Philly Drag Mafia's Drag Brunches
Nightclub drag shows can be a lot. When you’re looking for something that’s fun but a bit less bawdy and in-your-face, consider one of the Philly Drag Mafia’s many brunches throughout the region. The hosts tailor the show a bit according to who turns up — i.e., the straight-up raunch becomes double-entendre if the kids are in tow. phillydragmafia.com.
Philly Drag Mafia
Whether you prefer to attend a drag show at a Thai restaurant, a Gayborhood club, a Delco watering hole, or — one of the coolest spots in town — the rooftop bar of the Bok Building, indefatigable Brittany Lynn and the queens of her Drag Mafia have you covered. Sooooo gay, as Brittany likes to say. phillydragmafia.com.
Bob & Barbara's
Not even a global pandemic could stop the city’s longest-running drag show. When drag legend Lisa Lisa and her crew of queens couldn’t perform inside, they went outside. In winter. Literally stopping traffic on South Street to sway and sashay. Now that they’re back indoors, they’ve gone from one show every Thursday night to two. A true Philly institution, and a survivor. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
Eric Jaffe's Singing Telegram
For $100, this bearded, boisterous ukulele-playing drag queen — whom you might recognize as the resident entertainment host at Fishtown’s Fabrika or the co-producer of the semi-annual Snatcherella drag competition at Franky Bradley’s — will show up anywhere in the city and sing a song for your loved one. Want to cheap out? Her $10 Eric Jaffe Coloring Book makes a good gift as well. theericjaffe.com.
Lisa Lisa
Where’s the longest-running drag show in Philadelphia? South Street dive Bob & Barbara’s. What’s the secret to its longevity? Yes, the bar is cool, and the drinks are cheap. But the real answer is the talent and persistence of Miss Lisa Lisa, who’s been holding down the show and sashaying every Thursday night for more than 25 years. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, .
Sapphira Cristál
An operatic drag queen with a six-octave range and some of the most fabulous costumes around? Hell yeah! instagram.com/sapphiracristal.
VinChelle
Beyoncé enthusiast VinChelle, one of Philly’s best drag queens / Photograph by Jonathan Hernandez Lots of drag queens pay tribute to Queen Bey, but VinChelle goes above and beyond. See for yourself at one of her Beyoncé-themed parties, the next being at Franky Bradley’s on August 12th. instagram.com/_vinchelle_.
Lamia
Your average drag queen goes for the glam and loves to perform to Madonna and Diana Ross. Not Lamia. The self-described “cursed queen” goes for the dark, Goth-y look and does her spooky thing to the sounds of Judas Priest and Slayer. Performance art you won’t soon forget. instagram.com/thelamiaqueen.
John Jarboe
The founder and artistic director of the gender-bending Bearded Ladies Cabaret company plans big things. One of her most recent projects is the Beardmobile, a performance van tricked out with a stage, sound system and lights that lets her bring drag anywhere she damn well pleases, including to libraries and public parks. In September, find her at Late Nite Snacks — the Fringe Festival cabaret she curates — and onstage in her new play, Rose: You Are Who You Eat, which is probably the world’s first musical about a twin who eats her sister in the womb. beardedladiescabaret.com.
B. West
Back in 2015, longtime Silk City owner Mark Bee took what had been the city’s only lesbian bar, Sisters, and turned it into a Gayborhood burlesque-and-drag paradise called Franky Bradley’s. Today, he’s taken the adjacent property, formerly the storied gay club Key West, and transformed that into a magical performance space, bar and dance club that might contain more disco balls and glowing vinyl paintings than any other place on Earth. Look for regular events like a fashion-design contest called Seam Queen, Latin dance parties, and performances by Best of Philly-winning cabaret duo Glitter and Garbage. 1320 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, frankybradleys.com.
Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar
Theres always something fun and fabulous happening at this Gayborhood staple. Downstairs, its cocktails, conversation, and whatever games are on the flat-screens. Upstairs, its cheap beers, karaoke and drag shows. How can you go wrong? 200 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, tabuphilly.com.
Bob & Barbara’s Lounge
The longest-running drag show in Philly is still fresh (thanks to a rotating cast of Philly favorites and up-and-comers), still under the direction of show founder and iconic hostess Miss Lisa Lisa – and still the best $8 you can spend on a Thursday night. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret
If your impression of a drag show is a bunch of bedazzled trannies lip-synching to Madonna, you need to see this groundbreaking show starring Pig Iron Theatre Company co-founder Dito van Reigersberg in a wig, heels and false eyelashes. It's pure theater, and a true Philly gem. 00000, facebook.com/MarthaGrahamCracker.
Bob and Barbara's
Whether it's Friday night's DJ'd happy hour, Thursday's long-standing drag show, Sunday karaoke with Sara or the foot-stomping jazz on the weekends, this quintessential dive is always a party, fueled by the all-important Pabst-and-Jim Beam special, still only $3 ($3.50 after 9 p.m.) after all these years. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
FringeArts
With a bar, restaurant, beer garden (boasting spectacular views of the Ben Franklin Bridge), and theater, no two nights here are ever the same. Sip outdoor cocktails with friends before a night of salsa dancing, or eat a surprisingly gluten-free and vegan mushroom shepherd’s pie before catching a drag show. Whatever kind of night you’re planning, Fringe can make it happen. 140 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106, fringebarphilly.com.