Arts & Entertainment
Dancing for dollars
Cherry proceeds benefit local HIV/AIDS non-profits; events kick off Thursday
Dancers at the 2007 Cherry event. (Blade file photo by Henry Linser)
Cherry 2011, the annual charity dance event hosted by the Cherry Fund, begins Thursday and continues through next weekend with parties and other events every day.
The Cherry Fund is a non-profit organization with the sole purpose to raise funds for the HIV/AIDS service community with beneficiaries such as Whitman-Walker Clinic, Mautner Project, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League and more.
The party kicks off with an event at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with DJ Nick Centrik Purcell, where passes will be for sale. Afterwards, there’s Ignition at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. with DJs Randy Betties and Jason Horswill.
Friday’s events begin at 2 p.m. with another pass pick-up and an evening of fashion with local designer Andrew Nowell at Caramel Boutique (1603 U St., N.W.). There will be an auction during Bear Happy Hour at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) with DJ Bandit and D.C. Bear Crue from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Momentum party at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) with Ms. Foozie as the hostess and DJs Alyson Calagna and Steve Henderson starts at 10 p.m. There is a $15 cover for this party.
Saturday brings the main event at Town from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. with DJs Oscar G, BennyK and Wess and performances by Macaviti and the Ladies of Town. Tickets for this event are $20.
The main event is followed by an after-hours party at Fur (33 Patterson St., N.E.) with DJ Peter Rauhofer and opening DJ Timothy Mykael. Tickets for this party are $45.
Sunday continues with a tea dance at Cobalt from noon to 4 p.m. with DJ Mike Reimer and Level One is hosting the Cherry Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by reservation only at opentable.com. There is a $5 cover for the tea dance and the brunch is $20.11.
Cherry ends with Ovation at Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) with DJs Stephan Grondin and Sin Morera from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets for this party are $20.
There are also some sanctioned events that will be happening the same time as Cherry events.
Lace (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) is hosting a party for the ladies, Blossom, with DJ Ron on Friday at 7 p.m. There is a $10 cover.
The second annual Big Cherry Block Party is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Silver Spring (916 Ellsworth Drive).
Moody Ga Ga with DJ Joe Gauthreaux is on Saturday at Town from 2 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 for this event.
Code D.C. presented by David Merrill and Jacob Pring is also on Saturday at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. There is a $10 cover for this event.
All tickets must be purchased in advance online at boxofficetickets.com/cherry. A VIP Host Pass is available for $100 and includes admission to five events. Sanctioned events are not included in the Host Pass. For more information, visit cherryfund.org
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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