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.
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.
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