Linda Simpson

(Mikey Stardust and Alex at Le Poisson Rouge)
 
Saturday night we braved the cold, rocking our flashiest, most-glamed out drag to hit promoter Deryck Todd’s Winter 2011 installment of his hit glam-rock party BowieBall at the West Village’s Le Poisson Rouge.
 
"Straight people have no idea how to do a theme party right.">>>

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(The Emperor's New Codpiece @ The Laurie Beechman)

With the promise of drag, nudity and a gay send-up of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” we eagerly made our way up to the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Friday for the opening of The Emperor’s New Codpiece. Written by downtown-club-queen-turned-bingo-babe Linda Simpson and directed by Tim Cusack, Codpiece tells the tale of a medieval nightspot, Club Castle, whose hetero owner decides to cut costs by scaling back his drag acts and ramping up his go-gos. Simpson, who plays Castle’s lone surviving drag performer, Melinda, hatches a plan to fool the junkshakers—including super sexy primo go-go Emperor (Buenaventura Rodriguez) into wearing jocks made of invisible fabric so they’ll be sacked for nudity and the queens can return to the spotlight.

FULL STORY AFTER THE JUMP!>> continue reading »

(Matt Camp and Shaquanda Coca Mulatta @ Le Poisson Rouge)

We're not used to seeing Linda Simpson without balls in her hand—bingo balls that is! The host of Monday Night Bingo at Bowery Poetry and Le Bingo at Le Poisson Rouge, Simpson expanded her repertoire Friday night with Dippity-Do-Drag, a fun one-off revue at Le Poisson, featuring "she"-nanigans from Sylvia London, Chris Tanner, Violet Temper, Shaquanda Coca Mulatta, Flloyd, Curtsy and Sultana.  As Simpson tells us, the night was such a hit she might do it again!

FULL STORY AND PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP!>> continue reading »

(Robert Verdi & Jujubee @ Hudson Terrace)

The Ali Forney Center's summertime soiree, Oasis, truly lived up to its name— turning Hudson Terrace into a crowded haven of neatly placed bowties and free drinks in a city beleagured by a scorching heatwave. As guests perused auction "experiences," like appearing on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen, co-hosts Robert Verdi and Linda Simpson traded quips on stage before bringing out RuPaul’s Drag Race/Drag U star Jujubee.

FULL STORY + VIDEO & ROBERT VERDI'S FASHION ASSESSMENT AFTER THE JUMP! >> continue reading »

(Peppermint, Raven O, Lauren Ordair & Linda Simpson @ Hurley's)

Broadway's La Cage Aux Folles has been high-kicking it at the Longacre for just over a month now, entrancing audiences so much that a touring production has already been set for 2011. But if the musical's gender-bending and hysterical humor leaves you wanting more, more more, you have but to step 10 feet next door and two flights up to the top floor of Hurley’s Bar (32 West 48th St.), which TheatreMAMA has transformed into the Riviera-like Club La Cage, a post-performance cabaret show happening every Saturday and Sunday night. Hosted by One Night With You star Raven O, the anything-goes revue is a great tie-in for those who love the riveting and raucous musical. And cast members like Kelsey Grammer, Douglas Hodge and the Nicks (Cunningham and Adams) have been known to swing by.

(Sweetie & Gusty Winds @ Elevate)

(Sweetie & Gusty Winds @ Elevate)

Last night's Pink Cross benefit at Elevate once again proved that New York nightlife truly does have a heart, as generations of misfits came together to raise money for on-the-mend Dixie drag diva Sweetie. Though she came through her recent heart surgery with flying colors, the larger-than-life Southern belle wasn't quite up to the rigors of performing yet. So near-and-dear friend Daniel Nardicio pulled a Mickey and Judy and said, "Let's put on a show!" He organized the benefit and got everyone from DJs like Michael Magnan and Nita Aviance to performers Randy Jones, Cherry Jubilee, Mimi Imfurst and Bridgett Everett to pitch in.

We caught up with one of Sweetie's closest bosom buddies, Gusty Winds, on a break from entertaining and asked her to talk about her efforts.

FULL STORY + PHOTOS + SWEETIE INTERVIEW AFTER THE JUMP! >> continue reading »

(Sultana @ Ukrainian East Restaurant)

Last night’s final installment of Linda Simpson's Bingo-ski at Ukrainian East Restaurant  brought out an array of downtown artists and nightlife superstars, including Dirty Martini, Sultana, Sylvia London and Angela DiCarlo. The night included spokesmodel and Sugarland regular Lauren Howe (sans her counterpart, bingo “boy-ski” Matt Camp), as well as a fashion show by Machine Dazzle. Working the door—and the room, Violet Temper didn't miss her chance to heckle Linda, calling her out for her "14th Street wig!” Nothing like a little sass to go with your bingo and perogis! 

Your chance to play with Ms. Simpson's balls isn't over, though. Monday Night Bingo still runs regularly at the Bowery Poetry Club. And this Saturday sees the return of Le Bingo at Le Poisson Rouge, where she and Murray Hill call the numbers. —Christopher Dilley

MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP

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(Linda Simpson & Scott Lyons @ Bowery Poetry Club)
 
 
We started last night with a rousing and hysterical game of Monday Night Bingo at the Bowery Poetry Club hosted by Linda Simpson (Murray Hill had another engagement) with DJ Mike Magnan and spokesmodel Scott Lyons. Simpson made sure to remind the audience of her upcoming shift at Le Poisson Rouge’s Le Bingo on Saturday nights starting February 13th.
 
Our favorite anecdote of the night? Winner Michael explained that he was there with his family. Linda then proceeded to tell Michael "You do realize your son is gay, right? He's a regular here at Bingo. Won all kinds of interesting prizes. Comes in, drinks too much, swears. Well... actually Michael I don't know for a fact if he's gay. I haven't slept with him... yet."
 
Have you checked out her hysterical photo novella Bitches In The Sky? It features such nightlife folks as Matthew Camp, Ladyfag and Shaquanda. —Christopher Dilley continue reading »

(Murray Hill & Linda Simpson @ Monday Night Bingo)
 
Some may think that the Bowery Poetry Club, which plays host to Murray Hill and Linda Simpson’s Monday Night Bingo, is a little slice of heaven. For not only does it feature a stage and fully stocked bar, but  a bakery in the front! With a grand prize of $295 this week, East Village bingo-players could have enjoyed that slice and gone back for seconds had they filled their entire board in the final “blackout” round.
 
As the innumerable mixed crowd filtered out of the venue, we had a chance to catch up with the evening's host Murray Hill. “We’ve found that it’s become much more busy since the recession began because we have no cover and attendees get a full night of entertainment,” said Hill. “They get comedy because, let’s face it, we’re nuts. Plus it’s very social.”
 
On the nature of the attendees he said “Every week at least one person comes up to me and comments on what a great mix we have. It’s a lot of straight people, gay people and a big transgender group each week. There aren’t that many places that are mixed these days that are still cool. These kids come here and think this is all new but don’t realize how long Linda and I have been in the business.”
 
In addition to Monday Night Bingo, Murray and Linda will be hosting bingo at Le Poisson Rouge on Saturdays starting February 13th.  
 

Visit Facebook.com/WeLoveBingo for more info.—Christopher Dilley