Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: July 29
Parties, events, meetings and more through Aug. 4


Tom Story in ‘Pop!’ at Studio 2nd Stage. This Andy Warhol-themed show has been extended. Visit studiotheatre.org for details. (Photo by Scott Suchman; courtesy of Studio)
TODAY
Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) presents Badlands/Apex Appreciation Night tonight hosted by Kristina Kelly with Apex’s own DJ Joey O. Doors open at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover until 10:30 and a $10 afterward.
Busboys & Poets will be having an American Sign Language open mic night tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). Anyone with sign language knowledge may sign up by e-mailing [email protected]. There is a $5 admission at the door.
This week’s Bear Happy Hour at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) will feature Johnny Scruff, the creator of the Scruff app. For more information on the app, visit scruffapp.com. Happy hour begins at 6 p.m.
The Blackberry Belles are having a record release party at Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) tonight to benefit Girls Rock! D.C., an organization aimed to create a space for girls to develop self-confidence and more. Ugly and Spoonboy and the Papas will be performing. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10.
D.C. Lambda Squares, an LGBT square dancing group, will be dancing at Thoreau Middle School (2505 State Route 698) in Vienna, tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. Ett McAtee will be calling.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsboro presents Araya Sparxx’s All American Drag Off with specials guests Monica Moore and India Ferrah. Seven contestants will be competing for a prize package worth more than $1,000 including six guaranteed bookings at The Lodge, promo photo shoot by RAB2 Imaging and $500 cash prize. For more information, visit thelodgeMD.com/dragoff.
Saturday, July 30
The Black Eyed Peas will be performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway) in Columbia, Md., tonight. Tickets range from $45 to $125 and can be purchased online at merriweathermusic.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna, presents “Casablanca” tonight at 8:30 at the Filene Center with the National Symphony Orchestra playing the score live as the movie plays on large screens. Tickets range from $20 to $52 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
This season’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Raga will be performing live at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 10:30 p.m. There is an $8 cover from 10 to 11 p.m. which then goes up to $12. All attendees must be 21 or older.
Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) presents “Venus in Fur” a play by David Ives which tells the story of an actress who arrives unscheduled for an audition and ends up in a battle for power, today at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $46 to $57 and can be purchased online. The play’s run has been extended through July 31. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit studiotheatre.org.
“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.
Sunday, July 31
Britney Spears brings her “Femme Fatale North American Summer Tour” to D.C. at tonight at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) with special guests Nicki Minaj and opening acts Jesse and the Toy Boys and Nervo. Tickets range from $29.50 to $350 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Dolly Parton brings her “Better Days World Tour” to Wolf Trap tonight at 8 p.m. at the Filene Center (1645 Trap Rd.) in Vienna, Va. Tickets are $35 for the lawn, $60 for in-house and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
Red Palace (1212 H St., N.E.) presents Tall Tales, a series of cocktail classes that delve into the stories behind the cocktails, tonight at 8 p.m. This week’s featured cocktail is the martini. Tickets are $25 and include three cocktails. All attendees must be 21 or older. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit redpalacedc.com.
Monday, Aug. 1
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, Aug. 2
The musical “Wicked” will be performed at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. “Wicked” tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, before Dorothy landed in Oz. Tickets range from $37 to $250 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.).
Wednesday, Aug. 3
Citizen Effect is having its second annual Yoga Challenge’s free yoga in the park today at Meridian Hill Park (2500 16th St., N.W.) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The organization has partner with yoga studios around the city to give deals to anyone who signs up to raise $250 for Becky’s Fund, a nonprofit organization addressing domestic violence in the District. For more information, visit citizeneffect.org.
“From the Back of the Room,” a documentary that chronicles the last 30 years of female involvement in DIY punk, will have its D.C. premiere at the E Street Cinema (555 11th St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. For more information, visit fromthebackoftheroom.com.
Thursday, Aug. 4
Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is hosting a happy hour tonight at 6 p.m. for Team Red Bowl, an organization created to help feed children in Africa. For more information, visit teamredbowl.com.
Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) presents “Pop!” a musical murder-mystery by Maggie-Kate Coleman and Anna K. Jacobs which peeks inside the artistic revelry of Andy Warhol’s infamous Factory, today at 8:30 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $50 and can be purchased online. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit studiotheatre.org.

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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