June in New York City heralds the return of summer and day drinking, yes, but it also celebrates the city's diverse LGBT community.
One of the most fun and colorful ways to celebrate Pride Month is to check out one of our glittering drag shows!
It is a known fact that NYC has some of the best drag queens in the world, and they're pulling out all the stops to make sure your Pride Month is that much more fabulous.
So whether you're looking for a fishy queen, funny queen, a singing queen, or a queen that can dance her padded ass off, we're listing the top shows to catch this June.
Unleash the queens!
1. Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street)
Unleash your inner diva at the world famous Drag Brunch at Highline Ballroom with over the top performances by some of the city's biggest and best drag queens with special guests from the ever-popular television series RuPaul's Drag Race.
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NYC favorites Shequida, Bootsie Lefaris, Jada Valenciaga and Pattya Hart give showstopping numbers as you eat, drink and be merry at the city's largest drag brunch to date. Your spot includes a full brunch meal, unlimited cocktails and one sickening show.
Skip the line and get your tickets in advance!
2. Lips Drag Queen Show Palace (227 East 56th Street)
Come have dinner with the divas at Lips Drag Queen Show Palace, one of NYC's oldest and most notable places to see classic drag. This 20-year-old drag hub welcomes you to enjoy a night of old-school dinner theater as they celebrate Pride Month like only they can.
Master impersonator Jesse Volt buzzes on and offstage as Joan Rivers, Cher, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry and even more that we don't want to spoil the surprise of. Dinner starts at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday this month. Try not to blink: You may miss a costume change.
3. Icon (31-84 33rd Street - Queens)
A longstanding staple of the Astoria bar scene, Icon has been revamped and reborn just in time for Pride Month with their all-new lineup of queens who are taking over the scene. Thursday come sing out with the boozy baritone beltress Gina Tonic for Game Of Tones Karaoke at 9 p.m.
The belting continues with the effervescent Cacophony Daniels as she hosts her Friday Drag Race Viewing Party at 8 p.m. Then get schwasted with NYC's drag mermaid Bella Noche at Schwasted Saturdays at 10 p.m., an all-out dance party with live DJ and a high-octane drag show at midnight.
4. Bizarre (12 Jefferson Street - Brooklyn)
Bizarre Bushwick has a longstanding past when it comes to out-of-the-box drag and edgy performers that push the line of what's real and what's imaginary. It's also where RuPaul's Drag Race standout and Brooklyn superstar Sasha Velour led the charge for a new group of artsy, intelligent drag acts.
If you liked her on Drag Race, you haven't seen anything yet. Come and crown it with Olive D'Nightlife on Friday nights for her rambunctious Drag Race viewing party or get your mind melded on Saturday, June 17th at 7 p.m. for Jump Shark with Heather, raising money for Planned Parenthood for Pride.
5. Rockbar (185 Christopher Street)
Everyone needs a place to go where everyone knows your name. That's exactly the vibe you'll get when you walk into Rockbar, a dim yet delightful dive in the West Village with weekly shows and events ranging from nerdy trivia and movie screenings to burlesque and live music performances.
When it comes to drag, there are a numerous NYC queens who have a special love for Rockbar. So on Tuesday, June 20th at 7 p.m., they're hosting The Big Gay Pride Drag Show, where all 18 queens performing are donating their tip money earned to Planned Parenthood in the spirit of Pride Month.
6. Therapy (348 West 52nd Street)
A popular gem in the Hell's Kitchen nightlife crown, Therapy brings the sass and perhaps some class for Pride Month, along with some of the city's most popular drag queens, to grace their upstairs stage. Oh, and if you get there for happy hour, they have a killer food menu. No joke.
On Sundays, Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner sounds off on her hysterical Slurp Sundays full of games, songs and usually a few shirtless men. On Mondays, the irreverent Marti Gould Cummings is joined by Broadway stars for the musical Stage Fright Mondays. Sing along if you know the words!
7. The West End Lounge (955 West End Avenue)
This uptown bar and cabaret has become one of the hottest spots on the Upper West side to catch live music shows, scandalous parties and, of course, incredible drag shows. Whether they're sprinting through the audience or swinging from the rafters, the show is always lit up in here.
Glammy Award-winning duo Brita Filter and Terra Hyman show why they're the talk of the town every week at C'mon Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. and Miss Stonewall 2016 Whendy Whaxwood welcomes us into her whimsical House of Whax on Thursday, June 8th at 11 p.m.
8. Albatross (3619 24th Avenue - Queens)
Lights! Camera! Action! The elevated stage at local favorite Albatross is ready to shine brighter than ever this month for Pride! A chill, neighborhood watering hole in Astoria, Albatross is the perfect place to park after a long day at work or to jumpstart any night of the week.
On Monday nights, the perversive princess Gilda Wabbit hosts a night of smut and sport at Bawdy Bingo at 9 p.m., where the grand cash prize has been upwards of $200! On Saturdays, the queen of show tunes Sutton Lee Seymour takes you on a razzle dazzle journey of song starting at 11 p.m.
9. The Monster (80 Grove Street)
Another historic bar from the epicenter of the Gay Rights Movement, The Monster is a kitschy fan favorite that caters to an eclectic crowd. Flow through the upstairs floor with barside piano and descend down into the drag den in the basement level.
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On Sundays, it's all about Look Queen, a visual competition hosted by Dusty Ray Bottoms where queens turn out original looks to fit a weekly theme. Drag superstars like Bob the Drag Queen, Alyssa Edwards, Naomi Smalls and Aja have all come as guest judges for a night you have to see to believe.
10. Macri Park (462 Union Avenue - Brooklyn)
Williamsburg's newest gay bar has been making waves since its opening and is ready for a full on tsunami this month. The campy but comfy Macri Park is turning the party this month and has no reservations being the crazy kids in the Brooklyn scene.
Ruby Roo and Ragamuffin start the week off with at bang at Mondays on Mondays at 11 p.m., then rage all night with Rageaholics on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. with Theda Hammel. On Fridays, kiki with Alotta McGriddles and Miz Jade for Drag Race at 8 p.m. followed by Liz James with Air Play at midnight.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]