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BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Imagine you’re an LGBTQ+ individual walking alone down a West Chelsea side street, convinced that every member of that boisterous group up ahead can see you and your queerness coming from a block away. You hasten your pace and brace for unkind words.

And just as you’re passing them, someone gets right up in your face and says…”Happy Pride!” Others in the group approach–asking if you’d like a heart-shaped PRIDE sticker, complimenting your choice of hat, and steering you toward the Hospitality Table’s complimentary tacos, guac, and margaritas. And then you see it: A long line of rainbow-hued bunting, running the entire length of the block.

That’s the kind of colorful, affirming scene we’ve seen before, and will see again–throughout the month of June, when Pride the Block returns to the 400 block of West 21st Street (btw. 9th & 10th Aves.). Having made its debut in 2024, this year’s sophomore effort shows no signs of a slump. In fact, its reach will be expanding.

As for its humble beginnings, Pride the Block began to take shape in fall of 2023, during The Longest Table.  (Like West Chelsea’s outdoor Halloween Decorating Contest, the block-long community dining experience sprung forth from a core group of volunteers living on or near the 400 block of West 21st Street.)

“We love to decorate for Halloween,” noted Jim Saylor in this 2024 coverage from Chelsea Community News (CCNews, “and we said, ‘We should do something another time during the year, just for fun, something happy, and we thought, well, a rainbow is festive—and PRIDE is coming this June.’ ”

“The whole month, the block looked beautiful,” recalled Saylor, in a phone interview with CCNews earlier this week. By that point, promotional flyers for 2025’s Pride the Block (seen directly below) had been in circulation. “People were excited to see that it’s coming back,” said Saylor, adding, “It’s a happy moment for people to come together and celebrate.”

Looking back on our 2024 coverage, we’re pleased to report Saylor’s best case scenario for a follow-up the following year (“Make it a tradition, and have other blocks join us”) has materialized with the uncanny accuracy one expects from a self-fulfilling prophecy: A recently formed block association (The Wonderful West 15th Block Association) is “sponsoring Pride the Block to celebrate Pride month in June,” read the event’s promo material, adding, “Our neighbors on West 21st started this event last year and would like to see it spread throughout historic Chelsea. We think it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Pride and build community on our blocks!”

Speaking with CCNews on May 25, “Wonderful West” rep Caroline noted their block association–which covers the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of West 15th Street–came on board without hesitation when Saylor (her cousin) and another West 21st Street volunteer, Emily, contacted their BA about participating in this year’s Pride the Block. “Sounds good. What do we need to do” was the response. Caroline said the concept aligns nicely with the “Wonderful” BA’s interest in “improving quality of life and community. This would be our first event in building that community.”

Although their outreach includes the use of this hyperlink and a QR code (seen on the below flyer), it was an old school brick and mortar method of promotion that yielded some of the best results. “We put up flyers on the block,” noted Caroline, “and the [LGBT Community] Center [on W. 13th St.] reached out. They shared some of their own flyers with us, and we’ll be giving them out” at May 31’s Pride the Block decorating event.”

NOT: This article will be updated if unfavorable weather necessitates a rescheduling of the dates seen on both of the above flyers. For anyone who wants to know more about The Longest Table, join the event’s mailing list when visiting www.longesttablenyc.com.

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