Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Dec. 6
Parties, exhibits, concerts and more through Dec. 6
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 14th St., NW) today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
The Black Cat (1811 14th 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 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 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 40th anniversary tonight at Clyde’s Restaurant (707 7th 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 8th 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 14th 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 14th 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 23rd St., NW). There will be light refreshments. The event is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
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, 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 8th 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 14th St., NW) on the 13th 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.
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.
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.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
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.
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Comings & Goings
Trump budget targets ‘gender extremism’
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