District of Columbia
Crush Dance Bar to debut Grizzly Happy Hour
Bringing back the energy of Town Danceboutique’s bear events
If you spend even a few hours in one of more than 20 queer bars D.C. has to offer, chances are someone will wax nostalgic for the days of Town Danceboutique, which closed in 2018.
One of the major draws to Town was its Bear Happy Hour, where drink discounts, special DJs, and drag shows would draw in bears, their admirers, and anyone looking to start off their weekend with a party.
Tony Castro, longtime Washington resident and a big fan of Town’s Bear Happy Hour, is attempting to bring back the drink discounts and special energy the happy hour provided to the city’s LGBTQ population to a new location for a new generation of queer people. This time at Crush Dance Bar at 2007 14th St., N.W.
“Grizzly was something that I came up with just in conversations over the past couple years,” Castro said to the Blade in a recent interview. “Talking with numerous people, I’ve heard that there’s been kind of a gap since Town Bear Happy Hour. There’s been a kind of a gap in the Friday happy hour that everyone looked forward to. That was one of the special things about Town — it was something that everyone looked forward to on a Friday and it just wasn’t the bear community. It was kind of everybody.”
Grizzly (Bear) Happy Hour officially debuted on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, setting the tone with $8 pitchers of beer, free hot dogs, and a pop-up from fetish gear outlet Anubis Gear. That night, Castro got his first real sense of the event’s energy and was overwhelmed by the positive response.
“I think my favorite comment that I heard throughout the course of the night was people coming up to me or just saying to other people that ‘This feels like Town.’ That kind of gives me chills. That was sort of the idea, that kind of feeling of just inclusivity. It’s Friday and there’s cheap drink specials and it just felt like a good place to be. Just to hear that people say that Valentine’s reminded them of Town, was kind of what I was going for.”
The goal of Grizzly Happy Hour, Castro explained, was not to recreate the exact happy hour that he and much of the city’s LGBTQ population grew to love at Town but rather bring it into the 2020s. One part of that, Castro explained, is taking advantage of everything Crush has to offer.
Crush, which sits at the intersection of 14th and U streets, has quickly become a favorite drink and dance spot for the LGBTQ community in Washington. The bar hosts myriad events for multiple sub-communities within the LGBTQ community, including drag bingo with legendary local drag queens and Deep Cvnt Ball, one of only a handful of Black queer ballroom events in the city. The versatility Crush offers—along with the steady stream of patrons willing to wait up to 30 minutes at peak hours—makes the two-story bar an ideal home for Grizzly Happy Hour.
“I look at this venue as an opportunity to be somewhat of a sensory overload,” Castro explained. “From things that you’re visually seeing, to vendors that are there, artists that are there, and the new people that you’re meeting, but also having great happy hour specials. One of the things that was attractive about Crush was it’s a dance bar, it has access to outdoor space, and it’s an inclusive environment. Those are the three things that to me, Grizzly and Crush come together on.”
For a happy hour to be successful, Castro explained creating drink deals “without breaking the wallet” was a major focus.
“One of the things that was so infamous about Town’s Bear Happy Hour was that they had pitchers of beer. There’s not many places where you can get a huge pitcher of beer for an inexpensive price. Having that was key to making some of this a success, and somewhat to make it feel more like the Town and Bear Happy Hour of the past.”
If beer isn’t your go-to, no worries, Castro assured. The vibes of the happy hour would be enjoyable to all — from those who prefer a cocktail, to people who’d rather throw back a shot before heading to the dance floor.
“There’s a couple other drinks that we brought on the menu that I’m excited about,” he said. “One is the ‘Bear Crush,’ which is a modified normal Crush. And then we have a shot called the ‘Sexual Teddy Bear’ shot, which was quite popular on Valentine’s Day.”
Another important element when planning an event is the music.
“In terms of the music and the DJs, I think we’re going to mix it up every time. Sometimes it could be all pop. Sometimes it could be more dancy. The intent is that it’s feel-good music. And we really want to support the DJs in the community, especially a lot of the newer DJs who don’t get the opportunity to perform in spaces like this.”
Castro hopes that this happy hour can be more than friends grabbing some drinks to start the weekend, though. He wants Grizzly to become a safe space for all, including the many LGBTQ organizations that exist in the city.
“I think it’s going back to having organizations and different entrepreneurs within the community actively participate in Grizzly and just getting to spread their message and recruitment.”
One concern that Castro had was not stepping on anyone’s toes in planning the happy hour, specifically other bear-themed events. It’s true that other queer bars in the city do have more ‘bear centered’ events, like Uproar’s weekly “Bears, Brews, and Booze” on Sundays, Castro made it clear he, and the rest of Grizzly’s team are not here to take any other bar’s bear spot in the ever changing landscape of Washington’s queer nightlife scene.
