Out & About
Calendar: June 14-20
Concerts, parties and events in the week to come
Brandi Carlile plays Merriweather tonight. (Photo courtesy of Sacks & Co.)
Friday, June 14
Three-time Grammy award-winning lesbian singer-songwriter and producer, Brandi Carlile performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md.) tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. with the eclectic pop band, Lucius. Carlile will perform songs from her Grammy-nominated album “By the Way, I Forgive You.” This out musician donates $1 from every concert ticket to her Looking Out Foundation, which gives financial support to various causes. Tickets range from $46-76 and are available via Ticketmaster.
The Three Centuries of Queer History Walking Tour hosted by Annapolis Pride begins today from 5:30 p.m. Dr. Christopher Miele will lead a walking tour of Maryland’s State Capital focusing on LGBT people who lived there since the 1700s. Participants will meet on the corner of State Circle and Maryland Avenue (Outside of Harry Browne’s at 66 State Circle) for a gentle walk through historic Annapolis. Cost is $10 and proceeds will be donated to Annapolis Pride. For tickets and information, visit Facebook events.
Tonight is the 13th annual Twilight on the Terrace fundraising event for the Pride Center of Maryland. The event is from 7-11 p.m. at Gertrude’s at the Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore) and tickets are $115-125. Each year this fundraiser provides attendees with a night of food, fun and socialization to kick off the Baltimore Pride weekend. Proceeds help support more than 40 community programs reaching more than 800 sexual and gender minorities who use the center each month. Attendees also have the opportunity to bid on several Am Fund sponsored vacation packages in a silent auction. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets and details.
Saturday, June 15
Johnny Mathis brings his “Voice of Romance Tour” to Wolf Trap (1645 Trap RD, Vienna, Va.) tonight from 8-10 p.m. Celebrating his 63rd year in music, Mathis is one of Columbia Records’ longest-signed artists. Saturday he performs an evening of his classic and contemporary hits along with a few of his personal favorites. The 83-year-old entertainer continues to be candid about his sexuality and recently told Billboard magazine “Patience is a wonderful virtue.” Tickets start at $30 and are available at wolftrap.org.
Baltimore Pride begins with its official tailgating party in the Rainbow Lot today from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. behind Graffiti Alley (Howard & W. 19th 1/2 St., Baltimore). LGBT people and allies are welcome. Each dollar raised supports Pride Center programs including youth empowerment, HIV/AIDS reduction and feeding and clothing the homeless. The cost is $25 for one space for one car with two people or one tailgating tent space which must fit within a single parking spot. For tickets and information, visit baltimorepride.org.
The Baltimore Pride Parade is today from 1-3 p.m. with an 11-block procession starting at N. Charles and 33rd St. The viewing stage is on N. Charles and 24th in the Brown Rice parking lot. The parade passes through Wyman Park and ends at N. Charles and 23rd. For the first time, Pride will host a mini Pet Parade between 24th-25th and N. Charles streets beginning at 1 p.m. The high heel race begins 12:30 p.m. at 25th and N. Charles and the Pride Block Party at Station North (Charles North, Greenmount West and Barclays neighborhoods) opens with a pre-Pride show featuring local artists at 1:30 p.m. before officially beginning at 4 p.m. For details, visit baltimorepride.org.
Sunday, June 16
The Baltimore Pride Festival is today from noon-6 p.m. at Druid Hill Park (between Swann Dr. and Sundial Pavilion). The festival celebrates families and children with a kid-friendly environment which includes music and entertainment stages, a drag stage, exhibitors and local food trucks. Admission is free and open to the public. Visit baltimorepride.org for more information.
Tonight is the Helping Casa Ruby Dinner from 7-8 p.m. at the Casa Ruby Shelter (7530 Georgia Ave., N.W.). The D.C. Center is partnering with Casa Ruby once a month to provide a hot meal to current Casa Ruby residents. The goal is to bring warmth and nourishment to them every third Sunday of each month. The D.C. Center encourages individuals or organizations to volunteer to provide a meal to feed as many people at Casa Ruby as possible. Any amount of food is appreciated. Store bought meals are welcomed. For more information visit thedccenter.org.
