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NEWS
Primary Picks
European Holdout
10
Bathroom Politics
11
by John Riley
by Rhuaridh Marr
by John Riley
Community Calendar
FEATURES
14
Dream Role
Interview by Doug Rule
20
22
by John Riley
PATRON SAINT
Pyramus
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
James Kegley
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by Doug Rule
STAGE
29
GAMES
31
The Witness
FILM
33
NIGHTLIFE
37
SCENE
44
Larry's Lounge
46
Last Word
by Kate Wingfield
by Rhuaridh Marr
by Rhuaridh Marr
METROWEEKLY.COM
GAGE SKIDMORE
LGBT
News
Primary Picks
LGBT Democrats are divided over a presidential candidate, but many consider
Clinton the strongest general election contender
by John Riley
METROWEEKLY.COM
know the person you want to vote for is not going to win and
that would be Bernie and I dont want President Trump, but
Hillary isnt the progressive I would want.
Phipps is drawn to the political positions espoused by Bernie
Sanders. She feels that both current President Barack Obama
and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have not been
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGBTNews
sufficiently progressive throughout their careers. But despite
identifying more with Sanders on policy, Phipps is plagued by
questions of whether the Vermont senator and self-described
Democratic socialist can actually win a general election in a
country where the term socialist still invokes memories of the
Cold War.
I feel stuck. I have been a Bernie supporter from the very
beginning, except I know he wont win, she says. And theres
too much at stake to not win. Four SCOTUS seats, the entire
Supreme Court for the rest of my adult life, is in the balance.
We have to win. And the candidate who can win on our side is
Hillary.
That said, Phipps says that when she was working as a Hill
staffer, Clinton impressed her with her hard work and depth of
knowledge on various issues, including LGBT issues.
Theres no candidate in this race who can match Hillary on
LGBT issues, says Phipps.
Phipps dilemma of choosing whom to support in the primary is a snapshot of an ongoing debate within Democratic politics, particularly among LGBT circles. Support for Sanders, who
was once considered a long shot to defeat frontrunner Clinton,
has followed an upward trajectory. He is increasing his share
of Democratic voters in national polls although he still trails
her by more than 20 points and is either ahead or statistically
tied with her in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New
Hampshire.
As a result of Sanders emergence as a legitimate challenger,
supporters of the two candidates and, to a lesser extent, those
of Gov. Martin OMalley often find themselves waged in wars
of words, arguing over their preferred candidates positions on
various issues. Or, in some cases, who has held the true progressive position longer.
Thats why supporters of Sanders, in particular, were furious
when the Human Rights Campaign officially endorsed Clintons
candidacy for the Oval Office. Almost immediately, Sanders
supporters began attacking the organization for what they felt
was a snub of their anointed candidate. They launched an online
petition on Change.org, gathering the signatures of almost
10,000 people, calling upon HRC to revoke the endorsement.
Video clips of Hillary Clinton, during her tenure as senator from
New York, speaking of marriage as being an institution between
a man and a woman, went viral and were shared on social media.
Outraged progressives flooded HRCs Facebook page with comments arguing that Sanders record on LGBT rights is superior
to Clintons, citing his vote against the Defense of Marriage Act,
his opposition to the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy,
and even his marching in a Gay Pride parade in Vermont well
before it was politically acceptable to do so.
One of those people is Caleb Laieski, a 21-year-old LGBT
advocate who lives in Alexandria. HRCs endorsement of
Clinton is both suspicious and ridiculous, Laieski says. The
funny part of this story is Sen. Sanders has received a perfect
score from the Human Rights Campaign, but they just nominated Hillary Clinton, who was against gay marriage until 2013.
Sanders supporter Travis Reyes, a 36-year-old teacher from
Alexandria, echoes the sentiment, saying he familiarized himself with Sanders record on LGBT rights by watching video
clips of the senator. While Reyes says its HRCs right to endorse
whomever they choose, he believes Sanders would have been
the better choice.
He hasnt evolved like Hillary, Reyes says. Hes been
continuously supportive of our community.
8
METROWEEKLY.COM
In endorsing Clinton, HRC cited the importance of maintaining the progress on LGBT rights made by the Obama administration, particularly with respect to marriage equality. But the
organizations president, Chad Griffin, also emphasized the
importance of pushing for comprehensive nondiscrimination
legislation, fighting against anti-transgender violence, against
LGBT youth homelessness and in favor of greater HIV/AIDS
prevention measures all issues that Clinton has emphasized
along the campaign trail, and, most notably, in a speech before
HRC supporters in Washington last October.
In response to follow-up questions about the groups
endorsement of Clinton, an HRC spokesman appeared to take a
position similar to that put forth by Phipps, invoking the potential risks posed to the LGBT community if a Republican were to
win the presidency.
Everything weve gained and everything we are still fighting
for is at risk in this election, HRCs Brandon Lorenz said in a
statement. Not only is every leading Republican presidential
candidate fighting to revoke, repeal and overturn the progress
weve made, theyre pledging to block our efforts to expand
equality.... Hillary Clinton has not only a strong record of championing LGBT equality as a U.S. Senator, shes done more than
any other Secretary of State to advance LGBT equality around
the globe. She has also put forward a more robust plan advancing LGBT equality than any other presidential candidate has
ever laid out. And she is the strongest contender to beat any of
the Republican candidates running on an anti-LGBT platform
in November.
Lorenz did note, however, that HRC considers Sanders a
friend to both the organization and to LGBT equality, saying the
organization appreciates his consistent voting record during
his congressional career.
Lifelong Democrat Christopher Schaffer says all three of the
major Democratic candidates Clinton, Sanders and OMalley
hold almost identical views when it comes to LGBT rights. So
it wasnt policy differences that led him to cast his early absentee primary vote for Clinton. Rather, the Annandale resident
was won over by Clintons campaign trail promises to strengthen the Democratic Party at the state and local levels.
We, as a community, are not going to get ENDA passed, are
not going to see our rights advanced, as long as we have a GOPcontrolled Congress, explains Schaffer, who serves as chairman of the Democratic Party in the Braddock District of Fairfax
County but was not speaking in an official capacity. And she
has been talking about building up the party and taking back the
Congress. And the only way were taking back the Congress is if
we start taking back the state legislatures. So shes been talking
about supporting the local parties, taking back the state legislatures so we can redraw the lines, so we can take back the House
of Representatives.
