Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Dec. 20
Parties, concerts, support groups and more for the coming week


‘Descendants,’ a work by the late Jude Nagel, is on display at Gallery B in Bethesda, one of the galleries participating in the Bethesda Art Walk. (Photo courtesy of Valerie Hillman)
TODAY (Friday)
Whitman-Walker Health offers HIV testing at Anacostia Metro Station today from 1-4 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Special Agent Galactica returns with her Happy Hour Show full of jazz, blues, cabaret, standards and comedy tonight at 6 at the Black Fox Lounge (1732 Connecticut Ave., NW). This week Galactica is excited to welcome New York singer, actor and writer Michael Vitaly Sazonov as a special guest. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.
The Bethesda Art Walk takes place in several downtown Bethesda art galleries starting this evening at 6 p.m. Galleries including Artworks (7740 Old Georgetown Rd.), Consider It Done (7806 Old Georgetown Rd.) and Gallery B (7700 Wisconsin Ave.) invite participates to view their diverse exhibitions. For more information, visit bethesda.org.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts “Dr. Who Happy Hour” tonight at 7. There will be one episode of “Dr. Who” and drink specials. Admission is free. For details, visit blackcatdc.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.
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 with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Saturday, Dec. 15
Chantry chorus performs “Palestrina Christmas” along with other selections tonight at 8 at St. Bernadette’s (70 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring). Tickets are $30. For more information, visit chantrydc.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.) starting at 11:45 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
The MLK Library of the D.C. Public Library (901 G St., NW) is in need of volunteers to help shelve and reorganize books from 9:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) opens at 5:30 this evening with a 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 “Hellmouth Happy Hour” where attendees watch one episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” with drink specials. Cover is free and doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, visit blackcatdc.com.
Sunday, Dec. 16
The Holy Advent, an integration of seasonal vocal and instrumental music, performs several holiday selections this afternoon at 3:30 at the Church of the Holy City (1611 16th St., NW). This event is free with a reception right afterward. For more information, visit churchoftheholycitydc.org.
Monday, Dec. 17
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. 18
Whitman-Walker (1701 14th St., NW) holds its group Starting Over for Women tonight at 7. The group is for women whose long-term relationship with another woman. Registration is required. For more information, visit whitman-walker.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 (1318 U St., NW) 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 from 7 p.m. to closing. Admission is free and there are $3 mojitos after 7:30 pm. For more information, visit bananacafedc.com.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) for social bridge. A partner is not needed. Visit lambdabridge.com for more information.
Bookmen D.C., an informal men’s gay-literature group, meets tonight at 7:30 to discuss selections from “50 Gay & Lesbian Books Everyone Must Read” at the American Foreign Service Association (2101 E St. NW). For more information, visit bookmendc.blogspot.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.
Thursday, Dec. 20
A “Holy Spirits Pan-Christian LGBT Christmas Party” hosted by Dignity Washington Young Adults is tonight from 7-10 p.m. at Nellie’s (900 U Street, NW). All LGBT Christians (any denomination) in their 20s and 30s are invited. Find the Young Adults group on Facebook. The page for this event is here.
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.

The Opening Reception for the 34th annual D.C. Black Pride was held at the Capital Hilton on Friday, May 23. Presenters, speakers and entertainers included Ts Madison, Monroe Alise, Billy the Goat, Kerri Colby, Apple Brown Betty, Heather Mahogani, Lyrical Mar, Lolita Leopard, Ink, and Bang Garçon. Anthony Oakes was the host.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)





















The 2025 Silver Pride Resource Fair and Tea Dance was held at the Eaton Hotel on Wednesday, May 21.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)










Out & About
Queer film festival comes to D.C.
DC/DOX to showcase LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers

DC/DOX will host a film festival beginning on Thursday, June 12, at the Regal Gallery Place, Eaton Cinema, and the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theatre.
This festival will premier LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers. Each screening will be followed by in-person Q&As with the filmmakers.
For more details, visit dcdoxfest.com