Arts & Entertainment
Here comes the Pride
Bounty of black, Latino events through Memorial Day and beyond
Pride season is here and with it brings events, concerts and festivals for everyone.
The sixth annual Latino Pride starts Sunday and this yearās theme is āHistory, Celebration, Diversity and Identity.ā This is the first year Latino Pride is spread over multiple days.
Latino Pride begins with La Corona, the royal coronation and dance party at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. hosted by Jocelyn Carrillo. Thereās a $5 donation for this 21-and-older event.
āLa PlĆ”ticaā is May 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) and features several components including a panel discussion and networking, a historical exhibition and community resource fair. Panelists include Gustavo Velasquez, director of D.C. Office of Human Rights, and Jack Harrison of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. HIV testing will also be available during this event.
A bilingual ecumenical service, āLa Misa,ā with Rev. Joseph Palacios is June 3 at St. Thomasā Parish Dupont Circle (1772 Church St., N.W.) from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
āThis will be the first time we have this,ā says David Perez, president of Latino GLBT History Project. āWeāre partnering with [St. Thomasā and Palacios] ā¦ and weāre also partnering with the Dignity group ā¦ focusing on a call to action of how we celebrate pride by giving back to others.ā
Latino Pride ends with the official Latino Pride dance party āLa Fiestaā at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) on June 7 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. There is a $5 donation for this 18-and-older event.
For more information on Latino Pride, visit latinoglbthistory.org.
Black Pride starts Thursday and runs through May 27.
D.C. Black Pride starts with a wine-and-spirits reception on Thursday at Madame Tussaudās Wax Museum (1001 F St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $10.
The festivities continue on May 25 at the Hyatt Regency (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.) with a hospitality suite open from noon to 9 p.m. and a game room open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. The opening reception is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. including a book signing for āKing Peggy.ā RainbowConnects will be running a speed dating event from 7 to 9 p.m.
Also on May 25 is a performance of āSheāBaltimoreā at The Warehouse Theater (1071 7th St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. Tickets to this performance are $25.
The hospitality suite is also open on May 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., but there are other events happening that day as well.
At 11 a.m. there is āWhy Do You Write/Read and How Do You Succeed?ā a panel sponsored by Fire & Ink featuring Rashid Darden, LaToya Hankins, J. Renee LaCour, Spectra Speaks, Red Summer and Dwayne Vernon. There are also various workshops running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hyatt.
At 12:30 p.m., Angela Harvey presents āThe Key to the Perfect Orgasmā at the Hyatt.
At 2 p.m. is a film festival also at the Hyatt. Admission to the festival is $15. Also at 2 p.m. is a reading of āThe Four of Usā at Mead Lab Theater (916 G St., N.W.). Admission to the reading is $20 and includes a small reception.
Buttafly Soul is hosting a poetry slam at the Hyatt from 5 to 8 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. is the Soul Train Dance Party. Admission is $15 to both events.
Black Pride ends May 27 with a faith service organized by Courtney Williams, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hyatt. At noon, āItās a Family Affair,ā the D.C. Black Pride Health and Wellness Expo begins. The expo will be held at Francis-Stevens Educational Campus (23 and O streets) featuring food, community vendors, childrenās play area, DJ and entertainment honoring Etta James, Whitney Houston and Vesta Williams.
For more information on Black Pride, visit dcblackpride.org.
Also starting Thursday is Chocolate City Pride with āThe Genesisā at Layla Lounge (501 Morse St., N.E.) on Thursday. Cover is $5 before midnight and $10 after.
On May 25, Omega Entertainment presents ā5000 Men Pride Mega Partyā at Fur Nightclub (33 Patterson St., N.E.) featuring R&B singer Ashanti. Doors open at 9 p.m.
May 26 brings the āTropical Heat Rooftop Partyā at Ibiza (1222 1st St., N.E.) from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is $10. That night is the annual Manhunt party at Layla Lounge from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring a surprise celebrity performance.
May 27 starts with the āInsomniac After-Partyā at Lace Nightclub (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) from 3:30 to 7:30 a.m. Then thereās the annual āIsland Inferno Pool Partyā at Cameron Run Regional Park (4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria) from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 but the first 500 get in free. The day ends with the āKlimax Mega Partyā at Love (1350 Okie St., N.E.) from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
The last day of Chocolate City Pride is May 28 and starts with a cookout for all pass holders at Fort Dupont Park (3600 F St., S.E.) from noon until 7 p.m. That night is āThe Apocalypseā at Layla Lounge from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $10.
For more information and to purchase passes, visit omegapartydc.net.
