SUMMER HOURS:
Sun 12pm-6pm
Mon - Wed 10am-6pm
Thurs - Sat 10am-9pm

(413) 585-0683
20 Crafts Avenue
Northampton, MA 01060
info@nohoprideandjoy.com
(413) 584-4848 (fax)

Pride & Joy can now offer you convenient shopping ONLINE!
Just click on the button and enjoy shopping our online store of selected items!

Located in the hip and friendly downtown of Northampton, MA,
Pride & Joy has been an integral part of this community since 1992.

 

We offer a unique collection of books, music, movies, gifts,
adult toys, clothing, jewelry, and more for the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (and Allied) communities.

Pride & Joy carries the largest collection in New England of LGBT movies for rent, including a growing selection of adult films. We also carry a wide range of CD’s from local and national recording artists. You will find buttons, stickers and magnets that will allow you to express your pride in being part of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, S/M, Bear and/or Allied communities.

We are also proud to serve the Peace community by carrying buttons, stickers,
flags and T Shirts that express our strong desire for world peace.

Pride & Joy serves as a community resource center, offering free brochures
for local groups, newspapers, and postings for upcoming events. We maintain
a “housing book” as well as a “business directory” full of cards of local GLBT
businesses and professionals. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy
to answer your questions on the local nightlife scene and make recommendations
for restaurants and local accommodations.

 

 


Here are some of our favorite links for local, regional and national information.

Local Links

www.northamptonpride.org Northampton Pride happens in early May every year. We have one of the earliest pride day festivities in the country, and its a great "kick start" to the pride season. In 2004, over 10,000 people attended the day long event! As a non-profit, volunteer run organization, Northampton Pride is always in need of donations and volunteers. Please visit this site and consider getting involved in this great event.

www.transpridemarch.org The first New England Transgender Pride March and Rally will be held on June 7, 2008 in Northampton, MA. The event is organized by members of the trans and gender variant community, and their allies, with the intent of taking a visible and positive stand for transgender rights. The March and Rally is dedicated to diverse representation among organizers and participants. We seek to educate and build awareness of the movement against gender-based discrimination. We promote self-acceptance and acceptance of our whole identities and lives. We gather to celebrate and affirm our individuality, diversity, and strength.

The Rainbow Times - Launched in early 2007, TRT is the new voice for the LGBT community in Western Massachusetts. The paper comes out twice a month and is available at over 150 distribution points, including here at Pride & Joy! You can also receiver TRT at your home by subscription. Covering local, regional and national news that effect our community, and listing a range of events and services, this paper is an invaluable resource for those looking to "find our community" and for advertisers looking to reach us. www.therainbowtimesmass.com

www.visitnorthampton.net Everything you wanted to know about visiting and living in Northampton! There's so much to offer in this town, it takes a robust web site like this to keep it all together.

www.lifecourse.net LifeCourse Counseling Center was established in 1980 to provide LGB people counseling, psychotherapy, consultation and education throughout the Pioneer Valley of Western Mass, Connecticut, and Southern Vermont. The now also serve the transgender and gender-queer communities as well.

www.umass.edu/stonewall The Stonewall Center provides support, advocacy, and programming for LGBT and allied students, staff, and faculty at UMass Amherst and for the larger Pioneer Valley. We also seek to educate the campus and local community about heterosexism, genderism, and sexual and gender prejudice in order to create a more inclusive and welcoming climate for bisexual, gay, lesbian, queer, and transgender individuals and their allies.

www.monoho.com A web 'portal' for the gay men's community in the valley. Find out what's going on, where to play, where to shop, where to stay, etc etc. Membership is free to join the Yahoo list, and listing events is easy.

Generation Q - a drop-in social and support group located in Northampton. The group is open to all gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, questioning, and allied youth aged 21 and under. Weekly support meetings, mvie nights, and special events. For more information, please call us: 413-582-7861 or
email Alexander Pangborn at: apangborn@communityaction.us

www.explorenorthampton.com The Northampton Chamber of Commerce web site - great info for visitors and locals too. A complete listing of events happening in town all year long, including our annual Pride celebration.

Out Now, Inc - community based youth group located in Springfield.  Also great space and great people!  Email to outnow@rcn.com  or call - 1-800-429-9990

www.faeriecampdestiny.org - Local Radical Faeries group with wonderful faery land in southern VT (about 1.5 hour drive north of Northampton)

www.mensresourcecenter.org - Men's Resource Center - based in Amherst, non-profit group dedicated to serving and challenging men in the valley.  Sponsors quarterly "schmoozefests" for gay men to meet and mingle.  Great group!

www.w2wdatebook.com A good online lesbian connection source for Western Mass.

www.ne-ursamen.org  Southern New England Bear group with roughly 200 members with varied backgrounds, interests, and occupations. Opportunity for any Bear to expand his social circle within the gay community. Members come from throughout New England and New York, with the majority of the members living in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

