Pride Week in NYC. Such a good vacation. I'm going to do my best to keep it succinct and fun in details but frankly, it is such a whirlwind in my memory now. Days keep blending whenever I tell stories to someone.
Jill and I got in on Wednesday ($25 for a 2-person round trip on MegaBus. Heck yes. Book in advance, people.) and met GracieLou at a little Chinese restaurant (it was like China-to-go, very commercial but tasty!) - she had just come from class at Stella Adler, and then an interview with Cold Water Creek (a job she found out two days later she got!), where Mike already works. We hit up the apartment, dropped all our junk, and went to BlockHeads for margaritas and burritos (exactly the meal I crave when getting into the City). Note: originally, this vacation was planned for Provincetown, but when we realized it was Pride Week, we had to change plans because all the PTown gays were obviously in the City instead. Micheal, being silly, accidentally mentioned he wasn't leaving town after all, and got trapped at work for 2 days of our otherwise 5 day vacation. We sent him 'wish you were here, getting drunk' pictures because he should have been there.
From BlockHeads there was exhaustion. Jill hadn't slept in almost 24 hours, and I was dragging from the constant work of the week before, so we got Mike to just come home (very late) and were going to drink at the apartment and decided against it when we all fell asleep on Mike's bed... except Mike. Who was wired. And sweet enough to sleep on the couch and let Jill and I have his bed for a few days.
Thursday was a blur of rain, in impulse hookah purchase (it's pink!!), Canal Street / China Town / SoHo, the hunt for a cheap pair of footless tights (which, after I finally found a pair, it promptly stopped raining for the rest of the day...), silly bickering, an amazing slice of pizza, and then Mike got out of work to start his weekend at last. We walked towards FIT/Stella Adler (only separated by a few blocks on the same street) and met up with Gracie after her classes to go to the Museum of Sex. Because, why not? Oh and we found coupons.. so that was nice.
That museum is sort of amazing. We all bonded over the faces both people and animals make during orgasm, and the cartoons that we probably shouldn't have watched when we were kids (who knew it was all sexual innuendo! it explains so much!) Jekll and Hyde Restaurant was last for the night, and we got to sit by the werewolf mounted on the wall - it was like Chuck E Cheese for parents who really want their kids to watch black and white horror films versus Disney classics. I found it to be a bit corny, when I was solidly prepared to be frightened most of dinner (one of my favorite things is being out of my comfort zone while eating. no joke.) Once I relaxed, a lot of the 'magic' seemed lost to me, but everyone else seemed to really enjoy themselves so there were no complaints from me.
We didn't end up going out Thursday night, but I also can't for the life of me remember what we did... it was unanimously decided that pants-wearing was unnecessary every time we re-entered the apartment. Up a hill then a 4th Floor walkup will getcha. Come to think of it, I think we watched our version of Edward Scissorhands. And got all choked up.
Friday was spent with Mike and Sammy. First though, before Gracie had to go to class, we went downtown to the Chelsea Market for breakfast. We ate at the Milk Bar, where none of us had tried but always wanted to. Everyone working there seemed very flustered but our breakfast was delicious so, again, no complaints. Fried egg sandwich and potatoes? Yes please. Gracie had to scoot to class, so the three of us hopped the train to the Met and met up (heh.) with Sammy, Jill's cousin. Mike had told us there was an Alexander McQueen exhibit up only until the end of June (nobody worry, it's been extended because it's THAT AMAZING.) and that was not something we were willing to miss - a one hour wait? No problem.
Did I mention it was amazing? It was amazing. Breathtaking. Stunning. Genius. There aren't enough words. They weren't allowing photography so I had to sneak a few on my phone, they simply don't do justice though. I will remember this show for my whole life.
From the Met we got some bubble tea, then regrouped with Gracie at a thai restaurant called Room Service.
The inside was so much fun! Lots of deep reds, bright purples, stand-alone doors in weird places, and huge chandeliers. I've never had thai so I kept it simple with some Thai Fried Rice with chicken - yum. We were trying to stay under $5 per meal except for a splurge at lunch or dinner, and pairing the good food with Happy Hour was always a goal. Room Service did not disappoint.Then we found a puppy pet store. And hearts were broken. I missed Sway so bad, and Mike and Gracie are lonely these days with their lovers being all sorts of abroad, and there was a solid moment I was sure we were going to turn around and get one. They had names already picked out - Teddy and Cupcake. I look forward to the day they actually get one.
Back home, we popped the Patron I'd brought and we watched the live Senate feed. Another moment I'll never forget my whole life: being in NYC, with my favorite gay friends, watching New York pass gay marriage for the first time. We specifically watched one speaker who was on the fence make the right decision. Shots for everyone! and before we officially went out to celebrate with the rest of the City, I made everyone sit and watch Cuomo's ending speech with me.
We got all dolled up (even Jill was covered in glitter and makeup when Mike was done with her) and went out to The Ritz. Turns out, Mike only knows gay gay bars in NYC, none that are even remotely half and half. There wasn't even a women's bathroom, I had to pee in the handicapped bathroom because I was not about to squat over a urinal.
