Arts & Entertainment

Pride calendar

Celebration season kicks into high gear this week with bounty of LGBT D.C.-based events

Published

14 years ago

May 31, 2012

A women's event at last year's Pride. At left is Ebone Bell, one of this year's Pride Heroes, with Karen Diehl. (Blade file photo)

TONIGHT

Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., N.W.) is hosting the annual men’s party tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Admission is $10 at the door. For details go to capitalpride.org.

Phase 1 (525 8^th St., S.E.) is hosting the annual women’s party tonight from 10 p.m. -2 a.m. Cover charge is $10 and will go to benefit Pride. For more information visit phase1dc.com.

Washington Blade is celebrating the launch of the 2012 Capital Pride Guide tonight from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Town Danceboutique (2009 8th St., N.W.). Admission for guests 21 and over is $5 before 11 p.m. and $10 for the rest of the night. Guests 18-20 pay a cover of $10 all night. There are also $3 drinks 10-11 p.m. For details visit capitalpride.org.

Saturday June 2

A screening of “Ready? Ok! Don’t break the rules, change them” is taking place at the Screen on the Green & Picnic in the Park this evening from 6-10 p.m at Stead Park (17^th & Church St., N.W.). Team D.C. will host pre-show antics and games. Admission is free but a $5 donation is suggested. For more information visit capitalpride.org.

D.C. Center and HIV Prevention Working Group volunteers are packing safer sex kits at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) tonight from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit capitalpride.org or thedccenter.org.

Sunday June 3

The second annual drag kickball game is today at Stead Park (17^th & Church St., N.W.) at 3 p.m. The Stonewall kickball players will be playing in drag and D.C.’s loveliest Queens in kickball uniforms. A $5 donation is suggested. For more information, call 703-525-4261 or capitalpride.org.

The Latino LGBT History Project is hosting a bilingual Catholic-Episcopal service with the Rev. Joseph Palacios tonight at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Parish (1772 Church St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

Sinergy is hosting Sinful Sunday at Current Sushi & Lounge (1215 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. This event includes entertainment from hottest drag shows in D.C. Cover 18-20 year olds is $10 before 11 p.m. and $20 after; 21 and over has free admission before 11 p.m. and $20 after. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

Monday June 4

D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) is hosting tonight a screening of “Melting Away,” an Israeli film that chronicles the story of parental reaction to a transgender child. The movie starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.

Joshua Morgan is hosting “Musical Madness!” at Town Danceboutique (2009 8t St., N.W.) tonight from 8-9:30 p.m. Admission is $20 and benefits Capital Pride. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

Tuesday June 5

Metropolitan Community Church (474 Ridge St., N.W.) has a Bible study tonight at 7 p.m. The discussion will focus on what the Bible says about homosexuality. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.

The Celebration of the Spirit Coalition is holding an interfaith service for LGBT people of differing faiths tonight at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.) from 7:30-8:30 p.m. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

The Human Rights Campaign Equality Forum (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) is hosting Women’s Spoken Word, an event that invites women to express themselves through poems, monologues and songs. This event is free. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.

Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) is hosting the annual ladies Jell-O wrestling competition tonight from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Admission is $10. For details, visit capitalpride.org or phase1dc.com.

Wednesday June 6

Gaylarious! is opening at the Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St., N.W.) tonight at 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit riotactcomedy.com or capitalpride.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting the underwear fashion show and auction party tonight where attendees can by Universal Gear swimwear and underwear straight off the models. The show starts at 10. Admission is $5. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

Thursday June 7

A town hall on LGBT politics is held this evening with Mayor Vincent Gray at Charles Summer School Museum & Archives (1201 17th St., N.W.) starting at 6. There will be a talk with the mayor, then a panel discussion with LGBT individuals involved in politics followed by a dessert reception. Seats are limited. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.

Lace on the Avenue (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) is hosting the Women’s Networking Happy Hour tonight from 6-8. Admission is $15. For details, visit capitalpride.org.

Town (2009 8^th St., N.W.) is hosting the D.C. Latino Pride dance party tonight starting at 8. Cover is $5 and will be donated to D.C. Latino Pride. For more information, email LatinoPride [email protected] or visit capitalpride.org.

