Lifestyle
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Bianca Del Rio
Ten years ago, when Bianca Del Rio was crowned the winner of Season 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” it was a different time: The reality competition aired on Logo, not MTV. It was a single franchise, not an extended universe of shows from countries around the world. And there was no such thing as a drag queen who’d never set foot in a drag bar.
Of the current state, Del Rio says, “I don’t want to use the word ‘oversaturation,’ but there’s just a lot of drag.”
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
Season 16 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” premiered this month, and while Del Rio’s reign may be over, she still looms large in the fandom. For many years, she was the only winner to have never been up for elimination in her season, and she still appears from time to time as a guest on the show. Last year, she also hosted “The Pit Stop,” an official Drag Race recap series on YouTube.
Up next for the booked and busy multihyphenate performer: “Dead Inside,” her new stand-up show — her sixth global tour since competing on “Drag Race.” She’s doing 60 dates across North America, starting in San Diego on Feb. 12 and coming to Los Angeles at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on April 21. After a short break, she’ll be hitting the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia.
Who should get tickets to Dead Inside? “Anybody that’s got an open mind and ready to cackle at a man in a wig. This is the show for you,” she said.
Del Rio relocated from West Hollywood to Palm Springs during the pandemic, but is still in town regularly to catch up with friends and make drag supply runs. (In a world full of “Drag Race”-adjacent fashion designers and makeup artists, Del Rio is still DIYing it. “I can’t imagine doing drag without creating the clothes or doing the makeup or creating the wigs,” she said. “For me, that’s just kind of my full package.”)
Here’s how she would spend her ideal Sunday in L.A.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
6 a.m.: Wake up at the Kimpton Everly Hotel in Hollywood
I stay at the Kimpton Everly Hotel, which has been one of my favorite places because it’s pretty central. I’m up early. So 6 a.m., I’m up. And then about 6:05 I realize where I am. I like to wake up early and enjoy my hotel amenities. If you’re at the Kimpton you can always go sit by the pool, which is lovely.
6:15 a.m.: Go for a caffeine kick
I always usually start my day by running over to Starbucks. I often say I’m not going to have coffee. I have this love affair with coffee. Three shots of espresso over ice with a splash of oat milk, which is the best way to get you going. But I tell myself too many of those are pretty bad for you. So I’m thinking, I will do the green tea lemonade, which is somewhat enjoyable, no sweetener, and it’s lovely. It doesn’t give you the kick that you would get with the coffee. Then I end up getting the coffee. So yes, I quickly regret it, because I’m bouncing around town.
8:30 a.m.: Embark on a drag shopping spree
When I come into L.A., it’s usually more than one day. I have to make it worth my while. So my Sunday Funday will start on Friday or Saturday.
I have to hit all the fabric stores because I’m not lucky enough to have all of those supplies out here in Palm Springs. I will visit a fabulous place called International Silk and Woolens. They’ve got every piece of fabric you can imagine. The sad thing is you probably can’t reorder it, because it was from 1928. Another place that I visit is called Richard the Thread, which is all corset supplies. Everything from hooks and eyes and snaps and boning and anything you need to pull in all of your manliness and your man body to look like, as I call myself, an erotic clown.
Then I go down to Santee Alley, which is a drag queen’s dream. They’ve got everything that you need from makeup to heels, which is great, because you have to find the shoes that are a size 12. You need to pick up some lashes and stomp into this amazing place called Blue Moon Fabrics, which has another huge array of sequined fabrics that you can order in bulk. And there’s also The Bead Factory, where you pick up your loose rhinestones to make everything sparkly. So my trunk is highly full.
11 a.m.: Go for oysters at Grand Central
Grand Central Market is one of my favorite places to go. I like it because there’s options; I’m not married to having a specific place that I want to go to. Then I have to figure out what I can eat while I’m there. You think to yourself, “I can have whatever I want. I’m 48 years old. This is good.” Now my body goes, “No, you can’t.”
Let’s say today, The Oyster Gourmet, because I do enjoy raw oysters. I’m from New Orleans and that’s just the thing there. And you can’t eat raw oysters in Palm Springs. You shouldn’t. I wouldn’t recommend it.
You can tell who your friends are when you say, “I like oysters.” They’re either completely grossed out by it or they go, “Yes, let’s get a dozen to share.” No, no, no, this is bad. Sharing is my worst nightmare. Not “for the table” — the worst words ever. Not my thing at all. I like a dozen for myself.
1 p.m.: Visit MOCA and make a makeup stop
We’re wandering through the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is always great. Then usually a Sephora is quite important. I’m heading there to purchase the drag things that I need. The one thing that has existed since I started drag in 1996 is the Mac Ruby Woo red lipstick. It’s the best. It’s the bluest red. So I scoop that up, usually in bulk. I have to buy all that I can buy while I’m there. Also my NYX white eyeliner and my NYX black eyeliner, I have to buy in bulk, because apparently, there are no real women using this in Palm Springs.
