CONTENTS

JANUARY 4, 2018 Volume 24 Issue 34

17 THE FEED:
DROWNING IN DRUGS
A new survey estimates two-thirds of LGBTQ people suffer
from anxiety disorders.

26
By John Riley

FRAZIER’S EDGE
By embracing three centuries of popular songs, Luke
Frazier’s American Pops Orchestra is taking orchestral
music to new, diverse heights.

Interview by Doug Rule

33
Photography by Julian Vankim

REALITY SWEEPSTAKES Heading into awards season, these five films

could vie for a piece of Oscar gold.

By André Hereford

SPOTLIGHT: ANTIBALAS p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.11 THE FEED p.17
COMMUNITY: FLEX TIME p.19 YEAR IN PREVIEW p.22
COVER STORY: FRAZIER’S EDGE p.26 FILM: REALITY SWEEPSTAKES p.33
MUSIC: FUTURE TUNES p.35 NIGHTLIFE p.37
SCENE: NEW YEAR’S EVE AT TOWN p.37 LISTINGS p.38
SCENE: LURE p.44 LAST WORD p.46
Real LGBTQ News and Entertainment since 1994
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers André Hereford,
Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Dimitri Mitropoulos Cover Photography Julian Vankim

Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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© 2017 Jansi LLC.

4 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Spotlight
Antibalas
A
YEAR AGO, BROOKLYN’S FUNKY
12-piece ensemble performed at the Black
Cat for The Anti-Ball, part of a series of
Counter-Inaugural Events. They return for two
nights at the Hamilton that is likely to be less
politically motivated but every bit as musically
stirring. Antibalas is credited with introducing the
genre Afrobeat to a wider global audience, most
notably as songwriters and members of the house
band for last decade’s hit Broadway musical, Fela!
Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, Jan. 12,
at 8 p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets
are $20 to $25 per show, or $40 for a two-day pass.
Call 202-787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 7
 Spotlight
ON YOUR FEET
The Gloria Estefan story
helmed by a powerhouse
team: director Jerry
Mitchell (Kinky Boots),
choreographer Sergio
Trujillo (Jersey Boys),
and writer Alexander
Dinelaris (Birdman).
Opens Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Runs to Jan. 28 in the
Kennedy Center Opera
House. Tickets are $59
to $149. Call 202-467-
4600 or visit kenne-
MATTHEW MURPHY

dy-center.org

WASHINGTON IMPROV
THEATER: ROAD SHOW
D.C.’s leading company for long-
form improv offers a “wintry mix”
of vignettes featuring different
ensembles, with each plot developed
on-the-fly, spurred by a single audi-
ence suggestion. Opens Thursday,
Jan. 11. Weekends to Feb. 4. District
of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC),
2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $12 in
advance, or $15 at the door. Call 202-
462-7833 or visit witdc.org.

JEFF SALMORE
KLEZMER BRUNCH:
SETH KIBEL AND FRIENDS
Every few months, the Washington Jewish
Music Festival presents a concert served
with a kosher buffet at the Edlavitch Jewish
PHOTO COURTESY OF WASHINGTON JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Community Center on 16th Street. Seth Kibel

and fellow musicians will perform new arrange-
ments of traditional Eastern European/Jewish
melodies as well as original songs drawing
upon jazz, classical, world beat, rock and other
genres for an entertaining blend of music.
Sunday, Jan. 7, at 11 am. The Aaron and Cecile
Goldman Theater, Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th
St. NW. Tickets are $16.88 for the concert only,
or $33.75 for concert with brunch. Call 202-
777-3247 or visit wjmf.org.

8 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

STAN WEINSTEIN

Out On The Town

GALA’S THREE KINGS DAY CELEBRATION

GALA Hispanic Theatre offers its 41st annual Fiesta de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day Celebration). The timeless tale
of the Magi is presented with song, dance, and storytelling in a celebration featuring Bienvenido Martinez as Balthasar,
Delbis Cardona as Gaspar, and Hector Diaz as Melchior. Additional performers include Honduran singer Maria Isolina,
the Mexican youth dance company Los Quetzalitos and the Bolivian dance group Caporales San Simon. Alejandro Negron
returns as the emcee. Sunday, Jan. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Free, though a small gift for
a child is suggested. Call 202-234-7174 or visit galatheatre.org.

Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
Oliver (Armie Hammer) is an aca-
demic who comes to stay at a fam-
ily’s villa in 1980s Italy. There, he
strikes up a bond with 17-year-old
Elio (Timothée Chalamet), one
that changes both men’s lives as
their desire for one another takes
over. Luca Guadagnino directs the
coming-of-age tale, based on the
book by André Aciman, and critics
are falling head-over-heels for its
intellectual eroticism. Could it be
this year’s Moonlight? Now playing.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Rhuaridh Marr)
SEVEN BRIDES
FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
One of those old-school movie musi-
cals you see much of these days.
Stanley Donen directed the 1954
Oscar-winning battle of the sexes,
set on the frontier in the Oregon
Territory. The film continues
Landmark’s West End Cinema
Capital Classics. Screenings are
Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 1:30, 4:30,
and 7:30 p.m., 2301 M St. NW. Happy
hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are
$10 to $12.50. Call 202-534-1907 or
visit landmarktheatres.com.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
HHHHH
Despite what some of the fans are
saying, The Last Jedi, thrillingly
directed by Rian Johnson is magnif-
icent. It’s easily the best Star Wars
installment since 1980’s Empire
Strikes Back, and if it doesn’t quite
match that film’s narrative den-
sity, it’s certainly not for lack of
trying. Johnson has crafted a sto-
ryline that pays tribute to the past
but also stares headlong into an
uncertain future, at times taking
the story in powerful unexpected
directions. The visuals are intense
and strong, particularly during the
final, dazzling 45 minutes, and the
score, by John Williams, has never
been more potent or meaning-
ful. Carrie Fisher, in what would
tragically become her final screen
role, brings an essential heart and
warmth to The Last Jedi. Similarly,
Mark Hamill gives a finely honed,
resonant performance and Last Jedi
honors both the character of Luke,
so vital to the series as a whole, and
the actor himself. Torches, how-
ever, have been passed, and Daisy
Ridley’s Rey is the new centerpiece.
The film is two and a half hours
long, making it the longest install-
ment of the series. And yet, you
never want it to end. Now playing.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Randy Shulman)
STAGE
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
The Kennedy Center presents the
four-time Tony-winning musical
from 2015 based on the classic film,
directed by Christopher Wheeldon
and featuring a magical George and
Ira Gershwin score and a book by
Craig Lucas. Closes Sunday, Jan.
7. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Call 202-467-4600 or visit kenne-
dy-center.org.
ANNIE
The sun’ll come out tomorrow and
every day this holiday season at
Olney Theatre Center. Forty years
after composer Charles Strouse,
lyricist Martin Charnin, and book
writer Thomas Meehan teamed
up for the feel-good musical about
a determinedly optimistic little
orphan girl, countless other, real-
life kids have been inspired by
the popular work to become the-
ater performers (or at least the-
ater queens) in their own right.
The latest is Noelle Robinson, who
heads a cast of 32, including Rachel
Zampelli as Miss Hannigan, Kevin
McAllister as Daddy Warbucks, and
Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Rooster
Hannigan. Extended to Sunday, Jan.
7. Mainstage, Olney-Sandy Spring
Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3400
or visit olneytheatre.org.
GUILT
SCENA Theatre presents a world
premiere, based on historical
events, by John Shand. The story
of a charming and clever philander-
ing priest in the 17th Century, the
provocative drama delves into the
intolerance, xenophobia and perse-
cution of the powers that be, depict-
ing a collision between five peo-
ple who cannot tell the truth from
lies. Opens Friday, Jan. 5. Runs to
Feb. 4. Sprenger Theatre in Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.

11 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 ry comedy of manners illuminates
the foibles of the one-percenters.
Opens Tuesday, Jan. 9. To Feb. 11.
Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol
St. SE. Call 202-544-7077 or visit
folger.edu.

MUSIC
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
Baltimore-native composer Philip
Glass’s rare classical showcase for
kettledrum, the Concerto Fantasy
for Two Timpanists, is performed by
the BSO’s James Wyman and NSO’s
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE CAULDRON

Jauvon Gilliam. And that’s just the

headline piece in a Marin Alsop-led
program also featuring Saint-Saëns’
enchanting Carnival of the Animals,
with added narration by Baltimore
hip-hop artist Wordsmith. All that,
and Debussy’s La Mer and Ravel’s
La Valse, too. Thursday, Jan. 11, at 8
p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Also Sunday, Jan. 14, at 3 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Veronneau Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomu-
sic.org.
PASSPORT TO THE WORLD CONCERT SERIES
Virginia’s Creative Cauldron offers its eighth annual festival celebrating the music and CATHERINE RUSSELL
& JOHN PIZZARELLI
dance of cultures around the world, with performances over the next month by artists “A Salute to Billie Holiday & Frank
representing a broad spectrum of genres: jazz to Latin, opera to klezmer. Lynn Veronneau Sinatra” is the focus of a concert
and Ken Avis, the couple that curates the series, will kick things off Saturday, Jan. 6, at by two leading contemporary jazz
stars, teaming up for the first time.
7:30 p.m., performing with in their Wammie-winning international jazz fusion quartet
The daughter of swing jazz veteran
Veronneau with special guest, violinist Dave Kline. Other performances in the first week Carline Ray and Louis Armstrong’s
include Quiet Life Motel, an act that creates a weave of jazz harmonies, shimmering music director Luis Russell,
orchestral textures and frolicsome grooves led by violinist David Schulman, composer of Catherine Russell is a Grammy-
winning vocalist who toured with
the theme music for NPR’s The Big Listen, on Sunday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.; Randy Barrett’s David Bowie before going solo.
Big Howdy, a progressive bluegrass ensemble featuring singer Dede Wyland, on Friday, She’ll transport audiences to the
Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; the Jo Go Project, founded by acclaimed saxophonist Elijah Jamal glory days of the genre with jazz
guitarist, vocalist and bandleader
Balbed that blends funk, jazz, and hip-hop with D.C.’s indigenous sound of go-go, on
John Pizzarelli, who has worked
Saturday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; and the duo acoustic performance “Andes to Romance” by with everyone from the Boston
Ernesto Bravo & Juan Cayrampoma, on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. The series runs to Feb. Pops to John McCartney. Friday,
2. ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave. Tickets are $20 to $22 per performance. Jan. 5, at 8 p.m. Music Center at
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org. North Bethesda. Tickets are $40
to $95. Call 301-581-5100 or visit
strathmore.org.

NE. Tickets are $10 to $50. Call
202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.
LES MISERABLES
The National Theatre plays host
to a touring production of Alain
Boublil and Claude-Michel
Schönberg’s Tony-winning musical
phenomenon, featuring new staging
and reimagined scenery inspired by
the paintings of Victor Hugo. Closes
Sunday, Jan. 7. National Theatre,
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Call
202-628-6161 or visit thenationaldc.
org.
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV
Virginia’s 1st Stage presents Aaron
Posner’s imaginative retelling
of Chaim Potok’s beloved novel
about a young Jewish painter torn
between his Hasidic upbringing and
his need to pursue his artistic voice.
Nick Olcott directs a cast featuring
Andy Brownstein, Hyla Matthews,
and Lucas Beck. Closes Sunday, Jan.
7. 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Rd.
Tysons, Va. Tickets are $33. Call
703-854-1856 or visit 1ststage.org.
QUEEN GIRL IN AFRICA
Erika Rose plays a woman finding
her place in war-torn Nigeria in
this sequel from Caleen Sinnette
Jennings to Queens Girl in the
World, a New York Times-certified
hit from the first Women’s Voices
Theatre Festival two years ago.
Now part of the second iteration of
the festival, Mosaic Theater pres-
ents a world premiere and its first
commission, becoming part of its
series “Transformational Journeys:
Inspired Singular Explorations.”
Paige Hernandez directs. Opens
Thursday, Jan. 4. To Feb. 4. Lang
Theatre in Atlas Performing Arts
Center, 1333 H St. NE. Call 202-399-
7993 or visit mosaictheater.org.
THE HUMANS
Stephen Karam’s uproarious, hope-
ful, heartbreaking play, a keenly
observed examination of our mod-
ern age of anxiety, won the 2016
Tony for Best Play. It now tours
the country with a six-member cast
including Richard Thomas, Pamela
Reed, and Daisy Eagan, and direct-
ed by Joe Mantello. Opens Tuesday,
Jan. 9. Runs to Jan. 28. Kennedy
Center Eisenhower Theater.
Tickets are $49 to $139. Call 202-
467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.
org.
THE WAY OF THE WORLD
Theresa Rebeck’s loose adaptation
of William Congreve’s 17th-centu-
CHRIS THOMAS KING
Known for playing a skilled blues
guitarist in the 2000 Coen Brothers
hit O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the
Louisiana musician first emerged
nearly a decade earlier with his
experimental fusing of hip-hop
with the blues, including producing
the first rap/blues album for RCA,
1994’s 21st Century Blues...From
Da Hood,. Also a supporting play-
er in the Oscar-winning film Ray
and HBO’s Treme, among others,
King has continued to write songs
built on the “old” blues foundation,
including on his 2012 set Bona Fide.
Thursday, Jan. 4, through Sunday,
Jan. 7, at 8 and 10 p.m. Blues Alley,
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets
are $31 to $36, plus $12 minimum
purchase. Call 202-337-4141 or visit
bluesalley.com.

12 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 HBO’s Down & Dirty with Jim
Norton and Comedy Central’s
Comedy Underground with Dave
Attell, Katz deftly combines high-
brow and lowbrow humor. Sunday,
Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center
Family Theater. Tickets are free,
distributed in the Hall of States
starting at approximately 5 p.m. on
the day of the performance. Call
202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-cen-
ter.org.

