marketplace - real estate

4 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

marketplace - real estate

METROWEEKLY.com 5
 News
LGBT Now online at MetroWeekly.com
Do It! with Justin
Premiere episode: Gay Blades

GLOV’s New Leadership

Singletary and Naveed take top spots with D.C.’s LGBT
anti-violence task force
by Yusef Najafi

A
.J. Singletary was
walking home from a friend’s
house near 14th Street and
Florida Avenue Northwest
on a mid-January evening when he was
assaulted by a group of three men. He
was attacked from behind, beaten to the
ground and called “faggot.”
But he fought back.
“When I was on the ground I kicked
one of them in the face pretty hard and
broke his nose, so they took off,” he
says, adding that fighting back may not
have been the wisest move.
“I had a battle with that, like, ‘If they

had a weapon would I still be okay right
now?’”
The 25-year-old Singletary, a native
of Mountain Home, Ark., has lived in
the District since 2008. He’s been active
for three years as a member of Gays and
Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV),
D.C.’s LGBT anti-violence task force
and a project of The Center, the area’s
LGBT community center.
Prior to his attack he was in the midst
of discussions with the group’s 2010 co-
chairs, Kelly Pickard and Joe Montoni,
about running for leadership in 2011. The
Jan. 16 incident, which left him bruised
on his back and shoulder, initially cre-
ated some doubt, but ultimately fueled
Singletary’s passion to lead GLOV.
Singletary shared his story with nine
other members of GLOV, gathered at
The Center offices at 1318 U St. NW,
for the organization’s annual election
meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10.
“When this opportunity came up,
I had to take a step back for a minute
and think about the balance between
extreme passion to make change and
the ability to lead competently,” he said.
“It took me a minute to do some intro-
spective thinking and realize that I can
6 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
use the passion from my latest incident
to really help this organization and to,
more importantly, help the D.C. LGBT
community.”
Prior to selecting Singletary as the
group’s chair, GLOV members unani-
mously agreed that this year they would
change the model of leadership by having
a chair and vice-chair. Previously, two co-
chairs served with equal responsibility.
Singletary and D.C. resident Hassan
Naveed, 24, were the only members of
GLOV who expressed interest in lead-
ing the group. After hearing each speak,
Montoni, with unanimous approval
from all in attendance, declared the two
the group’s new leaders.
Naveed, selected to serve as vice-
chair of GLOV, is a fairly new member.
He’s been living in the District for seven
months and works for an accounting
firm in Bethesda. Speaking to Metro
Weekly following the election, Naveed
said he initially got involved with crime-
prevention advocacy in Santa Barbara,
Calif., serving as a community organizer
yusef najafi
Hassan Naveed (left) and A.J. Singletary
focusing on bias crimes against LGBT
people, following an incident involving
friends of his.
“There was a gay party in one of our
college towns … in 2009,” he recalled.
“A group of folks showed up to the
party and actually beat two [mem-
bers of the LGBT community] to the
ground.” Those victims were Naveed’s
close friends.
The psychological impact of the
attacks on people close to him is what
triggered Naveed to get involved in
organizing anti-violence efforts at the
University of California, Santa Barbara.
“[It’s] something that I really do care
about,” he said, “especially for folks
in under-represented communities. It’s
been a major focus of mine because
of the folks who were attacked. One
identified as trans, and they were both
people of color. That was something
that definitely hit home.”
Accordingly, he sees serving along-
side Singletary as vice-chair as a good
fit. “It makes perfect sense, because I
METROWEEKLY.com 7
LGBTNews
think A.J. has a lot of experience and I
have a lot to learn from him.”
GLOV was formed in the 1990s to cre-
ate visibility about anti-LGBT attacks, and
increasing sensitivity among personnel
of the Metropolitan Police Department
(MPD) and the D.C. Fire and Emergency
Medical Services (EMS). With the forma-
tion of MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison
Unit under the leadership of Sgt. Brett
Parson, GLOV disbanded.
The group re-emerged in the sum-
mer of 2008 after a string of hate crimes
in the District. In a sad coincidence,
GLOV returned on the eve of the attack
of Tony Hunter, a 37-year-old gay man
from Clinton, Md., who was attacked
while walking with a friend to a Shaw
neighborhood gay bar.
Todd Metrokin, who was among those
attacked in the summer of 2008, and
Chris Farris served as the re-emerged
group’s first co-chairs. In 2010 Pickard
and Montoni took leadership.
As GLOV chair, Singletary will contin-
ue to provide sensitivity- and education-
al-training assistance to the Metropolitan
Police Department, an effort driven by
Montoni and Pickard in 2010.
Other initiatives on which Singletary
plans to focus during his time as lead-
er of the organization include working
with Mayor Vince Gray’s Office of GLBT
Affairs.
“One [goal] is working with the
administration, determining what their
direction is, where they’re going and how
we fit into that scheme,” he said.
Singletary added that conducting out-
reach and collaborating with local busi-
ness is also on the agenda. Singletary
talked about how he would like to see
GLOV use technology, such as mobile
phones, to provide information to the
members of the local LGBT community,
including mapping “safe routes” home
from LGBT venues at late hours.
He will also strive to expand the orga-
nization’s volunteers and conduct out-
reach to minority groups.
“There are folks in our community
who are not at this table that are most
impacted by hate crimes,” Singletary
said, specifically referring to the trans-
gender community.
Speaking with Metro Weekly after the
meeting, Singletary said he will also work
to emphasize the impact hate crimes
have on communities.
“The last hate-crimes report – as gov-
ernment reports are – was very factu-
al, very statistic driven,” he said. “As a
8 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
community organization we can provide
the numbers and the stats, which are
incredibly important. But we also need to
provide the personal stories. We’re not
numbers. We’re people. We’re impacted
by these crimes and it personally impacts
us to a point, where for some people they
are debilitating.
“When we provide these stories,” he
continued, “we need to provide testimo-
ny from folks that have been impacted by
hate crimes. We need to show the people
who live around us that this impacts us
greatly and that a crime against another
person is a crime against the community
in general, straight and gay.”
For more information about GLOV, visit
glovdc.org or e-mail aj@glovdc.org. l
Sights of CPAC
Trump and Coulter provide
GOProud support, as threat emerg-
es to cut group from 2012 event
by Chris Geidner
In an almost perfect summary
of the life and times of GOProud, Donald
Trump was an invited guest of the group
on the opening day of CPAC this past
week and then went on Fox News four
days later to declare his opposition to
“gay marriage,” as he put it to Greta Van
Susteren.
“New York is a place with lots of gays,
and I think it’s great,” he said. “But I’m
not in favor of gay marriage.”
So it goes for GOProud board
Chairman Chris Barron, who replied that
“Mr. Trump now has the same position
as President Obama.”
He added, “Mr. Trump showed real
courage coming to CPAC at GOProud’s
request in the middle of the boycott by
anti-gay groups.”
While true – Trump did tell reporters
upon arrival that he had “a lot of respect”
for GOProud – he did not mention the
group to the CPAC attendees when he
addressed the crowd on Feb. 10.
In fact, the most significant com-
ments about GOProud came on Feb. 12
from Ann Coulter, who was asked during
the question-and-answer portion about
“the controversy at CPAC surrounding
GOProud.”
Coulter said, in part, “The left is try-
ing to co-opt gays, and I don’t think we
should let them. I think they should be
on our side. We’re for low taxes. We’re
against crime. We’re against the terror-
ists who want to kill gays. Gays are natu-
ral conservatives.”
The CPAC presidential straw poll,
though skewed younger and more lib-
ertarian than the Republican prima-
ries, provided some limited support for
Coulter’s argument.
Of the 3,742 votes – more than half
of whom were 25 or younger – the win-
ner of the CPAC presidential straw poll
was Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who voted
for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. He
received 30 percent of the vote.
When the respondents were asked
what the most and second-most impor-
tant issues were to them personally,
only 5 percent of the respondents chose
“promoting traditional values” and only
3 percent chose “protecting traditional
marriage.”
Log Cabin Republicans Executive
Director R. Clarke Cooper pointed to
that fact as a sign that conservatives are
not focused on social issues.
In a statement, Cooper said, “With
polls of CPAC attendees overwhelmingly
showing that the movement’s top priori-
ties are addressing government spending,
job creation and the economy, Log Cabin
Republicans will continue to push the
GOP to stay focused on the fiscal issues
which matter most to Americans today.”
Among the other top finishers in the
straw poll was former Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney (R), who came in second
with 23 percent. Former New Mexico Gov.
Gary Johnson (R), an unknown to many,
had attended GOProud’s “Big Party” on
Feb. 10, and tied for third – at 6 percent –
with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).
Although Christie had made his opposi-
tion to marriage equality an issue in his
election campaign, he also signed a strong
anti-bullying bill into law with the support
of LGBT advocacy groups.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t all fun and par-
ties for Barron, who found himself in the
unusual position of apologizing for call-
ing D.C. lawyer Cleta Mitchell “a nasty
bigot” in an interview with Metro Weekly
that was published online the day before
the start of the conference.
Barron told the FrumForum on Feb.
10, “For the past six months, we have
watched as unfair and untrue attacks
have been leveled against our organiza-
tion, our allies, our friends and sometimes
even their families. Everyone has their
LGBTNews
breaking point and clearly in my inter-
view with Metro Weekly I had reached
mine. I shouldn’t have used the language
that I did to describe Cleta Mitchell and
for that I apologize.”
In the FrumForum article, the new
chairman of the American Conservative
Union, which hosts CPAC, took aim at
Barron’s comments. Al Cardenas said,
“I have been disappointed with their
website and their quotes in the media,
taunting organizations that are respected
in our movement and part of our move-
ment, and that’s not acceptable. And that
puts them in a difficult light in terms of
how I view things.
“It’s going to be difficult to continue
the relationship [with GOProud] because
of their behavior and attitude.”
The next day, LCR’s Cooper praised
Cardenas in a news release.
“I am particularly glad to see the new
chairman of the American Conservative
Union, which coordinates CPAC, Al
Cardenas,” he said.  “I had the pleasure
of working with Chairman Cardenas
while I served Governor Jeb Bush and he
was Chairman of the Florida Republican
Party.” l
Leaning Toward
Marriage
Marriage-equality in Maryland
Senate picks up support
by Yusef Najafi
Valentine’s Day brought good
news for same-sex couples in Maryland
hoping to legally tie the knot. According
to the Baltimore Sun, Sen. Katherine
Klausmeier (D-Baltimore Co.) and Sen.
Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore,
Howard) have both come out in support
of Senate Bill 116, the Religious Freedom
and Civil Marriage Protection Act.
The legislation was written by Sen.
Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery), the only
out gay member of Maryland’s Senate,
and Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery).
If passed, the bill would grant same-sex
couples legal marriage rights in the state
of Maryland, while also protecting the
rights of religious institutions to handle
issues of marriage however they see fit.
Kasemeyer and Klausmeier’s support
brings the number of senators in favor
10 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
of passage to 23. That leaves just three
senators – all Democrats – who have
not declared how they will vote on the
bill. They are Sens. John Astle (D-Anne
Arundel), Ulysses Currie (D-Prince
George’s) and James Rosapepe (D-Prince
George’s). Twenty-four votes are needed
in the full Senate for the bill to pass.
Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore
City) has not released an official statement
in support of the bill, but according to
Lisa Deane-Polyak, vice president of the
board of directors at Equality Maryland,
Conway has told her constituents that if
Senate Bill 116 receives 23 votes, she will
cast the 24th vote in favor. A request for
comment from Conway’s office was not
returned before Metro Weekly deadline.
Sen. Jim Brochin (D-Baltimore Co.),
who had previously opposed marriage
equality, released a statement express-
ing support for the bill on Feb. 9, saying
that he changed his mind after hear-
ing “appalling” testimony from those in
opposition of the bill.
Deane-Polyak says Brochin’s change
of heart demonstrates the power of tes-
timonials.
“Hearings can be transformative,” she
says. “We saw that in action on Tuesday,
because [Brochin] formerly had one view,
and to his credit he seemed to pay really
close attention to the testimonies that
were presented.
“What he heard so affected him, he
changed his mind. That’s the power of
citizens coming forward and speaking
their experience. There is no substitute
for telling your legislator what your real-
ity is instead of letting it be framed by
some advertising campaign.”
Before the floor vote, Maryland’s
Judicial Proceedings Committee is
scheduled to vote on Senate Bill 116 on
Thursday, Feb. 17, according to Chairman
Brian E. Frosh’s (D-Montgomery) office.
According to Brenda Smith, appoint-
ment secretary for Frosh’s office, the
committee will begin the day with hear-
ings followed by votes on bills tentatively
scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Smith adds,
however, that because hearings can go
later than expected depending on how
many witnesses are present, it’s difficult
to say exactly when voting on bills will
begin. The vote will occur on Senate Bill
116, and 10 other bills, today, Feb. 17, even
if it is in the evening, she added.
After that, if the committee votes in
favor of the bill, it will then be put to a
floor vote, expected next week. While a
similar bill is expected in the House of
Delegates, it has not yet been introduced.
For updates, visit MetroWeekly.com. l
Last-Minute
Reprieve
Gay Indonesian wins chance to
have asylum case revisited
by Chris Geidner
It wasn’t until after 4 p.m. on
Feb. 14 that Anton Tanumihardja found
out that he would not be leaving the
United States for Indonesia at 7:30 p.m.
that night.
The flight, the result of a deportation
order, would have taken him out of the
country to his native Indonesia. It also
would have meant a 10-year bar on any
attempt for him to return to this country
to make it his home.
In a request currently before the Board
of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to reopen
his deportation case, however, his lawyer
argued that a return to Indonesia would
mean that Tanumihardja “would face a
constant threat of violence” because he
is gay.
Thomas Decker, the director of
the Philadelphia Field Office of U.S.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
(ICE), faxed a letter at 4:17 p.m. Feb. 14
letting Tanumihardja know that “ICE
will extend the Stay [of the deportation
order] … until a decision is made by the
BIA on his Motion to Reopen.”
Were Tanumihardja to be forced to
leave the country, immigration-reform
advocate Lavi Soloway tells Metro Weekly,
he also will be forced to leave his partner,
Brian Andersen, whom he met in recent
years. Unlike a heterosexual couple, how-
ever, Tanumihardja’s partner cannot
sponsor him for immigration purposes.
Legislation to address that, the Uniting
American Families Act, has attracted
broad support and was included in the
framework for comprehensive immi-
gration reform proposed by Sen. Robert
Menendez (D-N.J.) in 2010.
“What we are now advocating is that
that discretion should be applied to bi-
national couples,” Soloway said on Feb.
13. “We’re not asking for the adminis-
tration to suspend the enforcement of
immigration law. We’re simply asking for
them to delay the prosecution of those
METROWEEKLY.com 11
LGBTNews
cases – to put them on hold, to literally
press a ‘pause’ button – because there
is a legislative fix in the works that the
administration supports.”
Why “pause” enforcement of existing
law?
Soloway explained that “[t]here are
estimated to be 11-12 million people in
the United States who are deportable.
It’s impossible for the administration to
deport 11 million people – nor do they
want to. We focus on high priority, which
are convicted felons.
“When we have humanitarian rea-
sons … and when the administration and
Congress are working together to resolve
specific issues through the legislative pro-
cess. We do not typically rush people out
the door in a deportation proceeding.”
After being placed in removal pro-
ceedings in 2003, an immigration judge
denied Tanumihardja’s request for asy-
lum in 2006 – a decision that was upheld
by the BIA in 2007 and the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2008.
In September 2010, however,
Tanumihardja filed the request to reopen
his asylum request due to “deteriorat-
ing conditions for gays and lesbians in
Indonesia since 2006.”
Soloway told Metro Weekly that the
local U.S. Immigrations and Customs
Enforcement office in Philadelphia gave
Tanumihardja a 90-day delay in his
deportation after the September filing.
That delay ended Feb. 14 and, in order to
prevent his arrest and detention, a flight
leaving the country had been scheduled.
At the same time, however, the BIA
has not yet ruled on the request to reopen
the asylum request, a copy of which was
provided to Metro Weekly. The request
details that “[t]he evidence from 2006
forward is that the persecution of homo-
sexuals in Indonesia is not only growing,
but linked to regional ‘perda’ laws that
12 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
reflect rapidly spreading Shari’a Islamic
law and social values.”
The motion goes on: “The evidence is
also clear that the violence perpetrated
against gays and lesbians is done not only
by fellow citizens engaging with impu-
nity in ‘gay bashing,’ but compounded by
torture carried out by police and security
forces.”
Soloway, who launched the Stop the
Deportations campaign in October 2010,
said he is hoping, first, for “some kind
of policy coming from [the Department
of] Homeland Security” to allow cer-
tain individuals “in long-term, commit-
ted relationships … to make a motion for
continuance that the government would
then join, if several criteria were pres-
ent: long-term committed relationship,
no felonies, etc.
“Failing that, I do think that there’s
also an opportunity here to open a dia-
logue on individual cases, looking on a
case-by-case basis. So, this Indonesian
individual, who presents a non-frivolous
motion to reopen that’s credible, it’s
strong, it’s forthcoming.
“It should at least be given a chance to
be decided.”
With the ICE action on Feb. 14, now
that will be able to happen. l
Prevention Halts
Needle-exchange organization to
end services at month’s end
by Yusef Najafi
For the past 12 years, Preven-
tionWorks! has played a vital role in
minimizing the local spread of HIV and
other blood-borne illnesses, reducing
injections with used needles by provid-
ing access to sterile syringes to drug users
and others, among other harm-reduction
strategies.
On Feb. 25, however, Preven-
tionWorks!, which started in 1996 as a
project of the Whitman-Walker Clinic,
will come to an end.
“The PreventionWorks! Board of
Directors feels great sadness and disap-
pointment toward this ending, but made
the difficult decision based on financial
realities,” reads a statement on the orga-
nization’s website.
“Recent [D.C.] government support
was critical to giving PreventionWorks!
the potential for staying power, but unfor-
tunately the organization was ultimately
unable to build and sustain the financial
and organizational capacity worthy of its
work. As a result, the Board of Directors
decided to close the agency so supporters
could turn their resources and volunteer-
ism to more sustainable organizations.”
Currently PreventionWorks! does not
have an executive director. The last person
to work in that role was Dr. Philip B. Terry,
who served through December 2010.
Speaking to Metro Weekly, Terry said
the closure is “disappointing.”
“This was an organization that was
working with segments of our population
of our city that are the most marginalized
– drug users, transgender individuals,”
he said, “so it’s sad, it’s very sad.”
Terry added that there are three other
programs in the District that provide nee-
dle-exchange services: Bread for the City,
Family Medical and Counseling Services
and Helping Individual Prostitutes
Survive (HIPS).
To read the full statement regarding
PreventionWorks!’s closure, visit preven-
tionworksdc.org. For more on HIPS, call
202-232-8150 or visit hips.org. l
METROWEEKLY.com 13
 marketplace - professional services

