Bingo

(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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(Ginger Snap @ Xes)
 
 
We headed to Chelsea staple Xes for some post-work drinks and ran into promoters Chuck Attix and Jane Lane. Little did we know upon entering the Chelsea haunt that we were about to step into a rousing game of Bingo with none other than the quick-witted drag-diva herself, Ginger Snap. Snap, who seems to be shrinking before our eyes due to what she claims to be “Weight Watchers,” took to the stage to crack jokes and call numbers to the crowded bar and lounge.
 
“I did bingo at The LGBT Center recently and I swear to God I could hear pacemakers going off it was so quiet” quipped Snap. “I felt like I was at the Townhouse and I could hear the rich guys’ arteries closing up. It was horrible!”
 
As she antagonized every person who walked by her to use the restroom, the ever self-effacing Snap couldn’t miss the opportunity to make fun of herself saying that she couldn’t believe what her life had come to after graduating with a BA from FIT. “Don’t laugh,” she warned the lone straight girl in the audience, “your job at Goldman Sachs may seem secure now but this could be you next year!” —Christopher Dilley

(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