Arts & Entertainment

Artscape anticipation

Annual Baltimore event slated for this weekend

Published

15 years ago

July 14, 2011

Wayne Curtis

Last year’s Artscape festival. (Photo by Edwin Remsberg; courtesy Artscape)

If the only things you know about Baltimore are what you’ve seen on HBO’s “The Wire” or driving by on I-95, then you probably don’t make a close association between Baltimore and the visual, literary and performing arts. The city’s longtime support and celebration of the arts surprises those who only know Baltimore by its reputation as a gritty, working class town with steel mills, shipyards, railroads and Formstone-clad rowhouses.

Come visit us this weekend as Baltimore presents Artscape 2011, the 30th annual outdoor arts festival that has become the largest such event in the United States.

Artscape attracts about 350,000 people over three days and features more than 150 fine artists, fashion designers, craftspeople and performers. Beginning today at noon and ending on Sunday at 8 p.m., Artscape will spread out over 12 city blocks and offer 4 million square feet of exhibition and performance space, both outside in tents and open-air stages, and inside some of the city’s premiere galleries and performance venues. There’s also a large food court with vendors selling any kind of delicacy you can imagine, with tents and picnic tables available, and where hunger simply doesn’t survive.

Artscape is centered in Baltimore’s Mount Royal district, home to Maryland Institute College of Art, the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Lyric Opera House and the University of Baltimore, and directly adjacent to the Station North Arts District. Four outdoor stages will have constant performances scheduled through the three-day event while neighborhood churches and art galleries will also be sponsoring associated events around the Mount Royal district. Admission to the concerts, galleries, displays and tents is free. Some concerts do have limited seating, and you’ll want to go to the event website, artscape.org, and reserve your free tickets, get full schedule information, directions, maps and everything you’ll need for a fantastic Artscape experience.

Baltimore’s love affair with the arts isn’t limited to just one weekend a year. The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) organizes numerous events each year. If the written word is more your style, then you might want to put the Baltimore Book Festival on your calendar for Sept. 23-25. The mid-Atlantic’s premier celebration of literary arts features about 200 celebrity and local authors, readings, discussions, demonstrations, more than 100 exhibitors and booksellers, music, food and more, all in the picturesque Mt. Vernon Square surrounding the nation’s first Washington Monument (completed in 1829). Admission is free.

BOPA administers funds that encourages local arts and cultural organizations to provide residents and visitors with hundreds of diverse free activities, including dance and musical concerts, lectures, tours, exhibitions and more, as part of Free Fall Baltimore during Arts and Humanities Month (October). Visual arts are also a part of October’s schedule, with the Baltimore Open Studio Tour, on the weekend of Oct. 22-23. This free, self-guided two-day tour allows you to enter each artist’s private studio and experience the best of the city’s diverse art culture, literally in the making. Information for these events and many more that BOPA sponsors can be found on its website, promotionandarts.com.

While special events and festivals are great fun, Baltimore has fantastic institutions that promote the best in visual and performing arts every day. Whether it’s the music of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (bsomusic.org) and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, (baltimorechoralarts.org) the professional performing artists at Center Stage, (centerstage.org) or the exquisite collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art, (artbma.org) the American Visionary Art Museum, (avam.org) or the Walters Art Museum, (thewalters.org), art lovers of all stripes will find something to embrace in Charm City.

Wayne Curtis, ABR, is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Advantage Realty. Visit his website at charmcityrealestate.com. He can be reached at 410-467-8950.

Calendar

Calendar: May 1-7

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

5 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, May 1

Go Gay DC will host “First Friday LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Silver Diner Ballston. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

“Illusions The Drag Queen Show Washington, D.C.” will be at 7 p.m. at 2323 18th St., N.W. Come see this amazing D.C. drag show and laugh all night long while being amazed by the stellar performances in tribute to some of your old-time favorite classics as well as the latest pop favorites. Come see the likes of Madonna, Cher, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Beyoncé, Pink, and many more. Tickets are $12.97 and are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, May 2

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11:00a.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.

Drag Queen Sip and Paint Washington DC will be at 4 p.m. at Town Tavern DC. This event combines the joy of painting with the lively energy of a drag queen, offering an hour and a half of fun, creativity, and entertainment. Participants paint a canvas while enjoying cocktails, all under the guidance of a glamorous drag queen host. Tickets are $47.19 and are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, May 4

“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, May 5

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 6

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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 LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more information, email [email protected].

Thursday, May 7

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. 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 Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Photos

PHOTOS: 90’s Flashback Drag Brunch

Logan Stone leads new show at Red Bear Brewing

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Michael Key

The inaugural 90's Flahsback Drag Brunch was held at Red Bear Brewing Co. on Sunday, April 26. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The new monthly 90’s Flashback Drag Brunch premiered at Red Bear Brewing Co. on Sunday, April 26. Performers included Logan Stone, Tiffany D. Carter and Charlemagne Chateau.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Celebrity News

Madonna makes rare club appearance in West Hollywood

Gay icon brought ‘Confessions II’ to The Abbey

Published

3 days ago

April 28, 2026

Alexander Rodriguez

Madonna takes the dance floor at The Abbey in West Hollywood, Calif., on April 25, 2026. (Los Angeles Blade photo)

A line of celebrities, “Drag Race” queens, influencers, media, and West Hollywood socialites lined the block around West Hollywood’s The Abbey, all clamoring to get into the invite-only celebration of owner Tristan Schukraft’s birthday. The rumor, which became verified gossip, was that Madonna, the Queen of Pop herself, would be taking the stage. Of course, the Blade had to be there.

With disco balls and Abbey statues covered in pink chiffon, it was clear. This party was a direct tie-in to Madonna’s much-anticipated “Confessions on A Dance Floor” album sequel, “Confessions II.” That night, the Abbey also unveiled its remodeled dance floor, a fitting collaboration.

The club was filled to capacity with a completely open bar, keeping the crowd liquored up. Go-go dancers in black leather collars and thongs lined the room, and celebrities that included Lilly Allen, Bebe Rexha, Tori Spelling, Julia Fox, Sam Asghari, Daniel Frenzese, Cynthia Bailey, Meredith Marks, Tom Daley, and more filled the VIP booths alongside World of Wonder personalities. It was a veritable who’s who of queer folk and allies.

The lights began to dim, the dance floor began to rumble, and Madonna graphics hit the screens. At around 1 am, it was time. Introduced by Addison Rae, Madonna grabbed the mic and started chanting, welcoming her “gays.” The venue resounded in thunderous chants of “freedom,” “mother,” and “bitch.”

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Madonna was not there to perform. She was there to dance. She took the stage for about 15 minutes, keeping the crowd going with her naughty and fun commentary. There is no list that needs to be provided on how Madonna’s career has become part of queer culture. Going back to her dance music roots and going back to her gay fans is smart.

Released in 2005 (yes, it has been that long), “Confessions on a Dance Floor” was an instant hit, with four singles from the album being released. The album’s lead single, “Hung Up,” topped the charts in 41 countries with Billboard calling it the most successful dance song of the decade. The album had hints of 60s and 70s flair, mixed in with dance music prevalent at that time. The music still dominates at queer clubs across the globe.

Madonna knows we need a little queer joy; she also knows that fans miss the Madonna we all knew and loved. With the nation in such turbulence, we all need some comfort, and going back to a time when we felt safer and had more to celebrate just feels good. For the new album release, she has even partnered with Grindr for a limited edition vinyl release and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

Her night at The Abbey presented snippets of her new music mixed in with some of her classics. The new material sounded good, sounded familiar in an exciting way, and shows that this diva has still got it.

“Confessions II” releases on July 3.