Alegria: How It’s Done Right
Written by Steve Weinstein
07/05/2011
Once again, Ric Sena showed us how to do a party the right way. Alegria Pride, held in Times Square at the Best Buy Theater (OK, not the sexiest name — but a rose smells as sweet if it’s called Rose Inc.) was a success on every level.
To start with, the venue is spacious. You descend a steep elevator, which gives a dramatic start to the evening. There is a long walk to the dance floor. That means plenty of chill-out spaces. The dance floor itself is enormous, as is the stage, of course. There is a huge second tier that functions as a secondary dance floor. And there are tiered rows of seats, like at the most legendary of all gay clubs, the Saint, for sitting and doing whatever.
The music, by Rosabel and then Abel himself, was driving, lyrical, fun, contemporary, upbeat, hard, melodic and, above all, fun. The crowd was, as per usual at these events, every bit as amazing as the music. I only want to know where some of these guys come from and what their day jobs are. (Six-foot-three blond in the light blue gym shorts: contact me immediately!
The staff was courteous, helpful and unobtrusive. It’s very refreshing to go to a gay dance party in New York and be treated like a guest instead of someone about to be incarcerated. The drinks were reasonably priced, the bar well stocked, the bartenders hot and efficient.
As for the shows, they were just jaw-dropping. I don’t know where Ric gets these guys. I didn’t even know guys who like actually exist. Trust me, they were perfection: totally sculpted, muscular, zero body fat, tall, smooth, handsome. Whew, I could go on ....
New York City was electric this past weekend with the dramatic 11th hour (literally; at 11 p.m.) passage of the landmark gay-marriage bill by the State Senate and its immediate signing into law by our next president, Gov. Andrew Cuomo. After the Pride March down Fifth Avenue — the most festive of any I have ever attended — and the Pier Dance — the last at the 14th Street pier — Alegria was a perfect capper to a perfect weekend.
Reader Comments
Are you serious? The party sucked! The sound system was horrible and they couldn’t splurge for decent lighting system?
By Tonka Muscle on 07-25-2011
Hypers and spectators will be just that. Real dance folk know this party has sucked since its been kicked out of crobar.
By Rope on 06-26-2012
Alegria party is ONLY good on pride and maybe Halloween, Every other time is being terribly down in the number of people assisting. I went on NYears 2013, memorial weekend and pride and the first two events were very dissapointing in regards to the crowd and the place. Only pride day was worth it.Maybe New York Alegria and NY in general doesn’t have anymore what Barcelona days or Palm Springs White Party or Pride LA and SF, or Rio ,Sao Paulo and Sydney have,, Real huge events and hot hot guys.
By Y on 03-13-2013
