Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: July 27
Hippo celebrates the Olympics, Otakon festival comes to town and more
Olympic opening celebrations
Club Hippo is having a viewing party for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics tonight at 7 p.m. The club is at 1 West Eager Street in Baltimore.
The opening ceremonies begin at 7:30 and Club Hippo is offering drink specials all night long: $6 for Absolut Drinks, $3 for Miller Lite Draft and Yuengling Draft and $2.25 for Natty Boh Draft.
Admission is free. For more information, clubhippo.com.
Celebrate Christmas while the weather is warm
Grand Central (1001/1003 N. Charles St.) hosts its “Christmas in July” party Saturday night starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $6 and goes to benefit the Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
The Center is a group that provides numerous services to the LGBT community as well as publishes Gay Life and produces Baltimore Pride. This year, it’s celebrating 35 years of service.
Grand Central offers $2.50 drinks from 10-11 p.m. For more information, visit centralstationpub.com.
Last year’s Otakon. (Photo courtesy Otakon)
The Otaku generation returns to Baltimore
Otakon, a yearly festival that celebrates anime, manga and other elements of Asian pop culture, starts today at 10 a.m and ending Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m at the Baltimore Convention Center (1 West Pratt St.).
Otakon is called the “convention of the otaku generation: by fans, for fans.” Since 1999, the festival has taken over a large area of the Inner Harbor, attracting millions of fans dressed as their favorite characters. Activities include art shows, concerts, film screenings, autograph signings and dancing.
Online registration has closed but tickets can still be bought at the door for $80. Children under 8 have free admission. For more information, visit otakon.com.
A summer evening with sculpture and jazz
Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Dr.) hosts “Jazz in the Sculpture Garden” Saturday night at 7 p.m. with the Steven Kroon Latin Jazz Sextet.
Kroon brings to the concert sultry Latin sounds developed from a 35-year career that has included other great jazz musicians. He was requested back to the Sculpture Garden event by popular demand.
The event will also include twilight hour tours starting at 5 p.m., which include a glass of wine. Attendees are encouraged to pack their own picnic or purchase wine, beer and soft drinks at their concessions.
General admission for a concert is $25 and with a tour is $35. Member tickets are $18 and with a tour is $23. For more information, visit artbma.org.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
BREAKING NEWS: Barney Frank dies at 86
Intersex lives, constitutional freedom, and the dangerous future of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Doc on Blade reporter Chibbaro scores Emmy nomination
Don’t let Rehoboth rain deter you, there’s lots to do for Memorial Day
‘The Inheritance’ is most-nominated at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day set for May 18
Calendar: May 15-21
United Night Out set for Saturday
