Friday, March 12, 2010 | Richmond, VA’s Webmagazine for GLBTQ

This Week In Nightlife

A CD release, Fourth Friday, drag kings, and bears (oh my!) round out the week.

Monday 1/18 Roddy Barnes CD Release // This blues and jazz artist performs live to promote his new album Unseen.   6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Free. 21+
Nations, 2729 W. Broad St.

Thursday 1/21 FÜNDERSTORM // The Richmond Comedy Coalition hosts a live improve comedy show.  The Richmond LGBT professionals also join in for their Meetup.  $7.  Doors at 7:15 PM Show starts at 8 PM.
Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St.

Friday 1/22 Family & Friends Fourth Friday // Julie McCoy and crew take over the 8th floor of the Miller & Rhoads Condos at this monthly gathering.  Two bars open benefiting the Richmond Triangle Players. Free.
Miller & Rhoads Residences, 230 North 6th St.

Friday 1/22 King Show // Join Sharon Husbands and King of Kings Xavier Drake for an evening of male illusion. 9 p.m., $5, 21+
Babes of Carytown, 3166 W. Cary St.

Saturday 1/23 Bear Night // The 495 Bears take a trip down I-95 to Nations, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.  $5, 21+
Nations, 2729 W. Broad St.

For a look at what’s going on, check out our Nightlife Guide.

It Was Neck And Neck All The Way Through The Final Lap

The Top Three: 2nd Runner Up, Winner Zakia Jamaceye, 1st Runner Up Monica Duvall

The Top Three: 2nd runner up Alexea Breeden Kelly, winner Zakia Jamaceye, 1st runner up Monica Duvall

Hey there Race Fans, your pit crew signing in to deliver the last update on Esta’s Drag Race Season 2.

Yes folks, we have finally reach the end. Believe it or not, these past eight weeks flew by and now we are at the final three. But before we get there, allow me to update you on what happened at the semi-finals.

Two weeks ago it was down to Zakia Jemaceye, Monica Duvall, Candy Pantzzz and Alexea Breeden Kelly. The most memorable moment of the night was Miss Duvall making her triumphant return to the race. Pulling out her “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, she gave the audience exactly what they wanted. The bottom two, Alexea and Candy. And at the beginning of the lip sync for the lives, Candy walked off the stage and disappeared to the back. Defaulting Alexea to the finals, while we all tried to figured out what happened… I guess Candy Pantzzz will be the only one to know why she left.

Now to the finals.

The guest performers definitely made the big statement needed for the finals. Victoria C. Snow worked the crowd with some very extended numbers, fabulous but extended none the less. Stormie Saunders, 1st runner up of Season 1, reminded us why she made it so far in Season 1. And Millenium C. Snow made her last performance as crown holder of Esta’s Drag Race, closing her reign with a gorgeous performance of “I Will Always Love You” that could have brought a tear… but who are we kidding, it’s not that serious.

The girls were asked to create “Go Green” outfits, and these ladies did not hold back. Kelly pulled a little Project Runway magic, Jemaceye created a full on evening gown and Duvall looked fierce (but was sure to stay away from any lit cigs, cause the tall grass could have sparked into a huge burn out).

The ladies then performed a number of their choice, but lets just get to the part you are all waiting for. Drum roll please.

We have the three ladies lined up on stage, after they have pulled out everything they could for this season. First to walk away, winning 2nd runner up is…. Alexea Breeden Kelly. Now that anticipation is building, we have Duvall and Jemaceye waiting on stage to hear who worked it harder.

And the 1st runner up is…….. Monica Duvall. Making Miss Zakia Jemaceye the grand winner of Esta’s Drag Race Season 2. After eight weeks, countless outfits and reveals, fabulous guest performers, shocking line change ups and a few cocktails later… the checkered flag is finally waving in the air.

So Race Fans, be sure to make your way out to the reunion shows this week and next week. See all the girls come back to the stage one last time together as the girls of Season 2, as they finally get the chance to comment back to the judges and speak their mind. Flashback to Jemaceye not holding back at last years reunion, we can only hope there is something as juicy this year.

Your engines are now cooled down and shut off, this is your pit crew signing off.

