Manly Pacific is celebrating a $30m transformation with a glittery line-up of WorldPride activities across its bars and restaurants.
The festivities include drag bingo, disco tunes and cocktails and WorldPride portrait exhibition.
Disco tunes and cocktails at 55 North
55 North is the bar adjoining the hotel’s lobby and it will kick off WorldPride celebrations at the hotel tonight with Sydney-icon DJ Queen Shirene playing a special performance of soul, funk, disco, 90s house and beyond. Other DJ performances will include (Saturday, the 18th and Saturday, the 25th of February), along with live acoustic entertainment (Friday, the 24th of February).
The bespoke cocktail menu will feature ‘Queen of the Dessert’, a pink boozy pavlova rum mixed with strawberry, passionfruit, lime and vanilla, rimmed with rainbow sugar.
“We’re very proud to celebrate and stand as allies with Australia’s brilliant and diverse LGBTQIA+ community. To add to our vibrant lineup of festivities, we will be showcasing all shades of the rainbow with hotel staff wearing rainbow bow ties and scarves,” says Manly Pacific General Manager, Dylan Cole.
Drag Bingo at Tokyo Joe
Hi’ Carly will lead drag bingo proceedings on Wednesdays 22 February and 1 March at Tokyo Joe, with free entry.
Tokyo Joe has reimagined the classic fried rice, but with a rainbow twist, ‘Pride Rice’ is gluten and dairy-free, with a vegan-friendly option, prepared by Chef Alessandro Tamonan. Unveiling even more lures, happy hour serving $7 house drinks will be on offer throughout the month.
Celebrators will also have the opportunity to partake in a paper crane tutorial to showcase their talents. The rainbow paper cranes will then be flaunted next to the rooftop pool for the entire month, an ode to honour, good fortune, loyalty and longevity.
Pride No Prejudice portrait exhibition
A unique exhibition showcasing 12 of the Sydney LGBTQIA+ community will be featured throughout the lobby of the hotel, with the award-winning photographer Richard Hedger. A series of portraits, accompanied by plaques will detail the interesting stories from the community including, Narelda Jacobs, Joyce Maynge, Sexy Galexy, Maxi Shield and runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race under Hannah Conda photographed.
“Any opportunity to salute LGBTQIA+ people that impact the broader community is important and necessary in stating and reinforcing positive association whilst existing in our current social climate. Furthermore, celebrating the people whose lives, work, talent, history and endeavours reach wide demographics is intrinsic to breaking down ill-informed misconceptions and works to empower the LGBTQIA+ generations to come,” Hedger said.