A North Shore drag performer is hosting a drag brunch at a local brewery to spread love this Valentine’s Day weekend and raise money for a good cause.
People can get their “Hearts & Heels” on at Wildeye Brewing Sunday afternoon to raise funds for the North Shore Pride Alliance.
North Shore drag superstar Miss Virginia Slim will be hosting the brunch, with newer Vancouver-based drag performers Ginny Pyg and Assbestos in attendance.
“I like to look at it as it’s another day to just celebrate the people that we love in our lives,” Slim said. “Whether you’re single, with someone, whether it’s complicated, or you’re going through something right now, spread the love, we need the love right now."
“The world’s in a very chaotic state right now, everything going on just down south of us and then also overseas. We need to make sure that we’re constantly checking in on our loved ones, supporting our loved ones.”
Hearts & Heels marks the first event of the year for the pride alliance, with funds going to Pride Week events in July for the community to enjoy. Each ticket will include a “welcome drink” and a chance to win door prizes including gift cards for gas and beer from Wildeye.
The brewery will be covered in red and white decorations and performances will touch on the theme of love, Slim said. She wanted to have newer drag queens to help elevate new artists.
The North Shore Pride Alliance is an organization creating a 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive community within North Vancouver and West Vancouver through activities, outreach and advocacy efforts.
Slim, also known as Liam Nichols, first started drag almost three years ago, with drag performer Jerriana helped to show her the ropes. But how Slim got the name is a funny story, she said, relating back to the pride alliance.
Before getting involved in the drag scene, Slim and her mom went to a fundraiser show a couple years ago at the Gull Bar & Kitchen in North Vancouver. Chris Bolton, one of the co-founders of the North Shore Pride Alliance, also does drag, going by the name Conni Smudge.
During the show, Smudge went up to Slim and started chatting, eventually calling her Virginia Slim.
“She was like ‘Oh, you’re so slim, you’re so beautiful, you know what I’m gonna call you Virginia Slim,” Slim said. “I’m like ‘Oh my God, that’s actually a really cool drag name.”
“It’s kind of cool that it all started off at a North Shore Pride Alliance event,” she added.
Slim likes drag as she can get dolled up, hop on stage and perform, but she loves when people ask her questions and how they can get involved themselves.
“Any attribute that comes with the drag life, and if it inclines you to want to partake in it, that’s what kind of gives me the thrive.”
In the days leading up to the show, Slim and the other drag artists are preparing their sets and helping to decorate the taproom.
“That’s my idea with this show, just come in with lots of love and energy and good times and make sure that everyone’s walking out of the door with a smile on their face,” Slim said.
Hearts & Heels / A Drag Brunch Fundraiser
When: Sunday, Feb. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. Doors open at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Wildeye Brewing, 1385 Main Street
Cost: $20 on Eventbrite
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
https://bsky.app/profile/abbyluciano.bsky.social
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