On a Thursday night at local gay bar Macri Park, in Williamsburg, drag queen performer, Shirley U. Jest, takes the tiny one step stage. Dressed in a hot pink wig, white blouse, and rose skirt she strikes a pose. Host, John Jennison, announces over the mic, dulling the 90’s music playing in the background, “This is pose one of our first twenty minute pose.”

A group of about twenty artists of varying degrees of skill begin to sketch with their pencils, pens, markers, or charcoal. This isn’t a typical drag performance usually mired in lip syncing or shady stand up jokes. This is Drink-N-Draw.

Drink-N-Draw isn’t a new concept in New York City. There are varying kinds that pop up intermittently in different bars, clubs, lounges, and centers. For the last three and a half years, however, none have been weekly and LGBTQA like the one hosted by John Jennison.

John, 35, Willamsburg, Illustrator, recalls how it started as a one off idea with then partner Leslie Van Stilton, who was bartending at a place called TNT in Brooklyn. “We were looking for something to do for Happy Hour. I said why don’t we do a Drink-N-Draw.” A week later they had two drag queens come in and it continued from there.

Since then models also consist of go-go boys, drag kings, cosplayers, avant garde performers, boylesque and burlesque artists. The night has since moved around to different places and John now hosts solo.

Drink-N-Draw which is now twice weekly (Tuesdays are at Phoenix Bar in Manhattan) is attended by many kinds of artists. Full time illustrators, painters, graphic designers, and animators, have become regulars.

There are also non-artists who come for fun or to relax. Jennison said, “We have a clientele of business people that it’s just a release for them, they liked drawing in their youth.”

Since it’s also Happy Hour, patrons coming to the bar for a $4 whiskey-soda will join in. John provides paper, usually booklets with a sketch cover drawn by Jennison, and other kinds of mediums for anyone to join in. He said, “Usually anyone that comes once, comes back weekly if not monthly.”

Back at Macri Park after about twenty different poses which vary in length of time, John announces that Shirley U. Jest will choose her two favorite sketches. Only five of those sketching go up to win a free drink ticket.

One of the winners James Barry, 37, Willamsburg, Storyboard Artist, sums up Drink-N-Draw, “I come for the practice, the comradery, and the free drink ticket.”