previous: #250-201
200. Shanita Bump
199. Emi Grate
Currently producing “A+: The Pan Asian Revue” which showcases Asian drag performers monthly at Club Cumming while also occasionally co-hosting drag brunch at Dromedary Bar, Emi has been focusing a lot of her attention on graphic design in 2019. In January though, she wowed audiences as the Emcee in a full production of Cabaret at The Deep End.
198. Corey TuT
197. Julius’
One of the city’s most historic (and by some accounts, oldest) gay bars, Julius’ has always been a hub outside of the drag-o-sphere for locals to enjoy good brew, great food and cozy company that boasts a number of queer intellectuals and trailblazers. Also, the log cabin-esque interior is unlike anything else you’ll see in the city, which makes it a great location for film and TV (this year: the Netflix adaptation of Boys in the Band). Stop by any time, but especially keep their monthly Mattachine–a retro vinyl dance party produced by John Cameron Mitchell (plus DJs Angela Di Carlo and Amber Martin, pictured above with Bar Babe Kiyota)–on your radar.
196. Qhrist With a Q & Ten Yards
195. Vylette Tendency
194. Alexis Michelle
193. Clarice DuBois
Hello, Clarice! Crowned Miss Cherry Grove 2019 this summer, the drag queen and designer is becoming a force to be reckoned with on all fronts. Her Musical Mondays at Rockbar is the go-to spot in the West Village for your Broadway fantasies. And seasonally she also hosts the “Gayz Got Singing” competition there, which after two cycles has already spawned a star in the scene, Jae W. Brown.
192. Tiffany Anne Coke & Carlos the Uber Driver
What a great night when Lucky Chengs starlet Tiffany was finally crowned the second ever Miss West Village at Rockbar… several weeks after the pageant organizer skipped town without delivering the prize package! Meanwhile, Tiffany swaps Monday night shows at Cubbyhole in the West Village with on-stage and off-stage partner Carlos, who also happens to be one of NYC’s elite drag wig stylists.
191. Gina Tonic
190. DJ Nandi
Are you thirsty for this Hungarian hottie? Catch him DJing during the week at Monster, Posh and Rise Bar, plus special events for HEBRO. Or, just peruse his beach pics.
189. Robert Garcia
NYC’s “Androgynous Beauty” released the aptly titled BoyGirl EP in May, which showcases Robert’s vast abilities as a singer and pop songwriter. Robert’s and co-host Jayse Vegas’ Wednesday weekly show “Feel Like Vegas,” nestled in the cute back room of the very straight Offside Tavern, has become the primary meeting place for fans of the duo, and it’s also a great place to see and hear new talent that isn’t necessarily drag. The 90’s saw several entertainers and emcees like Mr. / Ms. Garcia (who now also hosts producers Jen Urban and Danielle Cordona’ monthly live music show “Torch” at Macri Park) in NY nightlife… let’s hope Robert brings back the trend.
188. Svetlana Stoli
The Comeback Queen of 2019! New York’s funniest Russian Asset laid low for most of last year, working as the door queen to the Voss Events drag brunch at it’s various locations. But now she’s a Lucky Chengs’ gurl, performing there frequently and hosting a successful new Sunday brunch that Chengs outsources to Secret Room NYC. The only sad Svetlana news report is that YouTube took down her classic Taylor Swift parody “Welcome To My Hole,” which can only live on now in our hearts. And holes.
187. Madame Vivien V
A mainstay of Brooklyn drag talent best known for her pyrotechnics, Vivien is also a sharply hilarious mic queen who shines monthly at her home base venue House of Yes as the hostess of a popular drag competition, Hot Mess. She’s also fiercely designing and constructing edgy lewks for clients on commission, and performed this year in major benefits for Immigrant Families Together and The Trevor Project.
186. Annie Manildoo, Bella Noche & Ivy Stalls
Bella was a NYC queen (she still is somewhat, primarily monthly at Rockbar) before moving out to Long Island and joining the cause of Making Drag Pop There. Annie and Ivy already made great strides in that department, and now the three of them are an unstoppable drag force. They’re performing and producing several shows there, including Ivy’s monthly at One Eye Jacks. In June, the trio did a one-day mini-tour of primarily straight but inviting venues across Patchogue.
185. Aria Derci
Displaying a mastery of surreal humor that throws back to the weirdness of East Village drag from the 80s and 90s, Aria’s on her way to becoming the cult figure we’ve always wanted. Oh, and in the Beechman stage production of The Simsinz she served the Drag Bart Simpson of our dreams and nightmares. The Miss Rockbar finalist currently has a monthly at that bar, and can be found DJing several nights and shows at Icon Bar and Vodka Soda Bottoms Up.
184. Serena Tea
183. Nicky Ottav & Blake Deadly
182. Ms. Ter
This emo comedy queen (yes, that’s a thing) is featured in two big Brooklyn events: “Spare Change” monthly at Macri Park, and “Live With Ms. Ter & Shiny” twice-monthly at The Vault–both also featuring her judy Shiny Penny. Ms. Ter also hosted the year’s various Drag Race and Dragula viewing parties at The Vault.
181. Junior Mint
180. Boy Radio
If he’s just so pretty that’s it’s too painful for you to look at him, you’re in luck! Singer / songwriter Radio released an ethereal, eclectic new album this year, so you can settle for just listening! And if you want to do both, hopefully you caught him performing at GiantFest, the Deep End’s Rocky Horror Halloween event Frank III, the main stage of Folsom Street East, or any number of his area appearances.’
