Arts & Entertainment
D.C. arts briefs: Feb. 24
Oscar party at the Center, Tomlin at the Strathmore and more
Indie film festival kicks off next week
The 2012 D.C. Independent Film Festival starts on Wednesday and runs through March 4.
The festival will have screenings of feature films, documentaries, short films, animated and experimental films, including horror film “The Big Bad,” documentary “Patriot Guard Riders” and more.
The festival will also have workshops about filmmaking, financing, distributing and more, as well as other events for attendees, including a wine tasting.
All events will be held at the U.S. Navy Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) except for Wednesday, which will be at the Landmark E Street Cinema (555 11th St., N.W.). Tickets range from $7 to $16.
For more information and a complete list of films and workshops, visit dciff-indie.org.
Comedian Lily Tomlin plays the Strathmore on Sunday at 7 p.m. (Image courtesy Strathmore)
Tomlin to play Strathmore
Oscar-nominated actress Lily Tomlin, a lesbian, is performing at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tomlin has won many awards for her work including two Tonys, two Peabodys, six Emmys, a Grammy, awards from the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle and the Mark Twain Prize for American humor.
Tickets range from $35 to $75 and can be purchased online at Strathmore.org.
Gay civil rights leader honored with screening
In honor of Black History Month, SAGE Metro D.C., the D.C. Center and AARP are hosting a screening of the film “Brother Outsider” on Monday at AARP (601 E St., N.W.) at 6:30 p.m.
The film celebrates out civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will provide opening remarks and Ron Simmons of Us Helping Us will moderate a discussion following the film. Light refreshments will be served and RSVP is required.
For more information on the film, visit rustin.org.
Classical ensemble plans weekend concert
Left Bank Concert Society has a performance at the Katzen Arts Center at American University (4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.) Saturday at 8 p.m.
The performance will feature the Left Bank Quartet, comprised of David Salness, who’s openly gay, and Sally McLain on violin, Katherine Murdock on the viola and Evelyn Elsing on the cello, with Jonathan Richards on the viola.
The artists will perform Johannes Brahms’ “String Quartet No.1 in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1,” Anton Webern’s “Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 9 (1911 and 1913)” and Max Bruch’s “Viola Quintet in A Minor, Op. posthumous (1918).”
Tickets range from $10 to $30 and can be purchased online at leftbanksociety.org.
Center hosts Oscar party
The D.C. Center holds its seventh annual “Glamour, Glitter & Gold Oscar Gala” Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m. at Town Danceboutique (2009 8th Street, N.W.). Tickets are $20 for general admission or $50 VIP. The event is a benefit for the Center. Visit thedccenter.org for details.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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