Arts & Entertainment
Calendar through August 1
From Beyoncé to bears, Gettysburg to Green Lantern
The cast of ‘A Chorus Line,’ which opens next week at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland. The Tony-winning musical features 24 performers and an eight-piece orchestra and will be the largest production in the Center’s history. (Photo by Heater Latiri; courtesy OTC)
Friday, July 26
Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) hosts “Frikitona: Musica Latina by Queers for Queers” tonight at 10 p.m. DJ Abichula spins reggaton, bachata, salsa, merengue and electrolatino all night. Admission is $10. Visit the event on Facebook or phase1dc.com for more details.
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.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts a women in their 20s meeting tonight from 8-9:30 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts “Free Vodka Friday” tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Cover is $10 and free vodka rail drinks will be served from 11-midnight. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. Visit cobaltdc.com for details.
Adventuring, a gay and lesbian outdoor group, lead a Gettysburg walking tour today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station and should bring $12 for transportation and trip fees. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) hosts its bi-monthly “Jocks and Boots”-themed party tonight from 4 p.m.-3 a.m. For details, visit dceagle.com.
Saturday, July 27
Phase 1 of Dupont (1415 22nd St., N.W.) hosts its weekly “Booty Beach Ladies Dance Party” tonight. 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.
“Bedroom Mirrors,” a romantic drama directed by Chinita L. Anderson, Pooja Chawla, Misha D. Clive and Gwen Outen, runs today at Fort Fringe (607 New York Ave., N.W.) at 12:30 p.m. as part of the Capital Fringe Festival. The show features a queer trans woman’s quest for intimacy and identity. For more information, visit capitalfringe.org.
Centaur Music presents the “Gay Days Tour with DJ Randy Bettis” tonight at 10 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). The party includes digital download giveaways of the “Gay Days Volume 10” CD. Cover is $8 from 10-11 and $12 after 11. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit towndc.com.
The 2011 French drama film, “Tomboy,” screens at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) tonight from 6-8 p.m. The film follows the journey of Mikhael, a 10-year old transgender boy. For more information, visit busboysandpoets.com.
Sunday, July 28
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.
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts its weekly Drag Brunch with Shi-Queeta Lee today at 11 a.m. The buffet is $24, including one free mimosa. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.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.
Monday, July 29
The Fort Reno Summer Music Series continue tonight at Fort Reno Park (Chesapeake St. and Nebraska Ave., N.W.) from 7:15-9:30 p.m. Tonight’s local bands include Priests, Humble Fire and The Accidentals. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fortreno.com.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon 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 Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) hosts “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Starring Beyoncé” this evening at 8 p.m. Tickets are sold out. For details, visit verizoncenter.com. She plays a second show Tuesday night which is also sold out.
Coco Montrese performs tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 11. Admission is free and open to guests 18 and over. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Tuesday, July 30
Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts an open mic night this evening from 8-11 p.m. Admission is free and performers can bring sheet music or use the music books provided. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, a gay volunteer organization, volunteer tonight from 7-10:30 p.m. for a safer sex kit packing program at the Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.). Visit burgundycrescent.org for more information.
Wednesday, July 31
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.
The Dupont Drawing Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) to draw from a 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 D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) hosts Job Club from 4-6 p.m. tonight for LGBT individuals seeking employment. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. Reservations are not needed and newcomers are welcome. Call 703-407-6540 for more information and if you need a partner.
Thursday, Aug. 1
The Fort Reno Summer Music Series continue tonight at Fort Reno Park (Chesapeake St. and Nebraska Ave., N.W.) from 7:15-9:30 p.m. Tonight’s local bands include Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Sniffs and Nervous Impulse. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fortreno.com.
“A Chorus Line,” directed by Stephen Nachamie, premieres at 8 p.m. this evening at the Olney Theatre (2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Md.). Tickets range from $32.50-65, with discounts available for students, seniors, groups and military members. For more information, visit olneytheatre.org.
The D.C. Boys of Leather host a “boys night out” this evening at D.C. Eagle (639 New York Ave., N.W.) at 9 p.m. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
House passes reconciliation with gender-affirming care funding ban
PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride
Men convicted of murdering two men in NYC gay bar drugging scheme sentenced
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
WorldPride events round-up
Pope Leo XIV: Family based on ‘stable union between a man and a woman’
Wes Moore signs HIV decriminalization bill
