Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: March 2

Parties, exhibits, meetings and more through March 8

Published

14 years ago

March 1, 2012

‘Memorial to a Marriage,’ a bronze sculpture featuring artist Patricia Cronin and her partner in a tender embrace, is one of the works in the ‘Bodies and Soul’ exhibit at Connor Contemporary Art. (Image courtesy Connor)

TODAY (Friday)

Busboys & Poets presents “Live! from Busboys: Open Mic and Talent Showcase” tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston Room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.) hosted by Ne’a Posey. This showcase opens the floor for all performers, not just poets. There is a $5 cover. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.

“Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows plays Baltimore Comedy Club tonight at 8 and 10:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at baltimorecomedy.com. Meadows will also perform Saturday at 7 and 9:15 p.m.

The Creative Alliance is hosting the Baltimore premiere of the African film “Paparazzi: Eye in the Dark” at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore) tonight at 7:30 p.m. “Paparazzi” tells the story of a music producer, a mysterious murder and the ripples of its repercussions. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $7 for CA members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.

Atlas (1333 H St., N.E.) presents “Intersections: A New American Arts Festival” with performances by Tom Goss and Potomac Fever at 9:30 p.m. in the Lang Theatre. Tickets are $20. All-girl band The Pushovers will be giving a free performance from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Kogod lobby. The night ends with an after party hosted by DCypher Dance at 11 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit atlasarts.org.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D St., N.W.) presents “Civilization (all you can eat)” tonight at 8 p.m. The show brings a corporate lecturer, a career waitress and an anthropomorphic pig all together to look at corruption, consumption and enterprise in the Obama age. Tickets range from $55 to $67.50 and can be purchased online at woollymammoth.net.

Saturday, March 3

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 “Doppelgängland.”

The Imperial Court of Washington will be at the Czar’s Ball and Royal Convention for the “Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Russian Tea Party” tonight at Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) from 4 to 8 p.m. The candidates for Emperor and Empress will be announced. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit imperialcourtdc.org.

DJ Drew G sings at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Code has its monthly installment tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Gear, rubber, skin, uniform or leather dress code will be strictly enforced. Music provided by DJ Frank Wild. Admission is $10. All attendees must be 18 or older. There will be an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is having its 20th annual national dinner tonight at the National Building Museum (401 F St., N.W.) starting with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets range from $225 to $2,500 and 10 tickets ranging from $2,500 to $250,000. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sldn.org.

Sunday, March 4

Singer/songwrighter Glen Phillips of rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Drag Brunch hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. with a $20 brunch buffet.

SMYAL’s Youth Arts Ensemble and Dance Exchange’s Teen Exchange will be performing at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) today at 3 p.m. as part of the Intersections festival. For more information, visit intersectionsdc.org. This is a free event.

Monday, March 5

Boyz II Men plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $59.50 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.

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 be provided. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Tuesday, March 6

Irish band Altan plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.

The Chesapeake Squares, a gay square dancing group, are having a mainstream-through-advanced club night tonight at the Waxter Center (1000 Cathedral St.) in Baltimore from 8 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakesquares.org.

Wednesday, March 7

Band White Rabbits play the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) with Tennis and Daughter. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at blackcatdc.com. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Conner Contemporary Art (1358 Florida Ave., N.E.) presents Patricia Cronin’s first solo exhibition in D.C. with “Bodies and Soul.” The exhibit features “Memorial to a Marriage,” a bronze sculpture depicting the sleeping figures of Cronin and her partner, artist Deborah Kass. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visitconnercontemporary.com.

Thursday, March 8

Irish tenor Karl Scully plays Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.

Comedian Kathleen Madigan plays the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $49.50 and can be purchased online atticketmaster.com.

D.C. Strokes Rowing Club is having its Spring Rush tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit dcstrokes.org.

