Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Dec. 31

Events through Jan. 8

Published

15 years ago

December 30, 2010

New Years Eve Parties

Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) New Years Eve party tonight will feature a cash balloon drop, party favors and a free split of champagne.

Lace Lounge’s (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) New Year’s Eve party “Midnight Kiss” is tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be a complimentary breakfast buffet and champagne and a cash drop at midnight. Pre-sale ticket holders will get express VIP entry. Pre-sale tickets are $12 and can be purchased at lacedc.com. Tickets at the door start at $20.

Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents New Years Eve tonight with two parties. DJ Melissa will be in the main arena with Michael Brandon with Caliente in the east wing lounge. There will be complimentary champagne and assorted party favors. Cover charge is $15 and doors open at 9 p.m.

Eatonville Restaurant (2121 14th St., N.W.) presents “A New Orleans New Year’s Eve” tonight with two dinners. The first beings at 6:30 and features a three-course dinner. The second seating begins at 10 p.m. with a four-course meal, champagne toast, party favors, live jazz and the official ball drop on the big screen. Tickets are $39 for the first seating and $59 for the second. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit eatonvillerestaurant.com.

Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) New Year’s Eve Country Masquerade Ball will begin at 8 p.m. There will be dancing, party favors, a balloon drop, midnight champagne toast and more. Cover is $10. For more information, visit RemingtonsWDC.com.

Wicked Jezabel presents Wicked New Year’s Even Bash tonight starting at 9 p.m. at Second Chance Saloon (5888 Robert Oliver Place) in Columbia with an opening performance by Triple Goddess Tribal Middle Eastern Dance. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at wickedjezabel.com. Ten percent of the ticket sales will be donated to the Mautner Project.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) will have a New Years Eve party starting at 10 p.m. Djs BacK2bACk will be counting down the top 10 video of 2010 and Tatianna of RuPaul’s Drag race will perform live in the drag show at 10:30 p.m. X-Faction and the Ladies of Town will also be performing live. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advanced at Universal Gear or online at groovetickets.com and at the door.

Ultrabar D.C. will having a New Year’s party tonight at 10 p.m. with six bars, four DJs, a champagne toast at midnight, buffet, midnight balloon drop, party favors and more. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at ultrabardc.com.

The Lodge will have a New Year’s Eve party tonight from 7 to 2 a.m. There will be a best dressed contest with cash and bar tab prizes, champagne fountain, party favors and more. Tickets are $25 for two or $15 per person in advanced until Dec. 27., $30 for two or $20 per person at the door. and can be purchased at thelodgemd.com.

Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1104 H St., N.E.) and Jimmy Valentines Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Rd., N.E.) will be hosting a “Double Whammy,” with a sponsored shuttle service between the two bars every half hour and drop-offs at Union Station starting at 12:30 a.m. Attendees must be 25 or older. An open bar ticket with access to both bars is $90 and access to either one bar is $25. Tickets are limited.

A few of Andy Warhol's cheeky variations on 'The Last Supper' are on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of 'Warhol: the Last Decade.' (Image courtesy of the Andy Warhol Museum)

Friday, Dec. 31

Special Agent Galactica with Christopher Wingert starring in “The Only Gal in Town,” will be at go mama go! (1809 14 St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. The show will feature songs written by or made famous by Stephen Sondheim, Quincy Jones, Ray Stevens, Richard Rodgers, Ann-Margaret, Dust Springfield, Mary Rodgers, Cy Coleman and more. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at ganymedearts.org.

BYT presents DJs and beer tonight from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Bohemian Caverns entertainment/hospitality complex. DJs Chris Burns and friends will be on the second floor in LIV Nightclub. A dozen local bands will play cover songs on the first floor in Hominy and Homo Erectus DJs and friends will be in the Gay Jamboree Opium Den with Stalactights in the basement. Early bird tickets are $55. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.

The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “Dr. Strangelove” starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott tonight. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) is hosting “Warhol: the Last Decade,” an exhibit featuring more than 50 large-scale works that marked Andy Warhol’s last decade. This is the last stop of a national tour. Some of the works shown include fright wig self-portraits and three variations on Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission ranges from free for children 5 and younger to $15 for adults. For more information, visit warhol.artbma.org.

Four college football bowl games will be on today at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) today: the Meineke Car Care Bowl with South Florida and Clemson starts at noon. The Hyundai Sun Bowl with Notre Dame and Miami starts at 2 p.m. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl with George and UCF starts at 3:30 p.m. and the Chick-fil-A Bowl ends the night with South Carolina and Florida State at 7:30 p.m. and DJ Wesley D will be playing music and videos all night.

