The651.com

Yeah, we realize most of the Pride weekend festivities take place over the river, but Pride is alive and well in St. Paul, too. After all, we do host a couple of fine queer establishments (the Town House and CAMP)

The Town House is a neighborhood bar that’s home to something different every night of the week – drag shows, dancing, karaoke and more. Every Sunday, it hosts “Sequin Sundays,” an evening filled with drag, live cabaret, burlesque and glitter. Presented by hosted with the mostest Esmé Rodríguez, this week’s Pride Edition show will be in celebration of JoJo Mackie’s Birthday and features a unique lineup – Sasha Rodgers, Martina Marraccino, Gabrielle Deveaux and Vivi Vuiton Rodgers, to name a few. See your favorite kings as queens and wrap up what is sure to be a fabulously fierce weekend of Pride. Check out the Town House’s online calendar for more. (“Sequin Sundays”: 9:30 p.m. Sun. Free. 21-plus. The Town House, 1415 University Ave W., St. Paul. 651-646-7087.)

Camp Bar opened in mid-2007 and have two bars plus a sidewalk patio in the summer. The stylish club features a fashionable crowd and boasts of having the biggest cocktails in town. On Saturday night, it will host an unofficial Scissor Sisters post show party with RedStar GoGo Boys. (CAMP Bar, 490 Robert St., St. Paul. 651-292-1844.)

There’s still time to buy tickets ($65 for one day or $110 for two-day pass) to see gaytastic dance band the Scissor Sisters on Saturday at the River’s Edge Music Festival on Harriet Island in St. Paul. Known for their entertaining and often transgressive live performances, they play their extremely danceable electro-disco at 7 p.m. on the Lynx Stage.

The art of female impersonating has come into the pop culture lexicon most recently thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality show that pitches drag queens in challenges that have them sewing their own costumes, styling their own wigs and applying their own makeup, doing choreography, impersonating celebrities, and lip-syncing “for their lives.” But the drag community has a storied history in the Twin Cities. While Minneapolis is home to better-known drag venues like the Gay 90s, St. Paul has its very own little drag wonderland in the form of the Town House. The cozy bar and cabaret hosts drag shows every Thursday and Sunday with a rotating cast of characters. Curated by local drag diva Esme Rodriguez, “Sequin Sundays” is more of a variety show than anything. We chatted with the performer to get the scoop on the weekly series.

So, what exactly are “Sequin Sundays”?
It is a hybrid drag/live cabaret/singing/dancing production that aims to build and unite community by creating a space for like-minded individuals – gay, straight, and queer. We often have theme nights (like the burlesque and jazz night earlier this month) as well as amazing musicians.

What’s planned for tomorrow’s show?
Davina Sowers of Davina and The Vagabonds is performing tomorrow night. Davina is quite unique and the mission of our cabaret is to feature people who might not have been traditionally thought to do a show such as ours.

What makes “Sequin Sundays” different from regular drag shows?
A lot of shows are geared toward one audience or another – burlesque, drag, music, etc. But I am a show director who is interested in creating cultural productions that intersect various populations and also work to bring social justice.

Next week’s “Sequin Sundays” will feature Lyle Lovesit’s Country-Fried Birthday Party, featuring country-fied performances from the drag king (who was Mr. Drag King Wisconsin in 2010) as well as Martina Marraccino, Gabrielle Deveaux, Sasha Rodgers, Paulie Graff, Rich Kidd, and Brie Jordan the “Country Queen.” You can also see Rodriguez tonight in DRAG-N-DANCE, a drag show and dance party happening at the Town House every third Saturday, also featuring performances from Martina, Gabrielle, Sasha and drag king Suave. “Sequin Sundays” has a $2 cover and Saturdays have a $3 cover. The Town House is located at 1415 University Avenue West in St. Paul. Shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

Sure, the big gay Pride parties, festival and parade are all happening in St. Paul’s big sister city. But that doesn’t mean that St. Paul can’t be a lower-key but no less fun place to show your Pride. We’re home to three gay or GLBT-friendly bars – CAMP, Coale’s, and The Town House – though festivities are a bit more tame this year now that Rumours & Innuendo has closed.

