Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Feb. 10
Parties, concerts, meetings and more through Feb. 16
Lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes performs at Strathmore on Friday. (Photo courtesy Strathmore.)
Friday, Feb. 10
Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, meets tonight from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Red Eye Gravy Theatre Company presents a same-sex version of “Romeo and Juliet,” a benefit for the Trevor Project at the Fridge (516 1/2 8th St., S.E.), tonight at 8 p.m. This production will feature the title roles as a lesbian couple and the show will be followed by a discussion. The show will run through Feb. 18. Tickets are $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thefridgedc.com.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is performs at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $99 and can be purchased online atkennedy-center.org.
Out comedian Wanda Sykes performs at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $99 and can be purchased online atstrathmore.org.
Busboys & Poets presents “The 11th Hour” poetry slam hosted by “2Deep” the Poetess, tonight at 11 p.m. in the Langston room at its 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). There is a $5 admission at the door starting at 10:30 p.m.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court) hosts Mama’s Trailer Park Dance Party tonight upstairs from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and a $16 Smirnoff “All-U-Can-Drink” buffet from 10 to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel, will be at 9:30 club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.
There will be a viewing and service for slain trans murder victim Deoni Jones today at the King Emmanuel Baptist Church (2324 Ontario Rd., N.W.) from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information contact Earline Budd or Brian Watson at 202-636-1646 or Ron Moten at 202-615-0204.
The Dupont Social Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary by taking over the 18th and U Duplex Diner (2004 18th St., N.W.) at 6 p.m. featuring drag queen waitresses, bartenders and hostesses. Tips from talents will be donated to teamdc.org. There will also be celebrity appearances, DJs and performances.
Zoom Urban Lesbian Excursions presents “Vino: The Singles Edition” tonight. The group will be meeting at Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar (2121 P St., N.W.) at 6 p.m. Reservation for this event is free. Wine and food is purchased individually. For more information, visit phatgirlchic.com/zoom.
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.) today at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $65 to $130 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents Hellmouth Happy Hour where every week an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will be screened and drink specials will be offered. This week the episode is “The Zeppo.”
Sunday, Feb. 12
Khush D.C. is having its first book club meeting of the year today at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) at 2 p.m. The group will be discussing the book, “Ninny’s Natter” by Ninade Jog and there will be a Q&A session with the author after the discussion. For more information contact Jeff Ajanee at [email protected].
The D.C. Kings are performing their “King of Hearts” show tonight at Phase 1 (525 8th St. S.E.) at 10 p.m. Performers for the night include Sammy Smooth, celebrating his seven year anniversary, Bona Fyde, Dash, Valentino and more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and their is a $10 cover. This is a D.C. Kings Fundraiser.
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. There will also be a special edition “Guil-Tea” Dance today from 3 to 8 p.m. on the roof deck featuring Sweet Tea vodka specials.
Monday, Feb. 13
MotherTongue D.C. is holding its annual “Anti-Valentine’s Day Slam!” tonight at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 and are available in advanced online atblackcatdc.com.
Tickets for Madonna’s Sept. 23 concert at the Verizon Center go on sale today at 10 a.m. Several package deals and price ranges are available. Visit ticketmaster.com orlivenation.com for details.
The Youth Working Group, a gathering of people committed to impacting the lives of D.C. area youth, will be meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
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.
The Child and Family Services Agency’s LGBTQ Task Force is holding a full-day retreat today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). The retreat is a way to identify steps needed to support LGBTQ youth in the foster care system. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
LezGetTogether.com is having its Valentine’s Day party tonight at Buffalo Billairds in the Adirondack Room (1330 19th St., N.W.) from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 online, $8 at the door or $4 with invite of 10 or more women to LezGetTogether.com and promotional code.
Wednesday, Feb. 15
Women’s Wednesday is being co-hosted by the Human Rights Campaign and held in the Equality Center (17th and Rhode Island, NW) tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is fee for CAGLCC members and their guests.
The D.C. Ice Breakers will be having its monthly skate and social tonight. The group will be skating at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Rd.) in Arlington from 8 to 9 p.m. then they’ll hit a local bar for a social hour. Skating is $8 and skate rentals are $3.
Thursday, Feb. 16
The D.C. Center, with the Deaf Abused Women’s Network, Deaf Queer Kaleidoscope and Gallaudet University with sponsorship from Access Interpreting is facilitating its second deaf/hard of hearing/deaf-blind LGBT community needs assessment for the area today from 6 to 9 p.m. in Flex A/B at Gallaudet (800 Florida Ave., N.E.). For more information, e-mail Alex Nelson at [email protected].
Lesbian comedian Judy Gold will be performing at Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St., N.W.) tonight at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online atriotactcomedy.com She will also perform on Friday and Saturday.
The 2025 Baltimore Pride Parade was held on Saturday, June 14.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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.
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