Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Jan. 20
Concerts, parties, events and more through Jan. 20
Rita McKenzie stars in ‘Ethel Merman's Broadway’ playing at the Music Center at Strathmore Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Strathmore)
TODAY (Friday)Â
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court) hosts Mama’s Trailer Park Dance Party tonight upstairs from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., “Pop Goes the World: International Dance Party,” and a $16 Smirnoff “All-U-Can-Drink” buffet from 10 to 11:30 p.m.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring $3 rail, Bud bottles and pint drafts. There is no cover for this event and attendees must be 21 or older.
Onyx Entertainment and A 2 Zee present “Capri-quarius” tonight at Love (1350 Okie St., N.E.) from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Cover is $12 before midnight at $15 after and $20 for VIP.
Tony Award-winning musical “La Cage aux Folles” starring Christopher Sieber and George Hamilton will be at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $65 to $130 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Strathmore’s Friday Night Eclectic, a mash-up of music and art, returns tonight with the Oli Brown Band with Artist in Residence alum, Margot MacDonald at the Mansion at Strathmore (10701 Rockville Pike, North Besthesda) at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and include a pre-concert happy hour with drink specials.
Saturday, Jan. 21
On Foursquare? Add many of these events to your To-Do list
Rita McKenzie stars in “Ethel Merman’s Broadway” tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $65 and can be purchased online atstrathmore.org.
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.
Spunk-E Productions presents “Ink” at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring music by DJ T-one and a “Show Your Tats” contest.
Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St., S., Arlington) is hosting a winter champagne brunch today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The brunch buffet includes four mimosas, champagne or bloody marys or attendees can order a la carte. Fifteen percent of the proceeds will benefit Capital Queer Prom and Transgender Health Empowerment.
Queer electro-dance-rock band Glitterlust plays DC9 (1940 9th St., N.W.) tonight with J Street. Cover is $8 and doors open at 9 p.m.
The Imperial Court of Washington presents the Miss Faux Queen Pageant today at Remingtons (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) at 4 p.m. Admission is $10 and all proceeds benefit the Imperial Court and Mautner Project. Doors open at 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-593-1282.
D.C. Lambda Squares is having its first community dance of 2012 tonight at Francis Scott Key Middle School (910 Schindler Drive, Silver Spring) from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring Betsy Gotta calling. Admission is $10 per dancer. For more information, visit dclambdasquares.org.
Sunday, Jan. 22
Judy Collins performs tonight at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at wolftrap.org.
Busboys & Poets presents “Mature Voices,” an open mic for performers 55 and older, hosted by Saleem Wayne Waters and featuring Queen Aishah tonight in the Zinn room of its Hyattsville location (5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104) at 6 p.m. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.
NOVA Gay and Lesbian Professionals and D.C. Ice Breakers are co-hosting a French wine tasting and social tonight at Total Wine (1451 Chain Bridge Road, McLean) from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring a tasting of eight wines. Tickets are $25 and RSVP is required by emailing [email protected].
Monday, Jan. 23
Bryan Adams performs at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $65 and can be purchased online at strathmore.org.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts Bears Do Yoga from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. upstairs followed by Queer Pong hosted by Andy from 8 p.m. to midnight.
WEAVE, a support group for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence/abuse will be meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lighthouse Center for Healing (5321 First Place, N.E.). For more information and to register, call 202-280-6391.
SAGE Metro D.C. is hosting a presentation on discriminatory treatment of older LGBT persons and same-sex couples and how an attorney can help, by Henry Nash, an estates, trusts and elder law attorney, at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) starting at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents “Bare!: True Stories of Sex, Desire and Romance” tonight at 8 p.m. featuring J.T. Bullock, Derek Hills, Jennifer Luu, S.M. Shrake and musical guest Kimi Lundie. The night’s theme is “firsts.” Admission is $8.
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, Jan. 25
Aimee Mann performs tonight at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) with John Roderick at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $49.50 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com. For more information, visitbirchmere.com.
Busboys & Poets presents Sparkle Open Mic Poetry, a queer-friendly reading series hosted by Regie Cabico and Danielle Evennou in the Cullen room of its 5th and K location (1025 5th St., N.W.) at 9 p.m. Wristbands are $4 and will be sold in the Global Exchange store beginning at 11 a.m.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE — across from Marine Barracks) for duplicate bridge. No reservations needed; newcomers welcome. Visit lambdabridge.com if you need a partner.
Thursday, Jan. 26
Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) holds its monthly meeting tonight in the main room at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Lambda Sci-Fi Book Group meets today at 1425 S St., N.W. This month’s book is “Kushiel’s Dart” by Jacqueline Carey. Attendees are asked to bring a snack and/or non-alcoholic drink to share. For more information, email [email protected], [email protected] or visit the group’s website lambdascifi.org.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
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Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
