Metro Weekly - 08-11-16 - Jake Nodar

CONTENTS
AUGUST 11, 2016
14
Volume 23 Issue 15
CROWNING
ACHIEVEMENT
Season eight champion Bob The Drag Queen owes his

career to RuPauls Drag Race
By Doug Rule
SURVIVAL INSTINCT
Naked, hungry, and stalked by wild animals may not

sound like everyones ideal way to spend 40 days. But for
Jake Nodar, one of the stars of Naked and Afraid XL,
its what keeps life interesting.
36
Interview by Randy Shulman

Photography by Todd Franson
28
THE ONE
Microsofts updated Xbox One S is what the

console always should have been
By Rhuaridh Marr
SPOTLIGHT: ADAM RICHMAN p.11 OUT ON THE TOWN p.13

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT: BOB THE DRAG QUEEN p.14
PHANTOMS MENACE: CHRIS MANN p.16 THE FEED: GLOCK BLOCKERS p.19
THE FEED: POLITICAL PANDERING p.22 COMMUNITY: OUTINGS FOR WOMEN p.25
COVER STORY: SURVIVAL INSTINCT p.28 GALLERY: ALFREDO RATINOFF p.35
TECH: XBOX ONE S p.36 NIGHTLIFE p.39 COVERBOY: JUSTYN p.39 LISTINGS p.41
LAST WORD p.46
The bitches who make this shit... #masthead
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 Gordon Ashenhurst,
Sean Bugg, Frank Carber, Fallon Forbush, 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 Grizzly Adams Cover Photography Todd Franson
Metro Weekly 1775 I St. NW, Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 202-638-6830
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agents. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization.
2016 Jansi LLC.
AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY
COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL
Spotlight
Richman and the off menu Matambrito a la Pizza at Lo de Freddy parrilla
Hidden Treasures
For his new series, Adam Richman seeks out dishes that are off-the-menu
ORD OF ADVICE. DONT WATCH ADAM RICHmans Travel Channel series Secret Eats if youre hungry. You wont be able to avoid the inevitable fridge
raid. In the show, which premiered last Monday, Richman ventures to different international locales in search of off-the-menu
items and hush-hush dining establishments often so well-hidden, it would take a C.I.A. operative to unearth them. Its a clever
upgrade to a formula host watches chef prepare food, host
gluttonously samples food, host asks patrons what they think
of said food, everyone agrees its the best food theyve ever had
anywhere, anytime thats grown a bit stale. Luckily, Richman,
whose Man V. Food similarly toyed with the genre in an engaging way, is a witty, naturally appealing guide, with a vocabulary
that goes beyond grilled to perfection.
Its fun when youre exploring iconic cities like Rome,
London, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires that, yes, there are amazing culinary experiences to be had that are known, that are
celebrated, and that are lauded, says Richman. Then there are
these other places that are every bit as culinarily sound, but the
experience is so much more heightened because it takes a bit of

digging and a bit of discovery.
Richman and crew who, in another break with tradition, frequently appear with him on camera as they search
for establishments ventured to 13 countries for a total of 14
episodes, two of which air every Monday starting at 10 p.m.
In the pilot episode, which premiered last week, Richman
wanders London, where he discovers a decadent Nutella
Duffin Sundae that patrons literally have to dance for and a
restaurant that you can only gain access to if you hire a private eye to solve a case. Richman calls the overall experience
of shooting the series amazing.
We filmed a very popular food blogger in Singapore and
told her where we had shot the day before, he recalls. And
she said, Oh, my God! How did you find a place in Singapore
that I havent found? How on earth is that possible? This is
what I do for a living! She sent me an email a week or two
later: Loving the place. To be able to out-local a local thats
groovy. Randy Shulman
Two new episodes of Secret Eats with Adam Richman premiere every Monday, at 10 p.m. EST, on
The Travel Channel. Visit travelchannel.com.
11
Spotlight
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
Meryl Streep has proved both on stage and in

film that not only is she an incredible actress,
but a great singer, too. In the biopic from one of
the finest directors of this generation, Stephen
Frears (The Grifters, The Queen), Streep stars
as New York heiress Florence Foster Jenkins,
who was determined to become an opera
singer despite a painful lack of singing ability.
Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Nina Arianda,
and Rebecca Ferguson co-star. Opens Friday,
Aug. 12. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
MIRANDA LAMBERT
RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS
She may have only come in third during the first season
of USA Networks Nashville Star, but Lambert is the
biggest star to emerge from that reality series and one
of the biggest stars in all of country. Shes captivated critics and audiences with her winning personality, astute
songwriting and sense of candor on display in new,
post-Blake Shelton heartbreak music. Kip Moore and the
Brothers Osborne open. Thursday, Aug. 25. Doors at 6
p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent
Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are $45 to $125. Call
800-551-SEAT or visit merriweathermusic.com.
The Smithsonians Freer|Sackler Museums of Asian Art toasts

the rich heritage of Afghanistan in Turquoise Mountain: Artists
Transforming Afghanistan. The exhibition features stunning
ceramics, jewelry, jali, rugs, and more made by young artisans
of Murad Khani in Old Kabul. Traditional Afghan food will be
available all afternoon, and there will also be performances
by Afghan musicians and a traditional Afghan storyteller, lessons in Attan dance, calligraphy, and making Afghan fighter
kites concluding with a kite-flying exercise outside at 4 p.m.,
plus rounds of chess and other games. The event concludes
with a discussion among entrepreneurs about the global craft
industry. Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 7 p.m. Arthur M. Sackler
Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Call 202-633-4800 or
visiting asia.si.edu.
12
IMAGE COURTESY TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN
ARTS OF AFGHANISTAN
Out On The Town
COMCAST XFINITY OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL
Outdoor cinema returns to the lawn at Strathmore this summer and first up, on Saturday, Aug. 20, is Jurassic World, last
years blockbuster and the fourth in the Jurassic Park franchise. Sunday night offers animated sensation Minions featuring voice acting by Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Steve Coogan and Jennifer Saunders. The final screening on Monday,
Aug. 22 is the Judy Garland classic The Wizard of Oz. Clearly, theres no place like Strathmore. Festivities begin at 6:30
p.m., with screenings at 8:30 p.m. each night in the Gudelsky Gazebo, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Free. Call
301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS:
THE MOVIE
HHHHH
Jennifer Saunders beloved British
sitcom about two self-indulgent
women navigating the worlds of
PR, fashion and celebrity finally
makes the leap to the big screen.
The end result is far from perfect,
but Absolutely Fabulous is certainly
passable, which is more than Sex
and the City managed. As storylines
go, this one is entirely inconsequential. Really, Ab Fab is just a series
of set pieces beautifully dressed,
exquisitely styled, filled with gorgeous things designed to help
tee off the next celebrity cameo or
amusing throwback. The time has
never been so appropriate for the
ostentatious, extravagant escapism
of Eddy and Patsy (Joanna Lumley,
who hits every mark and generates the most laughs) and their
celebrity- and luxury-obsessed

ways, but Absolutely Fabulous:
The Movie cant be bothered to try
hard enough to give viewers what
they want. Perhaps its appropriate that Edina and Patsy star in
something so superficial, but we
need the incisive, ruthless Edina
and Patsy of yore. Instead, we get
a softer, less-defined, more box-office friendly version, one aware of
the outside world, but surprisingly
insular at the same time. Its good,
but not quite good enough. Now
playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
EQUITY
A refreshing spin on the financial

thriller genre with ruthless Wall
Street women as the focus. Meera
Menons feminist film, with a script
by Amy Fox, is bracing, witty and
suspenseful, according to the New
York Times. Anna Gunn, James
Purefoy, Alysia Reiner, Sarah Megan
Thomas, and Sophie Von Haselberg
star. Opens Friday, Aug. 12. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.
HELL OR HIGH WATER
Jeff Bridges returns to the Western

genre in David Mackenzies darkly comedic heist film about two
brothers working to save their familys West Texas farm from foreclosure. Chris Pine, Ben Foster and
Gil Birmingham co-star in this film
with a script by Taylor Sheridan and
music by Nick Cave and Warren
Ellis. Opens Friday, Aug. 12. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.
PETES DRAGON
The latest in Disneys string of

remakes, Petes Dragon updates the
1977 musical classic, albeit without
the singing and with much more
CGI in place of hand-drawn animation. Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard)
is a forest ranger who stumbles
across Pete(Oakes Fegley), a young
boy who claims to have lived in
the woods with a dragon. With the
help of her father (Robert Redford)
and a young girl (Oona Laurence),
Grace tries to learn the truth about
Pete and his dragon, Elliot. Opens
Friday, Aug. 12. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.
SAUSAGE PARTY
Billed as the first adult-oriented,

CG-animated feature, Seth Rogen
portrays the sausage while Kristen
Wiig and Edward Norton personify other panicked perishables,
who try to rebel against hungry
humans. The question, especially
after Charlie Kaufmans stop-motion Anomalisa flopped last year,
is whether theres an adult audience for raunchy animation. Opens
Friday, Aug. 12. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.
STAGE
BORN FOR THIS:
THE BEBE WINANS STORY
Infamous televangelists Jim and

Tammy Faye Bakker are part of
the story told in a new musical by
gospel star and PTL Club regular BeBe Winans. The musical
deals with the struggles of fame
and belief, and features Juan and
Deborah Joy Winans as their reallife uncle BeBe and aunt CeCe. With
Milton Craig Nealy as Pop Winans,
13
Nita Whitaker as Mom Winans,

Kiandra Richardson as Whitney
Houston, and Chaz Pofahl and
Kirsten Wyatt as Jim and Tammy
Faye. A world-premiere co-production between Arena Stage and
Atlantas Alliance Theatre. To Aug.
28. Kreeger Theater, 1101 6th St.
SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.
HAND TO GOD
Avenue Q sounds like childs play

compared to Robert Askins comedy focused on teens of a Christian
puppetry ministry in a small Texas
town. Touted as a blasphemous and
ruthless comedy about sex, sinners
and sock puppets, Joanie Schultz
directs a production led by Liam
Forde as a foul-mouthed, demonically possessed puppet. With Susan
Rome, Caitlin Collins, Ryan McBride
and Tim Getman. Extended to Aug.
28. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
MODD
JELLYS LAST JAM
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
I
Season eight champion Bob The Drag Queen owes his career to
RuPauls Drag Race
WATCHED RUPAULS DRAG RACE SEASON ONE AND THOUGHT, MAN, THAT
looks like a lot of fun. I think I could be good at that. So I gave it a shot.
That Christopher Caldwell hadnt tried drag before Drag Race is surprising not
least because his mother owned a drag bar in Georgia. I did cross-dressing in high school,
he says, but I would barely consider that drag.
It wasnt until several years into an acting and standup comedy career in New York that
Caldwell started performing in drag, initially as Kittin Whitawhip, a play on the 1964 film
starring Ann-Margret. But it was Bob The Drag Queen that would enter the eighth season
of Drag Race and ultimately bring the 30-year-old his crown and the title of Americas
Next Drag Superstar.
The show has changed my life more than I could even quantify with words, he says. I
dont personally have the vernacular to do justice to what it means to even be on RuPauls
Drag Race, let alone win it.
Winning was a culmination of everything Ive done up until that point, he continues. I
always thought I was going to win even before I made it to the studio.
Two months after appearing on the Capital Pride Mainstage and at Town Danceboutique,
Caldwell returns to the area as part of a tour with four other finalists from Drag Races eighth
season: Kim Chi, Naomi Small, Thorgy Thor and Chi Chi DeVayne. The show is hosted by
Katya, the breakout star of Season 7, who will appear in RuPauls All Stars Drag Race Season 2.
I dont know what theyre gonna do, Bob The Drag Queen says about the other queens,
but I am going to be hilarious. Doug Rule
Season 8: The Queens Live Across America is Monday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m., at the Fillmore
Silver Spring, 8656 Colesville Road in Silver Spring. Tickets are $37, or $77 to $252 for VIP/
Ultimate Fan options. Call 301-960-9999 or visit ticketmaster.com. Also Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 8
p.m., at the Hippodrome Theatre, 12 North Eutaw St. in Baltimore. Tickets are $69 to $72.
Call 800-982-2787 or visit ticketmaster.com.
14
Signature Theatre kicks off its new

