OH NO SHE DON'T

 
Category is Drag Drama!

If you're a fan of Drag Race or in the Drag World chances are pretty certain you were shocked with the outcome of Friday's episode. While I admit to watching very little of the show this season, I had originally placed Jane as my number five. But the few show I did see she was incredibly creative, knew the assignments and killed in comedy, and literally the most consistently successful queen ever in the show gets chopped. I quickly replaced her for the top four over Juicy. I still think my top three will be the same, I doubt Juicy squeezes into a top 3, who surprised me by doing worst then I suspected. I think the crown will go to either Darlene, or Miki. But Jane! I caught the last show while out in a pub viewing party and the whole bar was shouting and in disbelief.... even Jane herself was speechless and disoriented I believe.  And I still quibble over Michelle with the make over Sisters Challenge. Jane and Baby Don't looked incredible and had I been at a drag show I would have known they were the same drag family. I don't agree with the same same down to every detail. I like the out of box thinking better, shows more creativity in my opinion. But I digress. After one hears the judges feedback week after week, I don't see why some are rewarded with staying when they aren't making the marks. Juicy has been pretty below the belt, while being devastatingly gorgeous. Which take me back to my points I often make...drag is more than just a good look. A look yes, but also talent, a schtick and a point of view. I NEVER ever thought I agree with Kandy Muse on anything but this time I do. She said this of the episode. " No shade, but if RuPaul ain't feeling you she is sending your ass home. It's her show and Jane will be just fine and come back to an All-Stars. Y'all need to remember, this "track record" thing is a thing fans have made up and ran with for years. Never has the show ran off the track record.  TBH, I'm glad they shook it up. The season was stale and boring. Drag has the expectation now to be too perfect and stale, especially on the American version of the show."

I do agree with her, the show has gotten way too polished and is not a very accurate showing of drag. Have you been to local clubs and lounges? Hometown queens are not all polished like this show represents, hell even well-known queens with longer careers then this show has aired are not even this editorial or polished. Really the only two queens on this season to march to their owner drummer were Jane and Darlene, who really embrace the drag I love. But this is too Jane who is my winner of the season. Shit, her and Darlene should take a show on the road together! An ode to Jane and her style!

Jane Don't

Don't ever change a thing.

MOOD BOARD

 

No mind of Monday for me today. What with being away for the weekend in Philly for the No Kings Day, another great experience on Saturday, and using Sunday to visit some favorite spots before returning home, I had the gumption to take Monday off. The same with next week. It's amazing how quick a week flies by when you have Mondays off. I hope all is well this Monday with you all and everyone had a safe weekend at the rallies who attended. I hope we are making our point! Now on to Easter for me, as by weeks end have my cousins from the West Coast coming for a week, along with their daughter... my favorite cousin from Chicago, and my other cousins from Upstate New York.  We have a dinner planned for Friday night and Easter Dinner is all on me. My aunt's favorite holiday and dinner. I hope I won't disappoint. I pick up my lamb from the butcher tomorrow at the market. The only time of year I'll eat it. And so far spring is not disappointing. ...it promises to be a beauty. 

A PROTEST!

What a glorious weekend!  It started out a bit chilly and damp but then got beautiful. The weather got near perfect. Should I have been gardening? Probably, but this rally was far too important an issue. Time to take it to the streets! Another great protest for the No Kings Day in protest of the current maniacal criminal and administration running this country! Don't get to comfy cause I'm pretty sure many of them will be up for elimination and be told to sashay away soon.  And at this point this not a Democrat or Republican issue. I talked with some pretty hard-core Republicans who were there and they are not happy and plan to vote blue. It's about having the choice to be in a party of choice under a democracy. This weekend found myself and some of the clan in Philly for the No King Protest in great numbers, over 60,000 I last heard. Starting at the art museum and heading right up the Ben Franklin Parkway then down-Market Street.  Another reason to love the protest and this city...they will not take shit!

In 1776 it ALL began here. The second continental Congress met in Philadelphia. It was a governing body that formally declared 13 original colonies' independence from Britain on July 4, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House which is now known as Independence Hall. King George III is prominently featured in the Declaration of Independence as the target of the American colonies' grievances, where he is accused of a long train of abuses and tyranny. The Declaration of Independence was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, asserting that all individuals have inherent rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Philadelphia will never give in. Some of the great signs from the march.

