Lips wigs out for its 10th anniversary.
By Brandon Voss
When those disco bills start spinnin’ at Lips, don’t choke on your frozen cosmo when your waitress sashays on stage to lip-sync a number! While chef Abraham Flores’ dishes, named after drag personalities, are tasty, Lips’ wild weekly drag shows (like Bitchy Bingo and Sunday Brunch With the Stars) are truly divine. Those queens have lots of tricks up their sequined sleeves on November 7 for their 10th anniversary party, where they’ll launch the “Ladies of Lips” wall calendar. Owner and creative director of Lips in New York City, San Diego, and now Fort Lauderdale, Yvonne Lamé (alter ego of Mark Zschiesche) sat down with me in NYC over “Hedda Lettuce” salads to dish the dirt on Lips’ first decade of delicious drag.
HX: Why did you open Lips?
Yvonne Lamé: Sixteen years ago I had a clothing store in Greenwich Village where I would host a fabulous drag Halloween party that became quite popular, and I had previous restaurant experience from working in the Four Seasons. So my life partner of 25 years — and I’m only 26! — Michael Pacca and I decided to open a restaurant dedicated to the fun, fabulous, and fashionable world of drag. A place where drag queens rule!
How has Lips changed in 10 years?
Lips started as a mainly gay-oriented restaurant, but over the years, as the climate of the city has changed, we’ve found ourselves catering to a diverse and more accepting clientele. We welcome gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight people — and, of course, anyone with lots of cash.
What have you learned along the way?
Honey, let me tell you, running a place like Lips takes a lot of balls and lots of lip gloss. It is very challenging to run a successful business in New York, and to keep a staff of drag queens happy is even more of a challenge. But the main thing that Lips has taught me is patience, patience, patience — and learning how to keep the queens from killing each other. Remember the movie Showgirls?
Any backstage drama?
Our head bouncer, Gusty Winds, who has been with us for 10 years, says she witnessed a high heel and knife fight that ended with a pair of heels floating in the East River.
What can a Lips virgin expect?
We love virgins here at Lips! I suggest that if it is your first time you wear rubber underpants, because you’re guaranteed to wet yourself.
What makes a great drag performance?
It’s all about attitude, darling. Plus a fierce face and a fierce tuck.
Which would you prefer to have — a good waitress or a good performer?
All my girls can deliver the goods, from slinging the hash to stopping the show. But Lips is all about the entertainment. Therefore, we overlook a spilled drink or two in a lap!
HX, November 2006.
Photo: WilsonModels