EXHIBITS
PHOTO COURTESY OF TH E BIRCHMERE

BOSCH TO BLOEMAERT: EARLY

NETHERLANDISH DRAWINGS
A collection of the finest draw-
ings by Netherlandish artists born
before 1585 are now on display
at the National Gallery of Art.
Drawn from Rotterdam’s Museum
Boijmans Van Beuningen, works on
display include: Studies from the
circle of Rogier van der Weyden,
two sheets by Hieronymus Bosch,
six drawings by Pieter Bruegel the
EDDIE FROM OHIO Elder, and a selection of works
by Abraham Bloemaert. Closes
Neither the singing percussionist Eddie Hartness nor any other Virginia-bred member of Sunday, Jan. 7. National Gallery of
Eddie From Ohio actually has any ties to the Buckeye State. the folk act’s name is simply Art’s West Building, 6th Street and
an obscure tribute to “Ed From Ohio” Crawford, the lead singer/guitarist of ’80s-era Constitution Avenue NW. Free. Call
alt-rock act Firehose. Since its founding over a quarter century ago, Eddie From Ohio or visit nga.gov.
has gone on to tour regularly throughout the U.S. But the Wammie-winning act remains GREGORY FERRAND:
particularly popular in its native region, typically selling out weekend shows well in IT IS YOU (AND ME TOO)
advance at big, lauded venues such as the Birchmere. This year is no different: As of press You’ve likely seen striking work
by this artist before, particularly if
time, tickets remain only for shows Friday, Jan. 12, and Sunday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. The you’re a regular local theatergoer.
Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $42.50. Call 703-549-7500 Mosaic Theater Company, GALA
or visit birchmere.com. Hispanic Theatre, and Theater J
have all commissioned Ferrand for
illustrations capturing key charac-
ters in key scenes used to promote
JELLYBEAN BENITEZ: A NIGHT ustreetmusichall.com. as a breathtaking journey into the specific productions. In his first solo
AT THE U STREET DISCO influences that African dance and show at Maryland’s contemporary
For many, the name Jellybean VANESSA WILLIAMS IN LET culture has had on contemporary Adah Rose Gallery, the focus is on
Benitez is associated with Madonna. FREEDOM RING! dance styles. Led by the compa- stylized paintings portraying sub-
The DJ was integral to the rise of The famous Grammy- and Tony- ny’s co-founder and artistic director jects who feel isolated, alienated or
the artist atop the chart, having nominated performer leads this Assane Konte, the concert features alone — even if surrounded by those
co-produced her first three Top 10 year’s free musical celebration the senior and junior companies of they love, and despite the ever-con-
hits, “Holiday,” “Lucky Star,” and honoring Martin Luther King, Jr’s KanKouran as well as the children’s nected state of modern-day life.
“Borderline.” While these days he’s legacy, courtesy of the Kennedy company and the community class. Closes Friday, Jan. 5. 3766 Howard
“working with two multi-platinum Center and Georgetown University. Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m., and Ave. Kensington, Md. Call 301-922-
superstar acts” that he couldn’t Also on the bill is the Let Freedom Sunday, Jan. 14, at 4 p.m. Dance 0162 or visit adahrosegallery.com.
name in an interview with Metro Ring Choir with music director Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are
Weekly last summer due to confi- Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. The 16th $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. LUMIA: THOMAS WILFRED AND
dentiality agreements, his primary annual John Thompson Legacy of Call 202-269-1600 or visit dan- THE ART OF LIGHT
focus is on the music of his early a Dream Award will be presented ceplace.org. The Smithsonian American Art
days, when he was a marquee DJ at to Steve Park, executive director Museum presents a groundbreak-
ing exhibition of 15 spellbinding,
COMEDY
storied clubs like Paradise Garage and founder of D.C.’s Little Lights
and Studio 54. “I get to play a lot Urban Ministries. Monday, Jan. 15, image-projecting light sculptures
of disco records in their entirety at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert created nearly a century ago. This
— and in the original versions that Hall. Free tickets will be given away IMPROBABLE COMEDY: was a time, of course, well before
could be anywhere from eight- to two per person on a first-come, STANDUP AT HIGHWOOD technology made Thomas Wilfred’s
15-minutes-long,” says the execu- first-served basis starting at 4:30 Wendy Wrobeski, a DC Improv colorful moving light creations an
tive producer and program direc- p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit ken- regular, offers jokes along with easy feat, and his contemporaries,
tor of Sirius XM’s Studio 54 Radio. nedy-center.org. Franqi French and Matty Litwack including Jackson Pollock, László
“There’s no other radio station in the latest of a monthly series in Moholy-Nagy and Katherine Dreier,
Maryland. Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 recognized the Danish-American
doing that globally.” Benitez will
offer another live version of his DANCE p.m. Highwood Theatre, 914 Silver artist as an innovator. Yet the dif-
Sirius show this Saturday, “A Night Spring Ave. Tickets are $20 online, ficulty to maintain his sculptures
at the U Street Disco.” He’ll spin KANKOURAN WEST AFRICAN or $25 at the door. Call 301-351- is why, after faddish mid-20th cen-
alongside local house music legend DANCE COMPANY 2096 or visit improbablecomedy. tury popularity, they’ve long been
Sam “The Man” Burns. Saturday, As part of its annual presentation com. relegated to the storage archives of
Jan. 6, after 10 p.m. U Street Music celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., modern art museums, all-but for-
Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are Day, Kankouran invites guests to LOUIS KATZ gotten along with the artist himself.
$10. Call 202-588-1880 or visit explore Africa in Bolo (Bridge of As seen in appearances on NBC’s With works shown together for the
Togetherness), a new work touted Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, first time in nearly 50 years, Lumia,

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 14

organized by Keely Orgeman of the
Yale University Art Gallery, is help-
ing to restore Wilfred’s works and
reputation as a modern art pioneer.
Closes Sunday, Jan. 7. Smithsonian
American Art Museum, 8th and F
Streets NW. Call 202-633-1000 or
visit americanart.si.edu.
IMAGING FREEDOM:
REFLECTIONS OF RESISTANCE
AND JOY
A Black Artists of D.C. exhibition
featuring 2D and 3D images by 12
artists declaring freedom through
resistance, collected experience and
past reflection. Daniel Brooking,
James Brown, Jr., Summer
Brown, Abiodun Eniyandunni,
T.H. Gomillion, Francine Haskins,
Esther Iverem, Magruder Murray,
Alanzo Robles-Gordon, Russell
Simmons, James Terrell, and
Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell are all rep-
resented in the exhibition, curated
by Rhea Beckett. Now to Jan. 14.
District of Columbia Arts Center
(DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Call
202-462-7833 or visit dcartscenter.
org.
MARLENE DIETRICH:
DRESSED FOR THE IMAGE
From her very first Hollywood film
— the Josef von Sternberg’s 1930
drama, Morocco, which earned the
actress her only Academy Award
nomination — Dietrich “was able
to introduce to a very conserva-
tive, American, puritan population
the idea of accepting women being
attracted to other women,” says
National Portrait Gallery historian
Kate Lemay. Dressed for the Image
charts the actress’s career, longev-
ity, and influence on everyone from
Madonna and Jane Lynch to Janelle
Monae. It includes details about the
1955 outing of the German-born
actress as bisexual. On exhibit
through April 15, 2018. National
Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets
NW. Call 202-633-8300 or visit npg.
si.edu.
MIKE KELLEY:
MEMORY WARE FLAT #27
Potomac’s Glenstone Museum loans
a major wall sculpture for display
at Strathmore, continuing a part-
nership that has brought works by
Martin Honert, Lee Bontecou and
Keith Haring to the Music Center.
Part of the late Kelley’s series of
100 two- and three-dimension-
al works that imitate and subvert
the folk-art tradition of preserv-
ing small, personally meaningful
objects in mosaic-like decorations,
Flat #27 is a large-scale, abstract
assemblage of thousands of illegible
political buttons and beads fixed
with grout onto a wood panel and
hung on the wall like a painting. On
view through April 2018. Lockheed
Martin Lobby, 5301 Tuckerman
Lane, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-
5100 or visit strathmore.org.
16 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
MOSAIC: MOMENTS & METHODS
An avid photographer since college,
Washington native BD Richardson
uses new digital methods to help
restore vintage images and present
or reinterpret them in new ways.
The latest exhibition represents
many decades of her work and
depicts iconic as well as every-
day scenes from places around
the world, from Paris to Peru to
Poolesville. Opening reception is
Sunday, Jan. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. On
display through Jan. 28. Touchstone
Gallery, 901 New York Ave. NW Call
202-347-2787 or visit touchstone-
gallery.com.
PARALLAX GAP
The Smithsonian American Art
Museum tapped the design practice
FreelandBuck to create an immer-
sive, ceiling-suspended structure
in the Renwick Gallery, exploring
the notion of craft in the field of
architecture. The installation com-
bines the practices of drawing, fab-
rication and architectural design
in an innovative overlap of disci-
plines, embracing both Western and
Eastern concepts of perspective.
The resulting structure, consisting
of hanging, overlapping synthetic
fabric and depictions of nine iconic
American ceilings, is meant to be
a visual puzzle that reveals itself
to visitors as they move through-
out the room — creating a sense of
parallax, where the distance and
depth of the ceilings appear to vary
when viewed from different lines
of sight. Through Feb. 11. Renwick
Gallery’s Bette Rubenstein Grand
Salon, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Call 202-633-1000 or visit america-
nart.si.edu/renwick.
SPECTACULAR GEMS FROM
THE MERRIWEATHER POST
COLLECTION
Marjorie Merriweather Post had
one of the most remarkable collec-
tions of jewelry of the 20th century.
For its latest exhibition, her former
estate displays and shares stories
about more than 50 exquisite acces-
sories from the late cereal heiress
and the historic gems that went into
making them. Leading designers
Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry
Winston and Verdura are represent-
ed in the collection, which includes
pieces on loan from other muse-
ums and private collections. Closes
Sunday, Jan. 7. Hillwood Estate,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested
donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807
or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
THE ARTIST’S PROCESS:
LANDSCAPE PAINTERS
Sketches and studies created by
members of the Washington Society
of Landscape Painters will be on
display in an exhibition focused on
the process of painting in the field
and trying to capture the essence
and important aspects of what
might be included in the final work.
A number of the final pieces will be
exhibited alongside the rough and
quick sketches. Closes Sunday, Jan.
7. The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.,
Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 or
visit nvfaa.org.
THE ODYSSEY: BRIAN DAILEY’S
DIGITAL WORK
The Dupont Underground brings
together a cross-section of the art-
ist’s recent work in digital media
encapsulating the remarkable
odyssey of his life and the many
surprising twists and turns he has
explored. Through Jan. 15. Dupont
Underground, 1500 19th St. NW.
Suggested donation of $5. Visit
dupontunderground.org.
FOOD & DRINK
BIER BARON’S 1ST ANNUAL
CASK FESTIVAL
To mark its 7th anniversary, the
subterranean beer hall has opted
to launch an annual cask compe-
tition among roughly two dozen
craft breweries from across the
country. Attendees will receive
a keepsake glass and the abili-
ty to taste and vote on the best
cask, with the winning brewery
earning the plaque “The Best in
Cask.” Participating area breweries
include 3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, and
Right Proper from D.C., Denizens
from Maryland, and Crooked Run
Brewing, Heritage, Mad Fox, and
RedBeard Brewing from Virginia.
Saturday, Jan. 6, from 2 to 10 p.m.
Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St.
NW. Tickets are $27.37, or $69.57
for VIP including a food voucher
for $20, a complimentary ticket to
a future beer event or dinner and
other swag. Call 202-293-1887 or
search “cask festival” at eventbrite.
com.
BINDAAS FOGGY BOTTOM
James Beard Award-winning chef
Vikram Sunderam’s newest dining
concept reflecting the modern-day
cuisine of his native India makes
for a similarly satisfying and note-
worthy experience as his original
Rasika. A degree above fast-casual,
Bindaas focuses on the kind of food
one might find on the streets and
in the food markets of Mumbai,
yet offered in a more relaxed and
refined environment. With this just-
opened second outpost, the inti-
mate, not-quite-secret Cleveland
Park gem becomes a much bigger
and more noticeable jewel in a
younger, hipper, and more diverse
part of town. Impressive dishes
from the opening menu include
“Roadside Sandwich” burgers made
from either chicken or seasonal veg-
etables and served on a pao bun
with chutney, a Butternut Squash
lentil/rice pancake with green
curry sauce, and a delicious and
filling Chicken Curry with toma-
toes, garam masala and saffron rice.
Bindaas also features a full bar with
wine, beer and creative cocktails
made with spirits from local distill-
eries, including Green Hat Gin and
Cotton & Reed Rum. Don’t even
think of going without trying the
Tamarind soda, house-made with
honey, ginger, clove, nutmeg and
sumac. 2000 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW. Call 202-516-4326 or visit
bindaasdc.com.
ABOVE
AND BEYOND
GEORGETOWN GLOW
Now in its fourth year, this light
art exhibition presented by the
Georgetown Business Improvement
District features eight displays by
multidisciplinary artists. Billed
as a way to “re-imagine the sea-
son of light,” the works, curated
by Deirdre Ehlen MacWilliams
and many presented in collabora-
tion with Light Art Collection and
the Amsterdam Light Festival,
include: Aqueous by Jen Lewin of
New York, an interactive, walkable
landscape of meandering pathways
in Georgetown Waterfront Park;
Horizontal Interference by Joachim
Sługocki and Katarzyna Malejka
from Poland, a colorful cord struc-
ture connecting trees and light
poles in Washington Harbour; Open
Lounge by Géraud Périole, with 20
handcrafted chandeliers made of
acrylic, plastic and rope hanging in
Cady’s Alley; Glow Structural Remix
by Robin Bell of D.C., a 15-minute
looped video of historic imagery
with holiday colors and shapes har-
kening the activities of the once
bustling Old Georgetown Theater;
and The Neighbors by OmbréLumen
- Arthur Gallice & Herve Orgeas,
four figures made of LED bent wires
to create a clan of glowing peo-
ple along Wisconsin Avenue. Ends
Sunday, Jan. 7, every night from 5 to
10 p.m. Visit GeorgetownGlowDC.
com for more information, includ-
ing a free Curator’s Audio Tour set
to music. l
 theFeed
DROWNING IN DRUGS
A new survey estimates two-thirds of LGBTQ people
suffer from anxiety disorders. By John Riley
P
EOPLE WHO ARE LGBTQ ARE MORE LIKELY TO
be at risk for mood or mental health disorders, and
may resort to using illicit drugs to cope with their
problems. That’s according to a recent survey by Take 5
Media Group on behalf of the Florida House Experience,
a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. They asked 1,033
respondents who identified as LGBTQ to self-report any
mental health disorders, and the incidence of illicit drug use
by themselves and others.
“We wanted to take a dive and look at different commu-
nities, and specifically drug use within communities, and
how that plays a role with any mental health issues,” says
Logan Freedman, a data scientist who served as the lead
researcher on the survey.
According to the findings, 64.35% of respondents said
they suffered from or had been diagnosed with some form
of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder,
panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, or various phobias.
About half of all survey respondents (49.63%) said they
suffered from mood disorders, which run the gamut from
depression to bipolar disorder.
About 18% of respondents reported suffering from an eat-
ing disorder, a statistic that surprised Freedman because it is
higher than the incidence of such disorders among the gen-
eral populace. About 18% reported suffering from impulse
control and addiction disorders, and another 18% report
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
members of the LGBTQ community are nearly three times
more likely to experience mental health conditions than the
average person. That higher rate of mental health problems
is often attributed to challenges that LGBTQ people may
face, such as discrimination, prejudice, or societal rejection.
FROM RUSSIA WITH HATE
Russian State media mocks U.S. with “tranny troops” headline after U.S. military
begins accepting out transgender recruits. By John Riley
R
USSIAN STATE MEDIA OUTLET SPUTNIK NEWS
is once again exposing its animus towards LGBTQ
people as it mocks the U.S. military for allowing
transgender individuals to enlist.
Since July 2016, the U.S. military has allowed transgen-
der people who were already serving to continue to do so
without fear of being forcibly discharged. On Monday, the
Pentagon lifted the last barrier to transgender service by
allowing prospective recruits to enlist in the various service
As a method of coping, some may resort to self-medicating.
A little less than one-third, or 32.50%, reported they
have had problems with drug addiction. When asked for the
reasons behind their decisions to use, 38.46% cited feelings
of loneliness and a lack of intimacy or someone in whom
to confide. The next highest-cited reason was rejection or
shame from family and friends, which was cited by 24.59%
of respondents.
Other top reasons for drug use included frustration
stemming from an inability to pursue a love interest, loss of
employment or stagnation at work, isolation arising from
public ridicule or rejection, internalized homophobia or self-
hate, and discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation.
Freedman says he expects to conduct future surveys that will
take a more in-depth look at reasons why people pursue drug use.
When it comes to the type of drugs utilized, 69.77% said
they use marijuana to cope with mental health or mood dis-
orders, while 17.44% say they use Xanax or benzodiazepine,
12.24% use cocaine, and 11.38% use ecstasy.
“The number of LGBTQ people using Xanax is very
shocking, because when you look at the general popula-
tion, the drug most used after marijuana is usually opi-
ates,” Freedman says. “But for the LGBTQ community, it’s
anti-anxiety drugs. If you look at the reasons why people say
they use, it makes sense why they’re self-medicating with
anxiety drugs instead of pain relief drugs.”
Freedman says that the findings in the survey are import-
ant to analyzing how drug use affects members of the
LGBTQ community. The survey can also provide lessons
on how people struggling with mental or mood disorders to
seek help, and serve to warn people who are close to LGBTQ
individuals to be on high alert for any problems that may
develop from mood disorders or self-medication, he says. l
branches, regardless of their gender identity.
The Trump administration had sought a court order to
delay the deadline by which transgender individuals were
to begin being accepted. But after experiencing several
setbacks in court, the administration eventually dropped its
request for a delay, allowing the Pentagon to put in place
procedures that will allow the Armed Forces to accommo-
date transgender individuals.
On Monday, as news broke of the lifting of restrictions
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 17
 theFeed
on transgender recruits, Sputnik News mocked the United suits are permanently resolved.
States with a headline referring Lawyers for the plaintiffs in
to the new enlistees as “Tranny all four cases argue that any ban
Troops.” based on a person’s transgender
“Following a capitulation
by the administration of U.S.
“We are status, rather than their ability to
do their job, is unconstitutional

