Dina Martina is one of Seattle’s most brilliantly shining treasures and the glint on her drag gem gleams most brightly during the holiday season calendar. Martina, who always brings “jifts” for her fans in winter, offers one of the most sought after shows in the Emerald City, whether at “Re-Bar Place” or ACT Theater, during a time when car traffic is at its peak and Jack Frost nips at your toes most regularly. To bring you a respite from all this societal freezing clutter, Martina showcases her, well, singing prowess, of sorts, and her comedy that wows in its hysterics. We caught up with the artist to ask her a few outlandish and holiday questions about wardrobe, snacks and Pee-Wee Herman.

Do you make your own clothes? 

I prefer to call them “costumes,” and while I’m far too busy to make my own, I’m very fortunate to have the most gifted magician of costumery in show business. He made a thong for Siegfried & Roy.

What is your favorite thing to emotionally eat?

My dignity.

I love Pee-Wee Herman. Do you have a favorite character on his show?

I have not watched that program, I think it was before I was born. But I do watch the Colgate Radio Hour.

Have you ever thought about creating your own holiday and sharing it with the world?

Yes. There was one year when I was a bit frustrated with the exclusionary nature of Christmas and I wanted it to be just about me and my one friend, so I called it “Usmas.” It seemed like a really good idea on paper but it was pretty short-lived due to its lackluster nature and my one friend hating it.

If you could read a bedtime story to one person who would you choose?

My adopted daughter Phoebe would be first on my list. But if I couldn’t read to her I’d like to read a bedtime story to her little dog. Years ago, I bought Phoebe a little pug that has only one back leg and no front legs but you couldn’t really tell because when I bought him he was wearing a little coat with tails that had two front legs built in and one of the front legs holds a little top hat and the other holds a little cane. And he’d hop around so proudly on his one back leg, with his top hat and cane in the air so it always looked like he was doing an old-time vaudeville show. You know, pugs are so creative and insightful and I think that if we lived in a different kind of a world, they would make wonderful nannies or personal shoppers.

Who are your heroes? Who are your zeroes?

Are you talking real or fictitious heroes? Garrison Keillor is a real hero because he has the prettiest singing voice. And as far as fictitious heroes go, I’d  say Curly Sue and Jesus.

What would be the ingredients to a Dina Martina latte?

Sanka and steamed pug milk.

Do you make friends easily?

I’m a delightful extrovert so I make friends pretty easily but my accompanist Mr. Jeffries is such a wallflower, sometimes I worry for him. I fix most of his meals and wash behind his ears, which I am pleasured to do, but he’s really a cautionary tale waiting to happen.

What have you learned about Seattle – positively and/or negatively – over the years you’ve been performing here?

Omigosh, I’ve learned tons while being in your moist region. I’ve learned that the people here aren’t afraid of being unfashionable or too politically correct.  I’ve learned that people in the Pac Northwest are a hardy people from good stock who will go out of their way to be friendly. Take my neighbor – a rugged woman, very Colleen Dewhurst-y in the face – with broad shoulders and a prominent Madam’s apple. She gives me rides in her PT Cruiser and teaches me to live in the moment. She said I shouldn’t live in the future because the future holds nothing for me. I love that.