Bars & Parties

Queer Queens and Hot Bits show off Baltimore’s racier side

Poppy and her ladies serve up laughs March 25; next weekend looks steamy

Published

8 years ago

March 22, 2018

Queer Queens, gay news, Washington Blade

Gloria Bigelow joins the rotating cast of the Queer Queens of Qomedy this weekend in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy QQQ)

Sometimes there’s just too much worthy stuff happening to fit into our usual calendars or Out & About page. Here are two upcoming LGBT Baltimore events you may want to check out.

On Sunday, March 25, the Queer Queens of Qomedy play Magooby’s Joke House (9603 Deerco Rd., Timonium, Md.) at 5 p.m.

Gloria Bigelow (“Last Comic Standing,” OWN’s “Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious”), Poppy Champlin (producer and host who has been on Showtime, HBO and more) and Michele Durante, a veteran of New York’s top comedy clubs, trade off doing mini-sets. It will mark the first time Bigelow is playing Baltimore since she lived there around the year 2000.

“I think any show that has three women on it is a political statement,” the Rhode Island-based Champlin says. “We don’t need a man to have a sell-out comedy show. Women are funny and appreciate women’s humor.”

Tickets are $25. VIP tickets are $40.

Next weekend Hot Bits, a queer erotic short film and arts festival that celebrates queer and transgender people of color, will be held in Baltimore.

“This festival is part of rewriting the alienating categories defined by the mainstream commercial porn and sex industries of who and what are desirable and what desire looks and feels like,” organizers said in a release. “We believe erotic art holds the potential for uncovering the sexual self-determination necessary for fully liberated connection and healing.”

While the Blade typically does not peddle in porn — no judgement, just not our thing — Hot Bits is so refreshingly off the beaten path, we feel it deserves a shout out. Fair warning, though: Hot Bits indie shorts range from erotic softcore to hardcore (its poster proudly boasts “XXX”). It’s curated and produced by a collective of queer artists including Baltimore-based TopShelf.

It runs Saturday, March 31 (8 p.m.)-Sunday, April 1 (7 p.m.) at Creative Alliance (3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore). Tickets are $10 or $7 for Creative Alliance members. Festival passes are $18 ($15 for members). More details here.

The festival, in its second year, received more than a hundred submissions from all over the world.

Wet Bits, an after party, will be held Saturday night at 10 p.m. at Trip’s Place (1813 N. Charles St., Baltimore). GRL PWR, a Baltimore-based events collective for female-identified, non-binary femme and queer artists, hosts the afterparty. Details here.

Model Luzifer Priest in a photo by Evie Snax that’s part of the Hot Bits queer erotic festival next weekend in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy Hot Bits)

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Bars & Parties

Mixtape Sapphics hosts holiday party on Dec. 13

‘Sugar & Spice’ night planned for Saturday

Published

3 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

(Photo by New Africa/Bigstock)

Mixtape Sapphics will host “Sapphic Sugar & Spice: A Naughty-Nice Mixtape Holiday Party” on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. at Amsterdam Lounge.

This is a festive, grown holiday party for queer women and sapphics 35 and older at Revolt’s Christmas pop-up. There will be music, joy, and an optional White Elephant.

This is Mixtape Sapphics’ first-ever holiday party — a cozy, flirty, intentionally grounded night created just for queer women and sapphics 35+ who want real connection, festive joy, and a warm place to land at the end of the year.

Tickets start at $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Bars & Parties

Impulse Group DC to host fundraiser

Giving Tuesday and Happy Hour held at Thurst Lounge

Published

2 weeks ago

November 28, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Thurst Lounge (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Impulse Group DC, a local advocacy organization, will host “Giving Tuesday and Happy Hour” on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at Thurst Lounge.

This event is a special happy hour fundraiser filled with good vibes, great food, and community connection. DJ Obie will be on deck keeping the energy high while you enjoy tacos, cocktails, and the kind of atmosphere only Thurst can deliver.

A portion of every signature cocktail sold goes directly toward supporting Impulse Group D.C.’s work in sexual health, mental health, harm reduction, and social justice for the D.C. community.

Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Bars & Parties

Halloween weekend is here

Local events abound for a spooky good time

Published

2 months ago

October 30, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

The annual High Heel Race is the kickoff to D.C.’s Halloween festivities. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Halloween weekend is here, and here’s a list of just some of the local events if you’re looking to have a spooky good time.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This is an opportunity to mingle with LGBTQ folk and allies. Halloween costumes are encouraged or casual beach attire is fine. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Mixtape Sapphics will host “Bad Witch, Good Butch: A Sapphic Halloween Dream” on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. at Revolt DC. This is a halloween party for sapphics from the ages of 35 and above. There will be costumes, connection and dancing. Tickets are $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Taste Takeover will host “Abuela Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at 639 Florida Ave., N.W. DJ Yani will play music and there will be a costume contest with prizes to be won. Tickets cost $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Metro Cabaret Club will host “Spookshow Spectacular: Dance Place After Dark Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. at Dance Place. This is D.C.’s Halloween nightlife and draglesque showcase, featuring live performances, creative marketplace, and costumed revelry. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.

Punch Bowl Social will host “Halloween Bash” on Friday. Oct 31 at 9 p.m. at Punch Bowl Social Arlington. This will be a night of hauntingly good times with a killer DJ, vendors, and a costume contest. Tickets cost $12.09 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Thrust Lounge will host “Nightmare on 14th St.” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. DJ Tryfe will play music, and there’ll also be a costume contest with prizes. For more details, visit Thurst’s Instagram.

Nellie’s Sports Bar will host “Halloween Scariest Costume Contest” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their scariest, creepiest, most haunting look for a Halloween night they won’t forget — fueled by Casamigos and Nellie’s signature spooky fun. For more details, visit Nellie’s website.

Kiki DC will host “Kiki’s Halloween Costume Contest” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. This event will be hosted by Pirouette and there’ll be prizes for the top three costumes. For more details, visit Kiki’s Instagram.

Sinners and Saints will host “Heaven’s On Fire (Queer Pop Dance Party)” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. There will be two floors and music by Sonali Dawar, DJ Noons and Aria McIntosh. There will also be drink specials all night.

Crush Dance Bar will host a Halloween costume contest on Friday, Oct. 31 at 11 p.m. Drag queens Empress Lena and Sasha Adams will host the event. For more details, visit Crush’s Instagram.