QUEENS: Restaurant Offers Free Gay Wedding Reception

Popular Queens eatery Molly Blooms is offering a free gay wedding reception to one lucky couple whose names will be randomly selected from a bowl in the venue's lobby.

Ciaran Staunton, the owner of Molly Blooms in Sunnyside, is offering a free wedding reception to a gay couple who plan to tie the knot after the law legalizing same-sex marriage goes into effect July 24. "I think it's important to be part of this groundbreaking civil rights victory," said Staunton, who lives with his wife and two children in Sunnyside. "It's a wonderful moment for New York State and its residents." Staunton's offer, while generous, is also savvy. Queens has a large population of gay and lesbian couples who will be on the hunt for that perfect place to celebrate their nuptials.

The reception will include a buffet for 75 people and three hours of open bar. Not too shabby, but surely worth the goodwill Molly Blooms will win in return.

(Tipped by JMG reader Caleb)