Photos

PHOTOS: Fairfax City Pride

LGBTQ celebration held at Sherwood Center

Published

3 days ago

June 9, 2026

Michael Key

A scene from Fairfax City Pride on June 6. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Fairfax City Pride was held at the Sherwood Center (3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Va.) on Saturday, June 6.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

a&e features

D.C. prepares to party as Pride celebrations kick off Saturday

Bars, clubs have busy lineups; Pride on the Pier returns

Published

3 days ago

June 9, 2026

Evan Caplan

The Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Capital Pride’s date change isn’t slowing down the festivities. Back in December, the Capital Pride Alliance shifted the calendar for Pride celebrations in the nation’s capital from the second weekend of June to two weeks later to the weekend of June 20-21 to not conflict with President Trump’s birthday and 250th anniversary of America celebrations, with the aim that “our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers… We are protecting our space and preserving Pride as a powerful act of visibility, solidarity, and resistance.”

On the heels of WorldPride last year, the city shows no sign of slowing down. Instead, restaurants, bars, clubs, and neighborhoods are taking the opportunity to be even more visible. The Blade has put together a (non-comprehensive) list of parties, activations, and activities across town:

Pride on the Pier returns on Saturday, June 13 to the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront. The event, sponsored and hosted by the Washington Blade, is free and runs from 4-9 p.m. There will be vendors, DJs, and drag performances all day. VIP tickets are $25 and come with air conditioned party room, private bathrooms, and free cocktail. More details at prideonthepierdc.com.

Capital Pride Official Opening Party: RIOT! is the official opening dance party of Capital Pride, taking place Friday June 19, 9 PM-3AM. The 2026 edition headlining performer is Myki Meeks, a finalist of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 18; Bob The Drag Queen will perform a special set. DMV-area DJs and performers include: Bambi, Baphomette, Bumper, Cake Pop!, Connor, DJ Ed Bailey, DJ Diyanna Monet, Evry Pleasure, Jakknife Complex, Mari Con Carne, Pussy Noir, WessTheDJ. Trade owner Ed Bailey is producing the event.

Kinetic Presents brings the heat across the entirety of Pride weekend as well. It again is partnering with Capital Pride Alliance to produce four events over four days this Pride, including the Official Main Event on Saturday (the Friday official event is at Echostage). Kinetic’s parties are splayed across various D.C. venues, with special performances, massive productions, shirtless dancers, play zones, dance-forward audio and visuals, and international DJ talent. Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM at District Eagle is Lust, with music by Dan Slater and TOMI. Friday, June 19 at 10 PM is UNCUT XXL Heavy Load, at A.i. Warehouse in Union Market District, with music by Alex Acosta, Felipe Lira & Mitch Ferrino; the party is a “high-octane night of muscular house and tribal rhythms.” Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM brings that official main event, Kinetic Toy Land, at Echostage, with music by GSP & Matt Suave. Alaska Thunderfuck headlines. Sunday evening June 21 at 10 PM closes with discoVERS at SAX. A portion of tickets supports the DC LGBTQ+ community through Capital Pride Alliance.

9:30 Club always comes in clutch for the LGBTQ community. Already in June, it produced Kitty Kat Ball on June 7, and Kiesza performed on June 8. On June 20 at 10 PM, the famed Mixtape party hits the stage, care of gay DJs Shea van Horn and Matt Bailer, who have spun together for coming up on two decades. Mixtape has been held at several venues across the city over those years, and now settled on 9:30 Club for Pride. On June 25 at 7 PM, Big Freedia – the bounce artist from New Orleans – hits the 9:30 Club scene for the eighth time, as part of the Big Freedom Tour.

Crush: New this year from the 14th Street bar is the Pride Pop-Up, sitting pretty in the parking lot at 1820 14th St., N.W., at the corner of Swann Street by the start of the Pride Parade route. Hours are Friday from 2-10 PM and Saturday from 12-10 PM. Friday evening features Grizzly Bear Happy Hour, a DJ will set up shop on Saturday, and for those needing another layer, there’s a Crush merch store. Co-owner Mark Rutstein “has always wanted to throw a party in that parking lot, so he did,” said co-owner Stephen Rutgers. Note that Crush (the bar) will have a cover on Friday and Saturday.