179. Zalika Parsons
178. DJ Lorant
177. The Deep End
As Ridgewood (aka “Basically Brooklyn but still mostly Queens”) is becoming more of a Destination Gayborhood, The trailblazing Deep End continues to grow as a hub for the scene. Their diverse itinerary reflects a neighborhood that wants it all: a weekly Super Smash Bros. tournament, the classic Sunday night kinkfest Otter Box, the maybe self-explanatory Bear Milk… and earlier this year they housed a magnificent Jacob Pincus-produced rendition of Cabaret in a small back theater there that we never knew existed. And FYI: their fried cheese curds will give you life.
176. Antonio Cedeno
The gogo boy turned heavily tatted party promoter and producer has been helming his own events in Manhattan and Jersey since 2010. Nowadays, his big nights are the monthly mini-circuit party CALIBR at ReBar, and MALE ROOM which last had a sprawling, sold-out Halloween edition at 3 Dollar Bill.
175. Linda Simpson
One of the last of our city’s legendary Golden Age drag queens, Linda represents a school where queens are engaging hosts first and foremost. She channels all the warmth and oddness that makes her a great emcee as the hostess for Linda Loves Bingo, the city’s biggest and likely longest current running (ten years!) drag bingo, Friday and Saturday nights at Le Poisson Rouge. She was the perfect candidate to interview Alan Cumming in a live event at WILD Project–the stage where she held her acclaimed slideshow The Drag Explosion–and had great scenes discussing the evolution of drag in HBO’s documentary WIG (where, in a memorable moment, young Brooklyn queen Charlene notes Linda’s vampiric agelessness).
174. Megami
173. Pierretta Viktori
172. Bubbles D’Boob & Mike Borowski
The pair presented the popular Showtunes Sundays for an extended run at the Pines Pavilion this summer before longtime DJ Borowski returned to his Manhattan gigs at Pieces and Hardware (notably Hardware’s Super Size Queen Fridays), and the riotously perverse Bubbles popped up in venues like ReBar and Chelsea Music Hall.
171. Adriana Trenta
Last year’s Miss’d America and Miss Cheer New York, who has grown in leaps and bounds as an entertaining hostess and performer, recently left her longtime gig hosting karaoke at Vodka Soda Bottoms Up, and has since performed at the House of Yes, among other places.
170. Shay D’Pines & Angel Elektra
The married pair and onstage drag duo still keep it simple and fun, but have also had a considerable glow-up over time. Together they contribute to the Westchester drag scene by co-hosting a weekly show at Guapos Restaurant in Yonkers, and were instrumental in the supervision of Yonkers Pride this year. Individually, Shay rolls bingo twice a month at Sycamore Bar in Ditmars, and Angel (a Get Out covergirl this summer) is an outspoken reader to children for Drag Queen Story Hour.
169. Avant Garbage
168. Sassy Frass
Misty Meaner’s drag daughter also happens to be Cockyboys porn star Levi Karter… so you know she’s a good time gal. When she’s not guesting for Misty and Mocha Lite’s show at Macri Park, Sassy is the house queen several nights a week at The Graham and the subject of an autobiographical documentary, Leave It To Levi, that’s currently making the festival rounds.
167. Novaczar
166. Jasmine Kennedie
165. Golden Delicious
164. DJ Natazu
The pop-savvy DJ spins dance parties and drag shows all over the city (Rise Bar, ReBar and Atlas Social Club), and is a favorite companion on the road for NY-based RuGirls like Bob the Drag Queen and Monet X Change.
163. Harmonica Sunbeam
New Jersey drag royalty, Harmonica continues to regularly perform at gigs all over that state, and can be found most Sundays at Jersey City’s Six 26 hosting a tea dance.
162. Michael Musto
New York nightlife’s most famous writer (and a prolific entertainment scribe in general) continues to crank out columns for NewNowNext and other publications. He’s also a notable singer and emcee who gave us onstage appearances and performances in venues like Club Cumming and a series of Pride showcases at The Producer’s Club, and even filmed a movie. We’re just waiting on that juicy autobiography now, because this guy has got endless tales to tell.
161. Vivica Galactica
160. Coco Taylor
159. Xavier Mazara
The endlessly adorable DJ can be found spinning shows and parties at The Ritz, Vodka Soda Bottoms Up, Posh and other bars in the city. He’s also got Ritzy Bitz’s back for her new Saturday and Sunday brunch at Haswell Green’s.
158. Selma Nilla
157. Pinwheel Pinwheel
156. Lemon
155. Richard Cortez
The last thing you’d expect to see in 2019 is live jazz in a New York gay bar, let alone three gay bars. But it helps when the jazz quartet’s frontman is an established sexy gogo boy, who just so happens to sing angelically. He’s also a songwriter and poet, by the way… keep this one on your radar! And check out the Richard Cortez Jazz Quartet weekly at ReBar and Metropolitan Bar, and monthly at Club Cumming.
154. Chandilier
153. Petti Cash
152. CT Hedden
151. John Marto
John is now heavily involved with the production and soundscape of successful new monosyllabic sexfests Scum, Gus, Ooz & Thrust, all of which he helms with partner Senobyte. He also turns the party out weekly at The Ritz.
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