Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Lady Bunny, Sherry Vine, Milan And “Hillary Clinton” Celebrate 20 Years Of NYC Drag Cabaret Lips

An exclusive report from the legendary Lady Bunny.
From: NewNowNext
 I had such a raging blast of a time celebrating Lips’ 20 year anniversary that I even forgot to get paid! When many smaller businesses are seeing tough times, Yvonne Lame and company have seen their drag-themed restaurant flourish and branch out to Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and San Diego—with Chicago coming soon.


 The newish Midtown East location is larger and glitzier than the West Village location, but it’s maintained its resplendent tackiness, with a fabulous no-corner-left-unmirrored aesthetic.

Yvonne’s demented, taunting voice is still on that answering machine and still they come. What a nut—and a nut who has kept a lot of “girls” employed in a lot of cities for a lot of years.


 A few of the girls, like Gusty Winds and All Beef Patty, have been there since the first location opened. And many past employees popped by: Regine, Lailah Lancing, Milan (a.k.a. Dwayne Cooper), Peppermint, Sherry Vine, Logan Slaughter, Ginger Snapt, Destiny, Lindsey, Amanda Black, Regine, Vizcaya Johnson, Porsche, Melinda Tanqueray, and so many more.


 So nice to see Jennifer Michaels back-in-time boogieing on the dance floor with her selfie stick. How times have changed in 20 years! Gusty dedicated her number to the late Cashetta, who passed away last year.

We’ve all shared so many mad moments together all over the city. And these gals have all tolerated a smashed drunken Bunny, who used to roar into Lips and light them up with so much insanity. I hope they forgot most of it.


 Frankie Cocktail Fioravonti was ruling in a dynamite updo and gown. How many people’s nights has that thing made with a stiff drink and a salty tale? Loved seeing the paparazzi go wild for him.

Bianca Leigh was lovely and chic as usual. Jesse Volt does a mean Cher and still looks gorgeous, though I’m afraid my side angle view from the DJ booth doesn’t do any favors to illusionists. (Don’t ask me how I know.)

Mirkala Crystal tore the house down with a Latin number, the luscious Morgan Semaj Bennett did a terrific Whitney, even dancing a little. (Far better than Whitney ever did.)


 But that’s kind of the point of lip sync: All the queens who do it are working from the same audio—so it’s about what they add in terms of costuming, choreography, attitude and performance. Often, the queens are better dancers and have more stage presence than the pop stars they’re emulating.

I asked the girls what kind of music they wanted and Blackie O (who can really rap!) said “Black people music.” I was happy to oblige with Mary Mary, Zhane, Black Box, etc. I loved seeing a table of black ladies seated in my corner, grooving to the jazz guitar solo of the remix of Heather Headley’s beautiful “I Wish I Wasn’t In Love With You.”

Do today’s songs have instrumental solos anymore? Is anyone else missing musicianship?


 Also seen: Dorothy Bishop decked out as Hillary Clinton, complete with a Trump voodoo doll which she was sticking pins into the penis area—Is that sexist?—between coughing fits. I love this crazy bitch!


 Lavinia Draper, Odyssey’s Frankie Frankie C, Stonewall’s Mike Salinari, Miss Understood in a flashy suit, DJ Michael Magnan, Torin, Alex Kircala, Jeff Eason, Anthony Garanes and lots of cuties!


I don’t think we should have to wait 20 years for another party this fun! Congrats to  all!

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