25 Photos That Show 25 Years of Fabulous Drag Shows at Lips NYC

Ready to lock Lips?

Lips, New York City's ultimate drag palace, restaurant and dining experience, will celebrate 25 high-kicking years with a wild lip-syncing extravaganza on Wednesday, October 20. DJ Lady Bunny will host the evening with special performances by Twiggy Malone, Ginger Snap, All Beef Patty, Morgen Royel, and a slew of the city's best drag talent, many of whom got their start at the infamous drag venue. "This will be an extravagant affair," confirms one such personality, drag queen Jesse Volt. "Guests are encouraged to dress to impress or simply wear a dress!"

"We are so excited to welcome back many of the ladies who have graced the Lips stage over the years," says Lips' co-founder Edward LaFaye. "They will be presenting lots of the show-stopping numbers that made them famous, or in some cases, infamous."

With the help of investors Michael Pacca, Robert DeBenedictis, and the late Paul Galluccio, LaFaye and Yvonne Lame founded NYC's only true La Cage-style drag show in October, 1996 in New York's Greenwich Village. Lips was a product and a creation of the androgynous clubs like Limelight, Palladium, and Area and the "club kids" that ruled Manhattan nightlife at the time. "The Village was booming with a freeness of expression," recalls Ms. Lame. "It became a breeding ground where drag queens were recognized, accepted and celebrated as a true art form."

Lips offered an interactive dinner theater experience that included great food, strong cocktails, and Las Vegas-inspired entertainment. The fun eventually moved uptown, to its current flagship location on East 56th Street. The brand also expanded into other cities including Chicago, San Diego, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale, where it has taken over the local drag scenes. Forbes Magazine recently recognized Lips as "the nation's largest drag cabaret chain".

A big reason for the success of Lips is that the heterosexual community has embraced Lips as the ideal place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, bachelorette and retirement parties. "We're a place to celebrate life, glamour and fierce self-expression!" says Lame.

The October 20 celebration is by invitation-only and will follow strict safety protocols. Seating capacity will be limited, tables will be socially distanced, and staff will wear masks. The evening will include special tributes to Lips co-owner Paul Galluccio, who passed away in March 2021, and bartender Frankie Fioravonti, known as Frankie Cocktail, who passed away from cancer in February 2019.

For more information on Lips, visit LipsNYC.com.