Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Oct. 15-21

Lesbian rocker Mara Levi has an album release party Friday at the Phase

Published

15 years ago

October 14, 2010

Friday, Oct. 15

Heroes Latinos, the fifth annual Hispanic LGBT heritage month reception, is tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be light appetizers and refreshments as attendees view the Heroes Latinos photography exhibit and observe the annual Community Leaders Awards ceremony.

Enigma, a new monthly event for those who abstain from substances and their friends that are in recovery, is tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be a separate entrance at the side door that goes directly to the second floor. DJs MAJR and John Thompson will be tag-teaming. Cover is $5.

The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery (1632 U St., N.W.) hosts an opening reception and meet the artist of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: Identity Writ Large featuring photography by Matthew Black tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. Black has documented the gay/drag social activist group since 2007. This show features portraits of the Seattle chapter of the group.

DC Women in their 30s, a new group for LGBT woman in their 30s, will have its kick-off event tonight at 8 at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.). For more info or to RSVP e-mail [email protected] or visit the Facebook Group, DCW30s.

Charm City Kitty Club presents Homo Rogue: Do Ask, Do Tell! tonight at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore. There will be a cocktail hour at 7 p.m. and the show will being at 8. The event will feature Gina Carduci’s exploration of sex and violence in “All That Sheltering Emptiness”, D.C. band noon:30, drag artist Delicio Del Toro, the Baltimore Experimental Dance Collective and scenes from “Jay Dreams” by Baltimore filmmaker Catherine Pancake.

Mara Levi, local lesbian writer and performer, is holding a release party for her latest CD tonight at 8 p.m. at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.). “We Listen to Fools” is Levi’s third solo album and the follow-up to 2008’s “What are You?.” Levi is a classically trained jazz musician. Levi describes the album as a compilation of “heartbreaking love songs that make you want to skip and sing along.”

The D.C. Capital Classic, a National Gay Basketball Association-sanctioned basketball tournament held in D.C., has its registration event tonight at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second floor. All players must register for the tournament at this event. There will be a captains meeting at the event at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16

Get a head start on Halloween at the “Bowled and the Beautiful” drag show hosted by Barbara Bush tonight at 8 p.m. at Apex (1415 22nd Street, NW). Proceeds benefit the charities of the IGBO Midyear Bowling Tournament: Food & Friends, SMYAL and the Daniel Fissell Music Foundation. $5 suggested door donation.

The Organization of American States has organized a “Backpacks for Haiti’s Children” event tonight at the OAS Headquarters from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. OAS has joined with the Diplomatic Community and Staff Associations to collect and donate backpacks and school supplies to help Haiti’s children. Visit oas.org/en/member_states/haiti/backpack/default.html to make a donation.

MIXTAPE D.C. is tonight at EFN Lounge (1318 9th St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. MIXTAPE is a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else you danceable. $5 cover for 21 and over.

Reel Affirmations presents “Bear City” starring Gerald McCullouch from “CSI,” tonight at 7 p.m. at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.).

The D.C. Capital Classic dinner is tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 6 to 9 p.m. This dinner is for players who signed up and paid for it at registration. The tournament itself starts earlier in the day and will be held at the Capital Sports Complex (6417 Marlboro Pike) in District Heights.

Sunday, Oct. 17

Burgundy Crescent Volunteers and D.C. Ice Breakers are co-hosting their second men’s singles part tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at ACKC Cocoa Bar (1529C 14th St., N.W.). Friends welcome but no dates.

The Academy of Washington, Inc., will be holding its annual show benefiting the Rainbow History Project today at Ziegfeld’s (1824 Half St., S.W.). Doors open at 2 p.m. and the show begins at 3. There is a $10 entry fee.

The D.C. Capital Classic will be having its closing happy hour tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. on the roof deck. The closing party will be at Café Asia (1720 I St., N.W.) starting at 11 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 18

Hope Operas, whose founder is openly gay, has its third week of five new shows tonight to raise money for charity. The shows are at 8 p.m. at the Comedy Spot, in Ballston Mall (4238 Wilson, Blvd.), in Arlington. Each show benefits a different charity. Tickets are $12 per show. For more information call 323.788.8970 or e-mail [email protected].

Midnight Intrigue Events presents Intriguing Women’s Speed Dating tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. Check in is at 6. There is a $15 cover. No-pressure dates and $3 drinks.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Women Over 40, a new women’s social group to connect local women who are 40 or older, will be holding its first meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the DC Center (1318 U St., N.W.)

A Glee watch parties will be at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight at 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 20

BOOKMEN D.C., an informal group of men interested in gay literature, meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Charles Sumner School and Archives (1201 17th St. N.W.) to discuss selections from “A Casualty of War: the Arcadia Book of Gay Short Stories,” edited by Peter Burton. All are welcome. For more information visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.

GayParazzi, the new GLBT Photo Group, will meet at ACKC on 14th Street for a photo share and friendly critique. Sign up at meetup.com/GayParazzi.

SAGE Metro D.C. will be holding a senior educational seminar, Medicare and Social Security — policy and legal considerations in the absence of legal marriage today from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The event will be at the Residences at Thomas Circle (1330 Massachusetts. Ave., N.W.). Stop by the front desk to be directed to meeting room. Continental breakfast will be available.

The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet tonight at 7:30, at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner is needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com; click “Social Bridge in Washington, D.C.”

DCJCC is holding its annual literary festival and tonight features “Keep Your Wives Away from Them: Orthodox Women, Unorthodox Desires” edited by Miryam Kabakov. Contributors Goldie Goldbloom and Elaine Chapnik will share personal stories of how their Judaism coexists with life in and out of the closet. This event will be at the Ina and Jack Kay Community Hall (1529 16th St., N.W.) from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $9 for discounted members, seniors, and those under 25 and $11 for everyone else.

Tonight marks the kick-off of the 12th International Drag King Extravaganza presented by the Baltimore Gender Justice Collective and Charm City Boys with a meet and greet at 7 p.m. at Grand Central Station (1001 N. Charles St.) in Baltimore. Visit idkexii.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Thursday, Oct. 21

IDKE continues today with the first day of a three day art and film festival and workshops at 2640 Saint Paul St., in Baltimore. A three-day pass is $45. Ottobar (2549 N Howard St.) is also holding an event, Dragdom, at 8 p.m. Cover is $12. Visit idkexii.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Thomas Middleton’s play “Women Beware Women,” in which “three couples engage in a dangerous game of strategy as they vie for the power and pursue their lust,” adapted by Jesse Berger and directed by Allison Arkell Stockman, will be performed by the Constellation Theatre Company at Source Theatre (1835 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Jesse Terill, who’s openly gay, composed all the show’s music and Constellation company member Ashley Ivey, who’s openly gay, places the Cardinal.

PHOTO: Mara Levi (Blade file photo)

Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2025

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Monday, June 16

“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.