Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through July 4
Find out everything happening in the District from this weekend through July 4
‘Blue Bouquet Series #1’ by Mary D. Ott at the Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy of Touchstone Gallery)
Friday, June 28
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. There is no cover charge, and admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.
Special Agent Galactica performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free, and there will be an extended happy hour. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com or pinkhairedone.com.
Delta Elite (10 St., N.E.) hosts ladies night this evening from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. For more details, visit deltaelite.net.
“Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, screens tonight at the historic Heurich House Museum (1307 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.) at 8 p.m. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket. For more information, visit goldentriangledc.com.
Whitman-Walker Health provides four hours of free HIV testing today for National HIV Testing Day at Walgreens (1217 22nd St., N.W.) from 3-7 p.m. Visit whitman-walker.org for more information.
Saturday, June 29
Phase 1 of Dupont (1415 22nd St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Booty Beach Ladies Dance Party.” The winner of the party’s bikini and board shorts contest will receive cash and prizes. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5. Visit phase1dc.com for more information.
The 9:30 (815 V St., N.W.) Club hosts “1958,” a dance party featuring the music and videos of Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince, at 9 p.m. DJ Dredd spins, and he came up with the theme to commemorate the year all three pop icons were born. Admission is $15. For details and to purchase tickets, visit 930.com.
The Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs and Friends present “LGBTQ Youth Kickball” in Field Eight at West Potomac Park (West Basin Dr., S.W.) at 1 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts “Hellmouth Happy Hour” tonight at 7 p.m. One episode of the gay cult classic television show, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” screens and a drink special will be served. Admission is free. Visit blackcatdc.com for details.
Whitman-Walker Health provides four hours of free HIV testing today for National HIV Testing Day at Walgreens (1217 22nd St., N.W.) from 3-7 p.m. Visit whitman-walker.org for more information.
Sunday, June 30
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) hosts karaoke tonight from 9 p.m.-midnight. Cover is $3, and there will also be pool, video gaming systems and cards. For more information, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Perry’s (1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.) hosts its weekly Sunday Drag Brunch today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $24.95 for an all you can eat buffet. For details, visit perrysadamsmorgan.com.
The Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) presents “Tula’s Cabaret” this evening form 8-11 p.m. Admission is free. For more details, visit backfoxlounge.com.
The DC Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a transgender discussion group tonight from 7-8 p.m. Visit thedccenter.org for more information.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Guil-Tea Dance Party” today from 3-8 p.m. DJ Shea Van Horn spins pop guilty pleasures all afternoon. Admission is free and limited to guests 21 and over. For more details, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Monday, July 1
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Monday’s a Total Drag [Show]” party tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race screens at 9, and then a live drag show will be featured. Admission is 18+ and free. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
The DC Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee, and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center (1318 U St., N.W.) has a volunteer night this evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, July 2
The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts its weekly FUK!T Packing Party tonight from 7-9 p.m. For more details, visit thedccenter.org or greenlanterndc.com.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts happy hour this from 4-9 p.m. this evening. There is no cover, and $1 rail drinks will be served. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Finn and Porter (900 10th St., N.W.) hosts speed dating for LGBT women tonight from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $30. For more details and to register online, visit thedccenter.org.
DC Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) hosts “$2 Tuesday” tonight from 4 p.m.-midnight this evening for the leather community. All domestic beer and rail drinks are $2. For details, visit dceagle.com.
The Mova Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) screens Will & Grace reruns tonight from 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Half-priced “Karen Walker Martinis” and “Just Jack Cocktails” will be served. There is no cover. For more information, visit movalounge.com.
Wednesday, July 3
Heist (1802 Jefferson Pl., N.W.) hosts its weekly open bar party tonight from 10-11 p.m. There is no cover charge and admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit heistdc.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) hosts drag bingo during happy hour tonight from 5-7:30 p.m. All drinks are half price, and there will also be pool, video gaming systems and cards. Admission is free. For details, visit bachelorsmill.com.
Spoken word poet, Regie Cabico, performs tonight at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 7:30-9 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at the Dignity Center (721 8th St. N.W.) for Duplicate Bridge at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Visit thedccenter.org for more details.
The Dupont Drawing Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) to draw from the live model. The session is self-directed with no formal instruction, and no materials are provided. Drawing spots and easels are available on a first come first serve basis, so guests should arrive anytime after 6:45. No reservations are required, and a modest fee to pay the model will be collected. For more information, visit paulreuther.com.
The Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave, N.W.) hosts a preview today from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. of two new exhibits, “Geometrics” by photographer Pete McCutchen and “Hot Off the Press” by monotype artist Mary D. Ott. Visit touchstonegallery.com for more information.
Thursday, July 4
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts a “Nice Jewish Boys Pageant” tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The final contestant will win the title of “Nicest Jewish Boy in Washington, D.C.” Admission is free, and drink specials will be served for guests 21 and over. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Mova Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) hosts “GLBT College Night” this evening, with a vodka open bar for guests who have a college ID from 9-10 p.m. Admission is free and 18+. Visit movalounge.com for more details.
Brightest Young Things host a 4th of July Pool Party today at the Capitol Skyline Hotel (10 I St., N.W.) from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is $15 and open to all ages. For details and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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