Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Oct. 22
Halloween parties, the Indigo Girls, Janis Ian and more


Ricardo Alvarez and Kelly Southall in a publicity photo for the gay-themed 'Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love' a new work being performed this weekend by Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company at Dance Place. (Photo by Zain Shah; courtesy of Dana Tai Soon Burgess)
Friday, Oct. 22
Reel Affirmations presents a night of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on screen with two movies at the U.S. Navy Memorial Theatre (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). “A Marine Story,” a film about a Marine officer who unexpectedly returns home from the war and is recruited to help a troubled teen prepare for boot camp until the real reasons for her return become known, will begin at 7 p.m. “Out of Annapolis,” a documentary about LGBT alumni of the U.S. Naval Academy, will being at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each or $25 for both and a reception in between and can be purchased at reelaffirmations.org.
Apex presents an employee drag show tonight at 10 p.m. to benefit Metro Teen AIDS. The entire Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) staff will be performing with music by DJ45Z. The show will be hosted by Kristina Kelly and Rachel Savage. Cover for the evening is $10. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
The 2011 Queen of Queen City Pageant will be tonight at 9 p.m. at the New Embassy Theatre (49 Baltimore St.) in Cumberland. The theme of this year’s pageant is jungle attire. Tickets are $9 and include one free drink. Attendees must be 21 or older. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit newembassy.org.
Ski Bums will be having a happy hour tonight from 8 to 11 p.m. at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) during which the D.C. day trip season will be announced. For more information, visit ski-bums.org.
Choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess’s newest work “Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love” opens tonight at the Dance Place (3225 8th St., N.E.) at 8 p.m. The multi-media, autobiographical piece is inspired by the popular film detective Charlie Chan and uses video projection, spoken word text and a soundtrack of 1930s and ‘40s music to tell a gay coming-of-age and coming-out story. Tickets range from $22 for general admission to $8 for children 2-17 and can be purchased at danceplace.org.
The International Drag King Extravaganza continues today in Baltimore with workshops, an art and film festival, spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. and more. (2640 Saint Paul St.) The workshops are $45 for a three-day pass and the dinner is $10. Also part of the event is “Glitterbox” at 8 p.m. and “Lesque” at 11 p.m. at Ottobar (2549 N. Howard St.). $12 gets you into both events. Visit idkexii.com for more information and to purchase tickets and passes.
Saturday, Oct. 23
Connections 2010, a one day business and professional development conference, is today at the Washington Post (1150 15th St., N.W.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has assembled a line up of speakers, business leaders and vendors for this event.
Defend Yourself will hold a self-defense class for the LGBT community today on the second floor of the Emergence Community Arts Collective (733 Euclid St., N.W.) from 1 to 4 p.m. The class costs $52. For more information and to learn how to register, visit defendyourself.org.
Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” opens tonight at Theater J (1529 16th St., N.W.) presented by the D.C. Jewish Community Center at 8 p.m.
The International Drag King Extravaganza continues with the last day of workshops and art and film and the keynote and lunch at 1 p.m. with keynote speaker Tristan Taormino, both at 2640 Saint Paul St. Later tonight is the showcase at Sonar (407 E. Saratoga St.) at 9 p.m. This is the first time in the history of the event that is will be held on the east coast. The lunch is $20 and the showcase is $15. Visit idkexii.com for more information and to purchase tickets and passes.
Sunday, Oct. 24
GayParazzi, a new LGBT photo group, will explore the Georgetown area and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal path near the Potomac River today at 10 a.m. The group will meet in front of AMC Loews Georgetown Theater (3111 K St., N.W.) and head to the waterfront.
Equality Maryland’s 2010 Signature Gala with special guest Governor Martin O‘Malley, is tonight at the Samuel Riggs Alumni Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. There is a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner and program beings at 6:30. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit equalitymaryland.org.
The Imperial Court of Washington presents “Dragging Out the Gospel” hosted by Co Co L. Blackwell at Green lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) at 7 p.m. One performer will be chosen by audience participation as the best performer and will qualify for “drag gospel performer of the year.” Doors open at 6 p.m. There is a $3 cover.
Lesbian band the Indigo Girls will be at the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Alexandia tonight at 7:30 p.m. with Mount Moriah. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
Monday, Oct. 25
SAGE Metro D.C. will be having its monthly meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
The D.C. Gay Flag Football League presents speed dating at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. There is a $15 cover and check in is at 6 p.m.
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].
Adele Stan will be at Busboys & Poets’s 5th and K streets location tonight signing and discussing “Dangerous Brew: Exposing the Tea Party’s Agenda to Take Over America,” an anthology she co-edited with Don Hazen.
The Indigo Girls will be at the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Alexandia, tonight at 7:30 p.m. with Mount Moriah. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 26
The Mautner Project will be having a workshop entitled “Getting Unstuck” tonight at its headquarters (1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Ste., 710) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with Gail Waldman. To RSVP call 202-332-5536 or e-mail [email protected].
