Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 16-22, 2018
Eagle parties, drag brunches, yummy Michael Carbonaro and lots more for the week ahead

Magician Michael Carbonaro performs at MGM National Harbor this weekend. (Photo courtesy Trickster Productions)
Friday, Nov. 16
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) kicks off its anniversary weekend tonight at 11:30 p.m. with an appearance by Willam at the Birds of Prey Drag Show. She will perform and serve as the judge for the Mr. Eagle D.C. 2019 contest and the inaugural Ms. D.C. Eagle contest. Willam meet-and-greet tickets are $30 and include entry to the Birds of Prey drag show. Tickets for the show are $15. For a complete list of the D.C. Eagle’s anniversary events, visit dceagle.com.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Woof Happy Hour and Porn Star Bingo today at 5 p.m. Eddie Danger hosts the party. There will be free pizza at 7:30 p.m. Drink specials include $4 rail drinks, $4 draft beers and more. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
Comedian Aziz Ansari performs at the MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $47-93. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com.
Macy’s (1201 G St., N.W.) presents its Holiday Unveiling today from 5-7 p.m. Guests can meet singer Keri Hilson, drop by the men’s tailoring showroom featuring singer Sam Tsui and meet and greet with Santa. There will be holiday spirit tastings, cigar rolling, activities, giveaways, surprises and more.WPGC 95.5’s Sunni of the “Joe Clair Morning Show” will host. Admission is free.
Saturday, Nov. 17
Lesbian comedian Emma Willmann performs at Drafthouse Comedy Theatre (1100 13th St., N.W.) tonight with shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Annapolis Pride presents Drag Brunch at Rams Head On Stage (3 West St., Annapolis, Md.) today at 12:30 p.m. Victoria Bohmore and Shawnna Alexander host the show. Ganivah C. Diamond, M’ara Diamond, Kandi Pop, Sarah Nade, Jazmen Diamond and Prynce Sephora will perform. Tickets are $20. Food and beverages are sold separately. Half the proceeds will benefit Annapolis Pride. Guests must be 18 and over. Doors open at 11:30 p.m .For more details, visit ramsheadonstage.com.
The LGBTQ People of Color Support Group meets at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today from 1-3 p.m. The peer support group, facilitated by Dakia Davis, is a safe space for LGBT people of color to talk about a variety of topics. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
KhushDC hosts its South Asian LGBTQ Support Group at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today at 1:30 p.m. The group is only open to people who identify as LGBT and have a family heritage from South Asia. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Taqueria del Barrio (821 Upshur St., N.W.) hosts a no-shave drag brunch today from noon-3 p.m. Performers include Lilian Laurent, Tammy Kunte and Linda Lecter. Bearded queen and winner of D.C.’s Drag Wars Vagenessis will host the show. Ten percent of profits will benefit Whitman-Walker. For more details, visit facebook.com/delbarriodc.
Out magician Michael Carbonaro, known for his illusion TV series “The Carbonaro Effect,” performs at the MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $44-71. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com.
Sunday, Nov. 18
Murray & Peter present “A Drag Queen Christmas: The Naughty Tour” at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m.”RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni will perform including Alyssa Edwards, Aja, Latrice Royale, Farrah Moan, Monet X Change, Trinity Taylor, Raja and Naomi Smalls. Miz Cracker hosts the show. This is an all-ages show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20-50.
Washington D.C. History & Culture, a non-profit community organization, will give a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl., S.W.) today from 9:45 a.m.-noon. The tour will focus on the permanent exhibit and how it relates to the stories of Anne Frank and Oskar Schindler. Robert Kelleman, the founder of Washington D.C. History & Culture, will guide the tour. Then the group will have a lunch discussion in the museum cafe. For details, visit facebook.com/dchistoryandculture.
Monday, Nov. 19
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, Nov. 20
The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) honors the 18th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance tonight from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Transgender Day of Remembrance evolved from the Remembering Our Dead web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in response to the unsolved 1998 murder of Rita Hester. ASL interpretation will be provided. The venue is also wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571.
Bookmen D.C., an informal gay men’s literature group, discusses “From Macho to Mariposa: Gay Latino Fiction” edited by Charles Rice-Gonzalez and Charlie Vasquez at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Vida Fitness hosts a free Thanksgiving Eve pre-burn open house at all locations today from 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Attendees can use Vida’s fitness equipment and cardio machines or drop by for a Zumba, cycling or HIIT class. Admission is free. RSVP at vidafitness.com/thanksgiving.
Thursday, Nov. 22
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts Thanksgiving dinner today from 1-5 p.m. The dinner is welcome to all but especially for Center Global and Center Aging members who do not have Thanksgiving plans. Guests are invited to bring their favorite music, board games or holiday traditions to share with the group. Doors open at 1 p.m. Dinner starts at 2 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP

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