As for criticisms of Clintons evolution on the issue of marriage equality, Schaffer looks at Virginia Attorney General Mark
Herring as an example of how a person can genuinely change
their stance on an issue. As a state senator, Herring voted for
Virginias constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2006, but
in the years following, has changed his positions on marriage
equality. He has been quite aggressive about advancing LGBT
rights, particularly since being elected Attorney General.
I believe people can change, says Schaffer. And if Mark
Herring can change, and be one of our strongest supporters in
Virginia, theres no reason to doubt Hillarys sincerity that she
can be an ally for us as president. l
European Holdout
Italy prepares to debate same-sex civil unions, potentially ending its LGBT anomaly in Western Europe
by Rhuaridh Marr
HERES SOMETHING OF AN ANOMALY IN WESTern Europe. Often regarded as a bastion of LGBT rights
indeed, theyre enshrined in the European Unions
governing principles every Western European nation, from
Britain to Portugal to Germany, recognizes same-sex relationships. Except for one: Italy.
Yes, the land of the Romans, wine, good coffee and meticulously dressed men is the last holdout in offering legal recognition to cohabiting same-sex couples. While thirteen of the
worlds nineteen countries to offer same-sex marriage are in
Europe, Italy remains steadfastly opposed to even basic recognition. The reason? Pretty simple the Catholic Church retains
a tight grip on Italian society and politics, affecting the debate
at every level.
Now, though, that could all change.
A piece of legislation currently rests in Italys senate that
would legalize same-sex civil unions in the country. Senators
will start debating the legislation today, January 28, with
Italys left of center government pushing for the change. Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi has endorsed the legislation, but its fate
remains uncertain, as a similar measure introduced in 2007
failed without ever reaching a vote and successive governments
have thus far refrained from tackling the issue.
However, this time popular opinion is very much on the side
of same-sex Italians. Last weekend, thousands gathered in cities across the country to protest the lack of legal recognition.
AFP reported 7,000 in Turin, 5,000 in Milan and thousands
more in Rome and Bologna. Carrying signs that read Wake up
Italy. Its time to be civilized, the protesters demanded that
Italys politicians pass the legislation.
We hope it will pass, but we dont know, Fabrizio Marrazzo,
a top gay rights activist with Arcigay told The Guardian. We
hope the politicians see that this is not a law just for LGBT
people, but for all Italians, for civil rights in Italy.
The legislation would not only grant couples the right to
enter into civil unions, it would also grant the ability to take a
partners name, extend parental rights, and allow adoption by
a same-sex person of their partners child. Its that latter factor
that has drawn most ire from the Catholic Church, who oppose
same-sex adoption. That opposition, as well as opposition to the
use of surrogates to start families, will carry through to counter
protests on January 30, when family day will be staged by a
number of Catholic groups. Opposing the leader of his party,
Italys interior minister Angelino Alfano told reporters earlier
this month that same-sex couples who use surrogates should be
treated like sex offenders.
We want wombs for rent to become a universal crime.
And that it is punished with prison. Just as happens for sexual
crimes, he said.
Its a debate exemplified by a proposed amendment to the
civil union bill by senators, which would force same-sex couples
to prove that they had not used overseas couples to have their
children. Punishment would include up to two years in prison
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGBTNews
and a fine of up to 1 million ($1.1 million).
However, despite concerns that there arent enough moderate or liberal senators to pass the legislation, Italy may have
no choice after it received a dressing down from the European
Court of Human Rights. That court ruled last summer that
Italy was violating human rights laws by failing to offer adequate legal protections to same-sex couples. The court argued
that Italy had failed to provide for the core needs relevant to
a couple in a stable committed relationship and that existing
protections were not sufficiently reliable.
This week, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
a body separate from the European Union also urged Italy
to pass the legislation. Thorbjorn Jagland tweeted that Italy
must pass the legislation to bring it in line with other member
states. I encourage Italy to ensure legal recognition for same
sex couples as per [European Court of Human Rights] as in
majority of [Council of Europe] states, he wrote.
While Catholic groups have sponsored protests against the
legislation, Pope Francis has yet to directly comment on it.
Instead, he stated his support for traditional marriages last week,
telling members of the Vatican court that there can be no confusion between the family God wants and any other type of union.
The family, founded on indissoluble matrimony that unites
and allows procreation, is part of Gods dream and that of his
Church for the salvation of humanity, he said.
The Vatican will play a key role in the debate, something the
author of the proposed legislation is keenly aware of. Senator
Monica Cirinna told The Guardian that the Democratic Party
was currently in a state of high fever as they prepare for the
vote, as a number of the partys senators maintain strong bonds
with the church.
There has always been a clash between the non-religious
and the Catholic members of the party, Cirinna said. The
great dome [of St. Peters Basilica] sometimes casts a shadow.
The divide between party members played out in last weekends
protests, with ministers joining those in the streets to call for the
legislation to be passed. Italys agriculture minister, Maurizio, was
among those demonstrating and spoke with Reuters.
This law on civil unions needs approving now, he told
Reuters. We are the only European country not to have one,
and there is no more time to be lost.
We dont have more time, Marrazzo agreed. In other
parts of Europe they did this 10 years ago. l
Bathroom Politics
An upcoming decision on a Virginia high schools transgender restroom policy could set a precedent
by John Riley
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGBTCommunityCalendar
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
THURSDAY, JAN. 28
FRIDAY, JAN. 29
SATURDAY, JAN. 30
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,
13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3163,
catherine.chu@smyal.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.
SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time, email
braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio Dr.,
SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 31
metro area. This group will be meeting once a month. For information on
location and time, email to not.the.
only.one.dc@gmail.com.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL
METROWEEKLY.COM
11
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join
the church. Services 9:15 and 11:15
a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave.
uucss.org.
MONDAY, FEB. 1
The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER
NIGHT for community members
to lend a hand with various duties,
including cleaning, keeping safe-sex
kit inventory, and sorting through
book donations. Pizza provided.
6:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee DropIn for the Senior LGBT Community.
10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER
POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
TUESDAY, FEB. 2
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
12
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 571-2149617. james.leslie@inova.org.
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3
METROWEEKLY.COM
13
Dream Role
Holly Twyford has helped shape D.C.s theater scene by taking on gender-bending roles,
including Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream
Interview by Doug Rule // Photography by James Kegley and Teresa Wood
14
METROWEEKLY.COM
METRO WEEKLY: Bottom, Puck and even most of the acting troupe
JAMES KEGLEY
JAMES KEGLEY
California. Shes got this theater company, and shes played all
of the great Shakespearean roles Richard III, Hamlet, Shylock.
She just said, Fuck it! And she plays them as men she goes
full drag. It speaks to the heart of what it is to be an actor.
Because an actor really should be, as they said to us in school,
transformational. And that is rarely the case. And its not just
in California. Theres Taffety Punk here, with their riot grrrl
female productions. And its the same sort of thing. It doesnt
matter theyre just telling a story, theyre just actors. And
thats really what it should be about.
MW: With the citywide Womens Voices Theater Festival last year,
theres been increasing attention to women especially the lack of
womens perspectives in theater. Have you noticed a change in
attitudes in your two decades on stage?
TWYFORD: Has it gotten better? Thats a difficult question for me
to answer because I dont know how aware I was when I first got
here. As a young actress at that time, nobody was talking in those
terms. You only talked in terms of what the next job was, and
where the work was. You didnt think about the fact that it was
harder for a woman because there
are less roles, that there are fewer
female playwrights writing female
roles, and that there are many, many
more women than men competing
for those roles. I dont think I recognized that in the early days. So I
think it must be better, just because
I think people have figured out that
they dont have a choice. I mean it
has to get better. Just as it has to
get better for actors of color, and
artists of color. The status quo cannot continue, because we need more
women writing plays, we need more
actors of color up on the stage we
need that. If we want to truly serve not only this community, but
any community, we need to reflect our audiences. Thats why
people come to the theater. They want to see at least some part
of themselves up on stage. So I think its incredibly important.
MW: And thats why, as a separate but related example, this years
slate of Oscar nominations is so disturbing. Have you been following the controversy?
TWYFORD: You mean about how white the nominees are? I
havent, really. Ive seen a couple things about it, but I dont
know what the latest is.
MW: Theres also LGBT-related nominations. Carol, for instance,
garnered nods for its two leads but failed to be nominated for Best
Picture or Director. Have you seen it?
TWYFORD: I have not, but Im re-reading [Patricia Highsmiths]
The Price of Salt in preparation. I read it years and years ago.
What about The Danish Girl was it nominated for anything?
MW: Not really two acting awards, plus production and costume
design.
TWYFORD: Interesting. The Martian, it was really well done. Matt
Damon is incredibly appealing, and interesting to watch, and it
was a neat story with a happy ending. And just not as complicated as Carol or The Danish Girl.
Thats the other thing thats interesting about TV and film
they really are quite straight. Im sure that theyre straight and
not narrow, but in some senses there is still this feeling of the
outsider. And maybe thats me and my generation. I mean, its
fascinating now to meet younger people in the gay community
who went to prom with a same-sex partner. That just is totally
METROWEEKLY.COM
TERESA WOOD
so glad that you are not going to have the struggle that I had.
Because youre in a metropolitan area, and youre in theater.
Youre going to hopefully have an easier life and have a lot of role
models. Thats heartening to me.
MW: Have you and Saskia faced any challenges or discrimination
as two women raising a daughter?
TWYFORD: Helena is only eight. We had already come a long
way by 2007. Saskia and I worry about it periodically, in terms
of, if theres a new friend at school and theres a play date, do
we have to say, Hey, by the way, just so you know... It is this
question that we have sometimes. I think, well, Im not going
to go out of my way to say, Hey, by the way, Helena has two
moms. Do you have a problem with that? Im going to assume
that they dont thats my new m.o. for how I deal with a play
date. And so far, even people about whom, Oh, youre going to
have a problem with this, because I know that you go to church
every Sunday, or you do XYZ it hasnt happened. Is this
person going to accept the birthday party invitation? And they
have. So thats been nice to witness.
MW: And Helena doesnt ask or struggle with questions about her
family?
TWYFORD: You know kids talk about that stuff all the time.
At first kids, they dont give a shit! Oh, you like purple too?
Awesome! I like purple! They dont care about any of that
other stuff. Thats whats so sad, is that all of that stuff is
learned all of that fear, and all of that ignorance is just
learned, and passed on. The comments that she would get
in, maybe kindergarten or first grade, would be, No way!
You have two moms? I have a mom and a dad! Oh, I have
a grandma. It was, Cool! This is how youre different from
me. Theres no judgment, theres no, this is better than that.
There are even kids who, I would hear from their moms occaMETROWEEKLY.COM
17
JAMES KEGLEY
METROWEEKLY.COM
whatever role youre sort of in at the time is, and should be, kind
of your favorite role. Ive been so lucky, I really have. I loved
playing Juliet, I loved playing Evelyn in The Shape of Things.
Ive loved so many of the roles that Ive done, the Shakespeare
women, theyre so fun to take a bite out of Beatrice in Much
Ado and certainly Viola in Twelfth Night. Its hard to say. They
were all really fun.
Lately, Ive been thinking a lot about the role that I just
played at Olney Theatre, in this play called Bad Dog. It was not
a particularly fun role, in some ways, but it was so full. It was
one of those things, I read the play and
fell in love with it the second I read it
and immediately knew that I had to do
it. And that doesnt happen very often.
But I literally turned the last page and
I thought, Oh shit! I have to drive an
hour [each way, every day] to get to
Olney now. Because I have to do this
play. Again, it was a great group of
people. A bunch of incredibly talented
women, not to mention the playwright,
who was just amazing. So yeah, Ive
been very, very fortunate, I really have.
MW: Since you brought up Bad Dog, I
wanted to ask you how you approached
the role of Molly, a relapsed alcoholic
in full-bore self-destructive mode with her family. You managed to make her sympathetic, even likeable not to mention
witty.