stronger when
President Donald Trump to a and discriminatory. They hope
federal court ruling overturning that the courts will rule President
a Trump attempt to ban trans- Trump’s ban unlawful and per-
gender US military recruits,
American soldiers will now com- the military manently overturn it.
Jennifer Levi, director of
prise a much wider spectrum of the Transgender Rights Project
humanity,” Sputnik wrote in its
lead.
reflects all of at GLBTQ Legal Advocates &
Defenders, which is representing
One commenter on the
Sputnik article called U.S. sol- who we are plaintiffs in D.C. and California
in two of the pending lawsuits,
diers “fags,” and another wrote: hailed the admission of out trans-
“Should be hilarious. Move over
Police Academy, Tranny Academy
as a nation.” gender recruits as an “historic
and proud moment for our coun-
is coming to a cinema near you.” try.”
– Jennifer Levi
Despite allowing transgen- “We are stronger when the
der people to enlist, the Trump military reflects all of who we
administration continues to push are as a nation,” Levi said in a
for a ban on all active-duty trans- statement. “Our nation will only
gender military personnel, which is slated to take effect in benefit from the service of these courageous individuals. We
March 2018. Thus far, the administration has been sued four know this fight is not over. But having transgender people
separate times over its plans to institute such a ban. In each be allowed to openly enlist in the military marks a huge
case, federal judges have issued injunctions preventing the development and hopefully the beginning of the end of this
Pentagon from attempting to enforce a ban until the law- baseless ban.” l

18 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

 Community
THURSDAY, January 4 Sheraton in Reston. All wel-
come. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
The Potter’s House presents Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
a talk with Emily Hobson, For more information, visit

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG LEO AND CRAIG CASSEY JR

an assistant professor of dullestriangles.com.
history and gender, race and
identity at the University HIV TESTING at Whitman-
of Nevada-Reno, and the Walker Health. 9 a.m.-12:30
author of LAVENDER AND p.m. and from 2-5 p.m. at 1525
RED: LIBERATION AND 14th St. NW, and 9 a.m-12
SOLIDARITY IN THE GAY AND p.m. and 2-5 p.m. at the Max
LESBIAN LEFT, a book chron- Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr.
icling LGBTQ activism and Ave. SE. For an appointment
the various challenges facing call 202-745-7000 or visit whit-
the community throughout man-walker.org.
the years. 6:30 p.m. 1658
Columbia Rd. NW. Visit pot- IDENTITY offers free and
tershousedc.org. confidential HIV testing at
two separate locations. Walk-

Bear Yoga
The DC Center holds a meet- ins accepted from 2-6 p.m.,
ing of its new ASIAN PACIFIC by appointment for all other
ISLANDER QUEER SUPPORT hours. 414 East Diamond Ave.,

FLEX TIME
GROUP. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
NW, Suite 105. For more infor- New Hampshire Ave., Suite
mation, visit thedccenter.org. 411, Takoma Park, Md. To set
up an appointment or for more
Weekly Events information, call Gaithersburg,
Green Lantern’s weekly Bear Yoga seeks to get 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
ANDROMEDA people of all sizes and shapes in touch 301-422-2398.
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH with their bodies METROHEALTH CENTER

I
offers free HIV testing and HIV
services (by appointment). 9 offers free, rapid HIV testing.
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center, ’VE TAUGHT EVERYBODY FROM PEOPLE WHO Appointment needed. 1012 14th
1400 Decatur St. NW. To have never been on a yoga mat to experienced prac- St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange
arrange an appointment, call an appointment, call 202-638-
titioners,” says Greg Leo, lead instructor of Bear 0750.
202-291-4707, or visit androm-
edatransculturalhealth.org.
Yoga, held every Wednesday on Green Lantern’s sec-
ond floor. “You can be in any shape — whether that’s SMYAL offers free HIV Testing,
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice 3-5 p.m., by appointment and
body shape, or physical shape, even if it’s been a while
session at Takoma Aquatic walk-in, for youth 21 and
since you last exercised.” younger. Youth Center, 410 7th
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more infor- The predecessor to Leo’s class, Bears Do Yoga, was St. SE. 202-567-3155 or test-
mation, visit swimdcac.org. a popular mainstay at the Green Lantern for years, but ing@smyal.org.
it was canceled when the instructor moved away. Leo STI TESTING at Whitman-
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
ning/walking/social club
approached the bar’s management about re-starting the Walker Health. 10 a.m.-12:30
welcomes runners of all ability class. “I wanted a space where guys would be comfort- p.m. and 2-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max
levels for exercise in a fun and able, that didn’t have the stigma of trendy young women
supportive environment, with Robinson Center, 2301 Martin
in Lululemon tights.” Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE.
socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mats, Testing is intended for those
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW. which can be purchased online for anywhere from $20 without symptoms. For an
For more information, visit appointment call 202-745-7000
to $80, depending on the type of mat and the individual’s or visit whitman-walker.org.
dcfrontrunners.org.
commitment to yoga. Attendees are also encouraged to
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay wear comfortable clothes, like T-shirts and shorts, that US HELPING US hosts a
Narcotics Anonymous Meeting.
and lesbian square-dancing will allow them to move freely.
group features mainstream The group is independent of
Because athletic abilities may vary greatly, Leo is UHU. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636
through advanced square
dancing at the National City constantly tailoring moves or poses to accommodate indi- Georgia Ave. NW. For more
Christian Church, 5 Thomas vidual skill levels and flexibility. Still, those new to yoga information, call 202-446-1100.
Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual shouldn’t be discouraged or intimidated just because they
dress. 301-257-0517, dclamb- WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
dasquares.org.
can’t do complicated acrobatic moves on their first try. INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
“It’s not about being able to touch your toes,” he says. women, 13-21, interested in
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds leadership development. 5-6:30
“It’s about getting in touch with your body in a different
practice. The team is always p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410
way. It’s about letting your mind relax and calm down, 7th St. SE. For more informa-
looking for new members. All
welcome. 7:30-9:30 p.m. King and not think about anything else but what your body is tion, call 202-567-3163, or email
Greenleaf Recreation Center, doing for that hour.” —John Riley catherine.chu@smyal.org.
201 N St. SW. For more infor-
mation, visit scandalsrfc.org or FRIDAY, January 5
dcscandals@gmail.com.
Bear Yoga is held every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
at the Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct. NW. There is a $10 GAY DISTRICT, a group for
THE DULLES TRIANGLES fee per class, which can be paid in cash at the door. Visit GBTQQI men between the ages
Northern Virginia social of 18-35, meets on the first and
greenlanterndc.com or call 202-347-4533.
group meets for happy hour at

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 19

 third Fridays of each month. 8:30-
9:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit
gaydistrict.org.
The DC Center hosts a meeting
of its TRANS SUPPORT GROUP,
focusing on issues important to
transgender people and those who
identify outside of the gender bina-
ry. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
BET MISHPACHAH, founded by
members of the LGBT community,
holds Friday evening Shabbat ser-
vices in the DC Jewish Community
Center’s Community Room. 8 p.m.
1529 16th St. NW. For more infor-
mation, visit betmish.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac-
tice session at Howard University.
6:30-8 p.m. Burr Gymnasium, 2400
6th St. NW. For more information,
visit swimdcac.org.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
affirming social group for ages
11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road
NW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-
0422, layc-dc.org.
SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a
social atmosphere for LGBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. For more info, email cather-
ine.chu@smyal.org.
SATURDAY, January 6
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hikes 11 strenuous miles with
2000 feet of elevation gain
through Catoctin Mountain Park
in Maryland. Bring snacks, lunch,
sufficient water, warm clothing,
sturdy footwear, and about $10 in
fees. Given the potentially icy con-
ditions on the trail, a set of micro-
spikes is recommended. Carpool
from the Grosvenor-Strathmore
Metro Station at 8:30 a.m. Contact
Jackson, 410-422-9257 or visit
adventuring.org.
CENTER GLOBAL, a group that
fights against anti-LGBTI laws
and cultures in 80 countries, holds
its monthly meeting on the first
Saturday of every month. Noon-
1:30 p.m. The DC Center, 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a prac-
tice session at Montgomery College
Aquatics Club. 8:30-10 a.m. 7600
Takoma Ave., Takoma, Md. For more
information, visit swimdcac.org.
20 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route distance will be 3-6 miles.
Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and run-
ners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets
NW. For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and
friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confiden-
tial HIV testing at its Takoma Park
location. Walk-ins accepted from
12-3 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411, Takoma Park, Md.
To set up an appointment or for
more information, call 301-422-
2398.
SUNDAY, January 7
Weekly Events
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300
Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
allsoulsdc.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Wilson Aquatic
Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551 Fort Dr.
NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environ-
ment, with socializing afterward.
Route will be a distance run of 8, 10
or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
& P Streets NW. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman
Catholic Mass for the LGBT
community. All welcome. Sign
interpreted. 6 p.m. St. Margaret’s
Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave.
NW. For more info, visit dignity-
washington.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service,
945 G St. NW. firstuccdc.org or
202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,
Quaker House Living Room (next
to Meeting House on Decatur
Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome
to lesbians and gays. Handicapped
accessible from Phelps Place gate.
Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST welcomes GLBT commu-
nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130
Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT
GROUP for gay men living in the
DC metro area. This group will be
meeting once a month. For infor-
mation on location and time, visit
H2gether.com.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL
DEVELOPMENT, God-centered
new age church & learning center.
Sunday Services and Workshops
event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isd-
dc.org.
Join LINCOLN
CONGREGATIONAL TEMPLE –
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for
an inclusive, loving and progressive
faith community every Sunday. 11
a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in
Shaw/Logan neighborhood. lincol-
ntemple.org.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to
Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m.
Childcare is available at both ser-
vices. Welcoming LGBT people for
25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE.
reformationdc.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpret-
ed) and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday
School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW.
202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,
a Christ-centered, interracial,
welcoming-and-affirming church,
offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St.
SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcom-
ing-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia
Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444
Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
ing and inclusive church. GLBT
Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.
NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
MONDAY, January 8
CENTER AGING holds a kick-off
monthly advocacy meeting to
provide guidance and feedback on
programs and services for LGBTQ
older adults. 12:30-2 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit facebook.com/
centeraging.
The YOUTH WORKING GROUP
of The DC Center holds a monthly
meeting to discuss upcoming pro-
gramming options. Light snacks
will be provided. 6-7:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. Visit thed-
ccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB holds a
practice session at Dunbar Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at
Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. For more information, email
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-
789-4467.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT
COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. For more information,
call 202-682-2245 or visit thedc-
center.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
men’s evening affinity group for
GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP
for newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whit-
man-walker.org.
TUESDAY, January 9
The DC Center holds a meeting of
its COMING OUT DISCUSSION
GROUP for those navigating issues
associated with coming out and
personal identity. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center’s TRANS
SUPPORT GROUP provides a
space to talk for transgender people
and those who identify outside of
the gender binary. 7-8:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB practice
session at Takoma Aquatic Center.
7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van Buren St. NW.
For more information, visit swim-
dcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes run-
ners of all ability levels for exercise
in a fun and supportive environment,
with socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at 7 p.m.
at Union Station. For more informa-
tion, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds prac-
tice. The team is always looking
for new members. All welcome.
7:30-9:30 p.m. King Greenleaf
Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW.
For more information, visit scan-
dalsrfc.org or dcscandals@gmail.
com.
THE GAY MEN’S HEALTH
COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening
and treatment every Tuesday.
5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday
LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health
Department, 4480 King St. 703-
746-4986 or text 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
— LGBT focused meeting every
Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. George’s
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland
Ave., Arlington, just steps from
Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-521-
1999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletli-
veoa@gmail.com.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
Support group for LGBTQ youth
ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL. 5-6:30
p.m. 410 7th St. SE. For more
information, contact Cathy Chu,
202-567-3163, or catherine.chu@
smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a support
group for black gay men 40 and
older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Health holds its
weekly GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gon-
orrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1525
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, January 10
The DC Center and the Network
for Victim Recovery of DC host
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, a workshop
focusing on educating LGBTQ
individuals and survivors of crime,
violence, or trauma about their
rights under the law and what
resources are available. 7-9 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. Visit
thedccenter.org.
The LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets
at the Dignity Center, across from
the Marine Barracks, for Duplicate
Bridge. No reservations needed.
Newcomers welcome. 7:30 p.m. 721
8th St. SE. Call 202-841-0279 if you
need a partner.
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All wel-
come. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
holds a practice session at Dunbar
Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a
group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more infor-
mation, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.
and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-
549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more info, centercareers.org.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV
testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N.
15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
STI TESTING at Whitman-Walker
Health. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at both 1525
14th St. NW and the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ave. SE. Testing is intended for
those without symptoms. For an
appointment call 202-745-7000 or
visit whitman-walker.org.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic
swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org. l
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 21
YEAR IN PREVIEW
All dates are subject to change at each organizer’s discretion. For more detailed information as events approach, check Metro Weekly’s Community
Calendar, your complete guide to local community events, in print and online at metroweekly.com.

