Odyssey Magazine

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

By Livonia & Venus D Lite

• I’m writing to you all from a comfortable sickbed wearing heavy bandages and surprisingly sexy surgical stockings in a euphoric haze brought on not by my twilight-induced, anesthesia-based breakfast, but the genuine high and thrill I felt at three recent drag-adjacent events. I was lucky enough to celebrate Palm Springs Pride with performer & DJ extraordinaire Phyliss Navidad at the utterly fabulous Ace Hotel. Their “Milk & Honey” themed weekend was packed, truly diverse and offered the greatest mix of people and talent I’ve seen in years. The sensational Jer Ber Jones, Tammie Brown, Ambrosia Salad, & Alaska Thunderfuck entertained poolside and even Dina Martina of the Pacific Northwest made a rare appearance at the Ace. Where else can you see porn stars Drew Cutler & Jason Pitt mingle with Victor Rodriguez and photographer Ron Davis? Kudos to all of the crew behind this memorable event.
Back in WeHo, I had a dream-come-true moment when I was able to introduce & welcome the incomparable Pepper MaShay to our stage at SASSY– they simply don’t make headliners like this anymore. Pepper sings & speaks from the heart and she remains a life force and an ally our community is lucky to have on its side. Our event had a cross-section of talent that ranged from Weho stalwarts Bev & Gin, vocalists Billy Dortch & Chris Dallman, Tupperware diva Kay Sedia, and fan favorite Irene Soderberg (who was being filmed for an upcoming documentary project on her varied and legendary life). We were celebrating the DVD release of the new “Eating Out” movie and in a night full of highlights, the evening clearly belonged to recent LA transplant Chris Salvatore (Zach in the movie) who made his live-singing stage debut at here lounge. Based on the many e-mails and texts I had received asking what time Chris was going on and a soundcheck so strong that I could have charged a cover to listen to it, I knew we had a hit on our hands. Mr. Salvatore followed up his hit single “It’s You (The La La Song)” by sharing his new PSA in support of www.GayAmericanHeroes.com and spoke movingly about what this new grass roots charity is trying to accomplish. The clip is blowing up on YouTube and I promise if you watch it you will be inspired to join the cause. The theme song to “Eating Out 3” (which  Chris co-wrote with director Glenn Gaylord) is now available on iTunes. The DVD is available at Amazon, TLA Video and also at Chi Chi Larue’s boutique in Weho. It was a thrill to welcome cast members Daniel Skelton, Rebekah Kochan, Maximiliano Torandell, Marcellas Reynolds and that charming devil Michael ER Walker to here lounge and I thank everybody who came out to celebrate this remarkable GLBT trilogy with the people who worked so hard on it.

My last night out was a field trip with Kenya Quief to judge the Finals of Cha Cha’s Got Talent at The Brick in Pomona.  No one is doing more to nurture new talent & celebrate great performance art like promoter and emcee Cha Cha. The lineup was stellar: Vicious (in a dress and hat made of playing cards that screamed Warhol), Venezuela (newly blonde and slinky with her signature Joan Crawford parody), Cristal Ciccone (who lived up to the hype in amazing showgirl and circuit diva style that left me gagging), Athena & Baby Girl (looking better than ever and making every number look so damn fun), Jaznyne Simone (possibly the best & fiercest fish in all of SoCal!), the alluring Mystic Fierce, dead-on Dolly impersonator Pandora, and major new GaGa impersonator Miranda Snow rounded out the cast. The nights crown and top honor went to the remarkable Neveah who will be performing at The Brick on Tuesday 11/24 and 12/22 in support of her well-deserved victory. Congrats to all of these talented artists!
I’m gearing up for a dramatic night at Shangela’s birthday party on 11/23 at SASSY and the return of Mercedes Electra on 12/7. Mercedes is the kind of well-loved girl who can convince queens from all corners like Miss Cinception of Long Beach and all-time Drag Idol champ Che Che Echelon of Riverside to come out when she calls. If her AIDS Walk benefit was any indication, her birthday show should be a night to remember. And lets close with a special shout out to Miss M. who took home the Drag Idol crown at Oasis last week. You’ve cone a kong way M and we all love you.  Like Madonna, I’ll live to die another day and wish you many thanks for the love and support you have shown me.

• Hey Drag Lovers! My oh my how the year is slowly coming to an end. As we are very quickly coming to a new decade, it does make a girl think. You might be asking yourself, WTF have I really done this much Drag? Or you might be asking yourself how do I start doing Drag. Well darling there is never a perfect time, really honestly JUST DO IT and be FABULOUS doing it. Speaking of Fabulousness just recently Oasis Nightclub in Upland celebrated their ever famous “Drag Idol Finals.” Being a 4-time finals champion I am always excited to see this event. I remember when I was in it, the girls really did not fuck around. But this season’s finals the girls did not fuck around. All the Ladies Miss M, Koolade, Allana, Venezula, Navaeh, Delorian Chase, Bootz, Pandora, Libra, Phantom, Melody, Selena Scott, Shangela, Ali Kat, you guys were awesome and you did a fabulous job. The title went to Miss M along with her pals Koolade, Allana, Venezula for their recreation of the Drag Favorite “Lady Marmalade” from Moulin Rouge. Hey Sista, GO SISTAS! Miss Neveah took us to the Middle East with seductive and highly chroeographed Hip Hop/Arabian Nights number. This Girl can really dance her ass off!!! Shangela did a beautiful dance number to the Donna Summers song “Love is a Healer.” Didn’t think anybody else knew this song except the little disco diva here but I am glad that every time I hear this song I will think of her and that beautiful performance. The Dreamgirls Revue just celebrated their 14 year anniversary at Ripples in Long Beach. WOW! The show, the cast members Chad Michaels, Venus D Lite, Dolly Levi, Jasmine Masters, Delta Work , Morgan, Ladonna Monroe and the audience really created a very memorable night and I am sure we will be there for another 14 years to come. Don’t miss The Dreamgirls Revue Disney Show on 11/24 with special Dreamgirls Mix & Mingle starting @ 8:30pm. For all you Madonna fans, Ripples in Long Beach will be having a special Madonna Night with performances by yours truly on 11/25. Well Darlings thats all for the report this week, drag lesson of the day: “Wigs” remember they’re not you own hair, make sure you find a way make them stay on your head..

Love and Kisses, Venus D Lite.