MADONNA HELPS KICK OFF NYC PRIDE AT THE STANDARD HIGH LINE

by Stephen Garner

Madonna was among the many celebrities that turned out at The Standard, High Line in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan Thursday night as the hotel celebrated its reopening post-pandemic and the kick-off of NYC’s Pride weekend.

Dreamed up by Misshapes’ Geordon Nicol, The Standard’s Corey Tuttle, and creative director and photographer Ricardo Gomes, the celebration, dubbed “Pride x Boom,” took over the entire eighteenth floor of the hotel, from the iconic Boom Boom Room to Le Bain and its rooftop. The night featured a special lineup of LGBTQ+ DJs with music by Grammy award-winning producer Kaytranada, DJ and global fashion muse Honey Dijon, iconic New York DJs the Misshapes, and one of the true vanguards of New York disco and house Eli Escobar.

The evening featured the debut of an original three-piece multimedia art installation inspired by ‘90s underground culture and in a thought-provoking layout for people to be who they are, love themselves, and stay fearless. This collaboration with Madonna, Ricardo Gomes (who also creative directed the video), and Sasha Kasiuha is inspired by the commitment to make sure every voice is heard and celebrated. The three-minute installation also took over the jumbo video screens in Time Square at 10pm and 1am.

Following the premiere of the installation, a brand new remix of Madonna’s iconic “Vogue” – entitled “Vogue Ballroom Function” – began playing and featured voguing performances atop the circular bar and throughout the room by leaders from the city’s most influential ballroom houses. Madonna then took to the stage in Boom Boom Room with an incredible, intimate, and energetic performance of “Hung Up” and “I Don’t Search I Find” – her 50th #1 Billboard Dance Hit. Madonna performed in a look created by Hood by Air, Vintage JPG denim corset from Procell Vintage and Vintage TRIPP NYC mesh tee from Procell Vintage; with hair by Andy Lecompte and makeup by Kali Kennedy.

Following the performance, Madonna auctioned off three new original Polaroids that were shot by herself and Ricardo Gomes at her home in New York in June 2021 and are inspired by the art born in the city that never sleeps. Each were individually framed and personally signed by Madonna. Zachary Quinto took the stage to help with the auction, which raised over $100,000 for The Ali Forney Center and Haus of Us.

Pride x Boom also kicked off a four-day silent online auction with three additional new original Polaroids that were shot by Madonna and Ricardo Gomes at her home in New York in June 2021. Additional covetable items curated by Geordon Nicol from brand favorites like Supreme, Hood By Air, The Standard, Moschino, Jeremy Scott, Louis Vuitton, and more. The fundraiser concludes on Sunday, June 27th with all proceeds going to the Hetrick Martin Institute. A link to that auction can be found here.

Images courtesy of BFA