It's not too late to get to New York for World Pride and the 50th anniversary of Stonewall since the entire month of June is jam-packed. There's something for everyone, from the New York Red Bulls Pride Night on June 28th to Pride Live's Stonewall Day, hosted by Elvis Duran of Z100 and featuring celebrities, activists, and community celebrating Stonewall's legacy over the last 50 years while they set the stage for the next 50 years of continued progress. Madonna was an early supporter of the event so you know the performers will be top-notch.
One of the biggest not-to-be-missed events is the premiere of Stonewall! Ian Bell's opera (which marks the 75th anniversary of the New York Opera as well). The show follows LGBTQ characters as they prepare to go to the Stonewall Inn on that fateful 1969 evening. The closing performance of Stonewall!, which has a libretto by Mark Campbell and direction by Leonard Foglia, will be hosted by Bob, The Drag Queen (of Rupaul's Drag Race) at The Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. (You can see Stonewall! all week, though.)
There's no better place to stay for the show than Time New York hotel, which has partnered with New York City Opera to offer special packages for guests looking to book this month. Though there's a standard package all week, I'd book the closing night package at Time New York, which gives you a ticket to the closing performance; a free drink and branded tumbler; entry to the pre-show performance and the meet-and-greet with Bob, The Drag Queen and to the post-performance party at The Time New York's LeGrande Lounge with the cast; and a New York City Opera gift bag (with a special Stonewall! tote bag, a NYCO pride decal, a commemorative poster, Parre Chocolat, and Keap Candles).
Why Time New York? The chic meets minimal hotel is literally right in the theater district. The hotel is across the street from Chicago, the musical (playing at The Ambassador Theatre) and literally a few steps from The Book of Mormon. Stilly sixth-floor suite was as quiet as a nunnery, which is amazing considering the hotel is literally in the heart of midtown Manhatten and a few minutes walk to Times Square, Broadway, and the subway.
The hotel itself is an artsy and sophisticated boutique hotel with some fun touches. A hanging pendant light in my room had a little gay doll couple inside it, something you only really notice when you get close. The clock at the lobby is both anagram and digital and it takes a while to even realize it's not just a moving art piece. I sat with other visitors filming it and felt slightly calmed by it (see below).
The Lobby Clock from Diane Anderson-Minshall on Vimeo.
There's a glass pavilion that makes watching the city at night delightful. There are lovely terraces, a prize-winning restaurant, a theater room, two bars (the second-floor lobby bar was wonderfully intimate), and there's a penthouse (with a bathroom to die for). But the simple suites are minimal chic and sort of masculine of center.
There's food everywhere around the hotel (plus the in-house Serafina restaurant), but if you're like me you'll also want to try the street vendors nearby and have a $5 meal sitting outside on the nearby pavilion. And the rest of the week, Time New York is a great spot for capturing the last of this month's amazing Pride month lineup (including closing ceremonies in Times Square, which promise to be unforgettable).