Kiki: Over at Kiki, there’s a full slate of Pride-themed programming all week. Tuesday, June 16 at 9 PM brings karaoke; Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM is trivia; Thursday June 18 at 9PM is “Night of 1000 Tatianna’s Drag Show”, and Friday June 19 at 9 PM brings the Juneteenth Serve Drag Show. Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM, post-parade, is a Pride Dance Party with DJ Lemz. Sunday daytime at 5 PM is the Father Figures Daddy Issues Special Drag Show; and after the festival at 8 PM, DJ Tezrah hits the tapes.

Jane Jane: Right along the parade route, gay-owned Jane Jane has transformed its space into a “No Kings, Yas Queens” activation in a direct response to the America 250th commemorations happening downtown, from the colorful window installation, to merch (including a custom bandana and tank) to disco wig installations. Events include industry night on Mondays, donations to LGBTQ charities, and to-go cocktails during the Pride Parade.

Shaw’s Tavern: Gay-owned Shaw’s Tavern on Florida Avenue celebrates Pride week with a full lineup of themed events, entertainment, and specials, including Pride trivia on Monday, June 15 at 7:30 PM, bingo on Tuesday, June 16 at 8 PM, a cabaret on Thursday, June 18 at 9 PM, Juneteenth Drag Brunch on Friday, June 19 at 12:30 PM, and both a pre-parade brunch (10 AM-4 PM) and post-parade party (5-9 PM) on Saturday, June 20. Sunday, June 21 at 7 PM brings Mama’s Sunday Supper & Drag Pride Show in the evening for anyone who is still awake.

Trade: This classic has a weekend of events, starting on Thursday, with Tiburon Pride Edition, a Latin Dance party in the Shark Tank. On Friday, the bar opens early (at 2 PM), with all-day happy hour and the Jx&Evry Show. On Saturday, the bar opens at noon, offering a prime parade viewing spot from its windows. There will be the CLASH drag show hosted by Tatianna and Crimsyn, and Sweet Spot party that night. On Sunday, the bar opens for normal hours at 2 PM, with DJs Adam K, Alex Love, and WESSTHEDJ.

Pitchers: The multi-level bar in Adams Morgan is hosting a Pride-themed show on Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM, with drawstring bag giveaways – the only kind of bag that will be allowed into the bar during Pride weekend. The show features drag queen Kyle Sonique Love.

Barrel House Cafe and Bar: Also by the parade route on 14th Street, Barrel House Cafe takes advantage of its large patio to have a slate of events during Pride week, including Schism, a drag and burlesque show on June 18 at 10 PM, as well as an all-day Pride party coinciding on parade day.

Bunker: Bunker again plays host to a series of afters. Friday night (Saturday 3:30 AM) is Unhinged, and Saturday night (Sunday 3:30AM) is Unholy. The regular Saturday night party (10 PM) brings in Venetian and Tiara Missou. All parties have cover charges.

District Eagle: Beyond the Kinetic party on Friday, June 19 brings Gear Night at 10 PM; Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM is LOBO presents PRISM, and Sunday, June 21 is Sundaze wit Papi at 6 PM.

African Art Museum: On Thursday, June 18 at 5 PM, this Smithsonian museum is hosting a free event with artists and curators celebrating its exhibit, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” “based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms,” according to the museum.

KNEAD Hospitality & Design: The gay-owned KNEAD restaurant group (including spots like Gatsby, Mi Vida, Succotash The Grill) is featuring the GLITTERATI cocktail, made with Tito’s, St-Germain Elderflower, Butterfly Flower, ginger, and yes, glitter. A portion of proceeds from every Glitterati cocktail sold will benefit The Trevor Project. The cocktail will be sold throughout June.

The Fountain Inn is partnering with Rhodium spirits (Rhode Island’s first LGBTQ+ owned distillery) all month, making cocktails like gimlets and espresso martinis featuring Rhodium’s liquors. Proceeds benefit SMYAL, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ youth.

Hard Rock Cafe: Hard Rock DC is taking part in the chain’s annual “LOVE OUT LOUD” campaign, with Pride merch, specials on June 20, and a donation to The Trevor Project.