As the cold fronts start to come in from the north and the leaves turn colors and fall off trees, we all prepare for a very busy, yet short, holiday season. Thanksgiving is the holiday in which we all take a step back and give the gratitude where it is well deserved. What are you grateful for this year? Is it your knight in shining armor? Is it the house of your dreams? Or have you rekindled a relationship with old friends? In any which way it may go, always be sure to give a simple “thank you”! I hear they go a long way.
 

Tiffany Storm

After you give thanks and share them with your loved ones, it’s time for the most important part of the holiday, the food. Please wash out your turkey-basters and put a real bun in the oven… its time to throw down in the kitchen.

First up in the kitchen, I have to go ahead and take a moment to honor the owner of Scorpio, Rick Wilds, who past away last month. Rick was a man of many words… and always told you just exactly what he was thinking. He led a life marked by success, love, and laughter. Rick was a man who could have you laughing hysterically on the floor and at any point in time he could say things to you that would leave tears streaming down your face.

One of my favorite Rick memories is when the Pride organization needed money a few years ago and Rick, after solicited for just a small amount of money, wrote a check for $10,000, which I do believe was the highest donation that year. Rick also loved to “send some money to those nuns up there in Belmont” at the House of Mercy… I’ll never forget trying to figure out if there were really nuns in Belmont, or if he was just being Rick. My thoughts go out to his partner of many years Donald… thank you for sharing such a force with us. He will be missed but never ever forgotten.

Cooking up a decadent Thanksgiving we have Scorpio that adds a special ingredient to their already delicious plate of “Super Club”. As you may have noticed on Halloween, Scorpio is now open on Friday nights with more of a big city dance club approach. Did I mention it’s ½ off before 12!?!? DJ Believe (Eric B) makes you believe that all things just keep getting better with his thunderous anthems and visionary mind set. Bryan, the manager is doing a spectacular job bringing you new surprises on the dance floor as well as giving you a bang for your buck.

Also, Scorpio will be open on Saturday nights now as well. You can find Scorpio’s DJ Ghost making you hip-hop to the music. The cover is free before 11 on Saturdays.

On November 9th, Sabrina Love will be making her first appearance back on stage with Macy Alexander and Kiesha Wellington. Then on November 16th, Former Miss Gay America Luscious and Angela Lopez will be entertaining you. And to round out the month, the November 30 the show consist of Emory Star, Lawanda Jackson, and Starla DaVinci (that’s me!).

Don’t forget, every Sunday in the quaint little show bar located inside of Scorpio, what we like to call “The Safari Room”, Angela Lopez and I will be introducing the newer girls to everyone. It’s hard making it in this business, so please come as we give them a crash course at the hardest drag bar in the southeast.

Night Owls of Gastonia is having a delicious month and every Thursday and Sunday it’s free to get in, just in time for your holiday shopping. Whitney Leigh still has her show on Sunday night featuring all of the hunkalicious drag kings from the Charlotte Metro area. Nov 1st will feature Amanda Blake in the show, as well as Kasey King and Xavier from SC. The show on November 21st will be a benefit for The Highway of Hope HIV/ AIDS organization. All proceeds are going to the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont. Entertaining you that night will be Kasey King, Tiffany Storm, Ashley Jordan, and Brooklyn Dior. Then Lawanda Jackson will be in town on the 28th and 29th all the way from Texas.

On a side note, I would like to congratulate my drag sister and close friend, Emory Star, on winning her first two crowns in just one week. Emory seized the titles of Miss Hideaway and Miss Libra Zodiac. Emory did and outstanding job in both pageants and absolutely turned the house honey! That’s my Emoretta Sour!

Going back to that whole turkey-stuffing thing, we come to my favorite bar in Charlotte, Petra’s Piano Bar and Lounge. Anyone wanting to book a holiday party at Petra’s should call Connie on her mobile at 704-202-2414.

Connie told me of a few events that they will be having earlier on in the month in preparation for the very short holiday season (did you know that its five days shorter than usual). November 9th will bring in a new Jazz band that Connie wants to try out in her establishment.  On November 16th micro celebrity Nora Ricci will be stopping in for a lovely little show at Petra’s.

Also, please don’t forget Roxxy’s Trivia Tuesdays are now back on the Petra’s. Now Roxxy will be starting the show at 9 ’clock. Congrats to her on her new job at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Charlotte… and I think her voicemail said a Halloween store. And Thursdays at Petra’s are still Karaoke… so please come sing your favorite tune!

As the main topic is food, Tiffany Storm would like to go ahead and announce that Kiana Layne will be starting Drag Queen Grits Wrestling on Mondays pretty soon at Central Station. Biscuits and butter will be given out at the door… and I’m still trying to figure out just what the biscuit is for, I guess the butter. On the Friday after Thanksgiving you can head over to Central Station and eat from the fabulous post thanksgiving buffet catered by Jeff.

Don’t forget, every Tuesday and Thursday there is a pool tournament at Central and a $50 prize. Did I mention there are free hotdogs on Friday and Saturday!?!?

I guess we are still missing tossed salad for the holiday feast, so let’s talk about Chasers. Chasers, the state’s only gay strip club has just hired a batch of muscle men with chiseled physiques that seem to get you wet in the mouth. I have my favorites of coarse, but I can’t let my husband know their names. I hear that Michael’s Tuesdays at Chasers is where the in-crowd hangs out now… I believe it must be his charming personality.

Dorea Saunders from Transtasia and a finalist America’s Got Talent, our own local drag celebrity will be performing in the Dick and Jane Show at Chasers on the 6th and 20th. Big Shirley Stevens has moved closer to town and I’m so excited to announce that she will be at Chasers on the 16th and 27th. Wow! Talk about a fabulous facelift for Thursday night!

Fridays will now be known as Angela’s Playhouse (or at least that’s what I call it) featuring Angela Lopez and friends. This promises to be a night filled with debauchery, games, and laughter. And replacing the Starlight Review on Sundays will be Movie Night with Brandy Alexander… I heard Brandy is showing the film of when she and Boom Boom crossed the Red Sea on a donkey’s back… now that’s what I call entertainment.

Heading over to Liaisons we may just be able to find homemade cranberry soufflé. But before we do, you will have the option of watching the election results and either celebrating or drinking yourself into a stupor, because if McCain wins, this world is going to shit.

November 22nd is Liaisons annual Pajama Party, bring a teddy bear to donate and your admission is free. Teddy bears donated that night will go to a Christmas charity. On the evening of Thanksgiving, you can head over to Liaison’s and finish your celebrations up with an old fashioned pink martini with the “other family.”

If you want a nice meaty piece of ham you will want to make your way over to The Charlotte Eagle. One of the hottest nights is Wednesday with free country dance lessons by Southern Country and you should defiantly go check out bartender Geri. Thursdays, which they call “Grrsdays,” play host to the Super Bears in all their glory with sexy grrrtender Dustin. Everyone should go check out the daddies and sweat with DJ Troy on the dance floor.

For those of you who like camp drag, on November 9th you should go check out the Hot and Spicy BBQ w/ Buff Faye. There will be free BBQ wings sponsored by Wing Zone. Showtime is at 9:30 sharp.

Thanks for spending your time catching up on the gay nightlife here in Charlotte. I want to wish everyone a wonderful and a glorious Thanksgiving. Please don’t stuff your face and be that other person passed out on the bathroom floor from over eating, or does that just happen to me?!?!

Starla Davinci