Draped in Velvet, Dripping in Jewels at Persephone Salon
Photos by Madison Paloski
The outfits and the talent never cease to fail at a salon, but dare I say this took the cake. The talent left the crowd feeling an array of emotions from joy and laughter to crying starting with mezzo-soprano Kira Dills-DeSurra handing out shots during her performance, a self named Frankenstein poem by Brooke Finegold where one of the lines at the beginning of her newest poem says “I’m so close to being bad, I’m so bad at being close. The guy at the Soho Insomnia gave me three extra cookies cuz’ I said I would call in a bomb threat so he could go home early,” closing with a performance by Shaleah Feinstein that moved people so much the majority of the room came up to me saying she moved them to tears. I may be biased but salons really are just that special and like I said in person Monday night, we are incredibly spoiled in New York City with the kind of talent we’re able to witness in this space.
I seldomly give a full breakdown of artists and I should honestly do it more to show you just how spoiled we are.
clears throat
Kira Dills-DeSurra at Persephone Salon
Kira Dills-DeSurra recently performed in the NYC premiere of What to Wear alongside St. Vincent at the PROTOTYPE Festival, a festival dedicated to showcasing new, exciting contemporary opera. I saw the opening night and wow that show is the craziest, coolest opera I’ve seen lately with a wild ride of music I can only assume as a singer you buckle in for and salute your fellow cast to make it to the end.
Brooke Finegold at Persephone Salon
Brooke Finegold is simply doing it all, comedian, poet, hosting her own salons with Poetry is Gay, running the account Lesbian Hands which is exactly what it sounds like, writer for Gaydar that’s taken the world by storm featuring guests like Chappell Roan, Durand Bernarr, Kate Moennig, Zohran Mamdani, and so many more.
Shaleah Feinstein at Persephone Salon
Violinist Shaleah Feinstein currently serves as a substitute violinist with The Metropolitan Opera, acts as Batiste’s violinist/contractor, performs as principal second violin of the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, and yes, there’s more. Her recording credits span film and album projects and has performed alongside artists such as Ed Sheeran, Halsey, and Kygo.
I’m always asking people for money for our raffles to help raise funds for a given organization or mutual aid fund. In the past we’ve raised almost $400 for a mutual aid fund for a family impacted by ICE, almost $500 for NYAFF aka the New York Abortion Access Fund, we’ve raised money for G.L.I.T.S, The Trevor Project, and for this salon, the Trans Continental Pipeline—a non-profit in Colorado that helps provide resources for trans people to escape dangerous environments and to have a community to help them with the move transition through it all. Raffling off a full bottle of perfume from LORE, Monday night we raised $135! If you would like to individually donate, you can here.
Salon-ers, and my god do we need to get a better name for you, raised money for community care and looked incredible doing it, draped in luscious velvet, wrapped in lace, and covered in gems and jewels, and for some even a crown perfect for Persephone herself. The outfits never fail to amaze me and I love that people aren’t like the lame adults at Halloween who think they’re too cool to go all out in a costume. Salons are here to celebrate, to be present, of course to take in art, and the commitment to the bit only makes me elated but also feels like a respect for what we’re doing here and the performers. Yes, we're going to the salon to enjoy art and yes, we’re going to look hot in an outfit we’ve always wanted to wear but don’t know where. Salon is absolutely where, lovers, and there’s a sweet one coming your way next month to celebrate 2 years of Salon Avec Moi. To simply put it, it will be our “sweetest” one yet.
Writer: Karlye Whitt
Editor-in-Chief: Karlye Whitt
