Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: events through Dec. 6

Parties, exhibits, concerts and more through Dec. 6

Published

13 years ago

November 29, 2012

Eileen Ivers, an Irish fiddler, plays Wolf Trap Friday night with the band Immigrant Soul. (Photo courtesy of Wolf Trap)

TODAY (Friday)

Whitman-Walker provides free confidential HIV testing at its Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (1701 14^th St., NW) today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

The Black Cat (1811 14^th St., NW) holds its “Dr. Who Happy Hour” tonight at 7 p.m. on its backstage. There will be one episode of “Dr. Who” along with drink specials. For more information, visit blackcatdc.com.

Eileen Ivers, a nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle champion, performs with Immigrant Soul tonight at 8 p.m. at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. Ivers combines traditional fiddle with more modern pop sounds. Tickets are $22. For more information, visit wolftrap.org.

Town (2009 8^th 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 8^th 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.

Saturday, Dec. 1

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, is helping in food preparation and packing groceries for Food and Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE) this morning at 8. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

The World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast takes place at Howard University School of Divinity Dining Hall (1400 Shepherd St., NE) today at 9 a.m. For details, visit ccwdc.org.

Dignity Washington, a group of LGBT Catholics and Christians, marks its 40^th anniversary tonight at Clyde’s Restaurant (707 7^th St., NW). There will be a reception, silent auction, gourmet dinner and entertainment by local gay actor/singer Will Gartshore. Tickets are $75. For more information, visit dignitywashington.org.

The Center Global meeting takes place at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) today at noon. The group is a new initiative that is focusing on three goals: looking at all resources and assistance available to LGBT asylum seekers in the area, getting the community involved and raising awareness of global LGBT issues and planning events that would raise funds for LGBT asylum seekers.

Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8^th St., S.E.) opens at 5:30 p.m. today with pool, video gaming systems and card tournaments. The dance floors open at 11 p.m. Admission is free until 9 p.m. and it is $10 after. For more information, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

The Black Cat (1811 14^th St., N.W.) hosts “Moon Bounce Dancing Affair” tonight at 10 on its backstage. The party includes a dance night of hip hop, house, ‘90s pop and not-so guilty pleasures. Cover is $7. For details, visit blackcatdc.com.

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 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

Sunday, Dec. 2

The ska/punk band “Bomb the Music Industry” performs at the Black Cat (1811 14^th St., N.W.) tonight at 8. Admission is $10. For more information, visit blackcatdc.com.

Monday, Dec. 3

Dr. Gregory Pappas from the D.C. Department of Health gives a talk titled “New Reponses to the DC HIV/AIDS Epidemic” this evening at 6:30 at George Washington Hospital Auditorium (900 23^rd St., NW). There will be light refreshments. The event is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th 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, Dec. 4

Muslims for Progressive Values invites you to “Unshackling Islam from Patriarchy” featuring Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning columnist and speaker on Arab and Muslim issues, tonight at 6:30 at the Human Rights Campaign Equality Center (1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW). For details, visit thedccenter.org.

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) presents its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.

The D.C. Center holds its “Freedom from Smoking Class” for members of the community who are trying to quit smoking this evening starting 6:30. The class is an adaptation of the American Lung Association’s group clinic that has helped thousands of smokers, however it has been modified to be more relevant to the LGBT community and people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Banana Café (500 8^th St., SE) has its open mic night tonight from 7 p.m. to closing. Admission is free and there are $3 mojitos after 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit bananacafedc.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 5

The National Center for Transgender Equality celebrates nine years at the National Press Club Ballroom (529 14^th St., NW) on the 13^th floor tonight at 7. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The D.C. Center and Professionals in the City hosts Lesbian Speed Dating at the Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., NW) tonight at 7. Attendees can support the D.C. Center and receive $5 off admission price when they use the promo cod DC_CENTER when they register. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Thursday, Dec. 6

The Mid-Atlantic Leather Womens Round Table Discussion is held tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) in the conference room at 7. For more information, visit thedccenter.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.

Photos

PHOTOS: Denali at Pitchers

‘Drag Race’ alum performs at Thirst Trap

Published

2 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Michael Key

Denali performs at the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show at Pitchers DC on April 9. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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’

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Last year, Baltimore Center Stage refused to give up its DEI focus in the face of losing federal funding. They've tripled down. (Photo by Ulysses Muñoz of the Baltimore Banner)

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.

Books

Susan Lucci on love, loss, and ‘All My Children’

New book chronicles life of iconic soap star

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Blackstone Publishing)

‘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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