I had worn high heels out, and my feet were dyyying after the club so we had to find a Duane Reade in Times Square and get a pair of those insta-flats for me so I'd stop whining. They're like shower caps for your feet, absolutely ridiculous but so necessary. We got some McDonalds and before we knew it, it was 3am. The subway home was a sleepy trip, and we were out as soon as we walked in the door.
Saturday saw us all together again (no classes or work! a real vacation day!), sleeping in really late, shopping all around town, and genuinely enjoying the first sunny-all-day day of the trip. We started at Teany, a vegetarian deli co-owned by Moby, and had really delicious sandwiches and soups. Then cupcakes. Cupcakes were the point of the day. We first stopped at Sugar Sweet Sunshine & I had an amazing almond cupcake. Next door was a photo gallery that I didn't mean to escape into without telling anyone, but these things happen. They found me, eventually, and the photos were beautiful. Next to McQueen, I was really happy to have some art in my life on this trip. You just can't go to Chelsea and not see a gallery. I got to talk to the photographer, who reminded me to not get jaded about working as a photographer by keeping my camera in the home, taking photos of my life and the things that keep me going, just for my own sanity.
I got really pissy in H&M at one point, but all I needed was a snack and I'd perk right back up. We found Gracie's vegan bakery for more cupcakes (I opt'd for banana bread, also amazing) called Babycakes. We got to sit, have some water and rice milk (I'm a convert. It was so delicious and I have dairy problems so this is the most amazing discovery as of late), and I was back to me. We tried to get to Buffalo Exchange but we were five minutes late and they wouldn't let us in. Who closes at 8 on a Saturday?? We found a different vintage shop where Gracie fell in love with a dress (50% off!). Finally, we realized Jill left her shopping bag at Babycakes, so we got some bottles of very cheap wine at Trader Joes, I went to Starbucks to use the bathroom (and get hit on. not what I expected while waiting in line to pee.), then split up so Mike & Jill could go back to get the bag, and Gracie and I could head home. [I just get tired of walking all day long & a little cranky sometimes. I could live in the city because it'd be life; visiting the city exhausts me.] Got some intimate time in with Gracie on the long sub ride home (and apparently Mike and Jill had the same sort of conversation, we compared notes later and I've concluded we're extra adorable).
That night, instead of going out, we decided it'd be best to just get drunk in the apartment and watch our Rocky Horror. Four bottles of cheap wine out of coffee mugs later (and Gracie sneaking in some whiskey we didn't know about til way later), we were all in our underwear, singing and dancing, and snapping altogether too many pictures [which are hilaaarious].
Then Gracie got sick, I got in Mom-mode, and Jill and Mike tried to make popcorn on the stove and nearly set the apartment on fire.
Successful night indeed.
Sunday got us up early, found everyone but me with a hangover (Jill's being the most lingering through the day), and we met up with Sammy & Co. at Grand Central to mosey towards the parade route. We settled a half hour before the parade started, somewhere towards the middle of it, and got to be right against the fence on the road. Great spot. I got a huge hotdog, made entendre with the hotdog vendor, and rocked my pin up dress across the street from the Museum of Sex (it was just a real good meeting point).
[sidenote: my dog is having an insane dream right now; he's all running and twitching and jumping at things in a dead sleep next to me on the couch. So much love.]
The parade was ridiculous! So many people in the parade, it's insane anyone was left over to fill the sidelines and watch it. Cuomo did the right thing (again) and walked in the parade, but you couldn't see him because he was swarmed by photographers and press. There were queens in the highest heels ever (and it was a looong parade, I don't know how they do it.), gay bois wearing next to nothing (unless it was all feathers), and women that, well, weren't really wearing.. anything but makeshift pasties. There were dykes on bikes, freedom fighters, and tons of wedding dresses. Only saw one protester, and he was pretty quite. From the parade, we went to BlockHeads again for drinks and tacos (I got a whole dish of guacamole all for myself. happy kid.) and then the Syracusians (aka the & Co. with Sammy) split to go back home.
The four of us went back down to Chelsea and found another gay gay bar having a luau - first round of drinks were free but I think the bartender just felt bad because Mike and I didn't have enough cash and actually went to the atm to pay for them. He shoved the $20 back at us. Of course we went back for round 2 after that.
Everyone was so friendly.
And then we got tired out. And realized we all had silly sunburns. And Jill and I hadn't really packed to go home. So back to the apartment we went, and got our shit together, said our goodbyes, and expertly made our way to Port Authority. While standing in line to get my confirmation tickets home, the girls ahead of us had signed Playbills from A Normal Heart. I couldn't help myself, and had to ask if it was good. They couldn't say enough good about it, and I mentally added it to the list of shows to see this year. I asked if they'd seen the McQueen exhibit, since they had rainbow flags and Playbills, and therefore otherwise had a perfect NYC weekend - they were a bit speechless when I told them, and I think they'll be back soon to see it.
Red-eye home before an 8 hour shift had its pitfalls, but all things considered, we had a perfect mid-summer city vacation. There are future plans set in motion, and who knows? By April, we just might be there. And by 'just might,' I sort of mean, planning on it.
I hope everyone else had amazing weekends too, and celebrated a step towards total equality with those they love, regardless of gender, religion, race, or politics.
