Bianca Del Rio
Downtown LA
November 9, 2021
Ellie thought of this: why don't we place a chip optimistically on the pandemic being over by November, and plan to go see our favorite drag queen, Bianca Del Rio, at the Ace Hotel's restored United Artists theater!
We were all still masked, but even so made a great DTLA evening of it: making a long overdue stop at Cole's, the Pretender to Philippe's throne of originating the French Dip sandwich back in 1908. Sign said it was Los Angeles' oldest public house, and while I still can't say which one of them invented the French Dip, I can say there was something special about being able to enjoy an Old Fashion while I dipped.
Then it was up to the rooftop bar and cafe Broken Shaker, atop the Freehand Hotel, where Ellie caught up with us for fancy cocktails and punch, small plates, and an eerie fog descending on the skyscrapers.
I was already depleted by the time we climbed the stairs inside the glorious 1927 United Artists theater (inspired by Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin!). Glad I forced myself to stay awake for Sherry Fine and Bianca's filthy routines -- which challenged my CIS hetero sense of propriety and also made my belly laugh.
