Arts & Entertainment
Comfort food hub
‘60s-inspired diner the Satellite Room does great with the basics
Satellite Lounge (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The last few weeks have been a foodie’s nightmare, at least for me. I’m busy at work, my dining partners are all away and worst of all, I’ve had a long lasting head cold that had made everything I eat taste the same.
So, when I finally started to feel a bit better, I found myself craving the comforts of diner food and with The Diner on 18th Street seeming like it was a bit too far away, I decided it was finally time to try out the Satellite Room (2047 9th Street NW). The Satellite Room opened Oct. 9 and is located right behind the 9:30 Club.
As one would expect, the space is super cool and trendy and an awesome white neon “Satellite” sign behind the bar dominates the main room. The Hilton Brothers who already own and operate American Ice Company and Brixton in the 9th and U area are the men behind this ‘60s-inspired diner. This location serves up food inspired by traditional diners like the meatloaf and fried chicken but they also offer a few twists with items like the tilapia tacos and the Chile rellenos. Patrons also have the option to build their own burger where you pick your patty, bun, toppers and sauce — a great feature I’m looking forward to trying on my next visit. However, what sealed the deal on my decision to give Satellite Room a try were the “adult milkshakes.”
All the “boozy shakes,” $10 each, are named after famous television characters like Lucy Ricardo (chocolate with Johnny Walker Black), Archie Leach (strawberry with Tanqueray London dry gin); or the A.C. Slater (avocado with Jose Cuervo). Nobody will even judge you if you admit that as a kid you like “Saved by the Bell” when ordering this shake. I tried the Patsy Stone, which was pineapple, coconut, orange and nutmeg, with Captain Morgan spiced rum. This milkshake was gone in moments and tasted like a richer and more decadent pina colada. My dining partner chose the Linus Van Pelt which was peanut butter and No. 12 Tennessee Whiskey. It was another rich but delightful option, the boozy milkshakes alone make Satellite Room worth visiting, but don’t just fill up on them because the food is also quite good and comforting.
An excellent example of a delicious and comforting dish is the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Sure, it’s a basic dish, but a basic dish that can go terribly wrong in many establishments. We have all had the rock hard hockey puck piece of meat that needs to be doused in ketchup or hot sauce to even be edible. The meatloaf at Satellite Room was nothing like those culinary disasters — the meat was moist and fluffy and had the right amount of flavor and spices; no sauces were necessary.
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The mashed potatoes were obviously the perfect complement to this traditional meat and potatoes dish. Another standout was the macaroni and cheese. My dining partner admitted that on a previous visit he almost ordered a third portion. I don’t blame him. This little dish of goodness contains a rich and creamy multi-cheese sauce that coats the pasta perfectly and evenly and the baked topping adds the delightful bit of warm crunchiness. While my head cold prevented me from venturing too far away from the comfort foods I craved, I am looking forward to returning soon and seeing what other dishes live up to the meatloaf and mac and cheese.
There are a few desserts on the menu, like the apple cobbler and churros and Mexican hot chocolate and I love ending a meal with some sweets, but when I was tempted with possibly having another “adult milkshake” I decided that would be the better option. It’s an after dinner drink and dessert all in one. Overall, Satellite Room is a great place to grab a drink with friends, have a quick relaxing bite or hang out before or after a concert.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
The Washington Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP
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