WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 31, 2018 21
BUZZ
Melinda Katz and ‘Free’ singer are among special
guests at 26th annual Queens Pride Parade
BY JENNA BAGCAL
JBAGCAL@QNS.COM/@JENNA_BAGCAL
Celebrating life, love and freedom,
Queens residents will take to
the streets of Jackson Heights
on June 3 for the 26th annual Queens
Pride parade and festival.
Melinda Katz, who has been an
LGBTQ+ supporter during her time as
borough president, will be one of the
grand marshals for this year’s parade
and festival. Joining her as grand
marshal is Elijah Betts, who has been
involved with Queens Pride for seven
years.
There will also be a special musical
performance by Ultra Naté, known for
such dance hits as “Free” and “If You
Could Read My Mind,” as part of the
group Stars On 54.
The parade is sponsored by the
Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee,
which was formed in 1990 when
three men murdered Julio Rivera, a
gay Latino man from Jackson Heights.
Following his death, Maritza Martinez
and future Councilman Daniel
Dromm co-founded Queens Pride,
along with the parade and festival, as
an act of protest. Since then, the parade
has evolved into a yearly celebration
of the LGBTQ+ community. But the
parade keeps true to its roots, with
marchers and attendees gathering at
Julio Rivera Corner at the start of each
year’s parade.
Rivera’s death inspired Dromm,
then a public school teacher at P.S. 199
in Queens, to become a staunch advocate
for LGBTQ+ rights. In the 1990s,
the Jackson Heights resident pushed
for the Children of the Rainbow curriculum
to be taught in schools, which
would teach children to respect the
races, ethnicities and sexual orientation
of their classmates.
According to Tina Arniotis, a current
co-chair of Queens Pride, other
supporters of the parade include
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, Senator
Michael Gianaris, public advocate
Letitia James and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Arniotis, who co-chairs the organization
with Monique “Mo” George,
joined the organization in 2016. She
and George nominated themselves
aft er the previous co-chairs decided
to end their terms aft er six years of
leading the organization. Before then,
she said that there had not been any
women chairs of the Queens Pride in
nearly two decades.
Though the parade usually follows
a specifi c theme like “Pride – Strength
– Unity” and “A World of Pride,” Arniotis
said that there would not be a
specifi c theme for this year’s festivities.
Instead, she said the organization
would “just celebrate pride as we
always do.”
She added that in 2019, New York
would be celebrating “World Pride”
which marks the 50th anniversary of
the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich
Village. Following this year’s parade,
Arniotis said that they would be putting
all of their energy into planning
the parade for World Pride, which
she believes will have a huge impact
on tourism to New York.
All registered parade marchers will
be eligible for a Queenie award, which
Arniotis said recognizes the vast talent
throughout the community. This year,
marchers can win one of six awards,
including The Drag Race awarded to
best drag performance, The Rainbow
Award for the best use of color and
The Screaming Queens Award, given
to the group with the best sound, “be
it chanting, singing, a band, live or
pre-recorded.”
The parade begins at noon on
Sunday, June 3, and runs from 37th
Avenue from 89th Street to 75th Street.
Following the parade, the festival will
take place on 75th Street and 37th Road
from 1:30 to 6 p.m. For more information,
visit queenspride.org.
Photo courtesy of Queens Pride
The Queens Pride Parade and Festival is celebrating its 26th year on June 3.
Plenty of fl avor at the LIC Flea & Astoria Flea in June
BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM / @QNS
The LIC Flea & Food market will
be up and running again the
weekend of June 9-10 on the
Long Island City waterfront. Two
weekends later, June 23-24, the Astoria
Flea & Food market also returns to
the Kaufman Astoria Studios.
Both weekends, you’ll fi nd a carefully
curated mix of artisan, global
food, local craft beer and vintage
items. The market welcomes back
mainstays such Don Ceviche, Down
East Lobstah, Antojitos Charlie and
Empanada Papa.
Don Ceviche off ers a delicious taste
of Peru made fresh on site. If you’re
craving a lobster roll – warm or cold
– Gina from Down East will make you
one of the best outside of Maine. At
Antojitos Charlie, you can choose from
their amazing array of traditional
Mexican cuisine, and Empanada Papa
has mouthwatering chicken, beef and
cheese empanadas for sale.
New to the market this year is
Believe Me I Can Cook, bringing a
unique fusion of Puerto Rican and
Thai food. Will’s beans are delicious
with white rice and chicken satay.
San Antonio’s Wood Fired Pizza
will also be making their artisanal
pizzas made with fresh mozzarella
right in front of you.
If you’re in the mood for something
sweet, stop by Delicacy Brigadeiros
Craft for authentic Brazilian “brigadeiros”
truffl es, which is exclusive to
the LIC & Astoria Flea & Food markets.
Brigadeiro (known here in the U.S. as
Brazilian truffl es) is Brazilian’s most
traditional sweet treat, originally
made with condensed milk, chocolate
and butter.
Vegans can also enjoy Vega’n
Sweets, a vegan company based in
NYC with a goal of making the best
tasting product imaginable. Being
Vegan themselves, the employees
at Vega’n Sweets make goodies
that will truly satisfy your sweet
cravings.
Ready for some shopping?
Vivian Jewelry
carefully hand crafts
her delicate jewelry and
has an amazing collection
of earrings, necklaces,
bracelets and sets. Sherpa
Village brings traditional wares
from Nepal, and at Portmanteau NY,
you will fi nd a thoughtfully-curated
collection of colorful, quirky and
well-designed pieces from the last
century and beyond.
Also returning to the markets is
the all-Queens Beer Garden, where
you can kick back and enjoy locally
produced craft beer.
Also back is the Beer Garden where
you can enjoy local craft beer. LIC
Flea & Food is located at 5-25 46th
Ave at the corner of 46th Ave &
Fifth Street.
Don’t forget to the
date for the Wine
& Sweets Festival
returning
on July 7-8!
Tickets start
at just $29 and
are available
at https://www.
e v e n t b r i t e .
c om/ e /w i n e -
sweets-fest-t ickets
46088223116.
LIC Flea & Food is located
at 5-25 46th Ave. and will be open
open Saturday and Sunday from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. Astoria Flea & Food is
located at 34-12 36th St. in Astoria
will be open Saturday from 6 p.m.
to midnight and Sunday from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information,
visit www.licflea.com.
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