The Drag Queens of Comedy Invade New York City

Because I know some of you can't get enough of this kind of thing: "The Drag Queens of Comedy" -- starring Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Willam, Bob the Drag Queen, Sasha Soprano, Miss Coco Peru, Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat, Peaches Christ, Heklina and Lady Red Couture -- will take place on May 13 at 6 and 10 p.m. at the PlayStation Theater, located at 1515 Broadway and 44th Street, in Times Square. Tickets HERE.

Barracuda Still Purring After 20 Years

Last night's party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Barracuda was an object lesson in two things: Chelsea's long-running dive bar continues to be a force to be reckoned with -- still packed with cute boys, cute bartenders and lively drag shows, thanks to co-founder Bob Pontarelli and his muse, Sherry Vine, and that I'm old, and don't like standing for extended periods of time. (Hard to believe I had the patience to pick up The One-Armed Love Bandit there all those years ago.) My friend Greg and I arrived 30 minutes before the appointed start time only to find a sweeping line down West 22nd Street, which featured an assortment of already drunk queens who do not respect the PLEASE RESPECT OUR NEIGHBORS sign hanging out front. (In fairness, who has time to read when you're too busy cracking your drunk self up?)  

Fortunately, once the door opened at 7 sharp, we got right in and were able to quickly procure our first drink before heading to the back to secure a view of the stage.

Settled into our pretty-good spot by the pool table, we were immediately taken with a hunky guy with a shaved head and suit standing in front of us. At first we were enjoying the view, until we realized this guy was blocking the entire flow of the joint -- which not unlike most of the attendees has a weak stream to begin with -- and annoying the shit out of everyone.

It was only after he'd bashed into the 10,000th person that we realized he was a bodyguard(!) for Laverne Cox, who instead of sitting on one of the sofas near the stage where no one would even see her deliberately sat in an area with the most traffic with the best-looking guy in the place standing directly in front of her ... you know, so NO ONE would ever look over her way. If it hadn't been so disruptive it would have been comical. 

Eventually we just had to laugh -- that she was a foot taller and looked like she could take him was pretty funny -- and then others started chiming in on how desperately she was behaving, (Who knew people who are paid $800 a week for a Netflix series could even afford security?)

In due time, Sherry Vine came on and got things rolling, with a clever parody of "Gangsta's Paradise" that was called "Drag Queen's Paradise," natch. She brought co-founder/owner Bob Pontarelli out to say a few words, who was quick to deflect praise to his late business partner (Stephen Heighton) and told Sherry none of this would be possible without her, a rare sentimental moment at a drag show. Greg and I then thanked the Divine one above that there was a cocktail waiter on duty, as getting back to the bar would have been impossible even without Laverne's Cox blocking. 

We managed to stay through a handful of performers, but after consulting the Google Drag Queen Time app decided Jackie Beat and Candis Cayne would probably not be out for another 12 hours, so decided to call it a night, having already been on our feet for more than three hours.

Instead, we opted for Grandma slices at Pizza Italia while feeling like (well-preserved) grandpas. The photo up top is one Candis posted last night with the caption, "Razzle-dazzle 'em." And although I was too tired to see if for myself, I have no doubt she did. 

Congrats to everyone involved -- a great night for a legendary nightspot!

More photos HERE.

Turn the Beat Around

Last night's benefit for Jackie Beat's new pair of hips was everything you'd expect it to be. With everyone from Joan Rivers, Jackie Hoffman and Sherry Vine to Debbie Harry, Fred Schneider and Robin Byrd, it was -- as Murray Hill so eloquently put it -- as much a fundraiser for the decrepit drag queen as it was a showcase for people whose careers peaked 15 years ago. (To which I say: At least they had careers!) Hill also pointed out that Jackie may have transitioned to a career in Hollywood -- she's a writer for Joan Rivers' "Fashion Police" -- yet she still wasn't legitimate enough to have health insurance. (Can't Joan do something about that over at E!????)

Joan opened the show with a few retard jokes, which set the tone for the evening ...

Jackie nearly lost her funding by singing "Jew Coloreds" (they only exist in Hollywood, you know) to the tune of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors." ("If you know Cyndi, please don't tell her about this," she requested.) The KKK being able to "kill two birds with one stone" line was my fave!)

 Goddess Debbie Harry didn't perform, but she did do a mean Bozo ... or was it Little Orphan Debbie?

Miss Guy performed DJ duties before and after the show -- her taste was typically flawless -- and Debbie introduced the Toilet Boy's new video, "Magic"