Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Dec. 16
Concerts, meetings, parties and more through Dec. 24

The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra plats the Mansion at Strathmore on Sunday. (Photo courtesy Strathmore)
TODAY (Friday)
The Stein Club is having its annual holiday celebration tonight at Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams (1502 14th St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be an open white cosmo-and-white wine bar as well as complimentary hors d’oeuvres. There is a suggested donation of $25 for this event.
Girls Rock! D.C. is having its holiday party tonight at Dollhouse (1429 Madison St., N.W.) from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with DJs Alex D-B and Alpha Betts. This is a bring-your-own-beverages-booze-and-baked goods party. For more information, visit girlsrockdc.org.
Team D.C. presents its fourth annual Holiday Extravaganza for D.C. Gay Sports tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There’s no cover, free food and happy hour drink prices. For more information, visit teamdc.org.
DJs Aaron Riggins, Della Volla and AVM will be spinning at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight for “Pop Goes the World,” an international dance party starting at 10 p.m. There is a $5 cover.
Gay/Bash!, a “queer night of rock and pop gems” with DJs Joshua and Dean, is tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.). Admission is $5 and doors open at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 17
D.C. Leather Pride is holding a fundraiser tonight at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. featuring Mr. D.C. Leather. There will be drink specials and raffle tickets for $1 each.
Youth are invited to the Stereo Chromatic GSA Youth Dance tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Clarendon Presbyterian Church (1305 N. Jackson St.) in Arlington. There is a $2 entry fee and snacks will be provided.
Zoom Lesbian Excursions presents Christmas in Morocco, a seven-course Moroccan meal at Marrakesh Restaurant (617 New York Ave., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 to be paid at the venue. For more information, visit phatgirlchic.com/zoom/index.html.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is having a night of queer music tonight with The Lost Bois, SolRose and Angie Head from D.C. as well as Constance Sick and Eli Conley. Tickets are $10 and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Lure D.C. presents “Bare: How the Grinch Stole Bare” tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring DJs Rosie and Keenan Orr. The best dressed Grinch look-a-like wins $100. For more information, visit Lure’s Facebook at facebook.com/lurewdc. Attendees must be 21 or older.
Will Eastman’s dance party “Bliss” returns to U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) tonight with Chris Nitti and Richard Richard. There is a $10 cover and attendees who are 18 to 20 must purchase tickets in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ustreetmusichall.com.
Sunday, Dec. 18
SAGE Metro D.C. is co-sponsoring a workshop presents by AARP’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly on understanding the benefits of Medicare and Medicaid at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is having an open mic night tonight from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. All kinds of performers are welcomed. There is no cover to this event.
The National Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s “Messiah” today at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 1 p.m. Ticket range from $30 to $85 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Busboys & Poets presents “Sunday Kind of Love,” an open mic night celebrating LGBT Jewish poetry featuring Yermiyahu Ahron Taub and readings from “Milk and Honey: A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry” with editor Julie R. Enszer and contributor, Eryca Kasse tonight at 5 p.m. in the Robeson room of its Shirlington location (4251 S Campbell Ave.) in Arlington. There is a $5 suggested donation.
Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra play “A Bohemian Christmas” today at the Mansion at Strathmore (10701 Rockville Pike) in North Bethesda at 8:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.
Monday, Dec. 19
The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents “Christmas Music: Holiday Treasures from Russia” tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org. There will be two other performances on Wednesday and Dec. 24.
Ledroit Park is having its holiday party at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 20
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents 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.
Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s packing location, Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
“A Very Faerie Yule 2011” is tonight at the Open Hearth Foundation (1502 Massachusetts Ave., S.E.) from 7 to 9 p.m. Hot and heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages will be served. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Radio one presents “Know Your Status” concert at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. hosted by Wale and featuring Chuck Brown and more. Tickets are available for free when tested at one of the D.C. Department of Health’s participating testing sites. For a list of site and more details, visit dctakesonhiv.com.
Thursday, Dec. 22
Trixie and Monkey’s seventh annual “Holiday Spectac-U-Thon” is tonight at the Patterson at 8 p.m. The neo-burlesque show will feature acrobatic antics, trapeze and more. Tickets are $22 for general admission and $17 for Creative Alliance members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.
The Washington Chorus presents “A Candlelight Christmas” tonight at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $65 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP

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