'Pride Goes East' Named Official Pride Event by Heritage of Pride

Pride Goes East, a partnership between Fourth Arts Block (FAB) and the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID), has officially been named an Official Pride Event by Heritage of Pride. In its second year, this partnership brings a month-long performance celebration that culminates in a shop-a-thon during Pride Week to East Village and Lower East Side.

Pride Goes East will attract patrons & theater-goers to the East Village and Lower East Side with fabulous dance and theater programming, exclusive restaurant promotions, shopping values and free events - all geared to bring out the Pride in everyone. The centerpiece of the celebration will be a fundraising effort for the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), home of the Harvey Milk School. This New York City High School creates a safe, supportive learning environment for LGBT teens.

Pride Goes East will offer the community a vibrant alternative to the West Village and Chelsea with more room and options to celebrate Pride Week. On May 20th, Pride Goes East kicked off a month of pride-worthy performances, many of which are in the East 4th Street Cultural District. During the month of June, Pride goers can head south of Houston to take advantage of special Pride deals and events, including a LES Scavenger Hunt, Gentleman's Night Out, and Ladies Brunch with light fare at local boutiques. Shop, dine and be entertained for a good cause!

Participating Lower East Side Merchants Include
Restaurants/Bars - 88 Orchard, Bunny Chow, Cheeky's Sandwiches, Lucky Jack's, Noodle Bar, Roni-Sue's Chocolates, Spitzer's Corner.
Clothing and Accessories - Any Old Iron, By Robert James, James Coviello, Kai D., Kaight, SkunkFunk, The Cast, Wendy Mink Jewelry.
Specialty Stores - Babeland, MastihaShop, Tenement Museum Shop, Zarin Fabrics.
Salons - Le Salon D'Art

Participating FAB East Village & Lower East Side Theaters & Performances:
LAVA: Loving & Daring
June 3-20, Wed-Sun 7:30PM June 12, 13, 19 & 20 3PM
Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St

Bull Dyke Chronicles
June 5 & 12, 9:30PM
Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St.
The Final Episode of Room for Cream
June 5, 5PM & 6:30PM
La Mama E.T.C., 74A East 4th Street

To Believe
June 6-27, Thurs-Sun 1-6PM
La MaMa La Galleria, 6 E. 1st St.

Black Girl Ugly
June 10-26, 8PM except June 26 7:30PM
WOW Café Theatre, 59-61 E. 4th St.

The Coffeehouse Chronicles
June 19, 3PM
La Mama E.T.C. The Club, 74A East 4th Street

Too Much PRIDE Makes the Baby Go Gay: 30 Gay Plays in 60 Straight Minutes
June 25 & 26, 10:30PM
The Kraine Theater, 85 E. 4th Street

HyperGender Burlesque Presents: The Gay Divorce Show
June 26, 10PM WOW Cafe Theatre, 59-61 E. 4th St.

Pride Week Featured Events Include
Lower East Side Shop-a-thon
June 19-27
When you shop at participating Lower East Side stores this week a portion of your purchase will be donated to the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk School for gay teens.

East Side Scavenger Hunt
June 19, 1PM-5PM
Compete to uncover the secrets of the Lower East Side and East Village, clue by clue. The winner will receive prizes and be crowned The 2010 King or Queen of the Lower East Side.

Ladies' Brunch Shopping Crawl
June 20, 1PM-4PM
Get your brunch one "bite" at a time when you join Pride Goes East for an afternoon of shopping and delectable brunch sampling at LES clothing and accessories boutiques. Each shop will be offering a different brunch "bite" to satisfy your cravings, so make sure you hit all stops! Make a purchase at participating retailers of $50 or more and you'll be rewarded with prizes!

Gentlemen's Night Out
June 24th, 6PM-9PM
Join the PGE shopping crawl at hip LES men's boutiques. Retailers will reward shoppers who spend over $50 with prizes. Be sure to check out all participating stores to receive free drink tickets to our after-party at Dixon Place!

BTGay Band
June 24, 9PM-11PM
Join us for our Gentleman's Night Out after-party featuring a special presentation at
Dixon Place Lounge of BTK Band, NYC's improvised storytelling rock band, in their Pride celebration performance, BTGay Band!

Downtown Double Feature
June 26, 1PM-5PM
Come catch two films that started as plays down on East 4th Street, RENT and Torch Song Trilogy at Millennium Film Workshop. A teen friendly event with FREE cupcakes provided by the Lower East Side Girls' Club.

About LES BID
Established in 1992, the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) is a non-profit, economic development organization created to revitalize the Orchard Street shopping district while preserving its unique and diverse character. To learn more about the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, please visit www.lowereastsideny.com

About Fourth Arts Block
FAB is the leadership organization for the East 4th Street Cultural District, creating a vibrant, lasting home for the arts in the heart of the East Village. To learn more about the Fourth Arts Block, please visit www.fabnyc.org