Monday, June 17
Tonight is Drag Bingo at the Board Room Game Bar and Brewery (925 B Garfield St., Arlington, Va.) from 9-11 p.m. Join Crystal Edge and Katrina Colby every first and third Monday of the month for games, performances and prizes. Balls start rolling at 9 p.m. It’s $5 to play and $5 local beers with several rotating taps and all-night drink specials. The public is invited to play to win free drinks, free shots, free food, gift cards and other prizes. Tickets are free with registration on eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, June 18
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts a “Pose” viewing party tonight from 10-11 p.m. “Pose” is a Golden Globe-nominated drama chronicling the 1980’s New York ball culture world and features one of the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors according to FX Networks. The Eagle is a spacious venue with two big screens to enjoy the show. For free tickets to this weekly event, register at eventbrite.com.
East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) presents author John Glynn for a conversation about his first book, “Out East,” a memoir of first love, identity and coming to terms with being gay during a summer spent with friends in a house in Montauk. The book talk will be followed by a Q&A and signing. The event is tonight from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Visit facebook events for more information.
Wednesday, June 19
Odenton Regional Library (1325 Annapolis Rd., Odenton, Md.) will continue its month-long celebration of well-received, award-winning LGBT-related films and documentaries tonight beginning at 6 p.m. All films are rated PG-13 and are geared to teen audiences. For film titles, contact the Odenton Regional Library.
Thursday, June 20
The Thirst Trap Thursdays Drag Show Hosted by Venus Valhalla continues tonight from 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at Pitchers D.C. (2317 18th St., N.W.). Entertainment and cocktails are every Thursday starting at 11 p.m. and will include local queer performers. Visit its event page on Facebook for more information.
The Baltimore Orioles will take on the Washington Nationals on Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. for Pride Night at Oriole Park.
The first 15,000 fans will receive an exclusive Pride Night Orioles jersey. The Washington Blade is a media sponsor of this event.
To purchase tickets, visit Orioles.com/Tickets.
Out & About
Writers’ association hosts Capital Love LitFest
Inaugural literary salon scheduled for Sunday
The Washington Writers’ Publishing House (WWPH), the nation’s longest continuously operating cooperative nonprofit literary press, will present the inaugural “Capital Love LitFest” on Sunday, June 28 at 10 a.m. at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Md.
Designed as a full-day literary salon and cultural gathering, the event will feature more than 25 writers, nine workshops, and panel discussions, readings, and conversations centered on love, relationships, identity, healing, creativity, and connection in divisive times. Admission is pay-what-you-can, beginning at free.
The LitFest celebrates the release of “Capital Love,” WWPH’s new anthology featuring 55 writers from across the DMV, including contributors from Baltimore, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The pocket-sized collectible anthology explores love in its many forms through poetry and prose and serves as a literary response to today’s social and political climate.
For more details, visit Washington Writers’ website.
Friday, June 19
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, June 20
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, June 21
Kinetic Presents will host “DiscoVERS: Pride with Alexis Tucci & Clinton Foster” at 10 p.m. at Sax Restaurant and Lounge. Alexis Tucci and Clinton Foster trade off behind the decks all night, weaving uplifting disco and driving house into one continuous set. Throughout the evening, surprise performances unfold across the room, woven into the music rather than stacked on top of it. Tickets cost $41.76 and are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 22
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Center Faith will host “Pride Interfaith Service” at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. This is the 43rd annual LGBTQ+ community celebration of religious pluralism and interfaith collaboration. Founded during the era of the Names Project AIDS memorial quilts, we continue to connect and weave many LGBTQ+ faith communities. For more details, email [email protected].
Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The Queer Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss queer books by queer authors. This month’s reading is “The Skin and it’s Girl” by Sarah Cypher. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Tuesday, June 23
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
“Self-Defense Class with Avi Rome” will be at 12:30 p.m. Rome is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and a full time Martial Arts instructor with 25 years of teaching experience. He holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do and is the director of the studio’s Adaptive Tae Kwon Do program for students with special needs. He has also run numerous self-defense workshops for various groups and situations. For more details, visit the center’s website.
Wednesday, June 24
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, June 25
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the center. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s website.
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