Drag king scenes: hey, ladies! Apply that facial hair and gel your locks: Here's The Out Traveler guide to North America's hottest drag king scenes.

                Toronto                     Chicago

Scene           Toronto has one of the      Forget the musical;
                most active king scenes     the Chicago Drag Kings
                in North America, with      rule with tightly
                local studs Flare,          choreographed
                Christopher Noel, and       Broadway-style shows.
                Dirk Diggler (all of        They just got off on the
                whom have done cameos       International Drag King
                on Showtime's Queer as      Extravaganza, a three-day
                Folk).                      fest held in October.

Hot Shows       Tango (508 Church St.;      In addition to kinging
                416-972-1662), has          it up at special events
                Wednesday night drag        throughout the year, the
                shows and open thrones      Chicago Drag Kings have
                for new kings. Tallulah's   a regular gig in the
                Cabaret at Buddies in       heart of boyztown at the
                Bad Times Theatre           Circuit Club (3641 N.
                (12 Alexander St;           Halsted; 773-325-2233)
                416-975-8555), with Bois    the last Friday of every
                Will Be Boys shows on       month.
                last Friday of month.

Who's da Man?   Learn all about Deb by      A founding member of the
                day-Dirk by night Diggler   Kings, Mr. Izzie Big is
                (also known as Man          into blow-up dolls and
                Murray) on JACK FM radio.   Twix candy bars.

                San Francisco               Washington, D.C.

Scene           Rather than camping out     The D.C. Kings claim
                in a single venue,          to be the world's
                troupes like the United     longest-running drag
                Genders of the Universe     king show. New to the
                and diva Fairy Butch        scene? They go out of
                stage sexy cabaret-style    their way to make "kings,
                shows all around town.      queens, and all those
                Ms. Butch even teaches a    in-between" feel welcome.
                sex-gender class.

Hot Shows       In Bed With Fairy Butch     The D.C. Kings perform
                is held at various          at Club Chaos (1603 17th
                venues. The odd king        St. NW; 202-232-4141) the
                performs at Trannyshack,    first Wednesday of every
                Tuesdays at the Stud Bar    month. They help the
                (399 Ninth/Harrison;        international Great Big
                415-252-7883).              Drag King Show, which
                Trans-friendly Marlena's    takes place on May 21 as
                (488 Hayes; 485-864-6672)   part of the GenderPAC
                is a good place to dance    conference.
                with a king.

Who's da Man?   Lu Read, a.k.a. Fudgie      Ken Sexxen Vegas, who
                Frottage, produces the      founded D.C. Kings in
                spirited S.F. Drag King     2000, loves "anything
                Contest every August.       that sparkles."