A Drag Guide to NYC
New York’s drag scene may have calmed down since the rollicking 1990s, but the city is still a mecca for gender-bending shenanigans.
Two of the most reliable venues are the venerable drag-themed restaurants Lucky Cheng’s (founded in 1993) and Lips (which has been around seen 1996). It’s best to avoid both venues on the weekends (when shrieking bachelorette parties reign). Instead, drop by during the week to enjoy spirited floorshows as you drink and dine. Cheng’s, an enormous space that features Pan-Asian cuisine served by an international wait staff offers a naughty and sexy vibe—Lapdances anyone?—while cozy and bejeweled Lips is a campy delight, with a roster of gals as colorful as their names, including Frankie Cocktail, All-Beef Patty and Ginger Snap.
Lucky Cheng’s, 24 First Ave., East Village, NYC; tel. 212-995-5500; http://planetluckychengs.com/home.html
Lips, 2 Bank St., West Village, NYC; tel. 212-675-7710; Shequida, who you may have caught on America’s Got Talent, showing off her impressive operatic singing skills.
Barracuda, 275 West 22nd St., Chelsea, NYC; tel. 212-645-8613; no website.
Also offering drag shows several nights a week is Escuelita, a subterranean Latin nightclub right around the corner from Port Authority Bus Station. The spacious dancefloor doubles as a stage. A cast of striking senoritas, most of whom have been surgically enhanced, dramatically interpret songs in English and Spanish as their adoring audiences shower them with tips galore.
Escuelita, 301 West 39th St., Midtown, NYC; tel. 212-631-0588; http://escuelita.com
Throughout the week and depending on the night, you can also catch drag action at various other venues.
On Mondays, Bingo gets a goofy twist at Bowery Poetry Club with a couple of wisecracking and bickering hosts—after-dark veteran Linda Simpson and downtown It boy Murray Hill (who is rumored to be—gasp!—a woman). Prizes range from silly to superb, including good ol’ American cash.
Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, East Village, NYC; tel. 212-614-0505; http://bowerypoetry.com
On Wednesday, the classic Village bar The Monster presents vivacious entertainer Jesse Volt (and spot-on Joan Rivers impersonator) along with special guests, all of whom try their best to dazzle the crowd with their lip-synching skills.
Wheel of Foreskin with Jesse Volt, Wednesdays, The Monster; 80 Grove St., Sheridan Square, NYC; 212-924-3558; http://manhattan-monster.com
Who says drag queens have to be men? At Victoria, a raucous once-in-while-Saturday-night party at the legendary Stonewall Bar, biological females—some queer, some not—dress and perform as over-the-top drag queens. Break out your gray wig—the next party on Feb 28th features a Golden Girls theme.
Victoria, at The Stonewall; 53 Christopher St., West Village, NYC; tel. 212-488-2705; http://myspace.com/ftfvictoria
On Sundays, there’s Vandam (at Greenhouse nightclub just above Tribeca), the latest party from promoter Susanne Bartsch, who shot to fame some 20 years ago with her incredible drag-themed extravaganzas. Nowadays, Susanne doesn’t employ as many queens, but her parties still are great for prancing around in neon hair and a glittery frock.
Vandam, Sundays at Greenhouse, 150 Varick St. @ Vandam, Lower West Village, NYC; http://myspace.com/susannebartsch
Other bars featuring drag shows include HK, The Ritz, Therapy, XES Lounge and Dtox.
Also, there are several parties throughout the week where transgender women, as well as drag queens, can mix and mingle with their frisky male admirers (a.k.a. trannychasers). The scene’s leading promoters are transgender themselves, specifically va-va-voom porn actress Allanah Starr and pretty showgirl Sunny Dee-lite.
It’s also wise to stay abreast of some of the city’s drag movers and shakers:
Justin Bond, after years as half of the demented lounge act Kiki and Herb, is now going strong as a solo performer, and frequently appears at Gotham hotspots.
Murray Hill is renowned for his special variety shows, starring a wild array of bohemian talents. On the horizon is a Valentine’s Day–themed show and an Oscars bash.
It’s no wonder that Peppermint Gummybear is in such demand on the nightlife scene and a leading star of the new generation of drag. She’s a dynamo performer, pretty as a peach and genuinely a nice person! Or else she’s awfully good at faking it!
Spin Cycle, a production and PR company, frequently mounts shows starring out-of-town performers. Their clients include Seattle’s crazy-as-a-loon Dina Martina of Seattle and caustic Hollywood comedian Jackie Beat.
And don’t forget these annual events:
The Glammys
The queens turn out in droves for this annual DQ awards ceremony (usually in December), which bestows trophies for such categories as lipsynching, comedy and hosting. While there’s some grumbling about the voting process, the show is definitely a great way to get a great overview of the scene.
Coney Island Mermaid Parade
With much of Coney Island under the threat of the wrecking ball, it’s unclear if the Mermaid Parade will continue this year. But if it does, there’s no better place to don your best sea-hag drag, along with scores of other wildly attired men, women and children. Usually, the third Sunday in June.
Halloween
Some professional drag queens scorn Halloween as amateur night. But for every Tom, Dick and Harry, it’s a fabulous way to experiment with women’s attire. The whole city is awash with just-born maidens.
Linda Simpson is one of NYC’s pre-eminent drag queens. She’s a journalist, an author, a playwright, comedienne and hostess. Catch her Mondays hosting Bingo at the Bowery Poetry Club. Or read her magazine/blog at MyComrade.com.