14 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

 LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in the Weekly Events
gay community, from alternative social events to volunteer opportunities.
Event information should be sent by e-mail to calendar@metroweek- Andromeda Transcultural Health
offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services
ly.com; by fax to 202-638-6831; or by mail to Metro Weekly, Attn: (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit
Community Calendar, 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 209, Washington, D.C. andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
20005. Deadline for inclusion is noon on the Friday before publication.
“Announcement” submissions that are not date-specific may run for two Brazilian GLBT Group, which includes
people of other nationalities who have an interest
weeks, with the option for listing organizations to resubmit if appropriate. in Brazilian culture, meets. For details, including
Questions about the calendar can be directed to the Metro Weekly office location and time, e-mail BrazilianGayGroup@
at 202-638-6830. yahoo.com.

DC Aquatics Club (DCAC) practice session at

Marie Reed from 8-9:30 a.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC Front Runners, a running, walking and

Announcements
PFLAG-Columbia/Howard County is
offering a $2,000 scholarship to an LGBT stu-
dent/straight ally attending or planning to attend
a post-secondary institution during 2011-2012 aca-
demic year. Maryland residents only. May 1 appli-
cation deadline. pflagmd.org/scholarship.html.
Out for Work asks LGBT people younger
than 30 to fill out the “30 under 30” survey as part
of a career resource for LGBTQ college students
transitioning to the workplace. Deadline is March
1. To take part in the survey, visit zoomerang.
com/Survey/WEB22BTMB382X9/.
Thursday, February 17
Lambda Sci-Fi book group meets at 7 p.m.,
1425 S St. NW, to discuss The Book of Lost Things
by John Connolly. Call 202-483-6369.
lambdascifi.org.
Weekly Events
Andromeda Transcultural Health
offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services
(by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
Caregiver Support Group is a safe space
for LBT women who are caregivers to share
experiences. The group is free. Registration is
required. Call 202-332-5536 or e-mail directser-
vices@mautnerproject.org to register or
for details.
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. Singles and couples welcome; casual dress.
E-mail info@dclambdasquares.org, call 301-257-
0517 or visit dclambdasquares.org.
Us Helping Us hosts a Narcotics Anonymous
Meeting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. The group is independent and not a program
of UHU. For details, call 202-446-1100.
Friday, February 18
Weekly Events
Andromeda Transcultural Health
offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services
(by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
Bet Mishpachah, founded by members of the
GLBT community, holds Friday night Shabbat
services followed by an “oneg” social hour at 8:30
p.m. Services in the Community Room of the
DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW. Visit betmish.org.
Gay District, a weekly, non-church-affiliated,
discussion and social group for GBTQ men
between 18 and 35, meets at 8:30 p.m. at St.
Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut
Ave. NW; E-mail gd@gaydistrict.org or visit
gaydistrict.org.
Gay Married Men’s Association
(GAMMA) is a peer-support group that meets in
Dupont Circle every second and fourth Friday
at 7:30 p.m. Visit gay-married.com or e-mail
GAMMAinDC1@yahoo.com.
SMYAL’s Rec Night provides a social atmo-
sphere for GLBT and questioning youth every
Friday night, featuring dance parties, movie
nights and game nights. For details contact
Leandrea Gilliam at Leandrea.gilliam@smyal.org.
Transgender Health Empowerment
“Diva Chat” support group. From 6-8 p.m. at 1414
North Capitol St. NE. Snacks provided.
Call 202-636-1646.
social club, welcomes all levels for exercise in a
fun and supportive environment, with socializing
afterward. Meets 9:30 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets
NW, for a walk, or 10 a.m. for fun run. For more,
e-mail info@dcfrontrunners.org or visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC Thirty Something, a social group for gay
guys in their 30s that includes dinners, concerts,
sporting events and more, meets every Saturday.
To join, or for more information, send your name
and e-mail address to dcthirtysomething@yahoo.
com.
Dignity Northern Virginia sponsors a
mass each Saturday for the LGBT community,
family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-
on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. All
are welcome. Call 703-912-1662 or e-mail
dignitynova@gmail.com.
DC Sentinels basketball team meets at Turkey
Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave.
NE, 2-4 p.m. The gathering is for players of all
levels, gay or straight. Visit teamdcbasketball.org.
Us Helping Us hosts Exercise Group:
Stretching and Low Impact Aerobics, 10-11 a.m.,
at 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. $15. Call 202-446-1100.
Sunday, February 20
Lambda Divers hold a happy-hour event, 5-7
p.m., Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St. NW.
lambdadivers.org.
Weekly Events
DC Aquatics Club (DCAC) practice session
at the Takoma Aquatic Center, 9-10:30 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
Bethel Church-DC is a progressive and radi-
cally inclusive church with services weekly at 2
p.m. in the St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1525

The Dulles Triangles Northern Virginia

social group meets for a weekly happy hour at the
Saturday, February 19 Newton St. NW. betheldc.org.