Saturday, Jan. 1

Homo/Sonic is tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) featuring DJs Natty Boom and Zack and Michael of the New Gay. This is an event is all ages and has a $10 cover.

Johnny Vicious will be at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. The cover charge is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after.

Refresh is tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonesboro. Drink specials include $1 Busch Light cans and $5 XXL ReFresher all night long. There’s a $5 cover before 11 p.m. and $8 after.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 930.com.

Sunday, Jan. 2

The Kinsey Sicks will be performing “Oy Vey in a Manger” today at 3 p.m. and again 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.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) will be holding its first free family Sunday of the year today from 2 to 5 p.m. This week’s activity is making “magical mobiles.” All materials are provided.

Monday, Jan. 3

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) will have its volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The National Portrait Gallery is showing an exhibit that focuses on sexual differences in the making of modern American portraiture. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” is the first major museum exhibit of its kind. The museum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

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.

Nellie’s (800 U St., N.W.) will have drag bingo featuring Shi-Queeta-Lee tonight at 8 p.m. and Beat the Clock happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 5

“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) will have a collection tour today at 2 p.m. showcasing art that inspires contemplation.

Thursday, Jan. 6

The Lincoln Center Theater presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” today at the Kennedy Center opera house (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $150 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

Friday, Jan. 7

The Dance Party will be at 9:30 Club with Wallpaper, K-Flay, Ra Ra Rasputin and lowercaseletters at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at 930.com.

The D.C. Center will have its monthly open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and performer can sign up until 8. This night will feature the work of the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop participants.

Saturday, Jan. 8

The NSO Teddy Bear Concert: “Fancy That!” will have three performances of a one-woman show with NSO violinist Marissa Regini today at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 5 p.m. in the Kennedy Center’s Family Theatre (2700 F St., N.W.).

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop will hosts its fifth annual photography exhibit and reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at CHAW (545 7th St., S.E.) featuring works from local and regional artists. Admission to the opening and exhibition is free and will continue until Feb. 4.

Drag

PHOTOS: Drag in rural Virginia

Performers face homophobia, find community

Published

10 hours ago

February 8, 2026

Landon Shackelford

Four drag performers dance in front of an anti-LGBTQ protester outside the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. (Blade photo by Landon Shackelford)

Drag artists perform for crowds in towns across Virginia. The photographer follows Gerryatrick, Shenandoah, Climaxx, Emerald Envy among others over eight months as they perform at venues in the Virginia towns of Staunton, Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg.

(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)

Books

New book explores homosexuality in ancient cultures

‘Queer Thing About Sin’ explains impact of religious credo in Greece, Rome

Published

14 hours ago

February 8, 2026

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Bloomsbury)

‘The Queer Thing About Sin’
By Harry Tanner
c.2025, Bloomsbury
$28/259 pages

Nobody likes you very much.

That’s how it seems sometimes, doesn’t it? Nobody wants to see you around, they don’t want to hear your voice, they can’t stand the thought of your existence and they’d really rather you just go away. It’s infuriating, and in the new book “The Queer Thing About Sin” by Harry Tanner, you’ll see how we got to this point.

When he was a teenager, Harry Tanner says that he thought he “was going to hell.”

For years, he’d been attracted to men and he prayed that it would stop. He asked for help from a lay minister who offered Tanner websites meant to repress his urges, but they weren’t the panacea Tanner hoped for. It wasn’t until he went to college that he found the answers he needed and “stopped fearing God’s retribution.”

Being gay wasn’t a sin. Not ever, but he “still wanted to know why Western culture believed it was for so long.”

Historically, many believe that older men were sexual “mentors” for teenage boys, but Tanner says that in ancient Greece and Rome, same-sex relationships were common between male partners of equal age and between differently-aged pairs, alike. Clarity comes by understanding relationships between husbands and wives then, and careful translation of the word “boy,” to show that age wasn’t a factor, but superiority and inferiority were.

In ancient Athens, queer love was considered to be “noble” but after the Persians sacked Athens, sex between men instead became an acceptable act of aggression aimed at conquered enemies. Raping a male prisoner was encouraged but, “Gay men became symbols of a depraved lack of self-control and abstinence.”

Later Greeks believed that men could turn into women “if they weren’t sufficiently virile.” Biblical interpretations point to more conflict; Leviticus specifically bans queer sex but “the Sumerians actively encouraged it.” The Egyptians hated it, but “there are sporadic clues that same-sex partners lived together in ancient Egypt.”