JANUARY BROTHER HELP THYSELF’S TEAM DC’S WINTER CASINO TIME TO THRIVE CONFERENCE
ANNUAL GRANT AWARDS NIGHT Friday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 18
MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER RECEPTION Saturday, Feb. 3 The Human Rights Campaign
WEEKEND Saturday, Jan. 20 Join your favorite D.C. area partners with the National
Friday-Sunday, Jan. 12-14 Join Brother, Help Thyself as sports teams for a night of black- Education Association and
Join leather and fetish enthusi- it awards grants to D.C. and jack, craps and poker. the American Counseling
asts from around the country for Baltimore-area nonprofits that 8 p.m.-midnight Association to host a national
one of the leather community’s serve the LGBTQ community Buffalo Billiards conference promoting the health,
premier annual events. Attend and people living with HIV/ 1330 19th St. NW safety, and wellbeing of LGBTQ
parties and cocktail hours, shop AIDS. teamdc.org/casinonights youth in schools.
in the leather mart, or just social- 2-6 p.m. Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
ize at the bar in the lobby. The Baltimore Eagle EQUALITY VIRGINIA’S DAY OF Hotel
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill 2022 N. Charles St., Baltimore, ACTION 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort
400 New Jersey Ave. NW Md. Monday, Feb. 5 Lane, Orlando, Fla.
For times of individual events, brotherhelpthyself.net Join Equality Virginia as they timetothrive.org
visit leatherweekend.com. lobby lawmakers in the General
CREATING CHANGE Assembly to support pro-LGBT MARCH
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE bills. The day also includes work-
CELEBRATION OF SMYAL’S Wednesday, Jan. 24-Sunday, shops for activists and ends with SMYAL FOR SPRING BY THE DC
HOUSING PROGRAM FOR Jan. 28 a legislative reception featuring PROGRESSIVE DINNER
HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH The National LGBTQ Task Force appearances by LGBT-friendly Date, time and location TBA
Sunday, Jan. 13 sponsors and organizes this pre- lawmakers. smyal.org
As part of the anniversary cele- mier leadership and skills-build- 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
bration, SMYAL will be hosting ing conference for activists Library of Virginia NIGHT OUT AT THE WIZARDS
an MLK Day of Service project involved in the LGBTQ social 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Va. Date TBA
in partnership with HRC and justice movement. equalityvirginia.org A night celebrating the Wizards’
Planned Parenthood of Metro Marriott Wardman Park LGBTQ fan base and inclusion in
Washington to create winter care 2660 Woodley Rd. NW NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS basketball.
packages for homless LGBTQ creatingchange.org AWARENESS DAY 7 p.m.
youth. Wednesday, Feb. 7 Verizon Center
SMYAL Main Office FEBRUARY aids.gov 601 F St. NW
410 7th St. SE teamdc.org
smyal.org NIGHT OUT AT THE CAPITALS GENOUT CHORUS — YOUTH
Date TBA INVASION NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY A night celebrating the Capitals’ Saturday, Feb. 10 HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY
PARADE LGBTQ fan base and inclusion The GenOUT Youth Chorus Saturday, Mar. 10
Monday, Jan. 15 in hockey. takes to the stage to perform aids.gov
Join The DC Center as it march- 7 p.m. songs celebrating LGBTQ Youth
es as part of the LGBTQ contin- Verizon Center Pride. RISE: 2018 HRC LOS ANGELES
gent in the annual Martin Luther 601 F St. NW 8 p.m. DINNER GALA
King, Jr. Holiday Parade. All teamdc.org Atlas Performing Arts Center, Saturday, Mar. 10
LGBTQ people are welcome to Lang Theatre Annual dinner celebrating HRC’s
participate. ANNUAL CAPITAL PRIDE 1333 H St. NE progress on equality in the Los
Meet at 10 a.m., parade kicks off REVEAL gmcw.org Angeles area.
at noon. Thursday, Feb. 1 5:30 p.m.
Anacostia Park Find out what Capital Pride has VALENTINE’S DAY IS A DRAG JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton at
1900 Anacostia Dr. SE planned for its upcoming 2018 Saturday, Feb. 10 LA Live
thedccenter.org/events/mlk- celebration. Drag show, organized by the 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los
pride 7:30-11:30 p.m. Dupont Social Club, will help Angeles, Calif.
Location TBA raise money for SMYAL. Two hrcladinner.com
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY capitalpride.org shows will kick off at 6:30 and
OF SERVICE 8:30 p.m. NATIONAL NATIVE HIV/AIDS
Monday, Jan. 15 17TH ANNUAL HRC GREATER Duplex Diner AWARENESS DAY
The Corporation for National NEW YORK GALA 2004 18th St. NW Tuesday, Mar. 20
and Community Service encour- Saturday, Feb. 3 smyal.org aids.gov
ages all people to participate in Annual gala to celebrate HRC’s duplexdiner.com
a service project in honor of the progress on equality in the New
memory of Dr. Martin Luther York area.
King, Jr. 5:30 p.m.
nationalservice.gov/mlkday Marriott Marquis NYC
1535 Broadway, New York, N.Y.
hrc.org

22 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

TEAM DC’S SPRING
SPORTSFEST
Thursday, Mar. 22
Learn about and meet represen-
tatives from the more than 35
D.C.-area LGBTQ sports orga-
nizations.
6-8:30 p.m.
Room & Board
1840 14th St. NW
teamdc.org
APRIL
TEAM DC’S ALL STAR PARTNER
GATHERING
Monday, April 2
Time and location TBA
teamdc.org
HRC GLOBAL INNOVATIVE
ADVOCACY SUMMIT
Monday, April 9-Thursday,
April 12
Join global leaders and innova-
tors as they exchange ideas and
showcase projects that improve
the lives of LGBTQ people in
their countries and communities.
HRC Equality Center
1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW
hrc.org
NATIONAL YOUTH HIV/AIDS
AWARENESS DAY
Tuesday, April 10
aids.gov
TEAM DC’S NIGHT OF
CHAMPIONS AWARDS DINNER
Saturday, April 14
Honoring those who have made
significant contributions to the
D.C. LGBTQ sports community
and celebrate the recipients of
Team DC’s College Scholarship
awards.
6-9 p.m.
Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave. NW
teamdc.org/champions
EQUALITY VIRGINIA’S
15TH ANNUAL 2017
COMMONWEALTH DINNER
Saturday, April 14
Join the Commonwealth’s major
LGBT rights organization as it
celebrates pro-LGBT progress
and the allies who have made
it possible. Proceeds benefit
Equality Virginia.
5:30 p.m.-midnight
Greater Richmond Convention
Center
403 N. Third St., Richmond, Va.
equalityvirginia.org
NATIONAL TRANSGENDER HIV
TESTING DAY
Wednesday, April 18
aids.gov
NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE
Friday, April 27
The brainchild of GLSEN, the
Day of Silence is used to protest
the silencing of the LGBT com-
munity due to harassment, bully-
ing, and abuse in schools.
dayofsilence.org
glsen.org
TEAM DC’S SPRING CASINO
NIGHT
Saturday, April 28
Join your favorite D.C. area
sports teams for a night of black-
jack, craps and poker.
8 p.m.-midnight
Buffalo Billiards
1330 19th St. NW
teamdc.org
CAPITAL PRIDE’S SPRING
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT
Monday, April 30
7 p.m.
Stead Park
1633 P St. NW
capitalpride.org
MAY
DC BLACK PRIDE AWARDS
RECEPTION
Date TBA
Honoring those people who have
made major contributions to
DC Black Pride and to the black
LGBTQ community.
Time and Location TBA
dcblackprideweekend.com
dcblackpride.org
TEAM DC’S NIGHT OUT AT THE
PRODIGY
Date TBA
A night to celebrate LGBTQ
sports teams and their fan base.
Time and Location TBA
teamdc.org
DC FRONT RUNNERS
UNDERWEAR RUN
Date TBA
DC’s LGBTQ running group
holds a charity 3-mile fun run for
people in their underwear, with
proceeds benefiting Team DC’s
College Scholarship Program.
Time TBA
Taras Shevchenko State
23rd and P Streets NW
teamdc.org
REEL TRANS FILM FEST
Date, location and time TBA
thedccenter.org/events/reel-
trans
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY
EQUALITY DAY
Sunday, May 6
internationalfamilyequalityday.
org
GAY DAY AT THE ZOO
Sunday, May 6
Join The DC Center and LGBTQ
folks from around D.C. at the
National Zoo as they celebrate
International Family Equality
Day.
National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
thedccenter.org/events/gay-
dayatthezoo
facebook.com/gaydayatthezoo
CAPITAL PRIDE HEROES GALA
Saturday, May 12
Annual event honors those who
have made significant contribu-
tions to the LGBT community
and to Capital Pride.
Location and time TBA
capitalpride.org
INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST
HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA,
AND BIPHOBIA
Thursday, May 17
dayagainsthomophobia.org
HIV VACCINE AWARENESS DAY
Friday, May 18
aids.gov
NATIONAL ASIAN AND
PACIFIC ISLANDER HIV/AIDS
AWARENESS DAY
Saturday, May 19
aids.gov
NATIONAL HEPATITIS TESTING
DAY
Saturday, May 19
aids.gov
TEAM DC’S T-SHIRT
DISTRIBUTION NIGHT
Monday, May 21
Time and Location TBA
teamdc.org
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH’S
“GOING THE EXTRA MILE”
BENEFIT
Wednesday, May 23
Join Whitman-Walker for our
annual cocktail reception honor-
ing the organization’s pro bono
legal volunteers, recognizing its
allies, and raising money for its
legal services program.
6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Hamilton
600 14th St. NW
Whitman-walker.org
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
CAPITAL TRANS PRIDE
Friday, May 18-Sunday, May 20
Events include an activities and
resource fair, forums, movie
screenings, and the DC Trans
Ball
Location and times TBA
capitalpride.org/events/capi-
tal-trans-pride
DC BLACK PRIDE
Friday-Monday, May 25-28
dcblackprideweekend.com
dcblackpride.org
BLACK PRIDE CULTURAL ARTS
& WELLNESS FAIR
Sunday, May 27
Featuring tabling activities by
local community organizations
and “Sunday Funday” entertain-
ment courtesy of Darryl Wilson
Promotions.
2-9 p.m.
Location TBA
dcblackprideweekend.com
dcblackpride.org
JUNE
SMYAL FOR SUMMER
Date, time and location TBA
smyal.org
MOCO PRIDE INTERFAITH
WORSHIP SERVICE
Date, time and location TBA
mocopridecenter.org
TEAM DC’S NIGHT OUT AT THE
VALOR
Date TBA
Celebrating LGBTQ sports teams
and their fan base.
6-10 p.m.
Capital One Arena
601 F St. NW
teamdc.org
CAPITAL PRIDE WOMEN’S
KICKOFF PARTY, PRESENTED
BY MAUTNER PROJECT OF
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
Saturday, June 2
This event celebrates the
Mautner Project’s delivery of
direct services to LBT women
with cancer, health education,
and workshops to the community
and health care professionals
about the LGBT community’s
unique health needs.
7 p.m.
Big Chief
2002 Fenwick St. NE
whitman-walker.org
capitalpride.org
23
 MOCO PRIDE CENTER’S CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE
LGBTQ PROM Saturday, June 9
Saturday, June 2 Join Capital Pride for its sig-
Time and location TBA nature event, featuring cars,
mocopridecenter.org marching contingents and floats
representing the best of D.C.’s
CASA RUBY’S ANNIVERSARY LGBT community.
PARTY 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 2 Parade route starts at 22nd and
Location and time TBA P Streets, NW. Ends at 14th and
casaruby.org R Streets, NW
capitalpride.org
HIV LONG-TERM SURVIVORS
DAY DISTRKT C OFFICIAL SATURDAY
Monday, June 5 NIGHT DC PRIDE PARTY
aids.gov Saturday, June 9
Location and time TBA
TEAM DC’S NIGHT OUT AT THE capitalpride.org
NATIONALS
Tuesday, June 5 CAPITAL PRIDE FESTIVAL &
Join members of Team DC and CONCERT
the greater LGBTQ community Sunday, June 10
to celebrate inclusion in sports, Celebrating the 42nd anniversary
as the Nationals take on the of Pride in the Nation’s Capital,
Tampa Bay Rays. featuring entertainers, booths for
6-11 p.m. local and national organizations,
Nationals Park food, and live music.
1500 S. Capitol St. SE 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
teamdc.org Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
between 3rd and 7th Streets,
CAPITAL PRIDE ROOFTOP NW
POOL PARTY AND RALLY capitalpride.org
Thursday, June 7
7-11 p.m. CAPITAL PRIDE SUNSET DANCE
Location TBA PARTY
capitalpride.org Sunday, June 10
Dance the night away with DJd
DC FRONT RUNNERS PRIDE 5K following the end of the Capital
RUN AND AFTER-PARTY Pride Festival and Concert.
Friday, June 8 8-10 p.m.
Proceeds from the event to Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
benefit Team DC’s Scholarship between 3rd and 7th Streets,
Program, as well as SMYAL, the NW
Wanda Alston Foundation, and capitalpride.org
Casa Ruby.
6:30-9 p.m. TAVA WREATH LAYING
Congressional Cemetery CEREMONY FOR TRANS
1801 E St. SE VETERANS
dcfrpriderun.org Saturday, June 16
capitalpride.org Join The DC Center’s Center
Military Group as it honors those
CAPITAL PRIDE AND BYT transgender veterans who sacri-
OPENING NIGHT PARTY ficed their lives for our country.
Friday, June 8 Time TBA
9 p.m.-2 a.m. Arlington National Cemetery
Location TBA (Metro: Blue Line)
capitalpride.org thedccenter.org/events/tava