Believers Covenant Fellowship Sunday

Sheraton in Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, in
the bar on the second floor, 7-9 p.m. Members and
non-members welcome. E-mail info@dullestri-
angles.com or visit dullestriangles.com.
HIV Testing at Whitman-Walker Clinic. The
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St.
NW, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, from 9 a.m.-4:30
p.m. Call 202-483-TEST. Visit wwc.org.
Axios DC, the city’s group for LGBT Eastern
Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics meets at 7:30
p.m., St. Thomas’s Parish, 1772 Church St. NW.
202-997-6489.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, a gay
volunteer organization, helps at the Lost Dog and
Cat Rescue Foundation. Burgundycrescent.org.
 
worship, 11 a.m., Worship and Ministry Center,
8466 Tyco Road, Vienna. believerscovenant.org.
Dignity Washington offers Roman Catholic
Mass for the LGBT community. 6 p.m., St.
Margaret’s Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave. NW.
All welcome. Sign interpreted. Call 202-546-2235,
e-mail dignity@dignitywashington.org, or visit
dignitywashington.org.

METROWEEKLY.com 15
LGBTCommunityCalendar
First Congregational United Church
of Christ welcomes all to 1 p.m. service, at First
Trinity Lutheran, corner of 4th and E Streets NW.
Visit fccuccdc.org or call 202-628-4317.
Friends Meeting of Washington meets for
worship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Quaker
House Living Room (next to Meeting House on
Decatur Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbi-
ans and gays. At 10:30 a.m., in the Meeting House,
gathering of Spiritual Light. Handicapped acces-
sible from Phelps Place gate. Hearing-assistance
system. Visit fmw.quaker.org.
Freedom Fellowship Christian Church,
a Christ-centered, affirming church, offers worship
service, 10 a.m., 4649 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave.
NE. Visit ffccdc.org.
Hope United Church of Christ welcomes
GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130 Old
Telegraph Road, Alexandria. hopeucc.org
Metropolitan Community Church of
Northern Virginia services at 11 a.m., led by
Rev. Kharma Amos. Children’s Sunday School, 11
a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax. For more
information, call 703-691-0930 or visit
mccnova.com.
Metropolitan Community Church of
Washington, D.C. services at 9 a.m. (ASL inter-
preted) and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School at
11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. Visit mccdc.com or call
202-638-7373.
National City Christian Church, inclusive
church with GLBT fellowship, offers gospel wor-
ship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m.
5 Thomas Circle NW. Call 202-232-0323 or visit
nationalcitycc.org.
Rainbow Families DC’s “Maybe Baby” series
for single men and couples considering parenthood
meets 3-5 p.m. For details, e-mail
info@rainbowfamiliesdc.org.
Riverside Baptist Church, a Christ-centered,
interracial, welcoming-and-affirming church, offers
service at 10 a.m. 680 I St. SW. Call 202-554-4330
or visit riverside-dc.org.
St. Stephen and the Incarnation, an
“interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community”
offers services in English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and
in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-
232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.
16 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Unitarian Church of Arlington, an
LGBTQ welcoming-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow UU
Ministry leads and participates in all UUCA activi-
ties to promote LGBTQ equality. 4444 Arlington
Blvd. E-mail contactvaruum@yahoo.com.
Unitarian Universalist Church of
Silver Spring invites LGBTQ families and indi-
viduals of all creeds and cultures to join the church.
Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire
Ave., Silver Spring. uucss.org.
Universalist National Memorial
Church, is a welcoming and inclusive church of
the UUAC. GLBT Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m., Romanesque
sanctuary. 1810 16th St. NW. 202-387-3411,
universalist.org.
Monday, February 21
Weekly Events
Capitol Pride Symphonic Band meets
for rehearsal at the Lutheran Church of the
Reformation 212 East Capitol St., NE; contact David
membership@dcdd.org or visit dcdd.org.
DC Radical Faeries weekly dish-and-discus-
sion potluck, 7-10 p.m. Visit dcradfaes.org.
HIV Testing at Whitman-Walker Clinic. D.C.:
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center,
2301 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an
appointment call 202-483-TEST. Visit wwc.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of
Washington, D.C., sponsors an HIV-positive
support group at 7 p.m., 474 Ridge St. NW. The
group is open to all. For more information contact
Matt at ndc20003@yahoo.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 5-7 p.m., by
appointment for youth 21 and under, at the Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. Call 202-567-3155 or e-mail
HIVprevention@smyal.org.
Us Helping Us hosts a black gay men’s affinity
group tonight at 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. For details
call 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Clinic HIV/AIDS Support
Group for newly diagnosed individuals, meets at 7
p.m. For details, call 202-939-7671;
hivsupport@wwc.org.
Tuesday, February 22
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance,
a local non-partisan political lobbying group, meets
at 7 p.m., Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th St. NW.
All welcome. 202-667-5139. glaa.org.
Weekly Events
Andromeda Transcultural Health offers
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by
appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
Asians and Friends weekly happy hour and
dinner afterward, kicks off at 6:30-7:30 p.m., at
Cobalt/30 Degrees Lounge, 1639 R St. NW. Visit
afwashington.net.
Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Gay Men’s Health
and Wellness/STD Clinic opens at 6 p.m., at
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. wwc.org.
The HIV Working Group of the DC Center
hosts its “Packing Party,” where volunteers work to
assemble safe-sex kits consisting of condoms and
lube, at the Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW,
at 7 p.m. thedccenter.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, from 5-7 p.m., by
appointment for youth 21 and under, at the Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. Call 202-567-3155 or e-mail
HIVprevention@smyal.org.
Support group for LGBTQ youth ages
13-21 meets at the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance
League, 410 7th St. SE, 5-7 p.m. For details, call
Leandrea Gilliam, 202-546-5940, ext. 116, or e-mail
leandrea.gilliam@smyal.org.
Us Helping Us hosts a support group for black
gay men over 40, from 7-9 p.m., at 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. Call 202-446-1100.
METROWEEKLY.com 17
 Wednesday, February 23
The DC Log Cabin Republicans hosts its
February general meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., Camden
Roosevelt, 2101 16th St. NW., screening the film
about LCR v. the United States on “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell.” dclogcabin.org.

Weekly Events
Ad Lib, a group for scintillating, freestyle conver-
sation and coffee, meets about 7:45 p.m., covered-
patio area of Cosi, 1647 20th St. NW. All welcome.
Call Jamie at 703-892-8567.

Believers Covenant Fellowship

Intercessory Prayer and Worship, 7:30 p.m. at the
Worship and Ministry Center, 8466 Tyco Road,
Vienna. Call 703-790-9199.

Full Equality Now DC holds its regular plan-

ning meeting at the Metropolitan Community
Church-DC, 7 p.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. info@
fullequalitynowdc.org.

Karing with Individuality (K.I.) Services,

at 3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid”
HIV testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 703-
823-4401 for details.

HIV Testing at Whitman-Walker Clinic. D.C.:

Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,
9 a.m.-6 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint-
ment call 202-483-TEST. Visit wwc.org.

Prime Timers of DC, a social club for mature

gay men, hosts its weekly happy hour and dinner
at 6:30 p.m. at Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Call Carl at 703-573-8316
or Bill at 703-671-2454.

SMYAL’s LGBTQ Youth Arts Program, for youth

13-21, meets 5-7 p.m., Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE.
Call Stephanie Remick, 202-567-3163, or e-mail
stephanie.remick@smyal.org.

Us Helping Us hosts “A Positive U,” a support

group for black gay men who are living with HIV/
AIDS, 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.
202-446-1100.

Washington Wetskins Water Polo Team

practices, 7-9 p.m., Takoma Community Center
Pool, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always welcome. Tom,
703-299-0504 or secretary@wetskins.org.
wetskins.org.

Saturday, February 26
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers helps at
Food & Friends. For details, visit
burgundycrescent.org.

Gayyim-DC, for gay, bi, and transgender Jewish

men, meets for dinner at a member’s home in
Bethesda at 7 p.m. To RSVP and for more informa-
tion: gayyimdc@gmail.com. l

For more calendar listings

please visit
www.metroweekly.com

18 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

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LGBTOpinion
FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Gay New World

Volume 17 / Issue 42

Publishers
Sean Bugg
Randy Shulman

From Cairo to conservatives, the future Editorial

is unfolding Editor-in-Chief
Randy Shulman

tion and a crew of about 2,000 grateful Art Director

by Will O’Bryan
Theoretically,
a vacation is time
to recharge, to
reflect, to general-
ly recuperate from
accumulated wea-
riness. In reality,
the world keeps
spinning and we
remain connected
to it.
My impression of the beginning of
my recent time away was not so much
palm trees and cerulean seas, but the
death of Jeff Coudriet, which I learned
of via an e-mail from Alex Padro, my
ANC commissioner. The last time I
saw him was in autumn, walking along
P Street with his brother. I knew he’d
been ill, but he really was looking so
much better than the previous time I
ran into him. My optimism turned to
sadness, which I consoled looking out
onto that same Caribbean that I know
Jeff had himself enjoyed.
Then Hosni Mubarak stepped down.
With CNN in every cabin, it was hard to
miss. From afar, I could even keep up
with GOProud’s CPAC presence with
Royal Caribbean’s WiFi – $35 for 60
minutes. At that price, I certainly didn’t
keep too close an eye on things, though.
Even the ship we were on made the
news, with a scandalous drug bust in
St. Thomas. From Pam Ann to Aiden
James, you could taste the onboard
entertainment’s gratitude to have some
fresh fodder to work into their acts.
With all this going on ­ – the good,
the bad, the ugly – what was more
remarkable was what was not happen-
ing. Onboard the Allure of the Seas,
the world’s largest cruise ship, filled
to capacity for Atlantis Events’ 20-year
that we filled the ship’s bars, in that Todd Franson
every cocktail came with an automatic Managing Editor
15 percent gratuity. You might expect Will O’Bryan
at least a few crew members to cast dis-
paraging glances, but no. Hailing from Staff Writer
India, Peru, Romania and a slew of Yusef Najafi
other countries, the crew’s attitude was senior political writer
nonchalance. Chris Geidner
Coming back to D.C. and reading
a bit more about CPAC, it seems the Senior Photographer
genuine oddities were not the throngs Jeff Code
of gays who likely left a trail of glitter Contributing Photographer
wherever that boat went, but people Ward Morrison
like conservative columnist Star Parker
writing of GOProud, “’Gay’ is liberal, Contributing Writers
not conservative, regardless of what Tom Avila, Billy Masters, Carrie Megginson,
Tim Plant, Richard Rosendall,
their stand may be on government Doug Rule, Kate Wingfield
spending or taxes.” Or the peculiar
Eugene Delgaudio’s pitch for funding Webmaster
for his group, Public Advocate of the David Uy
United States, awaiting me in my work
multimedia
e-mail box: “Like Jesse Helms and Aram Vartian
Ronald Reagan before me, I stand here
in Washington where only a handful of Advertising & Sales
Congressmen and Senators take their
stand against the liberal pro-homosex- Director of Sales
Randy Shulman
ual monopoly control of Congress and
the White House.” Say what? National Advertising Representative
Maybe it’s good to be reminded that Rivendell Media Co.
these views exist, as evidence of them is 212-242-6863
becoming ever rarer. They are the past.
Distribution Manager
Instead, it feels that while I was away, Dennis Havrilla
the world went through a stage of social
growth. GOProud showed that gays can
be just as right-wing as anybody, while I Patron Saint
saw a table of gay men in the ship’s din- David Foster Wallace
ing room toast the Egyptian people and Cover Photography
Mubarak’s downfall, not terrified of the Julian Vankim
Muslim Brotherhood creating a second
Iran, but happy to see a downtrodden
people stand up for themselves. Gays
can certainly relate. Metro Weekly
There are still legal and legislative 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 209
Washington, DC 20005
battles to fight, a future always in need
202.638.6830 fax: 202.638.6831
of being created. But for the first time www.metroweekly.com
in my life, I feel that we’re entering the All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be
last lap in the race for gay equality – reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes no
responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. All such submissions are subject

anniversary gay cruise, a single drug
bust seemed small potatoes. Really, it
was just about 5,500 gay men on vaca-
which should allow for greater focus on
securing transgender equality. I hope
we’re all ready to sprint. l
to editing and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Metro Weekly is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims
made by advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or
their 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.