Esta’s Drag Race is an 8-week competition each Thursday at Nations on 2729 W. Broad St. Photo by Eric Russell.

And We Have Our Final Four…

Kelly takes on Lady Gaga

Alexea Breeden Kelly takes on Lady Gaga

Hey there Race Fans, your pit crew signing in giving you the inside information on Esta’s Drag Race this past week.

The theme this week? Esta decided to throw a little suicide Tina Turner at the ladies and then allowed them to impersonate a singer of their choice.

But first let’s talk about the guest performers. Of course Miss Millenium C. Snow gave us fabulous outfits, best I’ve seen from her so far, and dazzling performances. Her title as Esta’s Drag Race winner is soon over, but I have a feeling we’ll still see her around. She is a crowd favorite and all I have to say is, Miss Snow you better watch out for those pink shoes you rocked! UHH-MAZING!

And fairly new to the Nations runway, this being her second time performing there, was George Mason’s current reigning Homecoming Queen Miss Reann Ballslee. And she definitely brought her presence to Nations with everything from couch walking to a lap dance for a race virgin to taking out the set on stage. Everything she brought worked with her spunky personality and she left the crowd with smiles on their faces.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. The remaining four ladies opened the night with the same Elvis combo from Heat One, and I’m gonna just say it now the ladies from Heat One worked it out a little better. After that, Esta assigned each of the ladies with their suicide Tina Turner number. Well. Just like in Heat One, this suicide round quickly became suicide for the ladies. We all think we know Tina until you’re put on the spot to perform her songs. Oh well, no use in crying over missed or forgotten words.

After the suicide was done, the ladies then got to make up ground with their singer impersonation numbers. Fiona Cartier and Candy Pantzzz both looked fabulous with their costuming, but Alexea Breeden Kelly and Hedwig Von Goth pulled their looks closer to the originals. With Von Goth channeling some Kelly Osbourne and Kelly bringing Lady GaGa back to Richmond for an encore performance.

So the stage was set, and as for Heat Two these ladies have done everything they can to get to the semi-finals. Alexea Breeden Kelly ended Candy Pantzzz’s run and took home the trophy for the night sending Kelly straight into the semi-finals. Unfortunately, Von Goth’s different approach could not save her this week and she was asked to sachey away. So, that leaves Fiona Cartier and Candy Pantzzz in the bottom two.

The two ladies put up a good fight. Cartier working that stage and the crowd. Pantzzz using minimal movements but strong expressions to take her stand. When it came down to the end, this was this loudest audience reaction I’ve heard when deciding who should stay. After a long, long, long pause. Esta declared it was going to be Candy Pantzzz moving on and Fiona Cartier sacheying away. However, Cartier walked away with much love from the audience.

This just in folks. It seems we have a driver change from Heat One. The champion from Heat One, and strong favorite of the crowd, Michelle Livinge will no longer be competing in the race. Due to scheduling conflicts, Livinge had to withdraw from the race. No worries though Race Fans, because she came in third place in Heat One Monica Duvall will take her place. Which just goes to show, if it’s meant to be it will happen.

So congrats to Alexea and Candy, welcome back Miss Duvall and Zakia time to rev that engine back up girl… it’s the final two laps and you ladies better be strapped in and ready for anything to happen. We’re speeding into the semi-finals this week and nothing but you’re A-games will be accepted, or be prepared to get called out…

For now, your engines seem good to go… this is your pit crew signing off.

Esta’s Drag Race is an 8-week competition each Thursday at Nations on 2729 W. Broad St. Photo by Eric Russell.

Spice Girls, Spanking and 80’s… Oh my!!

dragraceHey there Race Fans, your pit crew signing in to give you the turn by turn of what happened at Esta’s Drag Race in Week 5…

If you missed it last week week, then sorry to say you missed a good one. Or at the very least an outrageous one. Starting the show this week, was a twirling metallic pink tornado that was Miss Esta Bunny. Audience members made sure not to get in the way of her coat tails as she whooshed them around on the runway.

Gracing us with her presence this week as the guest performer was Natasha Carrington. The last time this pit crew saw her perform was during the comedy night after Season 1 wrapped up. Now thinking back to her, “Thin and Gorgeous!” number it was nice to see her again giving us some country glam.

