Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 16
Parties, events, concerts and more through Thanksgiving Day
The Washington Chorus presents ‘The Essential Bernstein’ Sunday at 5 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The late composer/conductor Bernstein was gay. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Chorus)
TODAY (Friday)
Gay Districts hosts its fourth Thanksgiving potluck dinner at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., NW) tonight at 8:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring food and drink. For details, visit gaydistrict.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW) presents “Drag Illusion”, a photo essay about drag queens by Michael Lang. Lang particularly focused on Town and the process the performers went through. The gallery is opened today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
The Speakeasy Shorts Film Challenge ends tonight at the U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW). The challenge was to write, shoot and edit a film based off of eight local storytellers in five days. The first day is when the filmmakers learned about their story. Now it is time to see their product. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit speakeasydc.com.
The Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda) presents Olivia Newton-John tonight at 8 p.m. In her most recent tour she is revisiting some her classics such as “Physical” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You” along with some of her more recent pieces. Tickets range from $48 to $78. For more information, visit Strathmore.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for people 21 and older. There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour tonight starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $10. The dance floor opens at 11 p.m. with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Phase 1 (528 8th St. SE) has its weekly dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight starting at 7:30. Cover is $10. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Saturday, Nov.17
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) holds Transgender Community Discussion today at 3 p.m. The goal of the meeting is to discuss the needs of transgender community. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, needs volunteers for the MLK Library (901 G St., NW) in the morning from 9:30 to noon. Approximately 12-15 volunteers are needed. If volunteers want to go to lunch at Potbelly or California Tortilla, they should bring $7-$10. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.com. Members also volunteer at Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation at the Petsmart (6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) today from 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. For details, visit burgundycrescent.com.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) celebrates its fifth anniversary tonight at 10 p.m. The club is celebrating with DJ Chris Cox and performances by its dance troupe The Dance Camp. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. There are $3 drinks before 11 p.m. The drag show starts at 10:30 p.m. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Sunday, Nov. 18
The Washington Chorus presents “The Essential Bernstein” today at 5 at Kennedy Center Concert Hall (2801 Upton St., NW). The concert is presenting music of the legendary Leonard Bernstein, featuring music from “Candide,” “West Side Story” and “Chichester Psalms.” Tickets are $15-$65. For more information, visit thewashingtonchorus.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke, which starts at 10 p.m. No charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Monday, Nov. 19
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Tuesday, Nov. 20
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to commemorate those who have been killed as a result of transphobia. It began in 1998 when transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith memorialized Rita Hester who was killed for being transgender. Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St. NW) is holding a service this evening at 6 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., SE) for social bridge. A partner is not needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts “WTF: Thanksgiving in Space” party tonight at 10. The celebration includes cosmo-nauts and pumpkin moonpies. Cover is $5. For more information, visit towndc.com.
Thursday, Nov. 22
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps with the Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless and needy at Rosemary’s Thyme restaurant (18 & S St., NW) today from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is expected that 500-600 homeless and needy people will be served. For details, visit burgundycrescent.com.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
House passes reconciliation with gender-affirming care funding ban
PHOTOS: D.C. Trans Pride
Men convicted of murdering two men in NYC gay bar drugging scheme sentenced
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
WorldPride events round-up
Pope Leo XIV: Family based on ‘stable union between a man and a woman’
Wes Moore signs HIV decriminalization bill
