Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Oct. 25
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more for the coming week
Darius T. Epps as a Titanic crew member, Katharina Acosta as the Lorelei and gay actor Jefferson Farber as Clinch Wilmont, first class passenger in ‘Hemispheric Dysfunctionalism and the Cortical Titanic,’ which runs through Oct. 28. (Photo by DSharp Photography, courtesy Shawn Nelson)
TODAY (Friday)
Today is “Spirit Day,” a day for people to take a stand against bullying by wearing purple. For events or a way to pledge against bullying, visit glaad.org.
Kathy Griffin performs tonight at DAR Constitution Hall (8th and C St., NW) at 8. The double Emmy-winning comedian has been doing years of celebrity-skewering standup along with supplying voices to shows such as “Dilbert” and “Shrek Forever After.” Tickets range from $65-$75. For more information, visit kathygriffin.net
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for men 21 and older. There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.
Phase 1 (528 8th St. SE) has its weekly dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight starting at 7:30. Cover is $10. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour this evening starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $10. The dance floor opens at 11 p.m. with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Burgundy Crescent volunteers for the 25th anniversary year of the Miss Adams Morgan Pageant at the Hilton Washington & Towers (1919 Connecticut Ave, NW) today at 5 p.m. for loading and unloading equipment. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Whitman-Walker Health holds HIV Testing at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Fort Fridge (607 New York Ave., NW) presents the “Hemispheric Dysfunctionalism and the Cortical Titanic” tonight at 8. Though the play takes place on the Titanic, it is not actually about the majestic ship. The play explores how people receive information and use the information in a rapidly changing world. The play runs Thursday-Sunday until Oct. 28. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit capitalfringe.com.
Prudential Gallo Realtors (37230 Rehoboth Avenue Ext, Rehoboth Beach) hosts 10 artists whose artwork features individuality and creativity tonight at 6. The exhibition will be up until Nov. 19. This event is free. For more information, contact Andrew Ratner at 302-227-6101.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW) features the exhibitions “To Plant Flowers While Waiting” by Ai-Wen Wu Kratz and “Anything but Straight” by Rhona LK Schonwald tonight at 6. The exhibitions run through Oct. 28. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
Saturday, Oct. 20
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, Va.) from 11:45 am-3 pm. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
D.C. Meet Market, a community gathering with food, music and vendors where “culture and neighbors collide,” has its penultimate event of the season today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the area around 15th and P streets N.W. in Logan Circle. If it rains, it will be held Oct. 29. Visit dcmeetmarket.com for details.
Sunday, Oct. 21
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke. Karaoke starts at 10 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Monday, Oct. 22
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, Oct. 23
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit-packing program tonight from 7-10:30. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) hosts its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) for duplicate bridge. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.
Thursday, Oct. 25
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its gay men over 50 support group this evening at 6:30 p.m. The group is for gay men entering a new phase of life. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) is hosting its weekly Best Package Contest tonight at 9 p.m. There is a $3 cover and there are $2 vodka drinks. Participants in the contest can win $200 in cash prizes. The event is hosted by Lena Lett and music by DJ Chord, DJ Madscience, and DJ Sean Morris. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Whitman-Walker provides free HIV testing at Glorious Health Club (2120 West Virginia Ave., NE) tonight at 10 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets tonight at 7 at 1425 S. Street, NW. Registration not required. For more information, visit lambdascifi.org.
Washington Blade hosts “2012 Best of Gay D.C. Party” at Capitale (1301 K St. NW) tonight at 6. Winners of the Blade’s annual reader’s poll will be announced at the party which runs until 9 p.m.