TWYFORD: Well, it was Jennifer Hoppe-Houses first play, and
its beautiful. And I had to play that role. And shes pretty open
about it it sort of has autobiographical aspects to it. And
she was on set for a while, and we became friends. She was an
invaluable resource, of course, when it came to a lot of the addiction stuff. It was incredibly special in so many ways.
MW: So you didnt necessarily draw on any personal experience
with alcoholism or addiction?
TWYFORD: I had some people say, Well, youre not an addict.
You dont have an issue like that. How can you relate to that?
I think that there are many, many forms of addiction. And there
are things that come out of addiction that a lot of people can
relate to, and I certainly could. And so I brought what I brought
to the table. I was thrilled when I had folks who really did deal
with some of that stuff come up and say, You just did my life.
That meant a lot.
MW: Do you have a least favorite role?
TWYFORD: Not that I would want to name. I dont think so. One
came to mind, but even thinking about it now, she taught me
something. That is not to be ignored that that aspect of even
playing a role that is either not fun or not as fulfilling, they do
all teach you something. Or they should. And thats definitely
worth a lot.
MW: Do you ever worry youll run out of challenges that inspire
you?
TWYFORD: When I start getting complacent, and when I start not
being a little scared of what Im doing, then I think thats the
time to stop. But Im not quite there yet.
This is all that I do. I dont know how to do anything else,
frankly. I mean, I used to tend bar, I waited tables. I did a lot of
little odd jobs like that. But I really have no marketable skills.
MW: Well, it helps that youre so good at this.
TWYFORD: It does but I also have been very lucky. I think that
when I first got here I didnt have a degree in theater, I have a
degree in whats called theater studies. I was cut from the acting
program at Boston University, and I ended up going into a different program, called theater studies. So it was a little bit of a blow
to the psyche. There perhaps would have been more opportunities had I gone that other way [to New York], but I didnt. I made
my own way here, and when I got here, I remember meeting a lot
of people who were saying, Yeah, Im going to work here, and
put that on my resume. And then Im going to go to New York.
And I did not. And I never really wanted to. And I stayed, and
just kept working. And kept going at it. I think thats been a huge
19
Hair~Raising
Wig Night Out lets bar patrons display their most creative hairdos while raising money for LGBT scholars
by John Riley // Photographs of Wig Night Out 2013 at JR.s by Ward Morrison
Jacobson (R)
METROWEEKLY.COM
Perruzza
to Ditos Bar at Floriana before hitting up other local establishments. One interested patron asked if the wigs were part of a
fundraiser, which sparked the idea. Now in its seventh year, Wig
Night Out raises money for Point Foundation, which provides
financial scholarships and support for LGBT students. This
years fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30 at JR.s, starting at 9 p.m.
Over the past six years, the event has raised more than
$37,000, and has sparked spin-offs in Chicago and New York.
Its the easiest fundraiser Ive ever thrown, says Jacobson,
who serves as the chair of Point Foundations trustees for the
D.C. area. Its literally as easy or as fantastic as you want to
During the buffet lunch that followed, I was standing next to him and said,
See? It wasnt that bad. You did really well. And he said, No, it wasnt that bad
at all. What was tough for me was to be in a room where, for the first time in my
life, everyone wanted me to succeed.
Valencia is grateful to events like Wig Night Out, as the money raised is essential to supporting Point Foundations mission of cultivating future LGBT leaders.
We are investing in young people who are going to be our doctors, our educators, our politicians, in every aspect of our lives, he says. If you have people
committed to diversity, then you start to change and move the needle when it
comes to inclusiveness.
Dave Perruzza, general manager of JR.s, says the lighthearted atmosphere
of Wig Night Out is what makes it so enjoyable. Its more effective than other
charity fundraisers because participants are getting something in exchange for
their donations: a fun, memorable time.
I cant wait for it, he says. I love this event.
Wig Night Out allows Perruzza to indulge his creative side as he cobbles
together a different look each year. One year, he and several others took advantage of a sale on styrofoam wigs at Target. Last year, he and his friends decided to
Dito (L)
21
SPOTLIGHT
ALVIN AILEY
AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Expanded Eating
Several restaurants go beyond the basics with
Winter Restaurant Week promotions
n case it slipped your notice, D.C.s Winter Restaurant Week officially started this past
Monday. If, like everyone else, youve been too preoccupied trying to survive Storm
Jonas, weve compiled some of the best deals available from area restaurants.
An added bonus, due to the delayed start to the week, the Restaurant Association of
Metropolitan Washington has officially extended the promotion to run until Wednesday, Feb.
3. So youve still got time and more than 250 restaurants to choose from, offering at minimum three course meals for $22 over lunch or $35 over dinner.
In addition, this years program also introduces a partnership with the UBEREATS app,
through which a handful of restaurants among them DBGB, ROSA MEXICANO and RIGGSBY
are offering an exclusive entree, priced between $12 and $15, to be delivered select weekdays
over lunch.
A few establishments deserve special recognition this year. Foremost among these is the
BEACON BAR & GRILL (pictured) near Scott Circle, which is working to ensure a festive environment by throwing in a glass of wine with lunch or unlimited champagne by the glass with
dinner. And they will also have half-priced bottles of wine, too.
SUSHI TARO on 17th Street offers a $35 four-course dinner menu that on its own is enough
cold soba and sashimi to start, angus beef sukiyaki or grilled black cod as a warm second, and
three sushi options for a main course, plus mochi ice cream. But for a few dollars more you can
add grilled yellowtail or an additional sushi roll and $52 total also grants you a three-drink
sake/beer pairing.
On Capitol Hill, CAFE BERLINs lunch menu provides a choice between potato pancakes or
Bavarian potato soup as a starter, braised brisket, a fish burger, or Kalbsleber (pan fried
calves liver) for an entree and a house made cake or tart for dessert.
