Local
Double L bar in Rehoboth Beach sold
Venue to reopen as ‘Diego’s Hideaway’


Owners of the Double L Bar in Rehoboth Beach sold the business on March 29. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
John Meng and Mark Fernstrom, longtime owners of the Double L Bar, Rehoboth Beach’s leather bar, sold the business on March 29. The new owners, Darryl and Joe Ciarlante-Zuber, are also longtime Rehoboth business owners, having owned the restaurant Dos Locos for 17 years. In those years the partners (in business and life) expanded their business from a small location where the former Seafood Shack was located on Baltimore Avenue, to increasingly larger spaces until it moved to Rehoboth Avenue. They sold Dos Locos in March 2017.
After taking some time off, they said they wanted to stick to their roots in the hospitality business at the beach, and contacted Meng and Fernstrom, who had been interested in selling their bar, and told them of their interest in purchasing the business.
The bar has a unique and rare tavern license, which means it need not sell food. This interested the new owners, so when they opened it during the Easter weekend it retained its status as a tavern.
According to Joe Ciarlante-Zuber, “we will make some changes including fixing up the outdoor patio to give it a more tropical feel and revamping the bar design by adding a new draft beer system.”
The bar will be renamed Diego’s Hideaway and will reopen soon. The new owners plan to continue the popular Saturday night Man Dance, Gear it UP Friday night and will bring in Thursday night performances by Bearlesque, a popular group out of Philadelphia.
Owner Darryl Ciarlante-Zuber said, “The Hideaway has the largest gay dance floor in Rehoboth Beach and provides off-street parking.” He is “pleased at the overwhelming support we received when word got out that we had purchased the bar.”
The bar is located on Rehoboth Avenue, next to Crystal’s Restaurant.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours

D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.
In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.
According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.
The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.
Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.
At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.
It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.
Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
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