Arts & Entertainment

D.C. Black Pride events

Parties, poetry, seminars, services and more

Published

12 years ago

May 22, 2014

Mariah Cooper

Black Pride Opening Reception (Washington Blade file photo by Blake Bergen)

Friday, May 23

Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) holds the opening reception and awards ceremony in the Independence Ballroom tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Awards given will include the Ruth Ellis Award to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit. Local recording artist Rose Breyae will perform. There will also be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Kabin Lounge (1337 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts “The Warmup!,” the opening reception, pass distribution and happy hour, 4-9 p.m. There is no cover charge. Music will be a mix of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and house.

Ibiza (1222 First St., N.E.) hosts 5000 Men Pride Mega Party with a performance by soul singer Elle Varner from 9:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Marlo Hampton will host.

Vita Lounge (1318 9th St., N.W.) hosts “Gurl’s Play,” a dance party, from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. The night will be hosted by Dynce with music by DJ Jai Sincere and DJ Lady Mysterious. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 before midnight and $20 after midnight.

Rainbow Connects hosts speed dating and networking at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Check in starts at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 24

Fitness trainer Coach G presents a Powercore workshop at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The workshop teaches how to workout to define core muscles through a series of exercises focused on improving strength, flexibility, balance and mobility. Coach G has shared his fitness expertise on CNN, Fox News and writes a regular fitness column for the Blade.

There will be a writer’s forum at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 12:30-1:45 p.m. The moderator will be journalist Wyatt O’Brian Evans. Writers scheduled to appear are Buddah Desmond, La Toya Hankins, J. Omar and more.

Ballroom Community 101: Everything You Wanted to Know about the Ballroom Community, a workshop that explores the ballroom culture as shown in the documentary “Paris is Burning,” is at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) on the Independence level from 1-2 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring questions to discuss.

Are You Afraid of Aging: An Intergenerational Discussion is at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 2-3 p.m. The discussion will explore how each generation views aging.

Poet Tim’m West hosts D.C. Black Pride Poetry Slam at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 7-9 p.m. Sign up begins at 6 p.m. There will only be 15 spots available for the first round of poetry. Five audience members will be chosen to judge. The first place winner will receive $250, second place $100 and third place $50.

The Park on 14th (920 14th St., N.W.) hosts The Chill Out Super Day Party from 3-9 p.m. There will be three DJs on three levels spinning tracks. Free food is included for pass holders.

Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd., N.E.) hosts the Wet Dream Mega Party from 9:30 p.m.- 4 a.m. R&B singer Amerie will perform.

Upscale Ballroom (3900 Bexlery Pl., Suitland, Md.) hosts the Insomniac Pride After Party from 3 a.m. until sunrise. There will be dancers and hip-hop, R&B and house music.

Sunday, May 25

There will be an interfaith service at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H St., N.W.) from 9-11 a.m.

The Rock the Block Party will be held at the Fairgrounds (1299 Half St., S.E.) from 3-9 p.m. DJs will be playing hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and house music. Rapper Fly Young will perform.

The Health and Wellness Festival an HIV/AIDS awareness festival, is at Francis-Stevens School (2425 N St. N.W.) from noon-6 p.m There will be vendors, food and activities for children.

African-American Collective Theatre presents “Missing Pieces” at Anacostia Playhouse (2020 Shannon Pl. S.E.) with two performances at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The play tells the story of a veteran detective and his rookie partner who try to solve the murder of a popular gay activist.

Aqua Restaurant and Bar (1818 New York Ave., N.E.) holds its sixth annual House Rocker Female Dancer of the Year Competition from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. There will be a $1,000 cash prize.

Monday, May 26

The Annual Picnic will be held at Fort Dupont Park from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be live music and entertainment.

Kabin Lounge (1337 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts the Apocalypse Chapter V: The Close Out Party from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. There will be dancers and hip-hop, R&B, reggae and house music.

Tickets are available to become a pass holder at any of the parties and picnic for $130. They include perks such as free food, drinks, no cover charge and skipping lines.

2013 Black Pride Us Helping Us BBQ. (Washington Blade file photo by Damien Salas)

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Television loses a legend, longtime ‘Will & Grace’ director James Burrows

Iconic hitmaker leaves behind a legacy of telling LGBTQ stories

Published

20 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Christian Cintron

James Burrows (Photo by kathclick/Bigstock)

You don’t have to be a pretentious film major to name 10 movie directors. But naming television directors is not that simple. They’re the unsung heroes of your favorite shows, and the late James Burrows was the television director. He passed on June 19, but his DNA runs through television history.

He directed over 1200 episodes of television and over 50 pilots. He co-created “Cheers” and directed many episodes of long-running series like “Friends,” “Taxi,” “Frasier,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” You also may remember him from playing a heightened version of himself on the Lisa Kudrow comedy “The Comeback.”

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A post shared by James Burrows (@therealjamesburrows)

He has left an indelible mark on the LGBTQ community. As recently as last year, he directed the series run of “Mid-Century Modern” starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Linda Lavin. He was also a longtime director of “Will & Grace” and directed every episode of the series revival. He even directed the unaired “Absolutely Fabulous” pilot with Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Johnston, and Zosia Mamet.

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A post shared by James Burrows (@therealjamesburrows)

Not to mention he’s worked with queer icons throughout history, including Betty White and Stockard Channing on their single-season series, and Jennifer Coolidge in “2 Broke Girls.”

He started his career on shows like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda,” “Laverne & Shirley,” and the first four seasons of “Taxi.”

He continued to work steadily and directed successful pilots that went to series for “Roc,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “Dharma & Greg,” and “Wings.” He directed multiple episodes of “Friends,” “Caroline in the City,” and “Frasier.”

This magic continued into the 2000s with him directing the pilots for “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and multiple episodes of “Mike & Molly,” and the entire return series of “Will & Grace.”

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A post shared by James Burrows (@therealjamesburrows)

What was the secret to his success? He’d enact the “fun clause” in his contract. In his words, “Life is too short to deal with obnoxious leads,” he shared. “So as long as the writing is good and the cast is fun, I’m going to enjoy the experience.”

He had the magic touch, having multiple pilots turned into long-running series. He was nominated for an Emmy 24 times in 26 years and worked consistently until a year before his death.

The secret was the way he brought the cast together. He describes, “it was my job to mold them into an ensemble, and they did round into a group of people who loved each other.”

This earned him 11 Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards, including being awarded the inaugural DGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Television Direction.

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In a 2003 interview by the Television Academy, he was asked how he wants to be remembered, and he said, “That every night forever you can tune in somewhere, and there’ll be a show I did.”

He’s survived by his wife, Debbie, four daughters, seven grandchildren, and the countless people whose careers he launched and the countless viewers he inspired with his television legacy.