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Pulling out the gay stops

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Charles Miller knows music, but it’s mostly in the classical vein. He’s been called one of D.C.’s most brilliant organists and his office at National City Christian Church is well stocked, as one might imagine, with CDs, hymnals, file cabinets full of scores and scholarly books on music. It’s easy to throw him, though, when it comes to pop.

When asked if the title of his new organ recital series, “Magical, Mystical, Musical Machine,” which resumes today at 12:15 p.m., is a play on words of the similarly monikered Beatles album (“Magical Mystery Tour”), Miller says the thought never occurred to him.

“No, actually,” he says. “It’s just something I created myself. What I wanted to do was get something with some sort of title that was going to grab people … something other than the National City Christian Church organ series, which is as boring as Wonder Bread. And it’s worked.”

The series had existed for about 25 years at the large D.C. church, an architectural wonder that anchors Thomas Circle, but was struggling. Thursday was its normal day and it featured a wide array of performers on various instruments, not just organ. Miller and others at the church retooled it after a hiatus. “Machine” debuted in September on Fridays and was an instant hit.

Miller says attendance has tripled. And all the recitals, which are free, are performed on the church’s mammoth 7000-pipe Moller organ, the third largest organ in Washington (only organs at National Cathedral and National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception have more ranks, though National City’s is the only D.C. organ with five manuals, or keyboards, a distinction Miller says is necessary to play the church’s gallery organ in the back).

That makes it distinctive enough that organists from around the country are itching to play it. Miller says he gets unsolicited requests weekly from players willing to donate their recital time to the church. Miller has taken many of them up on the offer. Several are scheduled for “Machine” recitals, which run every Friday through May.

Stephen Harouff, a Peabody graduate who lives in Baltimore and plays at Faith Presbyterian Church there, plays at National City on Feb. 19. This will be his second recital there.

“It’s interesting,” he says of the National City organ. “It’s not often that you can go and sit at an instrument and have everything you need for any style of organ music … it’s pretty stellar.”

Miller kicks off the series return with today’s recital. He plans a toccata by J.S. Bach, a trumpet tune by David N. Johnson, an adaptation of on operatic intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni and a movement of an organ symphony by Louis Vierne.

And though Miller didn’t plan it, all the players booked for the series in February are gay (openly gay David Christopher of Wilmington, Del., plays Feb. 12. The month ends with another recital by Miller on Feb. 26). Miller guesses about 75 percent of U.S. organists are gay men.

Miller says why that’s the case is “the million dollar question.”

“I don’t know if it’s because as young musicians the pipe organ is such an odd, well, odd is kind of a weird word, but people don’t readily seek out to play the pipe organ. You’re more likely to say, ‘I’m gonna play the trumpet, or the flute, or the piano.’ So I can see in many instances if you’re a young child struggling with your sexual identity, you’re kind of off the beaten path anyway, you feel unique or isolated or weird. I guess maybe that could be it, but it’s very difficult to know and it’s a phenomenon unique to the U.S. It would be a great sociological study.”

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Bars & Parties

MAL kicks off Jan. 11 with Bootcamp

Mid-Atlantic Leather begins with party at Bunker

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MAL Weekend kicks off next week. (Image courtesy of Bunker)

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend arrives next week with a kickoff event Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Bunker. Organizers at Kinetic promise a surprise drill sergeant who will whip you into shape. Joshua Ruiz DJs the event. This event is for VIP pass holders only; visit kineticpresents.com for details.

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A roundup of New Year’s Eve parties in D.C.

Celebrate the start of 2024 in style

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Xavier Entertainment LLC will host the seventh annual Times Square NYE Celebration at 10 p.m. at Ivy City Smokehouse. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

New Year’s Eve 2024 at Lost Society will be at 7 p.m. at Lost Society. There will be unique entertainment all night along with a journey of the senses through captivating light shows and LED displays, music, and bottle service presentations throughout the evening. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Busboys and Poets will host New Year’s Eve Open Mic and Party at 10 p.m. at 2021 14th St., N.W. This will be an evening of poetry, live DJ, dancing, food, and good company in a vibrant atmosphere where local artists take the stage, showcasing their talents in various genres. The night will be hosted by the talented Charity Blackwell and will feature award-winning poet Black Chakra. Dyanna Monet will deejay. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

