Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Sept. 24
Today (Friday)
Phasefest continues tonight at Phase 1, 525 8th St., S.E., with Hunter Valentine, Jen Urban and the Box, The Pushovers, Athens Boys Choir, Terrance Williams, Lost Boi’s, and Mzery Loves Company. Tickets are $15 for the night. More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found at phasefestdc.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. Must be 21 to enter.
DJ Jim Gade will be at Cobalt, 1639 R St., N.W., tonight with Gruff: Rock and Retro Happy Hour. From 4 to 7 p.m. rail drinks will be $1 and domestics will be $2. From 7 to 10 p.m. beers and rail drinks are $3. From 4 to 10 p.m. martinis will be $5.
Cazwell, a gay rapper and DJ from New York City, will be at Town, 2009 8th St., N.W., tonight to perform live and DJ in the main room, tag teaming with Wess in the booth. Rail drinks are $3 from 10 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 10 p.m. Drag show starts at 10:30. For those 18 to 20, the cover is $10 all night. For those 21 and over, the cover is $5 before 11 p.m. and $10 afterward.
Gigi Paris Couture will perform at Ziegfeld’s, 1824 Half St., S.W., tonight at 11 p.m. Cover is $5 from 9 to 10:30 p.m. and $10 afterward and always includes $1 off your first drink. Must be 21 to enter. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Beat the Clock at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W. All bottles of Miller Lite or house Vodka drinks are $1 from 5 to 6 p.m., $2 from 6 to 7 p.m., and $3 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Gay District, a weekly, non-church affiliated discussion and social group for GBTQ men between 18 and 35, meets tonight from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Celebrate Shabbat services, 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. Services are followed by an Oneg social.
Saturday, Sept. 25
Kyocera presents Virgin Mobile FreeFest today at Merriweather Post Pavillion. Some of the acts include M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem, Jimmy Eat World and Joan Jett & the Black Hearts. There are no more free tickets to this event, but pavilion seats are still available for $125 and can be purchased by following the link on virginmobilefestival.com. These tickets include access to the pavilion and the full festival, donation, digital download and all service charges.
The Federal Triangles Soccer Club and D.C. United host the first LGBT fan night in the history of Major League Soccer tonight at RFK Stadium as the United take on the Houston Dynamo.
Phasefest continues tonight at Phase 1, 525 8th St., S.E., with MEN with JD from Le Tigre, Tayish Busay, Shondes, Rad Pony, Clinical Trials, Mittens, Renny Sanz, Tiik With Guts, Erin Brown and Candi Hearts. Tickets are $20 for the night. More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found at phasefestdc.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. Must be 21 to enter.
Washington Shakespeare Company presents By Any Other Name: An Evening of Shakespeare in Klingon at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, 1611 North Kent St., in Arlington, at 8 p.m. WSC’s first-ever gala event will feature scenes from Shakespeare in both English and Klingon by WSC’s company and special guest, George Takei with an introduction by Marc Okran, creator of the Klingon language. Tickets are $125 for regular admission and $250 for VIP admission. These prices include admission to four more shows.
The Ladies of Illusion, hosted by Ella Fitzgerald, will perform at Ziegfeld’s, 1824 Half St., S.W., tonight at 11 p.m. Cover is $5 from 9 to 10:30 p.m. and $10 afterward, always includes $1 off your first drink. Must be 21 to enter. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26
Crumland Farms Fall Festival starts today and runs until Halloween. The opening day will feature Frederick Rock School, Denim N Lace, Mason Vixon and Julienna Irwin, a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” There will be prizes and games including Bovine Bingo to benefit Saint Thomas More Academy. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the event runs until 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, visit crumland.com.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C.’s largest mostly gay church located at 474 Ridge St., N.W., presents “An Evening of Live Jazz” tonight, featuring jazz standards interpreted and played by a jazz trio, Swing, and vocals by members of MCC’s choir. There will also be dinner and dancing. Tickets are $12 and can be reserved by calling Shirli Hughes at 202-638-7373 or e-mailing her at [email protected].
Monday, Sept. 27
SAGE Metro D.C.’s monthly meeting at the D.C. Center, 1318 U St., N.W., is today from 6:30 to 8 p.m. SAGE Metro D.C. provides support and advocacy for the aging LGBT population.
The GLB Youth Support Group will meet at the GW Center Clinic, 1922 F St., N.W., Suite 103, at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits for FUK!T from 7 to 9 p.m. at Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Wednesday, Sept. 29
The cast of the play “Gay: Accept Me If You Love Me” will be holding a happy hour at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., tonight from 6 to 11 p.m. Some of the cast members planning to appear include Timothy Adams, Matt Ward, international top model Edith Tapia and Patrick D. Smith. “Gay” will be in D.C. next summer. All beer sales will support the theater production. No cover charge. Visit facebook.com/spotlightcomunicaciones for more information.
Thursday, Sept. 30
The Spanish Wine Society’s Inaugural Fall Wine Tasting Event is tonight at Mio, 1110 Vermont Ave., N.W., in support of HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Latino/a Community. There will be five Spanish and Latin American white wines available for tasting as well as a tasting of some of Mio’s menu items. There will also be a raffle for tours and tastings at area vineyards. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at cherryfund.org.
GLOE at the D.C. Jewish Community, 1529 16th St., N.W., is hosting a Queer Simchat Torah to mark the end and beginning o the annual Torah reading cycle. D.C. Minyan will be having its annual Simchat Torah service tonight at 7. After the service there will be food and dancing. The even costs $10. More information can be found at washingtondcjcc.org/gloe.
College Night at Apex, 1415 22nd St., N.W., is tonight. Free admission with a valid college ID and a $5 cover charge without one. DJ Randy will be in the main hall with VJ Frenchie at the Video Bar. Doors open at 9 p.m. There will be $4.50 rail drinks all night. Must be 18 to enter and 21 to drink.
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)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
