More from Juanita More!

The drag icon's new cocktail hour and de Young runway show

Juanita More! describes her persona as being about "fashion, food, philanthropy and furious beats."

Beloved in the drag community and revered by audiences, More is enjoying a particularly busy Spring season. She recently ended her weekly Booty Call Wednesdays at Qbar in the Castro after an eight-year run. Instead, she'll now be appearing every Wednesday night for a cocktail hour at the elegant Starlight Room inside the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. She'll also be appearing with costume designer and fashion couturier Mr. David for a May 13 runway show at the de Young Museum.

More!, who describes herself as a "denizen of the limelight," says that Mr. David, also known as Glamamore, is her drag mother.

"Twenty-four years ago my drag mother Glamamore and I were contemplating my name over dinner," she recalled. "We just happened to be sitting right underneath the poster for the movie Imitation of Life. We both looked right at each other when we saw the name for one of the film's actresses -Juanita Moore- and said, 'Bingo!'"

The May 13 show at the de Young, titled Mr. David For Juanita More....24 Years of More!, promises to be a night of fashionable elegance. Mr. David has been a designer for four decades. The former New York City resident created looks for a number of famous personalities before moving to San Francisco where he discovered More!, whom he considers his greatest muse. The de Young show will feature many of their collaborations, all taken from More's fabulous collection of 3,000 costumes. The show promises to stay true to the image More! has cultivated as a stylish fashion goddess.

More! said that she's excited about the fashion show, and about her cocktail hour at Starlight Room.

"I have a long history with Union Square, because I grew up in the East Bay as a teenager," she recalls. "I came to San Francisco a lot as a kid. I shopped at Wilkes Bashford in high school as often as I could afford. That store, along with the now-closed I. Magnin, were a big part of the reason downtown became one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. So it seemed fitting that two Grand Dames should come together: the Sir Francis Drake's jewel-box The Starlight Room and me!"

More! added that she enjoyed her eight years at Qbar, but noted that change is always good.

"After an eight-year run in the Castro with the beloved Booty Call Wednesdays, I felt it was time for a change of scenery," she said. "The Starlight Room is such a great reminder of how beautiful San Francisco is. I've brought along some of my fabulous friends to help make the Happy Hour a guaranteed good time: host Rudy Valdez, resident DJ Sergio Fedasz and style photographer Gareth Gooch."

More! pointed out that guests might hear music that's decidedly different from what's usually heard in the Castro.

"I've really pushed Sergio to play music outside the norm of your average gay bar," she said. "His sets includes a mix of jazz, vintage R&B, show tunes and Italian movie soundtracks. It's refreshing to have a conversation with someone without having to yell at them over a pounding pop music."

Then there's the fabulous scenery. The Starlight Room sits high above Union Square.

"You can also enjoy the view from one of the sumptuous high-backed booths while sipping one of my signature cocktails," More! said. "The El Chapo is a killer; think Manhattan but with tequila. There is never a cover and I recommend arriving with enough time to enjoy the sunset."

Although no performing guests have been booked as of yet, More! said that she dreams of inviting friends such as Trauma Flintstone, Veronica Klaus or Katya Smirnoff-Skyy to join her for the Happy Hour.

With Pride looming on the horizon, More! is preparing for her annual -and wildly popular- Pride party.

"The party has benefited some of the most crucial Bay Area queer-oriented organizations such as the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center, The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial, The Transgender Law Center, Bay Positives, GSA Network, The SF LGBT Center, outLoud Radio, AIDS Housing Alliance, Youth Empowerment Summit and this year Queer LifeSpace," More! noted proudly. "They are truly invested in keeping our community healthy with effective, affordable mental health and substance abuse services. The party will reprise its role at the spectacular indoor/outdoor space Jones, located just blocks away from the Civic Center festivities. I'm once again looking forward to what has been touted as the best party of the year."

More! is quite pleased by this year's Pride theme: For Racial and Economic Justice.

"I think this year's parade theme is very important," she said. "As an advocate for communities who often find themselves the subject of discrimination of both forms, it's important to understand that necessity to keep advocating for change."

Pride parties are but a part of the fundraising work which More! offers to the community.

"Five years ago Walter Gomez, Sidekick and I started this cute little monthly party called Beatpig at The Powerhouse," she said, pointing out that the name Beatpig is a rip on music and sex. Beatpig combines their love of leather, drag and music.

"For the past five years it has generated over $22,000 to support the work and mission of our monthly beneficiary, the Transgender Law Center. Giving back and having a good time is pretty awesome."

More and Glamamore also host the monthly Powerblouse, where prominent gay men in nightlife get drag makeovers. Recent participants include Powerhouse Bar manager Scott Peterson and The Stud's co-owner Michael McElhaney.

More! also dreams of having her own restaurant.

"Doesn't Chez More! - have a nice ring to it?" she asks. "Can you just imagine how gorgeous the place would be? I know the food would be absolutely delicious! And the wait staff: how cute are they already! I'm just sitting by the phone waiting for a sugar daddy or investor to call."

Tastes change with the times, but More! assures as that drag remains as popular as ever.

"Socially, we are at a point when seeing a celebrity like Patrick Stewart in drag is just considered plain old fabulous," she said. "I think drag's biggest impact is on our queer youth. What a fabulous time to be alive and able to artistically create a fantasy or your reality. After all these years in drag, I still find myself in love with it!"