Photos

Center for Black Equity honors leaders, activists at BE. Gala

Miyake-Mugler, Oakes co-host annual awards ceremony

Published

1 day ago

October 11, 2026

Michael Key

Center for Black Equity President and CEO Kenya Hutton speaks at the 2026 BE. Gala on Saturday. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Center for Black Equity held its annual BE. Gala at Conrad Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Lolita Leopard Miyake-Mugler and Anthony Oakes co-hosted the awards ceremony.

Honorees included journalist and producer Justin Stewart; nonprofit leader Nikki Alexander; HIV advocate Marlene McNeese; the nonprofit organization FreeLux Project; actress Monroe Alise; public health advocate Tori Cooper; Manassas Park Vice Mayor Darryl G. Moore; Rev. Dr. Carmarion D. Anderson; Bishop Steven Sawyer; government relations professional Courtney Snowden; Senior Deputy Director of HAHSTA at D.C. Health, Clover Barnes; and Texas state Rep. Venton C. Jones.

The event was sponsored by Gilead.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Books

In ‘The Lost Brontë,’ a complicated lie can lead to danger

New book features sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2026

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Bywater Books)

‘The Lost Brontë’
By Catherine Friend
c.2026, Bywater Books
$22.95/335 pages

Mom always said to tell the truth.

One lie leads to another and another and you have to remember them all until pretty soon, you’re caught. Fibs are hard, mistruths are messy, even little white social lies can destroy trust. Worst of all, as in the new novel, “The Lost Brontë” by Catherine Friend, a complicated lie can lead to danger.

Though Lilianne Loxley was very young when she lost her parents, she understood that her uncle didn’t really want her. As time passed, though, Lily made herself useful to Uncle, writing and signing letters for him and she became a good companion, helping him with his collection of Brontë memorabilia. Uncle was a keen enthusiast.

She had no idea that his obsession was out of control and he was deeply in arrears. The day Lily learned of his debt was the day she learned that he’d agreed to send her to his debtor’s home to work off the money owed.

It was so sudden. One minute, Lily was at Loxley House, happy and loved by Uncle’s staff … and five hours later, she was at Crag Thorn Manor, home of Lord Bexton, who informed her that she’d be working on his ledgers – work that seemed routine, but Lily tackled it.

Uncle always did say she was headstrong.

But would headstrong be enough to survive, when she was restricted from most of the Manor, when she was forced to dine with Brexton and his slimy friend, or – the worst! – when Brexton told Lily that her next task was to forge a letter from Emily Brontë? And then an entire manuscript?

Lily struggled to do what was right. She had to get Uncle out of debt but this last order horrified her. Did she dare refuse Brexton’s orders and commit a crime? It was unthinkable!

The only brightness in the whole situation was Wren, the ladies’ maid assigned to Lily’s room. Wren was adorable with freckles and the sweetest smile. But with everything else happening at Crag Thorn Manner, could Lily act upon her feelings?

This time of year, you may come to crave dark, spooky stories, and “The Last Brontë” fits those needs perfectly with its Gothic deliciousness. Think: Daphne du Maurier-type, stormy-night squirms with a dangerously chaste, sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist for fun.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve read a Gothic novel, you’re in for a nice reminder of why you love them here. You can almost tick off the must-haves: a novel like this is nothing without a foreboding stone manor with damp walls; stone steps to a dank basement; a mysterious portrait; and a nearby bog, and author Catherine Friend gives readers every one of them. You’d be disappointed if there was no ghost, wouldn’t you? Ha. You can practically feel the cold blow through the attic, right? Yeah, it’s that kind of book.

If you’re a fan of the Brontës, you’ll like this novel. If you love Gothic mysteries or Victorian romances, ditto. “The Lost Brontë” is good, no lie.

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Out & About

CAMP Rehoboth Block Party returns Oct. 18

Expect performances, vendors and more at annual celebration

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

CAMP Rehoboth’s annual Block Party returns next weekend. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

CAMP Rehoboth will host its annual Block Party celebration on Sunday, Oct.18 at 11 a.m. on the second block of Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

CAMP Rehoboth invites all community members to join in the festivities and to expect magnificent performances and dozens of vendors, including artists, craftspeople, non-profits, businesses, and more.

The event started in 2015 in celebration of CAMP Rehoboth’s 25th anniversary. This year, attendees can expect to shop sea glass art, pottery, jewelry, Pride merch, body care, clothing, and learn more about local non-profit causes and businesses.

Attendance is free. For more details, visit CAMP Rehoboth’s website.