice they make, but for those that need emotional support animals, that simply is not an option.  With obstacles like high costs and landlords unwilling to make accommodations, this is a very real problem for a lot of people. This is where ESADoctors.com steps in and can help you keep your animal.

Pet Friendly Apartments in New York

When you talk about apartments in New York, there are a few neighborhoods that immediately come to mind.  Those include the Upper East Side, Brooklyn, Long Island City, SoHo, Chelsea, and the West Village.  The hard truth is the more likely a neighborhood is to be in high demand, the higher the cost and the more restrictions you’ll come across in your search.  A pet friendly apartment in Astoria often starts at over $2200 per month for a studio space and that doesn’t even take into account the high pet deposits.  Apartments in the areas of Midtown, Park Slope, Williamsburg, and East Village will run even higher. By the time you add in deposits, apartments even in Greenpoint, Bushwick, or the Upper West Side may become completely out of the budget consideration for many.  For those that can afford it, the limited options for apartments often make for some very unexpected practices such as offering double rent or paying triple deposits to try to get an animal accepted into the building.  Unfortunately, a few unscrupulous landlords may well take advantage of those who need an emotional support animal to line their own pockets in those areas where pet accommodating housing is in the shortest supply. There is a small light at the end of the tunnel.  Even apartments that do not allow pets, must allow a service animal and emotional support animals.

Getting an Emotional Support Animal Letter

If you want to avoid high costs and unfair discrimination, you can contact ESADoctors.com to get an emotional support animal letter (ESA Letter). The process is simple and utilizes tele-health services. You fill out their brief ESA Questionnaire and a licensed therapist will be in touch with your shortly after. Read more about how to get an ESA letter here.

Please do keep in mind though that having an emotional support animal does not give your companion a license to be a nuisance.  Landlords can still ask you to leave if your ESA becomes a disturbance to others in the building and you can’t let your animal cause damages.  That is also grounds for asking you to move.

There is also a chance that neighbors will not feel you really need a support animal and are just using the system to bring pets into a no pet building.  They may not know what a very real medical condition mental health issues are.  Not everyone understands that as many as 1 in 5 or 20% of the US population have some sort of mental illness and that not all disabilities are something you can see.  This can make for hostile living conditions and unwarranted complaints to the landlord.  These types of obstacles may even increase the need for your emotional support animal since stressors like these can cause additional anxiety attacks even in those who generally have their symptoms well under control and appear to be a “perfectly normal” person.

Living with Your Emotional Support Animal in an Apartment

Those who need emotional support or other service animals understand how real even invisible disabilities are.  These animals become vital to the survival of those people.  The people who need them need to know that there are apartments available to them, in every part of New York from Astoria to the West Village.  They need to know they can find a great apartment without being pushed into situations that are more than a little questionable.  Knowing your rights as a person with a disability can go a long way in making sure you and your assistance animal find the right home.  After all, home is where you are supposed to be most at ease.

To qualify for an emotional support animal letter please contact ESADoctors.com. They will pair you with a top mental health professional and secure the legal documents for you to live with your dog, cat, or other animal.

 

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StoneWall Inn to be come National Gay Monument

New York’s iconic Stonewall Inn, where the modern gay rights movement took root, will become the first national monument honoring the history of gays and lesbians in the U.S. under a proposal President Barack Obama is preparing to approve.

Designating the small swath of land will mark a major act of national recognition for gay rights advocates and their struggles over the last half-century. Since the 1969 uprising in Greenwich Village, the U.S. has enacted anti-discrimination protections, allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military and legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Though land must still be transferred to the federal government and other details worked out, the president is expected to move quickly to greenlight the monument following a public meeting Monday in Manhattan, according to two individuals familiar with the administration’s plans. The individuals weren’t authorized to discuss the plans publicly and requested anonymity.  More  at  CBS  LOCAL.

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Puerto Vallarta Brings Day of the Dead to New York

Puerto Vallarta Celebrates the

Day of the Dead in New York

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board will promote its annual Day of the Dead Festival in the city of New York with participation in events across the tristate area of New York.

Puerto Vallarta Day of the Dead celebrations are a five-day cultural festival that includes a series of events and activities intended to make it one of the most colorful of the end of the year and beginning of Puerto Vallarta’s high season.

Held from October 29 to November 2, the Puerto Vallarta Day of the Dead Festival will promote traditional elements of the celebration as well as new artistic angles and interpretations. Traditional installation of altars will be done in hotels, restaurants and public spaces while an interactive altar will be on display at Lazaro Cardenas Park. Organizers will be giving out a passport to the installations for those interested in doing their own tour of the altars.

The festival will also include a film festival, a food tasting and a series of concerts, folkloric ballet and a presentation of a series of photos on the theme of death, as it is viewed by popular Mexican culture. Organizers will also try to break the record for the number of Catrinas in one place.