“It’s not trying to replace any other bear events or happy hours that are happening on different days of the week,” Castro said.
He also wants it to be clear that this is not solely for the bears or bear lovers of D.C. Castro wants all in the LGBTQ community to feel comfortable at Grizzly, despite what its name implies.
“We’re publicly promoting it,” Castro started. “It’s not like an elite club or anything. It’s on open social media. It’s on Crush’s website. It’s on Grizzly social media- it’s an open invite. I will say the name Grizzly, we struggled with the name for a bit. At Town, it was exclusively called ‘Bear Happy Hour.’ I struggled for a while … While the logo is a bear, Grizzly sort of implies a bear, it doesn’t say ‘bear.’ It was my subtle way of saying that this isn’t all for bears — everyone’s invited.”
Castro went on to explain that this inclusive spirit of Grizzly was what made him choose Crush over more bear-centric venues.
“That was part of the intention of having it at Crush,” he said. “I would love it if someone walked into Crush for a happy hour and didn’t even know Grizzly was happening. They’re like, ‘Oh, wow! This event has really good drink specials. The music’s really great. The people are great. Let’s just stay here.’ That’s sort of what I’m hoping for. I think that’ll happen over time.”
Grizzly Bear Happy Hour will take place on Friday, March 7 at Crush Dance Bar (2007 14th St., N.W.) from 6-10 pm. For more details visit Grizzly’s Instagram page at grizzly_bhhdc.
District of Columbia
D.C. Black Pride 2025: Events, parties, and empowerment
Annual Black LGBTQ culture, community, and resilience celebration starts Wednesday
Beginning on Wednesday, Washington will host a weekend-long celebration of melanated LGBTQ talent, power, and resilience with the return of D.C. Black Pride. From glamorous balls and dance parties to drag performances and more, the weekend offers something for everyone looking to celebrate Black queer existence.
The Washington Blade sat down with Keyna Hutton, president and CEO of the Center for Black Equity and organizer of D.C. Black Pride, to discuss the event’s current significance and the programming they are most excited about.
While the weekend may appear to be all about parties and celebration, Hutton emphasized that the heart of D.C. Black Pride lies in the connections it fosters.
“I always try to remind people that Black Pride is a safe space for communities, for people that don’t have these kinds of safe spaces where they live,” Hutton said. “People that live in some rural parts of the country, some very conservative spaces, they don’t have a space to be Black and queer. Many don’t have a space that they are able to be their full authentic selves. So Black Pride is that space. D.C. Black Pride creates that space for folks to be able to come to and just be free and live at all your intersections, to be glorified and be appreciated for who you are, as diverse as you are.”
They continued, pointing to the importance of this year’s theme — freedom — especially amid a political climate that remains hostile toward marginalized groups, particularly the transgender community.
“The real root of D.C. Black Pride is about creating a safe space and supporting community,” Hutton said. “If you think about what’s going on right now politically, it is even more important for us to maintain these spaces.”
Despite the external pressures facing the Black LGBTQ community, Hutton made clear that the weekend is also about celebration, especially for those traveling from near and far to be part of it.
“I am very excited for the Mr. & Miss D.C. Black Pride Pageant,” she said. “We have Ts Madison, Monroe Alise, Kerri Colby, Ben Garson, Anthony Oakes, Heather Mahogany, Apple Brown Betty. We have so many Black queer folks and queer allied people that are going to be here taking up space with us, loving up on us, entertaining us, all for free!”
For the first time this year, a free shuttle will run between the Capitol Hilton and official D.C. Black Pride events all weekend long, making it easier than ever to join in the celebration.
D.C. Black Pride party roundup
Weekend-long parties
Supreme Fantasy Weekend Party
All weekend long, the D.C. Black Pride party Supreme Fantasy will be in full swing beginning on May 22. With 12 events across five days, there’s something for everyone! From drinking and dancing to drag and so much more, this five-day celebration will keep the D.C. Black Pride party pumping through May 26. Tickets and additional information for this 21+ event are available at xavierpartydc.com.
Bliss Party Lineup
Celebrate being a Black LGBTQ woman with the Bliss party lineup! From brunches to dance parties to panels, Bliss has something for everyone. For tickets and additional information for this 21+ party series, visit eventbee.com.
Wednesday, May 21
Cocktails & Conversations
Join hundreds of Black queer women as they kick off D.C. Black Pride with a cocktail reception. Grab a drink and settle in at one of Washington’s swankiest cocktail bars, ZOOZ (636 Maine Ave. S.W.), at 7 p.m., and mingle before the weekend gets going. This is a 21+ event. For tickets and more information, visit BlissPride.com.
