Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: Feb. 17
Nina Simone tribute planned, Hippo brings guests and more

The Creative Alliance is hosting a tribute of singer Nina Simone, the ‘High Priestess of Soul,’ on Friday at the Patterson. (Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance.)
Hippo hosts talent event, DJ Chord
Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.) has a couple events going on this week.
First up is Baltimore’s Newest Faces monthly contest on Friday. Contestants will be performing a talent number for seven minutes or less and the winner will get a $50 cash prize.
For more information, contact Joes at 410-274-7118.
This week also brings Workout Saturday with special guest, gay D.C. DJ Chord Bezerra.
There’s also the weekly bingo game hosted by Roger Dimick starting at 8:30 p.m. to benefit the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore.
Nina Simone tribute planned
The Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) presents “High Priestess of Soul!,” a tribute to singer Nina Simone on Friday at 8 p.m.
The night will include music, dance, spoken word and media works by BMore & Dance, Wordslave, RaynFall Dance Company, Olu Butterfly, Dishibem Traditional Contemporary Dance Company, Bashi Rose and Griot’s Eye Youth Media Group.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for members. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.
Chocolate-themed party is AHA benefit
Fans of chocolate can attend two events this week in Baltimore.
On Wednesday, Liquid Culture Baltimore presents “Molten Chocolate Indulgence” at the Chocolatea Café and Tea Lounge (3811 Canterbury Rd.) from 7 to 9 p.m. The night will include various chocolate cocktails paired with finger foods and end with a chocolate fondue.
Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance from liquidculturebaltimore.com.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the American Heart Association.
Then on Thursday, the Maryland Science Center (601 Light St.) presents “The Science of Chocolate: Cocoa-ology” at 7 p.m.
This event will include samples of different chocolate styles, including truffles and bon bons, paired with wines and liqueurs and attendees will learn scientific and fun facts about chocolate. Tickets range from $40 to $45.
Three businesses join forces for Mardi Gras event
Fell’s Point bars, Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant, Kooper’s Tavern and Woody’s Rum Bar and Island Grill (1700 -2 Thames St.) are coming together for a Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The day will feature a bevy of food and drink specials and 10 percent of the event’s proceeds will go to the Tyanna Foundation, an organization that raises money for breast cancer research, services, education, treatment and patient care for local breast cancer patients and survivors.
For more information on Tyanna Foundation, visit breastfest.org.
For more information on the event, email [email protected].
Baltimore
This John Waters interview has been edited for readability — but perhaps not human decency
Pope of Trash dishes on Trump, plane etiquette, last meal, and more
By WESLEY CASE | At 80 years old, John Waters is still the ideal dinner guest — incisively sharp, quick-witted and funny as hell.
The chic Baltimore native proved it again and again in a recent Zoom interview, calling from his summer home in Provincetown, Mass.
The occasion was the Blu-ray releases of two of his movies — the 1977 dark comedy “Desperate Living” and his enduring 1988 musical “Hairspray” — on June 23 by the Criterion Collection, which publishes restorations of films it deems culturally important. The Criterion stamp of approval has become the gold standard among cinephiles.
“It’s like getting an award,” said Waters, who wrote and directed both films.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
The Washington Blade held the seventh annual Pride on the Pier at The Wharf DC on Saturday, June 13.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)



















The 2026 Lost River Pride Festival was held on the scenic grounds of the Lost River Farmers Market in Lost City, W.Va. on Saturday, June 13. Headliner Tom Goss performed at the festival and gave a second performance at the nearby Guesthouse Lost River.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)




















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