CAPITAL “CRACK OF NOON” MOCO PRIDE FESTIVAL

OFFICIAL PRIDE BRUNCH Saturday, June 16
Saturday, June 9 Time and location TBA
Full Brunch: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. mocopridecenter.org
Liquid Brunch: 1-4 p.m.
Location TBA BALTIMORE PRIDE
capitalpride.org Saturday, June 16-Sunday,
June 17
CAPITAL PRIDE BLOCK PARTY Locations TBA
Saturday, June 9 For a listing of events, visit bal-
4-10 p.m. timorepride.org
15th and P Streets, NW
capitalpride.org

24 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY
Sunday, June 27
aids.gov
JULY
TEAM DC’S NIGHT OUT AT THE
KASTLES
Date TBA
Celebrating LGBTQ sports teams
and their fan base.
Time and Location TBA
teamdc.org
AUGUST
DC QUEER THEATRE FESTIVAL
Date, time and location TBA
thedccenter.org/queertheatref-
est
OUTWRITE DC BOOK FESTIVAL
2017: A CELEBRATION OF LGBT
LITERATURE
Friday-Sunday, Aug. 3-5
Reeves Center
2000 14th St. NW.
Times of readings and exhibits
TBA
Volunteers asked to email out-
writedc@gmail.com.
thedccenter.org/outwritedc
SEPTEMBER
TEAM DC’S UNITED NIGHT OUT
Date TBA
Celebrating DC United’s com-
mitment to inclusion and LGBTQ
soccer fans.
Time TBA
Audi Field
32-60 R St. SW
teamdc.org
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN’S
22ND ANNUAL NATIONAL
DINNER
Saturday, Sept. 15
Join HRC for its premier annual
fundraiser, featuring special
guest speakers, a silent auction,
and live musical acts.
6 p.m.-11 p.m.
Walter E. Washington
Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Pl. NW
hrcnationaldinner.org
NATIONAL HIV/AIDS AND AGING
AWARENESS DAY
Tuesday, Sept. 18
aids.gov
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH’S Scholarship Program. ANNUAL TRANSGENDER DAY
40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Time and location TBA OF REMEMBRANCE
Saturday, September 22 teamdc.org Tuesday, Nov. 20
Whitman-Walker Health hosts An event to remember those
a cocktail reception followed by SMYAL FALL BRUNCH transgender and gender-noncon-
a gala dinner, silent auction, and Sunday, Oct. 14 forming people who have lost
speaking program reflecting on D.C.’s local LGBTQ youth orga- their lives to anti-trans violence.
Whitman-Walker’s past, present, nization holds its annual three- Metropolitan Community
and future. course brunch, cocktail reception, Church
6:30 p.m. and silent auction to raise money 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Marriott Marquis Hotel for its youth programming. 474 Ridge St. NW
901 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington Marriott Marquis For other localities’ events, visit
whitman-walker.org 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW tdor.info.
smyal.org/brunch
CELEBRATE BISEXUALITY MONTGOMERY COUNTY
AWARENESS DAY NATIONAL LATINX AIDS ANNUAL TRANSGENDER
Sunday, Sept. 23 AWARENESS DAY DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
bivisibilityday.com Monday, Oct. 15 CELEBRATION
latinoaids.org Tuesday, Nov. 20
CAPITAL PRIDE’S FALL Featuring both secular and inter-
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT WHITMAN-WALKER’S ANNUAL faith services.
Monday, Sept. 24 WALK & 5K RUN TO END HIV Times TBA
7 p.m. October 27 Location TBA
Shaw Field Join Whitman-Walker Health tdor.info
3700 O St. NW as it holds its biggest fundraiser
capitalpride.org of the year. Proceeds benefit THANKSGIVING AT THE DC
Whitman-Walker’s HIV preven- CENTER
NATIONAL GAY MEN’S HIV/AIDS tion and treatment efforts. Thursday, Nov. 22
AWARENESS DAY 8 a.m. Those who are alone for the
Thursday, Sept. 27 Freedom Plaza holiday are welcome to share
aids.gov 13th Street and Pennsylvania Thanksgiving Dinner with other
Avenue NW LGBTQ people at The DC Center.
OCTOBER walktoendhiv.org 1-5 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105
HRC’S CHEFS FOR EQUALITY 32ND ANNUAL HIGH HEEL RACE thedccenter.org
Date, location and time TBA Tuesday, Oct. 30
The Human Rights Campaign D.C.’s annual Halloween-themed SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
brings together top chefs, pastry event, featuring competitors Saturday, Nov. 24
chefs, and mixologists to create wearing creative costumes and Use the Saturday after
food and cocktails as the organi- high heels as they race down his- Thanksgiving to patronize local
zation raises money to fight for toric 17th Street. small businesses.
full LGBTQ equality. Parade of costumes starts 6 p.m. sba.gov
hrc.org Race starts at 9 p.m.
17th St. NW, between Church DECEMBER
REEL AFFIRMATIONS FILM and S Sts.
FESTIVAL dupontcirclemainstreets.org SMYAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Date, location and time TBA facebook.com/17thStreetHigh- Date, time and location TBA
D.C.’s premier LGBTQ film festi- HeelRace smyal.org
val, featuring short films focused
around LGBTQ characters. NOVEMBER WORLD AIDS DAY
thedccenter.org/reelaffirma- Friday, Dec. 1
tions TEAM DC’S NIGHT OUT AT THE For specific events and times, see
NFL listings on blog.aids.gov
BLUE SHIRT DAY/WORLD DAY Date TBA
OF BULLYING PREVENTION An event bringing together all CAPITAL PRIDE HOLIDAY
Wednesday, Oct. 3 LGBTQ NFL fans. HEATWAVE PARTY
Wear blue in a show of solidarity FedExField Tuesday, Dec. 4
against bullying. 1600 Fedex Way, Hyattsville, 7-10 p.m.
stompoutbullying.org. Md. HRC Equality Center
teamdc.org 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY capitalpride.org
Thursday, Oct. 11 7TH ANNUAL BEAUJOLAIS Hrc.org
hrc.org/national-coming-out- NOUVEAU EVENT
day Thursday, Nov. 15 INTERNATIONAL DAY TO
Join The DC Center’s Center END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX
TEAM DC’S ANNUAL FASHION Women Group as they celebrate WORKERS
SHOW AND MODEL SEARCH their annual wine sampling Monday, Dec. 17
Saturday, Oct. 13 party. December17.org l
Join Team DC as its members Time TBA
strut their stuff on the run- The DC Center
way, showing off fashions to 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105
raise money for Team DC’s thedccenter.org
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 25
FRAZIER’S
EDGE
BY EMBRACING THREE CENTURIES
OF POPULAR SONGS, LUKE FRAZIER’S
AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA IS
TAKING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO
NEW, DIVERSE HEIGHTS.
Interview by Doug Rule
Photography by Julian Vankim

“I love dinner parties,”

says Luke Frazier. “I love entertaining.”
The conductor’s lifelong love of cooking took on a new twist after he became a
vegetarian. “Now when anyone comes for dinner, I only cook vegetarian meals,”
he says. “People never realize it, typically. They don’t walk away going, ‘Oh my
God, I had a leaf of lettuce for dinner.’”
That attitude manifests in all aspects of Frazier’s life. He seems to derive great
satisfaction in surprising people, upending expectations, and introducing them to
new experiences, or things they might not have expected they’d like. In the past
decade, the 32-year-old has made a name for himself surprising the music estab-
lishment as an enthusiastic, astute and young guest conductor for hire for classical
ensembles around the region and, increasingly, the world.
He’s been turning even more heads with the American Pops Orchestra, an
organization he began in 2015 that offers stage-directed concerts featuring top
regional musicians accompanying star vocalists — everyone from Fran Drescher
(The Nanny) to two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) to
Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child. This Saturday, Jan. 6, APO kicks off the
new year with “Around The World in 80 Days” at Arena Stage, where it is has
established a cooperative residency.
It’s all a far cry from his upbringing deep in Appalachia. Among others, Frazier
credits his piano teacher at West Virginia University with helping him find his
way. “She always pushed me really hard to go do things outside of the college and
to do master classes with people,” he says. “That’s how I got to work with Marvin
Hamlisch, who is one of the most legendary conductors in the history of pops
conducting, and all kinds of famous singers and instrumentalists.”
In addition to other regular D.C. gigs, including leading the APO as the house
band for the Helen Hayes Awards, Frazier also made his Carnegie Hall and
Lincoln Center debuts in 2017. All that, plus he moved into a massive house that
had fallen on hard times in Cathedral Heights with his partner Robert Pullen, a
theater producer. The three-story manse, built a century ago by a U.S. Senator