Finally, in addition to plenty of pasta and antipasti options at lunch and a hearty fourcourse dinner, Mike Isabellas GRAFFIATO across from the Verizon Center is the rare restaurant
to offer a Restaurant Week Brunch menu, with three courses at $22. Pick from various egg
and pasta dishes, a few salad and veggie antipasti, and sweets, including Nutella Waffle and
French Toast. Doug Rule
Winter Restaurant Week runs through Wednesday, Feb. 3. For a full list and to book reservations and chances to win getaway and restaurant prizes visit RWDMV.com.
EQUUS
ESCORT
METROWEEKLY.COM
METROWEEKLY.COM
23
KRISTIN CHENOWETH
MEL BROOKS
24
MONSTERS OF THE
VILLA DIODATI
HHHHH
Leave it to Signature Theatre to
stage a production that reinvigorates this classic musical, giving it
more relevance and resonance than
ever before. The all-star collaboration between Leonard Bernstein,
Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents
and Jerome Robbins is widely considered one of the greatest musicals ever
made. Unlike other Signature reinventions of classics, director Matthew
Gardiner didnt pare down the calledfor 30-member cast, which is further
bolstered by a standard 17-member
orchestra, led by Jon Kalbfleisch. The
result is the largest show Signature
has ever produced. Its also one of
the most stimulating shows youve
yet seen in Shirlington, aided by
Gardiners choice to present it on a
thrust stage, with the audience on
three sides in the Max Theatre. The
production engages you in a way that
standard proscenium productions of
West Side Story cant. If this doesnt
become your favorite production of
West Side Story, I would love to know
where you saw it staged better. Closes
Sunday, Jan. 31. Signature Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
Tickets are $40 to $95. Call 703-8209771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
(Doug Rule)
FILM
CAROL
HHHHH
Carol, the sixth feature from Todd
Haynes, has the feel of a career pinnacle, as though every other film in
his canon was building to this masterpiece. Based on the novel The Price of
METROWEEKLY.COM
JERUSALEM 3D
KUNG FU PANDA 3
a program of live action shorts, including films from Germany, Ireland and
the U.S., plus two set in the West
Bank and Kosovo. Starts Friday, Jan.
29. Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555
11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.
STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS
HHHHH
The seventh film in a series that has
spanned four decades and spawned
a near limitless number of spin-offs,
merchandise and uber fans, The Force
Awakens isnt original theres too
much history for that to be possible.
But it works on several levels. And
for the most part, the screenplay by
Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt
and J.J. Abrams, who directs, hits the
right notes, with the grand, operatic
overtones the series has long been
known for. For its various foibles and
the awkward transition between old
characters and new, theres something undoubtedly exciting about
this new trilogy of films. This is Star
Wars returned, reformed, revitalized
for a new generation. Every time you
laugh at a reference, every time you
see a familiar face, every time John
Williams glorious score swells, you
cant help but get sucked in by it all.
Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
HHHHH
Fashioning the tale of transgender
pioneer Lili Elbe into a mainstreamfriendly love story may seem like
shrewd packaging by a Hollywood
marketing department, but the result
is a film that succeeds above all else
because that central love story is so
well crafted. David Ebershoffs eponymous novel loosely depicted Elbes
life, but Tom Hoopers The Danish
Girl sticks closer to the facts. It follows Einar Wegener, a Danish painter,
who slowly comes to realize that he is
transgender after modeling womens
clothes for his wife Gerda. From there,
Lili is born, with the film following the
couple as they navigate Lilis exploration of her new gender identity and
Gerda deals with her love for Lili and
the loss of her husband. The Danish
Girl is a flattering, beautifully captured,
captivatingly performed retelling of
the marriage between a trans pioneer
and her wife and one sure to do
well this awards season. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Rhuaridh Marr)
STAGE
A GENTLEMANS GUIDE
TO LOVE & MURDER
HHHHH
On the surface, theres nothing fundamentally wrong with A Gentlemans
Guide to Love & Murder. The book
by Robert L. Freedman is straightforward, while his lyrics, penned with
Lutvak, are cleverly wrought. Director
Dark Tresnjaks staging is brisk,
whimsical, and occasionally borders
on the sublime, as with a scene that
pays homage to door-slamming farce.
And the performances are just about
as perfect as you could hope for. Yet
the evening washes over you like a
tidal wave of meh. The real problem
is Steven Lutvaks score. Its not just
underwhelming, its unmemorable. At
times it comes off like a bastard spawn
of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen
Sondheim, but really its just aping
Gilbert & Sullivan. Lutvak reaches
beyond his grasp and comes up empty
handed. Closes this Saturday, Jan. 30.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.
Tickets are $64 to $229. Call 202467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
(Randy Shulman)
AS YOU LIKE IT
BACK TO METHUSELAH
BAD JEWS
Already the best-selling play in its history after last years constantly extended run, Studio Theatre has reprised
Joshua Harmons acerbic dramedy
Bad Jews for another go and once
again, it keeps extending the run due
to popular demand. Serge Seiden once
again directs, this year featuring a
cast including Laura Lapidus, Rowan
Vickers, Noah Averbach-Katz and
Maggie Wilder. Closes Sunday, Jan.
31. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Tickets are $44 to $88. Call 202332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
Yet another boisterous and unflinchingly dark comedy from Stephen Adly
Guirgis, whose play The Motherfucker
with the Hat received much critical
praise at Studio Theatre a few years
ago. Between Riverside and Crazy was
the winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for
Drama and is focused on an ex-cop who
is facing eviction, battling City Hall and
struggling over the recent death of his
wife. To Feb. 28. Studio Theatre, 14th
& P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or
visit studiotheatre.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
25
FIRST CITIZEN
Following the show is a free performance of Stephen Meads one-manshow Victorian Story Time. To Feb.
3. Port City Playhouse, 1819 North
Quaker Lane. Alexandria. Tickets are
$!8 to $20. Call 703-838-2880 or visit
redknightproductions.com.
OBIE winner Caridad Svich has written an epic poem for the stage exploring how we live and find spaces of
sanctuary in our lives, no matter our
station. John Moletress of force/
collision ensemble directs Jocelyn
Kuritsky and himself in the piece,
featuring songs by Svich and Broken
Chord. Performances are Thursday,
Jan. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 30, at
8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m.
Kogod Cradle in the Mead Center for
American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW.