CAMP Bar
On Friday, the bar’s cabaret will feature the piano stylings of Andrew Walesch (5:30-7:30 p.m.), preceeded by 2-4-1 on rails and taps from 4 to 6 p.m. On Sunday, lounge singer Mia Dorr performs live (8-10 p.m.), with $5 Cosmos. (CAMP Bar: 490 Robert St., St. Paul, 651-292-1844, camp-bar.net)

Esme Rodriguez hosts Sequin Sunday

The Town House Bar:
On Thursday, St. Paul’s oldest GLBT bar hosts free games, $5 beer pitchers, a DJ and dance floor, a Pumps & Pearls Drag Revue, and Transtrastic Thursday. On Friday, it features Aliveness Project Bingo at 6 p.m., free appetizers at 6 p.m., a DJ and dance floor, The Original Cheapie Night, and karaoke. On Saturday, check out the Elegance Show featuring ebony kings and queens, hosted by Shamika Dupre; plus live cabaret music by Lori Dokken and Erin Schwab. Sunday is, as always, Sequin Sunday, hosted by drag queen Esme Rodriguez at 9 p.m. (The Town House Bar: 1415 University Av., St. Paul, 651-646-7087, www.townhousebar.com)

Coale’s Bar & Grill:
Start the night off with dinner and drinks at the newly-opened, GLBT-friendly Coale’s Bar & Grill, which features a full restaurant with courtyard dining. A spacious upstairs hosts drag or blues shows, depending on which night of the week it is, and features a fully stocked and refurbished bar. (Coale’s Bar & Grill: 719 N. Dale St., St. Paul, 651-487-5829.)

You can also show your St. Paul Pride with a t-shirt by Cafe Press.

THURSDAY: Gallery 360 Jewelry Trunk Show
Swing by Gallery 360 for a trunk show featuring Silver Cocoon by Tia Keobounpheng, Jill Smith and Mel Tudisco. I’m a huge fan of Keobounpheng’s modern-art inspired laser-cut plastic and wood necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches. Bonus: a 20 percent off storewide sale kicks off Thursday and continues through Sunday. (Trunk show 6-9 p.m. 3011 W 50th St., St. Paul. 612-925-2400. www.gallery360mpls.com)

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DJ Kimberly S. headlines the Rumours & Innuendo Block Party on Saturday

For years, Twin Cities’ Gay Pride Week has been centered in Minneapolis – but this year, St. Paul has some Pride of its own. The recently expanded Rumours & Innuendo GLBT nightclub is kicking off Gay Pride Week on Saturday with a rockin’ block party with Rumours resident DJs Frayz and DJ Shiek, a former resident at the now-closed Pi lesbian bar as well as a producer and party promoter, known for her mix of deep house with retro electro and banging beats. Also: Beer truck and drink specials until 10 p.m. Then the party heads back indoors for a set from L.A. DJ Kimberly S., internationally-known in the GLBT circuit for her blend of soulful house, tribal beats, trance and vocal club anthems, with an opening set from DJ Frayz. There will also be drink specials, a drag show, and an opening set from (6 p.m.-3 a.m. Sat. $10-15. 21 and older. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul. 651-225-4528.)

Bonus: Vita.mn (for which I also happen to be a contributing writer) is giving away a $50 Rumours & Innuendo gift certificate via this link in honor of Gay Pride Week.

The massive grill used for the annual Pride Picnic

On Sunday, Twin Cities Pride has organized its Pride Picnic to take place at Como Park in the East Picnic Pavilions. The festivities include old-fashioned races, table games, and a softball game, plus free eats like burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers and hot dogs, and salads. (11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun. Como Park’s East Picnic Pavilion, Horton Av. & Midway Pkwy., St. Paul.)

Next week’s Gay Pride events include Pussy Control, a Pride party for the ladies next Wednesday night at Rumours & Innuendo. Expect cheap drinks (including $1 beer), no cover, hot ladies, and a set from DJ Shiek. (10 p.m.-3 a.m. Wed. Free. 21 and older.)

Though they haven’t announced anything Pride-specific going on this week, St. Paul has two other gay bars worth checking out:

Camp Bar opened in mid-2007 and have two bars plus a sidewalk patio in the summer. It regularly features drag shows and DJ and offers fancy cocktails. (490 Robert St., St. Paul. 651-292-1844.)

The Town House Bar is home to regular drag shows, dancing, karaoke and more. Check out its online calendar for more. (1415 University Ave W., St. Paul. 651-646-7087.)