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Calendar: Dec. 9

Parties, events, concerts and more through Dec. 15

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15 years ago

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If you’re on Foursquare, make sure you’re following our “This Week” list to keep up with the week’s biggest events. You can follow the Blade too!

Dan Tepfer

Dan Tepfer plays the Mansion at Strathmore on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Strathmore.)

Friday, Dec. 9

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) is having an opening for the exhibit “Juxtapositions” featuring photographs by queer artist P.B. Groszmann conveying the diversity of the LGBT experience tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 2. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Siren returns after five months with a special holiday edition tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) featuring DJs Majr, Madscience, Jeffrex and Donna. with an open rail vodka bar from 10 to 11 p.m. and $16 Smirnoff all-you-can-drink-all-night bracelets available until midnight. There’s a $6 cover for this 21-and-older event.

The American Ballet Theatre performs “The Nutcracker” today at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 1:30 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $150 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

The Creative Alliance presents Victoria Vox and ellen cherrys tonight at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) in Baltimore at 8 p.m. Vox and cherrys play traditional holiday songs as well as originals. Tickets are $11 for members and $16 for general admission. To purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.

The Fridge (516 8th St., S.E.) is having an opening reception for a new exhibit, “Part and Parcel” tonight from 8 to 11 p.m. featuring works by Frank Adams, Chris Chen, Stephanie Kwak and more. Large works are on display with smaller pieces next to them wrapped in brown paper. Patrons will have the chance to purchase the larger work or take a chance on the smaller one. All wrapped works will remain covered until after they are purchased. For more information, visit thefridgedc.com.

Saturday, Dec. 10

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents Yvonne Caruthers giving a comprehensive history of “Messiah” performances throughout the years in “Searching for the Real Messiah” today at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents “Ice” tonight featuring DJ Hector Fonseca spinning and performances by The Dance Camp. There’s a $8 cover from 10 to 11 p.m. and $12 after 11. All attendees must be 21 or older.

The D.C. Rollergirls has a double header today at the D.C. Armory (2001 E. Capitol St., S.E.) with the Cherry Blossom Bombshells taking on the D.C. DemonCats in the first bout at 4 p.m. followed by the Majority Whips taking on the Scare Force One. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6 to 11 and free for those under 6. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit dcrollergirls.com.

S.h.e. productions presents ReHab, a monthly alternative dance party, featuring DJ Katrina tonight at Grand Central Disco and Sapphos (1001 N. Charles St.) in Baltimore. Doors open at 9 p.m. and there is a $5 cover for this 21-and-older event.

Mixtape D.C. is tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.), a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else danceable. There is a $10 cover for this event. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts “Rock-n-Shop,” a rock-and-roll garage sale with music by DJ Baby Alcatraz featuring everying from T-shirts to records and more. Doors open at 8 p.m. This is a free event.

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) presents Drag Brunch hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. with a $20 brunch buffet, then stick around and watch the Washington Redskins take on the New England Patriots or the Baltimore Ravens take on the Indiannapolis Colts today at 1 p.m.

National Symphony Orchestra Pops presents “The Perfect Gift” with the Canadian Tenors tonight at 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) Tickets range from $20 to $85 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Monday, Dec. 12

Busboys & Poets presents Monday night open mic poetry hosted by poet-in-residence Beny Blaq tonight at 8 p.m. in the Robeson room of its Shirlington location (4251 South Campbell Ave., Arlington). The list to perform is announced at 8 p.m. Wristbands are $4 and will be on sale starting at 10 a.m. in the Global Exchange store until sold out.

D.C.’s Gay Flag Football League presents Men’s Speed Dating tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.). There’s a $15 cover with $3 drink specials. Check in begins at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents the opening of its production of “Billy Elliot: The Musical” directed by Stephen Daldry and featuring music by Elton John, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $150 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.

Busboys & Poets hosts a community meeting with Southern Poverty Law Center and Truth Wins Out to end “ex-gay” conversion therapy today at 6 p.m. in the Langston room of its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th Street, N.W.). Experts will be present to speak about the practice of conversion therapy and how to protect LGBT rights. RSVP is appreciated, but not required. Call 855-841-8356 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

D.C. Bi Women will have its monthly dinner at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St., N.W.) tonight from 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Rainbow Response is holding its monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8 p.m.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is having its annual employee show tonight at 8 p.m. when the staff will act and sing on stage to show appreciation during the holiday season and there will be an open bar after the show.

Anti-Defamation League’s Young Professionals Division presents “Taking on Bullying”in the Paul Porter Room at Arnold & Porter, LLP (555 12th St., N.W.). This event will feature a keynote address from Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department Education as well as testimonials from David Aponte, a student activist and former victim of bullying and more. RSVP is required as space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, e-mail [email protected].

