Arts & Entertainment
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
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.
Theater
Don’t miss summer productions at Clear Space in Rehoboth Beach
‘Cher Show,’ ‘Pretty Woman’ among season’s standouts
“The Cher Show” at Clear Space Theatre is wonderful. I am always amazed at the talent they attract for their summer series. Kudos to Wes Drummond, the artistic director of the theater. “The Cher Show” is written by Rick Elice. Compliments to the talented director, James FitzSimmons, who brought to life this production. His immensely talented cast includes Shannen Hofheimer as Star, Breanna Lemerise as Lady, Abby Lynne as Babe, and Anya Kay, as young Cher. Each is a pleasure to both watch and listen to. They command the stage. Then more kudos to the entire cast and ensemble. Also, the creative team, which includes among so many who make this show a hit, choreographer Shondelle Graulich; scenic designer, David Chappell; lighting designer Brendan Smith; costume designer Valerie Beardsley; and the entire orchestra led by conductor, Jerry Birl.
But the actor who I was looking forward to seeing in the production, was a young actor I had written about, and reviewed, when I saw him at Clear Space two years ago. In this production he is Sonny Bono, and he definitely didn’t disappoint.
Let me introduce Caetano de Sá. I have written about him before, but his resume is worth repeating. It says; Height: 5’7 ½, Eyes: Brown, Voice part: Tenor G2 – C5, Build: Athletic. All true. Then you add to this he speaks Brazilian Portuguese, is certified in stage combat by the Society of American Fight Directors, and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Then as his resume of roles confirms, he can act, sing, and dance with the best. He does a great job as Sonny and is fun to watch on stage. Here he displays his talents as a singer and actor, and they are as good as I remembered them when I first met Caetano while he was still in school in 2024, and was starring as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys,” at Clear Space. At the time he was a rising senior at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee BFA Musical Theater program. I interviewed him, and Harry Sperduto, who played Tommy Devotee, after seeing them in the show, and being amazed by their talent. Since that time, I have followed their careers. When I heard Caetano was coming back to Clear Space for the summer, I reached out, and he agreed to sit down and chat, which we did. I knew Clear Space Theatre was planning a busy summer season. Their lineup of shows included “The Cher Show,” “Mean Girls,” and “Pretty Woman.” They always have talented casts, including the many college students who are getting their first chance to shine, which was the case for Caetano in 2024. Now he is back as a graduate, with more experience under his belt, a little more established. This season he was going to play Sonny in their production of “The Cher Show,” Martin/Coach Carr, in “Mean Girls,” and Mr. Hollister in “Pretty Woman,” and being a part of the ensemble. He told me he really enjoys being at Clear Space, and that his castmates are all talented. He is a lot more experienced than when he was here before, having performed in productions at the Prairie Repertory Theatre, the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Firehouse Center for the Arts, and the Sullivan Rep, among others. In productions as diverse as “Oklahoma!,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Hairspray,” and “Rock of Ages.” He now lives in New York City and clearly New York is the perfect place for an aspiring actor. He has an agent at Bramante Artists, who is getting him gigs, like the one he had at 54 Below and even a TV commercial for AFLAC.
“The Cher Show” is the second show I have seen at Clear Space this summer. After our chat I got one of the last tickets available that evening for “Pretty Woman.” In that production he has a smaller role, and is part of the incredibly talented ensemble. It is also an entertaining show and its very talented stars, Abby McDonough as Vivian, and Jaiden Leo Riley as Edward, are a pleasure to watch. Kudos to the talented director, Ashley Williams, and the entire creative team.
For anyone living at the beach, or coming for a visit, I urge you to plan a night at Clear Space. You won’t regret it. But know tickets for all the shows, and Sunday evening cabaret nights, sell out fast. So, I suggest you see what’s available online and buy yours today.
The 2026 World Pride March was held on Saturday, Aug. 8 in Amsterdam. Tens of thousands of participants marched from Martin Luther Kingpark to the grounds of the Pride Village at Museumplein.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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The weekly drag show “Daddy Issues” was held at Kiki on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Performers included Evry Pleasure, Indiana Bones and Tiara Missou-Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
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