Out & About
Calendar: April 17-23
Virtual events in the week to come
Friday, April 17
Songrise Virtual Open Mic hosted by the Sunrise Movement is tonight at 8 p.m. via Zoom. Sunrise hubs from both coasts are hosting this virtual event for anyone who enjoys music, art, poetry and comedy as a means for building community out of isolation. Performers are asked to prepare a five-minute set and sign up, but participants are not required to perform. Visit Zoom for the link and to register.
Saturday, April 18
A live virtual tour of the Edgar Allan Poe house is today at 3 p.m. hosted by the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore. This free event features an introductory video, a guided virtual walk-through via GoPro and a live reading of his works followed by a discussion and Q&A. For tickets and information, visit poebaltimore.org.
Black Cherry’s first ever Virtual Slamwich presented by Black Cherry Puppet Theater is tonight at 6:30 p.m. The video link for this event will be released just prior to the event via the Facebook event page. Viewers are invited to donate funds to support puppeteers and musicians through the crisis. Visit blackcherrypuppettheater.weebly.com for more information.
The Pandemic Players of Baltimore present “Six Characters in Search of an Author” by Luigi Pirandello tonight at 7 p.m. via YouTube. The live feed generally starts one hour before curtain on performance day. Each week the Pandemic Players partner with a live theater company which is closed due to the pandemic and raise money via Facebook donations to help the partner theater survive. All proceeds from this performance benefits the Fells Point Corner Theatre this week. Look for the group on Facebook to donate.
Fabulous Zoom Social! hosted by Go Gay D.C. is tonight at 7 p.m. This free event connects LGBTQ people to share tips, network and continue community building through the crisis. Visit Eventbrite for RSVP and details.
Nicks Flix: Virtual Twirl Edition hosted by DJ Travis Island and JR.’s Bar is tonight at 8:30 p.m. via Twitter@JRsBar_DC. This virtual event features a livestream of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac videos as well as music by Stevie-related artists. Viewers are encouraged to donate virtual tips to the weekly video DJ, drag performers, staff, bartenders or to the JR.’s general wage relief fund. For details on this or other events, visit jrsbar-dc.com.
Sunday, April 19
Cooking Class Live! presented by Nativo Condiments & Seasoning and hosted by the Argentine Chef is tonight at 6 p.m. via Facebook. The class is free but donations are welcome. Participants will learn how to make pork chops, pampas herbs parmesan, Pavlova with Dulce de leche and Aperol Spritz. For more information on this and other cooking classes, visit argentinechef.com and the Cooking Class Live Facebook event page.
Monday, April 20
Holocaust Remembrance Day: Voices of History, Lessons for Today hosted by Sixth & I is tonight at 7 p.m. This online event virtually gathers communities around the world to remember this tragic historic event. The event includes a discussion with survivors and descendants as well as a prayer and candle-lighting ceremony which viewers can participate in from home. Free tickets and information are available at sixthandi.org.
Stay-At-Home Showtunes: A Weekly Streaming Benefit Show for JR.’s Bar continues tonight at 8:30 p.m. with a rotating cast and hosts via twitter.com/jrsbar_dc. Virtual tips donated by viewers will benefit the weekly video DJ, drag performers, staff, bartenders or the general wage relief fund. Visit jrsbar-dc.com for more information.
Tuesday, April 21
The Harbor West Collaborative COVID-19 Food Aid event hosted by Harbor West and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership is today at noon outside the Freedom Temple AME Zion Church (2926 Hollins Ferry Rd., Baltimore). The event was able to help 200 families last Friday, but the need is great and continues. For more information, visit westportcedc.org or the event’s Facebook page.
Trans & NB Chat Hours hosted by the D.C.-area Transmasculine Society are every Tuesday and Friday from 7-10 p.m. through the month of April. There is no need to create an account to join, simply choose your name, pronouns and gender identity, then enter the room. Visit dcats.org/chat or the Facebook event page for details.
Wednesday, April 22
LGBTQ+ Movements in the Middle East: Navigating Political Unrest and Global Pandemic is an online discussion hosted by the Middle East Institute today at 10 a.m. This event is a virtual panel discussing the ways Middle Eastern LGBTQ communities have organized to raise visibility and advocate despite the COVID-19 pandemic. For free tickets and information, visit mei.edu.
German language instruction hosted by the German-American Heritage Museum is today at 5:30 p.m. The host is currently exploring the option of a livestream for this course. New students are welcome. Tickets start at $360 and are available at gahmusa.org.
Thursday, April 23
Virtual Advanced/Professional Ballet Class with Alvaro Palau is tonight at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This virtual company ballet class is taught by local teacher and longtime Washington Ballet dancer Alvaro Palau. The class focuses on speed, change of direction, precision and honing of a professional-level dance technique. Visit tickets.vendini.com for ticket information and details.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
Friday, June 5
“Center Aging: Pride Monthly Luncheon with Chair Yoga & Drag Bingo” will be at 12:00 p.m. at the DC LGBQ+ Community Center. Lunch will be provided. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
“Comedy Show for LGBTQ+ Prosperity” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This will be a funny, queer show produced by Grassroots Comedy to celebrate the DC LGBTQ+ Center and the beginning of Pride month. Across the country, LGBTQ+ people are losing access to care, protection, and support. These aren’t abstract policy changes – they are real people losing the resources they rely on to stay safe and well. And when that happens, many come to Washington, DC, a place long considered a site of refuge for these vulnerable populations. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, June 6
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
Sunday, June 7
Pride Month Sound Bath Meditation will be at 10:30 a.m. at Atlas Salon DC. Pride Month sound bath meditation is an immersive morning of sound to slow down, reset, and rest in community while supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 8
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]).
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 www.genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.
Tuesday, June 9
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook.
Wednesday, June 10
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 11
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC LBTQ+ Community Center. 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 Center’s website.
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