Advertisement

Music

HotNuts

The Garrison is getting a drag makeover. After five years at the Beaver, popular gay dance party HotNuts will upgrade to the Dundas West club and take place every third month.

While pop rules the west-end gay scene, HotNuts is a haven of deep house and DIY couture that’s welcomed performers like the House of Monroe and local drag institution Michelle DuBarry. On Saturday (March 31), dancehall queen Miss Jamaica takes the stage.

Ahead of the event’s comeback, NOW had a three-way phoner with resident DJ Produzentin and host Mary Messhausen to find out what goes into their neo-drag look.

What do you do to prepare for HotNuts?

MARY: Two weeks before the party, Proddy and I go to Dufferin Mall to see the newest collection at Voluptuous, our favourite designer. Second-favourite is Comme des Garçons.

PRODDY: We’re hoping now that this media blitz is starting, the CEO of -Voluptuous will call Mary and ask her to do her own line.

MARY: We’re talking major Dufferin Mall collaboration. There will be a lineup of tens of people outside.

Any memorable HotNuts moments?

PRODDY: One memorable HotNuts moment was when it became clear that Mary was the one and only host for HotNuts: when she passed out behind the bar of the Beaver. She was just lying on the ground and we were like, “OK. Yeah. Maybe she should host?”

MARY: I don’t remember that so it’s not really a memory for me, but I heard all about it.

PRODDY: Mary, who were your favourite performers?

MARY: I loved the first House of Monroe performance. The people were jumping on top of each other and screaming and clamouring to get to the stage. Love those queens.

I have to mention Mama Messhausen, my sly old mother, who did a couple of performances. That’s always a treat. She sang traditional Filipino love songs and did Proud Mary. Right before she sang it she said, “I’m singing this song because I’m so proud of my Mary.”

PRODDY: It was a real tearjerker.

MARY: And Proddy, what are your fave momes?

PRODDY: When Miss Margot came as Britney Spears and threw chicken wings and Cheetos at the audience and slipped on the floor, which she’d greased with Red Bull. There was a nice sweet smell of Red Bull all over the Beaver that night.

Also, the last time we had Jamaica, the performer we have this time. She tore up the Beaver with her dancehall beats and sexy body. She was winding and grinding – it was amazing. That’s why we’re having her back.

How has your style evolved since you started the party?

MARY: Oh god, we were buying foundation from Dollarama for god sakes.

PRODDY: I was using a sharpie to draw-on eye shadow.

MARY: I was chewing on crayons to get lip colour.

PRODDY: It’s true.

What’s your beauty regime on the day of the party?

MARY: We start with a three-quarter chicken dinner from Swiss Chalet.

PRODDY: The last time we had the half-chicken, it wasn’t enough, but we don’t want to order a full chicken because we feel too ashamed.

MARY: Never do drag makeup on an empty stomach. After we eat, it’s a good hour and a half to get the dolls ready to hit the stage.

That’s not so bad.

PRODDY: If we douche, it takes a little longer.

What are your plans for the party now that you’re in a bigger space?

MARY: Well, the best thing about the Garrison is all the toilets they have to fill with all the cute boys. One goal I have in mind is to have a boy waiting in every stall. And Proddy?

PRODDY: That’s a really great goal. Another one would be that we take a HotNuts bus on the road and pack 50 of our friends on the bus and tour to the Prairies-coast to coast.

Anything else to add?

PRODDY: When people dress up they become part of the party, they feel the vibe and really get into it. For the WilderMess Safari edition, we have come up with some great outfit toptions, like a Shebra, the Lion King Kong or a Tribal Whoreder.

MARY: Or a Homadic Princess and a Pork-Me-Pine. People like a starting point so we wanted to give them that.

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted