CityMoms spill the tea on the Baby's Indy Drag Brunch
DISCLAIMER: Hey reader! Please know the Baby's is a valued partner of theCityMoms. Because of this relationship, we occasionally share sponsored content we feel could be valuable or interesting for your family, like details about the fabulous monthly Baby's Indy Drag Brunch. So grab your sequins and a mimosa and read on...
Babys Drag Brunch, theCityMoms
Stepping foot into Baby’s restaurant is a sugary-sweet throwback to the kitsch and joy of Mid-Century America, updated with a modern-day wink. Located in the Herron-Morton neighborhood at the intersection of Talbott Street and 22nd Street, Baby’s inhabits the former Talbott Street Nightclub, a long-standing downtown hot-spot. Today Baby’s is serving up the basics {burgers, chicken, and salads} in a fresh and delicious way and has become a dining destination of choice for millennial families.
Babys, theCityMoms
But before Baby’s brought their milkshakes to the yard, Talbott Street Nightclub famously played host to thousands of drunken bachelorette parties and endless nights of dance and drag, but more importantly was a safe space for the LGBTQ community during a time when Indy wasn’t as openly welcoming.
The Ladies of Legends Drag Show was a huge draw and offered an opportunity to showcase the talent and beauty of the local LGBT community. After the Talbott Street Nightclub closed in 2016, many felt the loss of a place they’d come to call home.
Enter Baby’s.
Kendall Lockwood and Trevor Belden, the owners of Ball & Biscuit sought to revive the once vibrant home of contour, sequins, and fabulous wigs with their own brand of retro fun, and opened Baby’s in September 2019. Most importantly they honored the history of the Talbott Street Nightclub with nods to its drag heritage in the imagery and names on the menu {yup, their cocktails rock drag names like the Glamazon, Sashay Away, and Yaaaas} as well as the now immensely popular monthly Drag Brunches. But instead of a night of drunken glitz and gin and tonics, Baby’s has brought drag into the daylight, and made it accessible to the whole family. "It's been really fun," said Lockwood in a recent Indy Channel interview. "On the first drag brunch, we had someone come out as Maleficent, and on the second, someone came out as Elsa, and the kids' jaws just dropped," Lockwood said. "It was like the best thing they could've seen — it was like live Disney characters. It's like going to Disney World, but in Indy."Now that I’ve had Brunch at Baby’s, I’m not sure I ever want to do it any other way.
Baby's, theCityMoms
It was a delight from the moment we arrived. Even with every seat in the restaurant filled, the staff is attentive, charming, and incredibly helpful. Upon arrival we immediately grabbed a cocktail and had a chat sesh before the show began {the show is loud, making convos a bit difficult}. Baby’s serves up some great brunch cocktails, but also has full bar service available. Our CityMoms were happy to taste test the classically bubbly mimosa, the passionfruit spritz Eleganza, and the Matriarch, which CityMom Kira described as a breakfast margarita. And in case the hot pink walls and neon signs weren’t sweet enough, we noshed on a couple sugar-coated bubblegum and blue raspberry flavored donuts as an appetizer. All guests are served the same brunch menu {this rotates monthly}; we enjoyed an amazing meal of greens, fried chicken, and a roasted potato medley.Shortly after the guests were seated, the queens took the stage, with our beautiful hostess, Pat Yo Weave at the helm. We shimmied, we sang, we danced in our seats to hits from our favorite divas from the 80’s to today. The Drag Queens did two sets {hello, fabulous outfit changes!} of several songs and danced and interacted with the crowd throughout the restaurant. There are no bad seats at Baby’s, but, if you can sit with a view of the main walkway in the middle of the restaurant you’ll catch a glimpse of some of the queens performing a death drop {my jaw is still on the floor after seeing these}. Each performer was a sparkling work of art in costuming and makeup. Our CityMoms crew was definitely drooling over the fabulous performance attire!
But better than the absolutely stellar routines, was the vibe at Baby’s.
Babys Drag Bruch- theCityMoms
We were a part of the most encouraging, enthusiastic crowd that ranged from infants to grandmothers, men and women, suburban housewives to downtown hipsters rocking facial piercings. The joyous family-friendly atmosphere was infectious. If you didn’t start out dancing in your seat, you certainly were by the end of the day!As the show sadly wore down, our bellies and souls full, our hostess Pat Yo Weave offered the perfect parting words, “If no one has told you this year, I love you, I appreciate you, have a great day!” I can’t think of a better way to start my day than with her sentiments in my mind and the exuberance of Baby’s Drag Brunch pumping me up.
HOT TIPS:
Make a reservation early {tickets go on sale about one month out, follow Baby’s on FB & IG for the latest}; this April brunch sold out in 12 hours.
Bring your $1 bills. Tipping the performers is part of the experience {and trust us, they’ve earned it!}
Grab one of their specialty brunch cocktails.
Treat yourself to a Baby’s milkshake {they’re serving up boozy and virgin options}.
Attire ranges from super casual to festive brunch attire {you know our CityMoms crew brought the sequins} and everything in between. This is a welcoming environment, so you do you!
Doors open 15 minutes before Brunch begins so you have time to get seated. Don’t be late, you won’t want to miss a minute of the knock-out performances.
MORE INFO: Baby's Indy is located at 2147 North Talbott Street, and open daily from 11am-9pm for all ages. The monthly Drag Brunch is beginning to find new wings post-COVID, so stay tuned to Baby's on Insta and Facebook for the latest events.
