Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Dec. 14-20, 2018
Xmas parties, Lessons & Carols, Jasmine Masters and more for the week ahead
Jasmine Masters, one of the returning contestants on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ season four, hosts a viewing party tonight at Nellie’s. (Photo courtesy World of Wonder)
Friday, Dec. 14
Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) hosts a “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4” premiere viewing party with special guest Jasmine Masters tonight from 8-10 p.m. Brooklyn Heights and Iyana Deschanel will host the kick-off party and every viewing party for the rest of the season. There will be a meet and greet with Masters at 7:30 p.m. Meet-and-greet tickets are $10. Stoli cocktails will be sold during the show for $5.
Georgetown Glow D.C.: Light Arts Festival is today from 5-10 p.m. The outdoor public light art installations are set up throughout the neighborhood. The festival runs through Jan. 6. Attendees can explore on their own or take a tour. D.C. By Foot hosts nightly Glow+Georgetown History tours from 4-6 p.m. which will connect the light show with the history of Georgetown. Tickets are name your own price. Other nightly tours include Glow Walking Touring with Washington Walks from 4-6 p.m. which explores the light artworks and historic sites. Tickets are $20. Glow Photo Safari with Washington Photo Safari is tonight from 7-9:30 p.m. Washington Photo Safari Director E. David Luria will guide the group to each stop and teach you how to take the best photos. Tickets are $79.
18th & U Duplex Diner (2004 18th St., N.W.) hosts its annual Janky Sweater Party tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Guests are invited to wear their ugliest holiday sweater. Goldie Grigio hosts the party. DJ Wes Della Volla will play music. There is no cover but a $10 donation to the Trevor Project is encouraged. For more details, visit facebook.com/duplexdiner.
Gamma D.C., a support group for men in mixed-orientation relationships, meets at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.) tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The group is for men who are attracted to men but are currently, or were at one point, in relationships with women. For more information about the group, visit gammaindc.org.
Saturday, Dec. 15
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents “The Holiday Show” at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) today at 5 p.m. and tonight at 8 p.m. The chorus will perform holiday songs such as “Jingle Bells,” “Puttin’ on the Holiday Drag” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and more.Tickets range from $25-65.
Mischief D.C. hosts Naughty Snowball 10: Rated X-mas at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) tonight from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. The party will include DJs in four rooms, live artists, musicians, interactive art and a secret contest for Best Costume. Featured DJs include EZ Almighty, Dustin, Wade Hammes, Maestro and more. Tickets range from $40-45.
Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) hosts Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, an Advent service, tonight from 7-9 p.m. The service will include Christmas carols, musical performances, new stories, old poetry and other artistic expressions inspired by the Nativity story. A light reception will follow the program.Admission is free.
LURe D.C. hosts BARE: How the Grinch Stole BARE, a holiday party, tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Eletr()x, DJ Rosie and DJ Keenan will spin tracks. The DystRucXion Dancers will perform. The Grinch will also be handing out goodies to guests. Cover is $7 before midnight and $10 after.
Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) hosts Gay/Bash: XXMAS tonight from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Drag performers Kunj, Jane Saw, Jaxknife Complex, Donna Slash and Geneva Confection will give a show at 11:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. Candi Cane will play music for the night. No cover. For more information, visit facebook.com/gaybashdc.
Sunday, Dec. 16
The D.C. Concert Orchestra presents a free concert at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St., N.W.) today at 3 p.m. The program includes pieces by Leroy Anderson, Maurice Ravel, Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky and more. For more information, visit dcconcertorchestra.org.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Sunday Cruise today from noon-2 a.m. Drink specials include $3 off all whiskey and bourbon drinks, $5 Chivas Regal, $10 bottomless Bud and Bud Lights, $12 bottomless premium drafts and $2 off any drink until 9 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello performs her show “No More Water|The Fire Next Time: The Gospel According to James Baldwin,” a tribute to Baldwin, at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. The performance will merge church service, a concert, celebration, testimonial and a call to action. Tickets range from $49-89. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Monday, Dec. 17
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours this morning from 10 a.m.-noon for the senior LGBT community. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts its Packing Party from 7-9 p.m. tonight. Volunteers will assemble safer sex kits to distribute to the LGBT community. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Bookmen D.C., an informal gay men’s literature group, discusses “The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle” by Lillian Faderman 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.
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.
Thursday, Dec. 20
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts its monthly poly discussion group tonight at 7 p.m. People of all different stages are invited to discuss polyamory and other consensual non-monogamous relationships. This event is for new comers, established polyamorous relationships and open to all sexual orientations. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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