Why kiki

It's too much fun to resist! There are many other bars and venues, of course, that host drag shows often, but the addition of a new one to the downtown nightlife scene only makes the community stronger and more diverse.

Lisa Dank also appreciates the new crowd of people being exposed to the bar: "There's a lot of people that I've talked to at Why Kiki where it's their first time at a drag show, and I love that they get to see a show with a cast of very different talents. Drag queens, drag kings, burlesque performers, belly dancers The way each show is decided, too, includes input from the performers themselves.

While the performers help establish the themes for these Saturday Night Vibes events, each night wouldn't be a success without the participation of attendees. And it's like that every weekend, no matter what the theme is. The bar also provides valuable opportunities for local drag artists to earn a consistent income and grow their audience. It truly means so much—especially as a person of color in Salt Lake—having a platform to speak and show others my culture through drag.

It's amazing and honestly healing! So, whether you go for the silent disco, the Saturday theme nights, the fish-bowl drinks, or just to see what it's all about, there really is something for everyone at Why Kiki.

Other notable recurring events on their calendar include Weekend Warmup trivia nights and Drag Race watch parties on Thursdays, Techno Taco Tuesdays featuring the Telepath Collective and the Ursula Major-hosted Sunday Brunch Box featuring their famous "Chicks 'n Dicks" phallic take on chicken and waffles.

Their next Saturday Night Vibe is on Nov. Keep up with all things Why Kiki at whykikibar on Instagram, or at whykikibar. More Music ». Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Support the Free Press. Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism matters. Salt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since I was there for the amazing tiki creations, which did not disappoint. Fishbowl cocktails with a base of Pop Rocks and floating shark gummies are a good cure for the two stuffy and pretentious neighbors. Varley and The Ivy opened a month ago, and two trips to the latter were rough. Both times service issues sunk me into so much anxiety our crew left early.

The second time we did not even get a chance to order anything after watching a bartender fumble around while a dozen beautiful servers meandered. Fred Moesinger and his partners pumped some big coin into the building, and it is gorgeous. I was worried the location would hinder the success, but a recent visit proved me wrong.

The food and service are delicious and polished, and the crowd is lively and cosmopolitan. I recently took eight folks, and dinner was flawless, especially my ravioli stuffed with garlic and mushroom, covered in a bright, fresh pesto. We sat upstairs, where the massive dance floor was for Club Splash. Gone are the water walls and men gyrating unfortunately.

However, the black and white tile, exposed brick, and live jazz band were a welcome and sophisticated update. The owners took an old gas station and transformed it into a gem of a neighborhood pizza place. The beautiful bar is sexy enough for a date, while the dining room is welcoming for families. The dough is thick, and it crisps up in a rectangular pan, while the toppings are usually just red sauce and mozzarella. This is full-mouth, chewy pizza. As good as the pizza is, my favorite thing on the menu is the Sasso tots — cracked tots with braised, fork-tender beef shoulder, caramelized onions, fire-roasted peppers, melted mozzarella served with house giardiniera and Calabrian chili aioli.

One note, each person ordered a pizza, which was great for the first time, but one pizza with the tots is plenty for two, maybe even three people. It feels like French Polynesia with a bit of glamor and a lot of grace.

The friendly, affable, and handsome bartender told us a famous mixologist from Chicago had invented the cocktails.