2:30 p.m.: Meet up with drag friends in West Hollywood
Around 2:30 I will head to West Hollywood to meet up with two of my good friends and “Drag Race” alumni. Mariah Balenciaga is a friend of mine. And you’re wondering, wait, did you make plans with Mariah? No. I show up, because Mariah is always at Micky’s, the big gay bar down on the strip. She will always be there in the courtyard, sunglasses, hair in a ponytail, ready to greet me. And once I’m there, we call to see who else is around. Adore Delano will come visit me, who was from my season as well. And that’s where we kind of do the catch-up.
I try to be a lavish lady on the go so I order white wine. Because I know one white wine, I’m good. I can’t go any further than that. After that one glass of wine, everyone decides to make dinner plans. You know, that’s a whole thing. Everybody’s like, “Yeah, let’s go to dinner!” Then no one shows up.
5 p.m.: Grab an early dinner at Ootoro in Little Tokyo
I have to head to dinner because I need to get back to Palm Springs. I grab sushi at Ootoro in Little Tokyo. I love tempura, first of all, so tempura is my main goal here. And I do love anything with salmon. And I’m the queen of getting a California roll. A miso soup is definitely on my list as per usual. It’s a thing when you’re ordering sushi, you’re thinking, is it going to be enough? Is it not going to be enough? You’re always questioning how much to get so you always order far too much.
I just devour all of that. Then I’m rethinking my life because I’m realizing I just bought corset supplies, and I’m definitely going to need it after all of this rice intake.
7 p.m.: Drive back to Palm Springs
As I’m full of rice, in this moment, I realize I’ve got to get myself back. My phone is saying it’ll take 90 minutes. My phone is a liar. But I do prepare myself for that. You make sure you have your water, you plug in your phone, you get comfortable and you realize this journey could take literally 90 minutes if you’re lucky, or six days. Pack your perishables.
The drive is lengthy, but it’s one of the few times that I’m alone. It’s one of the few times where I’m not allowed to text. I’m not allowed to try to figure out anything, I just have my music and go. It reminds me of when I was much younger and I had a cassette Walkman. It was freeing. You kind of just go into the zone.
9:30 p.m.: Soak in the tub
I get into my tub, I relax, I think about the fun that I had, maybe have another glass of wine. There’s a good bath salt that I love that I have been using, Aveda Stress Fix Soaking Salts. I love a clay mask, which is another important thing to do when you’re a drag queen. And I just sit in that tub for as long as I can until I’m weathered and wrinkled. It’s the best thing in the world.
10:30: Fall asleep during the signature bake
I try to commit myself to watching something on television, maybe “The Great British Baking Show.” I fall asleep within the first 10 minutes. And then I’m out for the count. You’re fighting that sleep and it’s over. Then I have to watch the whole episode again on Monday.
Is dog poop a scourge in your area?
borisz/simplehappyart/Getty Images/Photo Illustration by NPR
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borisz/simplehappyart/Getty Images/Photo Illustration by NPR
Left-behind dog poop is annoying. But it’s also a sign of anti-sociality.
Spotting unidentified poop outside is an unfortunate and unavoidable part of being alive, but in some cities, there’s a scourge being left behind by some people’s four-legged friends. Manuela López-Restrepo, writer and producer at All Things Considered, couldn’t stop noticing it – and she wondered if it might be a sign of something deeper going on. Paired with dogs popping up in places they maybe shouldn’t be – she wondered: can dogs be a vector for anti-social behavior? And what would it look like for people – and their pets – to share space more harmoniously?
Manuela shares her reporting with Brittany and they get deeper into the story of the dookie.
For more episodes about culture and how we share public space, check out:
The Coldplay kiss cam & moral surveillance
Crime is down. Why don’t people feel safe?
In search of a safe place to cry…
Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.
Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse
For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.
This episode was concepted and reported by Manuela López-Restrepo. It was produced by Liam McBain. It was edited by Neena Pathak. We had engineering support from David Greenburg. Our Supervising Producer is Cher Vincent. Our Executive Producer is Barton Girdwood. Our VP of Programming is Yolanda Sangweni.
Lifestyle
L.A. Times Concierge: ‘I’m interested in photography. What great L.A. historic sites should I capture?’
I live in Santa Barbara and I’m interested in photography. Where are some historical places to take pictures in Los Angeles? I’m interested in old movie palaces, movie and TV show locations, historic homes and buildings, World War II–related sites and airplane museums. — William Lemons
Looking for things to do in L.A.? Ask us your questions and our expert guides will share highly specific recommendations.