Now… let’s bring on the race drivers. The five ladies took the stage, and were given the task of performing the Spice Girls… together. Some demanded the attention, while some let their spotlight get taken away. One girl stepping (even so much as to do so in the group photo) was Alexea Beeden Kelly. Her bold move let the audience know she ain’t here for friends, but for the win. Kudos to you Miss Kelly for making the first big move in Heat 2!

Next was the interview portion of the evening, and to keep the audience’s attention the ladies were given a task to bring a man on stage shirtless. We had everything from a husband, to Michelle D. Livinge, to employees of Nations… no man was safe from this task. And why were these men asked on stage, well of course so the contestants could give them a good spanking.

To wrap everything up, the ladies then performed their theme of the week: 80’s music. Now we definitely had a great flash back because this pit crew was jamming out like no one’s business. We had everything from a virginal Madonna to an outfit from Miss Candy Pantzzz that left very little to the imagination down below. Even Hedwig Von Goth tamed it down a little and sported a newly painted fabulous face with the help of Livinge.

So who won and who was told to sachey away? Well leaving little to the imagination and being a crowd favorite proved to be a successful equation for Candy Pantzzz, because she walked away with the trophy for the night yet again. Oh, and of course her bottle of Bud Light… way to hold it down girl!

Bottom two? Fiona Cartier and Adriana Monique. Now it was a close call when it came to them lip syncing for their lives, but Cartier commanded that stage a little harder than Monique. And as stated by the judges, while Monique is a beautiful drag queen it seems her performing may need just a little tightening up. So sadly, Miss Adriana Monique was told to sachey away and joined the other crash victims of the race.

So that leaves us with four, yes that’s right folks four ladies left of Heat 2. The laps are dwindling down to the final four, where it’s going to be an all out drag race for the big checkered flag at the end. So stay tuned cause I’m here to keep you updated, but you should probably just come check it out yourself…

For now, your engines seem good to go… this is your pit crew signing off.

Esta’s Drag Race is an 8-week competition each Thursday at Nations on 2729 W. Broad St. Photo by Eric Russell.

Six New Drivers Rev Engines in Esta’s Drag Race

DragRaceHey there Race Fans, your pit crew signing in to give you the turn by turn of what happened at Esta’s Drag Race in Week 4…

Well ladies and gents, allow me to introduce you to the six new girls of Esta’s Drag Race. (Forgive me ladies if I misspell your names, I promise I’ll get them correct as we all get to know you better.) Heat Two brought the appearances of: Fiona Cartier, Hedwig Von Goth, Alexia Breeding, Rachel Storm, Candy Pantzzz and Adriana Monique. While you may remember Candy Pantzzz from Season One, the other five ladies are here shiny and new to the race.

Waving the green flag for Heat Two to begin was Miss Esta Bunny sporting an insanely amazing head dress straight from Vegas. Between her tutu and the head dress, this heat of the race was starting with tires peeling out.

Though it is only fall, tonight at Nations a Snow blizzard took force on the runway. Millenium C. Snow and Victoria C. Snow frosted us all with not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE sequined outfits between the two of them. But no worries they make sure to warm us all up with their hot performances. And spotted on Miss Victoria C. Snow, a pair of shoes that were to die for. Yes folks, these shoes would even pull the classic line, “I’d die.” from Rachel Zoe herself.

Now lets shift gears into the new contestants, shall we? These ladies are certainly bringing good competition for Heat One winners Michelle and Zakia. Fiona Cartier channeled a nice ballad, throw in her parallel to the floor backbend and you’re left with a solid performance. Now, Miss Hedwig Von Goth left jaws dropped for the first time at Nations. Whether it was for a good reason or not, she definitely “brewed” a new style on the Nations Runway. Though you may have thought it was a pink pom-pom walking by, it was just Alexia Breeding all dazzled in pink. Pink head-to-toe and in her performance, Breeding woke up the crowd with a sensational performance. Rachel Storm revamped her outfit from the beginning of the show and revamped Lady GaGa for the crowd. Candy Pants brought her experience of the race to her performance and knew exactly how to work it. While Adriana Monique picked hype songs and raised the energy of her performance even higher than her thigh-high boots.

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