Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: June 29

Parties, concerts, meetings and more through July 5

Published

14 years ago

June 28, 2012

The Waverly Street Gallery in Bethesda exhibits abstract paintings, including ‘Illumination’ by local artist Audrey Salkind. (Image courtesy Waverly)

Today (Friday)

Town hosts Bear Happy Hour (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight from 6-11 p.m. Admission is free and limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.

Jazz and Soul musician Anita King performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. N.W.) from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.

Whitman-Walker Health provides HIV Testing at Walgreens (4225 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) today from 3-7 p.m. for National HIV Testing Day. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps the NAMES Project Foundation display the AIDS Memorial Quilt at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival hosts an evening concert in partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Music of Monticello and the Blue Ridge, tonight in the Panorama Room on 12th Street on the National Mall from 6-8 p.m. For details, visit festival.si.edu.

Saturday, June 30

The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts Hellmouth Happy Hour tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. One episode of the gay cult classic series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” screens and a drink special is served. Admission is free. Visit blackcatdc.com for details.

DJ Escape spins tonight at Town (2009 8^th St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Tickets are $8 from 10-11 p.m. and $10 after 11, and $3 drinks will be served until 11. For more details, visit towndc.com.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its monthly “Raw” party tonight with DJs Shea Van Horn and Bill Todd. Raw celebrates retro gay bars, bathhouses and discos. Guests are encouraged to sport glam, leather, fetish and retro gay-inspired dress. Free rail vodka drinks are served from 10-11 p.m. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Sunday, July 1

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts Homowood Karaoke with songs from film and show tunes tonight starting at 10 p.m. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, written by Anne Washburn and directed by Steven Cosson, has its last shows of the season today at the Woolly Mammoth Theater (641 D St., N.W.) at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The play is about a group of Armageddon survivors who theatrically recreate their lost digital culture. Ticket prices start at $30. For more details, visit woollymammoth.net.

Strathmore Music Hall (5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, MD) presents Serenade! Festival Celebration this afternoon at 4 p.m. The performances feature international choir participants who performed in the 2012 Serenade! Washington, DC Choral Festival. Admission is free. Visit strathmore.org for more information.

Adventuring, a gay and lesbian outdoor group, has its Three Forts Ride today from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The 33.6-mile bike ride begins at Belle Haven Marina’s North Parking area off Mt. Vernon Parkway, and riders will pass by a Civil War fort and 20th century fort. Participants should bring a helmet, water and a $2 donation to Adventuring. To RSVP, contact [email protected] or 571-269-0290. For more information, visit adventuring.org.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival features Hungarian Roma Music with Kálmán Balogh tonight on the Justin S. Morrill Performing Arts Center stage on the National Mall from 6-7:30 p.m. Admission is free. For details, visit festival.si.edu.

Monday, July 2

La-Ti-Do DC, a weekly cabaret series hosted by spoken word artist Regie Cabico and actor DonMike Mendoza, is at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. N.W.) from 8-10 p.m. tonight. Admission is $10 and includes one house drink. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., N.W.) hosts an HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. The group is confidential, and open to people of all genders and sexual orientations. Registration is required, so visit whitman-walker.org or contact [email protected] if interested.

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) for the LGBT Community has a volunteer night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Activities may include sorting through book donations, cleaning up around the center and taking inventory of FUK!T packets. Pizza will be provided. Visit thedccenter.org for more information.

Tuesday, July 3

The Julie Mack Trio, a Jazz group, performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 8-11 p.m. Admission is $10. For more details, visit blackfoxlounge.com.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts Flashback, a retro dance party with DJ Jason Royce, this evening for guests 21 and over. Admission is free. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Wednesday, July 4

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, seeks volunteer “balloon wranglers” for this year’s Independence Day Parade from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The parade runs from 7^th St. to 17^th St., NW on Constitution Ave., and each Burgundy Crescent volunteer will receive a free parade T-shirt. To volunteer, contact [email protected] and visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.

Adventuring, a gay and lesbian outdoor group, hikes Great Falls, Md. today. Hikers meet at 9 a.m. at the Tenleytown Metro station and then carpool to the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center for a five-mile hike. Bring water, bug spray, sunscreen and $5-7 for transportation fees. For more information, visit adventuring.org.

The Waverly Street Gallery (4600 East-West Hwy, Bethesda, Md.) exhibits abstract paintings in “From My Perspective” by local artist Audrey Salkind from 12-6 p.m. today. For more information, visit waverlystreetgallery.com.