 

Local Businesses

www.kwhome.net - KW Home - Stylish interior design store, beautiful furnishings

www.oldmillbnb.net A wonderful, gay owned B&B located in a renovated mill, on the waterfall in Hatfield, about 10 minutes from downtown Northampton. Their restaurant is open on weekends, featuring superb food at a very reasonable price.

www.electechs.com Your one stop, lesbian-owned internet and computer service biz.

www.toddlemieux.com The best graphic designer in the world, and my good friend!
He has a GREAT DOG named Trueman, too.

www.brandthouse.com "A gracious, historic gay owned Bed and Breakfast in Greenfield.
Twenty minutes north of Northampton"

www.blueherondining.com Excellent food, warm and inviting atmosphere in historic old town hall.
Ten minutes north of Northampton".

www.gazettenet.com/dineandshop/jrich - JRich Clothing for Men - high quality, good prices, cute staff.  Great store!

www.mastersjp.com - Sally Masters is a warm, funny, easy going Justice of the Peace. She's ready to get you legal!

www.rainbowhomeimprovement.net "Looking for some great contractors for your home projects? These are the guys for you. Based in Northampton, but they travel everywhere, and they do very high quality work!

http://www.academyofmusictheatre.com A completely restored opera house in downtown Northampton, the Academy of Music now shows independent and foreign films as well as some major releases. Occasional venue for some great live performances also. A jem in the Northampton scene!
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State-wide Links

www.massequality.org MassEquality is a coalition of local and national organizations working to secure marriage equality in Massachusetts. With a constitutional amendment referendum looming for the ballot in November, 2008, which would abolish our right to marry, the work of MassEquality is far from over. Click here to learn how you can help, or just to get more information.

www.masstpc.org The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. We educate the public, lobby state and local government, encourage political activism, and empower community members through collective action.

www.chiltern.org New England's largest GLBT outdoor recreation club. Hiking, biking, skiing, camping - they do it all!

www.mglpc.org - Mass Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus - advocacy and lobby group on Capital Hill, working to secure GLBT rights through the legislative process.

www.glad.org - Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders - non-profit legal rights organization dedicated to ending GLBT discrimination through court cases.  These are the folks responsible for Civil Unions in VT and (soon!) marriage rights for gays and lesbians in Massachusetts!

www.thenetworklared.org - The Network / La Red - domestic violence services for lesbians, bisexual women and the trans community.

www.gmdvp.org - Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project - domestic violence services for gay and bisexual men (services provided to all genders and orientations)

www.fenwayhealth.org - Fenway Community Health Center - medical and mental health services for the GLBT community, including comprehensive Violence Recovery Program for hate crime and partner violence.

www.gaynewengland.net - web site for the gay men's community throughout New England.

www.equalmarriage.org The web site for the Freedome to Marry Coalition of MA, the lead group fighting for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Great links to other information, and everything you need to get involved in this issue.
 

National Links

www.hrc.org - Human Rights Campaign -- largest GLBT political group in the country.

www.ngltf.org - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force   - progressive political and advocacy group.

www.lgbthealthchannel.com - LGBThealthchannel provides medically accurate information of interest to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities. Safer sex, STDs, insemination, transgender health, cancer, and more.

www.interpride.net - Interpride - clearing-house for information on pride events throughout the world

www.outproud.org - Outproud - web site for GLBT and questioning youth.

www.glaad.org - Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - working to combat homophobia and discrimination in television, film, music and all media outlets.

www.pflag.org - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - just as the name implies! Great group. Find links to local chapters here.

www.nowvoyagerbooks.com Now Voyager Books is an independent, gay-owned bookstore located at 357 Commercial Street in Provincetown, MA. They have a huge selection of GLBT books (fiction and non-fiction) as well as 'mainstream' bestsellers. Pride & Joy and Now Voyager often collaborate and promote each other, so be sure to stop in and say hello next time you're in PTown!

 

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Directions to Our Store

The main intersection in Northampton is the intersection of Main Street (Rt.9) and Pleasant Street (Rt.5).
From here, go west on Main Street, towards Smith College, about 2 blocks. Main Street will bend to the right,
and City Hall will be on your left. Here, turn left onto Crafts Avenue, which is a one-way street going down a
small hill, right next to City Hall. Pride & Joy is half way down this block, on the left, #20 Crafts Avenue.

 

 

 



&

THE AMPERSAND


An Occasional Newsletter from

8/14/08


NOTES FROM MARK

The summer is winding down, but the events calendar is heating up! There’s a few things happening in the next few weeks that I thought I’d help promote here – some art, some politics, some fun times…some THING for everyone.


