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The art show that’s also a game show

Loteria features art, drag — and bingo

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Feeling lucky? Even better, want to get lucky in love? And want to take bingo to a whole new iconic level, literally?

Then, come on down, Wednesday night Aug. 11 to “Loteria de Amor, Numero Dos.”

To the offbeat, funkadelic-burlesque home of the bizarro and alt.drag, known already to those in the know who find their way to the long, narrow nightclub in the heart of the H Street, N.E., arts district, who dare to cross through the looking glass to the Palace of Wonders.

The venue where vaudeville is very in vogue, that houses the antics of the Cheeky Monkey, now hosts for its second regular, monthly incarnation “Loteria de Amor,” the art show that’s also a game show, in a demi-monde splash of Mexican-style bingo, or “lottery,” of 54 cards. This game is never played bingo-style with letters and numbers but always with colorful icons.

“It’s all over L.A.,” declares Chris Griffin, the Loteria impresario and the game’s co-host in his self-styled persona of “alt.dragster” Lucrezia Blozia. A Northern Virginia native son and local theatrical entrepreneur, Chris lived in Los Angeles from 2004-2009, but his encounter with his “inner Lucrezia” began much earlier, in the early 1990s, in a visit to a local theatrical props shop where he suddenly “spotted a fuchsia wig,” a crazy hot-pink color that so wowed him, he recalls, that “it all began with the wig.”

“The wig spoke to me,” says Chris in an interview with the Blade. “I had never done drag before and I wasn’t even a drag queen fan before.” Today’s Lucrezia has lost the wig and has evolved into what he calls a “colorful punk cabaret” look.

So wait till you see Lucrezia now, as she co-hosts the “Loteria Libre” — and even a wrestling-style interlude with “Lucha Liberace, the Conquistadore of the Keys” — along with her partner in crime, the inimitable Shortstaxx, always served up, says Griffin, “with a side of sass.”

By now, surely you’re getting the idea that this evening — for which doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the “pre-show cha cha” with Lucha Liberace begins at 8:30 and the main event itself runs from 9-11 p.m. — will be truly twisted.

“We wanted to do something more gay-friendly,” says Griffin, who recalls that when discussions first began with Palace of Wonders managers, and a game show like bingo was first suggested, that he cried out “no, not bingo!” But he then countered with the Loteria idea, and a new franchise was begun, the first outing occurring there on July 7, drawing a large turnout mainly by word of mouth.

There are three or four rounds of 20-minute games, played with traditional Mexican-game styled cards, like el sol, la luna, la mano, but also new creations such as el nino carra perro — or the dog-faced boy. And all 54 of the cards have been individually created by 54 D.C. and Baltimore-area artists, including numerous LGBT artists.

“It’s so visually striking, with these images instead of numbers and letters,” and players get a “tabla,” says Griffin, like a bingo card, with 16 of the images on it, and then the icons begin to be called out. Meanwhile, between games, D.C.’s own diminutive dynamo, L’il Dutch, and Honi Harlow, New York’s star of Broadway and Harlow’s Hideaway, will twirl their tassels, and magician David London will astonish.

As for getting lucky in love? Griffin swears that “we also try and hook people up,” and he claims to have actually done so in the first outing of Loteria last month. All this plus one free round of Loteria for a $10 admission, says Griffin.

Finally, amid all the “burlesquerie” there is actually art for art’s sake at the Loteria as well, and two of the featured artists — Maribeth Egan and Victoria Gaitan — will have a mini-show exhibit with their works available for purchase.

Griffin is also well known locally as founder of the Eva Brontosaurus drag troupe, featuring both Lucrezia and Shortstaxx. He is also a writer and executive producer of the Hope Operas, which will return to the local stage in October.

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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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