Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through Jan. 31
Sugarloaf Craft Festival, Helen Hayes Awards and more pack a big week
‘Berlin Window,’ a work by Peter Karp, will be on display at Studio Gallery in February. (Photo courtesy of Studio Gallery)
TODAY (Jan 28)
Sugarloaf Craft Festival comes to the Dulles Expo Center (4320 Chantilly Shopping Center) today at 10 a.m. and runs through Sunday at 5 p.m. The festival provides opportunities to people to buy works from about 250 local and national artists. Attendees can also enjoy master craftspeople, live music, gourmet foods and interactive family entertainment. For more information, visit sugarloafcrafts.com.
Arcturus Theater Company presents its inaugural production “3 by Samuel Beckett,” a production that showcases three rarely seen Beckett plays: “That Time,” “Embers” and “Rough For Theatre II,” tonight at 7:30. The show runs through Feb. 3 at the D.C. Arts Center (2438 18th St., NW). Tickets are $10-$15. For more information, visit arcturustheater.com.
Special Agent Galactica plays Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Music includes songs by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Sinatra and Ray Stevens. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.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.) has its happy hour today 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, Jan. 26
Burgundy Crescent volunteers this morning at Food and Friends (219 Riggs Rd., NE) at 8 a.m. and again at 9:45 a.m. Volunteers will help with food preparation and packing groceries. The shifts are limited to 10 per shift. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
DCTV (901 Newton St., NE) hosts a screening of “Between Women” and “Orange Juice in the Bishop’s Garden,” two new series that focus on LGBT relationships, today at 3 and 5:30 p.m. The event includes a Q&A with producers and cast members. There will be a conversation about visibility, tolerance and various issues facing the LGBT community. RSVP is required. Space is limited but attendees are encouraged to bring up to five guests. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Town (2009 8th St., NW) hosts DJ Chord tonight at 10 p.m. DJ Chord has become one Washington’s favorite DJs with gigs in several local clubs including a regular Saturday gig on Town’s main floor. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW) holds its “Tainted Love: ‘80s Dance Party” at 10 p.m. Cover is $5. For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.
Sunday, Jan. 27
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (747 Ridge St., NW) welcomes LGBT Latinos and their friends for a potluck today at 12:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. For more information, email [email protected].
Monday, Jan. 28
The Helen Hayes Awards nominees will be announced this evening, with a broadcast beginning at 6:45 in the National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW). The Helen Hayes Awards recognize and celebrate achievements in about 80 professional theaters in the Washington metropolitan area. The ceremony can be seen through live webcast on theatrewashington.org. For more information, visit theatrewashington.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It’s 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 D.C. Lambda Squares holds an open house tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, NW). The only square dance club located in Washington, the free open house invites everybody to meet members and give square dancing a try. Experience is not needed. Food and door prizes included. For more information, visit dclambdasquares.org.
Tuesday, Jan. 29
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) hosts its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, Jan. 30
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It’s 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.
Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) at 7:30 p.m. for duplicate bridge. Newcomers are welcome and no reservations are needed. For more information or if you need a partner, visit lambdabridge.com.
Pros in the City and the D.C. Center host speed dating for gay men at the Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., NW) tonight from 7-9 p.m. The event combines intimacy and romance with the fast track pace of speed dating. The night consists of dating for one hour and then mixing and mingling for the rest of the night. Forty-eight hours after the event a link will be sent to everybody who attended the event so that they may message each other without disclosing their personal emails. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Thursday, Jan. 31
Whitman Walker provides free HIV testing at Miriam’s Kitchen (2401 Virginia Ave., NW) today from 4-6 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Studio Gallery (2108 R St., NW) opens its gallery “Shadows” by Peter Karp today, featuring photographic images in juxtaposition to found objects, cutouts and geometric shapes, and “Rough/Smooth/Evolving” by Trish Palasik, a play on rough and smooth textures on the surface of figures. The first Friday reception is on February 1 and the artist’s reception is on February 16. For more information, visit studiogallerydc.com.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