Some of our finery

This lady used her sign in the last rally, but still rings true.

Lumbersexual joined us too! Nice to see him and those gams.

And these two! 

At a Mexican eatery! The owners' dogs are not fond of HWSNBN and she said they will bite back LMAO!!!!

  

It felt good to get out and be part of the charge and hopefully the change. This might be just one of my favorite pictures I ever took in Philly. Where it began.

* A huge thank you to everyone for letting me take your picture to share.

MISS LADY DJ

She got her Gemini Mixer with the funky cross-fader

And her two 12 hundreds just ready to let us have.

I walk into the joint

The club was jumping, people pumping they was grooving to the sound shaking booties to the ground

I looked up to the booth to see who was TERIN' off the roof.

Something different this Friday...just in time....to start the weekend off with. My good friend Bridget, or just Bridge, who is a phenomenally entertaining DJ in NYC, is a mix of old school disco and house. She is another reason I'll always have the club scene and dance in my blood and have some damn serious worship when it comes to the dance floor. I can and still do go out dancing and can go for hours. There is nothing like the club scene feel, which I doubt will ever leave my blood stream. She continues the legendary feel of the club scene from the 80-and 90's, and what I love the most...she is sometimes the show itself, while DJing, and being right down where the action is happening. This was from one of her sets back in February. Her motto- Come for the music. Be open to unfamiliar music and sounds. Respect one another. Face each other instead of the DJ. No phones allowed on the dance floor. Dress to express yourself...and DANCE your hearts out.

So while you're working, doing housework or just in the mood to dance when no one is watching just hit the play button darling...and tell me she is not an entertaining DJ! And trust, when I caught this, I was UP! Love ya girl!

TWO SISTERS

Sad news as two more Queens head off and up to entertain in Fabulon.

Gina Germaine, one's of NYC's most outrageous club denizens throughout the 80's and 90's has headed off to Fabulon.  I don't know exactly when she hit the town, but I do know at almost 7' she was all glamourpuss. I can recall seeing her at on the scene when I visited NYC quite often to hit the town with my good friend and sister , David Dust. Gina was one of Sally's Hideaway's stars, where we saw her alongside the likes of Dorian Corey, Carmen and Monica Xtravaganza, Octavia St Laurent and Consuela Comsetica. Once, I recall we were out and wound up at some straight party where they were holding a Ivana Trump look-a-alike runway show. Gina with her French twist and bangs won the category easily. She toured all the time with Suzanne Bartsch. Gina loved her furs and designer duds. I don't recall her ever not glammed up. She was also funny as hell and put on quite a show in her business attire once at the Green Room. Gina's signature number to lip synch to was Phoebe Snow's sultry Teach Me Tonight. The thing was Gina always dressed and lived as a woman even before a transition. And over the top. She lived her life on her own terms, with no regrets and very loudly...decades before trans people were more accepted.

And joining Gina this week is also the fabulous Agosto Machado. Another big loss for NYC's avant-garde set.

Alway illusive about his age, he grew up in an orphanage and cut his teeth in the 1950's as a street kid in Greenwich Village. From there he fully immersed himself in NYC'S downtown scene along with the like of Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling and other creatures of the night. As time went on, Agosto became a drag elder, continuing to collaborate on creative projects and sharing mementos of the past. One of his amazing shrines that he designed and dedicated to gone but not forgotten friends is currently part of the Whitney Museum's biennial. Agosto was a contemporary of drag legend Ethyl, the Andy Warhol set fixture and was even voted in as a NYC member of the sensational San Francisco drag troupe, The Cockett's I featured here before. Agosto was also a street queen who socialized with Marsha P Johnson, and as an activist, Agosto joined forces with Sylvia Rivera, Marsha and more in the GAA. This was before pre-Stonewall honey. Much later in recent years, the art world took note of his legacy, and he was included in several fancy exhibitions of his style, art and activism. I recall seeing him once enjoying a drink in the Village at Julius's. At the time had no idea who he was but enjoyed the then story and exchange we had. David Dust had to fill me in on just who he was. He even attended two of David Dust's gay pride house parties in the 90's which would be packed in like a sardine can. So when an older queen wants to talk to you youngin's listen up!! You just may learn a thing and talk to history. Agosto Machado certainly made his mark for generations. And in drag circles, Agosto has always been described in hushed tones of reverence.

Rest in peace Sisters