© 2011 Jansi LLC.

METROWEEKLY.com 27
LGBTOpinion
GOProud’s CPAC Splash
With friends like these, one wonders where LGBT
conservatism is heading
ty mainstream conservative statement,
by Richard J. Rosendall though limited government here includes
support for the No Taxpayer Funding for
Abortion Act, whose title omits the fact
G O P r oud co - that the bill would penalize private insur-
founders Chris- ers who cover abortion and employers
topher Barron and who offer insurance plans that include it.
Jimmy LaSalvia Unlike Log Cabin Republicans, which
made a big splash works with liberal gay groups on legisla-
at CPAC last week- tion, GOProud regularly attacks those
end, including with groups. Its take-no-prisoners style is
a heavily promoted reflected in its advisory board, which
party, but the early includes Americans for Tax Reform
returns were not promising. Before the President Grover Norquist and right-
weekend was over, Barron had issued wing blogger Andrew Breitbart.
a public apology, GOProud was all but Barron has a penchant for brash com-
disinvited from the 2012 conference, and ments, and did not disappoint with his
right-wing lesbian radio host Tammy reaction to a boycott of CPAC by groups
Bruce had quit its board. such as Family Research Council and the
The group’s mission statement touts Heritage Foundation. I loved his descrip-
its commitment to “limited government, tion of the boycotters as fleeing to “the
individual liberty, free markets and a Island of Political Misfit Toys.” Even
confident foreign policy.” That’s a pret- gay blogger Joe Jervis, a frequent critic
28 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
of GOProud, told Metro Weekly’s Chris
Geidner that he approved of GOProud’s
“shit-stirring” presence at CPAC.
GOProud invited egotistical blowhard
Donald Trump to CPAC and drooled all
over him as he boasted of being pro-life
and anti-gun-control, though its straw-poll
write-in campaign for him fizzled. But
Barron had to apologize for telling Geidner
that Republican power attorney Cleta
Mitchell is “a nasty bigot.” I can vouch
for the accuracy of the comment, having
witnessed Mitchell’s vicious and dishonest
testimony against D.C.’s marriage-equality
law. Cries of “bigot,” however, are some-
thing conservatives do not want to hear
in response to attacks on gay families. The
GayPatriot blog, usually a GOProud ally,
said Barron’s comment “crossed a line.”
The new chair of the American
Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, told
FrumForum on Feb. 10, “It’s going to
be difficult to continue the relationship
[with GOProud] because of their behav-
ior and attitude,” and stated he would
keep Mitchell as ACU Foundation chair-
man. Faced with the choice of dropping
the Misfit Toys or the homocons, ACU
appears ready to banish the homocons.
Jervis commented, “If you call a bigot a
bigot, you don’t get to play with bigots.
Seems fair enough.”
GOProud’s Homocon 2010 keynoter
Ann Coulter spoke at CPAC and answered
a question about GOProud by claiming, “I
talked them into dropping the gay-mar-
riage plank.” Then she accused liberals of
using gays to destroy the family. Speaking
of being used, it says nothing good about
GOProud that they let themselves be
used by this say-anything opportunist
who makes gratuitous smears into per-
formance art.
Barron is right that we cannot win
over conservative voters by slapping a
Republican label on the same old lib-
eral talking points. We have to reach
conservatives where they are, which
requires that we respect them, listen and
learn to speak their language — a task
complicated, incidentally, by the current
dominance of the GOP by radicals whose
proposals bear little resemblance to tra-
ditional conservatism.
In any case, it is unclear how GOProud
advances the interests of gay people if its
main role is making snarky comments,
throwing parties and helping anti-abor-
tionists. Maybe its real purpose is to give
us a fresh appreciation for the folks at
Log Cabin.
Richard J. Rosendall can be reached at
rrosendall@starpower.net. l
 LGBTOpinion
An Achievement to Celebrate
HIV tests in 2010 – nearly 1,000 more
than in 2009.
Our high quality of care indicators
Blanchon points to tough decisions and hard work exceed national numbers.
And nearly 90 percent of our patients
returning WWC to financial stability surveyed described their care as “Good”
or “Very Good.”
about our decisions. We could not be prouder or more
by Donald Blanchon Our results from the last two years excited about our accomplishments in
show that the board’s strategic decision 2010. And we’re very excited about our
to be a health center is, in fact, the right prospects for 2011 and beyond.
Last week, course for Whitman-Walker. However, one year does not make a
Whitman-Walker The facts speak for themselves: trend. We still have a lot of work to do to
Clinic shared with The clinic has seen a projected gain ensure the clinic continues to be a vibrant
the community good of more than $890,000 in 2010, the first health care resource for the community.
news. We reported time Whitman-Walker has been in the To do that, we will continue to need
an operating gain for black since 2001. the support of the community. Become a
2010. In other words, 30 percent increase in patients from patient here, whether you have insurance
our total revenues 2009 to 2010 from more than 10,000 to or not. Make a donation or sign up and
exceeded our total nearly 13,000. About half of our patients raise money for the 25th annual AIDS
operating expenses. self-identify as LGBT. Walk this fall. Volunteer to help give HIV
Why is this newsworthy? Because, for Revenue from private insurance, tests or care for our patients.
more than a decade, the clinic’s financial Medicaid, Medicare and D.C. Healthcare On behalf of the entire Whitman-
viability has been a persistent question Alliance has more than tripled since 2007, Walker family, I want to thank you for
among D.C.’s LGBT community. reaching more than $4.2 million in 2010. your strong support of us over the years.
Six years ago we hit our low point of Now a mix of revenue sources, while I hope you will continue that support as
being unable to make payroll for the first including private fundraising and gov- we move into a bright future.
time in our history. In both 2007 and 2008, ernment grants, is not overly reliant on
we posted losses of more than $4 million. them for most of our operating funds. Donald Blanchon is the executive director
We then reduced our operating loss to just WWC administered more than 11,000 of Whitman-Walker Clinic. l
$750,000 in 2009. And, in 2010, we posted
a gain of more than $800,000.
Back in the 2005 crisis, our board of
directors was at a strategic crossroads
with the clinic’s operating model. The
board needed to make an important
choice: continue to operate as an AIDS
service organization and rely predomi-
nantly on government grants and pri-
vate fundraising, or become a full-ser-
vice community health center reliant on
health care payments from insurers.
In the end, our board elected to move
Whitman-Walker Clinic to a health cen-
ter model. The decision to become a full-
service community health center was not
just a financial one. It goes back to our
roots. The clinic’s founders envisioned a
place where the LGBT community could
receive high-quality, competent and
affirming health care. Our decision five
years ago reaffirmed that vision and put
us on the road to fully achieve it.
And now, five years later, at the advent
of health care reform, our directors’ deci-
sion proved a very wise one.
Our transition to health center
required us to make some tough deci-
sions and sacrifices. It forced us to close
some programs and facilities and lay off
employees. This led to anger, resentment
and, in some circles, outright hostility