season with a celebration of the
music and life of jazz pioneer Jelly
Roll Morton. Washington native
Mark G Meadows stars as Morton,
leading a cast that also includes,
among others, Tony Award winner Cleavant Derricks (Dreamgirls),
Felicia Boswell (Motown The
Musical), and Signature star Nova
Y. Payton. Matthew Gardiner
directs the musical featuring a book
by George C. Wolfe and lyrics by
Susan Birkenhead. Pride performance set for Friday, Aug. 26. Runs
to Sept. 11. Signatures Max Theatre,
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call
703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
JUMANJI
Two kids escape boredom by playing a mysterious board game that

plunges them into a world of magic
with a lion and destructive monkeys
in a stage production of the popular
book by Chris Van Allsburg. Serge
Seiden directs a 4D, audience-immersive show, featuring strobe
lights, wind, water, and rumbling
lava effects. To Aug. 28. Adventure
Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur
Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets are
$19.50. Call 301-634-2270 or visit
adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
KURIOS - CABINET OF
CURIOSITIES
Cirque du Soleil returns with a

show set in the latter half of the
19th century, but otherwise unconstrained by time or imagination. Its
a fantasy world developed by writer and director Michel Laprise, a
longtime Cirque designer who also
directed Madonnas sensational
2012 Super Bowl halftime show and
the MDNA Tour. Kurios, according
to a Chicago Tribune critic, is a dazzling, hyper-detailed, potent, quix-
Oral
Fixation
you can LISTEN
to any story at
METROWEEKLY.COM
just look for the

speak button
otic and generally fantastic show.

To Sept. 4. The Big Top in Lerner
Town Square at Tysons II, 8025
Galleria Dr. Tysons. Tickets are $39
to $170. Call 877-924-7783 or visit
cirquedusoleil.com/kurios.
NINE
MATTHEW MURPHY
Landless Theatre Company presents its version of the Tony-winning

musical Nine, the second production in the companys new space,
an arts complex in a former church
in Frederick, Md. Based on Fellinis
semi-autobiographical film 8 1/2,
Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopits
musical charts Guido Continis
self-destructive journey as a filmmaker and philanderer. Friday, Aug.
12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m.
East Street Arts Center, 919 N. East
St., Frederick, Md. Tickets are $25.
Call 301-473-2233 or visit landlesstheatre.com.
PHANTOMS MENACE
Having played the Phantom on tour for two years, Chris Mann does not take
kindly to pointlessly nasty reviews
T WAS PATHETIC, HONESTLY. IT WAS BULLSHIT. CHRIS MANN MAY PORTRAY A

feared character on stage, but hes not fearful of voicing his own opinion. And on this particular
day, hes launching a counterattack at a Washington Post review of the touring production of
The Phantom of the Opera, in which he has played the titular role for two years. Rather than merely
have longtime critic Nelson Pressley review the show, the Post also hurled classical music critic
Anne Midgette and art and architecture critic Philip Kennicott at the most popular musical of all
time. It was akin to throwing red meat at (absurdly erudite) wolves and Midgette and Kennicott, in
particular, tore into the show with disdain.
Its a musical, says Mann, audibly annoyed. Its a bunch of opera snobs. And I was an opera
major, so I have no problem calling an opera snob an opera snob. All three admitted to not liking
Andrew Lloyd Webber coming into it. Then dont come and dont review us.
This is our life, he continues. We work really hard. We also look at the response we have
2,200 people on their feet at the end of the night. If three bitter, angry people want to stay in their
seats, then theyre the minority.
Hes got a point. Audiences dont care. Theyre still flocking to Phantom 30 years after its London
premiere. The musical has grossed over $5.5 billion worldwide, making it the most successful ever.
Prior to taking on the role, Mann gained national attention as a finalist on NBCs The Voice, where he
was mentored by Christina Aguilera. He believes part of the shows appeal goes beyond its romantic
aspects, which reach deeply into the trenches of unrequited love, and touches on chords of feeling
isolated and being bullied.
We have people that travel and see us throughout the whole year, because they feel so deeply
connected with the Phantom, says the 34-year-old singer. People who feel injured, feel rejected,
feel hurt, and feel unloved. This guy is bullied to the point of murder, which we see frequently in
our world. That story resonates deeply. To pair that with some gorgeous music and a beautiful night
out thats why its the highest grossing show ever.
After he was cast, Mann felt some pressure about wearing the mask of arguably the most iconic
male role in music theater. After some talk about the touring productions new sets including a
mammoth, multi-faceted turret that comes complete with a few ingenious surprises and his recent
bout with an appendectomy, which delayed the Kennedy Centers press opening for a week (I do a
very physical Phantom and I still cant reach the level I want to because I have three incisions), the
talk turns back to the Posts slaughterhouse trio.
Im not going to say people cant not like our show, he says. But when youre so negative in a
Mean Girl way, you lose all credibility. Youre not actually trying to do an objective review. Youre
just being mean. Randy Shulman
Chris Mann stars in Andrew Lloyd Webbers The Phantom of the Opera through Aug. 20 at the
Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $25 to $149. Visit kennedycenter.org.
16
THE LONESOME WEST
A dark Irish comedy from Martin

McDonagh, the writer/director of
the Oscar-winning film In Bruges
as well as Behanding in Spokane,
closes out Keegans record-breaking nineteenth season. Mark A.
Rhea directs this tale of rivalry
between two brothers, portrayed
by Matthew J. Keenan and Bradley
Foster Smith, set in the tiny Irish
backwater of Leenane. To Aug. 27.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St.
NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call
202-265-3768 or visitkeegantheatre.com.
THE MIKADO, THE PIRATES OF

PENZANCE
Chicagos
The
Hypocrites
Repertory take on some of the silliest roles ever written for musical
theater, performing two of Gilbert
& Sullivans best-loved comic operettas. Presented promenade style,
with some seats on stage with the
actors, Sean Graney directs the tales
of scurvy pirates, modern MajorGenerals, and star-crossed lovers.
To Aug. 21. Theatre Lab at Olney
Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy
Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are
$30 to $55. Call 301-924-3400 or
visit olneytheatre.org.
MUSIC
BLACK MASALA
D.C.s own eight-piece Balkan and

funk band consisting of members
from Thievery Corporation perform
a show with opening acts M.H. &
His Orchestra and the Shadow Girl
Sound Collective. Saturday, Aug. 20.
Doors at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.
CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET
The 7th annual summer cabaret

series at ArtSpace Falls Church
runs every weekend through
September 19 and features shows
in coming weeks by Sam Ludwig
and Susan Derry with the National

Broadway Chorus. Next up in the
series: Alan Naylor, a Helen Hayes
Award winner for his performance
in Creative Cauldrons Jacques
Brel Is Alive And Well and Living in
Paris, in Welcome to My Parlor,
on Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday,
Aug. 13, at 8 p.m., and musical composing duo and married partners
Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory
Smith (Sleepy Hollow, Turn of the
Screw) in a 10-year revue of their
work, Dreamland, on Friday, Aug.
19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m.
ArtSpace, 410 South Maple Ave.,
Falls Church. Tickets are $18 to $20
per show, or $50 for a table for two
with two glasses of wine, and $100
for four and a bottle of wine. Call
703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH
A Broadway powerhouse, the fourfoot-eleven Chenoweth made her

debut nearly two decades ago in
Kander and Ebbs Steel Pier. From
Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown
to Wicked to On the Twentieth
Century, Chenoweths star shines
brightest when shes on stage. But
shes a nimble performer whose
career has successfully traversed
every medium, including TV and
film. Her favorite, however, is performing concerts. I like concert
work, because I love the aspect of a
live audience and I get to sing songs
that maybe I wouldnt normally
get to do, Chenoweth told Metro
Weekly last year when she appeared
at Wolf Trap for the first time. She
returns Sunday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m.
The Filene Center at Wolf Trap,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$25 to $65. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARTS

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SERIES
Free concerts featuring locally and

nationally recognized musicians are
on tap every Friday through Labor
Day amidst the gallerys collection
of large-scale sculptural works.
Next performances in the series
are: D.C.s 10-piece salsa band Sin
Miedo on Friday, Aug. 12, and rock,
blues and old-school R&B from
Moonshine Society on Friday, Aug.

19, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. National
Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden,
between 7th and 9th Streets NW.
Call 202-289-3360 or visit nga.gov.
O.A.R.
Founded two decades ago in

Rockville, Of A Revolution, or
O.A.R., continues to stir up audiences in its home metropolitan
area as well as around the country. Singer/guitarist Marc Roberge,
drummer Chris Culos, guitarist
Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman
and saxophonist/guitarist Jerry
DePizzo perform alt-rock tunes
in a Hometown Hero show at
Merriweather, with Takoma Parknative Eric Hutchinson as one opening act. Saturday, Aug. 13. Doors at 5
p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion,
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway,
Columbia, Md. Tickets are $44.75 to
$59.75. Call 800-551-SEAT or visit
merriweathermusic.com.
PRINZE GEORGE
Vocalist Naomi Almquist might

put you in mind of Lana Del Rey
or Lizzy Plapinger, lead singer of
the great moody New York synthpop duo Ms Mr, whose vibe and
sound Prinze George channels
very effectively. The increasingly
buzzed-about band, also featuring
instrumentalist Kenny Grimm and
drummer Isabelle De Leon, returns
to their hometown for a concert
held on the eve of Rock and Roll
Hotels week-long 10th Anniversary
celebration. The show is in support of their just-released stunning
debut album, Illiterate Synth Pop.
Saturday, Aug. 20. Doors at 7 p.m.
Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE.
Tickets are $12 in advance, or $14
on the day. Call 202-388-ROCK or
visit rockandrollhoteldc.com.
THE BANGLES
The Bangles are decidedly not on

a Farewell Tour. Although silent
the last decade of the 20th century,
Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson and
former fill-in Go-Gos member Vicki
Peterson have been a going entity
for almost two decades now. The
original trio walks like Egyptians
to D.C.s most celebrated concert
17
Decked out in hip-hop attire and

set against ornate decorative backgrounds evoking earlier ostentatious eras and cultures, Wileys
work raises questions about race,
gender and the politics of representation specifically drawing
attention to the absence of African
Americans from historical and cultural narratives. Now through Sept.
5. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,
200 North Boulevard. Richmond,
Va. Call 804-340-1400 or visit vmfa.
state.va.us.
LAURA BERMAN: EBB AND FLOW
JIM SAAH
Inspired by the vast landscape of

nothingness that is the very middle of Kansas, the prints in this
series reflect the slow and dramatic connections between enormous
spaces on and beyond our earth.
Everything is related and nothing is
identical in these coalescing prints
of patterns and bold colors, also
informed by the artists hometown
of Barcelona, Spain. Closes Sunday,
Aug. 14. Long View Gallery, 1234
9th St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or
visit longviewgallery.com.
UKE FEST 2016
Grammy Award-winning folk musicians Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, partners in music and
life, present their eighth annual festival at Strathmore featuring several events all devoted to that
signature Hawaiian instrument the ukulele. The festival includes: a Uke and Guitar Summit
for established or aspiring string musicians, featuring jam sessions, concerts and music workshops, on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m.; and the free capstone event, the Uke Fest, featuring performances by Fink and Marxer, Tobia Elof, Jeff Peterson and the Strathmore Ukulele Orchestra,
on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. No tickets
required for UkeFest, the Summit costs $400. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
venue next weekend. Sunday, Aug.

21. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V
St. NW. Tickets are $35. Call 202265-0930 or visit 930.com.
WHITE FORD BRONCO
D.C.s all 90s party band, cheekily named after O.J. Simpsons
notorious failed getaway car, sings
through that decades songbook
in all styles of popular music. The
five-member ensemble consists of
singer/guitarist Diego Valencia,
singer Gretchen Gustafson, guitarists Ken Sigmund and McNasty, and
drummer Max Shapiro. Saturday,
Aug. 20. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club,
815 V St. NW. Tickets are $22. Call
202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
DANCE
S.J. EWING & DANCERS
CityDance Ignite Artist leads her

company in a premiere of Analog,
a visually stunning, interactive
performance of dance and computer-generated projections. Saturday,
Aug. 13, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug.
14, at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th
St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance or
$15 with discount code CityDance;
$30 at the door. Call 202-269-1600
or visit danceplace.org.
18
READINGS
MARK SCHAPIRO
Washingtons newest independent

bookstore welcomes this veteran
discussing and signing Authorized
Departure: Letters from Iraq, 20042010. The memoir of the Iraq War
follows Mark Schapiros story as
told through his emails sent home.
Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. East
City Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania
Ave. SE. Call 202-290-1636 or visit
eastcitybookshop.com.
EXHIBITS
AMENDING AMERICA
Featuring more than 50 original documents from the National Archives,

this exhibit highlights the remarkably American story of how we have
amended, or attempted to amend,
the Constitution in order to form a
more perfect union. Of course it all
started 225 years ago when the Bill
of Rights was ratified, addressing
some of the most pressing issues
of the day that are still very much
timely. Since then, there have been
11,000 proposed amendments
but only 17 ratified. Through Sept.
4. Lawrence F. OBrien Gallery of
the National Archives Museum,

Constitution Avenue at 9th Street
NW. NW. Call 202-357-5000 or visit
archives.gov/nae.
CONNECTIONS:
CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
AT THE RENWICK
New acquisitions made during the

Renwick Gallerys renovation are
now on display along with iconic
favorites in the permanent collection. More than 80 objects are featured as part of a dynamic presentation celebrating craft as a discipline
and an approach to living differently in the modern world. Ongoing.
Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania
Avenue at 17th Street NW. Fr. Call
202-633-1000 or visit renwick.
americanart.si.edu.
KEHINDE WILEY:
A NEW REPUBLIC
Nearly 60 paintings and sculptures

comprise this stunning retrospective organized by the Brooklyn
Museum. As seen in the background
on Foxs Empire, gay AfricanAmerican artist Kehinde Wiley is
known for appropriating the format of specific paintings by masters
such as Titian and Edouard Manet,
but replacing European aristocrats
with contemporary black subjects.
ETC.
BOUDOIR BURLESQUE: SECOND
SUNDAY SPEAKEASY
Blanche Boudoir, Dainty Dandridge

and Miss Fanny Tittinton are
the core performers at this new
monthly classic burlesque show
at the legendary Mr. Henrys on
Capitol Hill. Also on tap for the
latest Second Sunday Speakeasy
is Valarie Morgalis as the burly
pick-up artist, sassy Barenaked
Comedy founder Mindi Mimosa as
the host, and Philanthrotease producer Isabelle Epoque as special
guest. Sunday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Henrys, 601 Pennsylvania Ave.
SE. Tickets are $12 in advance or
$15 at the door. Call 202-546-8412
or visit mrhenrysdc.com.
LA-TI-DO
Regie Cabico and Don Mike

Mendozas La-Ti-Do variety show
features higher-quality singing
than most karaoke, often from local
musical theater actors performing
on their night off, but also includes
spoken-word poetry and comedy.
Held at Bistro Bistro in Dupont
Circle, Mendoza co-hosts with Anya
Randall Nebel shows in August
featuring Eben K. Logan, who was
a knockout as Whatsername in
Keegan Theatres American Idiot.
The next show also spotlights
Farrell Parker as well as guest performers Tendo Nsubuga, Taylor
Rieland, Christopher Richardson
and Kylie Smith, with accompanist Paige Rammelkamp. Monday,
Aug. 15, at 8 p.m. Bistro Bistro, 1727
Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are
$15, or $10 if you eat dinner at the
restaurant beforehand. Call 202328-1640 or visit latidodc.wix.com/
latido. l
JOHN RILEY
theFeed
Protesters at the Tuesday, August 2 rally
GLOCK BLOCKERS
Gays Against Guns launches its first D.C. protest. By John Riley
T WAS THE MASSACRE AT ORLANDOS PULSE NIGHTCLUB THAT

finally prompted Abraham Ruiz to start pushing for gun reform.
I took it very personally, the 31-year-old D.C. resident says of the shooting
that killed 49 people, most of whom were from the Latino community. Im a gay
Latino. Most of the people who died in Orlando were Latino. I think its time to give
them a voice, because they didnt have a chance.
Last week, Ruiz and about 20 other protesters stationed themselves outside
the Marriott Wardman Park, where a conference of the National Shooting Sports
Foundation (NSSF) was taking place. Protesters included organizations such as the
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, but the bulk of them were members of a
newly created group: Gays Against Guns.
Clad in trademark spray-painted shirts, Gays Against Guns members held a
20-foot rainbow banner and various signs, with messages reading: Stop Killing Us,
#WeAreOrlando and Glock Blockers. They chanted: No gun reform, no peace! No
common sense, no peace! and How many more have to die? At one point, protesters
sang We Shall Overcome, as someone read aloud the names of the Pulse victims.
Modeled on the same attention-grabbing demonstrations and direct activism
that made ACT UP famous during the AIDS crisis, Gays Against Guns wants to fight
against gun violence and access to assault weapons in the United States by putting
pressure on lawmakers. Chapters have sprouted up in New York, Newark, N.J.,
Orlando, Chicago and Los Angeles, with plans to spread to other cities. The groups
typically stage impromptu demonstrations such as die-ins, where people lay strewn
across the ground to symbolize the victims lost to gun violence.
Michael Adolph, one of the co-founders of the D.C. chapter, says the organization
has already grabbed significant interest. More than 90 people showed up at a planning meeting held at Town Danceboutique last week. For a city like D.C., thats an
impressive turnout.
Theres a hesitancy to do these kinds of things in Washington, he says. I think
its more staid here, and people are used to the [political] process, which doesnt seem
to work on this issue.
The organization plans to hold future events to keep hammering home the
message about gun violence and its impact. Gays Against Guns will have a pres-
ence at the Disarm Hate rally on

Aug. 13, an LGBT-focused project
of the Everytown for Gun Safety
Action Fund, and will likely also
have a monthly protest outside
the Virginia headquarters of the
National Rifle Association (NRA).
Unlike the infamous NRA,
Tuesdays protest was aimed
squarely at a largely unfamiliar
foe: the NSSF. Based in Newtown,
Conn., it is the trade association
for the firearms industry. But
while they present themselves as
advocates for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts, activists say
thats just a front for their real constituency: gun show dealers.
According to government
watchdog site OpenSecrets.org,
the NSSF has given $149,250 to
federal candidates during the 2016
cycle. They include current House
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), former House Speaker John Boehner
(R-Ohio), and Senate Majority
Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). But
handing cash to Republican leaders isnt where the NSSF spends
most of its money.
This year, theyre lower in
donations to candidates, but
theyre actually higher than the
NRA in direct lobbying expenses, explains Phil Attey, one of the
co-founders of the D.C. chapter of
Gays Against Guns.
The NSSF has spent $890,000
19
theFeed
on lobbying in 2016 so far, and spent more than $3.5 million
in 2015. Thats more money spent advocating for guns than
even the National Rifle Association (NRA) often perceived as the face of the pro-gun movement. The NRA gives
far more to candidates ($805,900), but only spent $735,000
in direct lobbying expenses in 2016.
Asked why so few people including several of the protesters are unaware of the NSSFs existence, Attey says:
Its all about branding. They pretend to be this group of
duck and deer hunters that are concerned about the environment and safety, when in fact, they couldnt be further
from that. The members of their organization are gun manufacturing companies, gun dealers, and gun show operators.
The protest also hopes to apply pressure, via negative
publicity, on Marriott International for hosting the NSSF conference. Attey hopes Marriott, which has earned accolades for
its LGBT-friendly employment policies and outreach to the
LGBT community, will act similarly on the issue of gun safety.
We acknowledge that theyre our friends, Attey says,
but to quote Dumbledore, It takes a great deal of courage
to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand
up to your friends.
Attey argues that not only Marriott, but other hotel
chains many of whom tout their inclusiveness and seek
out LGBT consumer dollars could take steps such as
requiring mandatory background checks at any gun shows
held on their premises, or issuing policy statements that call
on lawmakers to ban assault weapons, limit ammunition, or
pass mandatory background checks.
Corporate America can get ahead of Congress and policymakers on this issue, in the same way that they got ahead
of Congress and policymakers on LGBT equality, he adds.
Everyone knows that Marriott is a huge friend of our community, but we need them to stand up for us not just for
our rights as gay people, but for our rights and safety.
Amanda Fore is an LGBT ally and mother. The 50-yearold resident of Chevy Chase has followed several different
gun violence prevention groups since the 2012 shooting at
Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., which claimed
the lives of 20 children and six adults. As a mother, she was
frustrated that politicians refused to take action even after
a school full of children was attacked.
I just learned about what NSSF does, and I think its really important that people know where the money is coming
from, when theyre giving so much to members of Congress,
says Fore. She rejects the argument from gun advocates that
arming people is the best way to protect against mass shootings like the ones at Newtown and Orlando.
I think of my son, and I think of the world hes growing
up in. He was even worried about me coming today, because
he was afraid I might get shot, she says. And this is a
uniquely American problem. We travel overseas all the time,
and I think its just crazy.
While Orlando prompted many in the LGBT community
to focus on the gun reform, the problem of guns, coupled
with anti-LGBT sentiment, is still a dangerous combination.
I think the more we as a society are moving forward
on LGBT rights, the more powerful a voice the community
theFeed
has, she says. So Im here to support that, and also to support reasonable, responsible gun policies.
Thats not to say Gays Against Guns doesnt have its
detractors. At the Marriott protest, one bystander, as he got
into a car, yelled, Pink Pistols, motherfuckers! a reference to a group that encourages LGBT people to protect
themselves by owning a gun. Other advocates have argued
that gun control groups should focus their efforts on preventing gang violence, particularly black-on-black crime
in African-American neighborhoods.
Its something that drives Jerry Higgins crazy.
First of all, no one ever says, Why dont you focus on
white-on-white crime? Eighty-five percent of white people
are killed by other white people, so it seems kind of racist to
me to bring up black-on-black crime. And does somebody
really think that if we contain the guns and control the
problem, that it wont fix the problems in all communities?
Were talking about controlling the flow of all guns,
were talking about controlling how many guns can be
bought at a gun show, Higgins, a 53-year-old African-
American gay man from Washington, adds. Those are the