Tickets are $51 to $66. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.
SHAKE LOOSE
METROWEEKLY.COM
COMMUNITY STAGE
OUR TOWN
MUSIC
ANDREW WATTS WITH
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
ANGELA WINBUSH
ARLO GUTHRIE:
ALICES RESTAURANT 50TH
ANNIVERSARY TOUR
BROOKLYN RIDER,
GABRIEL KAHANE
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS,
HORSESHOES & HAND
GRENADES
CHRISTYLEZ BACON,
JEAN-FRANCIS VARRE
LEVINE PRESENTS:
CELEBRATING 40!
OPERA LAFAYETTE
LUPE FIASCO
MUSE, X AMBASSADORS
RICHARD THOMPSON
Just a few months ago the man who virtually invented the concept of British
folk rock as founder of the group
Fairport Convention charmed fans
with a performance at Constitution
Hall also featuring Irish singer-songwriter and Tony-winning composer
Glen Hansard (Once). Now, one of
Rolling Stones Top 20 Guitarists of
All Time returns with even more fan
appeal. At Wolf Trap next week, hell
perform an All Request Show three
of them, to be exact based on audience picks of songs from his numerous
albums, including new solo set Still.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb.
3, and Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. The
Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road,
Vienna. Tickets are $60 to $75. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
27
New Year, the Kennedy Center presents a free concert featuring some of
Chinas youngest pop stars, including
the band Jam You, singers Tsinger,
Majia Jiado and Ray M, and rapper
Too Phat. Friday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
SOLAS
DANCE
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE
JOE GOODE
PERFORMANCE GROUP
28
COMEDY
CAMERON ESPOSITO
READING
AWKWARD [GAY] SEX...AND
THE CITY
GALLERIES
A COLLECTORS VISION:
WASHINGTONIANA COLLECTION
METROWEEKLY.COM
PEARLS ON A STRING
LA-TI-DO
stage
Economy of Lives
Sweat bears witness to the
new-normals of our faceless
global economy
by KATE WINGFIELD
C. STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
mals of our faceless global economy. Policies may be set at distant, Olympian heights but they touch every aspect of daily life,
from what we pay for milk to whether we can get a mortgage or
keep a job. It is a new order, one that doesnt account for ruinous
payday loans, fatal gaps in resumes, or human frailties. It is not
just God that is dead, Nottage tells us, it is self-determination,
not just for nation-states but for people.
These are far-reaching themes, but Nottage brings them
seamlessly into the lives of her compelling characters via evenings in the local tavern (given fine detail by John Lee Beattys
sets), references in the TV news playing over the bar, and projections signaling the passage of time. With her superb ear, Nottage
strikes a gratifying balance between realistic dialogue and the
arrival of deeper contemplations through finely-constructed
monologues. With director Kate Whoriskeys equally sensitive hand, it almost never sounds contrived and the intimacy is
almost always palpable.
Of course it must be said that Nottages primary plot-driver
is the rather hackneyed one of a promising young AfricanAmerican (Chris) being dragged into an unoriginal kind of
trouble by his ignorant white buddy (Jason). And, yes, there are
some moments that veer briefly into sitcom territory with their
predictable humor and aw-shucks pathos. These are here, no
doubt, to broaden the plays appeal. But thankfully, Nottage does
not let them dumb it down, especially when it comes to issues of
METROWEEKLY.COM
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30
METROWEEKLY.COM
games
Attention Seeker
The Witness demands your respect, your
patience and your intelligence but
the rewards are definitely worth it
by RHUARIDH MARR
BOUT AN HOUR INTO THE WITNESS, I FINALly got it. It wasnt a sudden revelation, but rather
a slow creep. As I worked my way through a particularly puzzling set of puzzles, the games everpresent sunshine dappling the landscape around me, the silence
of the moment as I stared at the board in front of me, I realized
that I had been entirely absorbed by its world.
The Witness (HHHHH) is a labor of love, seven years in
the making, and the latest title from developer Jonathan Blow,
whose 2008 game Braid was a masterpiece of brain-crushing,
time-bending, wonderfully-scripted 2D puzzling. The Witness
takes Blows penchant for ingenious puzzles and turns it into
something else. I say this without any trace of insult: The Witness
is perhaps the greatest example of a smartphone game and its
only available on PS4 and PC.
Let me explain that. Its centered around a very simple concept. Players interact with boards and screens containing line
puzzles the goal is to move from one side of the puzzle to the
other, following the line from a circular entry point to a rounded
exit point. Its almost painfully simple its easy to imagine
users tracing their fingers across such puzzles on their smartphone screens. And, just like the smartphone genres greatest
hits (no, Candy Crush, that doesnt include you), The Witness
builds on that core concept to keep its puzzles ever-changing,
ever more challenging and almost mind-crushingly infuriating
at some points.
After its initial simplicity, The Witness introduces shapes, colors, pickups, mirror lines, and other ideas to compound on the initial idea. After a certain amount of time, youll no longer be simply
tracing from one side of a board to the other. Youll be forced into
puzzles that demand every brain cell to successfully navigate.
What transforms it into something worthy of a home on your
console or computer is that the puzzling is entirely free-form.
The Witness opens in a dark tunnel. Youre offered no context,
no hints, not even a start screen. As you walk towards the end,
youre presented with one of only two prompts in the entire
game, telling you how to complete the first line puzzle. Complete
it and youll exit into the main setting of The Witness: an island.
Youll then work through a few arbitrary line puzzles in an
overgrown courtyard, before a gate unlocks and youre allowed
to explore. After the second prompt how to run thats it.
The Witness will leave you completely alone from this point on.
Thats both daunting and impressive.
The main hook of The Witness is a desire to uncover the
mysteries of its existence. Theres no story, per se, no narration,
no cutscenes. It doesnt guide players to uncover certain areas,
or complete specific puzzles. Indeed, theres nothing here to
hook someone in a traditional sense. Instead, The Witness
forces players to pique their own curiosity. Its island setting
is rife with unanswered questions: an abandoned village, an
Egyptian-style temple, a medieval castle, a crashed ship. What
caused their decay? Why is there no one else here? What is the
purpose of the statues that dot its landscape, like people frozen
in time? And just why are there puzzles absolutely everywhere?
