Inspired by the vibrant drag scene in Miami, a new weekly Sunday drag brunch has launched at the Restaurant of iconic Hotel Borg in Reykjavík.
Spearheaded by local drag producer and performer Miss Whoop Whoop this event promises a unique blend of entertainment, community, and culinary delights. With performances by top local and international drag queens, guests can expect a memorable experience that brings together laughter, music, and fabulousness in one of Reykjavík’s most prestigious venues.
GayIceland: Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for starting a drag brunch at Borg Restaurant? Have these kinds of events been held before in Iceland?
“I got this idea when I was in Miami 2020 and I went to “The Palace“ which is a legendary drag brunch place. The queens were amazing and everyone was having so much fun! At that time I was producing a monthly show at Kiki Queer Bar called “Out of Control“ that had been running for quite some time and I wanted to add some more regular drag events to the scene. But then the pandemic hit and that idea went on ice.
There have been drag brunches in the past and usually around Pride but this is the first attempt having one weekly.“
GayIceland: Why did you choose Hotel Borg Restaurant as a venue?
“‘Borgin’ has deep roots to our queer history and to the sluttyness of some of the older generations. We felt it would also be a good fit for having brunches as it has different rooms so depending on how many book we can size up or down. We‘re also in one of the most prestigious places in Reykjavík so performing in such a glamorous place we feel right at home.“
GayIceland: What can guests expect in terms of entertainment and performances at these brunch events?
“We want our guests to forget time and place and have a great time, laugh, scream and dance but also just sit comfortably and have a chat with a group of friends or the next table. It is so much about just coming together, enjoying an afternoon and having fun. Each queen has a different solo number and then we also do some acts together along with a party game with participation from the audience, no one is though forced to do anything!“
We want our guests to forget time and place and have a great time, laugh, scream and dance but also just sit comfortably and have a chat with a group of friends or the next table.
GayIceland: What are some of the challenges you anticipate in organizing and running a drag queen brunch?
“The most challenging thing now is to reach out to people and to them that maybe have never experienced a drag brunch and get them to come. Brunches in Iceland have been popping up all over but this is the first weekly brunch with entertainment. So it is of course something new for a lot of people but with time hopefully more new faces will come.“
GayIceland: How do you select the performers who will be participating in these events? Could you tell me a bit about yourself and the performers? How did you meet them?
“I‘ve worked many times both with Agatha P. and Faye Knús throughout the years and I‘ve always been so fascinated about their characters, hosting skills and how they catch the audience. Both coming from the theatres they‘re absolutely cannons of our drag community. I wanted to have a mix of performers and not only Icelanders so I felt Crisartista would be a great choice, coming from Venezuela with her latina flavour, beauty and being an absolute showstopper. Miss Whoop Whoop I would describe as a chic alcoholic tramp from Breiðholt with often something up her sleeve, a daughter of Dolly Parton and Freddie Mercury.“
GayIceland: What kind of menu can guests look forward to at the brunch, and how is it being curated to complement the performances?
“We have aperitif to start with and then a delicious chicken & waffle following with a dessert, with a vegan option. Then we encourage people to have quite few to swallow everything down with.“
It has been amazing to see how the drag scene has changed from how it was in the 90‘s when I started. At that time it was kind of taboo and often the wider public didn‘t understand what we were doing.
GayIceland: How do you see drag culture evolving in Iceland, and what role do you hope your brunch events will play in that evolution?
“It has been amazing to see how the drag scene has changed from how it was in the 90‘s when I started. At that time it was kind of taboo and often the wider public didn‘t understand what we were doing. Many people were mixing up terms and definitions and in general a bit confused with the whole thing. I think with the years people have started to understand most of us are entertainers and activists. Like peoples ideas of gender, sex, sexuality, and so forth drag has evolved, changed and is always going to be in some sort of a dialogue with society. I hope the brunches will bring more new people to experience drag and this can be an add on to the Icelandic entertainment showbiz.“
GayIceland: Can you share any memorable moments or experiences from your journey in drag performance that have led you to this point?
“One of my favorite moments has to be getting an actual haircut on the stage while lip syncing to “Nothing Compares 2 U”. I’ve never heard as many screams (in a good way) during my performances ever and having a standing ovation in the end made it so special. Another favorite moment is when I dressed up like a queen from the rococo time for the Pride parade in 2018. When we came off the float I was handed one kid after another in my arms like a factory for a photoshoot, both the parents and children were so stunned over this fairytale queen and it felt moving. These moments make all the hard work worth it and give so much back.“
GayIceland: What are your long-term goals for the drag brunch at Hotel Borg, and how do you envision its impact on the local community and visitors?
“I hope we will have a new go to event in Reykjavík that is either happening regularly or throughout for example the summertime. And with that it will also give the drag artists a new platform to perform at. There is a difference between the evening shows and the brunches, you definitely get more personal and interact differently with the guests at the brunches which is so wonderful.“
Drag Brunch at Hótel Borg takes place every Sunday.
Table seating: From 12.30.
The event starts at 13.00
Age limit: 16 years old
More info: Here