guns that are being used in the drive-by shootings, and the
gang-related killings, and the black-on-black crime.... Put
away your racist lens, and think about, first, All crime is
bad, whether its black-on-black crime or white-on-white
crime or mass shootings. And second, if we do it right, we
can solve all the problems of gun violence.
Higgins came to the NSSF protest because he couldnt
turn on the TV without seeing or hearing news of another
mass shooting or casualty. While he supports the right to
bear arms for self-defense and hunting purposes, he is skeptical that people need to arm themselves in public places,
particularly those where alcohol may be prevalent, such as
bars or college campuses.
The gun lobby is trying to push us into a Wild West
scenario, where everyone has to have a gun in order to
feel safe, which means no one will feel safe, Higgins says.
Everyone will just be fearful with a gun in their pocket....
I dont see how our streets are safer if everybody has to be
packing a gun. l
POLITICAL PANDERING
Two months after the Pulse shootings, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio address Orlando conference
of anti-LGBT activists. By John Riley
T FIRST GLANCE, A GATHERING OF RELIGIOUS leaders might seem relatively benign. But the
Rediscovering God in America Renewal Project is
no ordinary conference. The two-day event is part of a larger
movement whose aim is to push for policy to promote religious teachings or beliefs. And the guest list includes several
prominent religious or conservative political figures best
known for their opposition to LGBT rights.
A gathering of notable conservatives pushing for political
representation all but requires that there be politicians in
attendance, eager to shake hands and garner votes. And sure
enough, two of the GOPs biggest stars will be not only attending the conference, but speaking as well: Florida Sen. Marco
Rubio and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The conferences setting the Hyatt Regency Orlando
is a short drive from Pulse nightclub, where a mass shooting
killed 49 people, many LGBT, in June. That alone would be
enough to raise eyebrows from the most skeptical political
observer. To add insult to injury, the conference will also
coincide with the two-month anniversary of the shooting,
which both Rubio and Trump have been accused of exploiting for political gain.
It was Rubio who first drew the ire of LGBT and
left-leaning groups when it was announced last week that
he would be speaking at the conference. The Human Rights
Campaign, which criticized Rubio for citing the Pulse
nightclub attack as justification for running for re-election,
denounced him for agreeing to share the stage with some
of the nations most odious anti-equality activists, including
people who support dangerous and harmful conversion
therapy here at home, and are working to export antiLGBTQ hate abroad, JoDee Winterhof, HRCs senior vice
president of policy and political affairs, said in a statement.
22
But Rubio defended the conference, telling the Tampa

Bay Times that the gathering of pastors is a celebration of
faith.
Because I believe that a strong America is not possible
without strong families and strong values, for years now I
have participated in events hosted by faith leaders to speak
about the cultural and social issues before America, including the importance of parents and families, religious liberties and combatting poverty, he said. Rubio also defended
his continued opposition to marriage equality, saying he
supports a traditional view but acknowledges that other
people feel differently.
Trump, either unaware of the fallout surrounding Rubio
or too focused on securing conservative votes to care, was
similarly criticized by LGBT groups when it was announced
this week that he would speak at the conference. According
to the Wall Street Journal, Trump will express support for
repealing a federal regulation that prevents pastors from
openly endorsing political candidates from the pulpit.
Some LGBT activists say Trumps attendance at the
event sends mixed messages about his sincerity when it
comes to LGBT issues. While Trump reached out to gay
voters following the Pulse shooting, he continues to oppose
same-sex marriage and has defended North Carolinas right
to pass its HB 2 law, which among other things restricts
transgender peoples access to public restrooms.
That the GOP standard bearer is choosing to rub shoulders with some of the most extreme anti-gay voices in the
country speaks volumes about the Republican party today,
People for the American Way said in a statement. These are
people who revile gay people, calling them demonic, and
who claim that LGBT rights will lead to the utter destruction of our country. But the GOP presidential candidate
theFeed
seemingly has no qualms about casting his lot with these dangerous anti-gay voices.
Gregory T. Angelo, the president of the Log Cabin
Republicans, took a more measured approach in his response.
To me its all about what is the message that theyre bringing, and I highly doubt, considering their past statements, that
they are going to this event to spout a bunch of hate, Angelo
told the Wall Street Journal. If they are going to take a strong
pivot to a hard socially conservative bent that involves opposition to LGBT equality, then Id be concerned.
Opposition to LGBT equality will be all but unavoidable at
the conference, which includes prominent anti-LGBT activists David Barton, Bill Federer, Ken Graves, Fred Lowery, Bob
McEwen and Mat Staver, the founder of anti-LGBT organization Liberty Counsel. According to People for the American
Ways Right Wing Watch, some of the beliefs propagated by
the speakers run the gamut between simple anti-gay rhetoric
and opposition to advances in LGBT rights, to bizarre conspiracy theories.
Staver, as head of Liberty Counsel, represented Kentucky
Clerk Kim Davis when she was sent to jail, after she refused to
issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He has also represented Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who is accused of
violating judicial ethics by using his position to order probate
judges in the state not to issue same-sex marriage licenses
(something hell go to trial for in September).
His fellow speakers are no better. Barton, a GOP activist,
says that God is preventing a cure for HIV/AIDS from being
found because the disease is punishment for living a sinful
homosexual lifestyle. Graves, a pastor from Maine, has argued
that gay people cannot build happy families because they are
depressed. Federer, a well-known figure in socially conservative circles, believes that advances in LGBT rights are hastening the Islamist takeover of America.
Some conservatives are leaping to Trump and Rubios
defense, with former GOProud co-founder Christopher
Barron criticizing Metro Weekly and other LGBT news outlets
for focusing on Trumps attendance at the conference rather
than the attendance of Seddique Mateen, the father of Pulse
shooter Omar Mateen, at a Hillary Clinton rally in Kissimmee,
Fla., on Monday. But other LGBT groups seem determined
not to let either Rubio or Trump continue to paint themselves
as defenders of the LGBT community against the threat of
radical Islam, while opposing other LGBT equality measures.
Holding this event is an insult to the victims and families
of those innocent people who were murdered barely two
months ago, said Russell Roybal, the deputy executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund. Stirring
up homophobia and Islamophobia is wrong at the best of
times, but to do so when the entire Orlando community is still
grieving...is beyond distasteful.
Trump may have mentioned the LGBT community in
his acceptance speech, which some people interpreted as a
positive signal to our community despite the vehemently
anti-LGBTQ views of his running mate Mike Pence and the
Republican Party platform. But now Donald Trump and
Marco Rubio plan to breathe the oxygen of publicity into an
openly anti-LGBTQ event, joining some of the most notorious
anti-LGBTQ people out there. Havent the people of Orlando
had enough? l
23
OLESIA BILKEI
Community
OUTINGS FOR WOMEN
Women in Their Twenties (and Thirties) hopes to counter the dwindling

number of events geared toward queer women
E NEED MORE QUEER WOMENS EVENTS IN D.C., SAYS SAM WHITE,

coordinator of Women in Their Twenties (and Thirties), a social discussion and
activity group for queer women. Because a lot of queer spaces for women have
deteriorated recently, with Phase One closing and Glitter ending, some of the women decided to branch out on their own and create some new groups to try and make more events.
A part of that push, Whites group meets at The DC Center on the second and fourth
Fridays of each month. At a typical meeting, a volunteer moderator picks a topic, whether
its an issue related to the queer community thats making headlines or life experiences common to queer womens lives. The moderator then helps facilitate discussion among group
members. Following each meeting, participants go to dinner at a local restaurant, with some
opting to visit nightlife spots afterwards.
On months with a fifth Friday, Women in Their Twenties (and Thirties) will arrange a
joint event with Gay District, its male counterpart, says White. Some of those events have
included attending Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Arts Sculpture Garden
or holding a Game Night where they play board and card games.
Women in Their Twenties (and Thirties) also strives to come up with outings for members, using its Facebook page to put together impromptu gatherings ranging from picnics
during the summer months to after-work happy hours. White says there are plans to go
water tubing in the future, and the group hopes to host an outing to Six Flags America in the
spring of 2017. John Riley
Women in Their Twenties (and Thirties) holds its regular meetings at 8 p.m. on the second
and fourth Fridays of each month at The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
THURSDAY, August 11
The DC Center hosts a meeting on SOLUTIONS FOR
WELLNESS PLANNING. 6:307:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Takoma
Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St.
NW. 7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay
and lesbian square-dancing
group features mainstream
through advanced square
dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas
Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual
dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES
Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour
at Sheraton in Reston, 11810
Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
HIV TESTING at WhitmanWalker Health. At the

Elizabeth Taylor Medical
Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr.
Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For
25
an appointment call 202-745-7000.

Visit whitman-walker.org.
FREE HIV TESTING, courtesy of
offers free, rapid HIV testing.

Appointment needed. 1012 14th St.
NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.
Whitman-Walkers mobile testing

unit, will be offered at The DC
Center for the LGBT Community.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, visit thedccenter.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
SUNDAY, August 14
METROHEALTH CENTER
p.m., by appointment and walk-in,

for youth 21 and younger. 202-5673155 or testing@smyal.org.
US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics
Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30

p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The
group is independent of UHU. 202446-1100.
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.
FRIDAY, August 12
GAMMA, a confidential support
group for men who are gay, bisexual, questioning and who are
married or involved with a woman,
meets in Washington on the second
and fourth Fridays of each month.
GAMMA also also offers additional
meetings in Northern Virginia and
Frederick, Md. 7:30-9:30 p.m. St.
Thomas Episcopal Church, 1772
Church St. NW. For more information, visit GAMMAinDC.org.
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP
for adults in Montgomery County

offers a safe space to explore
coming out and issues of identity.
10-11:30 a.m. 16220 S. Frederick
Rd., Suite 512, Gaithersburg, Md.
For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES

(AND THIRTIES), a social discus-
sion and activity group for queer

women, meets at The DC Center
on the second and fourth Fridays of
each month. Group social activity
to follow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m.
more information, visit thedccenter.org.
SATURDAY, August 13
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group
visits Library of Congress to see
exhibition on late 19th century
social reformer and photojournalist
Jacob Riis and his masterpiece,
How The Other Half Lives. Free.
All welcome. Meet at 11 a.m.
past security inside the ground
level entrance of the Jefferson
(Old) Building on First Street
NE, between East Capitol and
Independence Avenue. Lunch in
the neighborhood follows. Craig,
202-462-0535 or craighowell1@
verizon.net.
26
Weekly Events
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive
and radically inclusive church
holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217
Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895,
betheldc.org.
practice session at Hains Point,

972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.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.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

GROUP for gay men living in the
DC metro area. This group will be

meeting once a month. For information 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.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday

School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW.
202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcom-
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. 703-823-4401.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT

COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300

Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers
with at least basic swimming ability
always welcome. Tom, 703-2990504, secretary@wetskins.org,
wetskins.org.
TUESDAY, August 16
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, hosts a monthly roundtable

discussion around issues of bisexuality. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center hosts a meeting of
its TRANS DISCUSSION GROUP
for transgender people and those
who identify outside of the gender
binary. 7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing,
9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

appointment). 202-291-4707,
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
for youth 21 and younger. Youth

Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-5673155, testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ

YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at
SMYAL, 410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m.

Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, 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 Healths GAY

MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/
STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701
14th St. NW. Patients are seen on

walk-in basis. No-cost screening
for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and
chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes
testing available for fee. whitman-walker.org.
WEDNESDAY, August 17
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discusses
selections from Our Caribbean,
edited by Thomas Glave. All are
welcome. 7:30-8:30 p.m. The DC
Center. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit
bookmendc.blogspot.com.
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB will meet for Social
Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center
721 8th St., S.E. (across from
Marine Barracks). No reservation
and partner needed. Call 301-3451571 if you need a partner.
WOMAN TO WOMAN: A
SUPPORT GROUP FOR HIVPOSITIVE WOMEN WHO LOVE
WOMEN, meets on the third
Wednesday of each month at The

Womens Collective. Light refreshments served. 5:30-7 p.m. 1331
Rhode Island Ave. NE. For more
information, 202-483-7003.
ing-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia
Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444
Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly
dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle

area, 6:30 p.m. afwash@aol.com,
afwashington.net.
Weekly Events
MONDAY, August 15
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
THE GAY MENS HEALTH

COLLABORATIVE offers free
JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job entrants and seekers,
meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30 p.m.
more info, www.centercareers.org.
CENTER FAITH, a program of The
DC Center, hosts a meeting for the

LGBT community and their religious allies. 7:30-9 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
practice session at Hains Point,

927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
walking/social club serving greater D.C.s LGBT community and

allies hosts an evening run/walk.
dcfrontrunners.org.
HIV testing and STI screening

and treatment every Tuesday.
5-6:30 p.m. Rainbow Tuesday
LGBT Clinic, Alexandria Health
Department, 4480 King St. 703746-4986 or text 571-214-9617.
james.leslie@inova.org.
versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,

Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of

THE DC CENTER hosts Packing
for mature gay men, hosts weekly

happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl,
703-573-8316.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
Submit your community event for

consideration at least 10 days prior
to the Thursday publication you
would like it to appear. Email to calendar@metroweekly.com. l
Party, where volunteers assemble

safe-sex kits of condoms and lube.
7 p.m., Green Lantern, 1335 Green
Court NW. thedccenter.org.
p.m., by appointment and walk-in,
Survival Ins
Naked, hungry, and stalked by wild animals m

everyones ideal way to spend 40 days. But for
stars of Naked and Afraid XL, its what keeps lif
Interview by Randy Shulman Photography by Todd Franson
28
stinct
may not sound like

r Jake Nodar, one of the
fe interesting.
Spoiler alert: Jake Nodar lives.

The 62 Maryland native did not get devoured by a leopard. He
did not get poisoned by a scorpion though he did get stung. He
was not felled by toxic bacteria consumed from a rank, excrement-filled watering hole.
We still dont know, however, if Nodar makes it to Day 40,
the proverbial finish line on Naked and Afraid XL, in which 12
people are literally plopped into the wilds of South Africa without clothing or shelter and forced to contend with the elements,
hunger, and the very real threat of wild animals on the prowl for
over a month. The special eight-episode show, currently airing
on Discovery, is a spin-off of the cable networks popular Naked
and Afraid, in which two people, a man and a woman, brave similar situations for 21 days. Nodar was part of that show as well,
and his resourcefulness (plus his TV-ready good looks) made
him an ideal candidate for XL.
So much of survival is being able to adapt to your environment and your surroundings, he says during a two-and-a-half
hour interview at the horse farm he resides on in Potomac,
Maryland. There are people that live like we do in the show,
that if you put them in the city, would struggle just as much
learning how to adapt and adjust. You have to reset everything
that you know and relearn everything.
The 38-year-old horse trainer last appeared on the cover of
this magazine in May, 2009, just after returning from his first
reality TV series, Out of the Wild, in which a group of survivalists
were left in central Alaska, the endgame being to find their way
out. At the time, he was the first openly gay man to be featured
on a Discovery Channel show. And while being gay didnt really
do Nodar much good in the wilds of South Africa, he feels a difficult coming out process in a deeply religious, somewhat hostile
environment gave him the inner-strength to survive in stressful
situations.
That whole struggle without question is one of the reasons
I can go into these challenges and have the mental strength
that I do, he says. That whole year of my life pushing through
things that I didnt think I was going to be able to push through
completely changed me for the better and made these type of
challenges I dont want to say easy, but it put everything in
perspective.
Being naked wasnt an issue for Nodar, though the show
reminded him that naked women still make me as uncomfortable as they did back when I was in my late teens. Being afraid,
however, was a completely different story.
The sounds at night were absolutely horrifying, he says
with a visible shudder. It was nonstop the second the sun went
down hyenas, lions, leopards. Zebras make a very bizarre
sound. It goes on throughout the entire night. It was definitely
hard to sleep through that. But as time went on, we grew accustomed to it.
To protect themselves, the contestants had to build a perimeter around their camp. Its made out of acacia trees and thorn
bushes. Its about eight feet tall, eight feet wide. That, in theory,
is suppose to keep the animals out. He laughs. Chopping down
acacia trees naked is not fun. That was a miserable job. Youre
just getting cut up like crazy with all the thorns, but thats pretty
much the only thing thats going to keep a lion out.
Even during the daylight hours, when a full production crew
was capturing their every move, Nodar never quite felt at ease.
If youve got a lion or something stalking you, theyre going
to be on you in seconds, he says. Theres nothing that someAUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY
29
basically told, Find your way back to civilization. I loved that

experience. I was out there with some incredible people. Theres
no prize money. The only reason were doing this is for personal
satisfaction, which I love, because it takes out a lot of the backstabbing, unnecessary drama.
MW: No prize money? Did you get paid at all?
METRO WEEKLY: It takes a special personality to want to be on NODAR: There was a very small stipend given.
television in a reality-type format. It also takes a special kind of MW: How difficult was that show compared to something like
person to want to put themselves in situations where they are in Naked and Afraid XL?
such obvious peril. What is it about you that draws you to doing a NODAR: Theres pros and cons to both. In Alaska, we had clothes,
which was nice. We had guns, which makes hunting a little bit
show like Naked And Afraid XL?
JAKE NODAR: Ive loved going on adventures for years, even easier.
before I started doing TV stuff. I like pushing myself. I like being MW: A lot easier.
outside of my comfort zone. Its definitely a little bit crazy, but I NODAR: Youre in an area where animals are not used to peofeel like it keeps life interesting for me.
ple, so things are still running from you. But the odds of hitting
MW: Do you need survival skills to even be considered for a show something with a bullet versus chucking a little wooden pole
is a little bit more likely. We were also dealing with snow and
like this?
NODAR: You do have to have some set of skills. Theyre genuinely below-freezing temperatures. With XL it was 110, 120 degrees.
concerned during the casting process because they know youre Crazy heat. The one thing that was really nice about XL was
going into a pretty serious situation. They dont want to put you knew when the last day was. In Alaska, we didnt have a last
day. It could have been two weeks later.
It could have been three weeks. You just
are always guessing. We had no way of
knowing how it was going to end or when
it was going to end. With XL you could go,
Okay, Ive got 30 more days. Ive got 20
more days.
MW: What came after Wild?
NODAR: I did a jousting show. It was a
When I would do my business, I would douche.
series called Full Metal Jousting on the
A little bit of hygiene goes a long way.
History Channel. Eighty-five pounds of
armor, two-thousand pound horses, and
eleven-foot solid wood poles. We would
somebody out there thats going to have no chance at all.
just beat the shit out of each other.
MW: The men on the show, and even some of the women, all tout MW: Wow.
their hunting skills.
NODAR: Yeah. Great times. The production company that did
NODAR: Everybody says theyre an amazing hunter. I feel like, as the Alaska show was doing this one, and they knew that I had
a man, you have to say that. Its comical at times. Theres some horseback-riding experience. Figured what the hell, why not? I
people who are amazing hunters, and then theres others who was the token gay. Every three days we would compete in a joust
claim to be. You look at all their social media and everything and youd pick one person from each team to go against each
else, and theres no sign of any real hunting. Maybe posing with other. The first time, they put me against a guy with eleven years
a stuffed deer head on the wall is the extent of proof that theyve jousting experience just to knock me out. I knocked him hard off
actually hunted before.
his horse and I was on target they wear a small target on their
MW: Theres a telling scene in one episode where three guys are breastplate, and if you hit it, you get 10 points. I think everybody
hunting a huge warthog. They throw a spear at it and it just bounc- was shocked that I was able to do some serious damage. I ended
es off it. It made me think back to prehistoric man. How the hell did up making it to the semifinals and then had my ass handed to me.
they ever catch anything to eat?
I got knocked off my horse twice, really hard.
NODAR: Thats why they were all so thin. I have a great appre- MW: What does that feel like, to be knocked off a horse?
ciation for all those Neanderthals now, because its no joke. NODAR: It feels like if somebody put you in a metal trashcan
Granted, they grew up with that. Were out there figuring it out. and threw you down a flight of steps. Dont think Ill be jousting
Even the people that do have a lot of hunting skills, most of them again.
do not have experience with primitive hunting. The animals MW: So then, Naked and Afraid?
arent used to people, so theyre on heightened alert all the time. NODAR: Yeah. A friend of mine, her boyfriend, was asked to do
You breathe heavy, and the herds off and running. Its very it. He just wasnt in a position where he could get off work. They
tough. Its definitely a test of patience. You can sit in a hunting asked him if he knew anybody outdoorsy and crazy enough to
blind for ten hours straight. And we dont want to just injure an want to do this. He immediately thought of me. Went through
animal and having it running off. Its a matter of waiting for that casting. They asked for a videotape.
perfect opportunity. Theres days thatll go by where you dont MW: Did you get naked for the audition tape?
even get a single shot.
NODAR: In it, I was just wearing a bathrobe. I dropped it and I
MW: It was different in your first show, Out of the Wild. Remind was just wearing a tube sock. That definitely got their attention.
Went out to LA for interviews and the psych test and evaluation.
us how that worked?
NODAR: Nine of us were dropped into the interior of Alaska, They ask to see you in your underwear. Of course, I found the
given some basic survival tools and segments of maps, and smallest pair possible. When I stripped down, my testicles fell
bodys going to be able to do. You just have to be really cautious
the whole time. It is just non-stop scanning the horizon, constantly being on the lookout.
He grins. I never took a comfortable poop the whole time I
was there.
I did not want to have

blurry ass, and people be like,
Oh, look, hes got poo blur.
30
31
out the side of them. It happened very quickly after that.