Thursday, July 5

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., N.W.) hosts a support group for gay men over 50 tonight from 6:30-8 p.m. Registration is required to attend, so visit whitman-walker.org or contact [email protected] if interested.

Phase 1 (525 8^th St., S.E.) hosts karaoke tonight from 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. For details, visit phase1dc.com.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, Va.) hosts Visions of France: Three Postwar Photographers, an exhibition that features street photography of Paris, today from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. The exhibit closes after Sunday, July 8. For more information, visit vmfa.museum.

Photos

PHOTOS: Fairfax City Pride

LGBTQ celebration held at Sherwood Center

Published

13 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Michael Key

A scene from Fairfax City Pride on June 6. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Fairfax City Pride was held at the Sherwood Center (3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Va.) on Saturday, June 6.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

a&e features

D.C. prepares to party as Pride celebrations kick off Saturday

Bars, clubs have busy lineups; Pride on the Pier returns

Published

16 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Evan Caplan

The Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Capital Pride’s date change isn’t slowing down the festivities. Back in December, the Capital Pride Alliance shifted the calendar for Pride celebrations in the nation’s capital from the second weekend of June to two weeks later to the weekend of June 20-21 to not conflict with President Trump’s birthday and 250th anniversary of America celebrations, with the aim that “our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers… We are protecting our space and preserving Pride as a powerful act of visibility, solidarity, and resistance.”

On the heels of WorldPride last year, the city shows no sign of slowing down. Instead, restaurants, bars, clubs, and neighborhoods are taking the opportunity to be even more visible. The Blade has put together a (non-comprehensive) list of parties, activations, and activities across town:

Pride on the Pier returns on Saturday, June 13 to the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront. The event, sponsored and hosted by the Washington Blade, is free and runs from 4-9 p.m. There will be vendors, DJs, and drag performances all day. VIP tickets are $25 and come with air conditioned party room, private bathrooms, and free cocktail. More details at prideonthepierdc.com.

Capital Pride Official Opening Party: RIOT! is the official opening dance party of Capital Pride, taking place Friday June 19, 9 PM-3AM. The 2026 edition headlining performer is Myki Meeks, a finalist of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 18; Bob The Drag Queen will perform a special set. DMV-area DJs and performers include: Bambi, Baphomette, Bumper, Cake Pop!, Connor, DJ Ed Bailey, DJ Diyanna Monet, Evry Pleasure, Jakknife Complex, Mari Con Carne, Pussy Noir, WessTheDJ. Trade owner Ed Bailey is producing the event.

Kinetic Presents brings the heat across the entirety of Pride weekend as well. It again is partnering with Capital Pride Alliance to produce four events over four days this Pride, including the Official Main Event on Saturday (the Friday official event is at Echostage). Kinetic’s parties are splayed across various D.C. venues, with special performances, massive productions, shirtless dancers, play zones, dance-forward audio and visuals, and international DJ talent. Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM at District Eagle is Lust, with music by Dan Slater and TOMI. Friday, June 19 at 10 PM is UNCUT XXL Heavy Load, at A.i. Warehouse in Union Market District, with music by Alex Acosta, Felipe Lira & Mitch Ferrino; the party is a “high-octane night of muscular house and tribal rhythms.” Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM brings that official main event, Kinetic Toy Land, at Echostage, with music by GSP & Matt Suave. Alaska Thunderfuck headlines. Sunday evening June 21 at 10 PM closes with discoVERS at SAX. A portion of tickets supports the DC LGBTQ+ community through Capital Pride Alliance.

9:30 Club always comes in clutch for the LGBTQ community. Already in June, it produced Kitty Kat Ball on June 7, and Kiesza performed on June 8. On June 20 at 10 PM, the famed Mixtape party hits the stage, care of gay DJs Shea van Horn and Matt Bailer, who have spun together for coming up on two decades. Mixtape has been held at several venues across the city over those years, and now settled on 9:30 Club for Pride. On June 25 at 7 PM, Big Freedia – the bounce artist from New Orleans – hits the 9:30 Club scene for the eighth time, as part of the Big Freedom Tour.

