NEW YORK CITY: Thousands Rally In Times Square Against Iran Nuclear Deal

The Jerusalem Post reports:

An estimated 10,000 people turned out at New York's landmark Times Square on Wednesday in protest over the Iran nuclear deal signed last week. They urged the US Congress to reject the agreement brokered in Vienna to rein in Tehran's atomic program. Speakers at Wednesday's rally included New York's former governor George Pataki, Jerusalem Post senior contributing editor Caroline Glick, former Manhattan district attorney Robert M. Morgenthau, former congressman Allen West and Steven Emerson, founder of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Pataki addressed the crowd, saying that "this isn't a bad deal, it's a God-awful deal, it must be rejected. Congress must do its job and stand up for the American people, stand up for our safety and say 'no' to this Iranian deal." Claiming that "we know what the outcome of this deal will be," Glick said that "our responsibility as free men and women is to stand up and ensure the security and continuity and strength and morality of the United States of America."

ISIS Threatens Times Square Bombing

Via Vocativ:

A new ISIS rap video, subtitled in English, features some of the group’s most bloody scenes of beheading and torture, while promising suicide bombers in Germany as well as New York City’s Times Square. A terrorist is shown donning a suicide belt, with subsequent imagery showing scenes from New York’s bustling Times Square, after which the bomber, dressed in western clothes, pulls the pin. The three-minute long clip was broadcast on ISIS’s al-Hayat media network, the propaganda arm that focuses on a Western audience. Images of injured western troops being evacuated are juxtaposed with graphic scenes of beheadings and the immolation of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, shown struggling as flames engulf him.

The video below has been heavily edited by Vocativ.

This Friday: Furball In Times Square

Furball continues its exile to Times Square on Friday. Always mobbed, always a wild time.  Get tickets here. More details on their Facebook event page.

Broadway Backwards: Cell Block Tango

Posted in full yesterday: "Highlights from Broadway Backwards 2015 included Chicago's 'six merry murderesses' represented in a sexy, all-male version of Cell Block Tango featuring Joshua Buscher-West, Marty Lawson, Alfie Parker Jr., Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva, Alex Ringler and Ryan Steele."

Times Square Time Lapse

Times Square Is Already Full

It's almost nine hours before midnight and Times Square is already mobbed. EarthCam is streaming live shots from multiple angles.

Creationists Plan Times Square Message

Via World Net Daily:

When the famous ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City’s Times Square, a message will be there to remind “our intolerant liberal friends” about the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Answers in Genesis, the Christian ministry best known for operating the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, announced it is purchasing a recurring, 15-second spot on a video billboard at 46th and Broadway to publicly “thank God for freedom.” “The :15 digital board will remind Americans of the religious freedoms they enjoy – whether they hold to the worldviews of Christianity, atheism, Judaism [or] other belief systems – and must be defended,” the ministry stated. “In addition, the Cross of Christ will be prominently displayed.” The 15-second ad states, “To all our intolerant liberal friends: Thank God for freedom. Brought to you by AnswersInGenesis.org and the First Amendment.”

Answers In Genesis says the billboard is their response to "attacks" on the Ark Encounter, which was just denied $18M in tax breaks because job applicants must stipulate that they believe God drowned everybody in the world because he loved them so fucking much. The billboard is expected to get three million in-person impressions in Times Square during its run and "potentially many millions more" should it appear during tomorrow night's telecasts of the ball drop.

TOMORROW: Broadway Flea Market

The 28th Annual Broadway Cares / Equality Fights AIDS flea market returns to Shubert Alley tomorrow.

Among the priceless lots available through this year's Grand Auction are private meet-and-greets with stage-and-screen stars Hugh Jackman and Idina Menzel, opening night VIP tickets to 17 of this season's new Broadway shows, walk-on roles at 13 Broadway shows, tribute packages to Elaine Stritch and Joan Rivers, and much more. From posing for photos with your favorite Broadway stars, to buying that lost cast recording, rare costume sketches or special gift you can't find anywhere else – the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction promises something for everyone.

Among the many Broadway stars on hand tomorrow will be Tony winners Boyd Gaines, Lena Hall, James Monroe Iglehart, Nikki M. James, Bebe Neuwirth, David Hyde Pierce, Billy Porter, and Alice Ripley. 

Boxers To Open Third Manhattan Location

Gay nightclub mini-chain Boxers, which presently has Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen locations, is opening a new club next week in Times Square - but this one is meant to appeal to a mixed crowd.