MW: How did it feel to be chosen?
NODAR: I wasnt surprised. I feel like I offer something special.
[Laughs.] Im going to sound like a cocky dick.
MW: Well, youre confident.
NODAR: I am. Im confident in my skill set. Being out there, I
knew that I was capable of doing it. Having done these two series
prior, Im very comfortable in front of the camera. I have a sense
for what they want and what theyre looking for. Im much more
comfortable now letting my freak flag fly.
MW: In the first one, you were in the Amazon and you had a partner.
NODAR: In the twenty-one day challenge, theres always one
guy and one girl. I helped her out quite a bit. She was in over
her head, I think. Skilled outdoorswoman. On paper, it seemed
like we were going to be very compatible. After day one, you
could see she was a little overwhelmed with the seriousness of
the situation. After seven days of crying and negative outlook on
everything, I raised a little bit of hell and basically said, Youve
got to shit or get off the pot. Im happy to do all the work. I just
need a positive attitude. Its hard enough to try to keep yourself
upbeat and positive alone in that situation, but having somebody
constantly bring up how terrible the situation is over and over
again wears on you.
She really turned around. We got through the challenge
together, and built a raft, and ended up paddling out of the
swamps out into the Amazon River. Theres an extraction point
that you have to get to, to complete the challenge.
MW: Do you win something for that?
NODAR: No. Its another one where you just go and torture yourself because you want to. One of these times Im going to start
32
thinking about doing a show where you win a challenge.
MW: Being naked leaves you tremendously vulnerable to the ele-
ments.
NODAR: To everything. Thorns, insects. When youre laying in

that shelter at night, thats when it was the most apparent. Even
having a sheet over you or something that simple makes you
feel covered and protected. You have nothing. Youve got bugs
crawling all over you. Its amazing what a simple pair of clothes
will do for you.
MW: Does it make you appreciate the creature comforts more after
youve gone through something like that?
NODAR: I have never been so happy to see toilet paper in my life
when I get home. Theres so much we do take for granted. Just
the fact that we can turn on the faucet and crank the A.C. After
being in that situation, everything seems amazing.
MW: There are people in this world who live in similar conditions.
This is their way of life.
NODAR: For sure. We brought it up several times in Africa as we
were sitting there bitching about the heat and the lack of food.
Theres a lot of people that live in worse conditions than what
we had. Were in a location where at least theres an opportunity
to find water.
MW: XL is unlike Survivor in the sense that theres no scheming
or backstabbing. Instead, its about trying to come together, to
forge a team. The show is actually extolling, as I see it, the positive
elements of humanity rather than looking for the worst in people.
Thats whats really interesting.
NODAR: People have asked me why I dont do Survivor. I couldnt
do that. I couldnt invest that much effort into the backstabbing
stuff that goes on with that. With XL, youve all got the same
goal in mind. Youre all pushing for each other. That said, youre
out there with a lot of big personalities. In XL, theres six girls NODAR: A mixture of how burning hair smells with charcoal. We
and six guys out there. Youre going to butt heads. But its not also cooked the hell out of them to just make sure we werent
backstabbing.
going to die.
MW: Part of thats because there is no prize money, presumably. It
When you go hunting for them, you take a long piece of grass
seems one of the purest forms of competition.
and just go around the outside of their hole. They come lunging
NODAR: Yeah, you start forming these bonds the minute you get out. Theyll actually stand up on their hind legs and jump at you.
out there. It gets to the point over a short period of time where It was a little adrenaline rush. They dont show the hunt. They
theyre family. Youre fighting for each other to stick around and just show us eating it, I think on the last day.
make sure everybodys fed. Theres an amazing sense of unity MW: They dont want to show you actually hurting animals?
and everybody pushing for each other. Weve all got various NODAR: I think it was more technical reasons than anything.
They dont seem to shy away from that too much, especially if
reasons for being out there, but the same goal.
MW: If you get sick during one of these shows, are they liable or do its an ugly, unattractive animal. I think they have a harder time
you sign a waiver?
with the really cute ones. But killing ugly animals is strongly
NODAR: You sign your life away. Youre covered for a certain encouraged. Youre welcome, PETA. [Laughs.]
amount of days after you return
to the States with their insurance.
MW: Do you know how much you
Youd be laying in your shelter, and youd just
were insured for?
be seeing ticks climbing all over the place.
NODAR: [Laughs.] I have no idea,
no. Hopefully a lot.
MW: Something viewers perhaps
dont think about you have to
perform. Youre not really being
yourself. Youre performing with
other people, for other people. It
doesnt make good television if you
just sit like a lump and do nothing.
NODAR: The thing with this kind of show is that you cant do MW: Weve all been on camping trips. We usually bring a roll of
nothing anyway. If youre not up working, youre not going to be toilet paper. But you have no pleasantries of keeping yourself fresh.
successful. You have to keep pushing yourself. In Africa, we had NODAR: I took it very seriously. I had seen in past episodes when
to feed the fire all night long to keep the predators away. Youre people get the bigger blur on their backside. I was worried that
just going, going, going. Theres never any real downtime.
was because people were not really wiping properly, or using a
But every time Ive done one of these shows, I come back and wet leaf or something.
am always in a little bit of a funk, because you go from being on MW: So thats why theres sometimes a bigger blur back there.
and having camera crews and everything 24/7, and then youre NODAR: Yes. I was very concerned. I did not want to have blurry
back home and its just theres something very weird about it. ass, and people be like, Oh, look, hes got poo blur. When I
MW: Do you ever find yourself talking to pretend camera crews?
would do my business, I would douche my ass with the water
NODAR: I live like a hermit anyway. I will walk around the farm to make sure I was not going to get butt blur. It was a whole
and Ill see deer and I will actually say, Hey, deer, which is process that makes you feel human. A little bit of hygiene goes
embarrassing when you do have guests over and you continue to a long way.
talk to the animals.
MW: The straight boys all have huge butt blur.
MW: When they called you to do XL, you didnt hesitate?
NODAR: Exactly. Me, on the other hand my butts showing.
NODAR: No, I did not hesitate at all. The main reason for that was MW: Its interesting that they dont address the bathroom situathe Amazon had very little options in the way of hunting.
tion.
MW: What did you eat in the Amazon? Fish?
NODAR: Actually, when they do the [after show] bare-all epiNODAR: We lived primarily off heart of palm, which, side note, sode, they talk about that. They had a segment with me talking
will make you very constipated if you eat too much of it. It about pooping out my baby seal. They dont usually show it in
was probably the worst pain of my life. I had to hang from tree the regular episodes, but everybody wants to know that. They
branches. I just screamed at the top of my lungs, and I forced also want to know what the girls do when they get their periods.
out a football. But we would keep eating it because we were so MW: I hadnt even thought about that.
hungry. Granted, our other foods were grubs and things like that, NODAR: That was when I wanted to tap out. I was like, Holy
so it tasted amazing in comparison. We had next-to-no protein. Moses. When groups of girls are together, they all cycle togethI would go hunting every day and never see any signs of animals. er. It was like a Christmas miracle. I was like, Im going to start
Then I went on a tarantula hunt so we could at least have some bleeding if this keeps up. It was traumatic.
protein.
MW: How do they deal with that?
MW: Is that even edible?
NODAR: They are allowed tampons. Production will give them
NODAR: You take their fangs off.
when needed, because it is a danger with predators that are
MW: Ouch. Because, you know.
attracted to blood. On night three in South Africa, we had a
NODAR: Yeah, thats just bad news. Then chop off the lower parts leopard charge our perimeter. We cant have a bunch of bleeders
of their legs, but the rest is edible.
in there.
MW: How do you get the hair off?
MW: What is it like to stumble upon another human being and
NODAR: You dont.
youre naked, theyre naked, everyones guard is down? Were
MW: What do they taste like?
judged so quickly by how we look. Does that come into play?
I would have to pull a handful

of ticks off my junk every
single day.
33
NODAR: It doesnt really. I think the greater things are sizing the
person up as far as their skills and things like that than any type
of physical appearance. Part of that is physical, because if you
have somebody thats huge, you know that theyre not going to
be sprinting away from leopards any time soon. But no, its weird
how normal it was.
MW: Is the penis the first thing you look at on another male contestant?
NODAR: Just want to make sure that mines bigger, yes. [Laughs.]
No, I make an effort to look at the eyes first and then drop the
They will hang out on stalks of grass and things, so when youre
walking to get water or whatever, as soon as they feel something
brush up against them, they just latch on. Youll have ten, twenty
of them climbing up your leg in no time.
Youd be laying in your shelter, and youd just be seeing them
climbing all over the place and on the ground. It was gross. I
would wake up every morning, and for whatever reason, they
loved my genitals. I would pull a handful of ticks off my junk
every single day.
MW: They liked your penis.
NODAR: They loved it. Can you blame
them? I must have pulled off at least 300
over the course of my time there.
You start forming these bonds the minute you
MW: You have to be careful about removing
get out there. Youre fighting for each other to
a tick.
NODAR: The one upside to these ticks, for
stick around and make sure everybodys fed.
the most part, they pulled out a lot easier
than the ticks we have here in the States.
Silver lining.
MW: Tell me, what does it feel like to starve?
NODAR: Its terrible. The initial stomach
growling hunger pains go away, and then it
feels like you just finished running a marahead slowly. Then you glance at the wiener. Thats Naked and thon you are completely depleted of any energy. You can actuAfraid etiquette.
ally feel your mind slowing. It is amazing how much just a small
MW: Did you win the size competition?
amount of protein helps. I ate rancid meat it was just terrible,
NODAR: Youre going to have to ask the girls about that, but but I ate it. I hate fish, and I loved it there. I mean I was eating
somebody did promise me a penis-shaped trophy. I felt happy fish eyeballs. I would fry up the skin. I would eat the spine. I ate
about that. There might not be a prize at the end, but theres a everything, and I loved the hell out of it. I ate scorpion.
wiener-shaped trophy. Dreams do come true.
MW: Does an experience like this cause you to reflect on those who
confront starvation on a daily basis?
MW: Any unwanted erections?
NODAR: The thing of it is, by day four or five, youre already NODAR: Yeah, we actually talked about it while out there. Again,
starting to feel the effects of starvation. Sex drive goes out the its a different thing because we know that its just a challenge.
window really quickly. There was a few times that I woke up late You think about the people out there that this is life for them,
night, early morning to feed the fire, and I was very aware that and it sucks because after a couple days, you feel how much it
it was just pointing straight out. Everybodys asleep. I was like, affects you. Just getting up off the ground, little things that Id
If they wake up right now, theyre going to think Im a perv, never think about taking so much energy, absolutely exhaust
but my only option is to tuck it between my legs, and thats even you. Its tough to think about the people for whom thats it
weirder. So I just let it be.
they dont get to day forty and get to eat a big steak. They just
MW: Do you think that the show helps with the idea of positive have to keep trucking with whatever they can get.
body image?
MW: Does it arouse any activism in you?
NODAR: I do think its helpful. One of the great things about the NODAR: Not enough. I think so much of my focus has been on the
show is that its not people that are just trying to get on TV. Its gay issues that I probably havent really put enough thought into
regular people that are either into survival or love the outdoors the people that are living in those situations, people that would
or something like that. They just want the opportunity to chal- have thought my first watering hole [on XL, which was filled
lenge themselves. You get people from all walks of life, all body with animal excrement] was a freaking oasis.
shapes. Not everybody has a six-pack and perfect teeth and MW: Would you go through it again?
perfect hair and all that stuff. Its a great mix. I think its great NODAR: I feel like my mom would kill me if I decided to do
something like that again, but Im a sucker for it. Its just such
for people to see.
MW: Does the experience give you a newfound respect for animals? an incredible challenge. I do feel like I come back with a greater
NODAR: Ive always had a lot of respect just working with ani- appreciation for life. I am so much more grateful for everything
mals on a regular basis, but I think the bigger thing is just, espe- I have. I do feel like I grow from each one of these experiences.
cially when you dont have any weapons or anything like that, It would probably be incredibly dumb for me to do another one.
you really arent shit out there. Theres so many animals that can But I would do it in a heartbeat.
take you out in no time. Youre just kind of one of them out there. MW: If forced to, could you live like you did on XL for the rest of
Its pretty wild.
your life?
MW: Lets talk about ticks.
NODAR: I would rather die, but yeah, I honestly think that I
NODAR: Lets talk about ticks.
could. But then, how would anybody know what Im doing if I
MW: They keep cutting to a shot of throngs of them. A big problem didnt have Facebook? l
out there?
NODAR: Just always working out in pastures, Im used to check- New episodes of Naked and Afraid XL air Sundays at 10 p.m.
ing myself regularly for ticks its something I do out of habit, on The Discovery Channel. Catch up with past episodes at
but nothing could have prepared me for the ticks in Africa. discovery.com.
Theres an amazing
sense of unity.
34
Gallery
Alfredo Ratinoff
Clockwise from top left: The Universe - 24 x 36 - stoneware clay, fused glass, and glazes, Agnes of
the White Gloves - 16 tall - clay and glazes, Night Muse - 18 round - underglaze and sgraffitoed glaze,
Apothecary of the Elixirs - 18 round - clay assemblage and glazes
Alfredo specializes in one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces, large scale tile murals, stained glass,
mosaics and copper enamels.
www.alfredoratinoff.com
35
Games
The One
Microsofts updated Xbox One S is what the console always

