Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Dec. 2
Parties, events, concerts and more through Dec. 8
‘The Sound of Music’ is one of a series of mixed media sculptures in the exhibit ‘Eclipsed by the Cloud: the Detritus of Obsolescent Technology’ by Rima Schulkind at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)
TODAY (Friday)
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is holding its monthly open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m., featuring guest J.T. Bullock, a poet, writer and aspiring teller of stories. Bullock’s been featured at Sparkle and Capturing Fire and is working on a one-man show which debuted as a work in progress at the Wooly Mammoth Theater. The event is hosted by Mike Brazell.
“The A List Show” is tonight at Remingtons (639 Pennslyvania Ave.) at 11:30 p.m. hosted by Miss Remingtons Brandonna DuPri with special guest Stasha Sanchez and MC Tony “And I Thank You” Nelson.
LezGetTogether.com presents “Lez Have a Gay ‘Ol Time” tonight from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Science Club (1136 19th St., N.W.) featuring trivia, an ugly holiday sweater contest, raffles and more. There’s a $4 cover with a $2 discount for wearing an ugly holiday sweater and entering the contest and a $1 discount for wearing a Santa hat, Rudolph nose, antlers or mustache.
Red Fridays presents Will Eastman’s birthday party with Cosmo Baker, Sam Burns, Chris Nitti and Lxsx Frxnk tonight at U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) at 10 p.m. This event is free for attendees 21 and older. Attendees from 18 to 20 must purchase tickets in advance for $10 at ustreetmusichall.com.
Baltimore filmmaker Matt Porterfield presents Andy Warhol’s “Chelsea Girls” tonight at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore at 7 p.m. Presented in split screen with alternating soundtracks and alternation between black and white and color photography, the film follows the lives of several young women who lived at the Hotel Chelsea. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $7 for Creative Alliance members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativelliance.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is having an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for its newest exhibits “Eclipsed by the Cloud: the Detritus of Obsolescent Technology” featuring totems created with obsolete technology by Rima Schulkind and “Small Treasures” featuring artworks small in size and price by a wide array of artists. For more information on either exhibit, visit touchstonegallery.com.
Saturday, Dec. 3
The D.C. Trans Coalition is having its annual community forum today at 12:30 p.m. at the Columbia Heights Community Center (1480 Girard St., N.W.). There will be food, drink and a limited number of transportation vouchers and door prizes. For more information, visitdctranscoalition.org.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “Homecoming.”
It’s the last day to view the exhibit “Above the Radar II” at The Fridge (516 1/2 8th St., S.E.) featuring 100 pieces from more than 40 artists. The Fridge is open from noon to 8 p.m. For more information, visit thefridgedc.com.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will be performing Handel’s “Messiah” tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane) in North Bethesda at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $88 and can be purchased online at bsomusic.org.
Lambda Squares, D.C.’s LGBT square dancing group, is having a community dance tonight at the Francis Scott Key Middle School (910 Schindler Dr.) in Silver Spring from 7 to 10 p.m. with caller Butch Adams. There’s a $10 entrance fee. The theme this year is Proud Mary. For more information, visit dclambdasquares.org.
Crack presents “Crack High: A School-Themed Variety Show” tonight at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and doors open at 9 p.m. All attendees must be 21 or older. There will also be a matinee performance on Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets to this show are $8.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Creative Alliance presents “Merry Mart” hosted by Jen Menkhaus and Allison Fomich today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore. The show will feature clothing, handbags, felt accessories, ceramics and more by crafters from Charm City Craft Mafia, the Baltimore Etsy Street Team and more. This is a free event. For more information visit the Merry Mart blog and merrymartbaltimore.blogspot.
The Logan Circle Community Association is having its 33rd annual Logan Circle Holiday House Tour today from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with more than a dozen properties opened for self guided tours. Check-in at Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) to get a tour guide. There will also be a reception from 3 to 5:30 at the theater. Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at logancircle.org. Same day tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Studio Theatre.
Monday, Dec. 5
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having its monthly volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tonight’s activities could range from sorting through book donations, cleaning up around the center and taking inventory for Fuk!ts, as well as socializing. Pizza will provided.
WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse, meets from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) is celebrating the end of the year with a happy hour and appreciation tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Duplex Diner (2004 18th St., N.W.). Proceeds from drink sales will benefit the organization. For more information, visitglovdc.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents its “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
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The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents the 38th annual “Merry TubaChristmas!” today at 6 p.m. Founded by Harvey Phillips, the concert features tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players from around D.C. playing traditional Christmas music. This is a free performance.
Riot Act Comedy Theater’s (801 E St., N.W.) monthly gay and gay-friendly comedy show “Gay-larious” returns tonight at 8:30 p.m. with Adam Lehman and co-founders Chris Doucette and Zach Toczynski. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online atriotactcomedy.com.
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club is meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.), across from the Marine barracks, for social bridge. No partner is needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com and click on “Social Bridge in Washington.”
Thursday, Dec. 8
The American Ballet Theatre performs “The Nutcracker” tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $150 and can be purchased online atkennedy-center.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is hosting a fundraiser for Jack Evans, Councilmember for Ward 2, to be reelected in 2012 tonight at 7 p.m. Also a Nellie’s is the Washington Wetskins Water Polo Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m., during which $1 from every Nellie beer sold goes toward the team.
Celebrity News
My evening with Madonna
Gay icon headlined the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam
Editor’s note: International News Editor Michael K. Lavers and Photo Editor Michael Key will be on assignment in the Netherlands through Aug. 10. They will be covering World Pride in Amsterdam.
