Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Dec. 29
Friday, Dec. 24
The Beltway Brass Quintet will be giving a free performance at the Kennedy Center today at noon. The group will play holiday favorites from their CD, “Holiday Drive.”
Santa’s Helper Night is tonight at Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Ladies dressed as Santa or one of his helpers drink free. The event is free for all 21 and older and free before 11 p.m. for 18 to 20. Doors open at 9 p.m.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonesboro presents “O’Holy Diva Christmas Eve” tonight from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring the music of Tina Turner, Madonna, Lady Gaga and more with DJ Ryan W. There is no cover for this event.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) will have “Twas the Night Before Christmas” tonight with Keenan.
Saturday, Dec. 25
Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) is open tonight with doors opening at 9 p.m. with an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. for rail and domestic beer. Kristina Kelly and her “Girls of Glamour” will be performing at 11 p.m. From midnight to dawn, there will be two DJs on two dance floors with DJ Joey O in the main hall and DJ Michael Brandon in the east wing dance lounge.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents an All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam tonight at 6 p.m. with James King, Chuck Redd, Robert Redd, Lenny Robinson and Tom and Delores King Williams. This is a free event.
Bet Mischpachah is doing dinner and a movie today after Shabbat. The group will be seeing “True Grit” and have Chinese food for dinner. Send an e-mail to Jack and Charlie at [email protected] if interested. For more information, visit betmish.org.
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be having a Christmas party with DJ Wesley D tonight with pop and dance music upstairs and music videos downstairs. The bar opens at 5 p.m. with $3 happy hour until 8 p.m.
Secret Weapon Entertainment and Lace Lounge (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) present “Red, Green and Lace” tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m with drink specials all night and Gucci gift card giveaways. For more information, visit lacedc.com.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) will be open tonight at 10 p.m. and the first drink is free. There will be $3 rail drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. The drag show starts at 10:30. The cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) will be open tonight from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. with no cover.
The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents “Christmas Music: the Treasured Holiday Tradition” at the Kennedy Center concert hall (2700 F St., N.W.) today at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.
Sunday, Dec. 26
The Lincoln Center Theater presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” today at the Kennedy Center opera house (2700 F St., N.W.) with two showings at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $150 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.
Cajun cellist Sean Grissom hosts an evening of holiday vaudeville tonight at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) featuring a comedian, juggler and yo-yo performer. There will be a second performance Monday night at the same time.
Monday, Dec. 27
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association will have a night of social bowling tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. at the AMF Annandale Lanes (4245 Markham Lane) in Annandale. Games are 99 cents each and shoe rental is a $1.
Tuesday, Dec. 28
The Beltway Poetry Slam is tonight at the Fridge (156 8th St., S.E.). Doors open and poet sign up is at 7:30 p.m. The event starts at 8. This is a $5 cover charge at the door.
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s new packing location Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Wednesday, Dec. 29
The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “The Graduate” starring Dustin Hoffman and the late Anne Bancroft tonight. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.
The Kinsey Sicks will be performing “Oy Vey in a Manger” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Theater J in the Washington DCJCC’s Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater (1529 16th St., N.W.). Tickets range from $35 to $60 and can be purchased by calling 800-494-TIXS or visiting boxofficetickets.com.
Thursday, Dec. 30
The Philips Collection (1600 21st St., N.W.) presents “Masters of Photography: Edward Steichen” at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. The documentary was filmed when Steichen was 86 and reflects on his achievements from his early commercial successes to his aerial photography during World War II. The film is included in admission to a special exhibition and free for members.
WWE presents RAW World Tour tonight at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $75 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
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)
Iran war causes condom shortage in India
U.S. attorney nominee confirmed despite anti-LGBTQ history, no trial experience
Vt. lawmaker equates transgender identity with bestiality
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
BREAKING NEWS: Barney Frank dies at 86
Disillusioned about democracy? Think of it as a community garden
Honey, have we been priced out of gay paradise?
IDAHOBiT a reminder we all must stand up against transphobia
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