In the New York tristate area, Puerto Vallarta will be participating in the following event to promote the celebration.

New York Botanical Gardens – Puerto Vallarta continues its celebration of the gardens’ exhibition: FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life. Now on its last week, the Day of the Dead weekend is the perfect time to see the show. Patrons were able to win a trip to Puerto Vallarta at the beginning of the exhibition when the Mexico Tourism Board held its private event on the location and visitors will once again be able to win a trip to Puerto Vallarta with stay at Garlands del Rio by registering online at https://goo.gl/yIwi8G

El Museo del Barrio – Puerto Vallarta will be mounting a 10 feet tall Day of the Dead altar when it joins the Mexico Tourism Board, El Museo del Barrio and the Junior Council for its annual arts education benefit. This year, it is using marriage vows as inspiration to celebrate love – gained and lost. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: Till Death Do Us Part will take place on Thursday, October 29th from 8PM – 11PM at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. Participants will also be able to participate on a silent auction and bid on trips to Puerto Vallarta with stays at Velas Resorts. http://goo.gl/R1mRje

Daniel Valle’s 5th Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebrations- the Family friendly day-long event embraces traditional elements of the Day of the Dead as celebrated in Mexico and offers an educational opportunity to learn its history and reasons behind the holiday. With food vendors and folkloric dancers the event will be fun for all. The celebration will take place at Court Square Studios with doors opening at 10 AM. Participants will be able to sign up for a trip to Puerto Vallarta as well as beach bags full of goodies from the destination.  http://goo.gl/tZ2fqV

For more Information please visit: www.visitpuertovallarta.com

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New York City Gay Pride 2015

WANT TO FEEL GOOD TODAY!  Watch This!

This is what GAY PRIDE is all about. Celebration and Family!

2015 was a record-breaking year for NYC Pride, with more than 2 million people attending 11 amazing events over 8 days. Check out some of our favorite moments in this video, produced by the amazing team at Boxing Rooster Productions, with music from NYC’s own Joe Gauthreaux.

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Louis Falcone’s lawsuit against the NYPD

Gay Staten Island Man To Sue Four NYPD Officers Over Homophobic Beating/ Hate Crime in front of victim’s 66 year old mother.

  • On June 19, 2015, 4 NYPD officers arrived at the Staten Island home of 31 year old Louis Falcone. Mr. Falcone and his brother got into a verbal disagreement and the police showed up about an hour later after Mr. Falcone’s brother had left and all had calmed down.
  • 1 of the 4 police officers entered plaintiff’s home, dragged him outside and then all four police officers forced plaintiff to the ground and beat him.
  • While the beating was taking place the police officers were calling him a “fag” and a “faggot”. Mr. Falcone is openly homosexual. The police officers stomped on plaintiff’s head and on his ankle causing him multiple fractures which required surgery. Mr. Falcone’s face was forced into the mud and he was unable to breathe. When Mr. Falcone was finally able to lift his head from the mud and spit out the mud that had gotten in his mouth one police officer said to the others that they needed to watch out because he was spitting up blood and that “all faggots have AIDS so I’m sure this one does too.” The vicious beating took place in front of the victim’s distraught 66 year old mother.
  • The police officers also threatened to kill Mr. Falcone’s dog “Looch” who was crying at the sight of his owner being beaten.
  • After the beating was over, Mr. Falcone was handcuffed on his front lawn. While in cuffs an ambulance came (Mr. Falcone does not know who called the ambulance) and the cuffs were removed. Mr. Falcone was treated in the emergency room and required two surgeries. Mr. Falcone was never arrested by these police officers for anything and he was never taken to the precinct for any reason whatsoever. The incident was caught on camera by a neighbor across the street.

 

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Stonewall Inn gets Landmark Status

The Stonewall Inn, the Greenwich Village bar where resistance to a police raid sparked the modern gay rights movement, was made a city landmark Tuesday, the first time a site has been named primarily because of its significance to the LGBT history.

“New York City’s greatness lies in its inclusivity and diversity,” Meenakshi Srinivasan, chairwoman of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, said before the unanimous vote. “The events at Stonewall were a turning point in the LGBT rights movement and in the history of our nation.”

Patrons fought back against a police raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, and the street protests that followed for several days are credited with galvanizing gay activism in New York and globally. The rebellion is commemorated with annual gay pride parades in hundreds of cities. (JUDY GARLAND had died June 22nd that same week. So the queens were in no mood that week!)

The two buildings that comprised the Stonewall Inn were originally built in the 1840s as stables, and in 1930 were merged at the first story and given a unified facade. Their combined ground floor commercial space originally housed a bakery, and in 1934 it was taken over by the Stonewall Inn Restaurant. The property reopened in 1967 as a gay club, retaining the name Stonewall Inn

To read The REAL History of the Stonewall Riots CLICK HERE

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