Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: April 22
Concerts, exhibits, support groups and more through April 28

'Wide Grass' by Mary D. Ott is part of her 'Grasses' exhibit at Touchstone Gallery on display through May 1.
Friday, April 22
April is country month and The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro, is celebrating with line dancing along with its usual karaoke with DJ Christy from Brown Entertainment Group tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There’s a $5 cover after 10 p.m.
Baltimore’s Gilded Lily burlesque will be performing “I dream of Bettie: A Burlesque Tribute to the Queen of Pinup” at The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight at 7:30 p.m.
DJ Lil’ E is hosting a Lady Gaga vs. Madonna vs. Rihanna dance party at Rams Head Live (20 Market Place) in Baltimore. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at ramsheadlive.com.
Caliente Grande is tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) starting at 9 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning the Latin dance party in the main hall. There is a $10 cover charge. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
The New Gay presents Homo/Sonic with DJ Natty Boom Boom at Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. This is an all ages party and there is a $10 cover.
Tonight is the last night to see Gross National Product’s “State of DisUnion” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) at 8 p.m. The show features a condensed version of the group’s last show, “The Sound of Palin.”
Saturday, April 23
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro, presents ”Fever: the underwear party” tonight at 9 p.m. with an open refresher bar at for those in undies from 9 to 10 p.m. There’s a $5 cover before 11 p.m. and $8 afterward. Visit thelodgemd.com for more information and dress code.
Pocket Gays presents DJ Lemz from Baltimore, Menya from New York City and Sherell Rowe at Velvet Lounge (915 U St., N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be a $5 cover.
Apex presents Easter with a Twist tonight. There will be an Easter bunny walking around the club passing out candy and Easter eggs hidden with surprises in each one. DJ Melissa from Philly will be spinning in the main room at midnight and Kristina Kelly and The Girls of Glamour will be performing at 11 p.m. There is a $10 cover and all attendees must e 18 or older.
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Jocks vs. Jocks from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $5 if wearing sports attire, $7 if not. There’s a trophy and cash prizes for the winning team.
Today is the last day to see the exhibit “Image/Fame/Memory” an exhibit featuring photographs of well known musicians, artists, writers and actors by Curtis Knapp, Gerard Malanga, Billy Name, Kate Simon and Shepard Fairey’s collaborations with Name and Simon at Irvine Contemporary (1412 14th St., N.W.). The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the exhibit will be on display through Saturday. For more information, visit irvinecontemporary.com.
Sunday, April 24
Gallery plan b has three exhibits featuring with paintings by Greg Minah, works on paper by Mars Tokyo and works in gold leaf by Andrew Wapinski. The gallery is open from 1 to 5 p.m. and the works will be on display through May 15.
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed twice tonight at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 3 and 7 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Tickets are $42. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
Monday, April 25
SAGE Metro D.C. is holding its monthly meeting tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, April 26
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will hold a membership meeting tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.).
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Glee” watch party tonight at 8 p.m. on the deck in the pub room.
Wednesday, April 27
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) has two exhibits on display, Janet Wheeler’s “Nest with a Twist” and Mary D. Ott’s “Grasses” which will be up through May 1. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 28
The OutWrite Author Series presents Brock Thompson reading from his book, “The Un-Natural State: Arkansas and the Queer South” at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Caregivers Connect, a support group for those caring for someone with HIV/AIDS is meeting today at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (1701 14th St., N.W.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This is a confidential group and will run for 10 sessions. For more information, call Jessica Moss at 202-797-3580.
National Youth Advocacy Coalition is hosting a happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) to support LGBT youth, tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. A dollar from every Nellie’s beer will go toward the cause. People can also donate $10 by texting ACTIVIST to 85944.
Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) is having its monthly meeting tonight in the main room at the D.C. Center from 7 to 8 p.m.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. 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, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” 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].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
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.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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