South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
SEND IN THE QUEENS
5 drag events you really need in your life
For some people “RuPaul’s Drag Race” once a week just isn’t enough.
Female impersonators are a faux femme force of fabulousness that can banish the blues quicker than you can say “sissy that walk.” And couldn’t we all use a double dose of that during this pandemic?
Sooooo, if you agree, here’s your mother-tucking-medicine: five fierce affairs so you can get your kiki on here in SoFlo.
Gulf Stream Brewing Company’s Drag Queen Bingo
What: For the last two years or so hostess most-ess Nicole Halliwell has been emceeing a ribald night of bingo (this is decidely not a family event; 21 and over only). Since coronavirus came on the scene, the party has moved outside to Gulf Stream’s beer garden. Know this: The events always are hella-popular and sell out pretty quickly.
When: The next bingo night is May 2 at 8 p.m.
Where: Gulf Stream Brewing Company,
1105 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale.
Cost: $25 per person (includes one free draft beer).
Click on this: DragBingoFla.com or Eventbrite.com.
Garage Queens
What: The Arts Garage in Delray Beach is rebooting its drag-a-licious performance series. Joining emcee Ariel Rimm-Chanel for the first show will be Citris and DJ Joshua Atom. “The crowd-tickling Garage Queens sold out all previous performances,” says Marjorie Waldo, president and CEO of Arts Garage, in a statement. “Best of all, it’s an event that brings the entire community together.”
When: April 30 at 8 p.m. The rest of the series will be July 30 and Oct. 29.
Where: Arts Garage, 94 NE Second Ave,
Delray Beach.
Cost: Onsite tickets are $25 and $35. Live streaming the show is $10.
Visit: ArtsGarage.org/event/garagequeens-2021.
Virtual screening of ‘P.S. Burn This Letter Please’
What: OK, this isn’t technically a drag queen performance, but this documentary will be part of the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival and points the camera toward the New York City drag scene back in the 1950s, when both being gay and impersonating a woman were illegal. A box of letters, kept in the strictest secret before being discovered in a Los Angeles storage unit in 2014, sparks a flood of memories for the survivors who share their stories for the first time in 60 years.
When: April 28 at 12:01 a.m. through May 2 at 11:59 p.m.
Where: Since the festival is mostly virtual, you can watch “P.S. Burn This Letter Please” from anywhere in Florida. Cost: The online screening is $12. Visit: OutShineFilm.com or Eventive. org.
‘Send In The Queens’
What: This annual fundraiser for the Lake Worth Playhouse is always a hot ticket in Palm Beach County. For the 13th year, the drag concert will spotlight Melissa St. John, Vasti Love Montana, Shardee L Ross, Velvet Lenore, Danielle
Montgomery, Daizee Deluxx and Lupita Hollywood.
When: May 22 at 8 p.m.
Where: Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach.
Cost: $35 per person
Visit: LakeWorthPlayhouse.org/limited.
Drag Queen Bingo at the Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
What: If you’re thinking that drag queen Nicole Halliwell has cornered the SoFlo market on drag queen bingo, we’d be inclined to agree.
But instead of a pub pop-up, this is a charity fundraiser thrown by the Galleria. “With the art of drag being more mainstream, we are seizing the opportunity to give a fresh take on a traditional game like bingo,” says Galleria senior marketing manager Melissa Milroy. “The Galleria is excited to offer another fun event experience in support of a worthy cause.” A portion of proceeds to benefit FLITE Center, which helps young people in Broward County who are aging out of the foster care system. The event is for those 21 and over.
When: May 20 at 6 p.m.
Where: The Palm Court Market at the Galleria, 2414 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Cost: Tickets are $25. Wine and cocktails will be available from Blue Martini. For the first hour, food and beverages will be available from the vendors of the Palm Court Market.
Visit: GalleriaMall-FL.com or Eventbrite.com.