Here’s what we suggest:
It’s cool to hear that you’re interested in capturing the beauty and history of Los Angeles through your camera lens, William. Given that you’ll be traveling from out of town, I am recommending spots that you can visit in a single day, if you’d like. They’re mostly in and around Downtown L.A.
First off, if you don’t feel like driving and paying for parking all over town, I’d suggest taking Amtrak from Santa Barbara to L.A. You can take take photos of the gorgeous view along the way and once you step off the train, you’ll already be at the first historic site on the list: the true stunner that is Union Station.
Open since 1939, it’s one of the country’s last great train stations and considered to be the largest railroad passenger terminal on the West Coast. Designed by father-and-son architect team John and Donald Parkinson, it blends Art Deco, Spanish Colonial and Streamline Moderne styles. Travel writer Christopher Reynolds, a.k.a. the person in the newsroom that everyone goes to for trip advice, tells me, “With its clock tower, big arches and high ceilings, Union Station feels like a secular church.” He notes that security guards will often shoo you off if you use a tripod without advance approval, so it’s best to bring a handheld camera instead.
Next, walk across the road to Olvera Street, one of the oldest streets in L.A. It’s part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument that’s been fighting to stay open since the pandemic. As you stroll through the area and take pictures, check out the Mexican marketplace, capturing the pottery, clothing and art along the way, and grab some authentic cuisine. Times food editor Daniel Hernandez swears by Cielito Lindo, a taquería that’s been around since the 1934, and still makes the most “perfectly rolled taquitos.” (The family-owned restaurant is currently raising funds to stay open due to economic hardship.)
Next, hop on an e-scooter or take a quick bus ride to the Historic Broadway Theater District, which has 12 stunning movie theaters — all of which were built between 1910 and 1931. The Los Angeles Conservancy even hosts walking tours of the famous district. You can register online for the next ones on June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
You’ll probably be hungry after the tour, so you might as well visit Grand Central Market, the city’s largest and oldest public market. Open since 1917, the market has more than 40 food stalls including China Cafe (open since 1959), Villa’s Tacos, Egg Slut and more. Afterward, take a brisk walk to L.A.’s most beautiful library, the L.A. Central Library, which turns 100 this year. Grab your camera and marvel at the exterior of the Art Deco-style building, which draws inspiration from Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture. Then head inside on the second floor rotunda to see the marvelous California history mural and the breathtaking globe chandelier.
Now for some rapid-fire suggestions across L.A.: There’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1920s-era Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood. (If you go here, I suggest stopping by nearby Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice for a delicious sweet treat.) Or check out any one of L.A.’s most iconic TV houses including “The Brady Bunch” home in Studio City, “The Golden Girls” residence in Brentwood and the “Seinfield” Koreatown apartment building. (These are private residencies, so you won’t be able to go inside but you can snap a photo of the exterior.) If it’s architecture you’re into, peruse this guide to L.A.’s iconic homes that you can tour IRL, including the Adamson House in Malibu, the Eames House in Pacific Palisades and the Lummis Home (El Alisal) near Mount Washington. Finally, if you’re open to joining a group of fellow photographers, I suggest following Instagram pages for collectives like L.A. Photo Club and the 85 Mil Photo Walk Series, which host meetups and walking tours regularly.
L.A. is filled with so many beautiful historical sites, so I hope that these suggestions help get you started, and most importantly, that you continue taking awesome pictures. Have a great time!
President Trump speaks at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery on May 25 in Arlington, Va.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
President Trump has suggested that an event celebrating America’s 250 birthday should instead be a Make America Great Again rally after many of the artists who were announced to perform dropped out.
The Great American State Fair, which is set to begin on June 25 on the National Mall, had featured artists such as Martina McBride, Morris Day and the Time, The Commodores and Poison’s Bret Michaels — who have all since withdrawn from the lineup.
McBride explained why she decided to not to be part of the fair, writing in a social media post she was presented with an opportunity to perform at “a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
“In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can. I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special,” McBride wrote in the post on Thursday night. “Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.”
Some artists plan to still perform at the fair. Vanilla Ice said he would not drop out of the event, writing on social media, “This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday.”
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump called the performers who backed away from the event “Third Rate” and said he will give a speech that will rally the U.S. “forward like I have done ever since being President!” Later on Saturday, Trump wrote in another social media post that the event should be canceled and replaced with a rally.
“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Trump wrote.
The fair is being organized by Freedom 250, a public-private group working with the White House to organize the celebration of America’s 250 birthday. The Trump-backed celebrations have drawn criticism and concern that it is centered around himself instead of the country.
Democratic lawmakers and watchdog organizations, such as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, have also questioned where private donations for the 250th celebrations are coming from.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who is involved with planning the celebration, on Sunday said the events are “nonpartisan.”
“It’s not about the transparency of the donors,” Burgum said on CNN’s State of the Union when asked if the donations should become public. “This is about Americans celebrating the 250th anniversary.”
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