METROWEEKLY.com 29
 ABugg’s
Life From racy prose about his rowdy youth to sober takes
on more serious matters, Sean Bugg wrote his way to
an unexpected adulthood
Interview by Trey Graham • Photography by Julian Vankim
S
ean Bugg used to be the guy I’d run
into on the corner of 17th and Q as friends and
I made the stations of the weekend cross: JR.’s,
Cobalt, the long-gone Trumpets, which flour-
ished for a while in the downstairs space where
Chaos later reigned.
Now he’s the guy my other half and I run into at Tysons
Corner on a Saturday — shopping for a wing chair at Arhaus
before a 7:30 movie, rifling the racks in the men’s department
at the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. How the mighty (flighty)
have ... settled comfortably down.
In some ways that’s the defining arc of Boy Does World,
Bugg’s new collection of essays. It’s drawn partly from the
archives of a long-defunct Metro Weekly column called “The
Back Room” — firsthand, first-person observations on D.C.’s
1990s club scene, with regular excursions into associated bed-
rooms, bathrooms and back rooms — and partly from Bugg’s
more recent Op-Ed pieces, on topics from the pleasures of
introversion to the politics of marriage equality to his own
husband, Cavin Le, and the home they’ve made for them-
selves. (It’s in the same Virginia suburbs, ironically, that he
once poked fun at in print.) By turns the collection is cheer-
fully smutty, energizingly ornery, surprisingly sentimental.
No, not quite sentimental. Earnest. Though Bugg would
probably squirm at the word.
The book is also a kind of a professional cross-section
of the man. You see him stretching as a writer even as he
grows as a person; the columns progress from flashy if some-
30 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
times facile riffs on the week’s mischief to more artful, more
thoughtful meditations on more pressing matters. Among the
finest is “Stuck in the Middle,” an archly footnoted confession
of midlife crisis written a decade ago; it frames its insights
with a mature journalist’s mordant wit, though it’s not afraid
to employ a few of the brassy youthful flourishes that helped
Bugg land his gig.
An editorial note, if only because it’s a little unusual to be
the guy who profiles the guy who runs the magazine: Metro
Weekly co-publisher Randy Shulman invited me to interview
Bugg, whom I’ve known casually, if mostly as a colleague, for
15 years or so. (Though I did attend his wedding reception.)
No questions were submitted in advance. No topics were
deemed off-limits. And Bugg acknowledged at the outset that
I’d have to agree, before the fact, to any requests he might
make to go off the record; there’d be no shooting himself in
the foot, then asking me to apply a tourniquet. So if you’re just
here for the wrathful recap of that unfortunate Fishbowl D.C.
incident, you can save yourself the trouble and move along
to this week’s Coverboy interview. Like you haven’t read it
already.
If, however, you’d like to spend a little time with a fellow
you may think you already know — a Kentucky boy who loves
the city but misses the country, a man who spent a half-decade
talking about sex in public but who thinks of himself as shy, a
confessional writer who’s reluctant to say too much about the
people and the things that really matter to him — by all means,
let’s get started.
METRO WEEKLY: So you’ve got a magazine. Why a book?
SEAN BUGG: The honest answer is that it sat around for a really
long time, and I had a lot of people telling me, “You really
should put this stuff together.” And I needed to check some-
thing off the bucket list. It’s like the unfinished project of my
life to actually get this thing out.
MW: How much of your real self do you find now in those early
columns? And how do you feel about that guy?
BUGG: More than you think. I’ve always had people ask me
this. “Did you exaggerate, did you make things up?” You
always exaggerate a little bit for humor. But I never regret
anything that I’ve written. I certainly don’t regret most of the
things that I’ve done. I did tell my mom and my sister both,
“Well, what you should really do is read it from the back, and
when it gets to the point where you can’t take it anymore,
then you can stop.”
MW: I’m just going to guess that one potential stopping
point is going to be at the line, “Because I was out of Mrs.
Butterworth’s.”
BUGG: Yeah, that might be more than my sister can take.
Maybe even more than my husband can take. He hasn’t fin-
ished the book, either. The funny thing is, I remember writing
that line. I still remember the specific moment, and who it
was. It involved a soldier who was a friend of another soldier
boyfriend of mine, and it was very complex at the time. There
were deeper stories behind some of those things.
MW: For people who moved to the city more recently or who
haven’t always read Metro Weekly, explain what “The Back
Room” was.
BUGG: “The Back Room” originally was supposed to be a
straight-on sex humor column. I wrote this little essay about
my first time buying a dildo, which I wrote while I was sitting
around in the afternoon, searching for jobs and sending out
résumés. I sent it over to the other gay publication, and they
rejected it because they thought it was too tawdry.
MW: But then Randy Shulman got his hands on it?
BUGG: Somehow or other he got a copy of it through mutual
friends. The idea at first was that “The Back Room” would
be rotated among different writers, but then nobody else was
young and — my ego wants to say “fearless enough,” but actu-
ally it’s just “young and stupid enough” — to do that kind of
thing. So I ended up doing it every week. And it was mostly
just to fill up that back page, [but] it became kind of a standing
attraction for the magazine.
The amazing thing for me was, I moved here specifically
to be a writer, to be a journalist, and that unemployed period
where I wrote the dildo column was where I was trying to
figure out, “What the fuck is it that I actually want to do? Do I
actually want to be involved in this industry?” So it was actu-
ally really, really cool to be writing, and to have people know
me as a writer. You’re a writer — I think there’s a certain thrill
every time you’re recognized, or every time somebody says, “I
read what you wrote.” I love that.
MW: I used to refer to it as “the wan limelight of the byline.”
BUGG: I’ve loved that ever since I was a kid. It was really great
to finally kind of get something that I’d always wanted, which
was to have people say, “Oh, my God, I know your name. I
can’t believe you wrote that.”
MW: Did you realize that you were jumping into the deep end
with a weekly column and a weekly deadline?
32 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
BUGG: No, not at all. And when you do something like that
every week, you’re going to write some real stinkers on occa-
sion. So I left those out of the book, mercifully for everyone.
But, yeah, I had no idea. That’s why it turned into writing
about Granny back in Kentucky — because I had a fairly inter-
esting life, but it wasn’t that interesting.
MW: I would imagine that the discipline came in handy when
you started writing about things like cars and politics.
BUGG: Yeah. Being able to just sit down and do 550 to 800
words on any topic that anybody puts in front of you is one of
the core skills in journalism. And it’s funny that I really hadn’t
had that experience in D.C. I had been doing stuff like cover-
ing stupid taxes. I was a tax reporter for six hellish, brutal
months when I first came to D.C. Have I ever told you this?
MW: You have not, in fact, and I’m not sure I believe it.
BUGG: Prentice Hall Information Services. Back in the early
’90s. It was really cutting-edge technology: Every morning,
these businesspeople would get a fax [from PHIS] with the
latest information on taxes. So I was responsible for pulling
that information together, running to the IRS building every
morning and picking it up — because you didn’t get forms on
the Internet in those days. It was the most boring crap ever.
I got promoted because I actually was good at it — but I got
promoted to covering the Securities Exchange Commission,
and I had no fucking clue how the New York Stock Exchange
worked or anything else. And I would go to these briefings at
the SEC, and I had no idea what the hell they were talking
about. So that didn’t last very long before I was ushered out
the door to find other employment opportunities — which is
one of the things that led to that whole early-on career crisis.
MW: But there’s a difference between reporting a story and writ-
ing a column that has a voice.
BUGG: And the interesting thing is that I grew up thinking that
I wanted to be a reporter. I grew up on — do you remember
Lou Grant?
MW: Sure. Mary Tyler Moore spinoff. Ed Asner as an editor at
a big-city daily. But I didn’t watch it a lot.
BUGG: I watched it all the time. I loved that kind of stuff, and
I thought that that was what I wanted to do. The SEC thing
kinda taught me that it really wasn’t what I wanted to do.
When I started writing columns, that actually freed me up
a lot.
MW: There are traps that columnists can fall into, too, though.
BUGG: I had a really bad habit when I was writing “The Back
Room,” in particular, of writing to the headline — a lot of
times, what would come to me first is the headlines. “Impaled
on a white picket fence” was a phrase that came to me, and
then I wrote a column about it.
MW: There’s one headlined “Bad Trips,” about the horrors of a
hookup with someone who lived beyond the Potomac. We’re sit-
ting in the living room at your house in Falls Church now.
BUGG: I was kind of a dick about that stuff when I was young-
er. Though believe me — going to Leesburg for a trick when
you’re 20 years old....
You know, I still struggle with living in the suburbs,
because I actually love D.C. I grew up on a farm; I grew up
knowing everybody. You could see a car coming down the
road a mile away, and you’d know from the sound of it who
it was. Every time you’d go down the street, you’d see people
you know, and people recognize you. In D.C., in the gay com-
munity, it is a very, very small town. That drives some people
up the wall, and those people all go to Miami and New York.
For me, it’s very comforting.
But living in the suburbs is much better than I thought it
would be. I only moved here because my husband wanted to,
and if you’re lucky enough to find somebody who can put up
with you, you’re going to do what they want as much as you
can.
MW: There are probably some of your friends and acquaintances
who think of you mostly as the guy who edits the magazine.
There will be people who don’t know about this part of your
career writing these mildly naughty columns.
BUGG: Naughty is a good word.
MW: And there may be some people who do remember that
phase, and will be surprised to learn that you are now this
suburban guy with the husband. I wonder if there are a lot of
people who will be surprised to hear you use words like “shy,”
which you use a couple of times in the book, and “comfort,”
which you’ve just used to describe the way it is in a small and
close-knit community of people.
BUGG: I actually am a really, really painfully shy person. That
tends to surprise people because obviously...
MW: You’re also kind of a smartass. And you can be a bit of a
hardass — I don’t want to say “brawler,” not physically at least
— but you’ve been known to pick a fight.
BUGG: Yeah.
MW: So “shy” and “comfort” may surprise people.
BUGG: I think that’s only because of what I try to put out as a
]
public persona. I mean, I’m far less shy when I’m
writing. I can share things that I think would hor-
rify other people to say. I think it’s because I have “When I first came to D.C., I built a lot of my self-iden-
control over it. It seems very exhibitionist — it tification as a gay man around being wanted by other
seems very open, the antithesis of shy. But I have people and enjoying sex. Sex was fun. But sex was also
a lot of control over it, and there are a lot of things
I didn’t say — there were a lot of things about the
inner emotions that I don’t share.
It’s actually kind of funny because when you
use a term like “hardass” with me — I know I’m a smartass,
because I don’t really take many things from people particu-
larly seriously. I think most people who think they’re smart,
aren’t. I think most people who think they’re something,
generally aren’t. I don’t think I’m particularly smart either.
There are very few people that I actually consider smart and
talented and worthy of me thinking that they’re smart and tal-
ented. I think the rest of us tend to be struggling to be better
than we know we are. That’s so fucking pretentious!
MW: Impostor syndrome, right? I’ve always taken that as a sign
of at least moderate intelligence. Not a day goes by that I don’t
think somebody’s going to find me out as someone who’s pre-
tending to be good at what I do.
BUGG: Probably the hardest thing about putting that book
together was going back and re-reading my stuff, because
familiarity really breeds contempt when it’s your own work.
I don’t know if this is the kind of thing you want to say to sell
books, but it’s painful for me to read the earlier stuff. Because
even though I can recognize that it’s funny, and I’m happy
that I wrote it, I know that I would write something com-
pletely different today.
Stuff I do can end up being like a pale imitation of my par-
ticular heroes, but I know that I’m fairly good at what I do. I
make a living at what I do, and there’s a reason that I make a
living at what I do. I’ll be honest: I actually do think that I’m
a better writer than most of my contemporaries. That’s kinda
dick-y to say, but as critics and as readers and consumers of
culture, we all know that 90 percent is shit and 10 percent is
good.
MW: You don’t think, maybe, that 10 percent is good, and 90
percent is on a continuum from shitty to okay?
BUGG: You’re kind. [Laughs.]
MW: Maybe what I mean to say instead of “hardassed” is that
you go from 0 to 60 pretty quickly.
BUGG: I’m actually generally somebody who’s always going to
look for the quiet way, the happy way. I don’t like yelling; I
don’t like being nasty. But once it gets to a certain point, it’s
kinda like everything falls away, and then I just become as
nasty as shit. I’ve always said that I have my mom’s temper
but my dad’s control. I can really hold my temper beyond
what most people can, but once it breaks it’s like, God fucking
help anybody who’s in my way, because it really breaks.
I’m not actually that expressive a person in ways that mat-
ter to me, if that makes sense. The reason it’s so easy for me to
go to a sex joke, or to talk about things that I did in the past,
is because it’s easier for me to talk about that than it is for me
to talk about — for lack of a better example — why I love my
husband. That doesn’t expose me, because that stuff doesn’t
matter to me.
I think that’s what confuses people about me sometimes,
because people’s sexual behaviors tend to be the things that
really, really fucking dangerous in a lot of ways.
And I didn’t always make the right choices.”
make them clam up or get quiet or go in the closet. Those are
the things that tend to make people uncomfortable. I don’t
care about that. Things that make me — this is going to sound
so fucking pretentious — things that make me kind of ache on
the inside, things that make me just really kind of impossibly
happy, those are things I want to keep to myself. I don’t mind
being judged on sex. But I do mind being judged on those
kinds of things, the important things.
MW: Not everyone has read the book, and not everyone will, so
briefly: You’re from Western Kentucky?
BUGG: Fredonia, Ky. This little bitty town, not even the county
seat — I think it was maybe 1,000 people, if that. It’s probably
more like 800. The rest of the family were farmers. I grew
up with fields behind me, and to the side, and everything
belonged to various family members. My dad had an auto
body shop, so I grew up working on cars. Cars still mean
something to me, just because of the way I grew up but I also
grew up knowing that — well, when did you know that you
were different?
MW: I remember in sixth grade being intensely conscious of
whose locker I was sharing, and who was in the locker next to
me.
BUGG: I was getting ideas in third and fourth grade, pretty
METROWEEKLY.com 33
 early on. I was reading from an early age about stuff I
shouldn’t have been reading.
MW: You passed around romance novels. But you talk about one
particular book that you kept.
BUGG: The Boys in the Mailroom. Iris Rainer. It’s basically
a tawdry, tawdry fucking novel. There’s a scene very early
on about a bunch of 12-year-olds at a party, and they play
the game “Two Minutes in Heaven.” They tease one boy by
throwing another boy in with him, but he ends up giving this
12-year-old a blow job, or something. I’m not sure anybody
would write that anymore, because you’d have the Justice
Department on your doorstep.
MW: I remember the thrill that came from discovering the nov-
els of Gordon Merrick.
BUGG: [Laughs.] I think where I was going with that question
was: There were definitely expectations of how I was sup-
posed to turn out. I have an older cousin, Brent, about six
years older than me. My family will all die of embarrassment
when they read this, but he was just like this golden god in
a lot of ways, and I always felt like this was what I was sup-
posed to be. I always knew that I wasn’t.
Brent got married, and I was an usher in his wedding, and
he did everything perfectly and he was exactly what every-
body wanted him to be, and it came naturally. I didn’t want
to be that. I didn’t want to be a farmer, I didn’t want to be
a banker, I didn’t want to be a car-body repair guy, and — I
“The first time I brought Cavin home, it was kind of
a shock — I even joked that the Asian population in
Kentucky goes up by 2 percent every time he crosses
the border. And I know that we’re never going to be
viewed the same way as my sister and her husband are.”
don’t think I wrote this in the book — I went to my dad cry-
ing one day because I thought that he wanted me to take over
his business, and it finally got to the point where I was just
traumatized by it. “I don’t want to do this.” And he said, “I
don’t expect you to do this. I expect you to do what you want
with your life.”
MW: How old were you?
BUGG: I think I was in fourth grade. It might have been fifth.
It’s hard for me, because I love where I’m from. I love my
family and I love that part of the country in a lot of ways, but is that there are people that weren’t as lucky as I was. Or
it’s also something that I can’t be a part of.
MW: It’s easier to love from a distance.
BUGG: In some ways, yeah, but it still hurts actually to be at
a distance. There’s something that I don’t get out of life that
other people in my family did because they got to stay close
and they got to keep those relationships. And it’s weird how
that still hurts after 20-odd years. But you know, I take Cavin
home for Christmas. He comes home with me every year at
least once, and everybody is perfectly pleasant. We’re born and
raised Southern, so you’re polite, but there’s a distance. I know To be gay in the ’80s was to get AIDS and die. I had a cousin
the first time I brought Cavin home, it was kind of a shock —
because I even joked that the Asian population in Kentucky
goes up by at least 2 percent every time he crosses the border.
And I know that we’re never going to be viewed the same way
as my sister and her husband are.
34 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
MW: Is any of this connected to what we talked about earlier?
The imposter-syndrome stuff?
BUGG: If you’re spending a good portion of your life construct-
ing a persona that hides certain things about yourself, be it
that you’re gay or be it that you’re not the good son that you
think your parents want you to be, I think yeah, you do get to
a point where you always believe that there’s going to be a dis-
connect between what people see and what you actually are.
I always want people to see me as intelligent and witty and all
these other kind of things, but still I don’t feel that way.
God, it’s depressing! Nobody is gonna buy my book now.
Thank God you’re asking questions about things other than
blow jobs.
MW: You’ve published a lot of interviews of this sort. What’s the
question you most don’t want me to ask?
BUGG: There are a lot of candidates for that. [Laughs.] Probably
I would be hesitant to answer — but if you asked it I would —
about exactly how self-destructive my behaviors were when I
was that age, when I was doing that kind of stuff.
MW: In the “Back Room” columns?
BUGG: Yes. I’ll just throw that out there and see where you
want to go with it.
MW: We’re both about the same age, right?
BUGG: I just turned 43. We’re certainly contemporaries.
MW: You’re older than I am. When did you move to D.C.?
BUGG: June 1989.
]
MW: We’re actually almost exactly the same age, and
we came to D.C. from small towns within six months
or a year of each other. To me, that meant that I had
grown up just late enough, and gotten to the city just
late enough, to miss the horrible years, and that I’d
learned just enough to keep myself alive.
BUGG: Right. I mean, I consider myself really, really
fucking lucky. When I first came to D.C., sex was
a very important part of who I was as a young gay
man. Whether that was a pathological need or not, I don’t
know. But I built a lot of my self-identification as a gay man
around being wanted by other people and enjoying sex. Sex
was fun. But, you know, when you and I moved here, and
when we were just coming up, sex was also really, really fuck-
ing dangerous in a lot of ways. And I didn’t always make the
right choices.
But I got out of it. I think if there is anything — I don’t
really regret anything that I’ve done — the only thing I regret
maybe I was lucky enough to make the wrong decisions at a
time when it didn’t have as big an implication. Other people
made the same decisions with somebody where it had a lot
more repercussions.
That’s the hardest thing for me, the feeling that — God,
this is so morose, and actually kind of narcissistic at the same
time — I always felt like I was going to be one of those people.
I always thought I’d be one of the people who died. Because
in a lot of ways that’s what we were told when we were young.
who moved to Atlanta and came back to die, very quietly. And
as my grandmother told me, “You know he went blind before
he died.”
That’s why, going back to what we talked about earlier,
why am I talking about comfort? Why I talk about acceptance,
marketplace