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be holding a “Glee” watch party tonight on the deck in the pub room at 8 p.m. featuring a $3 beer special all night.
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) is holdings it monthly amateur dance contest tonight beginning at 11 p.m. Contests must sign up at the main bar between 10 and 10:45 p.m. This month’s contest is masquerade themed and contestants are encouraged to wear masks.
The Pink Party is hosing a candlelight vigil in Dupont Circle today from 6 to 9 p.m. in connection with the national Facebook effort to wear purple on Oct. 20 to “show support for LGBT people and protest/mourn the youth suicides.” Attendees are asked to bring their own candles and cups.
Thursday, Oct. 28
Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence will have its monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 9 p.m.
Ganymede Arts presents Gerald Duval’s “Edie Beale Live at Reno Sweeney” starring Jeffrey Johnson, tonight at Noi’s Nook at go mama go! (1809 14th St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ganymedearts.org.
LAMBDA SCI-FI book discussion group meets today at 7 p.m at 1425 S Street NW. This month’s book is “Soulless,” by Gail Carriger. For more information or to RSVP, call Peter and Rob at 202-483-6369 or James at 202-232-3141 or e-mail [email protected] or visit lambdasf.org.
Friday, Oct. 29
Margaret Cho will be at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. with her show, “Cho Dependent.” Tickets are $40.50 or $57.60 and can be purchased at livenation.com.
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions hosts “Night at the Museum” tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Museum of Crime and Punishment (575 7th St., N.W.) as it turns into a haunted torture chamber. Attendees are welcome to wear costumes but masks are prohibited. Tickets are $23 and can be purchased at zoomexcursions.com.
The D.C. Kings will be at Apex tonight at 11 p.m. as part a special ladies night featuring a few Halloween-themed performances.
Saturday, Oct. 30
Douche Bag City, an exhibition of video animation, painting and sculpture by Federico Solmi, opens today with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Conner Contemporary Art (1358 Florida Ave., N.E.).
Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Rd., N.E.) is hosting its Halloween Homecoming tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring DJs Junebullet of She.Rex, Natty Boom of Anthology of Booty, and vANNIEty Kills of Anniething Goes. Costumes are required for entry. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online. Visit jimmyvalentineslhc.com for more information and tickets.
Tom Paxton and Janis Ian, “Together at Last,” will be at the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Alexandia, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. Ian is a lesbian.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is having its annual Halloween costume contest tonight. Best costume will win $100 and there will be other prizes for sexiest and mot hilarious. Doors open at 7 p.m. and attendees must be 21 or older to enter.
Sunday, Oct. 31
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is having a Halloween costume party tonight from 8 p.m. to midnight. First place wins $250 cash, second place wins a $100 Nellie’s tab and third place wins a $50 Cubano’s dinner. There’s no cover for this event.
Movies
‘Things Like This’ embraces formula and plus-size visibility
Enjoyable queer romcom challenges conventions of the genre

There’s a strange feeling of irony about a spring movie season stacked with queer romcoms – a genre that has felt conspicuously absent on the big screen since the disappointing reception met by the much-hyped “Bros” in 2022 – at a time when pushback against LGBTQ visibility is stronger than it’s been for 40 years.
Sure, part of the reason is the extended timeline required for filmmaking, which tells us, logically, that the numerous queer love stories hitting theaters this year – including the latest, the Manhattan-set indie “Things Like This,” which opened in limited theaters last weekend – began production long before the rapid cultural shift that has taken place in America since a certain convicted fraudster’s return to the White House.
That does not, however, make them any less welcome; on the contrary, they’re a refreshing assertion of queer existence that serves to counter-balance the hateful, politicized rhetoric that continues to bombard our community every day. In fact, the word “refreshing” is an apt description of “Things Like This,” which not only celebrates the validity – and joy – of queer love but does so in a story that disregards “Hollywood” convention in favor of a more authentic form of inclusion than we’re ever likely to see in a mainstream film
Written, starring, and directed by Max Talisman and set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, it’s the story of two gay men named Zack – Zack #1 (Talisman) is a plus-sized hopeful fantasy author with a plus-sized personality and a promising-but-unpublished first novel, and Zack #2 (Joey Pollari) an aspiring talent agent dead-ended as an assistant to his exploitative “queen-bee” boss (Cara Buono) – who meet at an event and are immediately attracted to each other. Though Zack #2 is resigned to his unsatisfying relationship with longtime partner Eric (Taylor Trensch), he impulsively agrees to a date the following night, beginning an on-again/off-again entanglement that causes both Zacks to re-examine the trajectories of their respective lives – and a lot of other heavy baggage – even as their tentative and unlikely romance feels more and more like the workings of fate.
