I found myself the other day at Foxtail, as the talented burlesque dancer Velvatina Taylor sat on my lap and belted out “Dream A Little Dream of Me.”
The swanky speakeasy Foxtail, located on the ground floor of Arlo Soho, hosted an after-hours burlesque show this past Tuesday. The event marks the introduction of monthly burlesque shows at the sleek bar, starting this month. The night included whimsical cocktails like the Smoke Show, which arrives on a platter of swirling smokey goodness, and delicious bites. The enchanting night was accented by JoshPele Magic who made a red heart appear on my hand. As we sipped liquor punch from floral tea cups, we theorized as to how he did it. The intimate speakeasy blends mid-century glamour and whimsy, making patrons feel as if they’ve been transported back to the 1920s. Yet Foxtail still has a hip feel that is sure to impress a first date.
The highlight of the night was, of course, the three burlesque performers accompanied by the talented jazz band, The Hot Toddies. Dandy Dillinger pranced from the audience with her mesh lavender dress and ornate flower halo; her performance was quintessentially ethereal. Audrey Love embodied sensuality as she sauntered across the stage and smirked from beneath her massive Carmen-Sandiego-esque hat. Velvatina was a triple threat: hilarious, killer voice, and goddamn sexy. She acted as the mc for the night introducing Dillinger and Love, loosing up the audience with her quick wit, and delivering a sultry performance. I discovered there is no other unbridled joy than screaming like a maniac for a dancer to remove a sequenced glove to great jazz music. It’s easy to see the upcoming months at Foxtail are about to get hotter.