METROWEEKLY.com 35
 if I even used that word? And why I look happy living in the
suburbs? I’m so fucking lucky to be able to do that. It’s hard
for me to even express how fortunate I am to even be able to
experience it, and to have somebody who’s far more stable
than I’ve ever been, and who can put up with the fact that I’ve MW: I actually meant to turn that around, to turn it into a ques-
been through all these different things. You and I have very
similar life experiences. Cavin and I have radically different
life experiences.
MW: The book ends with you here, cooking Thanksgiving dinner
for your extended family, with Cavin and your in-laws. So I
don’t want this conversation to not include some specifics about enough liberals read P.J. O’Rourke. If you go back to his old
your partner and his family. Give me the short version of how
that came to be.
BUGG: It was very “sitcommy” in a lot of ways. After I got out
of the early “Back Room” phase of my life, I went through
this kind of transition, figuring out what I wanted to do and
how I wanted to structure my life. One of the things I did
was start to play tennis again, and I got involved with the
local gay tennis group. I dated a couple of people within the
group, because we’re gay men and that’s what gay men do,
and I dated another guy — this will probably cause all kinds
of drama, saying this — another guy who was Vietnamese.
And we were all friends, me and this guy and Cavin and a
number of other people, and when that relationship broke
“Writing advice columns is one of the biggest scams out
there. Nobody can tell anybody how to live your life. The
only thing you can do is experience your life, figure out what
you fucked up, figure out how not to fuck it up the next time
and then see if you can move forward — knowing you’re going
to fuck other stuff up.”
up, we were all still friends. But I had this horrible crush on
Cavin that went on for months, because I just didn’t know
what to do with it. Always sitting in the room and just kind
of mooning, because we’re friends and he’s friends with the
guy I used to date.
But I finally got up the nerve to ask him out and it all kind BUGG: And if you are unmoved by everything, really you’re
of worked out. That sounds so boring, doesn’t it?
MW: Well, considering that you used to make a living writing
about how to snag a guy in a bar or at a sex party...
BUGG: I was never able to write about how to keep them.
MW: What would you write now — serious advice about finding
somebody who matters?
BUGG: Be ready for it. I was trying really hard for something I
wasn’t ready to do. That’s why some of the relationships I’ve
had in the past didn’t work out — because I wasn’t quite ready
to leave behind a lot of other stuff.
You know, that sounds really trite. I don’t know. To be honest,
I wouldn’t write a fucking advice column now. I just wouldn’t
do it, because I think writing advice columns is one of the big- was bullshit. Everybody in this business goes through that
gest scams out there. Nobody actually knows any of this shit.
Nobody can tell anybody how to live your life. Nobody can
say, “This is exactly what you need to do,” or “You have this
crush on this person and this is how you should react.” The
only thing you can do is experience your life, figure out what
you fucked up, figure out how not to fuck it up the next time
and then see if you can move forward — knowing you’re going
to fuck other stuff up.
36 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
MW: You just undermined the small industry that is Dan
Savage.
BUGG: You know, Dan Savage is Dan Savage. Not to disparage
Dan, but...
tion. Something along the lines of: You cite Miss Manners a few
times, and P.J. O’Rourke. Are there other smartass writers you
admire?
BUGG: Miss Manners doesn’t get enough credit for being
the smartass that she is. She is a horrible smartass. And not
stuff — I never would have dreamed of writing that old piece
about why you should never give your cat cocaine.
MW: Are there other writers you like?
BUGG: David Foster Wallace. What amazes me about him,
other than just the raw talent, is that somebody who obvi-
ously was so depressive and so mentally troubled could be so
funny. He taught me that you don’t have to be ashamed of not
being ironic. You can actually feel things and believe things
and express those things. That to me was a real revelation
in terms of how I experienced literature, how I experienced
other writers.
MW: I have a colleague who likes to point to the popularity of
Glee, and to celebrate the relative success of Jimmy Fallon
]
in his late-night gig, as evidence that the public
appetite is turning toward exactly that — a sort of
understanding that a little bit of joy is necessary,
and that it need not come with commentary.
BUGG: To some extent I would kind of agree with
that. On the other hand, after 9/11, everybody
proclaimed the death of irony, and look where it
got us. Living life without irony when you can do
that is important, and that’s why I say Wallace
is important. A straight-on, non-ironic approach to life in all
situations? I’d claw my eyes out. I would not be able to suffer
that. But feeling — just feeling — is a valid thing. You don’t
have to have an excuse for feeling.
MW: You don’t have to be unmoved by everything.
kind of a sociopath. There’s a good textbook definition. Sorry,
Larry David.
MW: Let’s talk business. If the price of newsprint were to triple
tomorrow, what would you do with yourself?
BUGG: Go online. [Laughs.]
MW: Wait, didn’t I read in Fishbowl D.C. that you did that?
BUGG: The high school yearbook of D.C. media.
MW: Yes. Sometime ago, they announced the sudden demise of
Metro Weekly.
BUGG: They announced that we were going online only in
three weeks. That was about two years ago, and I think we’ve
proven that we’re not going online only. The Fishbowl thing
sort of thing, so everybody in print has had their demise pre-
dicted multiple times. And for a lot of us, it hasn’t happened.
MW: Okay, then, what would you do if you couldn’t do this?
BUGG: Not catering. People ask, “Are you still catering?” And
I’m like “no.” I loved doing that. But it’s really fucking hard to
make money as a one-person catering outfit. Not something I
would recommend.
MW: What haven’t I asked you that I should have?
BUGG: “How much do you love your hus-
band?” I don’t know — is there anything
that you were afraid to ask me?
MW: Not especially. I should probably ask
about what appears to me and to other
people to be bad blood between Metro
Weekly and the Blade.
BUGG: Actually, I think that might be an
off-the-record conversation.
MW: Hmmmm.
BUGG: On the record, it’s all fine. [Laughs.]
Like most other cities, it’s a pretty com-
petitive media market. We all do throw
a lot of sharp elbows from time to time. I
think that regardless of what we all may
think of each other, we’re all pretty pas-
sionate about what we do.
I’ll say this: I’m really, really proud
of what we’ve accomplished at Metro
Weekly. And even taking into account the
whole meta, narcissistic nature of this
entire conversation, we’ve done some-
thing that very few other people in the
country have been able to do, which is
to launch a gay publication and keep it
alive for more than two or three years. I
mean, we’re 17 this year. To last five years
is amazing. To last 17 years in a city that
already had what was once the nation’s
premier LGBT publication, I’m pretty
fuckin’ proud of that.
MW: You were a member of ACT-UP back
in the day. If you were going to be activist
about anything now, what would it be?
BUGG: If I’m going to be selfish, mar-
riage. If I were smart enough to go out-
side of myself a little bit, I would be
working on transgender issues. I don’t
think LGBT issues are all the same. But
they’re related, and I think that based
on our own experiences — gay, lesbian,
bisexual people — we need to put a little
more into that. If there’s anything that
Metro Weekly has taught me, that’s it.
The number of stories I’ve had to publish
about transgender people being killed,
that should give everybody pause.
That’s the thing I hope I would be
working on. What I will probably be
working on is marriage, because I’m a
self-involved, selfish person. Like every-
body.

Boy Does World ($22.95) by Sean Bugg

is available on Amazon.com and at select
bookstores.

Trey Graham is a theater critic for the

Washington City Paper and an arts editor
at NPR. l
38 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
 scene
HER HRC Party
Sunday, February 13
Town

Photography by
Ward Morrison

PURCHASE YOUR photo AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE/ 39

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42 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
 &
arts stage
Modern
Approach

t
leisure
Luis Alfaro got turned on
to the theater when he was 15 as part
of community service — literally. “I
actually got arrested for shoplifting
at Olvera Street, which is a tourist
site in L.A.,” he explains. Offered a
choice of community service at a jail
or theater, he leapt to the latter.
And it was through that commu-
nity service that the Angeleno, who
grew up “in a really religious family...
in a very violent, very poor neighbor-
hood,” met a New York playwright
and started honing his craft. “Once
it kind of hit me, it hit me immedi-
ately,” he says. “Oh my God, this is
my calling.”
Now 49, Alfaro, an assistant
professor in the dramatic writing
program at University of Southern
California, is still serving his com-
munity through theater. He’s written
plays informed by his experience as
a gay Latino, “always the ‘other’ in
a very macho-oriented culture and
society.”
Recently, Alfaro has been branch-
ing out into television and film. He
wrote the screenplay for the new
film From Prada to Nada, which he
describes as “an adaptation of Sense
and Sensibility for Latinos.”
Currently, Woolly Mammoth is
staging his adaptation of Sophocles’s
Oedipus Rex, about struggling to
escape a predetermined fate. Oedipus
el Rey is set in the barrio, starring
a juvenile delinquent. Alfaro is fas-
cinated by the lingering resonance
of ancient tales, and often hears
echoes of the stories when he meets
with struggling Latino youth. “[In
Oedipus], here’s this young man who
wants to be a king, who wants to
control his own destiny, but the gods
have another plan for him,” he says.
“Fourteen hundred years later we’re
still living out these myths in our cul-
ture.” — Doug Rule

Oedipus el Rey runs to March 6 at

todd franson

Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW.

