An Evening at Lust Caution: The Red Pavilion's Variety Show

WORDS by MOLLY B. SIMMONS

PHOTOS by LEO BROOKLYN

Stepping into The Red Pavilion is always a treat as it is an incredibly unique venue and experience that stands out amongst New York City's sultry nightlife establishments. The Petit Mort team had the pleasure of attending Lust Caution, the Pavilion’s in-house variety show that happens twice each month.

Tucked into the heart of Bushwick is our very own Asian neo-noir cabaret that transports you into a world of sensuality and decadence—red and purple hues tattooing people’s bodies as they move on stage and through the audience—taking us on a journey that allows us to connect with wonder and our own sense of the erotic. 

The Red Pavilion, founded in 2023 by Taipei-born Shein Lee, is a testament to the beauty and resilience of the AAPI population here in New York City. Built against a backdrop of rising violence, Lee had a vision of creating not just a space, but also a community where people can share their cultures, experiences, and create joyful memories with one another. All the programming at The Red Pavilion speak to this dream, and Lust Caution is a perfect example of expressing of this goal.

Our host for the night, Pixel the Drag Jester, was cheeky and delightful, engaging with the audience the perfect amount while keeping the show moving and highlighting the talent of the performers. She also surprised us with a drag performance of her own, morphing from a 50s housewife into a cat woman Michelle Pfeiffer would have been proud of: complete with some incredible whip action. 

The range of performances and performers was a breath of fresh air—the acts spanned genres, bent genders, and featured a diverse array of people and skills that took our breath away. Whether it was the bombshell burlesque number by Aquarius, the high-flying aerial arts duo or the gravity defying acrobatic finale, each act felt unexpected and creatively original. If The Red Pavilion knows one thing, it’s how to curate a phenomenal vibe for its audiences, and we weren’t disappointed. 

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Molly B. Simmons is a writer, editor, and sex worker based in Brooklyn. She co-founded Working Girls Press alongside Emily Marie Passos Duffy to promote the art and writing of her fellow sex workers. Formerly of SWOP Brooklyn, she is the literary editor of Petit Mort Magazine, relationship columnist, and co-author of Partners in Crime: A Relationship Guidebook for Sex Workers and their Partners. You can find her work at mollybsimmons.com or on socials @mollybsimmons.