Out & About
Summer’s second half
OutWrite book fest, 17th Street Festival, Kastles Night OUT and more coming soon

The annual 17th Street Festival will be Saturday, Aug. 25. This is a photo from last year’s event. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Let’s start with the bears. Now that Town is closed, several other venues have started Friday night bear happy hour events. It’s a long D.C. Friday evening tradition that goes back to DIK Bar and Titan.
Bear Happy Hour, which has been around about six years, is at the Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.E.) is every Friday evening from 6-10 p.m. No cover. Details at bearnonsense.com.
WOOF! Happy Hour is every Friday from 5-11 p.m. at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) with free pizza at 7:30 p.m., no cover before 9:30 p.m. and drink specials. Details at dceagle.com.
Otter Happy Hour by TRADE and Otter Den is every Friday from 5-10 p.m. at TRADE (1410 14th St., N.W.). No cover. Details at tradebardc.com.
D.C. Bear Crue’s Bear Happy Hour is every Friday evening from 5-10 p.m. at UPROAR Lounge and Restaurant (639 Florida Ave., N.W.). Details at dcbearcrue.com.
Other events of note throughout the summer include:
• Drag Brunch is every Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.). Tickets are $45.21.
• The Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival is Saturday, July 21, from 2-8 p.m. In Court Square in Harrisonburg, Va. Details at shenandoahvalleypride.org.
• City Winery (1350 Okie St., N.E.) has its Rooftop Vino and Vinyasa event featuring Ashley Binetti leading a 50-minute flow class on Saturday, July 21 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Tickets are $15. Details at citywinery.com.
• Lawyers for SMYAL is Wednesday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at 555 13th St., N.W. Tickets at app.etapestry.com.
• Night OUT at the Washington Kastles is Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Smith Center (600 22nd St., N.W.). Prices vary. Details at groupmatics.events.
• Jay Z and Beyonce bring their On the Run Tour II to FedExField (1600 Fedex Way, Landover, Md.) July 27-28. Tickets range from $49-770. Details at ticketmaster.com.
• DISTRIKT of Columbia has its BM 2018 Fundraiser on Saturday, July 28 at 8 p.m. at Flash (645 Florida Ave., N.W.). Tickets are $8-15 and available at ticketfly.com.
• Alan Cumming performs his cabaret show “Legal Immigrant” on Saturday, July 28 at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets are $59-349 at kennedy-center.org.
• “The Ask Rayceen Show” is the first Wednesday of each month and has its next installment on Wednesday, Aug. 1 with a poetry slam. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
• OutWrite 2018, D.C.’s LGBT Literary Festival, is Aug. 3-5 mostly at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) although the Laughing Out Loud kickoff event will be held at Ten Tigers Parlour (3813 Georgia Ave., N.W.) with Michelle Tea and Chelsea Shorte. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Full details on the festival at thedccenter.org.
• World of Rose on the Rooftop is Saturday, Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. at City Winery (1350 Okie St., N.E.) with Vanessa Phillips leading patrons through a sampling of 50 rose samples. Tickets are $45. Details at citywinery.com.
• Taste of Studio is Saturday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. at Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) offering art, culture and culinary excellence under one roof. Tickets start at $50. Details at studiotheatre.org.
• Distrkt C’s Rehoboth Beach weekend party is Aug. 4-5. Deborah Cox will perform on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Various passes and packages are available. Details at distrktc.ticketspice.com.
• Sistas Who Travel will host a drag brunch on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Dirty Martini (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Tickets are $40. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
• Distrkt C Winter White party is Saturday, Aug. 11 at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) with Twisted Dee Martello. Tickets are $20. Details at distrktc.ticketspice.com.
• Shakira brings her “El Dorado World Tour” to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Saturday, Aug. 11. CHCK PRICES. Details at ticketmaster.com.
• The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington has its Summer Restaurant Week Aug. 13-19. Details and participating restaurants at rwdmv.com.
• “Express Yourself! Madonna’s 60th Birthday Flow” is Thursday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at 405 Yoga D.C. (1000 Florida Ave., N.W.). Tickets at clients.mindbodyonline.com.
• The LGBT Biz Pitch Competition from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is Friday, Aug. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the chamber (729 15th St., N.W.). Details at nglcc.org.
• BARE (every third Saturday) has its ninth annual White Party on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 p.m. at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.). Wear white. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
• “Hard Paint (Tinta Bruta)” screens on Friday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at HRC Headquarters (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) from Reel Affirmations. Details at reelaffirmations.org.
• The 17th Street Festival is Saturday, Aug. 25 from noon-6 p.m. on the 1500-1600 blocks of 17th Street. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Friday, November 28
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. To RSVP, visit the DC Center’s website or email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen Bar. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, November 29
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 12 p.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.
Sunday, November 30
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Coffee and Conversation” at 12 p.m. at As You Are. Guests are encouraged to come and enjoy stimulating conversation. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, December 1
“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]).
“Soulfully Queer: LGBTQ+ Emotional Health and Spirituality Drop-In” will be at 3 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This group will meet weekly for eight weeks, providing a series of drop-in sessions designed to offer a safe, welcoming space for open and respectful conversation. Each session invites participants to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and belonging at their own pace, whether they attend regularly or drop in occasionally. For more details visit the DC Center’s website.
Tuesday, December 2
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Friends of Dorothy Cafe will host “Choose Our Blend” at 6 p.m. at Stardust Vintage & Gift. Guests are encouraged to come sip, sample, and vote on a lineup of custom coffee blends from Rustic Route Coffee Co., a DMV-based queer-owned roaster. Guests’ votes will help Rustic Route choose the café’s official signature roast. Event organizers will take donations, and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, December 3
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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 www.thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, December 4
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. 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 is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
API Queer Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for the Asian and Pacific Islander Queer Community. For more details, email [email protected].
Out & About
Delaware beaches ring in holidays with tree lightings
Festivities in Rehoboth preceded by a sing-along
The Rehoboth Beach annual tree lighting at the bandstand will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Festivities are preceded by a sing-along by Clear Space Theatre beginning at 6:30 p.m.
And if you’re not tired of tree lightings at the beach, check out the annual Dewey Beach tree lighting along Rt. 1 at Fifer’s market on Saturday, Nov. 29. Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. and include local businesses offering food and drinks along with the lighting.
Out & About
DC Center announces annual Thanksgiving program
‘Our food programs are about more than just meals’
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will launch its “Annual Thanksgiving Food Program” on Thursday, Nov. 27.
This program, alongside several ongoing initiatives, will ensure that D.C.’s queer community has nourishment, dignity, and connection year-round. Beyond the Thanksgiving holiday, the Center continues its commitment to food access through several vital programs.
The Free Food Pantry, supported by Wegmans Food Market, provides shelf-stable essentials, available to anyone in need. The Food Rescue Program, in partnership with Food Rescue DC, offers ready-to-eat meals while helping to prevent food waste. In collaboration with Hungry Harvest and MicroHabitat, the Fresh Produce Program distributes seasonal fruits and vegetables weekly through a simple lottery registration. Additionally, the Farmers Market Program, in partnership with Food For Health and AHF, brings locally sourced produce directly to the community each month, promoting healthy eating and supporting local growers.
“Our food programs are about more than just meals, they’re about nourishment, connection, and care,” said Kimberley Bush, executive director of the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. “In these uncertain times, we are proud to stand with our community and ensure that every person, regardless of circumstance, feels seen, supported, and fed, because everyone deserves a place at the table.”
For more information about the Thanksgiving Program or ongoing food initiatives, please visit thedccenter.org or email [email protected].
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