Arts & Entertainment
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW EVENTS: Notes to self …
D.C.’s LGBT spring social calendar swirling as always

Helen Hayes Awards (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW 2015: Some upcoming events don’t fit in our regular spring arts categories. Here are a few to mark on your calendar.
• The Miss Gaye Universe D.C. Ball is Sunday at 4 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.).
• The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CAGLCC) has its seventh annual mega networking event on March 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). It’s free.
• Allied in Pride, an LGBT group at George Washington University, hosts Trans Day of Visibility with Laverne Cox on March 31 at 7 p.m. at the Lisner Auditorium (730 21st St., N.W.). The event is sold out.
• Brother Help Thyself has a town hall meeting on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Baltimore Inner Harbor (511 South Central Ave.). Another is planned for Washington. The mission is to discuss community needs and available resources.
• Family Equality Council and the D.C. Center are co-hosting a “family dance” on April 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Center (2000 14th St., N.W.). It’s part of the Council’s “family weekend in D.C.” event running April 3-5.
• The Helen Hayes Awards for local theater are April 6.
• The Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch is April 19 at 11 a.m. at the Marriott Marquis (901 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.).
• The Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner is April 18 in Richmond.

The Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner in Richmond, Va. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
• The Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance has its annual Distinguished Service Awards on April 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Policy Restaurant and Lounge (1904 14th St., N.W.). Tickets are $55. Chuck Hicks, Alexandra Andrea Beninda and Anne Phelps will be honored.
• Comedian Judy Gold will headline the CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST April 9-12.
• Cherry is April 16-19 at various locations.
• Pride at Work has its third LGBT Labor Leadership Training April 17-18 at the AFL-CIO Building (815 16th St., N.W.).
• Dining Out for Life is April 30. Details on participating D.C. restaurants at its site.
• Gay Day at the Zoo is May 3 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.).
• Youth Pride is May 3 from noon-5 p.m. in Dupont Circle. Details at youthpridedc.org.
• The Blade’s annual Rehoboth summer kick-off party is May 15. Details coming soon.
• Hagerstown Hopes Pride 2015 is May 16 from noon-4 p.m. at Doubs Woods park (1307 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, Md.).
• Miss Gay Maryland America is May 16 at the Hippo (1 W. Eager St., Baltimore).
• Capital Trans Pride is May 16 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Reeves Center (2000 14th St., N.W.).
• The 53rd annual Gay Golden Boy Awards for the Academy of Washington are June 6 at Town (2009 8th St. N.W.) at 4 p.m.
• The GenOUT Chorus, a new youth chorus spin-off of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, makes its debut May 15-16 at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.).
• D.C. Black Pride weekend is May 21-25. Wet Dreamz 2015 from Daryl Wilson Promotion and Omega Entertainment is the same weekend.

Black Pride Picnic at Fort Dupont Park. (Washington Blade file photo by Damien Salas)
• The Capital Pride Heroes Gala is June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Carnegie Library (801 K St., N.W.). Many other Pride-related events are also planned for June 5-14. Details at capitalpride.org/pride-2015.
• The Capturing Fire Queer Spoken Word Summit & Poetry Slam is June 4-6. Details at capturingfire.org.
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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