Tickets are $30 to $65. Call 202-393-
3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.

METROWEEKLY.com 43
Compiled by Doug Rule
SPOTLIGHT
ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI
The latest Broadway performer featured in Barbara
Cook’s Spotlight, tenor Alexander Gemignani has
starred in Sunday in the Park with George, Les
Misérables and Sweeney Todd — and he’s only 30
years old! Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy
Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $45. Call 202-
467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
AMC THEATRE’S BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE
Feel like going on an Oscar Bender? With 10 nomi-
nated films at the 2011 Academy Awards, seeing all
of them in one day is nigh impossible — so AMC
Theatres has tweaked its five-year-old formula,
this year dividing screenings over two Saturdays
of all 10 films nominated: 127 Hours, Black Swan,
Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The Fighter, The
King’s Speech, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True
Grit and Winter’s Bone. Back-to-back Saturdays,
Feb. 19 and 26. AMC Georgetown Cinema, 3111 K
St. NW. A one-day pass goes for $35 and a two-day
pass is $60. Now that’s a bargain! (You’ll spend
more on the popcorn.) Call 202-342-6441 or visit
amctheatres.com/promos/showcase.
BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE DANCE COMPANY
The ever-provocative dance company, led by the
great Tony Award-winning choreographer Jones,
offers a performance of “Fondly Do We Hope…
Fervently Do We Pray,” its tribute to the life and
legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Tickets remain only
for Thursday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m., followed by a free
post-performance discussion with members of the
company. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.
Tickets are $22 to $65. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.
CLARENCE LUSANE
The Black History Of The White House recounts the
stories of the black laborers who built the White
House as well as the scandal concerning Booker T.
Washington and Teddy Roosevelt that earned the
building its name. Lusane is a professor at American
University and former editor of the Black Political
Agenda. Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Politics and
Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-364-
1919 or visit politics-prose.com.
CRYSTAL CITY’S 1K WINE WALK
In partnership with the Crystal City Business
Improvement District, the Washington Wine
Academy offers a “wine walk” through the interior
walkways of Crystal City, with “hydration stations”
and a former food court turned tasting lounge.
The event includes information about and tastes of
nearly 40 wines from around the world. Saturday,
Feb. 26, and Sunday, Feb. 27, offered in hourly
heats from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Crystal City Shops and
Interior Walkways, 2200 Crystal Drive. Arlington.
Tickets are $30. Call 202-306-5533 or visit
washingtonwineacademy.org.
44 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
FEBRUARY 17 - 24, 2011
GREASE SING-ALONG
American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre presents
a new “Sing-A-Long” 35mm print, with animated
subtitles, of the popular 1978 movie-musical star-
ring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as high
school sweethearts. Oh Grease lightning! Friday,
Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7:45 p.m. and
10 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb.
21, at 7 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 24, at 9:30 p.m. AFI
Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $11 general admission. Call 301-495-
6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.
KATHY GRIFFIN
Griffin’s hit a rough patch of late. Last Sunday, she
lost in her third bid for a Grammy for Best Comedy
Album, this time to Lewis Black. Last November,
Bravo announced it was canceling her Emmy-
winning reality show My Life On The D-List after
six seasons. But her heart will go on…to Broadway,
naturally. She’ll make her debut there next month
for a short run just long enough to be eligible for a
Tony nomination. First, she returns to D.C. for some
stand-up laughs. Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb.
26, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets
are $44.50 to $62. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.
MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET
With Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet, gay playwright
Tarell Alvin McCraney returns Studio Theatre audi-
ences to San Pere, La., a housing project that sits
somewhere between folklore and reality. The title
character is the 16 year-old son of Oba and the now
deceased Elegba. Rumor is that Marcus’s father was
“sweet” — gay — like Marcus, but that’s not a sub-
ject for open discussion. But Marcus is not simply a
coming out story. True to form, McCraney has set
this action against an oncoming hurricane, a storm
Marcus believes he has seen in a dream whose
deeper meaning sets some in San Pere scrambling
for higher ground. Closes this Sunday, Feb. 20.
Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Tickets are
$35 to $65. Call 202-332-3300 or visit
studiotheatre.org. (Tom Avila)
ROCK & ROLL
The Washington Ballet touts “Rock & Roll” as
an edgy program featuring Christopher Bruce’s
Rooster, set to the music of the Rolling Stones, Trey
McIntyre’s autobiographical High Lonesome, set
to the music of Beck, and a revival of Fluctuating
Hemlines by the ballet’s Septime Webre. Thursday,
Feb. 17, through Saturday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. Also
Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 20,
at 1 p.m. Sidney Harman Hall, Harman Center for
the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $87. Call
202-547-1122 or visit washingtonballet.org.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
HHHHH
Arena Stage’s transporting production of Mary
Zimmerman’s The Arabian Nights offers a magic
carpet ride through several dozen delightful
Arabian anecdotes and allegories, lessons in life
passed down through the centuries. Zimmerman
grows yet another metaphorical garden in D.C., so
soon after her spectacular Candide at Shakespeare
Theatre in December. She creates a feast for the
eyes and guides us through yet more exotic lands,
revealing just how foreign humanity’s concept of
foreignness ultimately is. Closes this Sunday, Feb.
20. The Fichlander Theater at the Mead Center for
American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $55
to $70. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.
(Doug Rule)
THE LAST LIONS
National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence
Dereck and Beverly Joubert make a compelling
moral and economic case for why lions and other
big cats need greater protection. Today there are
only around 20,000 lions in Africa, down from close
to a half-million 50 years ago. And unlike elephants,
lions are virtually unprotected by any government
mandate or international accord against poaching.
Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call
202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
THE LOW ANTHEM
Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams
— all students of classical composition — combine
folk and blues arrangements with chamber music
and even gospel. The Rhode Island band cre-
ates often melancholic music: quiet, intimate, full
of longing, and often hauntingly beautiful. IMP
presents another D.C. concert by the band the
same week its new set Smart Flesh sees release.
Thursday, Feb. 24. Doors at 7 p.m. Sixth & I
Historic Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $20.
Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.
TONY KUSHNER
The University of Maryland Clarice Smith
Performing Arts Center and its School of Theatre,
Dance and Performance Studies presents a conver-
sation with the gay Pulitzer/Emmy/Obie/Tony-
winning playwright and screenwriter. He’ll discuss
his works, including Caroline, or Change, Steven
Spielberg’s Munich and the epic masterpiece Angels
in America. A reception and book signing follows
the free event. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 p.m. Clarice
Smith Center’s Dekelboum Concert Hall, University
of Maryland, University Boulevard and Stadium
Drive. College Park. Tickets are free. Call 301-405-
ARTS or visit claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.
FILM
EVEN THE RAIN
Gael García Bernal stars as an idealistic Spanish
director out to show how Columbus exploited
indigenous people in the New World. And yet,
that’s exactly what he and his film crew do too in
this subtitled film by Icíar Bollaín, in which the
spread of capitalism is compared to that of Spanish
imperalism. A multinational company aims to priva-
tize water in Bolivia, which sparks public demon-
strations and threatens the film’s schedule. Opens
Friday, Feb. 18. Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555
11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.
METROWEEKLY.com 45

Amanda Williams
Comer
Spoofing Hollywood
Landless Theatre Company’s Mash-Up Festival
spoofs Hollywood hits
T his weekend and next, Clay Comer plays a gay porn star
at the DC Arts Center. “[Clay Comer] is 6-foot-5, a young, incredibly beau-
tiful, incredibly built man,” says Chris Griffin, who cast the actor as the lead in
his short play TarXXXanadu. The musical parodies both Tarzan and Xanadu
— and it’s set at a gay-porn studio.
While there isn’t actual sex or full-frontal nudity in the production, Griffin
notes that “you get to see a lot of hot boys running around scantily clad....
Tarzan’s loincloth is pretty ridiculously small. And he does cartwheels.”
TarXXXanadu is just one of four short plays staged by Landless Theatre
Company for its inaugural Mash-Up Festival. The festival grew out of a staged
mash-up of Hollywood hits that Griffin had created at last year’s Capital Fringe
Festival, Carrie Potter at the New Moon Prom.
Griffin has made a name for himself in the edgier outer reaches of
Washington theater, from his former affiliation with the outrageous Cherry
Red Productions to his work in the musical comedy trio Eva Brontosaurus.
Most people know him by his drag alter ego, Lucretia Blozia.
Griffin dons drag to star in the similarly adult-only play paired with
TarXXXanadu, Gleeam, written by Landless artistic director Andrew Baughman.
The show spoofs Glee and Scream. “I am the dumb slut, the Brittany role on
Glee,” says Griffin. “I have a duet called ‘Public Lesbian Makeout.’”
Landless’s earlier, all-ages show includes Kerri Sheehan’s All That Jaws,
which Griffin describes as “pretty Fosse,” and Jon Gann’s Pii-Wii’s Big
Poseidon Adventure. The Shelly Winters role is played by an actor in drag.
Griffin is already scheming about next year’s festival. Right now, he’s torn
between ideas: either Rocky Horror Picture Showgirls or Josie and the Pussycats
Kill Kill. — Doug Rule
The Mash-up Festival runs Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
for the all-ages show and 10 p.m. for adults only. District of Columbia Arts Center
(DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $25 each show, or $40 for both. Call 202-
462-7833 or visit dcartscenter.org or landlesstheatrecompany.org.
46 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
I AM NUMBER FOUR
Alex Pettyfer stars as a young man with special
abilities who tries to elude folks out to kill him, as
they did with three men before him. The action-
packed thriller from D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) prom-
ises “intense sequences of violence and action.”
Scared yet? Opens Friday, Feb. 18. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.
RASPUTIN: THE MAD MONK
The Washington Psychotronic Film Society, dedi-
cated to independent, experimental, low-budget,
off-the-beaten-path filmmaking, presents a weekly
Tuesday night screening series. Next week offers
the 1966 “not-so-quite-historically-correct film” by
Don Sharp starring Christopher Lee — the knighted
British actor, famous for playing Dracula, not the
just-resigned U.S. Congressman, infamous for seek-
ing infidelity on Craigslist. Lee plays the rascally
monk who somehow mesmerized a whole town.
Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. The Passenger, 1021 7th
St. NW. Screenings are free but donations are sug-
gested. Call 202-462-3356 or visit wpfs.org.
TWELVE THIRTY
After critical praise for an unflinching look at the
rise and fall of a marriage in the indie film Flannel
Pajamas, Jeff Lipsky now explores the relation-
ship between mothers and daughters, focusing on
a two-daughter, single-mother household, with
an estranged father and a manipulating wannabe
boyfriend. Lipsky will be at Avalon for audience
Q&As this weekend. Opens Friday, Feb. 18. Avalon
Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are
$10.50. Call 202-966-6000 or visit theavalon.org.
UNKNOWN
A man awakens from a coma only to learn that
someone has stolen his identity and that no one, not
even his wife, believes he is the real man. Sounds a
little far-fetched, but with this thrilling cast — Liam
Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn,
Frank Langella — you just might believe it. Opens
Friday, Feb. 18. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
STAGE
AN ALMOST HOLY PICTURE
Maryland-based playwright Heather McDonald’s
Pulitzer Prize-nominated work follows one man’s
odyssey from Massachusetts to New Mexico, from
despair to triumph, heeding a mysterious voice
(God?) heard as a child. Tony Tsedneas directs.
Closes this Sunday, Feb. 20. Rep Stage, 10901 Little
Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are $20
to $24. Call 443-518-1500 or visit repstage.org.
BASRA BOY
The Keegan Theatre offers a look at the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan and their impact on the streets
of Belfast. A world premiere written by Rosemary
Jenkinson, directed by Abigail Isaac and starring
Josh Sticklin, the one-man-show Basra Boy runs in
repertory with The Weir now to March 12. Church
Street Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are
$25. Call 703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.com.
CHARMING BILLY
Blake Robison adapts Bethesda writer Alice
McDermott’s National Book Award-winning novel
in this world premiere production, offering a mas-
terful look at how a community can pin its dreams
to one man, and how good intentions can be as
destructive as the truth they were meant to hide.
The cast includes Julie Ann Elliot, Molly Cahill
Govern, Mitchell Hébert, Kathryn Kelley, Amy
McWilliams and David Whalen. Closes this Sunday,
Feb. 20. Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West
Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are $25 to $60. Call
240-644-1100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Helen Hayes Award-winner Bernardine Mitchell
(Mahalia, Three Sistahs) returns to MetroStage to
tell the story of the legendary Ethel Waters, the
blues and jazz vocalist and actress, only the second
African American nominated for an Oscar. Larry
Parr wrote the script, Gary Yates directs with musi-
cal direction by S. Renee Clark and accompaniment
by William Knowles. Mary Millben (Arena’s Crowns
and Sophisticated Ladies) will fill in for Mitchell
as Ethel Waters at select performances. To March
20. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria.
Tickets are $45 to $50. Call 800-494-8497 or visit
metrostage.org.
ONE FLEA SPARE
Naomi Wallace’s bawdy Black Plague comedy
explores the limits of compassion in a tale about
sex, class and disease. Alexander Strain directs
Forum Theatre’s production of the play, which
won the 1997 Obie Award for Best Play. Andy
Brownstein, Davis Hasty, Nanna Ingvarsson, Sarah
Taurchini and David Winkler star. Opens Thursday,
Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. To March 12. Forum Theatre:
Round House Theatre-Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville
Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $25. Call 240-644-
1099 or visit forumtd.org.
PERSEUS BAYOU
The kid-friendly Imagination Stage transplants
the classic Greek myth of pride and redemption
into post-Civil War Louisiana, with gods Athena
and Hermes transformed into an African conjure
woman and a spirit-cat, respectively. Andromeda
is a tomboy. And the whole thing becomes a musi-
cal with puppetry and dance. Now to March 13.
Imaginationa Stage’s Annette M. and Theodore
N. Lerner Family Theatre, 4908 Auburn Ave.
Bethesda. Tickets are $10 to $22. Call 301-280-1660
or visit imaginationstage.org.
Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (all-ages) and 10 p.m. (adults-
only). District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC),
2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $25 each show, or
$40 for both. Call 202-462-7833 or visit dcartscen-
ter.org or landlesstheatrecompany.org.
THE WEIR
Set in a pub in rural Ireland, Conor McPherson’s
drama focuses on the bar’s regulars and a young
Dublin woman newly moved to the area. Keegan
Theatre’s Mark A. Rhea directs the production,
starring David Jourdan, Kevin Adams, Susan Marie
Rhea, Jon Townson and Mick Tinder, running in
repertory with Basra Boy now to March 13. Church
Street Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are
$35. Call 703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.com.
 