BUT FIRST…

….I’d be a bad shopkeeper if I failed to remind everyone that this coming weekend is TAX FREE weekend in Massachusetts! So – as you think about where to get all your tax-free goodies, please remember your favorite little queer shop in downtown Northampton (you know the one!) and stop in. Remember – the holidaze will be here before we know it, and there’s some great DVDs, books, CDs and jewelry now in stock. With tax free weekend, save 5% on everything!

EVENTS:

Fri-Sun 8/15-8/17

THE VERMONT BEAR FILM FESTIVAL

Guildford, VT

This is the 4th year for gathering together some of the best bear films out there, and the “big burly boys with bellies” that admire them! This year’s theme is cowboys…hmmm, bear rasslin’ movies? FMI – www.vtbearfilm.com

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Mon, 8/18, 8pm

ATHENS BOYS CHOIR with Nicole Reynolds

Pride & Joy, 20 Crafts Ave, Northampton

The return of spokenword artist Katz to Pride & Joy! He performed here in Feb, 2007, and again on the Northampton Pride stage that May (he emceed, in fact) and he’s coming back this Monday! With his jewish roots dressed in cowboy boots, Katz has often hailed spokenword as “cheap therapy”. His pieces take a brave dive into a deep pool of personal, political, and sexual perspective. Katz performs under the persona of the Athens Boys Choir. Joining him will be folk and blues artist Nicole Reynolds. Donations to the artists will be gladly accepted! FMI – www.athensboyschoir.com and www.nicolereynoldsmusic.com

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Thurs, 8/21, 6-8pm

A CELEBRATION OF STATE REP. ROSEMARY SANDLIN

11 Clapp Street, Easthampton, MA

Rep. Rosemary Sandlin (D-Agawam) has been a strong and vocal supporter for our community throughout the whole same-sex marriage debate on capital hill. Now, she faces a well-financed opponent in the November election, and Rosemary’s campaign is in need of some $$! Come join Arline Issacson (co-chair of the MGLPC), Rep. Ellen Story (D- Amherst) and Atty. Jennifer Levi (GLAD) at the gracious and beautifully landscaped home of Stan & Joe McCoy. Suggested donations starting at $20, beverages and light food provided. FMI – www.rosemarysandlin.com

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Fri, 9/5, 9pm

ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE DVD release party

Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA

This from Wolfe Video: “Wolfe is proud to announce the national DVD Release Party Schedule for Jamie Babbit's wildly popular lesbian feature, ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE (coming to DVD on September 2nd). Please come join the excitement and party with all the girls! At every event Wolfe will be giving away ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE t-shirts, posters and DVDs. Even if you can't come out to party, you CAN enter to win even more great ITTY BITTY prizes online in the ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE Mania Contest at WolfeVideo.com! “

YES! Pride & Joy will be WELL-STOCKED with IBTC dvd’s on Tuesday, Sept. 2. See you here! FMI – www.myspace.com/ittybittymovie

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Fri, 9/12, 6-9pm

OPENING RECEPTION – “THE GARDEN OF EDEN RECLAIMED”

INSTALLATION BY JONATHAN BEE

The Canal Gallery, 380 Dwight Street, Holyoke, MA

"The Canal Gallery located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce a multi-media fiber art installation by local artist Jonathan Bee. The opening reception will take place on Friday September 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This show illustrates the importance of caring for the things once deemed useless and now resurrected for new life. Comprised of abandoned materials from Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley, all the pieces contain an element of fiber.

Entering the exhibit one is greeted by an eight-foot bridge that is bejeweled and rippling with textiles, the viewer is transported to a world of fantasy and vibrant color, couched on either side by trees and a gurgling jagged ceramic fountain. Tents made of discarded clothing, a twenty-foot tower of tantalizing teddy bears, and a giant star-reaching ladder frame the outer perimeter of the gallery. A crystal chandelier with a fabricated disco-ball centerpiece accompanies a lace covered car roof filled with flying butterflies.

Given the large warehouse space in which the work is exhibited the viewer is able to move freely around the installation, giving ample potential for explorative and interactive experiences.

A question and answer period including educational and community outreach, and recycling information will be held on Saturday, September 20th at 4pm. The artist has created a special packet of garden seeds as an offering to all who attend the show. Running concurrently will be an installation at the Origins 2 Gallery in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, at 8 Elm Street with an artist’s reception on Saturday September 13th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m."

FMI - www.beestyled.com

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Sat, 9/20, 10am-8pm

OUT IN THE PARK!

6 Flags New England, Agawam, MA

This year’s Out in the Park event at Six Flags New England will be a PRIVATE AFFAIR for the GLBT community and our families. This is the 12th year of “gay days” at Six Flags (only 6 of which have been ‘official’!). FMI – www.outinthepark.com

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Hope you find something here that's fun to do! Remember that we're still running our summer DVD rental special - only $1 per night for DVD rentals, with no limit as to how long you have them.

Come on out during this weekend's "Tax Free Holiday" weekend and save 5% on everything!
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