Aquaplex Fort Lauderdale is ready to put its stamp on the nightlife scene with a lineup of fresh shows, a revamped interior, and an elevated entertainment experience. The iconic venue — formerly known as Lips — is set to wow guests all over again.
Lips was always known for its drag, but Aquaplex wants to be known for more. From burlesque and a male revue to Taco Tuesdays, there’s something for everyone.
“We want people to come here and be entertained,” said Show Director Velvet Lenore. “We want them to come here and get a full experience of what drag is like when it's elevated with live singers, dancers, magic acts, and burlesque.”
Before taking the reins as show director, Lenore worked as a server and host — a role she’ll continue to balance with her new leadership position.
Aquaplex is set to debut a Magic Mike-style show featuring the Aqua Commandos every Thursday and Friday. Regular weekly programming also includes Jennifery McClain on Mondays, while Matthew Darren will host a monthly show. Plus, the popular weekend drag brunches continue every Saturday and Sunday.
Owner Michael Barrett is proud of the transformation.
“We kept the basis of Lips, but we kind of changed everything up and tried to elevate it and make it better,” he said. “Change is hard on everybody, but in the end, people see the results and feel good about what's happening.”
Lenore also wants the community to know that the venue is open to hosting events and fundraisers.
“We want to be a part of the community. We want to be involved in the community,” Barrett said. “We want to make sure that everything we do is enhancing our community.”
Barrett, who also owns Aquaplex Key West, says having two locations is a lot of work, and it only succeeds thanks to the great staff they’ve assembled in Fort Lauderdale.
Despite the recent pushback against drag entertainment, especially in Florida, Aquaplex has remained resilient.
“We’re doing pretty good here,” Barrett said. “We’ve been kind of blessed.”
Oh, and don’t forget the all-you-can-eat tacos for $9.99 on Tuesdays.
