Downtown Restaurant Adds A Side of Drag Queens to Sunday Brunch

Peterborough’s newest restaurant, “The EL[P]” added some glitz and glamour to their weekend service as they hosted two sold-out drag brunch events on Sunday.

The EL [P] had its grand opening on March 2. The da Silvas also rented the former Olde Stone property but unknown to what it will be. Photo by Luke Best.

The event, “Hot As EL,” had an all-ages 11 a.m. show followed by an adults-only version at 1 p.m. Both were hosted by Just Janis and featured three additional drag queens, Banshee Waylon, Sahira Q and Betty Baker.

“We had worked with Betty Baker over in Cobourg and we had three drag brunches there already and it’s always been phenomenal,” said Greg da Silva, The EL [P] co-owner. ”It’s just great energy and we really appreciate it. When Janice reached out to us and asked us if we want to do it, we’re ‘like yeah, of course, we’re down.’”

The drag queens paraded around the venue during the sold-out shows, lip-syncing and dancing to songs. Guests enjoyed their meal and offered up cash tips to the performers. The closing performance was a group number to the song “Time Warp” that had the audience dancing beside the drag queens. 

“I have to say they’re kind of the leaders of doing safe shows throughout the pandemic and it’s just so much fun,” says Shawna Blackwood, who brought her mother with her to see the show. ”You come here and there’s just pure joy.”

Drag performances were on-and-off during the pandemic as Peterborough’s queens often cancelled their shows. Performers found it challenging to lip-sync with a mask and preferred not to cover their makeup after spending hours on it.

The EL [P] is located downtown on 378 George St. N., Hot Belly Mama’s former location. Owned by wife and husband Amanda and Greg da Silva, The EL [P] is a sister restaurant of their other location in Cobourg, called “The El.”

“We’re new to Peterborough and the community has seemed to embrace us,” said Greg. We’ve been open for just over 10 days and it’s going great!”

Peterborough has had successful drag shows with a sold-out show at the Gordon Best Theatre last weekend with Icesis Couture — Canada’s Drag Race’s second-season winner — in attendance. PTBO Live Summer Concert Series hosted its first drag show at the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on July 24 last year. 

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