Drag during the pandemic
The best place for a D.C. drag brunch this summer is Delaware.
Some of the District’s best performers have taken over The Pines Rehoboth Beach for a weekly Sunday drag brunch.
The restaurant is in Rehoboth Beach’s central tourist district and a couple blocks from the boardwalk. There’s also a sister gay bar across the street called Aqua Grill where people grab drinks after the show.
Kristina Kelly performing at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
The avocado toast brunch entree at The Pines drag brunch.
Drag queen Katrina Colby warming up the crowd at drag brunch.
The details
Tickets: Tickets for The Pines Drag Brunch run $45 and include an appetizer/entree, plus a starter mimosa or Bloody Mary. You don’t have to buy tickets weeks in advance, but don’t wait until the Saturday before brunch.
Food: The menu is mostly American tavern food and changes slightly every week. The first week they had a fruit bowl appetizer that involved eating grapes with a fork — and it did not go well for our table. Fortunately, none of the performers slipped on the grapes that we launched onto the floor and they got rid of that menu for subsequent shows. There are also pancakes with food coloring, which is kind of fun.
Tipping: The queens have buckets to accept cash tips. You can also tip on your phone with Venmo. If you don’t already have cash, it is far easier to Venmo everyone at the beginning of the show instead of hunting for an ATM.
Drag performers at The Pines in Rehoboth Beach.
Drag queen Kristina Kelly working the crowd in Rehoboth Beach
Drag queen Kristina Kelly working the crowd in Rehoboth Beach
Getting there
The drive from Washington D.C. to Rehoboth Beach is about 2.5 hours, which means that you need to leave the District by 9 am to make it to this drag brunch’s noon showtime.
If you can’t find someone to carpool with, there are options such as Free2Move, which is an app-based car rental service.
The deviled eggs brunch menu item at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
The cast of The Pines Rehoboth Beach drag brunch.
Drag queen Katrina Colby wearing a mardi gras / carnival inspired drag outfit.
Staying safe
Masks are required in all public spaces in Rehoboth Beach, and also required inside The Pines anytime you get up from your table. Bring your own hand sanitizer. Also be sure to check if Delaware or D.C. has a self-quarantine order in place before getting your tickets.
Drag queen Indiana Bones performing at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
The crab cake burger at drag brunch.
The Pines Drag Brunch host Kristina Kelly.
The watermelon appetizer at drag brunch – this was a bit messy.
The cast of The Pines drag brunch in Rehoboth Beach.
Drag queen Kristina Kelly performing at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
Kristina Kelly performing at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
Kristina Kelly performing at The Pines Rehoboth Beach.
Labella Mafia performing at drag brunch.
Katrina Colby hitting the splits at drag brunch.
The Pines Drag Brunch host Kristina Kelly.
Final verdict: toot.
Quarantine aside, The Pines brunch is great idea for a Sunday day trip. It’s a way to get out of town and still support local drag. 💃
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