Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 16
Parties, events, concerts and more through Thanksgiving Day
The Washington Chorus presents ‘The Essential Bernstein’ Sunday at 5 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The late composer/conductor Bernstein was gay. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Chorus)
TODAY (Friday)
Gay Districts hosts its fourth Thanksgiving potluck dinner at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., NW) tonight at 8:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring food and drink. For details, visit gaydistrict.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW) presents “Drag Illusion”, a photo essay about drag queens by Michael Lang. Lang particularly focused on Town and the process the performers went through. The gallery is opened today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
The Speakeasy Shorts Film Challenge ends tonight at the U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW). The challenge was to write, shoot and edit a film based off of eight local storytellers in five days. The first day is when the filmmakers learned about their story. Now it is time to see their product. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit speakeasydc.com.
The Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) presents Olivia Newton-John tonight at 8 p.m. In her most recent tour she is revisiting some her classics such as “Physical” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You” along with some of her more recent pieces. Tickets range from $48 to $78. For more information, visit Strathmore.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for people 21 and older. There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour tonight 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.
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.
Saturday, Nov.17
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) holds Transgender Community Discussion today at 3 p.m. The goal of the meeting is to discuss the needs of transgender community. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, needs volunteers for the MLK Library (901 G St., NW) in the morning from 9:30 to noon. Approximately 12-15 volunteers are needed. If volunteers want to go to lunch at Potbelly or California Tortilla, they should bring $7-$10. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.com. Members also volunteer at Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation at the Petsmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) today from 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. For details, visit burgundycrescent.com.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) celebrates its fifth anniversary tonight at 10 p.m. The club is celebrating with DJ Chris Cox and performances by its dance troupe The Dance Camp. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. There are $3 drinks before 11 p.m. The drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Sunday, Nov. 18
The Washington Chorus presents “The Essential Bernstein” today at 5 at Kennedy Center Concert Hall (2801 Upton St., NW). The concert is presenting music of the legendary Leonard Bernstein, featuring music from “Candide,” “West Side Story” and “Chichester Psalms.” Tickets are $15-$65. For more information, visit thewashingtonchorus.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke, which starts at 10 p.m. No charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Monday, Nov. 19
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
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, Nov. 20
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to commemorate those who have been killed as a result of transphobia. It began in 1998 when transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith memorialized Rita Hester who was killed for being transgender. Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St. NW) is holding a service this evening at 6 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) for social bridge. A partner is not needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.
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.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts “WTF: Thanksgiving in Space” party tonight at 10. The celebration includes cosmo-nauts and pumpkin moonpies. Cover is $5. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Thursday, Nov. 22
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps with the Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless and needy at Rosemary’s Thyme restaurant (18 & S St., NW) today from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is expected that 500-600 homeless and needy people will be served. For details, visit burgundycrescent.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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