Like most romcoms, it relies heavily on familiar tropes – adjusted for queerness, of course – and tends to balance its witty banter and starry-eyed sentiment with heart-tugging setbacks and crossed-wire conflicts, just to raise the stakes. The Zacks’ attempts at getting together are a series of “meet-cutes” that could almost be described as fractal, yet each of them seems to go painfully awry – mostly due to the very insecurities and self-doubts which make them perfect for each other. The main obstacle to their couplehood, however, doesn’t spring from these mishaps; it’s their own struggles with self-worth that stand in the way, somehow making theirs more of a quintessentially queer love story than the fact that both of them are men.
All that introspection – relatable as it may be – can be a downer without active energy to stir things up, but fortunately for “Things Like This,” there are the inevitable BFFs and extended circle of friends and family that can help to get the fun back on track. Each Zack has his own support team backing him up, from a feisty “work wife” (Jackie Cruz, “Orange is the New Black”) to a straight best friend (Charlie Tahan, “Ozark”) to a wise and loving grandma (veteran scene-stealer Barbara Barrie, “Breaking Away” and countless vintage TV shows) – that fuels the story throughout, providing the necessary catalysts to prod its two neurotic protagonists into taking action when they can’t quite get there themselves.
To be sure, Talisman’s movie – his feature film debut as a writer and director – doesn’t escape the usual pitfalls of the romcom genre. There’s an overall sense of “wish fulfillment fantasy” that makes some of its biggest moments seem a bit too good to be true, and there are probably two or three complications too many as it approaches its presumed happy ending; in addition, while it helps to drive the inner conflict for Zack #2’s character arc, throwing a homophobic and unsupportive dad (Eric Roberts) into the mix feels a bit tired, though it’s hard to deny that such family relationships continue to create dysfunction for queer people no matter how many times they’re called out in the movies – which means that it’s still necessary, regrettably, to include them in our stories.
And in truth, “calling out” toxic tropes – the ones that reflect society’s negative assumptions and perpetuate them through imitation – is part of Talisman’s agenda in “Things Like This,” which devotes its very first scene to shutting down any objections from “fat shamers” who might decry the movie’s “opposites attract” scenario as unbelievable. Indeed, he has revealed in interviews that he developed the movie for himself because of the scarcity of meaningful roles for plus-sized actors, and his desire to erase such conventional prejudices extends in every direction within his big-hearted final product.
Even so, there’s no chip-on-the-shoulder attitude to sour the movie’s spirit; what helps us get over its sometimes excessive flourishes of idealized positivity is that it’s genuinely funny. The dialogue is loaded with zingers that keep the mood light, and even the tensest scenes are laced with humor, none of which feels forced. For this, kudos go to Talisman’s screenplay, of course, but also to the acting – including his own. He’s eminently likable onscreen, with wisecracks that land every time and an underlying good cheer that makes his appeal even more visible; crucially, his chemistry with Pollari – who also manages to maintain a lightness of being at his core no matter how far his Zack descends into uncertainty – isn’t just convincing; it’s enviable.
Cruz is the movie’s “ace in the hole” MVP as Zack #2’s under-appreciated but fiercely loyal bestie, and Buono’s hilariously icy turn as his “boss from hell” makes for some of the film’s most memorable scenes. Likewise, Tahan, along with Margaret Berkowitz and Danny Chavarriaga, flesh out Zack #1’s friend group with a real sense of camaraderie that should be recognizable to anyone who’s ever been part of an eclectic crew of misfits. Trensch’s comedic “ickiness” as Zack #2’s soon-to-be-ex makes his scenes a standout; and besides bigger-name “ringers” Roberts and Barrie (whose single scene is the emotional climax of the movie), there’s also a spotlight-grabbing turn by Diane Salinger (iconic as Francophile dreamer Simone in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”) as the owner of a queer bar where the Zacks go on one of their dates.
With all that enthusiasm and a momentum driven by a sense of DIY empowerment, it’s hard to be anything but appreciative of “Things Like This,” no matter how much some of us might cringe at its more unbelievable romcom devices. After all, it’s as much a “feel-good” movie as it is a love story, and the fact that we actually do feel good when the final credits role is more than enough to earn it our hearty recommendation.

Friday, May 23
“Center Aging Monthly Luncheon and Yoga” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. For more details, email [email protected].
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity and/or expression. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at DIK Bar. 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, May 24
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and 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.
Black Lesbian Mixer will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a support group dedicated to the joys of being a Black lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Sunday, May 25
“The Queen’s Table: A Women’s Empowerment Brunch” will be at 11 a.m. at Zooz. This event will celebrate queer women’s strength. For more details visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 26
“Center Aging Monday Coffee and Conversation” 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].
Tuesday, May 27
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know you’re not 100 percent cis — this is your group. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This support group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Wednesday, May 28
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.
Thursday, May 29
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fairer with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

























