A new Palace
Clevelander hotel rooftop to host weekly shows, for now
Ocean Drive hotel revives fabled drag brunch.
The Palace Bar rises again.
The bar, which closed July 4, will host a weekly tea dance party on the rooftop of the Clevelander South Beach Hotel, 1020 Ocean Drive, beginning Saturday, according to The Palace’s Facebook page.
Since 1988, The Palace was home to glamorous drag queens who entertained locals and tourists on the ground floor of 1200 Ocean Drive.
The performers were known for doing splits and flips before customers and passers-by and jumping on passing tour buses.
The bar’s tagline: “Every queen needs a palace.”
But when The Palace’s Thomas Donall couldn’t reach an agreement with the building’s new owner, Infinity Real Estate, he decided to shutter the business until a new permanent home could be found on Ocean Drive, according to The Miami Herald.
Leading up to its closing, The Palace threw a series of block parties with shows that included drag star Latrice Royale, who appeared on the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” reality series.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, the new tea-dance party will feature performances by drag queens Tiffany T. Fantasia and Elishaly D’Witshes, with music by deejay Carlos Rojas.
There will be no cover at the door.
The weekly events are expected to continue at the Clevelander until The Palace moves to a new location on Ocean Drive this fall.