The bar chain — known for its shirtless bartenders — plans to make the new location at 215 W. 40th St. a little more restrained than its other locations, the owner said. Shadow Boxers, which opens Sept. 2, will aim to serve not just the gay clientele of the Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen Boxers locations, but also the lunchtime, after-work and post-theater crowds as well. "At noon, when people from J.P. Morgan are here having lunch, [bartenders] won't be shirtless," said co-owner Rob Hynds. "Later at night, when the place sets up like a club, the shirts will likely come off." With two-for-one drink specials and a private underground "man cave" — a 1,500-square-foot private event space with a bar, dart board, television and leather couches and chairs — the goal is to draw in as many New Yorkers as possible, Hynds added.

According to the owner, Shadow Boxers will be a "hybrid bar, a quality bar." The chain is also opening an outlet in Philadelphia.

New Yorkers Protest Missouri Shooting

Times Square NYE Time-Lapse

"A time-lapse production on New Year's Eve never seen before. Due to all the security concerns on the big day, the NYPD had stationed snipers at certain hotel locations not disclosed. We were granted rooftop permission by two hotels, the Times Square Alliance, and the NYPD to shoot this amazing piece."

Meanwhile In Times Square..

Details.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor To Drop The Times Square Ball On NYE

The Associated Press reports:

The countdown to the new year in Times Square is getting some high-profile help — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The organizers of the annual celebration announced Sunday that Sotomayor will lead the final 60-second countdown and push the ceremonial button to signal the descent of the Times Square New Year's Eve ball. Sotomayor was appointed to the court in 2009. She is a native of the Bronx.

The Tea People will find a way to complain about this.

Headline Of The Day

This is the same guy that's trying to get Staten Island to secede from New York City. Details.

Catholic League Posts Times Square Billboard Demanding Recognition Of Jesus

Black Party 2014 Will Be At Roseland

Just yesterday I mentioned that the Saint-At-Large hadn't yet revealed if the Black Party would return to the Roseland before it closes on April 1st. I spoke too soon.

NEW YORK CITY: Roseland Ballroom To Close With Four Lady Gaga Concerts

As I noted last month, the legendary Roseland Ballroom will close in the spring.  Here are the details for the final days:

Lady Gaga plans to play four shows at the 3,500-capacity venue: Mar. 28, 30, 31 and Apr. 2. Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 25, at 10 a.m. Prices range from $50 for general admission floor access to $200 for the mezzanine. Roseland has operated at various times in the city since it opened in 1919, in a space located right around the corner from its current location on 52nd St., west of Broadway. The ballroom ascended with the upswing of jazz in the ‘20s and ‘30s, hosting shows by Louis Armstrong, Count Basie (who had a song called “Roseland Shuffle”), Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

The Saint-At-Large has thus far remained silent as to the future of the Black Party, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday after the vernal equinox. That would be March 22nd.

Times Square Underwear Flash Mob

Freedom To Marry Lights Up Times Square

Via press release:

Celebrating a year of big wins and marking the need to finish the job, Freedom to Marry today announced a new video billboard titled “Love for Everyone” featuring three diverse same-sex families and a message of love and commitment. The billboard will display in Times Square throughout the holiday season up until January 4, 2014. More than 1.5 million people pass through Times Square daily. “With the rapidly expanding importance of digital technology and new media, Freedom to Marry is using every opportunity to communicate our message of fairness for all committed couples and their families,” said Michael Crawford, Freedom to Marry’s digital director.

TIMES SQUARE: Queer Nation Crashes USOC Press Event For Sochi Olympics

The protesters were interviewed by some of the media in attendance, so mission accomplished. More photos.  USA Today reports on the protest.

About two dozen protesters tried to disrupt the U.S. Olympic committee's 100-day countdown event Tuesday in Times Square. Yelling "Homophobia's gotta go" the protesters unfurled banners that said "don't buy Putin's lies " and "boycott homophobia" while Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls spoke to a crowd of bystanders, news media and sponsors. The USOC event marked 100 days until the first competition in Sochi where Russia's anti-gay law has drawn ire from gay rights groups. "It's a violation of human rights,' said Duncan Osbourne, a member of Queer Nation NY which organized the protest. The demonstration was " thrown together" when the group learned about the USOC event two days ago. "We're saying stay out if Russia. It's not safe. Don't spend your money there. Put more pressure on Putin," said protester Bill Dobbs.