26 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 27
from Idaho, serves as an ideal kind of home for the couple’s din-
ner parties and all manner of fundraising events, not to mention
a perfect way to display the many fruits of Frazier’s non-musical
hobby: antiquing and estate-sale collecting.
“One of the things I love about antiques and one of the things
I love about what I do is getting to know the history and the story
behind the things,” he says. “Almost anything in this house, I can
tell you exactly where I got it, the period it comes from, and the
story behind it.”
It’s also an important part of the entertaining he enjoys
doing at home. Away from his busy schedule with the Pops
Orchestra, the antiques bring a welcoming atmosphere to
Frazier’s home life.
“One of the things I love is that it kind of fills a home with
warmth, because everything is almost living,” he says. “There’s
an energy to it. I love that.”
METRO WEEKLY: Let’s start with how you put together this week-
end’s concerts.
LUKE FRAZIER: Last year, we experimented and developed a
kids show. I’m also the artist in residence with the DC Youth
Orchestra. It was fun, it sold out, the kids seemed to really enjoy
it, and the parents loved it. So I commissioned another work
this year based on Around the World in 80 Days. We modified
the book to make it more inclusive and much more politically
correct. I really wanted a story about building friendships and
getting to know different kinds of people, because I think right
now in our country, it’s a critical thing to keep reinforcing to
kids, that even though people look and sound and act differently
than we do, they’re still our friends. That’s really what I wanted
the message of this show to be.
But it’s all tied together with classic American songs. So
Gershwin, and Cole Porter, and also songs made famous by
Rosemary Clooney and Sinatra. The kids are going to enjoy it,
but it’s something that the parents and the grandparents are
going to enjoy as well, for different reasons. I think that’s part
of the fun of it, because then when kids go home, they’re talking
with their parents and grandparents about the show.
MW: It seems you’re partly motivated by the concept of paying it
forward — attempting to create a musical spark in children sim-
ilar to how your passion for music developed growing up in West
Virginia.
FRAZIER: Well, when I was five years old, I went to this county
fair — what a very West Virginia thing to say — and there was a
dealer there who had a display of pianos and keyboards. I went
up and I started banging around and I was like, “I want a piano.”
And my grandma said, “I’ll buy you a piano if you agree to take
lessons.” I threw a fit and said no. At eight, I finally said yes, and
I’ve been playing ever since. That experience is one of the rea-
sons I’ve always been an extremely adamant, vocal, outspoken
supporter of public education. My parents aren’t musical at all.
They aren’t in the arts at all, which is a big anomaly. A lot of kids
who go on to be in the arts, their parents play an instrument or
sing or took them to concerts a lot. Mine didn’t.
In April, I’m going to take Around the World in 80 Days out on
a tour of underserved schools in West Virginia. A whole week-
long version of that. I’m going to five different counties. I’m
going to do one or two school each day. I think it’s our duty and
obligation as organizations in large cities that we share what we
have — not in any way preaching to other areas, or looking down
on what they’re doing. It’s just giving kids opportunities.
When I was in elementary school, one of the things that
28 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
really stands out to me to this day is there was a string quartet
that came to our school. I remember it clear as day. I was six or
seven at the time. I had never heard of an orchestra, never been
to an orchestra, nothing. Our school didn’t even have orchestras.
They phased out all the string programs. They still don’t have
them 25 years later. The string quartet set up and they played for
us. I remember the instruments, I remember the types of things
they did. I thought to myself, “What if we have the opportunity
to be that spark for a kid?” That’s what drives me to do that. Is
it sexy? No. Is it easy? No. Is it going to make us all famous? No.
But that’s not the point. It’s about changing people’s lives with
music. That’s what I’m really aggressive about.
I hit school at a time where there was kind of a cohort of
teachers that were very committed, high-level musicians who
loved kids, who loved teaching, who loved making great music,
all the way up. I kept getting encouraged by them. I took private
lessons. I come from a thoroughly middle-class family — hav-
ing a piano and lessons was an expense that we thought about.
Again, I think so many people associate this as a cherry-on-top
kind of lifestyle, but it definitely wasn’t that for me. But I was
lucky that I had so many people encouraging me around it.
MW: You mention encouragement of your musical talent. What
about personally? Was coming out a struggle for you?
“Live music, period, is in
that, I’m out for blood. I’M
LONG AS IT T
FRAZIER: It was. It was not pleasant. It was not good. I’m in a
much better relationship with my parents and family now. I defi-
nitely know what it’s like to come from a place where coming out
is not easy. I didn’t come out until I was in college, my freshman
year of college. But in high school I had some friends who were
ostracized for being gay.
MW: When did you realize you were gay?
FRAZIER: Oh, very young. I never dated a girl my entire life. I just
didn’t. It worked out well though because I was such a driven,
focused person that all my energy was channeled on music.
Even through the difficult times of coming out, the piano was
such a solace because I could turn all my energy to it. I think
that’s why I’m so adamant that classical music can connect so
easily and so deeply with people if you allow it to. Because for me
in that time, which was a very difficult time, I found solace in the
music of Ravel. I found it in Beethoven. I found it in Schumann.
In very specific ways, I could find a phrase of music that sounded
like something to me or it immediately cast a picture in my mind
in those times when I needed it most. And so the discipline of
music is such a good thing, to just stay focused on something
rather than get lost in the frustration or the anxiety about it.
MW: Was your struggle with coming out partly due to religion?
FRAZIER: Some. I was Methodist and Baptist my whole life
growing up. But in West Virginia, those denominations, we’re
not talking Foundry. Then when I got to college, I [initially]
was going to a small private religious college. And you couldn’t
really be open about being gay. And so that was also a terrible,
 repressive kind of thing.
Like so many people, I refer to myself as spiritual and not
religious. I’ve worked in so many different denominations, plus
Catholic, and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of what a
church can be. There are tremendous communities of faith that
build up people, and then there are lots as well that don’t, that
don’t quite understand the whole picture. And I’m very careful
about what churches I support because of that.
And in the classical music world, there’s a tradition of being
traditional. If you think back fifty years ago, when you look at
most orchestras it was all men. No minorities, all white men.
And thank God that is changing. But there was also a culture of a
good old boys club. As you can imagine, being a young, not-clos-
eted person, there are some people that like to prey on that. I’ve
experienced that. And it’s been jarring because you think, “Well
I’m out of that. I don’t have to be on guard anymore.”
MW: Can you describe specific challenges you’ve faced in the classi-
cal world as a gay conductor?
FRAZIER: Absolutely. As a conductor you have very good hear-
ing, and when you’re looking around a room your ears just lock
in like a laser to the voices. I can remember overhearing some
players make some derogatory comments about me. And it really
shook me. I didn’t say anything at the time, but I did proceed to
danger. I’m such a fighter by spirit that once I sense
M GOING TO CARRY THAT DAMN BANNER AS
TAKES, UNTIL THEY BURY ME IN MY PIANO.”
go to the person in charge and say that this person will never
play for me again. So that’s one thing I’ve learned — I have a kind
of take-no-prisoners approach to life. I think that’s part of the
Appalachian in me — I’m a very warm and loving, slow-to-anger
kind of person, but once I’m disrespected for something, then I
have no trouble cutting it off.
MW: How did you end up making D.C. your home?
FRAZIER: I took a conducting job at a church out in northern
Virginia. And I started getting asked to guest conduct a lot once
I got here. I was guest conducting at an event at the Kennedy
Center, where I was asked to come in and do a last-minute
thing. I was conducting Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno — and
those two women to this day are like grandmothers to me. I talk
to them all the time. I was texting with Rita Moreno the other
night. She is one of the most hysterical, raunchy people you will
ever meet. At the concert was the head of another orchestra, and
they came to me and said, “Would you be interested in starting a
pops program? We’re looking for someone to start this here out
in northern Virginia.” So I did that and started a series with the
Fairfax Symphony, and it went really well. The audiences were
growing and growing and growing. I had a lot of fun, [but] what I
really wanted was the freedom and flexibility to just do whatever
I want. And so that’s why I started this group.
MW: When did Broadway and pop music become a passion for you?
FRAZIER: My undergraduate degree is classical piano, and then
my masters is more classically focused as well. And I still play
and I practice classical music all the time. But I’ve always
loved this American music. It’s not only Broadway — they say
American Songbook, but I think it sounds really old fashioned. I
like to think that I specialize in American popular song. That can
go all the way back to the 18th century and all the way down to
now. I really think that so much of this music is getting lost in a
way that we don’t even realize.
I did a concert with the DC Youth Orchestra of the music of
Ella Fitzgerald because it was her 100th birthday. Not a single
kid in the orchestra knew of Ella Fitzgerald. These are high
school kids in 2017 and not in a rural, remote area — if they
don’t know Ella Fitzgerald, then have they ever heard of Judy
Garland? Do they know of George Gershwin? For that matter,
do they even know Carole King? I would argue they probably
don’t. I just did a concert at Ohio University with college kids. I
did some Joni Mitchell. None of them knew it. I thought, “This
is music that really has formed our country. It’s a part of so many
people’s lives.” The music itself has such great stories.
When I was a kid, I listened to music of the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s,
because my grandmother loved it. She got me hooked on it.
Then when I was going around the house and everyone else was
listening to NSYNC or New Kids on The Block or whatever, I
was listening to Benny Goodman and Sarah Vaughan. It’s been
in my ear from a very young age. That’s why I take for granted
all the time: When I’m rehearsing with young actors in town, I’ll
say, “Well of course you know this song. Dean Martin made it
famous. You’ve heard him sing it.” They’re like, “No.”
MW: “Who’s Dean Martin?”
FRAZIER: Exactly. Then I also think back to early American Folk
Song, which is American popular song like “Shenandoah” and
“The Water is Wide” and all these beautiful songs that are so
calming and peaceful.
MW: Do you perform those?
FRAZIER: I’m going to in this coming season. I have done them on
my community outreach concerts. I feel very adamant that live
music, period, is in danger. I’m such a fighter by spirit and such a
driven person, that once I sense that, I’m out for blood. I’m going
to carry that damn banner as long as it takes until they bury me in
my piano. I do have this dream that they’ll just hollow it out and
roll me out. That’ll be the funeral, with sparklers.
What it all comes back to for me is listening to your audience.
To me, that’s 100 percent of what I try to do: “What community
am I in? What are the people here prone to like? What do I think
they could connect with naturally?” Then, once you come up
with that, figure out a way to tell that story to them and bring
them in and make them feel welcome.
We have to tear down all the constructs around it, though.
My philosophy: Why do we have to have every concert in a
concert hall? Every main season for all musical organizations is
housed primarily in a similar hall — same set up, same time. It
doesn’t work. How many people do you know that maintain a
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 29
regular schedule all the time? Almost no one.
Why don’t we make concerts shorter? I’m a huge fan of short-
er concerts. That’s why with this group, we only do 90-minute
concerts straight through — not broken up by an intermission, not
eating up your whole evening. I’m a big believer in the philosophy
of leaving people wanting more. So I think for all of these other
genres — for jazz, for classical, for musical theater, for all of these
things, you have to basically look at what is working, what is suc-
“I remember overhearing some players make derogatory comments about
me. And it really shook me. I didn’t say anything at the time, but I DID
GO TO THE PERSON IN CHARGE AND SAY THAT THIS PERSON
WILL NEVER PLAY FOR ME AGAIN.”
cessful, and then you have to program in such a way that you’re
looking at the things that are impeding people from enjoying
what you’re doing without watering down the product.
MW: Or pandering.
FRAZIER: Exactly. That is an epidemic as well. What I’ve seen a
lot of, and what I’m vehemently against, is completely watering
down, pandering to the lowest common denominator. Or just
being such high art music for only the most educated, the most
“cultured” — and yes, I put “cultured” in quotes, because my
point again is that every genre of music has relevance. Hip hop,
rap, R&B, pop — it’s changing people’s lives. Why aren’t we
embracing that?
I think the age of sitting in a concert hall quietly applauding
is done. And I think the longer it takes people to find that out the
quicker they lose their audiences. That’s part of why every show
is different for us. At our Aretha show, people were shouting,
“Amen.” When have you ever been to an orchestra concert and
people are shouting “yes” or “preach” to the people on stage?
I love that. I think people are too afraid to leave the unknown.
MW: Do you play or include songs that you might not like yourself,
on the theory that it’ll move someone else?
FRAZIER: No, I have to have a connection to every piece I do. I get
asked to guest conduct things, but even then I’m picky. I don’t
conduct things I don’t like, because I can’t give my all to it. And
I feel like every conductor has to find that repertoire that you
can summon everything out of you. You can summon everything
out of your musicians and your singers to get the desired effect.
MW: I imagine you’re careful in selecting those who perform with
you in APO as well.
FRAZIER: Yeah, the players are all picked not only on their musi-
cal ability but on their personalities — and coincidentally, three
of my first strings are all gay. I’m very particular about having a
group of people that are all watching out for each other. And we
have a great time. That’s one of the other things about working
with my group is that it’s a very different ethos. Our rehearsals
are always fun. There’s never high anxiety. There’s never high
drama. And the players are playing beautifully because they’re
having fun. It’s just a very different energy. We all hug each
other, which sounds like nothing, but it’s an anomaly. And I
think you can hear it in the music. But I think, again, that’s a
culture change. That’s the exception, not the norm.
I think that’s one of the great things about our group is that,
this sounds so cliché, but it’s truly a no-judgment zone. It’s a
fully union orchestra, so it’s the best players you can get. And
30 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
then I audition them. Because it’s a smaller ensemble typically,
we all have to get along and it has to be people who enjoy playing
with those other people. We’re really careful about that.
I’m really picky about that, because, going back to my bigger
point, it’s about the audience. If you’re just making music in
a vacuum, in a rehearsal room, that’s one thing. But when the
audience doesn’t feel like the ensemble’s having a good time
doing what they’re doing, you feel that even subconsciously. I’ve
felt it myself many times.
MW: Any hint of disinterest or disconnect only diminishes the live
experience for an audience.
FRAZIER: Exactly. I think it’s all too easy for people to go to a
concert and realize, rightfully, that if I’m sitting many rows back
from the stage in a really uncomfortable seat, and I could sit at
home on my comfortable sofa and turn on my Sonos, what am I
going to choose?
We have got to realize that [home listening] is a viable alter-
native. We have to make it such a special, unique experience
every time, and that’s why I love doing a new show every time,
a new original product, because you’re not going to sit at home
and get that. You’re not going to hear these singers sing this
repertoire. You’re not going to hear this, you’re not going to see
this visual. I have a stage director for every single show I do. And
what orchestra does that? It’s really special.
Since the orchestra was founded, I have been adamant that
it’s about people, and it’s about this community. We’ve provid-
ed access tickets from the beginning — to veterans, to elderly
LGBTQ via SAGE, victims of domestic violence, women from
shelters. We’ve reached out to tons and tons of organizations,
and we give them prime tickets to our shows. A lot of times if
people get an access ticket of some sort — and every group calls it
something different — it’s in the third balcony. And it’s great that
they get the opportunity to come. But again my philosophy is,
why should those people have to experience it from back there?
Why can’t we take the financial burden of making it a priority to
place people so they’re getting just as good an experience? For
people that there’s no way they could afford those tickets, make
them feel as valued as anyone else. That’s why we do that.
We price our tickets in such a way that it is affordable. So the
highest-priced ticket to any show of ours is $75. If you look at
most other places, that’s a mid-range ticket. And anyone under
30 gets a special discount. Whenever I do workshops with
interns or coach young people on careers, I always use that as
data-mining time for me. I ask about concerts. I’ll say, “What do
you think is a fair ticket price for an orchestra concert? What
would you feel comfortable paying?” And do you know what
the average is, across years of doing this? Twenty five dollars
is the most that they would consider paying. So it’s figuring out
fundraising models that make it possible, because if we’re not
building an audience, then they’re not going to buy the $55 or
$75 ticket when they can.
MW: You’re certainly succeeding in building an impressive audience.
FRAZIER: The other day, someone was telling me how much they
love that when you come to an APO concert, it’s one of the most
diverse crowds you’ll ever see. Again, when you say orchestra,
what do you expect? A sea of blue hair. That’s the common ste-
reotype, is that you’re going to walk in, move the walker, and find
your seat. I love that demographic, but there’s got to be more.
We have all different ethnicities, we have all different ages,
different genders, different sexualities. I feel like that’s what
the arts need to be doing right now, is figuring out more ways to
bring more people together in this time in our history. If we’re
not banging down the door, beating the bushes, to break down
walls and bring people together around this beautiful thing, then
we’re not doing our job. And so for me that’s why I want to reach
out to this community, I want to reach out to that community. I
want to say this will mean something, there’s something for you
in this. And it may not be what you expect, but you’re probably
going to walk out having a great time. And our audiences have
been growing.
The other thing is, I don’t really like the idea of programming
one thing only for one kind of audience — I’m not going to do
a show where I only know that I’m going to get a room full of
gay men. I’m not going to do a show where I only know I’m
going to get a room full of middle-aged white women. I think
people need to understand each other better. And for me that’s
one of the thrills of programming. The Aretha concert is a good
example. When you think of Aretha Franklin, a lot of people
have an immediate assumption of why I programmed that piece
and what demographic I was going after. And what I always do
is mix it up. So I cast Aretha with different kinds of people, dif-
ferent age demographics, different types: A white girl Canadian
“I’m a huge fan of shorter concerts. That’s why we only do 90-minute
concerts straight through — not broken up by an intermission, not eating
up your whole evening. I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN THE PHILOSOPHY
OF LEAVING PEOPLE WANTING MORE.”
jazzer — who would expect that on an Aretha program? Michelle
Williams, and all these musical theater people, like Ariana
Debose from Hamilton on Broadway. I’m not bringing in the
people you would normally expect to do that. And then my
orchestra’s so diverse. When you looked around that room at
Arena, the Fichandler Stage, which is our main theater, the big
one in the round, you’re seeing so many different kinds of peo-
ple. Extremely rich people, people that are there on a free ticket
in the front row, young kids sitting with their parents dressed up
for a concert, two kids in jeans who just put their phone down.
I think we should always be looking at how do we connect
so many different kinds of people. This is a much harder way,
I acknowledge that, and there’s not as much research into this
way that I’m doing it. Take a gamble.
What’s been great is it’s had a spider-web effect, because
people will come to our concert not knowing really what to
expect, and then they will bring their friends the next time, and
then those friends. And the cool thing, because the nucleus of
our audience is so diverse, it keeps expanding in diverse ways.
MW: You referenced that the Fichandler Stage at Arena became
your home base, after two seasons at GW Lisner. What inspired
the move to a venue that is unknown and even unfamiliar to an
orchestra such as yours?
FRAZIER: That’s who I am. I love spaces that orchestras don’t
play in. And it’s a cool space because you’re entirely around the
orchestra. Again, where do you go to see an orchestra and you
get that experience?
MW: I can’t think of another local, in-the-round space where an
orchestra performs.
FRAZIER: They had never had an orchestra play in there like
that. I remember the Arena Stage staff, when they came to our
rehearsal — they didn’t know anything about us until we did
our Aretha show. The staff came in, and all of a sudden they’re
listening: “Oh my god, this is really good. We had no idea.” They
just didn’t know what to expect.
I don’t have a single complaint about Arena. Working in all
these other cities around the country, sometimes you think, “Oh
my god, why does it have to be so difficult?” But Arena has a cul-
ture of “Let’s make it work, let’s be creative, let’s play as a team.”
I just could not be more emphatic about how much I like them.
MW: When you think about the future, or even just five years from
now, what do you envision. Do you anticipate having kids?
FRAZIER: No. I love children and I spoil children ridiculously. I
actually was a preschool teacher for a while, too, which I really
loved. But I just don’t think it fits into what I want with my life.
MW: What about with work?
FRAZIER: Conducting all over the place more. I travel all the
time. I’m in New York just about every week. And I’ve been
guest conducting a lot all over the place. And each year it gets
more and more and more.
This may sound corny or hokey, but the more I’m able to
do at these levels, the more I can go and help areas that don’t
get it and that are neglected artistically. And that’s something
that really drives me as a person. In fact, I’m thinking about
proposing to my board that we do every year a week-long tour
to an underserved area — a remote, rural area, just as part of our
fundamental work we do.
MW: To create a similar spark that helped drive you?
FRAZIER: Exactly. Data is great and data is helpful in so many
ways, but also sometimes data is stifling, because there are so
many people that would say, “Well, if you’re only going in once,
that’s not really going to have a lasting effect on anyone.” I say,
“You’re looking at someone that it had a lasting effect on.” So
maybe in the pie chart, it doesn’t show that, but I can tell you
from my life, that string quartet that I saw one time when I was
a kid is why I’m here today.
If I see a thousand kids in a week and only [inspire] one of
them, it’s still worth it to me. And that’s the thing, is that there
are so many people that would argue against this idea. “Well,
it’s not a sustained impact. It’s not a this, it’s not a that.” Well, I
think you just gotta try. And you gotta make those possibilities. l
The American Pops Orchestra performs “Around The World in 80
Days” on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 and 5 p.m. at the Kogod Cradle in
Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $20 to $35. Call 202-488-
3300 or visit theamericanpops.org.
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 31
 Movies

