Pasadena’s 33^rd Occasional Doo Dah Parade is back this May 1^st (May Day) and the parade queen was announced earlier this week. Electing a Doo Dah Parade Queen is always an exciting event, but this year is even more exciting because we have the first ever MALE queen! Erica Valentine, a talented guitar player, singer and all-around super cool dude finally won after years of participating in the parade and trying out for the title of Doo Dah Parade Queen. Let’s hear it for Erica!

Okay, can I tell you a story about my first trip to Vegas? I promise it’s relevant. When I first went to Vegas with my roommate many moons ago, we met a fabulous drag queen named Erica Valentine. He was hosting karaoke at a little Mexican cantina off the strip. Erica played a killer guitar and had legs to die for. No seriously, best legs I’ve ever seen on a man or a woman. We had the best time at that little cantina, and we never forgot the wonderfully talented Erica Valentine.

Fast forward to some odd years later when I get a phone call from the roomie who came with me on that infamous Vegas trip. She’s at an restaurant in Glendale (Damon’s Steakhouse—I hear the food is good) with her husband and who do they see? ERICA VALENTINE! Apparently, Erica is hosting karaoke at Damon’s in Glendale now. I was stoked to hear he lived in the area and was still hosting karaoke.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to find out that Erica Valentine was named Queen of Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade. Go, Erica! Here’s an excerpt from Pasadena Independent about the selection of this year’s Doo Dah Queen:

“Valentine has been a perennial Queen candidate and this year has been selected as the first-ever male queen to the delight of all revelers in attendance Saturday. The guitar work of this uncommonly tall diva is well-respected by bands with whom he’s worked. For his 2010 attempt, Snotty Scotty and Horses on Astroturf backed up the axe Queen’s exceptionally fast fingers as he made love to the fretboard.”

It’s true. Erica is insanely tall. Click here to read more from Pasadena Independent.

The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade originated in Old Pasadena in 1978 as a spontaneous grassroots event. Known as the “Other Parade,” it soon gained national attention as the alter-ego to the Tournament of Roses. This year’s parade will venture to East Pasadena rather than Old Town for the first time in its history.  It will take place on Colorado Boulevard between Sierra Madre and San Gabriel. The exact route will soon be announced.

For more information, visit www.pasadenadoodahparade.info, although it doesn’t look like it’s been updated with the Queen info just yet.

Photo by Terry Miller, Pasadena Independent

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