New York City Pride Welcomes Esther Mollica for Special Event at Joanne Trattoria
In a remarkable addition to New York City's Pride Month festivities, Esther Mollica, celebrated author of The Queen of Gay Street, is set to make an appearance at Joanne Trattoria. This vibrant Italian eatery, owned by Lady Gaga’s parents, Joe and Cynthia Germanotta, will host a festive evening on Wednesday, June 26th, infused with the essence of queer celebration and community spirit.
Mollica will join the restaurant's Pride edition of the weekly "Drag Me To Joanne's" dinner show, creating an evening that promises to be a dazzling blend of literary flair, drag performances, and charitable giving. Fresh off her recent accolade as the winner of the LGBT Nonfiction category at the 2024 Independent Press Awards, Mollica’s presence adds a special layer to an already sparkling Pride event.
The Queen of Gay Street, a memoir penned exclusively for a lesbian audience, catapulted Mollica into the limelight when she was New York's pioneering sex and dating blogger in the early 2000s. The memoir has received rapturous reviews and was named one of the top 100 Books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews. This literary triumph also garnered a near-perfect score and a quarterfinalist spot in Publishers Weekly's Booklife awards, solidifying Mollica as a significant voice within queer literature.
On June 24th, just two days prior to the Joanne Trattoria event, Mollica will officially receive her Independent Press Award—a testament to the significant impact of her narrative within the LGBTQ+ literary community.
The pride-themed event at Joanne Trattoria isn’t just about books and drag—it's also steeped in a spirit of generosity. The evening will feature a live auction with all funds raised directly benefiting the Born This Way Foundation. Founded by Lady Gaga, the organization works to empower youth and foster mental wellness through research and strategic partnerships. To amplify the impact, 100% of the sales from The Queen of Gay Street during the event will be donated to the Foundation, with each donation matched.
The live auction is set to include coveted items such as: - Two sets of tickets (for two people each) to Lady Gaga's ongoing residency, - A Saks Fifth Avenue gift card worth $1,000, - Dinner with Joe Germanotta, - A Joanne’s gift basket brimming with indulgences including a gift card, wine, a cookbook, and stemless glasses.
Reservations for this one-of-a-kind event can be secured via OpenTable or by directly contacting the restaurant. This dining experience offers not just a taste of exquisite food but also a vibrant slice of queer culture and community engagement.
As Pride Month envelops New York City in a wave of rainbow flags and unyielding celebrations of identity, events like these stand out for their heartfelt dedication to the principles of charity, activism, and community.
With Mollica’s award-winning memoir setting the tone, the night at Joanne Trattoria promises an enchanting mix of personal storytelling, communal enjoyment, and a shared commitment to supporting the next generation of queer youth. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate Pride with literary brilliance, glamorous performances, and meaningful contributions to an empowering cause.