Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for March 26
Friday, March 26
Pandemonium returns to Cobalt, 1639 R St., N.W., with “Pandemonium’s Sultry Funhouse!” The main attraction is famed circuit DJ Wendy Hunt with a midnight performance by Sue Nami. Doors open at 10 p.m.; 21+ with a $7 cover. Open vodka bar from 11 p.m.-12 a.m.
The Gay Comedy Show is returning to the EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St. N.W., with host Shawn Hollenbach (Logo’s “Gayest Week Ever”). Hollenbach will be accompanied by Paul Case (MTV and here! TV’s “Hot Gay Comics”). There is a $10 admission for the show, which runs from 8- 11 p.m.
The Whitman-Walker HIV Mobile Testing Unit will be at the Giant Food located at 1245 Park Rd., N.W. from 3:30–7 p.m.
Gay District is held from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Gay District is a weekly, non-church affiliated discussion and social group for GBTQ men between 18 and 35. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Friday night Erev Shabbat Services are held 8:30–10 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St., N.W. Friday Night Services are followed by an Oneg social. Please use the Q Street entrance.
Women in their Twenties will meet at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W., at 8 p.m. WiTT is a social discussion group for lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other interested women in the D.C. area. The group is led by several facilitators on a rotational basis. Facilitators lead the group in discussion topics (serious and silly, LGBT-related or not). Newcomers are always welcome.
Saturday, March 27
The 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held beginning today and running through April 11. This year’s festival marks the 98th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees by the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, D.C., in 1912. Family day and opening ceremony at the National Building Museum, 401 F St., N.W.
The famous DJ duo, The Freemasons, is returning to the states to spin at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. N.W., for a second time. The Freemasons have produced some of the biggest songs played on gay dance floors, including “Million Dollar Bill” by Whitney Houston. Tickets are on sale at the Town box office. Advance tickets are $15; $20 at the door. Tickets can also be purchased at groovetickets.com for $27. Doors will open at 10 p.m. Drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. Music and videos downstairs by Wess; 21 and over.
Comedian Chelsea Handler brings her “Bang Bang” tour to DAR Constitution Hall, 18th & C streets, N.W., at 8 and 10 p.m. Call 202-638-2661 for tickets, which cost $53.50-73.50.
LAMBDA SCI-FI hosts a video party for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans and their friends. Bring a dish or a non-alcoholic beverage to share, as well as some favorite DVDs, Blue-rays, or AVI files on a USB drive. Noon until 10 p.m., 7015 Sycamore Ave., Takoma Park, MD. For more information, e-mail Teresa at [email protected], call 301-270-6373 or visit lambdasf.org.
Jonatha Brooke and Lori McKenna play the Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $27.50, visit birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500 for information.
Sunday, March 28
“The Wiz” production at University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave., starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 for general admission, $7.50 for all students, $5 for children 12 & under.
Don’t miss the final performances of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” at Warner Theater, 13th Street between E&F, N.W., at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Call 202-783-4000 for ticket information.
Wiz Khalifa with Yelawolf and Jasmine Solano play 9:30 club, 815 V St., N.W., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15; visit 930.com or call 202-265-0930 for information.
Monday, March 29
Substance Abuse Support Group will meet at the Max Robinson Center located at 2301 MLK Ave., S.E. from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.
Relive your big hair ‘80s days as Bon Jovi rocks the Verizon Center, 6th and G streets, N.W., at 7:30 p.m. Visit ticketmaster.com for information and tickets, which range from $49.50 to $503.
Tuesday, March 30
Packing Party at EFN Lounge/Motley Bar, 1318 9th St., N.W., from 7-8 p.m. Volunteers will assemble safer sex kits and enjoy drink specials at Motley.
Wednesday, March 31
Megafaun and Sharon Van Etten play the Black Cat, 1811 14th St., N.W., at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10; visit blackcatdc.com for tickets and information.
Career development at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., from 3-4 p.m. RSVP to careerdevelopmentthedccenter.org. For more information, contact the Center at 202-682-2245.
Thursday, April 1
The Progressive Dinner Dessert Team will raise money for SMYAL on April Fools’ Day at the Town Tavern, 2323 18th St., N.W., in Adams Morgan from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. A $5 donation per guest at the door is requested, of which 100 percent will go to SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League).
Tom Goss performs live, launching his new marriage equality EP “Politics of Love” at the DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at thedccenter.org.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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