Queens are taking over the county of Kings!
Brooklyn Pride is this weekend, and gender-bending performers will take center stage — sometimes literally — at a bevy of events around the borough. Here’s a brief guide for those who want to have a weekend out with the girls.
Drag-ulous TV
Friday nights belong to legendary queen RuPaul, and her reality television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The ninth season’s penultimate episode is this Friday, and Brooklyn queen Sasha Velour seems poised to sashay her way to the finale. Bars all over the borough will tune in to cheer on the hometown gal, but we recommend stopping at Metropolitan in Williamsburg, where former “Drag Race” contestant Thorgy Thor offers her commentary during the commercials, or at Excelsior in Park Slope, where the screening is followed by the amateur lip sync competition “Louvel’s Hag Race!”
Metropolitan [559 Lorimer St. between Metroplitan and Grand avenues, (718) 599–4444, www.metro
Excelsior [563 Fifth Ave. between 15th and 16th streets in Park Slope, (718) 788–2710, www.excel
A good read
Start the day with a queen telling a fairy tale! The Brooklyn Public Library will host Drag Queen Story Hour on Saturday morning, where Cholula Lemon will read books to kids and bond with little ones who also enjoy dressing up.
Drag Queen Story Hour with Cholula Lemon at Brooklyn Public Library’s Park Slope branch [431 Sixth Ave. at Ninth Street, (718) 832–1853, www.bklyn
Fest for a queen
This year’s Brooklyn Pride features a newly bulked-up daytime festival long enough to satisfy any size queen. The Multicultural Festival on Fifth Avenue stretches from First to Ninth Street, two blocks longer than in previous years, and features a performance stage at each end. Queens from the Sunset Park lounge XStasy will perform on both stages, along with drag performers Eve Black and Shirley U Jest, and two dozen other musicians and artists.
Multicultural Street Festival Fifth Avenue between First and Ninth Streets, (718) 551-5545, www.parks
Walk it off
Brooklyn’s Twilight Pride Parade celebrates its 21st anniversary on June 10 — it’s old enough to drink! The evening parade will step off from Lincoln Place at 7:30 pm and travel down Fifth Avenue to Ninth Street. The walk will be emceed shape-shifting chanteuse Louvel (host of the “Hag Race” mentioned above), along with Mark Nayden, co-owner of gay bar Excelsior.
Twilight Pride Parade on Fifth Avenue, from Lincoln Place to Ninth Street, www.brook
Little, cute, different
The Be Cute queer dance party at Littlefield will feature a full flock of queens on Saturday night for its Pride Party. The late-night event, hosted by Horrorchata, will feature performances from Merrie Cherrie, Lady QuesaDilla, and West Dakota, among others, and will keep the beats going until 4 am.
Be Cute Brooklyn Pride at Littlefield, (622 Degraw Str. between Third and Fourth Avenues in Gowanus, www.littl
