Arts & Entertainment
Countdown to fun
Town, Cobalt, Green Lantern and more have New Year’s Eve parties planned
Town Danceboutique (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Several D.C. nightlife spots — some gay, some not — give you hot spots for your New Year’s Eve countdown.
Town (2009 8 St., N.W.) presents “New Year’s Eve” featuring music by Shea Van Horn and Ed Bailey and a 2013 music video countdown. Décor is by Kidd Madonny of 3DX and there will be a live performance by Team Peaches. Doors open at 9 p.m. Drag show is at 9:30 p.m. featuring Shi-Queeta Lee and more. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. Advance tickets are $20.
The Dupont Circle Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.) presents “White Wonderland Masquerade” with a live cello performance by Cyrus Reel, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and a premium open bar. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $125.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts a New Year’s Eve party with “American Idol’s” Blake Lewis and William and Detox Icunt from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” There will be a meet and greet with William and Detox Icunt from 10-11 p.m. The venue is open until 4 a.m. Tickets are $20.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts “495 Bears New Years Eve Party” tonight from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Hats and streams, champagne at midnight and coffee and donuts at the end of the night will be provided. Free entry before 11 p.m. if you mention “495 Bears.” Admission is $10 after 11 p.m.
MOVA Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) hosts “Blastoff: A New Year’s Eve Space Oddity,” a trans-positive and all-gender-inclusive party, from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. There will be a photo booth, heated roofdeck, glow-in the-dark souvenirs and free champagne at midnight. Tickets are $10.
Brightest Young Things presents “Rumspringa: New Year’s Eve” at The Church of the Blind Whino (150 H St., N.W.) from 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. There will be an open bar all night. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. Tickets are $99.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents “ New Year’s Eve Ball” with Peaches O’Dell and DJ Dredd and Grap Luva. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.
All Things Go presents “NYE 2014,” with DJ sets from Ghost Beach and Lightwaves, at Napoleon Bistro and Lounge (1847 Columbia Rd., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. There is an open bar including beer, wine and cocktails. Tickets are $65 in advance and $85 at the door.
U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) presents a New Year’s Eve party with DJs Nadastrom, Gent and Jawns and Jen Lasher at 9 p.m. Cover is $10 all night. No dress code. Admission limited to guests 21 and over.
Ristorante Piccolo (1068 31st St., N.W.) hosts “A Romantic New Year’s Eve” from 5 p.m.-midnight. There is a candlelit four-course Italian dinner with musician accompaniment. There will be a champagne toast at midnight. For details, visit piccolodc.com.
The Mansion on O Street (2020 O St., N.W.) hosts a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Explore 100 rooms, 70 secret doors, 14 kitchens and two wine cellars. There will be a chocolate fountain, kissing booth, treasure hunt with prizes and a champagne midnight toast. Tickets are $75.
Doubletree Hotel Bethesda (8120 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md.) hosts a New Year’s Eve masquerade ball. There is a open bar with specialty drinks, multiple food stations, dance lessons, live band, movie theater and champagne toast at midnight. There will also be professional face mask painters to create masks at the party. Tickets are $99. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For details, visit doubletreebethesda.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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