Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2018
The High Heel Race, dance parties, group discussions and more in the week to come
The cast of ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ (Photo courtesy Kennedy Center)
Friday, Oct. 26
The D.C Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Woof: Happy Hour and Porn Star Bingo this evening from 5-11 p.m. Beaux Banks hosts Porn Star Bingo which will have prizes. There will be free pizza for the crowd at 7:30 p.m. Drink specials run until 11 p.m. No cover before 9:30 p.m. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
JR.’s Bar (1519 17th St., N.W.) hosts Divas, a night dedicated to the music of divas, tonight from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. DJ Darryl Strickland will play the music of Cher, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and more. Drink specials are from 9 p.m.-midnight. For more information, visit facebook.com/jrsbardc.
D.C. Bear Crue hosts Bear Happy Hour at Uproar Lounge & Restaurant (639 Florida Ave., N.W.) this evening from 5-10 p.m. Drink specials run until 10 p.m. and include $5 rail cocktails and $5 draft pitchers. Free appetizers will be handed out throughout the night. For more details, visit facebook.com/bearhappyhour.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) presents Birds of Prey, a drag show, tonight at 10:30 p.m. Various local drag queens will perform. DJ C Dubz will play music. For more information, visit facebook.com/dcbridsofprey.
The Latino GLBT History Project hosts a screening and discussion of the film “Chavela” at Human Rights Campaign (1649 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) tonight at 7 p.m. The film tells the story of singer Chavela Vargas. For more details, visit latinoglbthistory.com.
Stonewall Kickball team Down to Field hosts Down to Float Drag Cruise leaving from D.C. Cruises (3100 K St., N.W.) to sail the Potomac tonight from 9:30-11:45 p.m. There will be drag performances from Desiree Dik, Bombalicious Eklaver and Bellatrix Fox. Tickets are $55 and includes an open bar. Proceeds will benefit the D.C. Center. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Advocates for Youth (1325 G St., N.W.) presents “Intersex 101: Our Shared Liberation,” a workshop on the basics of being intersex, tonight from 6-8 p.m. Dinner will be provided. For details, visit facebook.com/advocates4youth.
Broadway Center Stage presents “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) today with shows at 2 and 8 p.m. The musical stars Megan Hilty and Josh Radnor. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Saturday, Oct. 27
Miss Adams Morgan 31: SHEroes and Villains is at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight at 6 p.m. Queen Eva and the Dupont Social Club host the event. Tickets are $85. Search “Miss Adams Morgan 31: SHEroes & Villains” on Facebook for more information.
The Bentzen Ball Comedy Fest presents comedians Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, Naomi Ekgeperin and more at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) tonight at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more details, visit bentzenball.com.
The Halloween Hip Hop Bar Crawl is today in the U Street neighborhood from 3-11 p.m. A DJ at each bar will spin a different genre of old school hip hop music from the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s. Costumes are encouraged. There will also be drink specials and giveaways. Participating bars include Vivid Lounge, Clock & Dagger, Amsterdam and Pure Lounge. The grand finale afterparty will be at Provision 14 from 8-11 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit facebook.com/1920dc.
The gay-led Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company will perform “Silhouettes” based on American culture in the National Portrait Gallery at the gallery in the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium this evening at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 30 (same time). Details at dtsbdc.org.
Washington Concert Opera performs Opera Outside today at 11 a.m. at Merdian Hill/Malcolm X Park near the Joan of Arc statue on the top field. Children and dogs welcome. It’s free and open to the public. Selections will include works from the current season. Details at concertopera.org/outside.
Sunday, Oct. 28
The Bentzen Ball Comedy Fest and Lyft presents Belly Laughs, a charity brunch featuring “Queer Eye” star Antoni Porowski and friends, at Eaton D.C. (1201 K St., N.W.) at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10:30 p.m. Total proceeds will benefit Whitman-Walker Health. Tickets can’t be bought but Lyft users can use the code “AVOCADO” for a chance to win. For more information, visit bentzenball.com.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts Sunday Mass, a monthly house/techno music event, tonight from 6 p.m.-midnight. DJ Billy Lace will play music. Cover is $5. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Monday, Oct. 29
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours for the senior LGBT community this morning from 10 a.m.-noon. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, Oct. 30
Mayor Muriel Bowser presents the 32nd annual 17th Street High Heel Race on 17th Street between R and P Streets tonight at 7 p.m. The pre-race happy hour kicks off at Level One/Cobalt patio (1639 R St., N.W.) at 5 p.m. The parade is at 7 p.m. followed by the race at 9 p.m. For details, visit facebook.com/
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Nellies’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts “A Rocky Horror Halloween” tonight from 8 p.m.-midnight. From 8-10 p.m. there will be a screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” “Absolutely Snatched,” a drag show and costume contest, will be from 10 p.m.-midnight. $1 from the night’s speciality cocktail will benefit the National Black Justice Coalition. For more information, visit nelliessportsbar.com.
Union Stage (740 Water St., N.W.) hosts a Harry Potter dance party tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$60. For more details, visit unionstage.com.
The Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for duplicate bridge. No reservations are needed and newcomers are welcome. Call 202-841-0279 if you need a partner.
Thursday, Nov. 1
Slide It in presents Seven Deadly Sins at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) tonight from 8-10 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Trevor Project. For more details, search “Slide It In Presents: Seven Deadly Sins” on Facebook.
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
