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D.C. ‘Housewives’ ready for close-up

Michaele Salahi to host premiere party at EFN Lounge

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Tareq and Michaele Salahi with Blade editor Kevin Naff (center) at the Blade's 40th anniversary party in October. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Washingtonians eager for the latest installment of “Real Housewives” can buy tickets for a Bravo-endorsed premiere party slated for Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. at EFN Lounge (1318 9th St., N.W.).

Tickets for the “Real Housewives of D.C.” debut event, which must be purchased in advance, range from $25 for general admission to $500 for VIP ($80 and $150 tickets are also available). Visit rhodc-premier-efbevent.eventbrite.com for tickets. Howard Cromwell Jr., the gay publisher and editor of D.C.’s “Most Fabulous Magazine” and an organizer of monthly charity nightlife events, is organizing the party as a benefit for Dab, the AIDS Bear Project, an HIV charity that will receive a portion of the proceeds.

The new show is the latest installment of the “Real Housewives” franchise, a series of Bravo reality shows overseen by Bravo impresario Andy Cohen, who’s gay. Previous installments were set in Orange County (Calif.), New York, Atlanta and New Jersey. A Beverly Hills edition is slated for late fall after D.C.

Thursday’s party will be hosted by Michaele Salahi, she of White House State Dinner-crashing fame. She’s one of this season’s housewives along with Mary Schmidt Amons, Catherine Ommanney, Lynda Erkiletian and Stacie Scott Turner.

Cromwell has partnered with Michaele and Tareq Salahi for their America’s Polo Cup events and helped them field media requests after their notorious Nov. 24, 2009 White House appearance. He says he’s known the couple for seven years and says they’ve been unfairly maligned in the media.

“There was a lot of misinformation about the Salahis,” he says. “People would see something in the Post and go, ‘Oh, well, it was in the Post,’ so they go ahead and run with the story. … It was completely blown out of proportion.”

Cromwell says “Housewives” will give America a chance to get to know the real Salahis and that gays have embraced Michaele while others have shunned her in the wake of their party-crashing scandal.

“They were at the W rooftop for an event and she felt faint,” Cromwell says. “Everybody else looked at her like she had three heads but three gay guys went and got her some water and made sure she was OK. That’s how we are. We fought all our lives to be who we are and have been misunderstood. That’s probably why gay men like her so much.”

A month before their brush with notoriety, the Salahis appeared at the Washington Blade’s 40th anniversary party last October. Editor Kevin Naff remembers them as gracious and generous — they donated wine for the event — but also eager for the limelight.

“They were friendly and outgoing and it was clear they liked to be the center of attention, though no one flipped a table,” Naff says. “I wish them well — they told me they were Blade readers, so I have a soft spot for them.”

The other D.C. “Housewives” have said the State Dinner fiasco is only a small part of the show though it occurred while filming was underway.

The show premieres Thursday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

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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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Bars & Parties

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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Bars & Parties

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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