Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: events through Jan. 17
Concerts, parties, exhibits and more through Jan. 17


‘Detritus’ by Diane Wiencke is part of the ‘Art From the Hinterlands’ series. (Image courtesy the Series)
TODAY (Friday)

On Foursquare? Add many of these events to your To-Do list, and connect with the Blade to always be in the know.
The big news this weekend, of course, is Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend which has events tonight and through late Sunday night. All specifics are at leatherweekend.com.
KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING M.A.L. WITH OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE PAGE
The Hong Kong Dance Company and the Guangdong Song and Dance ensemble present “Qingming Riverside” for a special performance tonight at 8 and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater (2700 F St., NW). The show is inspired by the scroll painting “Along the River during the Qingming Festival,” which was painted between AD 1119 and 1125. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Whitman-Walker Health offers HIV testing at Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., SE) tonight from 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Daryl Wilson hosts his monthly “First Fridays” party at the Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) starting at 10 p.m. DJ Bladerunner is on the upper level while DJ Sedrick is on the main floor on the lower level. Cover is $10. For more information, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
A special edition of CODE, a gear party with a strict dress code for anyone into leather, rubber, jock gear, etc., is tonight and Saturday from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. at the Crucible (16 M Street, NE). CODE is ordinarily the first Saturday of the month. XXX Code resumes Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. also at the Crucible. Visit codedc.com for details.
Gallery B (7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda) has its opening reception for a new show tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. The show features Patricia Affens, Ceci Cole McInturff, Alice Kresse, Maya Ormsby and Susan Tibolla Gray. For details, 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. (21 and up). There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.
Saturday, Jan. 12
Blowoff resumes tonight with its first dance party of the new year with gay DJs Bob Mould and Rich Morel. Expect lots of folks from Mid-Atlantic Leather to join the fun again this year. It’s at the 9:30 Club (815 V Street, NW) and starts at 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. A portion of the proceeds goes to Brother Help Thyself. Visit blowoff.us for details.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington has two performances of its “Showmen and Showstoppers” cabaret fundraiser today at Camp Rehoboth in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Soloists from the chorus will perform their favorite cabaret numbers, many with show business themes. Tickets are $20. Call 302-227-5620 to order. The performance is in the “big room” at Camp Rehoboth, located at 37 Baltimore Ave. in Rehoboth Beach. Visit camprehoboth.com or gmcw.org for details.
The year-long art series Art from the Hinterlands presents “Fragmented Musings” by Diane Wiencke at Stages Premier Realtors (1515 14th St., NW) this evening from 6-8 p.m. Wiencke’s work challenges the idea that artists need to be living in cities and metropolitan communities to create meaningful work. The series features artists living in remote regions. For details, call 202-449-8657.
Whitman Walker offers HIV testing at D.C. Center (1318 U St. NW) this afternoon 4-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Burgundy Crescent needs 12-14 volunteers this morning from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the MLK Library for two enormous children’s book projects. For details, visit burgundycrescent.org.
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, Jan. 13
Defenders Washington, part of Dignity Washington, offers a Roman Catholic Mass today at 6 p.m. for leather, levi and fetish community during Leather Weekend at St. Margaret’s Church (1820 Connecticut Ave., NW). Everyone is welcome. For details, visit dignitywashington.org.
Burgundy Crescent volunteers at D.C. Central Kitchen this morning from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will help cook and prepare food. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Lambda Sci-fi has its monthly meeting at 1425 S St., NW for LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans today at 1:30 p.m. The annual blind book exchange will be at the same time. For details, visit lambdascifi.org.
Monday, Jan. 14
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.
Banana Café (500 8th St., SE) has its karaoke night tonight from 7 p.m. to closing. Admission is free. For more information, visit bananacafedc.com.
Tuesday, Jan. 15
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.
Wednesday, Jan. 16
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.
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) at 7:30 p.m. Newcomers are welcome and no reservations are needed. For more information or if you need a partner, visit lambdabridge.com.
Thursday, Jan. 17
Club Heaven (2327 18th St., NW) hosts Indie Adams Morgan, a local indie music series, starting tonight with the band Funk Ark. Cover is $8. For more information, email [email protected].
Special Agent Galactica and her rock steady band play Cobalt (1639 R St., NW) tonight from 8-10 p.m. The show features classic and contemporary rock songs including music from Led Zeppelin, Romantics, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane and Elton John. No cover. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.
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.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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