Itโ€™s time to dress up and throw down, to buy in and to show out. And at The Understudy Coffee and Books in Chicago, in collaboration with Metric Coffee, that mean Cafe Queens: A Drag Show and Latte Art Throwdown, an โ€œevening of fierce looks, fierce competition, and fabulous prizes.โ€

Taking place Wednesday, June 28th, Cafe Queens is a celebration of Pride Monthโ€”and a clear statement on where the two brands fall on the recent spate of laws being proposed in states around the country banning drag performances. (Currently Illinois has no such laws.)

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As suggested by the name, the 21+ event happens in two parts, beginning with the drag show. Starting promptly at 7:00pm, the show will include performances by Betty Theft, Kerosene, and Yuiza Beach, with music provided by DJ Luke Cimarusti. Then at 7:45pm, the night shifts focus to the espresso machine for a good old-fashioned throwdown. There will be cash prizes for first, second, and third place ($200, $150, and $100, respectively) as well as additional prizes from Fellow, La Marzocco, Metric, the Neofuturists, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Women and Children First Bookstore. Pizza will be provided by neighboring Pizza Lobo.

drag poster

Those looking to compete can sign up for $7 via Eventbrite; spectators get in free but can also RSVP via Eventbrite. Itโ€™s all getting started at 6:30pm Wednesday, June 28th at The Understudy Coffee and Books in Chicago. For more information or to register to compete or attend, visit Cafe Queens: A Drag Show and Latte Art Throwdown Eventbrite page.

Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.