Crush: New this year from the 14th Street bar is the Pride Pop-Up, sitting pretty in the parking lot at 1820 14th St., N.W., at the corner of Swann Street by the start of the Pride Parade route. Hours are Friday from 2-10 PM and Saturday from 12-10 PM. Friday evening features Grizzly Bear Happy Hour, a DJ will set up shop on Saturday, and for those needing another layer, there’s a Crush merch store. Co-owner Mark Rutstein “has always wanted to throw a party in that parking lot, so he did,” said co-owner Stephen Rutgers. Note that Crush (the bar) will have a cover on Friday and Saturday.

Kiki: Over at Kiki, there’s a full slate of Pride-themed programming all week. Tuesday, June 16 at 9 PM brings karaoke; Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM is trivia; Thursday June 18 at 9PM is “Night of 1000 Tatianna’s Drag Show”, and Friday June 19 at 9 PM brings the Juneteenth Serve Drag Show. Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM, post-parade, is a Pride Dance Party with DJ Lemz. Sunday daytime at 5 PM is the Father Figures Daddy Issues Special Drag Show; and after the festival at 8 PM, DJ Tezrah hits the tapes.

Jane Jane: Right along the parade route, gay-owned Jane Jane has transformed its space into a “No Kings, Yas Queens” activation in a direct response to the America 250th commemorations happening downtown, from the colorful window installation, to merch (including a custom bandana and tank) to disco wig installations. Events include industry night on Mondays, donations to LGBTQ charities, and to-go cocktails during the Pride Parade.

Shaw’s Tavern: Gay-owned Shaw’s Tavern on Florida Avenue celebrates Pride week with a full lineup of themed events, entertainment, and specials, including Pride trivia on Monday, June 15 at 7:30 PM, bingo on Tuesday, June 16 at 8 PM, a cabaret on Thursday, June 18 at 9 PM, Juneteenth Drag Brunch on Friday, June 19 at 12:30 PM, and both a pre-parade brunch (10 AM-4 PM) and post-parade party (5-9 PM) on Saturday, June 20. Sunday, June 21 at 7 PM brings Mama’s Sunday Supper & Drag Pride Show in the evening for anyone who is still awake.

Trade: This classic has a weekend of events, starting on Thursday, with Tiburon Pride Edition, a Latin Dance party in the Shark Tank. On Friday, the bar opens early (at 2 PM), with all-day happy hour and the Jx&Evry Show. On Saturday, the bar opens at noon, offering a prime parade viewing spot from its windows. There will be the CLASH drag show hosted by Tatianna and Crimsyn, and Sweet Spot party that night. On Sunday, the bar opens for normal hours at 2 PM, with DJs Adam K, Alex Love, and WESSTHEDJ.

Pitchers: The multi-level bar in Adams Morgan is hosting a Pride-themed show on Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM, with drawstring bag giveaways – the only kind of bag that will be allowed into the bar during Pride weekend. The show features drag queen Kyle Sonique Love.

Barrel House Cafe and Bar: Also by the parade route on 14th Street, Barrel House Cafe takes advantage of its large patio to have a slate of events during Pride week, including Schism, a drag and burlesque show on June 18 at 10 PM, as well as an all-day Pride party coinciding on parade day.

Bunker: Bunker again plays host to a series of afters. Friday night (Saturday 3:30 AM) is Unhinged, and Saturday night (Sunday 3:30AM) is Unholy. The regular Saturday night party (10 PM) brings in Venetian and Tiara Missou. All parties have cover charges.

District Eagle: Beyond the Kinetic party on Friday, June 19 brings Gear Night at 10 PM; Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM is LOBO presents PRISM, and Sunday, June 21 is Sundaze wit Papi at 6 PM.

African Art Museum: On Thursday, June 18 at 5 PM, this Smithsonian museum is hosting a free event with artists and curators celebrating its exhibit, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” “based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms,” according to the museum.

KNEAD Hospitality & Design: The gay-owned KNEAD restaurant group (including spots like Gatsby, Mi Vida, Succotash The Grill) is featuring the GLITTERATI cocktail, made with Tito’s, St-Germain Elderflower, Butterfly Flower, ginger, and yes, glitter. A portion of proceeds from every Glitterati cocktail sold will benefit The Trevor Project. The cocktail will be sold throughout June.

The Fountain Inn is partnering with Rhodium spirits (Rhode Island’s first LGBTQ+ owned distillery) all month, making cocktails like gimlets and espresso martinis featuring Rhodium’s liquors. Proceeds benefit SMYAL, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ youth.

Hard Rock Cafe: Hard Rock DC is taking part in the chain’s annual “LOVE OUT LOUD” campaign, with Pride merch, specials on June 20, and a donation to The Trevor Project.