Thursday, Dec. 15

Jazz pianist and Yamaha artist Dan Tepfer plays the Mansion at Strathmore (10701 Rockville Pike) in North Bethesda tonight at 7:30 p.m., premiering new works with his performance of “Goldberg Variations/Variations,” his solo album using Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpiece, the “Goldberg Variations.” Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.

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Arts & Entertainment

Nominate your favorites for the Blade’s 25th annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Awards

Submit your picks now; top 5 vote getters move to the finals

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3 hours ago

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September 9, 2026

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Nominate your favorites in our Best of LGBTQ DC categories through Sept. 24. The top 5 nominees from each category will become finalists with voting starting Sept. 28. Our 2026 Best of LGBTQ DC winners will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on Thursday, Oct. 22 and our special issue will come out on Friday, Oct. 23. One vote per email address per day. Good luck!

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE OR USE THE FORM BELOW!

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Out & About

Blade Foundation to host fundraiser in Rehoboth on Sept. 12

Mayor-elect Stewart, state Rep. Snyder-Hall to give remarks

Published

2 days ago

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September 7, 2026

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Rehoboth Mayor-elect Susan Stewart will speak at the Blade Foundation fundraiser on Sept. 12.

The Washington Blade Foundation will host a fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Rehoboth Beach featuring remarks from Rehoboth’s Mayor-elect Susan Stewart and Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall.

The Foundation funds fellowships for aspiring queer journalists and enterprise journalism projects.

The event will be held at a private home in Rehoboth. Tickets are $100 and include open bar from Diego’s, catered appetizers from the Blue Moon, entertainment, guest speakers, and an auction. Tickets are available here.

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Books

New book examines fashionista Audrey Smaltz’s fabulous life

‘Every Inch a Lady’ reveals finding true love with another woman

Published

2 days ago

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September 7, 2026

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(Book cover image courtesy of Amistad)

‘Every Inch a Lady’
By Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell
c.2026, Amistad
$27.99/256 pages

Snaps, zippers, buttons, ties.

Toss that garment on, pull it up, wrap it around, you know what you like and how to wear it. The color is perfect for your skin tone, the fabric enhances your form. Yep, you always look your best and, as in the new book “Every Inch a Lady” by Audrey Smaltz (with Alina Mitchell), that best is fabulous.

”Born, bred, toasted, buttered, jellied, and honeyed in Harlem” in 1937, Audrey Smaltz was a force to be reckoned with almost from the time she could walk. Her parents imbued confidence in her, they nurtured her creativity and sent her to charm school, but they never allowed her to create a stir.

“That,” says Smaltz, “is not what ladies did.”

By the time she was a teenager, Smaltz was modeling for New York City designers. Shortly thereafter, she started working for a married man with whom she had an affair, and whom she loved very much. She broke up with him, attended college, worked a series of jobs that taught her about fashion and jobs that didn’t seem to fit her. An ill-fated marriage took her to Chicago where she ultimately landed a position that sent her to work in Ebony magazine’s New York office.

Working at Ebony was a career-changer, in a way. Smaltz was able to travel the world and learn more about fashion, but she didn’t exactly get along with her boss.

Finally, seizing an opportunity, Smaltz decided to launch her own company, Audrey Smaltz, Inc., a “fashion production business,” but she couldn’t get any designers to take a chance on her. Undaunted, she reorganized, re-branded, hit the streets, and knocked on doors until she finally found one client, which led to many others.

Through it all, her personal life was a whirlwind. She dated “more men than you can shake a book at,” settling down occasionally, briefly. Fashion had always been her first love, but she accidentally found real love, “the love of a woman,” at a leadership course.

There’s an old saying that writers need to add lots of “color” into their stories. Read a little of “Every Inch a Lady,” and you’ll notice immediately that author Audrey Smaltz (with Alina Mitchell) quite literally takes that to heart by mentioning nearly every color of the spectrum here. Hmm.

That oddity aside, Smaltz is a wonderfully lively storyteller, speaking with the energy of a woman much younger to the heart of anyone who loves fashion. That glee extends to collectors of vintage clothing, who will be delighted to read about the industry long ago and the way things worked then. Smaltz says she experienced racism, which is not unusual for pre-Civil Rights America, but doors were surprisingly closed for other reasons that will astound anyone who’s savvy about the fashion industry, even today.

There’s quite a bit of name-dropping in this book but most of it belongs in the anecdotes, so you likely won’t mind. If you’re a fashionista, too, find “Every Inch a Lady,” and snap it up.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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