Review: Cafe Panache @ Griffin (presented by Lee Chappell)

Cafe Panache is everything.

I'd been seeing invites for what I figured to be a burlesque show with live music for weeks before I reached out to producer Lee Chappell and told him I had to see what it was all about.

The show takes place at Griffin in the Meatpacking District, which sparked my curiousity as to how they would stage the show since there's no traditional stage. But it turns out the performers use the two platforms on the dance floor (on the backs of the couches), the bar, and the aisles of the dance floor.

NYC drag legend and host Shequida warmed up the crowed and opened the show with a number before turning it over to the company of seasoned ballet dancers, singers (the two pretty much always accompanied each other for a multidimensional presentation), burlesque performers, and an amazing live band. They did themed sets: old-school boudoir, circus (complete with a hot male contortionist) and New Orleans, with an intermission between the latter two sets. Each performance was spectacular!

Tickets for this weekly event start at $25 for advanced general admission, $30 at the door and $35 for advanced reserved seating. Search Cafe Panache on Facebook for the link to purchase (as there's a new event every week). It's really not a gay event, per se, but there's a strong gay presence for sure! It's the type of event that people of any orientation can enjoy.

So yeah. Highly recommended. Go see it!

Click here to check out the last time I went to Lee's (now defunct) pool party DR!P.