Gay Place

STYLE & ALTITUDE Good queen Empress XV Jaycie Beringer, who has reigned over Austin these past 12 months, shall pass the scepter, the tiara – the virtual torches of her realm – to this year's empress. Who shall it be? The voting happened this past weekend at the Wright House Wellness Center, the polls are closed, and the ballots have been tallied. It all comes down to this: This weekend, all weekend, is the United Court of Austin's Coronation, an annual pageant of pomp and tease, of wigs and spanks, of illusion and the real thing. This year's theme? A Regal Victorian Vampire's Ball: Take a Bite Out of Time. This dedicated domain of divine divas (and their handsome consorts) calls the tribes together – reps from queendoms from all over the world – to bask in the radiant glimmer as one dynasty passes on to another. You can check out the website to get a better idea of the depth, heritage, and fundraising power of this group (www.unitedcourtofaustin.org). Our favorite line regarding the coronation decorum: "Live animals, confetti, open flames, bare buttocks/breasts are strictly forbidden." UCA is a class act, a higher calling, the creme of Austin drag culture, and it throws one helluva bash. The events this weekend are a celebration of and a rare peek into a unique society that exists in our midst. And they promise to be fabulous. (See Community Listings.)