Arts & Entertainment
Gay bar opens in Herndon
Herndon's So Addictive Lounge has been reborn as a gay bar save for its Monday night metal nights. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Mostly it’s people who come out but sometimes businesses do as well.
So Addictive Lounge (733 Elden St.) in Herndon, recently started billing itself as a gay bar and is the only one in Virginia’s Fairfax County. It’s only the second gay bar in Northern Virginia after Freddie’s Beach Bar.
Austin Jennings, the manager of So Addictive, says it has been a dream of his to create such a bar in Fairfax County.
Jennings grew up in the area and always wished there was a place he could go without having to get on interstates and deal with parking or a metro ride and crashing at someone’s place.
“People shouldn’t have to drive all the way into downtown D.C. to have fun with their fellow gays and gals, or to see the latest drag queen’s rendition of Tina Turner and see cute boys dance with each other,” Jennings said about the lack of gay bars.
Jennings says the most challenging part of turning what was once a straight establishment into a gay bar has been making it look better.
He says the bar was not pretty when he started working there.
“Seeing it in the daytime was even worse,” he says. “At night it only got by because the lighting was generously mellow and the customers could drink their way through the ugliness, just like Joan Rivers.”
So far, Jennings has given the place a new paint job, added new furniture and black curtains, but he says there’s still a lot to do and that customers can expect more changes over the next couple weeks as they put the finishing touches on their “beautiful debutante.”
So Addictive is open Monday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Everyone always asks if we serve food, and I almost want to yell, ‘Yes, yes yes.’ We’re open at 6 for dinner and we serve our full menu until close every night,” Jennings said.
There are events going on almost every night. There’s drag bingo on Tuesdays at 8 p.m., a drag show with Lacontress Farrington on Wednesdays at 9 p.m., the “L night: karaoke and ladies on Thursdays,” “t.GAY.i.f.” on Fridays and college night on Saturdays.
There’s only one non-gay day, “Heavy Metal Monday,” which features a new band each week.
“Currently I’m happy with the metal night, but it does seem to hint at a lack of integrity if we are calling So Addictive Lounge a full-gay bar. It’s something I will need to re-evaluate in the near future,” Jennings says. “For now, I guess being a little straight just makes the bar bi.”
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.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].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. 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 3
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & 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 6
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
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.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair 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 Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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