Out & About
SUMMER IN THE CITY 2019: misc. events
OutWrite book fest, 17th Street Festival, Queen and more coming soon


Summer is well underway and events in the D.C. area are nowhere close to winding down. Check out ways to make the most of the remaining summer months with drag shows, concerts and festivals.
Denizens Brewing Co. (4550 Van Buren St., Riverdale Park, Md.) hosts a birthday drag brunch, featuring Haus of Stone, on Saturday, July 13 from noon-2 p.m. The brunch celebrates the lesbian-owned Brewing Co.’s five year anniversary at its Silver Spring location. Show starts at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/thehausofstone.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts a “Pose” viewing party every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. through Aug. 13. No cover. Visit facebook.com/eagledc for more information.
Truckeroo, a food truck and music festival, is at the Bullpen (1299 Half St., S.E.) on Friday, July 19 from 4-11 p.m. There will be a variety of food trucks including Due South, Millies, Korean BBQ Taco Box, Red Hook Lobster Pound and more. There will also be live music. Free entry. Visit facebook.com/truckeroo for details.
9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) hosts a Beyoncé vs Rihanna Summer Dance Party on Friday, July 19 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. DJ Mills will spin Beyoncé tracks and Craig B will play Rihanna all night. This is an all-ages show. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit 930.com.
Red Bear Brewing (209 M St., N.E.) hosts Drag Show Extravaganza on Saturday, July 20 from 9-11 p.m. Leronica Vegas, Nadia Cole, Cake and Bombalicious Eklaver will perform. Desiree Dik hosts. Visit redbear.beer for more details.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct., N.W.) hosts the Bear Cave: #Freaky, a gay dance party, on Saturday, July 20 from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. There will be $5 signature drinks. DJ Popperz will spin club, retro, latin and hip-hop beats. No cover. For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.
The Try Guys bring their “Legends of the Internet” tour to the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) on Thursday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld and out member Eugene Lee Yang will perform live skits, original music and bring their viral videos to life on stage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $31-81. For more details, visit warnertheatredc.com.
Slash Run (201 Upshur St., N.W.) hosts Desiree Dik’s Oddball, an oddity drag show, on Friday, July 26 at 11:30 p.m. The show will feature blood, comedy, queer art and more. Fawna, Mighty, Venus Valhalla and Cher Rub will perform. Desiree Dik hosts. Cover is $5. Visit facebook.com/slashrun for details.
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Tituss Burgess will be performed at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Saturday, July 27 at 8 p.m. The Emmy nominee will include music from Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler and more. Tickets range from $29-99. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Queen and Adam Lambert stop by Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Tuesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. “The Rhapsody Tour” comes on the heels of the wildly successful Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Doors open at 7 p.m. It’s nearly sold out. A few tickets remain starting at $595. For details, visit ticketmaster.com.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Katya has her comedy show “Help Me I’m Dying” at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $12.50-150. Visit thelincolndc.com for details.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Mid-Atlantic Leather Women on Friday, Aug. 2 from 8-11 p.m. Mid-Atlantic Leather Woman Bootblack 2019, Mid-Atlantic Leather Woman 2019 and the first ever Ms. D.C. Eagle 2019 will be special guests. For more information, visit dceagle.com.
OutWrite 2019, an annual LGBT literature festival, is at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) Aug. 2-4. The festival kicks off with a launch event on Friday. Saturday there will be readings, panels, exhibitors and book sales. On Sunday, there will be workshops for writers. Featured writers include Kristen Arnett and Jericho Brown. For more information, visit thedccenter.org/outwrite2019.
“The Ask Rayceen Show,” a live variety program and community festival, is at Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. Bebe Bardot will perform burlesque. Nia Simmons will perform live music. DJ Rosie will spin tracks for the evening. Rayceen Pendarvis hosts the show. There will be free catered food. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more details, visit facebook.com/askrayceen.
D.C. Bear Crue hosts an adult toy party version of its Bear Happy Hour at Uproar Lounge & Restaurant (639 Florida Ave., N.W.) on Friday, Aug. 9 from 5-10 p.m. Charger Stone and Adonis Ryan Lahr host the party. The toy party is from 7-8 p.m. followed by sales from 8-9:30 p.m. There will be drink specials and free food. Bear Happy Hour is every Friday at 5 p.m. Visit facebook.com/bearhappyhour for details.
Shawn Mendes comes to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $85-$695. Get details at ticketmaster.com.
The Jonas Brothers bring their comeback tour “Happiness Begins” to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $84.95-$499.95. For details, visit ticketmaster.com.
The 17th Street Festival takes place between P and R streets, N.W. on Saturday, Aug. 24 from noon-6 p.m. The festival features more than 100 vendors including nonprofit organizations, politicians, entrepreneurs and local businesses. More than 60 artists will also display items such as jewelry, ceramics, crafts and more. There will also be a kid zone with a large slide, soccer, snow cones, face painting and games. For more information, visit 17thstreetfestival.com.