should have been By Rhuaridh Marr
INALLY, MICROSOFTS CONSOLE IS WHAT IT ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE

been. After three years of memes, jokes, unflattering comparisons and a host
of other less than positive commentary, the bulky, bloated Xbox One has given
way to a new, sleeker option: the Xbox One S. More than just the typical Slim update
gamers are accustomed to, the One S is a complete reimagining of what the One should
have been and what gamers always wanted it to be.
But it also represents something of a dilemma. For those who dropped $499 on their
Xbox One a few years ago, is this new console worth it? And, given we know there is
a much more powerful console dubbed Project Scorpio launching at the end of
2017, is there any point jumping on the One S bandwagon now? Theres no definitive
answer to either of those questions, but whats immediately apparent is that the Xbox
One S is a great update to Microsofts gaming machine.
The most obvious change is the One Ss exterior overhaul. After Microsoft seemingly modeled the original One on home theater set-ups from the 80s, the One S takes its
cues both from its main rival, Sonys PS4, and from the fact that not everyone has room
around their TV for a giant, slab-sided box. The official figure is forty percent smaller,
but in hand and on a TV stand, the One S looks tiny in comparison to its older sibling.
With its matte aesthetic and stark white color, its clear Microsoft wanted to put as
much space as possible between the old and new consoles.
There are numerous updates to the original design, not least that matte finish, which
wont scratch at the slightest hint of a foreign object like the original One. Gone, too,
are the capacitive buttons from the One, which anyone with a pet can attest to being
nothing more than hyper-sensitive nuisances. In their place are good, old-fashioned
clickable buttons. The USB port placement has also improved, with the side port on the
original moved to the front, along with the sync button for the new controller (more on
that later). Gamers wont have to worry about the Xboxs infamous power brick stealing yet more space, as Microsoft has finally followed in Sonys footsteps and integrated
36
it into the console itself. Speaking of the

PS4, the One S is much closer in size. Its
slightly taller, slightly wider, but doesnt
reach quite as far back as the surprisingly
deep PS4. Whats more, unlike the original
One, the One S can be stood vertically
and unlike Sony, Microsoft includes the
stand in the box. Its a nice touch, given
the tendency to nickel-and-dime gamers
these days. Similarly, for anyone still using
a Kinect youll now need an adapter, as
the dedicated port was lost in the One Ss
downsizing, but Microsoft will ship one
out for free (for a limited time).
The console itself isnt the only
thing redesigned, however. The Xboxs
excellent controller has also been overhauled, gaining grippier thumbsticks,
a dedicated headphone jack, Bluetooth
connectivity, and more textured handgrips. Unfortunately, it feels a little cheap,
especially when compared with the Ones
smoother controller and the PS4s textured effect. Its something that also conveys to the One S itself matte plastic may
wear better, but it doesnt exactly convey
all of the almost four hundred dollars
youll be spending on the console. Plastics
aside, the decision to ditch the original
controllers WiFi connection for Bluetooth
has vastly improved reliability audio
stutters when directing sound through
the Ones controller are far less frequent
on the One S, while the controller has yet
to randomly disconnect, a problem that
plagued my Xbox One.
Where the Xbox One really differs
over previous console generations is
inside. Unlike the thinner updates to the
PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, Microsoft hasnt
just made the One S more power efficient
(they have, to the tune of at least 25 percent, according to some tests), theyve also
made it more powerful and more capable.
The GPU, long a sore point for Xbox fans
after it transpired the PS4 could maintain higher resolutions and framerates, has
been overclocked by about seven percent.
While that doesnt sound like a great deal,
in reality it makes a notable difference.
In particular, it was essential in
enabling the One S to output 4K video
and support High Dynamic Range (HDR)
content. Whereas the PS4 and original
One are limited to 1080p, the One S can
upscale games to 4K and output 4K content natively from streaming services such
as Netflix and Amazon, and from 4K Blurays. No, there wont be any 4K games
(youll have to wait for Project Scorpio
for that), but for anyone with a newer 4K
television, theres a definite benefit to the
One S. The new console also helps those
confused as to what technologies their TV supports a simple

list shows everything your TV is capable of, and the HDMI
cable that comes bundled with the One S supports everything
the console can.
HDR is something that games on the One S will benefit from,
promising deeper contrast and richer colors but the number
of TVs that actually support HDR is pretty low. There are also
no games currently out that support the technology, and Netflix
has only recently started to roll out HDR-enabled content. As
such, its going to be a while before the true benefits of HDR can
be appreciated.
What is appreciable, however, is the effect the more powerful
GPU has on gaming. While it wont make a jot of difference in
CPU-intensive games such as Fallout 4, in titles that rely heavily
on graphics processing, gamers can expect real benefits. The good
folks over at Digital Foundry tested a number of games and found
that the One S either would run at a more stable framerate, a higher
framerate, or be less prone to abnormalities than the original One.
Microsoft enabled access to the GPU in every application and game
on the One S, so if youve tried a game and found that its a little
too rough on the original One, theres a chance it might be more
palatable on the One S which should also make those PS4 comparisons a little less embarrassing for the Xbox team.
So, its smaller, its lighter, its controller is more reliable,
it works better with 4K- and HDR-enabled televisions, and it
makes gaming a little smoother and more consistent. Upgrading
to the One S must be a no-brainer, right? Well, no. For starters,
its $399. Thats just $100 less than the original One launched at
less than three years ago. If you have a One and dont have a 4K
TV, the only benefit here is slightly improved gaming in certain
titles, lower energy bills, and more space on your TV stand.
If youre someone who doesnt yet own an Xbox One, the One
S again seems like an obvious choice. Except the original One is

going for $250 on Amazon with a free game. Again, if you dont
have a 4K TV and dont care about the smaller size and power
consumption, the One S doesnt make much sense.
And then theres Project Scorpio. Its set to enable true 4K
gaming, with more powerful internals, but dont expect it to
launch at $399 itll be $499 or above. If you buy a One S now,
itll be hard to justify upgrading to Scorpio in just 12 months.
And yet, theres an undeniable charm to the One S. Swapping
from the original One is a doddle copy your digital games
to an external hard drive, plug that into the One S, sign in and
youre good to go, which makes upgrading a breeze. Whats
more, therell be cheaper 500GB ($299) and 1TB ($349) bundles launching soon, which will make it more palatable to both
upgraders and first-time buyers. The 2TB, $399 model that
launched last week is the priciest option apart from a red-colored special edition coming this Fall. If youre eager to upgrade,
wait and grab a lower-storage model when they launch on
August 23. Theres also the fact that, for as little as $299, the One
S is one of the most capable 4K Blu-ray and streaming devices
on the market.
Ultimately, the One S is the console this current generation
of Xbox always should have been. Its quiet, its efficient, its
more thoughtfully designed, and more versatile. It discards the
faux-VHS looks and media center aspirations of the original
and focuses on what matters. Whether its streaming House of
Cards in 4K, or enjoying smoother framerates in games, or using
a controller that doesnt require an extra adapter to work with
headphones (nickel-and-diming at its best), the One S is a great
console. Whether its a necessary one is entirely up to you. l
The Xbox One S is available now.
NightLife
Photography by
Julian Vankim
39
CoverboyConfidential
Interview by Randy Shulman Photography by Julian Vankim
USTYN HAS MORE IN COMMON WITH HIS SISTER THAN THE FACT THAT HES
gay and shes lesbian. He also carries his siblings DNA. I had a bone marrow transplant for leukemia in December, he says. My sister was able to be my donor. Im
100 percent my sisters female DNA though all the skin and hair cells are still mine.
He laughs. I was worried about, like, is my eye color going to change?
Needless to say, his eyes did not change color. But the great news is that the 36-yearold Maryland native is now cancer-free and freshly minted, as it were. My immune system is basically only like eight months old, he says with a smile. So I have to get all my
vaccines again.
Justyn, who works at Express, has always harbored a love for fashion. I think my
mom knew [I was gay] when she got the call from the babysitter that I wouldnt get on
the kindergarten bus because I wouldnt wear blue socks with black shoes, he says.
Even in kindergarten I loved dressing up. I always wanted to wear my white dress shoes
with jeans.
Whats on your nightstand?
A tree, a statue, a lamp. Usually my
cell phones laying there.
DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday,
August 11
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 $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight, $5 Red Bull and
Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka &
Kristina Kelly $200 Cash

Prize Doors open 10pm,
21+ $5 Cover or free
with college ID
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour starts with shirtless
men drink $2 rail and
domestic, 5-8pm Men
down to their underwear
drink $1 rail and domestic,
10pm-12am DJ Theo
Storm starts spinning,
9pm-1am Highwaymen
TNT host Hot Jock Night
Hot Jock Contest, 11:30pm
$250+ in event tickets
and prizes to winner No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
A tree? On your nightstand?

Its a fake weeping willow tree. I like
to think of my bedroom as a paradise.
I have one on each side of the bed. It
just creates this warm little getaway.
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Flashback:
Music videos from 19752005 with DJ Jason Royce,
8pm-12am
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
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines

and Half-Priced Pizzas $4
Corona and Heineken all
night Paint Nite, 7pm
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $1
PBR, $2 Yuengling, $3 Rail,
$5 Appetizers Extended
Happy Hour, 7-9pm, with
only $1 increase in price
THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB
Throbbing Thursdays
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
night until close, starting at
9pm $5 Domestic Beer,
$6 Imports $12 cover
For Table Reservations,
202-487-6646
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Happy Hour
all night, $4 drinks and
draughts 21+
TRADE
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+
Friday,
August 12
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 Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks all
night DJ MadScience
upstairs DJ Keenan Orr
downstairs $10 cover
10pm-1am, $5 after 1am
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
Spartan MC on Club Bar
$2 Draughts and Jello
Shooters Void Archive,
Select DC, and TechnoFist
present: SEQUENCE.000
Do Not Resist the
Beat label boss Milton
Bradley with DC locals
Ron Jackson, Rush Plus,
41
Whats in your nightstand drawer?

