Arts & Entertainment
Best of Gay D.C. XIII: Nightlife
Winners from the Blade’s readers poll
To see the winners of the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. readers poll in other categories, click here.
Best Outside-the-District Bar
Freddie’s Beach Bar

Freddie’s Beach Bar (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
555 23rd St.
South Arlington, Va.
703-685-0555
Runner-up: Club Hippo
Baltimore
Best Rehoboth Bar
Blue Moon
Runner-up: Purple Parrot

Blue Moon (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
After more than 30 years of entertaining crowds of tourists and locals alike, the Blue Moon is an iconic presence on Baltimore Avenue. The restaurant side of the building serves up some of the best food in town, while the bar side is busy year round. From the friendly bartenders — Matt, Chandler, Rich and others — to the lineup of entertainment, which includes Cashetta, Mona Lotts and, of course, the Queen of Rehoboth, Pamala Stanley, there’s always an energetic and welcoming vibe at the Moon. (KN)
Blue Moon
35 Baltimore Ave.
302-227-6515
Best Happy Hour
Bear Happy Hour at Town

Bear Happy Hour at Town Danceboutique (Washington Blade photo by Jon Wooten)
Fridays from 6-10 p.m.
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St., N.W.
202-234-8696
Runner-up: Nellie’s Sports Bar
Best Place to Meet Men
Nellie’s Sports Bar

Nellie’s Sports Bar (Washington Blade photo by Lee Whitman)
900 U St., N.W.
202-332-6355
Runner-up: JR.’s
Best Drag Show
Ladies of Town
Runner-up: D.C. Kings

Ladies of Town (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The Ladies of Town perform cabaret style every Friday and Saturday night downstairs at 10:30 p.m. and feature many of the most well-known and established drag queens in the D.C. area. The cast is Lena Lett, Shi-Queeta-Lee, Ba’Naka, Tatianna and Epiphany B. Lee. The Ladies of Town also won this award in 2008, 2011 and 2012. (JD)
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St. N.W.
202-234-8696
Best Place to Meet Women
Phase 1

Phase 1 (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
525 8th St. S.E.
202-544-6831
Runner-up: Ladies Tea at Hank’s Oyster Bar
Best Gay-Friendly Straight Bar
Dacha Beer Garden
Runner-up: Stoney’s

Dacha Beer Garden (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Beer lovers rejoice. This beer garden, located in the Shaw neighborhood, is perfect for expanding your beer palate. If you’re feeling adventurous you can even order a boot of beer — exactly what the name suggests. (MC)
Dacha Beer Garden
1600 7th St., N.W.
202-524-8790
Best Live Music
9:30 Club

9:30 Club (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
815 V St. N.W.
202-265-0930
Runner-up: Black Cat
Best Neighborhood Bar
JR.’s

JR.’s (Washington Blade file photo by Pete Exis)
1519 17th St., N.W.
202-328-0090
Runner-up: Nellie’s Sports Bar
Best Men’s Party
Mixtape
Runner-up: Bear Happy Hour at Town

Mixtape (Photo by David Claypool | kaloramaphoto.com)
Mixtape, which celebrated its sixth anniversary last month, wins this category again this year after last winning in 2012. The monthly dance party, where DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer spin “anything you can dance to” has its third annual Mixtape Halloween Bash Oct. 31 at the Howard Theatre (620 T St. N.W.). Doors open at midnight and tickets are $10. (JD)
Mixtape
Locations vary
Best Women’s Party
Phasefest
Runner-up: Bare by LURe

Phasefest (Washington Blade photo by Damien Salas)
Best Alt Party
GAY/BASH!
The Black Cat
1811 14th St., N.W.

Joshua Vogelsong of GAY/BASH! (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Next event is Halloween Freak Show Saturday night, a queer night of rock and pop gems with DJs Dean Sullivan and Josh Vogelsong and performances by Heidi Glum and Rumor Millz. Doors open 10 p.m. Cover is $5. Tickets available at the door or at blackcatdc.com. GAY/BASH! also won this prize last year. (JD)
Runner-up: Otter Crossing
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
Friday, June 12
Bet Mishpachah will host “Pride Shabbat Happy Hour” at 6 p.m. at Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center. This is an in-person happy hour with an open wine and beer bar, great company, and joyful conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Women in their Twenties and Thirties will meet at 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social discussion group for queer women in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, visit Facebook.
Saturday, June 13
Out N Bad will host “SWEET WHINE: DC Pride Queer Caribbean Slow Whine Function” at 9 p.m. at Decades DC. This is a late-night escape into slow and steamy Dancehall & Kompa only. No splits. No headtops. No pressure. Tickets are $22.14 and are available on Eventbrite.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host a screening of “10s Across the Borders,” a bold pan-Asian queer film that confronts homophobia, transphobia, and racism while celebrating Southeast Asia’s underground ballroom scene. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Sunday, June 14
Beth A Wolfe Yoga will host “Pride Baby Goat Yoga” at 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington, Va. The goats will be decked out in their finest Pride apparel, and human participants are welcome to do the same. Proceeds from this event will go to the Trevor Project. Tickets cost $44.52 and are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 15
“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 ([email protected]).
Tuesday, June 16
“Self-Defense Class with Avi Rome” will be at 12:30 p.m. Rome is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and a full-time Martial Arts instructor with 25 years of teaching experience. He holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do and is the director of the studio’s Adaptive Tae Kwon Do program for students with special needs. He has also run numerous self-defense workshops for various groups and situations. For more details, visit the center’s website.
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 17
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.
Thursday, June 18
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm 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.