the actor and his furrowed brow convey

Reality
Chase’s strongest parts in the story. Chase
is paid to act on his professionally misdi-
rected moral compass, yet even he regis-

Sweepstakes
Heading into awards season, these five films could vie
for a piece of Oscar gold. By André Hereford
ters the sad realization that he’s working
for a man who’d haggle over the life of his
grandson.
Getty really only starts bargaining after
the kidnappers mail him Paul’s severed
ear. That gruesome detail is one irrefut-
able fact in the true-life tale, much of
which is embellished for the purpose of

S
suspense by Scott. Droll and riveting, the
UPER-WEALTHY OILMAN J. PAUL GETTY HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE movie still feels long, although Michelle
world, and a formula for success: “Rise early, work hard, strike oil.” The old man, Williams, as Paul’s determined mother
notoriously tightfisted, might have burst an artery over the funds spent on expung- Abigail Harris, makes every iota of screen
ing Kevin Spacey from Ridley Scott’s new “based on true events” kidnapping thriller ALL time count.
THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (HHHH) in time for the film to meet its release date. Firmly establishing the warmer pole
Spacey, who had wrapped his role as Getty in the nearly finished film, was swapped opposite Plummer’s frigid Getty, Williams’
out at the last moment for Christopher Plummer. Onscreen, the change only shows in character clearly defines a thin line of
one glaringly obvious processed exterior shot. Otherwise, fortunately for the filmmak- distinction between being rich, and being
ers, their unforeseen excavation seems to have struck oil. rich like an emperor. Gail comes from
First, audiences will be spared the horror of watching Spacey perform the role bur- some money, but until she’d married into
ied under some really frightening looking old-age make-up. The actor bore an uncanny Getty’s wealth she didn’t fully understand
resemblance to the driller killer in Brian De Palma’s Body Double. But even better, or appreciate all the things his money can’t
Plummer makes a mighty fine malevolent millionaire — or billionaire, as Getty would buy. All the Money in the World is richer
be sure to remind any and everyone. for Williams’ vividly down-to-earth por-
Regardless of the number of zeroes on his balance sheet, Getty had no interest in trayal, and likewise it is no poorer for the
being dragged into the business of paying ransoms. So, when his heir, 16-year old Paul loss of its original Getty. If anything, the
Getty III (played as a brooding cherub by Charlie Plummer, no relation), is kidnapped relative seamlessness of the shift should
in 1973 off a street in Rome, the richest man alive doesn’t want to pay a cent for the only add to Ridley Scott’s reputation as
boy’s return. one of cinema’s premier master planners.
Instead, David Scarpa’s snappy script, based on the book by John Pearson, sends Sir Ridley could, no doubt, teach a
in his best negotiator, ex-CIA agent Fletcher Chase. As the ever-resourceful Chase, thing or two to the notoriously bad
Mark Wahlberg appears incongruous in Getty’s plummy, country estate environs, but filmmaker Tommy Wiseau. But, as evi-

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 33

denced by Wiseau’s much-maligned magnum opus The Room,
any wisdom Scott might impart would only be horribly
mangled and misunderstood. Wiseau is the subject of James
Franco’s hilarious THE DISASTER ARTIST ( ), another
awards-season contender based on real-life events. How did
a wannabe artist with the means, a vision, and the committed
assistance of actual Hollywood professionals create a movie
now revered as the unintentionally worst of its kind since the
days of Ed Wood?
Well, Tommy Wiseau, as glum as Johnny Depp’s Ed Wood
was giddy, would appear to be the main cause of the silver screen
catastrophe. As depicted in Franco’s remarkably sincere per-
formance, Wiseau, aspiring filmmaker and mumbling enigma,
enlists his best — or only — friend, struggling actor Greg Sestero
(Dave Franco), to help him produce a movie. The resulting tragic
love story The Room is painstakingly recreated in all its awful-
ness for Franco’s funhouse mirror rendition.
Somehow the actor and his cast — including Seth Rogen, Ari
Graynor, Jacki Weaver, Megan Mullally, and Zac Efron — dis-
appear into character, while maintaining a knowing presence
along the story’s edges. That might be an apt description for
James Franco’s onscreen persona, yet it works especially well
here. Franco directing a nude James Franco in a scene in which
Wiseau debates the merits of doing a nude scene in the movie
he’s directing is a delightfully twisted form of comedy.
Add that Franco’s Tommy Wiseau is basically obsessed with
his actor bro Greg, who’s being played by Franco’s actual broth-
er, Dave, and there’s real meat on this Franco sandwich. The
biggest joke might be that for all its wink-wink sarcasm, The
Disaster Artist feels authentic.
Authenticity is not a quality that comes roaring to screen
in director Michael Gracey’s big-budget P.T. Barnum musical
biopic THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ( ). Starring Tony-
certified song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman as the rags-to-
riches tailor’s son Barnum and Michelle Williams as his (far
less interesting) born-rich wife, The Greatest Showman chooses
spectacle over authenticity every time.
Unfortunately, Gracey, a former visual effects artist making
his feature directing debut, delivers pretty bland spectacle. The
film boasts lions and elephants and a lovable crew of circus
freaks belting anthems by the Oscar-winning La La Land song-
writers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Yet, those great animals are
fairly flat, cookie-cutter CGI, even on a large screen, and the
bearded lady’s beard often looks in danger of coming unglued.
The songs are, for the most part, rousingly staged and well-sung,
especially in Jackman’s case, but they tend to say the same things
over and over.
The story may be short on surprises, but Zendaya surprises
by truly holding the screen as Barnum’s star trapeze artist, Anne
Wheeler. Outcast due to her race, Anne falls hopelessly in love
with Zac Efron’s pretty but cowardly junior impresario, Phillip
Carlyle.
Theirs is one of a few storylines in this 19th-century-set
drama that’s spun with a thoroughly modern sensibility. Again,
the portrayal doesn’t feel entirely authentic to Barnum’s actual,
historically significant stances on race and politics. But the con-
cept that he understood his little monsters were all born this way
passes as innovation. Barnum most likely would have approved
of a romanticized portrait that plays as fast and loose with the
All the Money in the World, The Disaster Artist, Molly’s Game, The Greatest Showman,
and The Post are currently playing at area theaters. For tickets, visit fandango.com.
34 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
facts, as did the man in its center ring.
Steven Spielberg’s THE POST (HHHHH) focuses on foiled
feds who played fast and loose with the facts and got caught,
thanks to the power of a vigilant, free press.
Were the movie not so intently about the shockwave publi-
cation, in The New York Times and The Washington Post, of the
ultimately damning Pentagon Papers, it might more soundly
succeed at being about the shocking revelation of the Pentagon
Papers. That is, practically every moment and practically every
character is imbued with the distracting light of “Hollywood
Importance.” It’s exasperating.
Spielberg’s best films feel in the moment. The Post is a pro-
duction too self-conscious about its subject matter to be in the
moment. Boxes of documents are lavished with arduously cho-
reographed tracking shots that grab the audience by the lapels
to shout, “Oh my god, do you know how important this is? Right
there, in that box! The Pentagon Papers! They’re in that box! Oh
my god!” Yes, we get it. Calm down, and let us watch the movie.
There’s something off about Tom Hanks. He’s co-starring as
the Post’s venerable editor Ben Bradlee, but his gruff readings
are more a well-honed impression than a performance. He’s
aware, too, and now he’s grabbing lapels. “Don’t you get it,
they’ve been lying to us about Vietnam! It’s all in the Papers.”
Yes, the Papers.
Against those stacked odds, Meryl Streep ekes out a fascinat-
ing character as publisher Katharine Graham, who flounders but
never fails, standing up to multiple layers of Establishment scorn
and opposition. Streep, in turn, reveals a layer of vulnerability,
and steel that feels refreshingly unfamiliar — no small feat for a
performer who is utterly familiar to audiences.
Her Graham animates the film with a touching, human story
rather than the painstaking recreation of important events.
What Homer Simpson said about Poochie applies doubly to
The Post: Whenever Streep’s Katherine Graham isn’t onscreen,
all the other characters should be asking, “Where’s Katharine
Graham?”
Aaron Sorkin’s MOLLY’S GAME ( ), the loosest, jazzi-
est of this crop, runs no risk of losing sight of its trump card. The
movie’s white-hot star, Jessica Chastain, is dead-center almost
every second in the stylish, typically fast walking-and-talking
Sorkin take on historical fiction.
Based on the showbiz-tinged memoir by poker game promot-
er Molly Bloom, Sorkin’s first feature film as director has the
lightning immediacy of exciting theater. As Molly’s tale darts
by, the stakes change, the tables change, and the players — from
Michael Cera’s oddly menacing movie star to Chris O’Dowd’s
endearing lovesick loser — also change.
Yet, Chastain, with excellent support from Idris Elba as
Molly’s lawyer, solidly anchors a stranger-than-fiction drama
that starts to spin out of control, even before a pointless star turn
by Kevin Costner nearly derails the film’s third act. The movie
steps on its own message ushering The Bodyguard in to tell the
heroine what her problems are and how to solve them. Still,
Molly and Chastain walk away holding all the cards.
Molly’s Game is not the season’s best biographical motion
picture — perhaps none of these are as singular an achieve-
ment as I, Tonya. But most likely, both Game and Tonya will
land both of their leading ladies a seat at a table where the
winner takes all. l
 Music

MGMT

release of the lead single “Little Dark Age”

Future Tunes
would seem to signal that they have some
high hopes for their upcoming album. The
track and accompanying video are early
indicators that MGMT plan to go in a
The coming year gets off to a slow start musically, but there darker, perhaps more sober direction than
is promising material on the not-too-distant horizon. By Sean Maunier their previous work. Despite this shift, the
sound is still recognizably MGMT.

C
In June, OWL CITY is due to release
ONSIDERING THE SHEER NUMBER OF STELLAR RELEASES THE PRE- Cinematic, an album likely to continue
vious year brought us, 2018 has some big shoes to fill. It’s hard to know exactly his more characteristically cheerful take
what to expect at this early stage, but luckily, what we know so far is mostly on pop electronica. Here again, there are
promising. Some artists will be coming off hiatus while others will continue along unlikely to be many surprises, but his
streak, and still others are apparently seeking to reinvent themselves. A few delayed sunny optimism may prove to be an out-
and long-anticipated albums will be seeing the light of day in the coming year as well, lier.
although tragically, there is still no word on a new Carly Rae Jepsen. While we wait, we The incomparable LORETTA LYNN is
have a handful of expected projects to be excited about. slated to release Wouldn’t it be Great, a
FRANZ FERDINAND is slated to return in February with Always Ascending, which collection of re-recordings and new songs.
will feature two new members. On their first album after their 2015 collaboration with The album was originally scheduled for
Sparks, they seem ready to dial things back and take it a little easier. The title track, 2017 but was postponed due to health
released last October, is a slow-building, low-energy, synth-heavy song, featuring no problems. This late into the 85-year-old’s
indication that the band intends to rock any boats any time soon. The following month, career, we should expect few surprises.
MOBY will be back with his fifteenth album, Everything Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, a After all, roughly half the tracks are new
title that sounds almost depressingly aspirational. Driving the point home, the video takes on songs that made her famous going
for “Like A Motherless Child” sees Moby in greyscale singing lyrics like “This was not back to the ’60s. Then again, a comforting
hope/This was not sane.” Altogether a pretty bleak picture. constant might be exactly what we need in
Moby is not the only one opting for a more grim direction. After three albums, MGMT the coming year.
is primed for a reinvention in 2018. The hype they stirred up in October around the Last summer, CHARLI XCX released the

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 35

 WEEKEND has also hinted at a new
album that may arrive later this
year. While the band is known
for writing wordy, literary lyrics
packing them full of referents,
lead vocalist Ezra Koenig has
expressed a desire in interviews
to pare down their songwriting
to get at simpler, clearer ideas.
If that’s the case, expect to hear
a noticeably different Vampire
Weekend in the coming year.
BASTILLE and CHVRCHES have
both indicated that third albums
may be landing sometime in
2018, but so far there has been
DAVID EDWARDS

little else other than comments

single “Boys,” one of the season’s surprising runaway hits.
“Thinking ‘bout boys” repeated ad nauseum turned out to be
a perfect angle for the deceptively simple pop song that made
several year-end best track lists. The summery, chiptuney song
is all the reason we need to be excited for her (as yet untitled)
third album.
Despite the departure of Rostam Batmanglij, VAMPIRE
made in various interviews. Ditto
for SELENA GOMEZ and MUSE,
who have mentioned plans for
Franz Ferdinand forthcoming albums to land in
the coming year but have not committed to much otherwise.
If the rumours and hearsay amount to anything, we may also
see new work from NICKI MINAJ and DRAKE. Without singles or
much of anything else to go off of, it is a little more difficult to
know what 2018 will bring from these artists. One constant we
can take comfort from is that a not-insignificant number of them
are already referring to their planned releases as their best yet. l

Sean Maunier is Metro Weekly’s music critic. He can be reached at smaunier@metroweekly.com.