Lotion, pictures, cards. A remote. Its a hodgepodge drawer with a bunch of everything.
Whats the last thing you bought?
Squeaky balls. I have two Shiba Inus and they
love squeaky balls. Its crazy, because they
only last for probably 20 minutes. They chew
them up to get the squeaker out and then its
over, you have to buy them a new one.
If you could have any superpower
what would it be?
The power to heal as in mind, body and
soul. I mean, heal from anything from a disease
to hatred to a broken heart. I love this world,
but the world needs a lot of healing. If I had
that power, Id just feel like I could make the
world a better place.
and Damon Bradley and

support from Sticky Fingers
Collective to create an all
night till early morning
techno binge Tickets
available via residentadvisor.net 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
$2 Skyy Highballs and
$2 Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Pop and Dance Music
Videos with DJ Darryl
Strickland $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 Friday Night
Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
42
Friday Night Videos with

Chord, 9:30pm
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour 4-7pm $3
and Half-Priced Pizzas $6
Caipirinhas in honor of the
Olympics
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN
Patio open 6pm 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, ShiQueeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs following the
show GoGo Boys after
11pm Doors open at
10pm For those 21 and
over, $12 For those
18-20, $15 Club: 18+
Patio: 21+
Whats the last movie you saw?

The Secret Life of Pets. It was okay. I liked
Finding Dory better. I thought it would be a
little more of what the pets would do in their
daily life, and this was more like a big
excursion that they went on.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Joey Lawrence, from Brotherly Love. He just
was an attractive, goofy, guy.
What are your three favorite night spots?
Uproar its a newer bar but its just very
relaxed and non-judgmental. I also
like Town and Nellies.
Whats your drink of choice?
It doesnt really have a name. Grape-flavored
vodka and Diet Coke. You dont taste the Diet
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Rotating Hosts
DJ in Secrets VJ Tre in
Ziegfelds Cover 21+
Saturday,
August 13
9 1/2
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:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,

Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud
Light, 4-9pm Imperial
Court and NYC Take Over
DC, 10pm-close Doors
open 10pm $5 Cover
21+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Highwaymen TNT on Club
Bar $2 Draughts and
Jello Shots, 9pm-2am
Distrkt C Dance Party, 3rd
Floor Exile, 10pm-8am
Tickets available at the
door 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show, 8-10pm,
hosted by Miss Destiny B.
Childs No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long Alpha: A GL
Gear Party, 9pm-close
No Cover
Coke and you dont taste the vodka. Its like a

grape Skittle. Before you know it youre drinking it and then youre done. I like something
that doesnt make me think that
Im drinking alcohol.
Whats your pet peeve?
Slow drivers in the fast lane.
Whats your favorite food?
Pizza, especially from Angelinas Pizza, right
outside of town. Its the best pizza.
Grindr, Scruff or in person?
Definitely in person. You cant change the good
old fashion of just meeting somebody in person and getting to know them. Online, or even
through texts, you just dont get a real understanding of who a person is.
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
video by DJ Wess downstairs Drag Show starts

at 10:30pm Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Riley Knoxx and
BaNaka Doors open
10pm $12 Cover 21+
NUMBER NINE
Doors open 2pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
3-9pm $5 Absolut and $5
Bulleit Bourbon
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
only $4
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm The Magic
of Kourash Taie, 4-6pm
& Half-Priced Pizzas
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9 pm,
first show at 11:30 pm
DJs Doors open 9pm
Cover 21+
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR

& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN
Patio open 2pm Dirty
Pop, featuring DJ Drew G,
10pm-close Music and
Sunday,
August 14
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
Define good in bed.

Someone you connect with and can laugh and
have a good time with and not be all serious
and just do the duty.
Whats the most unusual place
youve had sex?
Im not this type of person, but a long time ago
I did have sex in a sports equipment
storage facility.
Did you dress in any of the gear?
Unfortunately, no.
Whats the most memorable pick up line
that youve heard?
A guy told me that if he could create his perfect man, he would look like me.
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: Tops Down $6
Top Shelf, Bottoms Up $3
Rail, $3 Bud Light, 4-9pm
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
Draughts all day and night,
$3 Domestic Bottles, $4
Rail and Import Bottle
Beer, $6 Call The DC
Eagle hosts Sunday BBQ,
2-7pm only $10 No
Cover 21+
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
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Champagne Brunch
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Karaoke,
8pm-1am
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
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
SHAWS TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm
Sunday Funday Karaoke,
2nd Floor, 3-7pm $5 Stoli
Cocktails Happy Hour,
5-7pm $3 Miller Lite, $4
Blue Moon, $5 Rails and
House Wines & Half-Priced
Pizzas
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB
Rock Hard Sundays
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
43
Did it work?
It got me talking to him, but the compatibility
just wasnt there, unfortunately.
Apple or Android?
Apple.
Salad or Big Mac?
Big Mac, without the salad parts.
Butter or margarine?
I Cant Believe Its Not Butter.
Sausage or bacon?
Neither, Ill just take the pancakes.
Donald or Hillary?
Neither.
night until close, starting at

9pm $5 Domestic Beer,
$6 Imports $12 cover
For Table Reservations, call
202-487-6646
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm Cornhole,
Giant Jenga, and Flip-cup
inside Town
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
Monday,
August 15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
44
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
Showtime at 11:30pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
Endless Happy Hour prices
to anyone in a DC Eagle
T-Shirt Free Pool All
Night and Day $1 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
Singles Night Karaoke,
8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night
long Puppy-Oke: Open
Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
Showtunes Songs &
Who then?
I dont know. They both scare me. Thats why
Im still trying to determine whats the best
options. Is there an Option C?
Does size really matter?

No, its all about the connection. If you dont
have the connection it doesnt matter
what the size is.
One of them has to be president.

Its something that everybodys going to have
to really take seriously. I dont think you can
make a quick decision of who to pick.
What would you like to be remembered for?

For going out of my way to make people happy
and to do whats right. For random acts of
kindness.
What was your first pets name and the

street you grew up on?
Alvin and Pinecrest.
That would be your porn name. What
would Alvin Pinecrest be known for in the
porn world?
With that combination what comes to mind is a
burly, nerdy lumberjack.
What do you like best about your life?

My friends and my family.
What do you like least about your life? Or
about yourself?
I dont spend enough time by myself.
I tend to put others first.
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft Pints,
8pm-midnight

only $4
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1,
5pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
Tuesday,
August 16
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Shaw Nuff Trivia with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
DJ Honey Happy Hour:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud
Light, 4-9pm DC Drag
Wars, Season 2, Week 2
SIN Service Industry Night,
10pm-close $1 Rail
Drinks all night
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie LaCage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
NUMBER NINE
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
SHAWS TAVERN
Half Priced Burgers &
Pizzas, 5pm-close $5
House Wines & Sam
Adams Drafts, 5pm-close
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Yappy Hour
Bring Your Dogs $4
Drinks and Draughts
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
Wednesday,
August 17
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Gay Mens Chorus Open
Mic Night and Wednesday
Night Karaoke, hosted by
Miss India Larelle Houston,
10pm-2am $4 Stoli and
Stoli Flavors and Miller
Lite all night No Cover
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Would you rather live longer

or be wealthier?
Longer. Id rather be able to see more stuff.
Whos your idol?
It sounds corny, I would say my mom. Always
a hard worker and always there whenever my
sister and I need it. Always told us to fight for
whats right no matter if we were wrong.
What are you most grateful for?
To be here.
Whats your motto?
Live life to the fullest, because lifes too short.
Take in all the good, the bad, the pretty, the
ugly, and as Pitbull would say, every day above
ground is a great day. l
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)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
and 9pm Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only
Bring a new team member
and each get a free $10
Dinner
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Piano Bar Second Floor,

8pm-close
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm $4 drinks
and draughts, 6-9pm
Nashville Wednesdays:
Pop-Country music and line
dancing, with line dancing
lessons from DC Rawhides
every other week
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+ l
45
LastWord.
People say the queerest things
If you elect depraved souls,

youre going to get depravity.
Thats just the way it works.
DUCK DYNASTY STAR PHIL ROBERTSON, in a teleforum for My Faith Votes. The reality star, who has a history of opposing LGBT
equality, said he might run for president in 2020. Get married to someone to the opposite sex, keep your sex right there and
you will never get a sexually transmitted disease. I would vote for someone who believes that, he added.
I had a reputation for being a good guy and friendly with everybody. The word
gay or queer was never brought up.
WRESTLER PAT PATTERSON, who became the WWEs first openly gay wrestler when he came out in 2014, telling Newsweek about
the lack of homophobia he experienced in wrestling. My whole life in the business, years and years, Ive wrestled just about
everybody in the business. Ive never had a problem, he said.
Im a bareback cumdump.
I understand the risks.
MIKE, one of the respondents to a British survey, which found that 39 percent of gay men have more unprotected sex than
they do protected. Conducted by sexual health charity GMFA, 42 percent of respondents said they werent worried about HIV.
Id prefer to have HIV than diabetes, Lorne, another respondent, said.
As you know, Im fighting with [Secretary of State John Kerrys] ambassador.

His gay ambassador, the son of a whore.
He pissed me off.
PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE, in televised comments insulting U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, The Guardian
reports. Goldberg drew Dutertes ire after blasting the president for joking about rape. The Filipino charge daffaires has been
summoned by the State Department to explain the presidents comments.
Im sorry for the mistake today.

Clearly, Liliane is Larissas wife.
NBC ANNOUNCER CHRIS MARLOWE, apologizing after referring to Liliane Maestrini, the wife of Brazilian beach volleyball player
Larissa Frana, as Franas husband. She gives a hug to Lili. That is her husband, Marlowe said during the match.
46

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 11, 2016

Season eight champion Bob The Drag Queen owes his

Naked, hungry, and stalked by wild animals may not

Interview by Randy Shulman

Microsofts updated Xbox One S is what the

SPOTLIGHT: ADAM RICHMAN p.11 OUT ON THE TOWN p.13

2016 Jansi LLC.

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

Richman and the off menu Matambrito a la Pizza at Lo de Freddy parrilla

experience is so much more heightened because it takes a bit of

Meryl Streep has proved both on stage and in

RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS

The Smithsonians Freer|Sackler Museums of Asian Art toasts

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

IMAGE COURTESY TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN

Out On The Town

COMCAST XFINITY OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL

Compiled by Doug Rule

celebrity- and luxury-obsessed

A refreshing spin on the financial

HELL OR HIGH WATER

Jeff Bridges returns to the Western

The latest in Disneys string of

Billed as the first adult-oriented,

Infamous televangelists Jim and

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

Nita Whitaker as Mom Winans,

Avenue Q sounds like childs play

JELLYS LAST JAM

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

Signature Theatre kicks off its new

Two kids escape boredom by playing a mysterious board game that

Cirque du Soleil returns with a

just look for the

otic and generally fantastic show.

Landless Theatre Company presents its version of the Tony-winning

T WAS PATHETIC, HONESTLY. IT WAS BULLSHIT. CHRIS MANN MAY PORTRAY A

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

THE LONESOME WEST

A dark Irish comedy from Martin

THE MIKADO, THE PIRATES OF

D.C.s own eight-piece Balkan and

CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET

The 7th annual summer cabaret

and Susan Derry with the National

A Broadway powerhouse, the fourfoot-eleven Chenoweth made her

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARTS

Free concerts featuring locally and

Moonshine Society on Friday, Aug.

Founded two decades ago in

Vocalist Naomi Almquist might

The Bangles are decidedly not on

AUGUST 11, 2016 METROWEEKLY

Decked out in hip-hop attire and

LAURA BERMAN: EBB AND FLOW

Inspired by the vast landscape of

UKE FEST 2016

venue next weekend. Sunday, Aug.

WHITE FORD BRONCO

CityDance Ignite Artist leads her

Washingtons newest independent

Featuring more than 50 original documents from the National Archives,