AMSTERDAM — Madonna and 6,000 of her closest friends celebrated World Pride at Amsterdam’s AFAS Live concert hall early Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to be one of them.
Madonna last Wednesday nearly broke the internet when she said on social media in Dutch that “I got somethin’ I wanna talk about,” referring to an opening line in “Danceteria,” one of the tracks on her “Confessions II” album that has received rave reviews since its July 2 release. The track has been on near constant replay on my playlist since I first heard it.
— Madonna (@Madonna) July 28, 2026
MISTR — a telehealth platform that offers free access to PrEP, Doxy PEP, STI testing, and long-term care that has organized Madonna’s Club Confessions shows in the U.S. and the U.K. — later confirmed the rampant speculation. I woke up on July 30 to an email in my inbox from MISTR and the World Pride Music Festival PR team that said I was on the press list.
Madonna was indeed going to headline the World Pride Music Festival that Jake Resnicow and Insomniac produced, and I was going to be there. OMFG!!!!
The gay icon had one more surprise in store.
The Dutch internet on Saturday once again broke over speculation that Kylie Minogue was going to appear alongside Madonna. I was getting ready to leave our hotel in Amsterdam on Saturday night when I saw a video of the two of them together.
“Madonna is now teasing Kylie Minogue on her social media … she may be one of her ‘special guests’ tonight,” I wrote in a text to Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff at 8:46 p.m.
“Have fun! This is turning into the gayest concert ever,” he responded.
I arrived at AFAS Live shortly before 11 p.m. My press contact walked me and two other Dutch journalists into the venue’s cavernous main room known as the Black Box. We made small talk for a few minutes before I started to walk around and listen to Josh Harrison who was on the decks.
Madonna was scheduled to take the stage at 1:30 a.m., but she is known for being late — she is Madonna and she does what she wants. Hayla, a British singer, and Bebe Rexha are among those who performed ahead of Madonna. Thousands of sweaty men — including a group of Australians next to me who were eagerly awaiting Kylie’s anticipated appearance — packed the Black Box and were dancing, anticipating what was to come.
MISTR CEO Tristan Schukraft at one point came on stage and declared Madonna was indeed in the building. The moment for which we were all eagerly waiting finally came shortly before 2:30 a.m.
“Mother is here and this is gay heaven,” said Madonna when she took the stage.
Stuart Price, who produced her “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album in 2005, manned the decks during Madonna’s set.
She opened it with “I Feel So Free” from “Confessions II.” Madonna then sang “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria” to which this reporter — and everyone else — sang along.
Madonna then teased a surprise before she began to perform “Love Sensation.” Kylie soon appeared on stage. It was nearly too much for my fellow partygoers from Australia. It was indeed the gayest concert ever!
Madonna and Kylie performed “Love Sensation” together. They then sang “Hung Up” and “Sorry” from “Confessions on a Dance Floor” to round out the set that ended shortly after 3 a.m.
Madonna and I share the same birthday — Aug. 16 — and I would like to think she and Kylie gave me an early birthday present. In all seriousness though, it was an amazing night for me and for everyone else who was fortunate enough to be there.
“On the dance floor I feel so free,” says Madonna in the opening of “I Feel So Free.”
For those few precious hours at AFAS Live I did not think about the Trump-Vance administration and the myriad ways it is destroying the U.S. I did not think about the National Guard troops deployed to D.C. I did not think about the pointless wars that continue to ravage Ukraine and other countries around the world. I simply lost myself on the dance floor and celebrated an icon who has always stood with my community.
Thank you, Madonna.
The Petal Release Party and Drag Show was held at Spark Social on Friday, July 31. Performers included Tiara-Missou, Labianna and Darcy de la Cuadra.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Celebrity News
Madonna headlines World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam
Kylie Minogue made surprise appearance alongside gay icon
AMSTERDAM — Madonna on Sunday headlined the final night of the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam.
The gay icon took the stage shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday) during Club Confessions, a set that MISTR, a telehealth platform that offers free access to PrEP, Doxy PEP, STI testing, and long-term HIV care, organized.
“Mother is here and this is gay heaven,” said Madonna when she took the stage inside Amsterdam’s AFAS Live concert hall that can hold up to 6,000 people.
Stuart Price, who produced Madonna’s 2005 “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album and “Confessions II,” which debuted on July 2, DJed the set.
Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance. She and Madonna performed a new remix of “Love Sensation” from “Confessions II.”
(Washington Blade video by Michael K. Lavers)
“Throughout my career, I’ve always supported efforts to fight HIV and AIDS, and that fight begins with education and access,” said Madonna in a MISTR press release. “With MISTR, (CEO) Tristan (Schukraft) is expanding access to HIV prevention and sexual healthcare for everyone. Through this work, he’s helping preserve and strengthen LGBTQ+ spaces while investing in the communities and culture that have long sustained us.”
Minogue in an Instagram post thanked Madonna, Price, Schukraft, and MISTR.
Madonna appeared at The Abbey in West Hollywood, Calif., in April. Madonna in June celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York’s Times Square.
Jake Resnicow and Insomniac produced the World Pride Music Festival that also featured Bebe Rexha and Paris Hilton, among others.
“Pride has always been about bringing our community together,” said Resnicow. “At a moment when too many people are being told to hide or make themselves smaller, gathering openly, joyfully, and without apology matters more than ever. I couldn’t be prouder of what this festival brought to life in Amsterdam — one dance floor, completely free.”
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