Thursday, May 22
Welcome to D.C. Happy Hour
Celebrate the beginning of D.C. Black Pride with drinks in the heart of the Dupont gayborhood! From 5-10 p.m. on the rooftop of Decades (1219 Connecticut Ave. N.W.), take in the spring weather and mix with other Black queer folks. For tickets and more information about this 21+ event, visit BlissPride.com.
Mr. & Miss D.C. Black Pride Pageant
Get ready for the ultimate showcase of Black excellence and pride with the Mr. & Miss D.C. Black Pride Pageant! The competition begins at 6 p.m. at the Capital Hilton (1001 16th St. N.W.), celebrating the history, beauty, and diversity of the DMV’s Black drag and entertainment scene. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.
D.C. Black Pride Unity Free Ball
Join the Capitol Ballroom Council for their 9th annual Unity Free Ball at the Capital Hilton (1001 16th St. N.W.). From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., show off how you embody this year’s theme of “Freedom.” With over 50 categories, there’s something for everyone. Hosts Icon East Coast Father Duante’ Balenciaga, Legendary East Coast Mother Daijah West, Legendary Domo Alpha Omega, and Empress Angel Rose Garcon will ensure the night is unforgettable. For categories, prizes, and free tickets, visit dcblackpride.org.
The Pre-Pregame Act I
Pregame D.C. Black Pride with Daryl Wilson at The Ugly Mug (723 8th St. S.E.). Expect food, drinks, hookah, and more starting at 10 p.m. For tickets, visit dcblackpride.org.
Friday, May 23
Shoot Your Shot & Drink
Date. Dance. Collaborate! Join Lamont White and Tyrice Johnson for a special in-person LGBTQ+ dating experience at North Gate Grill (1001 16th St. N.W.). Tickets available at dcblackpride.org.
D.C. Black Pride Opening Reception
Kick off the 34th annual D.C. Black Pride with award-winning comedian Anthony Oakes as he hosts an evening of music, drag, and more. Queer icons including Ts Madison, Kerri Colby, and Monroe Alise will be in attendance. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. at the Capital Hilton (1001 16th St. N.W.). Free tickets are available at dcblackpride.org.
Host Hotel Welcome Reception
Start the weekend with a party hosted by Daryl Wilson Events at the Capital Hilton, the official host hotel. Beginning at 3 p.m., guests can pick up VIP passes, connect with other attendees, and get into the Pride spirit. More info at dcblackpride.org.
The Pastel Party
Celebrate Black queer womanhood at the Pastel Party at STRAND Nightclub (1400 I St. N.W.). Beginning at 10 p.m., this event offers a vibrant, affirming space. For tickets to this 21+ event, visit BlissPride.com.
Saturday, May 24
D.C. Black Pride Writers Forum
Join Black LGBTQ writers from across the country for a discussion on storytelling, publishing, and politics. Special guests, including Volo Akili (Dear Universe), will be featured. The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Capital Hilton. More info at dcblackpride.org.
Mary Bowman Poetry Slam
Celebrate Black queer voices at the Mary Bowman Poetry Slam at the Capital Hilton. Open mic registration starts at 5:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 6 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded. More info at dcblackpride.org.
PURE BLISS – The Main Event
Dance the night away with other Black queer women at PURE BLISS, starting at 10 p.m. at Next Level (15 K St. N.E.). Enjoy music, drinks, and community. Tickets are $25 at BlissPride.com.
D.C. Black Pride White Party
Put on your best white outfit and party with the Black queer community at the iconic White Party. Rapper KHIA performs live at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Road N.E.), starting at 10 p.m. Tickets available at dcblackpride.org.
Meatloaf Saturday
Join over 5,000 Black queer men across three dance floors with four DJs, go-go dancers, and live performances. Meatloaf Saturday kicks off at 10 p.m. at Public Nightclub (1214 18th St. N.W.). Tickets at dcblackpride.org.
Sunday, May 25
Euphoria: D.C. Black Pride 2025 Closeout – The Finale
Close out Pride weekend with one last rooftop party at Twelve After Twelve (1212 18th St. N.W.) from 4-10 p.m. Celebrate with drinks, dancing, and community in Dupont Circle. Tickets are $15 at dcblackpride.org.
Wet Dreamz Mega Day Party
Join hundreds of Black LGBTQ people at one of the biggest events of the weekend — Wet Dreamz Mega Day Party — at The Bullpen @ Nats Stadium (1201 Half St. N.E.), starting at 5 p.m. Hosted by Daryl Wilson Events. Tickets available at dcblackpride.org.
Sunday Night Super Party
Four floors. Multiple DJs. One unforgettable night. Daryl Wilson’s Sunday Super Party at The Park (920 14th St. N.W.) begins at 10 p.m. and keeps going late. This 21+ event is free to attend. Details at dcblackpride.org.
