We Be Scrabblin

At 12:30 sharp today, we begin our Scrabble Tournament, the first one of the year. January’s tourney drew no takers, so we just played regular games. A full report tomorrow of who was left standing when the dust settles! And then straight to bingo at Nacho Daddy and from there to Coco Cabaret for Brian Justin Crum.

Yesterday, I wandered over to Chachalaca Bar to see Jerry Jones and his crew from Out & About magazine at another busy Gay Mixer. Hundreds of people were there, including the cast of Broadway Boys, with whom I chatted a bit. These Gay Mixers are the most fun marketing tool. Great for getting people into a new place, or into an old place for the first time. The atmosphere is always light and open, and the smart places have something to give away, whether it’s snacks or a house cocktail that can be made ahead and poured over ice at the last minute. The beleaguered bartenders, no matter how fast they are, can still only make one martini at a time.

Lots of entertainers in the crowd. Robert Ryan is ready for his big show at Act2PV on February 18th. Drag Queen Evita Loca and ”Bea Aurther is BRAT” star, Jason B. Schmidt, were in the crowd, suitably clad, promoting their respective shows. Ran into a new Facebook friend, Doug Galle. Nice to meet him in person. Herschel Weisfeld was there; we caught up a bit sitting in the new comfy lounge at Chachalaca Bar.

Onto Nacho Daddy for Open Mic with Gouda Gabor, who looked wonderful in black, dripping in fabulous (maribou, ostrich?) feathers. Bing Young did the honors when needed on the piano, and Edgar Bernache played two songs at the end of a jam-packed roster. Zoe Lewis is back and pushing ”Fabuloso” these days (the name of her current show at The Palm. I saw the preview last year – it is wonderful!), Delilah Beaucoup did a medley of songs from her show at Coco Cabaret, celebrating the songs of Annie Lennox. Seth Sikes and Sargento, a couple of Dreamboys, have their last show tonight at The Palm, and Seth will do one show with Rose Levine, who is, at 92, the oldest working drag queen in the world. She sang last night at Open Mic without her eyelashes and feather boa.

Here’s a tip to those wanting to buy tickets to the amazing shows in Vallarta. Take a walk and buy your tickets directly from the Box Office of whatever venue you have chosen. That way, the performers get paid immediately after the show, and, if you are new to town, you don’t wind up minutes before showtime at The Palm with a ticket for Coco Cabaret that you purchased from Eventbrite. And here’s another bonus to buying your tickets at the box office – they’re less expensive. A win-win-win all around.

Brian Justin Crum tonight at Coco Cabaret at 7 pm. Be there or be square, From Here.