Kimpton’s Helix Lounge (1430 Rhode Island Ave., NW) holds its eighth annual Pumpkin Carving Contest and Happy Hour tonight from 6-9 p.m. Thirty pre-scooped pumpkins will be provided along with carving tools. Drink specials such as Pumpkin Martini and Starr Hill Pumpkin Porter will be available. There are prizes for “Most Ghoulish Gourd” and a special category has been added for the upcoming elections, “Most Political Pumpkin.” For more information, visit helixlounge.com.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The Washington Blade held its 18th annual Summer Kickoff Party in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Friday, May 16. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer spoke along with State Sen. Russ Huxtable, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey, Blade Editor Kevin Naff, and Clear Space Theatre Managing Director Joe Gfaller. The event raises funds for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which was awarded to AU student Abigail Hatting.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
In some fowl fiction foreshadowing, a gay-owned chicken joint has come home to roost on U Street, taking a page from the chicken window subplot on the HBO show “Looking.”
Last Friday, Lucky Pollo – much more than just a takeout window – stretched its wings atop the busy nightlife corner of 14th and U Streets NW.
Behind the poultry production place is Zach Renovátes, a D.C.-based nightlife operator and managing partner of LGBTQ venues Bunker and District Eagle, as well as the LGBTQ event production company KINETIC Presents.
Renovátes opened Bunker in February 2023 and District Eagle in January of this year. Lucky Pollo is the third in his growing gay empire, though this time there are noshes.
“Lucky Pollo was meant to be fun and a little provocative,” Renovátes said.
Based around its Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, Lucky Pollo is a quick-service restaurant boasting a small menu of poultry and sides. Renovátes says that the dishes are deeply rooted in Peruvian culinary tradition, “a playful experience alongside seriously good food.”
Lucky Pollo’s signature chicken is steeped in a dozen-plus-spice marinade for 24 hours. The meat is then slow-roasted, rotisserie-style, over oak-wood charcoal. Chicken options include quarter, half, and whole.
Helming the kitchen at Lucky Pollo is Chef Luis Herrera, who brings Peruvian recipes passed down through three generations, including his grandmother Laura’s original creations.
Beyond the full bird, the menu features Peruvian-inspired sides like yuca fries (“I personally love these,” says Renovátes) and fried plantains, as well as comfort classics such as mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, and bowls, wraps, and salads. Herrera oversees development of the multiple sauces (including staff favorite, the “secret green sauce”), crafted in-house using traditional Peruvian ingredients.
Lucky Pollo, in its streetside perch, is an independent concept from District Eagle, open to the public and staying open late (3 a.m. on weekends) to serve both nightlife guests and the wider U Street crowd hungry for late-night bites. However, just beyond the kitchen, tucked in the back lies a vintage 1950s candy machine—labeled “Out of Order,” which serves as the door leading to subterranean District Eagle.
Renovátes notes that when District Eagle is open, security staff will maintain a strict two-line policy, ensuring that those seeking meat to eat will not get entwined with those looking to gain access to District Eagle.
Lucky Pollo unites the need for sustenance with the idea of a bit of fortune, given its motto, “Get Lucky” and the whimsical brand mascot: a leather-booted chicken perched on a horseshoe. Renovátes and his District Eagle business partner had always been interested in opening a restaurant, and the Lucky Pollo space was indeed lucky: It already came with a functional kitchen. Plus, he says, the nearby fast-casual places around 14th and U streets “don’t offer a lot of quality options,” so opening the chicken spot “was a no-brainer.”
The space, designed by NYC creative Jasin Cadic, blends theatrical street-art-style vibes with Keith Haring-inspired wall prints, neon signs, and ceiling-hung chicken figurines —”some edgy, some sweet,” says Renovátes —creating an immersive, playful atmosphere. Lucky Pollo and District Eagle maintain separate amenities for their respective customers.
Lucky Pollo opened last week with a competition to devour a whole rotisserie chicken in the fastest time, with the winner earning $1,000 and a framed spot on the restaurant’s “Wall of Fame.” The opening also featured other games and prizes, and a full crowd spilling out the door.
“We want it to be a great place to eat, but also serve as a playful front for something completely unexpected.” Renovátes says.
On weekends especially, he jokes, the motto will be, ‘Come for the chicken, stay for the cock.’”
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