Category Archives: Uncategorized

Whew, my Scorpio season was nonstop. Among the highlights…

*Celebrating the 30th(!) anniversary of chic Indochine restaurant.
Me and an army of queens and freaks were brought in to add some pizazz. Thanks to Miss Understood for inviting me.

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Sherry Vine and me preparing to entertain the guests.

 

*Hanging out at my favorite new gay party, “Pretty Ugly,” at Diamond Horseshoe.
My new Saturday-night hangout is a restored 1930s nightclub in the basement of the Paramount hotel. I wish the lights weren’t so dark, and the place could use a few more drag queens… But it’s definitely a fun place to explore—plus it’s right around the corner from my apartment! The main promoter is Erich Conrad, who used to throw the long-running Beige party. And one of the DJs is my pal Tommy Hottpants.

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Clad in my Chinese dress (again!) at Diamond Horseshoe. The staircase entryway is like an art installation!

 

*Presenting my slideshow extravaganza, The Drag Explosion, at the Wild Project, with special guest star Sweetie.
We had a blast yakking about our formative drag years of the early 1990s. In fact, I couldn’t get her to shut up. Kidding, she was fab!

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Back in the dressing room. Not bad for a couple of old gals!

 

*Attending MIX, the annual queer experimental film festival.
Each year the festival transforms a raw space into a queer fantasy land, and this year’s location—a Brooklyn warehouse—was the most spectacular yet. The theme was a beehive!

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With Diego, in front of some of his incredible designs for MIX.

 

*Presenting The Drag Explosion again!
This time, my special guest was Michael Formika Jones, a.k.a. Misstress Formika. Afterwards, we retired to nearby Lumiere restaurant and celebrated my birthday eve.

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Do we look like we’re in Paris?

 

I like being productive and active around my birthday. It’s my time to shine!

 

It might seem like a contradiction, but for the first part of September, I’ve been very social and introspective at the same time. Remember when I seemed so engrossed in your witty cocktail chatter? I was actually deep in thought about myself. (Sorry.)

As usual, I’ve been hosting Bingo. It’s my regular showbiz gig, every Wednesday and Saturday. PLUS, I’m adding a Tuesday night to my schedule at a brand-new venue, The Lodge Club, in Greenwich Village. It starts on September 16th, and I’d love for you to join the fun!

As I call numbers and give away prizes, I ponder how lucky I am to have a pay-the-rent job that I really like. Down the road, I plan on cutting back on my full-time Bingo schedule and devoting more of my time to writing and other creative projects. But for now, my Bingo ways serve me well. Enjoy me while you still can!

 

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Decision Time! Keep the puppy-dog pillow prize or trade it for what’s in spokesmodel Sylvia London’s Mystery Bag? Photo from Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club by Mark Kanter.

 

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For the second year in a row, I schlepped out to the annual drag fest Bushwig (It’s in Bushwick, get it?) But this time I was a host, sharing responsibilities with Ms. Mary Boom (who is a nut).

Is the event a polished showcase of the finest in female impersonation? No, it’s a hot tranny mess—and that’s what makes it a hoot! The neighborhood is gritty, and so are the acts.

The location is the vast performance space Secret Project Robot, which includes a walled courtyard. It’s very Mad Max, complete with an outdoor bar!

 

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Mary and I brightly lit in the back of a cab.

 

Linda Simpson drag queen Bushwig
Matching lipstick

 

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Bushwig co-organizer Horrorchata on stage, in front of the courtyard. Notice the gravel—Not good for heels!

 

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Bushwig is both a day and night event. Here I am hanging out after dark with Maureen, Taylor, The Old Witch and P.J. (Yes, I called her an old witch, that’s her name!)

 

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The day after Bushwig, it was time for me to present the latest version of my slideshow extravaganza, The Drag Explosion DELUXE.  The Wild Project turned out to be a perfect location, including comfy seats.

 

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This just in—I’m coming back to the Wild Project in November! Photo by Julian Fleisher.

 

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From “The Drag Explosion” – Pretty gals at Wigstock 1991 in Union Square. It was the Bushwig of it’s time!

 

I dedicated my latest slideshow to my friend Kathleen, who had died the week before. We've been friends since we met at the Pyramid Club circa 1990. Introspection time... I miss her a lot.
I dedicated my latest slideshow to my friend Kathleen, who had died a week earlier. Our friendship dates back to the Pyramid Club circa 1990. Introspection time… I miss her a lot.

 

What will the rest of September hold for me?  Will I finally start listening to other people? We shall see!

 

If Wigstock was still on Labor Day, there would be a lot of soggy wigs today. It’s raining in NYC.

But the outdoor drag festival hasn’t occurred in years, which is rather a shame. No matter what the weather, it was always a hoot.

Personally, I was never a great Wigstock act. Well, maybe one or two years I was a success. I mostly just liked hanging out with everyone.

I guess that’s the kind of drag queen I am—sociable and easy to please!

Behold a few Wigstock memories:

 

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I took this photo at the very first Wigstock I attended in 1986 (It was founded the previous year).  Lady Bunny, looking quite different than her current incarnation, hosted in the crumbling bandshell of Tompkins Square Park.

 

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I can’t remember off-hand what year this was… It was the early 1990s. Posing for me are Miss Understood and Coco.

 

Linda Simpson wigstock drag explosion drag queen
This was Wigstock ’94, the first year it moved to the West Side piers. I’m happy because my performance had gone really well. Also, I had just smoked a joint!

 

Darling, it’s drag her-story!

 

Coming up soon.. on Monday, September 8th… The most comprehensive version yet of my slideshow extravaganza of NYC’s drag scene from the late 1980s to the mid ’90s. It’s the chance to see Parts One and Two of The Drag Explosion edited together, along with never-seen-before pix!

 

Drag Explosion Linda Simpson invite

 

It’s at The Wild Project, the slick performance space in the East Village. I like it because it reminds me of a television studio. Perfect setting for a multi-media show!