Arts & Entertainment

Halloween fun!

Our guide to the best parties, screenings and theme nights in town this weekend

Published

14 years ago

October 27, 2011

Joey DiGuglielmo

Halloween mayhem last year at Cobalt. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

TODAY:

Secrets (1824 Half Street) is having a Halloween Black Light Party tonight hosted by La Troya Nichole with music by DJ Steve Henderson. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Strathmore presents “Friday night Eclectic: Rock, Paper, Zombies” tonight at the Mansion (10701 Rockville Pike) in Bethesda at 8:30 p.m. with music by Mittenfields, Devin Ocampo and Bellflur. There will be a showing of art including gig posters by Rich Bernett, Itty Bitty Press, John Foster and Fire Studio. Tickets are $10 in advance at strathmore.org and $12 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Beat City at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) is Halloween themed this time around with the “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” featuring a costume contest at midnight with winners received a $50 bar tab. Beat City is a queer lounge night featuring real rock ‘n’ roll from Alice in Chains to ZZ Top.

AFI Silver (8633 Colesville Rd.) in Silver Spring presents two silent horror classics tonight accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra. First up is “The Phantom of the Opera” starring Lon Chaney as the Phantom and Mary Philbin at Christine at 7 p.m. Then at 9:30 p.m.,“Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror” starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok. Tickets for either screening are $20, $18 for AFI Members.

D.C.’s Rocky Horror Shadowcast, the Sonic Transducers, will be giving three special performances of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” starting tonight and going through Sunday. Tonight and Saturday the performances begins at midnight and Sunday they start at 7 p.m. sharp. All performances will be at the E Street Cinema (555 11th St., N.W.) and tickets are $11 for general admission, $9 for students and military and $8 for seniors. For more information, visit dcrockyhorror.com.

Saturday, Oct. 29

RAW’s Halloween Party is tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) with DJs Shea Van Horn and Bil plus guest DJ Keenan Orr from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There’s a costume contest with $1,000 in prizes available. There will also be an open vodka bar from 10 to 11 p.m. There is a $10 cover. Attendees must be 21 or older.

“Thriller: Women’s Hallow Party” is tonight at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) with a costume contest and DJ LS spinning. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the contest begins at midnight. There’s a $10 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.

Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) is having a Halloween party and costume contest tonight. Prizes include $250 case and a $100 bar tab. The contest begins at midnight and all participants should be signed up by 11:45 p.m.

Lace Lounge (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) presents “If Only for a Night: A Mature Costume Party” tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring a sexy, mature mini show. Cover is $10 with costume, $12 without one.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents GhostTown tonight featuring a costume contest at midnight with a grand prize of $1,000. The drag show begins at 10:30 p.m. Cover is $15 and all attendees must be 21 or older.

S.H.E. Productions presents Homoween 2011, the annual Saints and Sinners Masqueradde at Grand Central and Sapphos (1001 North Charles St.) in Baltimore. Doors open at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover before 11 p.m. which doubles afterward. All attendees must be 21 or older.

Artomatic’s SurrealD.C. Halloween Masquerade is back for a third year at the Washington Harbour (3050 K St., N.W.) tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be a costume contest, including scariest, craziest, funniest, sexiest, most original and most creative, performances and art installations. Tickets are $25 and attendees must be 21 or older. For more information, visit artomatic.org.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Fairfax Pride is having a Halloween party tonight at Alto Plaza (5800 Old Centreville Rd.) in Centreville, featuring a Latin Zumba group, Brandonna Dupri, the Virginia chapter of the D.C. Gurly Show and more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances will happen every 30 minutes from 9 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the group page on Facebook.

Monday, Oct. 31

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is having its Halloween costume contest tonight from 8 p.m. to midnight. The first place winner will received $250 cash, second place winner will get a $100 Nellie’s tab and third place will win a $50 Cubano’s dinner.

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

21 hours ago

May 2, 2025

Michael Key

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

22 hours ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.

Calendar

Calendar: May 2-8

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

23 hours ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, May 2

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.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].

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. 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, May 3

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, May 4

“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

Monday, May 5

“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” 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].

Tuesday, May 6

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 7

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.

Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].

Thursday, May 8

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. 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 with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].