Hidden Camel makes a comeback

Get ready for DJs, dancing and Tuesday night drag shows at the revamped club

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Oade’s Hidden Camel in REO Town has turned over a new leaf to become Lansing’s newest gay bar. 

Ryan Acker, the general manager of the Hidden Camel,describes the new venue as a “pub/dance bar.” He says that the idea isto provide a comfortable space for patrons of all ilks.

“There have been failures with other alternative bars inthe Lansing area,” Acker admitted. “(But) we’re going to give our bestshot to listen to what the customers want.”

The changeover started with a makeover: new floors, somenew decor, unboarding the front window, some black paint. But thebeautiful mural on the wall of the dance room remains blessedlyuntouched.

While the remodeling isn’t finished yet — the bathroomsare still being touched up and the grill isn’t fully running — there isspace to dance in, a DJ to dance to and tables for those not in adancing mood.

Acker says that he sees the club as a new, affordablehangout for Lansing. The venue doesn’t charge cover, except for dragnights, and then the entire cover charge is used to pay the performers.

Acker says it’s “a nice spot to go if you only have a couple bucks and you want to have a couple drinks.” 

The plan is also to serve affordably priced food forlunch and dinner, and to provide an evening dance venue. Acker says heenvisions workers from the Board of Water and Light building underconstruction across the street stopping by for lunch, another crowdcoming in for happy hour, and the dance crowd checking out weeklyevents.

His goal is to create an inclusive dynamic that will setit apart from other Lansing bars. He says the Hidden Camel is trying to“create a space for not only lesbians or gays, but for everybody. Ihate to put a label on it.”

Acker is planning a number of weekly events, some of which are still to be determined.

He also said there has been conversation with the FamilyMotorcycle Club next door about collaborating to bring in live bands toplay on the Camel’s stage. 

However, Tuesday nights are set as Drag Night.

“The first thing I thought about doing,” Acker says,“coming from Key West, where the drag shows are really big, was havinga drag show.”

To celebrate the opening two weeks ago, the bar kickedoff with the first of what will be a series of weekly drag showsstarring the Camel Lips: drag queens Delicious, Asio and D’Nisha Grey.Their combination of comedy, dance routines, audience interaction andallure had the crowd engaged and thrilled. There were a few kinks towork out as far as spotlighting and timing, but it was evident from thebills being stuffed into the drag queens’ clothing that the show was ahit.

REO Town is not exactly the first place one considerswhen seeking a drag show, but Acker is confident that the area willserve them well.

“Remember what Old Town was years ago, and how amazing itis now,” he says. “I think that’s what’s going to happen with REO Townwith the Board of Water and Light going in.”

Oade’s Hidden Camel

1210 S. Washington Ave.,  Lansing

Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday

(517) 482-4937

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