Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Feb. 4
Events, concerts, parties and more through Feb. 10
‘The Promise of Love Broken in Timeless Waiting’ by Newton More is one of the art works on display as part of Touchstone Gallery’s “Color of Love” exhibit. (Image courtesy of Touchstone)
Friday, Feb. 4
RAW, hosted by DJs Bil Todd and Shea Van Horn with special guest DJ Cale of Brightest Young Things, will be at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free entry before 11 p.m. with a $3 cover after. There will be an open bar from 10 to 11 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for its newest exhibit, “Color of Love” featuring 50 artists. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 27.
There’s a new group for D.C. area gay professional women, “First Friday of the Month.” Its mission is to connect with other like-minded women for fun, friendship and more. The first meeting is tonight at 7 p.m. at Beacon Bar and Grill (1615 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.)
Justin Crockett Elzie, the first U.S. Marine kicked out under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” will have the only D.C. signing of his book, “Playing By the Rules” today from 6 to 10 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the event.
Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge St., N.W.) hosts neighborhood bingo tonight at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:10 p.m. Free parking is available. Bring this announcement and play the early bird games for free. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 202-297-6884.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike)in Boonsboro, Md., presents “So You Think You Can Sing” with DJ Christy from Brown Entertainment Group tonight from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be karaoke and dancing all night. No cover before 9 p.m. and $5 cover after. For more information, visit thelodgemd.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is hosting its open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring Chris August from Baltimore. For more information, visit thedccenter.com.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) has its first “Magical, Mystical, Musical Machine” Friday organ recital of the month today at 12:15 p.m. featuring Charles Miller and Jacqueline Pollauf. This is a free event.
Saturday, Feb. 5
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions presents “Hookah Love” tonight at 6 p.m. at Soussi Restaurant (2228 18th St., N.W.) The event is free, but attendees with have to purchase their own hookah pipes and shisha. For more information, visit zoomexcursions.com.
The organizers of the Capital Queer Prom present Wizards Night Out. Watch the Washington Wizards take on the Atlanta Hawks tonight at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center. Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) will be hosting an after party following the game. Tickets are $32 and $10 of each ticket will go to Capital Queer Prom. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit verizoncenter.com/wiz/2011wiznightout.
Team D.C. is holding its annual meeting today at 10 a.m. at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). This meeting will also include the first meeting of the new Sports Council which will vote for the board of the newly organized Team D.C. Executive Committee.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a Brother Tongue poetry workshop today from 1 to 4 p.m. Brother Tongue is a spoken word and poetry group for gay, bi, trans and queer men. For more information, visit thedccenter.com.
Whitman-Walker Clinic will join other local health organizations today to present a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day community event at the Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge Rd., N.W.) from noon to 6 p.m. The event will include free HIV testing and counseling, educational workshops, food and entertainment.
DJ Phil Romano, resident DJ for Push Club and Circuit Festival will be at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. with music and video downstairs by Wess. Drag show starts at 10:30. There is an $8 cover before 11 p.m. and a $12 afterward. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Sunday, Feb. 6
Buddha-Bar D.C. (455 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) begins its weekly “Somewhere Over the Rainbow Sundays” tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m Drink specials will include $6 signature cocktails and $5 mixed drinks.
David A. Richardson presents “Fire and Desire: A Cocktail of Song and Poetry” at Busboys & Poets (2021 14th St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. In recognition of National Black AIDS Awareness Day, proceeds from the show will be donated to Us Helping Us.
Watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Packers battle each in Super Bowl XLV today at 6:30 p.m. at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.).
Monday, Feb. 7
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 will be $3 drinks. Check in begins at 6 p.m.
The D.C. Center presents “Double Rainbow: Jessica Halem and Ben Lerman” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Source Theater (1835 14th St., N.W.). For more information, visit thedccenter.com.
Tuesday, Feb. 8
Cowboy Mouth, a New Orleans rock band, will be performing at 9:30 Club tonight. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 930.com. The club is at 815 V Street, N.W.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance is holding a membership meeting tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.).
Wednesday, Feb. 9
Mautner Project is holding an open house tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at its offices (1875 Connecticut Ave., Suite 710). For more information and to RSVP, visit mautnerproject.org.
The Big Gay Book Group will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., N.W., Suite 200. The book up for discussion today is “Faggots” by Larry Kramer. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com.
Rainbow Response is holding its monthly meeting tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.)
Thursday, Feb. 10
DCBiWomen will be having its monthly dinner at Café Luna (1633 P St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit dcbiwomen.org.
GLOV will be holding its elections tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
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)
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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
