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

6 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

Support HIV research with a drag show

Tara Hoot, Evry Pleasure, TrevHER to perform

Published

3 weeks ago

April 5, 2024

Tinashe Chingarande

Tara Hoot performs at Cherry Sundays on Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

El Techo will host, in partnership with Cherry Fund, a special edition of “Cherry Sundays” on Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m.

This event is a one-day fundraising bottomless brunch. There will be performances by Evry Pleasure, Tara Hoot and TrevHER, with DJ Lemz. All tequila shot purchases will be donated to the Cherry Fund.

The Cherry Fund raises money for LGBTQ non-profits whose primary goal is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS with prevention, treatment and education, and mental health services.

The event costs $45, inclusive of bottomless brunch on margaritas, mimosas, Bloody Marys and Tecates.

Bars & Parties

MAL kicks off Jan. 11 with Bootcamp

Mid-Atlantic Leather begins with party at Bunker

Published

4 months ago

January 5, 2024

Tinashe Chingarande

MAL Weekend kicks off next week. (Image courtesy of Bunker)

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend arrives next week with a kickoff event Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Bunker. Organizers at Kinetic promise a surprise drill sergeant who will whip you into shape. Joshua Ruiz DJs the event. This event is for VIP pass holders only; visit kineticpresents.com for details.

Bars & Parties

A roundup of New Year’s Eve parties in D.C.

Celebrate the start of 2024 in style

Published

4 months ago

December 29, 2023

Tinashe Chingarande

Xavier Entertainment LLC will host the seventh annual Times Square NYE Celebration at 10 p.m. at Ivy City Smokehouse. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

New Year’s Eve 2024 at Lost Society will be at 7 p.m. at Lost Society. There will be unique entertainment all night along with a journey of the senses through captivating light shows and LED displays, music, and bottle service presentations throughout the evening. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Busboys and Poets will host New Year’s Eve Open Mic and Party at 10 p.m. at 2021 14th St., N.W. This will be an evening of poetry, live DJ, dancing, food, and good company in a vibrant atmosphere where local artists take the stage, showcasing their talents in various genres. The night will be hosted by the talented Charity Blackwell and will feature award-winning poet Black Chakra. Dyanna Monet will deejay. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

QueerTalk DC will host Sapphic New Year’s Celebration at 8 p.m. at FigLeaf Bar & Lounge. The event will celebrate Sapphic, trans, and non-binary communities and feature complimentary hors D’oeuvres, a Champagne toast and DJ sets by DJ Clamazon and DJ Q. For more details, visit Eventbrite.

The Queers Upstairs will host Heels & Ties: A Queer New Years Eve Surprise at 9 p.m. at Aliceanna Social Club. This evening will be an unforgettable LGBTQ New Year’s Eve party where you can sip your favorite cocktails and enjoy small bites while dancing the night away with music from DJ Rosie & DJ Missy. Tickets start at $30 and can purchased on Eventbrite.

BuffBoyzz Gay-Friendly Male Strip Clubs will host a male revue that caters to men and women at 8 p.m. at Buffboyzz Male Strippers. The event will be an exciting, entertaining and sexy show of exotic male dancers in that will entertain your pants off. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

International Events Washington DC will host the 2024 Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala at 7:30 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. There will be free-flowing Champagne, an open bar, a spectacular balloon drop in the Euro Discotheque Ballroom and live bands and DJs. For dinner, guests can choose from an elegant sit-down, three-course dinner with Champagne or a dinner buffet of international cuisine. Tickets start at $189 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Social Architects will host the 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Casino Night at 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Arlington, Va. There will be six rooms of entertainment spread across three floors. The DJs will spin hip hop, R&B, salsa, Afrobeats and old school music. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Pitchers and A League of Her Own will host a NYE party with complimentary Champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a DJ all night long.

Shaker’s plans a drag extravaganza with Tatianna and Crystal Edge among others starting at 10:30 p.m.; the $10 cover includes a glass of Champagne.

Bunker hosts a 12-hour masquerade ball with several DJs, including Joe Gauthreaux. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. Tickets start at $45 and are available at bunkerdc.com.

DJ Alex Love spins NYE at Dirty Goose with drink specials at midnight.