Arts & Entertainment
Happy hour hangout
Nellie’s Sports bar de facto headquarters for many area LGBT sports leagues
Stonewall Bocce league players at a recent Nellie’s happy hour. (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
After spending several years in New York City and Chicago where the bar scene tends to have a neighborhood vibe, Doug Schantz came to D.C. hoping to recreate that neighborhood feeling when he launched Nellie’s Sports Bar in 2007.
“The original premise of Nellies was to create a neighborhood hangout for people to watch professional sports,” Schantz says. “I wanted to establish a friendly and approachable atmosphere where patrons would want to bring their friends.”
In a roundabout way of reaching the community, Schantz decided to focus some attention on the local LGBT sports teams. He began sponsoring leagues and tournaments and encouraging LGBT sports clubs to have happy hours at Nellie’s.
“Without any compromise, we sponsor any league that comes to us,” Schantz says. “We do it without any doubts.” The sponsorships turned out to be an incredibly good marketing strategy as almost all the LGBT sports athletes of D.C. live within a 3-5-mile radius of Nellie’s.
Another thing that Nellie’s has brought to the LGBT sports community is crossover in the sports teams. The teams are holding mixers together and it has resulted in athletes participating in multiple sports.
“The growth and awareness of LGBT sports in Washington D.C. can be credited in large part to Doug Schantz,” says JJ Johnson, a D.C. Gay Flag Football League board member. “He has given the LGBT sports leagues seed money, support and a place to go.”
If you happen to stop into Nellie’s on a Thursday night during the fall season, you’ll be surrounded by upwards of 80 people running around in T-shirts with Stonewall Bocce on the front and Nellie’s Sports bar on the back.
“Nellie’s Sports Bar and Doug have been amazing partners for us,” says Brien Bell, commissioner of the Stonewall Bocce League. “Years ago when we started Stonewall Bocce, Doug welcomed us to his home (Nellie’s) and was genuinely excited about partnering with us. He took a risk when others would not, because he believed in the value of sports like bocce and the importance of supporting our community. Five years later, he continues to support, motivate and inspire us. Stonewall Bocce would not be what we are today without Nellie’s.”
That kind of worship for Nellie’s is common among the leaders of the D.C. gay sports community. Who else has a bar that is crafted to their needs? Today, Nellie’s has evolved beyond professional and LGBT sports.
“Watching college sports has become a big portion of our business,” Schantz says. “I also predict that within five years, straight sports teams will begin coming to us for sponsorship.”
Following is a partial list of the LGBT sports clubs that meet at Nellie’s:
Every Saturday is CAPS Softball League (eight teams) beginning at 1 p.m.
Every Sunday is DCGFFL Flag Football (20 teams) beginning at 3 p.m.
Every third Tuesday is D.C. Rollergirls happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Every second Tuesday is D.C. Singles Volleyball happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Every first Friday (winter) is Ski Bums happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Every other month, D.C. Strokes has a happy hour from 5-7 p.m. (dates vary).
Every other month (spring/summer) CTA Tennis has a happy hour from 5-7 p.m. (dates vary).
Every first Tuesday is D.C. Furies Women’s Rugby happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Every Thursday is Stonewall Bocce Night beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Every first Wednesday is Team D.C. Velo (cycling) from 5-8 p.m.
Every second Thursday is Washington Wetskins (Water Polo) night from 5-8 p.m.
Every third Friday is Lambda Divers (Scuba) happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Every fourth Tuesday is Ping Pong Madness Night beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Every fourth Thursday is Capital Splats Racquetball Club happy hour from 5-8 p.m.
Every fourth Wednesday (winter) is Washington Wolves Ice Hockey Club happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
Cupid’s Undie Run, an annual fundraiser for neurofibromatosis (NF) research, was held at Union Stage and at The Wharf DC on Saturday, Feb. 21.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Sweat DC is officially expanding to Shaw, opening a new location at 1818 7th St., N.W., on Saturday, March 28 — and they’re kicking things off with a high-energy, community-first launch event.
To celebrate, Sweat DC is hosting Sweat Fest, a free community workout and social on Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. at the historic Howard Theatre. The event features a group fitness class, live DJ, local food and wellness partners, and a mission-driven partnership with the Open Goal Project, which works to expand access to youth soccer for players from marginalized communities.
For more details, visit Sweat DC’s website and reserve a spot on Eventbrite.
Friday, Feb. 20
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon with Yoga will be at noon at the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Center. This will be a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome! We’ll have card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Go Gay DC will host “First Friday LGBTQ+ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, Feb. 21
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, Feb. 22
Queer Talk DC will host “The Black Gay Flea Market” at 1 p.m. at Doubles in Petworth. There will be more than 15 Black queer vendors from all over the DMV in one spot. The event’s organizers have reserved the large back patio for all vendors, and the speak easy for bar service, which will be serving curated cocktails made just for the event (cash bar.) DJ Fay and DJ Jam 2x will be spinning the entire event. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, Feb. 23
“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 information, contact Adam at [email protected].
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. 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 percent cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, Feb. 26
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center. To be more fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
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