Says Tanner, “all is not what it seems.”

So you say you’re not really into ancient history. If it’s not your thing, then “The Queer Thing About Sin” won’t be, either.

Just know that if you skip this book, you’re missing out on the kind of excitement you get from reading mythology, but what’s here is true, and a much wider view than mere folklore. Author Harry Tanner invites readers to go deep inside philosophy, religion, and ancient culture, but the information he brings is not dry. No, there are major battles brought to life here, vanquished enemies and death – but also love, acceptance, even encouragement that the citizens of yore in many societies embraced and enjoyed. Tanner explains carefully how religious credo tied in with homosexuality (or didn’t) and he brings readers up to speed through recent times.

While this is not a breezy vacation read or a curl-up-with-a-blanket kind of book, “The Queer Thing About Sin” is absolutely worth spending time with. If you’re a thinking person and can give yourself a chance to ponder, you’ll like it very much.

Theater

‘Octet’ explores the depths of digital addiction

Habits not easily shaken in Studio Theatre chamber musical

Published

2 days ago

February 7, 2026

Patrick Folliard

The cast of Octet (left to right): Aidan Joyce, Jimmy Kieffer, Chelsea Williams, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Amelia Aguilar (sitting upright), Ana Marcu, Angelo Harrington II, and David Toshiro Crane. (Photo by Margot Schulman)

‘Octet’
Through Feb. 26
Studio Theatre
1501 14th Street, N.W.
Tickets start at $55
Studiotheatre.org

David Malloy’s “Octet” delves deep into the depths of digital addiction.

Featuring a person ensemble, this extraordinary a capella chamber musical explores the lives of recovering internet addicts whose lives have been devastated by digital dependency; sharing what’s happened and how things have changed.

Dressed in casual street clothes, the “Friends of Saul” trickle into a church all-purpose room, check their cell phones in a basket, put away the bingo tables, and arrange folding chairs into a circle. Some may stop by a side table offering cookies, tea, and coffee before taking a seat.

The show opens with “The Forest,” a haunting hymn harking back to the good old days of an analog existence before glowing screens, incessant pings and texts.

“The forest was beautiful/ My head was clean and clear/Alone without fear/ The forest was safe/ I danced like a beautiful fool / One time some time.”

Mimicking an actual step meeting, there’s a preamble. And then the honest sharing begins, complete with accounts of sober time and slips.

Eager to share, Jessica (Chelsea Williams) painfully recalls being cancelled after the video of her public meltdown went viral. Henry (Angelo Harrington II) is a gay gamer with a Candy Crush problem. Toby (Adrian Joyce) a nihilist who needs to stay off the internet sings “So anyway/ I’m doing good/ Mostly/ Limiting my time/ Mostly.”

The group’s unseen founder Saul is absent, per usual.

In his stead Paula, a welcoming woman played with quiet compassion by Tracy Lynn Olivera, leads. She and her husband no longer connect. They bring screens to bed. In a love-lost ballad, she explains: “We don’t sleep well/ My husband I/ Our circadian rhythms corrupted/ By the sallow blue glow of a screen/ Sucking souls and melatonin/ All of my dreams have been stolen.”

After too much time spent arguing with strangers on the internet, Marvin, a brainy young father played by David Toshiro Crane, encounters the voice of a God.

Ed (Jimmy Kieffer) deals with a porn addiction. Karly (Ana Marcu) avoids dating apps, a compulsion compared to her mother’s addiction to slot machines.

Malloy, who not only wrote the music but also the smart lyrics, book, and inventive vocal arrangements, brilliantly joins isolation with live harmony. It’s really something.

And helmed by David Muse, “Octet” is a precisely, quietly, yet powerfully staged production, featuring a topnotch cast who (when not taking their moment in the spotlight) use their voices to make sounds and act as a sort of Greek chorus. Mostly on stage throughout all of the 100-minute one act, they demonstrate impressive stamina and concentration.

An immersive production, “Octet” invites audience members to feel a part of the meeting. Studio’s Shargai Theatre is configured, for the first, in the round. And like the characters, patrons must also unplug. Everyone is required to have their phones locked in a small pouch (that only ushers are able to open and close), so be prepared for a wee bit of separation anxiety.

At the end of the meeting, the group surrenders somnambulantly. They know they are powerless against internet addiction. But group newbie Velma (Amelia Aguilar) isn’t entirely convinced. She remembers the good tech times.

In a bittersweet moment, she shares of an online friendship with “a girl in Sainte Marie / Just like me.”

Habits aren’t easily shaken.