Out & About
Calendar: July 26-August 1
Parties, concerts, and events to come

Friday, July 26
Otakon 2019 starts today at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Pl., N.W.) and runs until Sunday, July 28. Otakon is an annual Asian pop culture convention held to celebrate anime, manga, music, movies, video games as well as its eclectic fandom known as “otaku.” The event has a packed weekend schedule that includes film showings, cosplay contests, lip-sync and panel discussions. This year’s concert line up includes performances by Bradio, Fat Jon, Shing02, EyeQ and more. Tickets and information are at otakon.com.
Saturday, July 27
Culture Carnival D.C. is today from 2-9 p.m. at the Karma D.C. (2221 Adams Pl., N.E.). High Society D.C. presents a Caribbean experience featuring local Latin/Caribbean talent, a Brazilian Samba group, cultural food vendors, henna body art, spiritual cleansing and more. The event is 21 and up with I.D. Tickets start at $10. For more information, visit Eventbrite.com.
Sunday, July 28
For those in New York for the weekend, the 1993 film “Farewell, My Concubine” will show today at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th St., N.Y.) at 12:30 p.m. This film, in Mandarin with English subtitles, depicts a love story that emerges in a Peking opera troupe as they enact the fabled tale of a besieged warlord and his self-sacrificing concubine and was nominated for two Oscars. An interesting experience for fans of the recent hit “Crazy Rich Asians.” Visit lincolncenter.org for tickets and information.
Monday, July 29
Dave Meder performs tonight on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St. N.W.) starting at 6 p.m. Meder, a pianist and composer was a recent finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and is known for his genre-bending approach to music. With support from bassist Dean Torrey and drummer Kenneth Salters, Meder will perform rarely-played Thelonious Monk pieces, gospel hymns as well as original compositions touching on the entire American musical spectrum. For tickets and information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Tuesday, July 30
Queen and Adam Lambert continue “The Rhapsody Tour” tonight at the Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) starting at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $49.
Founded in 1971 this legendary band is known for such iconic stadium hits as “We Will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is also the title of the Academy Award winning biopic of the band’s late frontman, Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991. Adam Lambert rose to fame in 2009 as a runner-up on “American Idol” and has since sold over three million albums and five million singles worldwide.
For tickets and information, visit http://ticketmaster.com.
Wednesday, July 31
NBC News National Justice Correspondent Pete Williams joins the fourth annual Lawyers for SMYAL fundraiser tonight from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Skadden Arps (1440 New York Ave., N.W.). The event will connect the legal community and raise funds to support and empower LGBT youth. SMYAL’s youth housing program provides shelter, food, case management services, crisis intervention and community support for area LGBT youth. More information and tickets are available at etapestry.com and Facebook events.
Thursday, Aug. 1
Queer Tango Taster Thursdays continues tonight at Bloombars (3222 11th St., N.W.) from 7-8:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for a single class, but attendees may purchase six or more classes at a discounted rate. This is an all-levels class focusing on the fundamentals and hosted by program manager Liz Sabatiuk at Tango Mercurio. The program goal is to create a safe, inclusive space to dance whatever roles you like with whomever you like. All are welcome. For more information, visit tangomercurio.org.
VIDA Fitness presents its second annual Glow Up Challenge starting today. Participants will receive detailed weekly workouts, advice for proper nutrition from a registered dietitian, weekly personal assessments and more. All locations will have special events throughout the month. The Yards will host Yoga and Wine by the Pool on Aug. 7; U Street will have a Sweatbox Class on Aug. 14; Logan Circle and Gallery Place will host a nutrition talk with registered dietician Addie Claire Merletti on Aug. 21 and City Vista will have a Gauntlet Style Workout on Aug. 28. The first 1,000 participants to sign up will receive a free bullet journal. Sign up at vidafitness.com/glowup.
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.
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
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