QueerTalk DC will host Sapphic New Year’s Celebration at 8 p.m. at FigLeaf Bar & Lounge. The event will celebrate Sapphic, trans, and non-binary communities and feature complimentary hors D’oeuvres, a Champagne toast and DJ sets by DJ Clamazon and DJ Q. For more details, visit Eventbrite

The Queers Upstairs will host Heels & Ties: A Queer New Years Eve Surprise at 9 p.m. at Aliceanna Social Club. This evening will be an unforgettable LGBTQ New Year’s Eve party where you can sip your favorite cocktails and enjoy small bites while dancing the night away with music from DJ Rosie & DJ Missy. Tickets start at $30 and can purchased on Eventbrite

BuffBoyzz Gay-Friendly Male Strip Clubs will host a male revue that caters to men and women at 8 p.m. at Buffboyzz Male Strippers. The event will be an exciting, entertaining and sexy show of exotic male dancers in that will entertain your pants off. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

International Events Washington DC will host the 2024 Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala at 7:30 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. There will be free-flowing Champagne, an open bar, a spectacular balloon drop in the Euro Discotheque Ballroom and live bands and DJs. For dinner, guests can choose from an elegant sit-down, three-course dinner with Champagne or a dinner buffet of international cuisine. Tickets start at $189 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Social Architects will host the 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Casino Night at 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Arlington, Va. There will be six rooms of entertainment spread across three floors. The DJs will spin hip hop, R&B, salsa, Afrobeats and old school music. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Pitchers and A League of Her Own will host a NYE party with complimentary Champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a DJ all night long.

Shaker’s plans a drag extravaganza with Tatianna and Crystal Edge among others starting at 10:30 p.m.; the $10 cover includes a glass of Champagne. 

Bunker hosts a 12-hour masquerade ball with several DJs, including Joe Gauthreaux. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. Tickets start at $45 and are available at bunkerdc.com.

DJ Alex Love spins NYE at Dirty Goose with drink specials at midnight.

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Labor Day sees return of SunFestival to Rehoboth Beach

DJs, live auction, comedy and more planned for end-of-summer bash

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A scene from previous SunFestival celebrations. (Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Labor Day Weekend in Rehoboth Beach brings more than the end of summer — it brings the annual SunFestival celebration benefitting CAMP Rehoboth.

The weekend promises two nights of revelry with entertainers and nationally known DJs creating the “ultimate party to close out summer” Sept. 2-3.

Saturday’s $45 general admission tickets are sold out but you can join a waitlist at the event’s website. That ticket grants you access to a comedy show and an auction where you can bid on six experiences like an eight-day boat tour through Belgium and the Netherlands or a week’s stay in Lisbon, Portugal. Organizations have donated these experiences to CAMP to auction off, with all proceeds going to the organization.

The $95 pass to both nights is also sold out. But general admission tickets for the Sept. 3 dance party starting at 7 p.m. with DJs Robbie Leslie and Joe Gauthreaux remain available. CAMP Rehoboth promises a “state-of-the-art club-like atmosphere,” with new design elements and video imaging.

Visit camprehoboth.com for tickets and more information. The weekend’s schedule is below:

Saturday, Sept. 2: A Night of Comedy, Drag, and Song, plus a LIVE Auction! (Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. Auction and show promptly start at 7:30 p.m.) Featuring Dixie Longate and Randy Roberts.

Serving up Tupperware lady realness, join in Dixie’s living room party and all its hilarity. Randy Roberts brings thrills with uncanny impersonations of iconic female vocalists and cabaret.

Experience a night filled with laughter and song as these talented performers will lift your spirits and tickle your funny bone. And not to be missed: the live auction. Check out the live auction items camprehoboth.com/sunfest2023live.

Sunday Sept. 3: A Night of Dance. (Doors open at 7 p.m. Dance ends at 1 a.m.) Featuring DJ Robbie Leslie and DJ Joe Gauthreaux.

Both DJs will offer an unforgettable musical journey starting with classic mirror ball memories, dance floor anthems, and the latest club beats, according to a CAMP Rehoboth statement. Events are held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, which CAMP promises will be transformed “into the ultimate dance party to close out the summer.”

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