These are questions youll have to figure out at your own pace.
The beauty of The Witness is that you can uncover as much or as
little as possible. Blow estimates that there are over 700 puzzles
in his game, but not all of them are as obvious as those situated
on the displays dotted around the games various landmarks
yes, even the very land in some instances can be a puzzle.
If you want to complete the story the main quest, of sorts
METROWEEKLY.COM
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METROWEEKLY.COM
film
Bear Story
Short List
This years animated short films
display a wide range of emotions, but
theres one clear winner for the Oscar
by RHUARIDH MARR
TS A RARE THING INDEED WHEN PIXAR HAS ARGUably the weakest film in an animated category, but such
is the strength of this years nominees for Best Animated
Short Film that even a good effort from the animating powerhouse isnt going to be enough to take home a statue. Dealing
with a variety of issues family, death, friendship, religion, the
brutality of man the 2016 contenders are proof that we dont
need 90 minutes and millions of dollars to evoke emotion from
an audience. Expensive digital artwork isnt necessary to convey
a sense of place. From stick figures to pencil shading, lavish 3D
modeling to subtle animation, these are the five contenders for
this years Animated Short.
BEAR STORY
2014
11 minutes
Chiles entry, directed and co-written by Gabriel Osorio Vargas,
is a multi-layered meditation on the destructive force and brutality of man, told from the perspective of a bear. We watch as
he carefully crafts the models of a diorama, walking through
his empty home, glancing at photos of a family thats nowhere
to be found. Venturing into town, he sets up the diorama box
and a nearby child runs to view it. What follows is a gorgeouslyanimated sequence, complete with scale models, cogs, wheels,
metallic figures and scrolling backgrounds, as the bear tells
his story, where humanity is the villain, tearing into apartment
buildings and ripping animals from their homes to be carted off
to join the circus. Vargas film is a critique of the circus trade,
of human exploitation of animals, of loss, humiliation, and ultimately hope. A somewhat ambiguous ending leaves the viewer
questioning whether the happy ending depicted so wondrously
in the diorama reflects reality, but that only enhances the charm
of an otherwise spellbinding short.
METROWEEKLY.COM
33
PROLOGUE
2015
6 minutes
Prologue takes hand drawn animation back to something primal, something primitive, but also something captivating to behold. The British short, directed by Richard
Williams and produced by his wife, Imogen Sutton, depicts a battle between four
warriors in ancient Greece, two Athenian, two Spartan. Using pencil shading on an
off-white background, the animation is both simple and rich, granting the fierce fight
between the men an ethereal quality, but also a ghastly one we see horrors and
imperfections in the mens faces that would have been erased in the cleanliness of
3D animation, which would also have robbed the film of its impact. Its not a flawless
technique, as perspective is easily lost in some scenes due to the lack of additional
animation or cue points on the plain background, but it is perhaps the perfect way
to capture the action that follows, as the battle descends into bloody madness, gruesomely depicted in swathes of red pencil. Williams film isnt long, but its style and
raw quality eschews the strive for perfection of more modern animated fare. In both
tale and technique, this is a period piece, but that only makes it all the more compelling to watch.
METROWEEKLY.COM
2015
7 minutes
Pixars latest short is sweet, beautifully
animated and makes the most of its short
runtime. Unfortunately, in this years field
of nominees, its also just not well, Pixar
enough to stand out. Directed by Sanjay
Patel, its a mostly true story about a
boy and a father, with the former happy to
watch his superhero cartoons and the latter
trying in vain to inspire the boy to follow in
his religious footsteps. Sanjay is engrossed
in Super Team, a fictional triad of superheroes, while his father would rather he pray
with him. After having his toy removed
and forced to sit in front of a cabinet containing three Hindu gods, Sanjay accidentally extinguishes the shrines oil lamp and
is transported into a world where Hindu
gods Vishnu, Durga, and Hanuman are the
superheroes. What follows is a sequence
that shows why Pixars are masters of
their craft: the animation is magnificent to
behold, with eye-popping colors, crisp textures and incredible depth. Whats missing, however, is soul. Sure, it has a typically
Disney saccharine ending, and the film
should be lauded for giving focus to a family that isnt white or Christian. However,
the end result just isnt memorable enough
to warrant taking home the Oscar this year.
Surrounded by less established competition, Pixar has come up surprisingly short.
WE CANT LIVE WITHOUT COSMOS
2015
16 minutes
Dont let We Cant Live Without Cosmos
slightly ropey animation fool you. This
Russian entry from director Konstantin
Bronzit and producer Alexander Boyarsky
has depth beyond its rudimentary animation style. Indeed, it lulls viewers into a
false sense of security, as it depicts two
friends working their way through cosmonaut training in a remote, snowy base. Their
relationship is depicted as being the closest
of friends, from sharing a room to pushing
each other to go harder at their training
to daydreaming together about exploring
space. But partway through, Cosmos transforms from a buddy movie into something
darker, something deeper. It strips away
the lightheartedness though not the light
comedy that runs throughout in favor of
a glimpse into depression, into loss, into a
grief so pronounced that a person doesnt
know how to carry on living. Its a fascinating transition, with an ending firmly
rooted in fantasy but bursting with heart.
We Cant Live Without Cosmos is proof
that rough animation neednt detract from
2015
17 minutes
World of Tomorrow is a masterpiece.
American filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt has
produced something rooted in science
fiction, but with all of the best traits of
the genre: ruminations on humanity, the
future, the impact of technology in our
lives, armageddon, love, family, and more.
With an achingly simple premise and an
even simpler animation style stick figures on a digital background it conveys a
message that is more powerful than almost
every other film from 2015. It opens on a
little girl, Emily, who runs towards a ringing communicator. On screen is a clone of
Emily, speaking to her from 227 years in
the future she wants to use time-travel
to bring Emily to meet her. What follows
is an amusing, dark, sad, uplifting, horrifying, intelligent monologue of sorts on
the human condition, as clone Emily tells
young Emily about the world she inhabits.
