MATINÉE LAUNCHED NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO IN IBIZA WITH THE IDEA TO ELEVATE PARTIES BY CRAFTING ELABORATE SETS AND THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. SINCE 2010, PATRICK CROUGH AND JAKE RESNICOW HAVE BROUGHT THE INTERNATIONAL PARTY FRANCHISE TO THE STATES WITH INCREDIBLE SOIREES IN SEVERAL CITIES. THEIR BIGGEST EVER, HOWEVER, WAS LAST YEAR’S NEW YORK PRIDE WEEKEND. IT FEATURED A FOUR-STORY TENTED DANCE FLOOR WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART LIGHTS, SOUND AND LASERS, AND MUSIC BY LEGENDARY HO– USE DJ JONATHAN PETERS.
This month, the boys return to the Big Apple with an even bigger party, the biggest outdoor pride party New York has ever experienced: MATINÉE NEW YORK PRIDE 2014. DJ superstar Boris will headline, a man legendary for his 12-hour sets and Billboard-topping Janet Jackson and Pink remixes.
We spoke with the sexy Patrick Croughas he was gearing up for this year’s pride spectacular.Is it true you began your Matinée career as a gogo boy?
Yes! Little did I know back in 2007 when I was gogo dancing the Matinée parties in Barcelona that I would now be producing the Matinée parties and making the brand something so great in the U.S.! Jake and I have raised the brand from the ground up in the U.S., and we’ll always think of Matinée as our baby.
This will be Matinée’s fourth NYC pride event. What has been your most memorable pride experience?
I would have to say my first pride on the island. There was something in the air that night. The energy, the magic of being on that island and seeing Manhattan like that for the first time. Even the music of the night. There are two or three tracks that when I hear them, they always take me back to that night.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from producing these pride events?
To pay attention to every detail, from promotion to production to hospitality. Every last detailgoes into making sure the boys have a great time at Matinée Pride.
Did you consider moving the event from Governors Island?
Over the years, we’ve looked into other spaces. Nothing ever compares to everything Governors Island offers. It has a state-of-the-art stage, plus sand, sun and one of the most incredible and easily accessed views of the NYC skyline in the city!
What does Matinée have in store for Matinée New York Pride 2014?
With every new event, we are looking to raise the bar from the year before. We aim to bring in bigger celebs, bigger surprises, a bigger crowd. We’ve been planning this year’s pride event way ahead of time, and when it happens, everyone will see the reasons why.
TICKETS STARTING AT $49 ARE AVAILABLE AT MATINEENYC.COM.
A PORTION OF PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT LIFEBALL/AIDS LIFE.
GETTING TO GOVERNORS BEACH CLUB IS FAST & EASY!
1 Take a taxi to 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan or the 1 train to South Ferry, 4/5 to Bowling Green or R to Whitehall.
2 Free ferries run from the Battery Maritime Building every 15-20 minutes from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. (only a 4-minute ride!).
3 BOOM! That was easy!