The Rainbow History Project will host “Pickets, Protests and Parade Exhibit Tour” at 7 p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This event honors the courage, resilience and resistance of D.C.’s gay community. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ Community Social” at 7 p.m. at Hyatt Centric Arlington (1325 Wilson Blvd.). This fun event is ideal for meeting new people and community building. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Xavier Entertainment DC will host “Cowboy Carter Afterparty” at 10 p.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar. There will be fireworks, parades, and patriotic fun. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Mezcal Amaras will host “Sha Boing Boing Showdown” at 6 p.m. at Snappy’s Small Bar (3917 Georgia Ave., N.W.). Get ready to test your hotdog eating abilities. Tickets start at $12.51 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Illusions Drag Queen Show will host “Drag Queen Dinner Show” at 7 p.m. at 2323 18th St. N.W. Guests will be treated to the very best celebrity drag impersonations in entertainment. Tickets start at $12.97 and are available on Eventbrite.
Thurst Lounge will host “A Thirsty Cowboy Afterparty” at 5 p.m. DJ Apollo will be performing. For more details, visit Thurst’s website.
9:30 Club will host “Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” at 9 p.m. The DJ will play plenty of disco hits from the 70s and 80s. Tickets cost $45.30 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Music & Concerts
Berkshire Choral to commemorate Matthew Shepard’s life
Concert held at Washington National Cathedral

Berkshire Choral International will present a concert performance of composer Craig Hella Johnson’s fusion oratorio “Considering Matthew Shepard” on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral.
The program will be guest conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Benson, a native of the DMV who currently serves as Director of Choral Activities at San José State University. The concert is a partial benefit for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Notably, Matthew’s remains are interred at the National Cathedral and his parents, Dennis and Judy, will give opening remarks at the performance.
Tickets are $20 – $65, and 50% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Tickets are only available online at berkshirechoral.org.

Friday, June 26
“Center Aging Monthly Luncheon and Bingo” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 27
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month 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.
Art Roving will host “Where Color Meets Spectrum: Blackness, Queerness & Tomorrow” at 200 I St., S.E. This is a panel discussion with Queer Art salon artists Nikki Brooks, Maps Glover & Chrys Seawood, moderated by artist and curator Brittany Mona’. The Queer Art Salon exhibition is on view from June 13 – August 1, 2025 and funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Art Exhibition Grant program. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Baby Shank Rooftop Bar and Lounge will host “DC Drag brunch on Rooftop – Penthouse” at 12 p.m. Guests can enjoy delicious French cuisine. The event will be hosted by Miss Capital Pride. Tickets cost $30.65 and are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, June 28
Jonathan Van Ness will host a masterclass at 10 a.m. at Dupont Circle Hotel. Enjoy refreshments and community as Jonathan showcases styling techniques for a range of hair types—helping you create a gallery-worthy look that’s truly, beautifully yours. A portion of ticket sales will benefit SMYAL, a local nonprofit that has been supporting LGBTQ+ youth in D.C. for more than 40 years. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 29
“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 details, email [email protected].
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected].
Tuesday, June 30
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Wednesday, July 1
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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 www.thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, July 2
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. 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 with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
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