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D.C. area teeming with queer New Year’s Eve party options

Ring in 2019 whether you plan to dance into the wee hours of the morning, indulge in an elaborate dinner or celebrate New Year’s Eve in the daytime

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Ring in 2019!

Whether you plan to dance into the wee hours of the morning, indulge in an elaborate dinner or celebrate New Year’s Eve in the daytime, there are plenty of local options to customize how you want to ring in 2019.

The Yards D.C. (301 Water St., S.E.) hosts Noon Yards Eve tonight from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Families can ring in the new year early with activities for kids of all ages including a train ride throughout the Yards, inflatable moon bounces, glitter tattoo artists, balloon artistry, music and more. Say hello to 2019 at noon with a balloon drop. Free admission. For more information, visit facebook/com/theyardsdc.

The Imperial Court of Washington hosts its New Years Eve Variety Show at the Barking Dog (4723 Elm St., Bethesda, Md.) tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Athena, Trace and Chip host the party.Tickets are $80 and includes food, open bar and party favors. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Reign VII Charities. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 10:30 show. For more details, visit facebook.com/imperialcourtdc.

XX+Crostino (1926 9th St., N.W.) presents MasQUEERade- NYE tonight from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. General admission tickets are $20 and includes a midnight champagne toast. VIP tickets are $65 and include open bar from 10 p.m.-midnight, hors d’oeuvres and a midnight champagne toast. Diamond tickets are $350 and give one table, a bottle of Dom Perignon, four tickets, appetizers and a champagne toast. The Bad and boujee ticket is $500 and includes all of the above for five ticket holders, a private performance and a surprise gift. For more information, visit facebook.com/xxcrostino.

Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert St., N.W.) hosts its New Year’s Eve International Global Gala tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. There will be seven party rooms, performances from live bands including Dr. Fu and Herr Metal, Cirque performances, strolling entertainers, karaoke, a midnight balloon drop, appearances from the Washington Nationals’ mascot Teddy and the Washington Capitols mascot Slapshot and more.Tickets range from $119-230. For more information, visit thingstodc.com.

Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts New Year’s Eve Ball tonight at 7 p.m. The MainStage will feature a performance by Peaches O’Dell and Her Orchestra and the backstage will feature DJ Dredd and Grap Luva. Tickets are $30 for both floors. For more details, visit blackcatdc.com.

SAX Restaurant & Lounge (734 11th St., N.W.) presents Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve tonight from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Live Cirque performances will occur throughout the night themed around fire and ice. Attendees can also experience aerialists, choreographed dance sets, lavish costumes, pole performers and go-go dancers. There will be a midnight champagne toast. Tickets include one free drink ticket. Single admission tickets are $50 and couple tickets are $75. For more information, visit facebook.com/saxwdc.

The Mansion on O Street (2020 O St., N.W.) hosts a New Year’s Eve masquerade party tonight from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests can enjoy a premium open bar from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., a midnight champagne toast, a chocolate fountain, red carpet photo-op, a kissing booth, party favors, a DJ and more. Tickets are $175. For details, visit omansion.com.

Decades (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts Y2k19 New Year’s Eve Retro Gala tonight from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. There will be multiple floors with different decades of music. The 2000s floor with play Top 40 and EDM. The ‘90s floor with spin boy band/girl group hits, one-hit wonders and house favorites. The Decades of Hip-Hop floor will play hip-hop music from four decades. The rooftop will have a mix of classic house and modern dance. Tickets are $45.59. For more information, visit decadesdc.com.

A-Town Bar and Grill (4100 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, Va.) hosts New Year’s Eve 2019 Masquerade at A-Town tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets range from $25-45. Tables are $300 and include five person entry, one bottle of champagne, 15 drink tickets, two appetizer samples and a private table all night. For more details, visit facebook.com/atownballston.

Madhatter (1319 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) hosts its NYE Ball tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. There will be a DJ, dance floor, party favors and giveaways. Ticket includes five-hour open bar and champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $75. For more information, visit madhatterdc.com.

Dstrkt Events presents NYE ’19 at Vivid Lounge (1334 U St., N.W.) tonight from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. There will be a Ketel One vodka open bar from 9-10 p.m. and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets start at $20. For more details, visit distrktnye.eventbrite.com.

The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Leather & Lace Ball: New Year’s Eve with Bebe Zahara Benet tonight from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. There will be pop up performances throughout the night by Benet (winner of season one of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3” contestant), Ba’Naka, Sandra O’Nassis Lopez, Brie DeVine, Evon Michelle, Bambi Necole Ferrah and more. Eddie Danger and Reno will go-go dance for the night. At 9 p.m. there will be a VIP meet and greet with Benet. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served all night. Dress cod is leather, lace, rubber or casual sexy chic. DJ Ryan DoubleYou plays music for the night. Tickets range from $17.55-28.16. For more details, visit dceagle.com.

Flash (645 Florida Ave., N.W.) hosts a three-day New Year’s Eve celebration kicking off tonight at 10 p.m. and going 24 hours until Jan. 2 at noon. The lineup, which will be announced at a later date, will include international and local DJs. Tickets give entry to the party all three days and attendees can come and go. Tickets are $50. For more information, visit flashdc.com.

All Hank’s locations will offer special menu items for New Year’s Eve. Hank’s Pasta Bar (600 Montgomery St., Alexandria, Va.) will have a $75 per person tasting menu with items such as lobster bisque and toasted ciabatta crostini, hypo Bibb salad with pear and gorgonzola in a champagne vinaigrette, wild mushroom gnocchi and more. Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town Alexandria (1026 King St., Alexandria, Va.) will include butter poached lobster tail, warm baby octopus salad and more. Hank’s Oyster Bar at the Wharf (701 Wharf St., S.W.) will have surf and turf and stuffed lobster tail and Hank’s Oyster Bar in Capitol Hill (633 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) will have surf and turk and lamb shank. For more details, visit hankspastabar.com or hanksoysterbar.com.

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Gay Pride Day 1976 (Washington Blade archive photo)

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The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies. 

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