36 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

NightLife Photography by
Ward Morrison

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 37

 Scene
New Years Eve at Town featuring Trixie Mattell
Sunday, December 31 • Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

DrinksDragDJsEtc... NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Friday, GREEN LANTERN • 21+ • Drag Show starts
Beat the Clock Happy Hour Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5 at 10:30pm • Hosted by
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), January 5 Smirnoff, all flavors, all Lena Lett and featuring
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of night long Miss Tatianna, Shi-
Thursday, 9pm • Underwear Night,
9pm-2am • For men in
Beer $15 • Drag Bingo 9 1/2 Queeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx
January 4 underwear, all well drinks
NUMBER NINE
Open at 5pm • Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer • Videos,
and Ba’Naka • DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
$2, 9pm-12am • Best
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any 5-9pm • Friday Night Dancing • Beat the Clock downstairs following the
9 1/2 Underwear Contest at
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover Videos, 9:30pm • Rotating Happy Hour — $2 (5-6pm), show • GoGo Boys after
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Midnight • Code enforced
DJs • Expanded craft beer $3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm) • 11pm • Doors open at
drink, 5-9pm • Multiple in Code Bar after 9pm
SHAW’S TAVERN selection • No Cover Buckets of Beer $15 10pm • For those 21 and
TVs showing movies, • Let’s Dance: House,
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 over, $12 • For those
shows, sports • Expanded Techno, and EDM Party in
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, BALTIMORE EAGLE NUMBER NINE 18-20, $15 • Club: 18+ •
craft beer selection • the Nest • 21 and up: $5
$5 Rails and House Wines Baltimore Bear Happy Hour, Open 5pm • Happy Hour: Patio: 21+
Music videos featuring Cover, over 18: $10 Cover
& Half-Priced Pizzas 5-9pm, all liquors, beers 2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
DJ Wess • thebaltimoreeagle.com
and wines up to 50% off • • No Cover • Friday Night TRADE
TRADE Bad Bears After Dark in the Piano with Chris, 7:30pm Doors open 5pm • Huge
BALTIMORE EAGLE FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Doors open 5pm • Huge Code Bar, 9pm • $5 Cover Happy Hour: Any drink
Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Happy Hour: Any drink • Grindhouse: Burlesque, SHAW’S TAVERN normally served in a cock-
liquors, beers and wines Karaoke, 9pm
normally served in a cock- featuring Betty O’Hellno Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 tail glass served in a huge
up to 50% off • $3 Well
tail glass served in a huge in the Nest, 10:30pm-1am Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, glass for the same price,
Drinks All Night • Thrifty GREEN LANTERN
glass for the same price, • Cover: $10 in advance, $5 Rails and House Wines 5-10pm • Beer and wine
Thursdays Drag Show, Happy Hour, 4-9pm
5-10pm • Beer and wine $12.50 at door • Elyx Vodka & Half-Priced Pizzas only $4
hosted by Whimsey • Shirtless Thursday,
only $4 and Any Red Bull Flavor for
Thrift and Shaunda 10-11pm • Men in
$7 all day long • thebalti- TOWN ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Leer, 8-9:30pm in the Underwear Drink Free,
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS moreeagle.com Patio open 6pm • DC Bear Men of Secrets, 9pm •
Nest — First well or 12-12:30am • DJs
All male, nude dancers • Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm Guest dancers • Rotating
domestic drink is on us! BacK2bACk
DJ • 9pm • Cover 21+ FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR • $3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud DJs • Ladies of Illusion
• $5 Cover at door • Get
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Bottles • Free Pizza, 7pm Drag Show • Doors at
Tough Sports Gear Night,
Karaoke, 9pm • No cover before 9:30pm 9pm, Shows at 11:30pm
featuring DJ Alex Funk,

38 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

and 1:30am • DJ Don T. in
Ziegfeld’s • Cover 21+
Saturday,
January 6
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Expanded
craft beer selection •
No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
$5 Drinks all day • Leather
and Fetish Saturdays, Code
Bar, 8pm-2am • Code
enforced after 9pm in the
Code Bar • Testosterone
Gear Party, 9:30pm-close
— $10 Cover in advance
• Dance Party in the Nest,
9:30pm-close • Backspin:
Dance Music from 1980-
2000, featuring DJ Vince
Christopher, in the Eagle,
9:30pm-close • $5 Cover •
thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Saturday Breakfast Buffet,
10am-3pm • $14.99 with
one glass of champagne
or coffee, soda or juice •
Additional champagne $2
per glass • Crazy Hour,
4-8pm • Freddie’s Follies
Drag Show, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs, 8-10 pm
• Karaoke, 10pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long • REWIND:
Request Line, an ‘80s
and ‘90s Dance Party,
9pm-close • Featuring
DJ Darryl Strickland •
No Cover
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs • Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 39
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm •
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Doors open 2pm • Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
2-9pm • $5 Absolut and $5
Bulleit Bourbon, 9pm-close
• Time Machine and
Power Hour with DJ Jack
Rayburn, 9:30pm
SHAW’S TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm •
Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas
TOWN
DC Rawhides host Town
& Country: Two-Step, Line
Dancing, Waltz and West
Coast Swing, $5 Cover to
stay all night • Doors open
6:30pm, Lessons 7-8pm,
Open dance 8-10:30pm •
Upstairs: DJ Randy White,
40 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY
10pm-close • Downstairs:
Music and video by DJ
Wess • Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm • Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and Ba’Naka
• Doors open 10pm • $15
Cover from 10pm-12am •
$12 after midnight • 21+
TRADE
Doors open 2pm • Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm • Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am
• Guest dancers • Ladies
of Illusion Drag Show
with host Ella Fitzgerald
• Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:30am
• DJ Don T. in Ziegfeld’s
• DJ Steve Henderson in
Secrets • Cover 21+
Sunday,
January 7
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 2-9pm • $5 Absolut
and $5 Bulleit Bourbon,
9pm-close • Multiple TVs
showing movies, shows,
sports • Expanded craft
beer selection • No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Lizzie Beaumont and
Betty Whitecastle present
Queens Who Brunch,
12-2pm • $34 per person
includes All You Can
Eat • Free pitcher of
Mimosas per 4 admissions
• Reservations highly
suggested and can be
made online beforehand •
Furry Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
T-Dance Sundays, 4-9pm
• Buy a cup for $5 and fill
it with any Absolut Flavor
and Mixer for $3 each time
(excluding energy drink
mixers) • thebaltimoreea-
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
gle.com any drink, 2-9pm • $5
Absolut and $5 Bulleit
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Bourbon, 9pm-close • Pop
Champagne Brunch Buffet, Goes the World with Wes
10am-3pm • $24.99 with Della Volla at 9:30pm •
four glasses of champagne No Cover
or mimosas, 1 Bloody
Mary, or coffee, soda or SHAW’S TAVERN
juice • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm Brunch with Bottomless
• Karaoke, 9pm-close Mimosas, 10am-3pm •
Stoli Sundays: $5 Stoli
GREEN LANTERN Specials with DJ, 3:30pm
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • • Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $3
Karaoke with Kevin down- Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
stairs, 9:30pm-close $5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted TRADE
by Shi-Queeta-Lee, Doors open 2pm • Huge
10:30am-12:30pm and Happy Hour: Any drink
1-3pm • House Rail Drinks, normally served in a cock-
Zing Zang Bloody Marys, tail glass served in a huge
Nellie Beer and Mimosas, glass for the same price,
$4, 11am-close • Buckets 2-10pm • Beer and wine
of Beer, $15 only $4
Monday,
January 8
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm • Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports • Expanded
craft beer selection •
No Cover
BALTIMORE EAGLE
Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all
liquors, beers and wines up
to 50% off • Micro Brew
Draft/Bottle Mondays —
$4 all day • SIN: Service
Industry Night, 11pm-2am
• First Well Drink or
Domestic Beer Free • 10%
off your Food Order all day
• thebaltimoreeagle.com
FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Singles Night • Half-Priced
Pasta Dishes • Karaoke,
9pm
JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 41
 GREEN LANTERN TRADE Game Show Night, 8pm • TRADE $3 all day • Fetlife: The SmartAss Teams only •
Happy Hour all night Doors open 5pm • Huge thebaltimoreeagle.com Doors open 5pm • Huge Next Generation Happy Bring a new team member
long • Singing with the Happy Hour: Any drink Happy Hour: Any drink Hour, 8pm • Team Trivia, and each get a free $10
Sisters: Open Mic Karaoke normally served in a cock- FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR normally served in a cock- 8-10pm • thebaltimoreea- Dinner
Night with the Sisters tail glass served in a huge Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Taco tail glass served in a huge gle.com
of Perpetual Indulgence, glass for the same price, Tuesday • Karaoke, 9pm glass for the same price, NUMBER NINE
9:30pm-close 5-10pm • Beer and wine 5-10pm • Beer and wine FREDDIE’S BEACH BAR Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
only $4 GREEN LANTERN only $4 Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • $6 drink, 5-9pm • No Cover
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR Happy Hour all night long, Burgers • Drag Bingo
Beat the Clock Happy Hour 4pm-close Night, hosted by Ms. SHAW’S TAVERN
— $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of
Beer $15 • Texas Hold’em
Tuesday, NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
Wednesday, • Bingo prizes • Karaoke,
10pm-1am
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
Poker, 8pm • Dart Boards January 9 — $2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm), January 10 and Half-Priced Pizzas •
$4 (7-8pm) • Buckets of GREEN LANTERN Piano Bar with Jill, 8pm
NUMBER NINE 9 1/2 Beer $15 • Karaoke and 9 1/2 Happy Hour all night
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any Drag Bingo Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any long, 4pm-close • Bear TRADE
drink, 5-9pm • No Cover drink, 5-9pm • Multiple drink, 5-9pm • Multiple Yoga with Greg Leo, 6:30- Doors open 5pm • Huge
TVs showing movies, NUMBER NINE TVs showing movies, 7:30pm • $10 per class • Happy Hour: Any drink
SHAW’S TAVERN shows, sports • Expanded Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any shows, sports • Expanded Lantern Dancers, 9pm-2am normally served in a cock-
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $3 craft beer selection • drink, 5-9pm • No Cover craft beer selection • • Upstairs opens 9pm • tail glass served in a huge
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon, No Cover No Cover GoGo Boys at 10pm glass for the same price,
$5 Rails and House Wines SHAW’S TAVERN 5-10pm • Beer and wine
and Half-Priced Pizzas • BALTIMORE EAGLE Half-Priced Burgers and BALTIMORE EAGLE NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR only $4 l
Shaw Nuff Trivia, with Happy Hour, 5-9pm, all Pizzas, 5-10pm • $5 House Happy Hour, 5-9pm, SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
Jeremy, 7:30pm liquors, beers and wines up Wines and $5 Sam Adams all liquors, beers and and 9pm • Prizes include
to 50% off • Well Bomb wines up to 50% off • bar tabs and tickets to
Shots $4 all Day • Tavern Domestic Bottles are shows at the 9:30 Club •
Tally presents Family Feud $15 Buckets of Beer for

42 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 43
 Scene
LURe at Cobalt - Saturday, December 16
Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

44 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY

JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY 45
 LastWord.
People say the queerest things

“It’s not gay to straight.

It’s lost to saved.”
— EMILY THOMES, an “ex-lesbian” featured in the Facebook video “Love is Love” by evangelist Christian group Anchored North.
Thomes claims that she renounced her lesbian “lifestyle” after attending a Bible study group. Thousands of comments are slam-
ming the video for the harm it could cause, with one noting, “This little video is enough to push gay kids over the edge to suicide.”

“How does your physique compare now

to what it did then?
”
— PIERS MORGAN, asking Caitlyn Jenner about her genitalia during filming for his Life Stories show in Britain. While pointing to a
toy figuring of Caitlyn Jenner in the 1970s, he added “Obviously, certain areas we know about.” Jenner responded:
“That, to a trans person, is disrespectful…. You don’t make a joke about that.”

“My beautiful wife,

the love of my life is dying.”
— FLEUR PIERETS, co-founder of Project 22, in a Facebook post. Pieret and her wife Julian P. Boom had planned to marry in all 22
countries where same-sex marriage is legal (Malta and Germany legalized marriage equality while the project was underway,
bringing the total number of countries to 24). However, Pierets has announced that the project will end early after
Boom was diagnosed with “numerous tumors in her head and around her heart.”

“The fact that in the state of Texas,

a gay man and a lesbian can seek the highest office
in the state is amazing.
”
— JEFFREY PAYNE, former International Mr. Leather and owner of Dallas’ The Eagle, responding to news that four-term Dallas
County Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Valdez will challenge him for the Democratic nomination to be governor of Texas. Valdez is
widely considered to be the frontrunner, and said in her announcement that she was fighting for Texans who had been “attacked
for who they are, where they are from, and who they love.”

“What else can I say?

We love each other.”
— SARAH PAULSON, in an interview with Town & Country magazine discussing her relationship with actress Holland Taylor.
Paulson, 43, and Taylor, 74, have been together since 2015. “I do not want to be defined by who I share my bed, my home, my soul
with,” Paulson said, adding, “Our relationship represents a certain amount of hope and risk. Maybe there’s something brave in it.
Maybe it encourages others to make brave choices. What else can I say? We love each other.”

46 JANUARY 4, 2018 • METROWEEKLY