Tuesday, May 27
WorldPride Black Queer Film Festival
Celebrate the art and impact of Black queer filmmakers with D.C. Black Pride and WorldPride at the three-day Black Queer Film Festival, kicking off at 6 p.m. at Howard University’s Blackburn Digital Auditorium (2397 6th St. N.W.). Free tickets available at dcblackpride.org.
In addition to these events, Thurst Lounge (2214 14th St. N.W.) — D.C.’s only Black-owned LGBTQ lounge — will host nightly celebrations of Black queer excellence. The weeklong celebration, Thurstnik Reloaded, runs from Wednesday through Memorial Day Monday. No cover charge, but a 21+ ID is required.
District of Columbia
LGBT exhibition at D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum opens May 16
‘LGBT Jews in the Federal City’ arrives for WorldPride and beyond
The D.C. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum is opening a special exhibition called “LGBT Jews in the Federal City” on Friday, May 16, that will remain at the museum at 575 3rd St., N.W. until Jan. 4, 2026.
Museum officials have said they are pleased that the LGBT exhibition will be open concurrently with WorldPride 2025 D.C., which takes place May 17-June 8. The exhibition also takes place during Jewish American Heritage Month in May and during LGBTQ Pride Month in June, the museum points out in a statement.
“This landmark exhibition explores a turbulent century of celebration, activism, and change in the nation’s capital led by D.C.’s LGBTQ+ Jewish community,” the museum statement says. “This is a local story with national resonance, turning the spotlight on Washington, D.C. to show the city’s vast impact on LGBTQ+ history and culture in the United States.”
LGBT Jews in the Federal City includes “more than 100 artifacts and photographs representing the DMV region’s Jewish LGBTQ+ celebrations, spaces, struggles, joys, and personal stories,” the stamen points out.
A pre-opening tour of the exhibition provided for the Washington Blade shows that among the displays are first-ever shown materials from Bet Mishpachah, D.C.’s LGBTQ supportive synagogue, which is the nation’s fourth-oldest LGBTQ friendly synagogue.
Also included is a prominent display about Barrett Brick, a longtime D.C. LGBT rights advocate and Jewish community leader who served as a board member and president of Bet Mishpachah in the 1980s and as executive director of the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish organizations from 1987 to 1992. Brick passed away following a 10-year battle with cancer in 2013.
Another display in the museum’s several rooms accommodating the exhibition includes the ability to listen to audio clips of local LGBTQ community members sharing in their own voices their oral histories provided by D.C.’s Rainbow History Project.
Other displays include campaign posters and photos of prominent gay rights icon Frank Kameny, who led efforts to end discrimination against LGBTQ people from the federal government; and a panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt that includes the name of a prominent Jewish Washingtonian who died during the AIDS epidemic.
“Through prompts, questions, and thoughtful design throughout the exhibition, visitors will be encouraged to ponder new ways to understand Jewish teachings and values as they relate to gender and sexuality,” the museum’s statement says.
“After leaving the exhibition, visitors can contribute to the Museum’s collecting and storytelling by sharing photographs, personal archives, or by recording stories,” it says.
The museum is open for visitors to see the LGBT exhibition and other museum exhibits 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission to LGBT Jews in the Federal City is $12.
District of Columbia
Rainbow History Project WorldPride exhibition to open May 18
‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’ to be on display at Freedom Plaza
D.C.’s Rainbow History Project is scheduled to open its WorldPride 2025 exhibition called “Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington” on Sunday, May 18, in Freedom Plaza.
Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. between 13th and 14th streets less than three blocks from the White House, the exhibition will be open to the public free of charge for 24 hours through July 6.
The exhibition “will chronicle the local LGBTQ+ Pride movement and how the pickets and protests of the 1960s led to the vibrant celebrations of the 2020s,” a statement released by Rainbow History Project says.
The statement notes that the exhibition’s displays will include photos and information about a 1965 protest in front of the White House by 10 gay men and lesbians carrying picket signs in what is believed to be one of the city’s and possibly the nation’s first public demonstrations in support of the then homosexual community.
“The exhibition disrupts the popularly held belief that the LGBTQ+ rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots in 1969 in New York,” the statement points out. It says the 1965 gay protest outside the White House, which took place four years before Stonewall, represents “the start of D.C.’s rich queer history.”
“Covering 1965 to the present, the exhibition explores the history of Pride in D.C. in 10 distinct thematic eras,” according to the statement. “Large hero images around the perimeter will draw people into the exhibit to explore a timeline wall with historic quotes from Pride’s organizers. Each of the 10 eras are detailed in thematic cubes rich with history and visuals.”
The statement says Rainbow History Project is seeking community members to serve as Exhibit Monitors to assist in operating the display in four shifts each day and night to be compensated from between $80 and $100 per shift depending on the time of the shift.
Information about applying to become an exhibit monitor can be accessed at Rainbow History’s website.
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