Cloning is an accepted way to extend
ones life, with an adult being impregnated
with their clone and then passing their
memories on. But its only for the wealthy
the poor can opt to have their face
preserved and stretched across a crude
robot to keep family members company.
Time travel exists, used for looking at past
events and traveling to past eras, but its
dangerous unless precisely calculated,
humans can be transported into space,
into the ground, or hundreds of thousands
of years into the past. The internet has
transformed into the Outernet, a neural
network existing in our physical world,
with people lost to its excesses never to be
seen again. As clone Emily walks through
her memories of life with young Emily,
she speaks in an almost robotic monotone
of love, loneliness, emotional immaturity,
family, her desires, her dreams, her memories, her very existence as a person.
What makes Hertzfeldts films so effective is that, as clone Emily narrates horrible, terrible situations that humanity has
managed to cause a clone is born without a brain and installed, in a stasis tube,
to grow old and die in a museum as an
art exhibit young Emily couldnt care
less. She giddily comments on insignificant
things, lost to wonderment as she changes the color of the Outranet by shouting
Green! Blue! Brown! I dont know any
more colors. After clone Emily reveals
that Earth will soon be destroyed by an
World of Tomorrow
asteroid and the lower classes have used discount time travel to try and escape, resulting in millions being transported into orbit above earth, young Emily looks up to see
their burning bodies falling as shooting stars. Ill count them! she giggles. Its one
of countless scenes in World of Tomorrow that contrast the horror of this dystopian
future with the childlike wonder of young Emily these technologies are fascinating
and fantastic to a child, but to adult viewers of the film theyre monstrous. That World
of Tomorrow can convey so much weight and have so much pathos while also being
darkly funny is testament to Hertzfeldts script. If he doesnt take home the Oscar on
February 28, theres something seriously wrong with the Academy, as no other film
here can come close to matching the excellence of what has been produced here. l
The Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animated & Live Action open Friday, January 29, exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinemas, 555 11th St. NW. The 91-minute Animated
Shorts program (HHHHH) features five additional films that were not nominated for
an Oscar and were not reviewed here. Check back next week for a rundown of the Best
Live Action Short Films.
The Academy Awards will take place on February 28. They will air on ABC and stream
live on Oscar.com.
METROWEEKLY.COM
35
NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 01.28.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Open Day for Stonewall
Darts, 6-10pm $3 Rail
Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at
midnight, hosted by Miss
Kristina Kelly and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5
Cover under 21 and free
with college ID
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
METROWEEKLY.COM
37
scene
MIXTAPE at
The Black Cat
Saturday, January 9
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Throwback
Thursday featuring rock/
pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+
FRI., 01.29.16
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with resident DJ
Shea Van Horn VJ
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call
& Imports, 6-9pm
Guys Night Out Free
Belvedere Vodka, 11pmMidnight, $6 Belvedere
Vodka Drinks all night
DJ MadScience upstairs
DJ Keenan Orr downstairs
$10 cover 10pm-1am, $5
after 1am 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long The Boys
of HUMP, 9pm-2am
Featuring VJ Tre and
Friday Night Videos
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm $2 Skyy Highballs
and $2 Drafts, 10pmmidnight Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
DJ Wess upstairs, DJs
BacK2bACk downstairs
GoGo Boys after 11pm
Doors open at 10pm For
those 21 and over, $10
For those 18-20, $15 18+
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
before 10pm Cover after
10pm (entry through Town)
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2pm
and 2-4pm Featuring
Kristina Kelly and the
Ladies of Illusion
Bottomless Mimosas and
Bloody Marys Happy
Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
NYC Takes Over DC Dance
Party, 10pm-close Drink
METROWEEKLY.COM
39
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm No Cover
TOWN
CTRL: Totes Tokyo Dance
Party, 11pm-close Music
and video downstairs by
DJ Wess Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley
Knoxx and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm $12
Cover 21+
TOWN PATIO
Open 10pm (entry through
Town) $12 Cover
40
METROWEEKLY.COM
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9
p.m., first show at 11:30
p.m. % DJs Doors open
8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 01.31.16
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Buffet, 2-7pm Like on
Facebook for menu options
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts all day and night
No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke downstairs,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 2pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
2-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 3-9pm No
Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
MON., 02.01.16
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
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$1 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts Free Pool all
day and night Men in
DC Eagle T-Shirts get
Happy Hour, 8pm-close
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
TUES., 02.02.16
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
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Service Industry
Night $1 Rail Drinks
all night
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
METROWEEKLY.COM
41
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
WED., 02.03.16
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
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Wednesday Night
Karaoke, hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston,
10pm-close $4 Stoli and
Stoli Flavors and Miller
Lite No Cover 21+
42
METROWEEKLY.COM
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200
prize $2 JR.s Drafts and
$4 Vodka ($2 with College
ID or JR.s Team Shirt)
43
scene
Larrys Lounge
Saturday, January 9
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
Photography by
Ward Morrison
44
METROWEEKLY.COM
45
IAN MCKELLEN, to The Guardian, weighing in on the current controversy surrounding accusations of bigotry at the Academy.
McKellen, who has never won an Oscar, noted how clever it was that Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sean Penn, all
straight actors, won for portraying gay men. What about giving me one for playing a straight man? he said.
is the first symptom of a widespread ignorance of homosexuality, a distorted vision, sometimes fantasy. I
Homophobia
wanted the viewer to confront the gentleness, the simplicity of these images...and keep only the essentials:
love, nothing but love.
French artist OLIVIER CIAPPA, explaining his project The Imaginary Couples, in which he photographed straight celebrities
intimately posing as same-sex couples. Participants included Eva Longoria and Lara Fabian.
MICHAEL, who claims a hostile work environment forced him to resign from a student teacher internship at an Arkansas
high school. The trouble started, he alleges, when he put up a poster with a rainbow on it and the slogan,
Tolerance Equals Peace.
I wanted to mine the religious lore and mythology of the Mormon Church to empower a homosexual hero to show that
a gay character is every bit as worthy in the eyes of God
as any heterosexual one.
BRIAN ANDERSEN, whose comic book Stripling Warrior features a gay Mormon superhero as its central character,
in an interview with the Huffington Post.
46
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