Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Sept. 14
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through Sept. 20
Along with Emperor Fidel I, seated, are (from left to right) Empress XXI of Corpus Christi, BeBe Evanson-Hughes; Empress XXVI of New York, Witti Repartee; and Absolute Empress XLVI of San Francisco, Saybeline Fernandez. The Imperial Court has a charity coronation event Saturday at Washington Mariott. (Photo courtesy Imperial Court)
TODAY
Special Agent Galactica performs at the Black Fox Lounge (723 Connecticut Avenue NW) from 6-9 p.m. tonight. Galactica will give a performance of live singing, lip sync, jazz, comedy and more to Friday nights. Known for her “Very-Sexy-Cute-Boy Combo,” Galactica will sing numbers ranging from Cy Coleman, Harold Arlen, and Irving Berlin to Quincy Jones, The Beatles and Prince. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Bear Happy Hour Fridays are back at Town (2009 8th St NW) from 6-11 p.m. every Friday night. There is no cover charge, however, you must arrive by 9:30 p.m. to get inside for free. There will be free pizza at 7 p.m. and drink specials. For more information, visit dcbearcrue.com.
Cobalt (1639 R Street NW) is hosting its Free Vodka Fridays called “Boy’s Life” again tonight. You must be 21 and up to enter and there will be open bar from 11 p.m. until midnight. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Ziegfeld’s DC (1824 Half Street SW) is hosting its Miss Ziegfeld’s 2013 competition tonight. Former title holder Patti Lovelace will be honored. Doors open at 7 p.m. The competition will begin at 8 p.m. For more information, visit ziegfelds.com.
Burgundy Cresent Volunteers will donate their time at the Falls Church PetSmart (Seven Corners, 6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) from 11:45 a.m. until 3 p.m. today. Also, The Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation is looking for dog-handlers for their adoption events. For more information on this event, visit ldcrf.org. To volunteer, email [email protected].
The Imperial Court will crown Emperor I during a charity event today at “Coronation I: Gala of the Americas” at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center (12th St NW). Doors open at 6 p.m. with a cocktail and VIP reception. The Gala will begin at 7 p.m. The beneficiaries of this year’s event are: PFLAG-DC, The Mautner Project, and Grandma’s House. Tickets are available at imperialcourt.org.
Sunday, Sept. 16
The SpeakEasy presents the return of drag performer Joey Arias to L’Enfant Café (2000 18th St NW) along with Sherry Vine and Raven O! The Dinner Show begins at 7 p.m. and includes a three course dinner and show. The late night show starts at 10:30 p.m. with cocktails and a show. Both events are reservation only. For more information, visit laboumbrunch.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St. SE) will hold its monthly open mic night tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. Drinks range from $2-$10 and all are welcome. Phase 1 has seen performances from singer-songwriters, spoken word artists, stand-up comics and live bands. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Monday, Sept. 17
The Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St.) hosts a book talk with Garrett Peck, the gay author of “The Potomac River: A History and Guide” today on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. Books will be available for sale and Peck will also be signing them. For more information, visit library.arlingtonva.us.
Tuesday, Sept. 18
Whitman-Walker Health Center (1701 14th St., NW) hosts its 10-week Coming Out Women’s discussion group tonight at 7 p.m. This group is for women who want to discuss their interest in women, sexuality, relationships and coming out. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Wednesday, Sept. 19
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.
Human Rights Campaign staff and supporters meet tonight at 7 p.m. at HRC Headquarters (1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW) to increase its grassroots membership base. Visit hrc.org for more information.
Thursday, Sept. 20
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U Street NW) has its weekly “Beat the Clock Happy Hour” today. Discounts last from 5-8 p.m. with specials on bottles of Miller Lite and House Vodka drinks. From 5-6 p.m. drinks are $2. From 6-7 p.m., drinks are $3 and from 7-8 p.m. drinks are $4. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
‘La Lucci’
By Susan Lucci with Laura Morton
c.2026, Blackstone Publishing
$29.99/196 pages
They’re among the world’s greatest love stories.
You know them well: Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Abelard and Heloise. Phoebe and Langley. Cliff and Nina. Jesse and Angie, Opal and Palmer, Palmer and Daisy, Tad and Dixie. Now read “La Lucci” by Susan Lucci, with Laura Morton, and you might also think of Susan and Helmut.
When she was a very small girl, Susan Lucci loved to perform. Also when she was young, she learned that words have power. She vowed to use them for good for the rest of her life.
Her parents, she says, were supportive and her family, loving. Because of her Italian heritage, she was “ethnic looking” but Lucci’s mother was careful to point out dark-haired beauties on TV and elsewhere, giving Lucci a foundation of confidence.
That’s just one of the things for which Lucci says she’s grateful. In fact, she says, “Prayers of gratitude are how I begin and end each day.”
She is particularly grateful for becoming a mother to her two adult children, and to the doctors who saved her son’s life when he was a newborn.
Lucci writes about gratitude for her long career. She was a keystone character on TV’s “All My Children,” and she learned a lot from older actors on the show, and from Agnes Nixon, the creator of it. She says she still keeps in touch with many of her former costars.
She is thankful for her mother’s caretakers, who stepped in when dementia struck. Grateful for more doctors, who did heart-saving work when Lucci had a clogged artery. Grateful for friends, opportunities, life, grandchildren, and a career that continues.
And she’s grateful for the love she shared with her husband, Helmut Huber, who died nearly four years ago. Grateful for the chance to grieve, to heal, and to continue.
And yet, she says of her husband: “He was never timid, but I know he was afraid at the end, and that kills me down to my soul.”
“It’s been 15 years since Erica Kane and I parted ways,” says author Susan Lucci (with Laura Morton), and she says that people still approach her to confirm or deny rumors of the show’s resurrection. There’s still no answer to that here (sorry, fans), but what you’ll find inside “La Lucci” is still exceptionally generous.
If this book were just filled with stories, you’d like it just fine. If it was only about Lucci’s faith and her gratitude – words that happen to appear very frequently here – you’d still like reading it. But Lucci tells her stories of family, children and “All My Children,” while also offering help to couples who’ve endured miscarriage, women who’ve had heart problems, and widow(ers) who are spinning and need the kindness of someone who’s lived loss, too.
These are the other things you’ll find in “La Lucci,” in a voice you’ll hear in your head, if you spent your lunch hours glued to the TV back in the day. It’s a comfortable, fun read for fans. It’s a story you’ll love.
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