Arts & Entertainment
D.C. arts briefs: Aug. 10
Tom Nichols at the Center, Queer Queens return to Birchmere and more
Tom Nichols plays the D.C. Center this weekend. (Photo courtesy Nichols)
A little night music
Singer-songwriter Tom Nichols performs Saturday night at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) starting at 8 p.m. Guests are suggested to make a $10 donation upon entry.
During his musical career, Nichols has experimented with a wide range of genres, including classical, folk, rock and pop. The openly gay singer/songwriter has also co-produced an independent musical on film, directed various choirs and has provided aspiring musicians voice and guitar lessons.
Nichols has produced 11 full-length albums, and has performed at impressive venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City and Boston Symphony Hall.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at thedccenter.org. For more information on Nichols, visit tomnicholsmusic.com.
Olympics at Nellie’s
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) has extended hours during the Olympic games.
Today the bar will open two hours early at 3 p.m.; “Beat the Clock” happy hour will start at 5, featuring $2 bottles of Miller Lite and house vodka drinks from 5-6.
Nellie’s will start screening the Olympics at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning and the Olympic closing ceremony at 4 p.m. on Sunday, with $4 Miller Lite and house vodka drinks and $15 buckets of beer.
For more details, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
A gay ole’ time
Now in their seventh year, the Queer Queens of Qomedy are bringing the laughs to Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Poppy Champlin, a producer and internationally popular comedian, selects the best lesbian comics from around the country for each performance. Michelle Balan, who has performed with the Queer Queens before, and newcomer Zoe Lewis will be featured in the Birchmere show along with Champlin.
Balan was a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and regularly performs at the NY Friars Club. Lewis is a musical comedian, supplementing her jokes with her piano and ukulele skills.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at thebirchmere.org. For more information on the show, visit queerqueensofqomedy.com.
Magic show launched at Helix Lounge
Kimpton’s Hotel Helix (1430 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) launches a new Friday night magic show series, “THINK: An Evening of Mind Reading and Magic,” featuring magician Josh Norris tonight at 8 p.m.
Norris is a D.C. native, magician and mind reader.
Ticketholders can enjoy an extended Helix Lounge happy hour by arriving early, as well as $4 “Magic Hat” beers and $8 “Magic Martinis.” Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at joshnorris.com. The show is recommended for ages 18 and older, but guests as young as 13 are welcome to attend.
Several communities in the region have opted to beat the heat of a June Pride celebration in favor of a cooler affair in the coming months. Here is our list of LGBTQ Pride events scheduled throughout September and October in cities across Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia Pridefest
September 14
12-8 p.m.
Richmond, Va.
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Richmond’s annual Virginia Pridefest will be held at Bon Secours Training Center (2401 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va. 23220) this year with vendors, activities and performances from entertainers including Crystal Waters, Robin S, Tank and the Bangas, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Kennedy Davenport. The event is free.
Following the festival, Godfreys (308 E. Grace Street) is hosting the “After Pride Beach Party” from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. with drag shows scheduled for 9 and 11 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is $5 at the door or $30 for VIP tickets on Eventbrite.
PRISM Pride Festival
September 14
12-4 p.m.
Waynesboro, Va.
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The Virginia town of Waynesboro is holding its very first Pride celebration downtown (19 N. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va. 22980) on Saturday. There will be vendors, a performance by Shagwüf, interactive downtown bingo and other activities.
Shenandoah Valley Pride
A performance at Shenandoah Valley Pride in 2023. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
September 21
1-5 p.m.
Harrisonburg, Va.
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The 10th annual Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival will be held at Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Attendees can expect music, drag performances, vendor booths and more.
Winchester Pride
A scene from last year’s Winchester Pride at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
October 5
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Winchester, Va.
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The sixth annual Winchester Pride festival is being held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (901 Amherst Street, Winchester, Va. 22601) on Saturday, October 5. The event is free.
An afterparty is scheduled for the evening at The Monument VA in downtown Winchester (186 N. Loudoun Street) with doors opening at 8 and a drag show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased here. The afterparty is 21+.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
October 5
2 – 6 p.m.
Havre de Grace, Md.
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The sixth annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 in Havre de Grace, Md. at Concord Point Park (701 Concord Street). The event is free and family-friendly with live music, drag performances, food trucks, vendors and artists.
Laurel Pride
October 12
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Laurel, Md.
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The third annual Laurel Pride will be held on Saturday, October 12 at Granville Guide Park (8300 Mulberry Street) in Laurel, Md.
SWVA Pride Fest
October 12
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Salem, Va.
Website
Southwest Virginia Pride (SWVA Pride) will be held at Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Boulevard) in Salem, Va. on Saturday, October 12. There will be live music, entertainment, vendors, a family zone and a petting zoo, among other attractions at the free event.
TriPride
October 12
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Bristol, Va.
Website | Eventbrite
The TriPride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 12 at Cumberland Square Park (200 Lee Street) in Bristol, Va. The event is free, but tickets from Eventbrite are required for entry. There will be live performances, vendors, food trucks, health services and more as the “tri-cities” of Bristol (Va.), Kingsport and Johnson City (Tenn.) celebrate the LGBTQ community. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Pride Franklin County
October 13
12 – 5 p.m.
Chambersburg, Pa.
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Pride Franklin County is being held at Wilson College (1015 Philadelphia Avenue) in Chambersburg, Pa. on Sunday, October 13.
Pride Southern Maryland
October 13
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lexington Park, Md.
Website | Facebook
The seventh annual Pride Southern Maryland will be held on Sunday, October 13 at Lexington Manor Passive Park (21675 South Coral Drive) in Lexington Park, Md. The event will feature live performances, drag, a dedicated kids zone, speakers, vendors, food trucks and more, according to organizers.
HoCo Pride
October 13
12 – 4 p.m.
Columbia, Md.
Website | Facebook
The fifth annual HoCo Pride — Howard County Pride — is scheduled for Sunday, October 13 at Marriweather Park at Symphony Woods (10431 Little Patuxent Parkway) in Columbia, Md. You can expect live performances, vendors, food trucks, community information and family-friendly fun at the park on Sunday.
Staunton Pride
October 26
12 – 5 p.m.
Staunton, Va.
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Staunton Pride is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at the GHP Bandstand Area (600 Chruchville Avenue) in Staunton, Va. Expect live performances, vendors and more.
The Human Rights Campaign held its National Dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 7. Speakers included Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and HRC President Kelley Robinson.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
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