Music & Concerts
Lana Del Rey, Katy Perry plan fall releases
A Fleetwood Mac live album, more Joni archives among vintage options
Paris Hilton released her āInfinite Iconā album on Sept. 6. Itās just the second effort following a massive hiatus ā her debut album āParisā was released way back in 2006. Sia produces. This summerās āIām Freeā was the first single. A tour is planned. Hilton promised a āheavily gay-leaning release.ā
Miranda Lambertās āPostcards from Texasā is slated to drop today. Lambertās 10th studio album was preceded by the May release of single āWranglers,ā which stalled in the lower 30s on country radio. Lambert calls the album a musical ode to her home state. She co-produces with Jon Randall and either wrote or co-wrote 10 of the projectās 14 cuts.
Katy Perryās ā143ā is set for a Sept. 20 release. It will be her seventh studio album. Its title refers to what she says is her symbolic angel number. Perry is aiming for a dance party feel working with producers Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Stargate, Vaughn Oliver and Rocco Did It Again! The proceedings are not off to a strong start. First single āWomanās Worldā stalled at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up āLifetimesā failed to crack the Hot 100 at all.
Fleetwood Mac releases āMirage Tour ā82ā on Sept. 20. It includes six tracks previously unreleased including āDonāt Stop,ā āDreams,ā āNever Going Back Again,ā āSaraā and more. Available on double CD, triple vinyl and digitally.
Volume four of Joni Mitchellās āArchivesā series dubbed āThe Asylum Years: 1976-1980ā releases Oct. 4. Itās being offered in six-CD or four-LP (highlights) configurations. It will feature unreleased studio sessions, alternate versions, live recordings, rarities and a 36-page book with new photos and an extensive conversation between Mitchell and filmmaker/uberfan Cameron Crowe.
Sophie B. Hawkins releases her āWhaler Re-Emergingā album (a re-recording of her landmark 1994 album) on Oct. 15. Order through her site and the first 250 copies will be signed. Hawkins (who identifies as omnisexual) says it surpasses the original.
Joe Jonasās āMusic for People Who Believe in Loveā and Shawn Mendesās āShawnā are both set for Oct. 18 releases. Jonasās album (his first solo effort since 2011ās āFastlifeā) will feature songwriting he says is of a more personal nature. Billboard called it āunvarnishedā but with a shimmery pop sound aglow with garage rock and alt-pop influences. First single āWork It Outā was released over the summer and failed to chart.
āShawnā will be Mendesās first album since 2020ās āWonder,ā the tour of which he cancelled citing mental health. Two singles ā āWhy Why Whyā and āIsnāt That Enoughā ā have been released. The former stalled at no. 84 on the Hot 100. He has called the album his āmost musically intimate and lyrically honest work to date.ā
Lana Del Reyās āLassoā is expected for a possible fall release, although some sources say itās been bumped to early 2025. No date had been announced as of yet. Sheās apparently going the Beyonce route and releasing a straight-up country album.
Dolly Parton plans a Nov. 15 release for āSmoky Mountain DNA ā Family, Faith & Fables.ā Parton recruited family to help her on the 37 (!)-track collection, which will also encompass a four-part docuseries tracing Partonās familial roots. One song (āA Rose Wonāt Fix Itā) is an outtake from the feverish writing sessions that led to her solid (but underrated) 1998 album āHungry Again.ā An extremely limited-edition triple vinyl release is also planned.
Release dates shift and many more releases will be announced later. Pitchfork keeps a great running tab at pitchfork.com/news/new-album-releases. Also check your local record store for Black Friday special editions available on Friday, Nov. 29. Release info was scant as of this writing. Ā
(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Bladeās news and features editor from 2006-2020.)
Out & About
Free house expo set for Oct. 26
Capitol Hill Restoration Society hosts event at Eastern Market
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host a free House Expo on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. in the North Hall of Eastern Market.
If you have questions about your home, you can get answers at the Expo. There will be more than 30 home contractors, service experts and city agencies with historic house experience. There will also be free guided tours of Eastern Market.
For more information, visit chrs.org.
Go Gay DC will host āDrag Show for Charityā on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at Freddieās Beach Bar and Restaurant.
Tips to the drag performers will benefit worthy charities that have been vetted by the Imperial Court of Washington, D.C. The mission of the Imperial Court is to raise funds for organizations, including but not limited to those supporting LGBTQ community, HIV/AIDS services organizations, social service organizations and youth enrichment programs. It seeks to provide a safe, social environment for people with the same interests as those of the membership and to create and promote positive community awareness.
This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā
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