MUSIC
CYPRESS STRING QUARTET
In the multi-media program called “Inspired by
America,” this quartet combines live music, original
film from Emmy Award-winner Michael Schwarz
and spoken word from author Jacob Needleman.
The quartet performs selections from, among oth-
ers, Barber, Dvořák, Ives, Higdon and Coleman for
the concert. Friday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. The Barns at
Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna. Tickets are $35.
Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop leads the orchestra in a semi-staged
production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute with
guest vocalists as well as singers from Washington
National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist
Program and from the Baltimore Choral Arts
Society. Michael Ehrman directs the full-length
comic opera in its original German with English
surtitles and English narration by Tony Tsendeas.
Thursday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. The Music Center at
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Also Saturday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb.
27, at 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212
Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $14 to $88. Call
410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.
CHARLOTTE COHN
A regular performer at Baltimore’s Center
Stage, Cohn is best known for her work in Baz
Luhrmann’s Broadway spectacle La Bohème. She
returns to Center Stage for her cabaret show,
“Simply Complicated: The Elegant Escapades of
a Danish-Israeli Opera-Singing Tank Commander,”
featuring an international set list, from Yiddish folk
tunes to the Beatles to Nunsense and Fiddler on the
Roof. Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25,
and Saturday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb.
27, at 2 p.m. Center Stage, 700 North Calvert St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $35. Call 410-986-4000 or
visit centerstage.org.
DRUMLINE LIVE
More than 40 musicians and performers from
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are
showcased in this show, honoring the black march-
ing band tradition, with explosive choreographed
routines set to bold, high-energy beats and tunes
from Top 40 pop and hip-hop, swing, even Gospel.
Saturday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Tickets are $20 to $60. Call 410-783-8000 or
visit bsomusic.org.
 
JONATHAN EDWARDS
The veteran folk singer/songwriter was raised in
Northern Virginia and became a regular at local
clubs while in college. But after opening gigs for

THE HOMECOMING
Harold Pinter’s classic about a prodigal son Teddy,
whose return home with his wife Ruth is less
than pleasant. Roles reverse, long-buried secrets
surprise and words become weapons. Irene Lewis
directs a cast featuring Steven Epp, Felicity Jones,
Laurence O’Dwyer, Jarlath Conroy, Trent Dawson
and Sebastian Naskaris. Closes this Sunday, Feb.
20. Center Stage, 700 North Calvert St., Baltimore.
Tickets are $15 to $55. Call 410-986-4000 or visit
centerstage.org.

THE INNOCENT ERÉNDIRA...

GALA Hispanic Theatre presents this play, known
in Spanish as La Cándida Eréndira, based on a novel
by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez, as
adapted by Jorge Alí Triana and Carlos José Reyes.
Eréndira’s grandmother forces the girl to sell her-
self as retribution for accidentally burning down
the family home. But what was once a tragic tale is
a black comedy in Triana’s innovative adaptation,
revealing possibilities never imagined in the original
story. Performed in Spanish with English surtitles.
To Feb. 27. GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333
14th St. NW. Tickets are $32 to $36. Call 202-234-
7174 or visit galatheatre.org.

THE MASH-UP FESTIVAL

Landless Theatre Company presents two shows
featuring two original “mash-up” parodies of
Hollywood classics each from four local play-
wrights, whose titles are mostly self-explanatory:
Kerri Sheehan’s All That Jaws (Jaws meets All That
Jazz, or how Broadway might tackle the sea thrill-
er) and Jon Gann’s Pii-Wii’s Big Poseidon Adventure
are for the early, all-ages show, while Chris Griffin’s
gay porn-centered TarXXXanadu and Andrew
Baughman’s Gleeam (Glee meets Scream) are adult-
themed later showings. With each mash-up running
approximately 30 minutes, the shows have a sketch-
comedy feel to them. Fridays and Saturdays through
METROWEEKLY.com 47
the likes of the Allman Brothers Band and the B.B.
King, his career took off.
Friday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701
Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $24.
Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.
JULIETA VENEGAS
The popular Mexican-American Spanish rock
singer-songwriter has won five Latin Grammys and
one regular Grammy and sold more than 8 million
albums worldwide. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 8:30 p.m.
The State Theatre, 220 North Washington St., Falls
Church. Tickets are $47.50. Call 703-237-0300 or
visit thestatetheatre.com.
KATIE THOMPSON
Known to Signature Theatre audiences for her per-
formance in 2009’s Giant, this red-headed smokey-
voiced singer offers an intimate cabaret show
mixing blues and standards at Signature Theatre’s
ARK Theatre, set up with a mix of traditional and
cabaret-table seating to create a nightclub atmo-
sphere. Tuesday, Feb. 22, through Saturday, Feb. 26,
at 8:30 p.m. Signature Theatre’s ARK Theatre, 4200
Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $34. Call 703-
820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
LYNETTE WASHINGTON
This native New York jazz vocalist has worked far
beyond her own musical idiom, recording with the
likes of Aretha Franklin, U2, Peter Gabriel, even the
late Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz. Washington can sing
in several languages, including Russian, Hebrew,
Yiddish and French. Monday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m.
and 10 p.m. Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Tickets are $25 with a $10 minimum purchase. Call
202-337-4141 or visit bluesalley.com.
MARTIN SOLVEIG
His sunny dance hit “Hello” featuring the Canadian
synth-pop band Dragonette now soundtracks a
Trident commercial. But Solveig isn’t just another
David Guetta-styled French dance producer, out
for world domination. His sound is funkier, edgier
and house-ier than that. He seems content with just
club domination. And given that his new producer
album SMASH isn’t even out yet and this is his
first major U.S. club tour that we know of, kicking
off right here in D.C., he’s on track to do just that.
Thursday, Feb. 17. Lima Lounge, 1401 K St. NW.
Cover. Call 202-789-2800 or visit
limaloungedc.com.  READINGS
NATIONAL PRESIDENTS DAY
CHORAL FESTIVAL
William Skoog conducts baritone Laurence
Albert and the Presidents Day Festival Chorus
and Orchestra, including singers from the Bolles
School in Jacksonville, Fla., Overton High School
and Rhodes College, both in Memphis. On the bill
are Stroope’s Homeland, Barber’s haunting Agnus
Dei (Adagio for Strings), a series of Aaron Copland
vocal works for chorus and solo baritone, and Rene
Clausen’s 9/11 tribute Memorial. Monday, Feb. 21,
at 2 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are
$10. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
ROBERT JOHNSON CENTENNIAL CONCERT:
BLUES AT THE CROSSROADS
With bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards on
board, the concert has a direct connection to the
namesake legend, blues godfather Johnson, as
Edwards was playing with Johnson the night he
died. Also on the bill are Big Head Todd & The
Monsters, Hubert Sumlin and Cedric Burnside &
Lightnin’ Malcolm. The evening explores Johnson’s
legacy in home of Mississippi, at the junction of
US Highways 61 and 49, or the crossroads where
legend has it Johnson made a deal with the devil
to create his brand of bad-ass blues. Thursday,
48 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are
$22.50 to $40.50. Call 301-581-5100 or visit
strathmore.org.
SIMON TRPCESKI
The Macedonian pianist makes his debut at
the Kennedy Center as part of the Washington
Performing Arts Society’s Hayes Piano Series. The
program includes selections by Haydn, Chopin and
Prokofiev. Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. Kennedy
Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $40. Call 202-
467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
THE AVETT BROTHERS
Fresh from performing with Bob Dylan at the
Grammys, the North Carolina folk-rock band, led by
brothers Scott on banjo and Seth on guitar, are gain-
ing more and more recognition by the day. Friday,
Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 D
St. NW. Remaining tickets are $35. Call 202-628-
1776 or visit dar.org/conthall.
THE CITY CHOIR OF WASHINGTON
Robert Shafer conducts the choir in a concert trib-
ute to 9/11 on its 10th anniversary year. Featured on
the program are Haydn’s Mass In The Time of War
and American composer Joel Puckett’s 9/11 tribute
This Mourning. TCCW 2011 Young American Artists
— soprano Jennifer Weingartner, mezzo-soprano
Alexandra Christoforakis and bass Sean Pflueger
— will be featured as soloists. Puckett will sit for a
post-concert conversation with Shafer. Sunday, Feb.
27, at 7 p.m. The National Presbyterian Church,
4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. Tickets are $15 to $45. Call
301-572-6865 or visit thecitychoirofwashington.org.
WANDA JACKSON
Recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame, the Queen of Rockabilly — and former
girlfriend to Elvis Presley — is as feisty as ever, as
demonstrated by her latest album, last year’s The
Party Ain’t Over, produced by Jack White. And who
says the older set among us has to go to bed early?
Just look at this septuagenarian’s concert start time.
You go, Jackson! Friday, Feb. 25. Doors at 10 p.m.
Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call
202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
DAVID HAZONY
Hazony’s The Ten Commandments: How Our Most
Ancient Moral Text Can Renew Moral Life will be
the focus of a discussion with panelists including
Moment Magazine’s Nadine Epstein, The Weekly
Standard’s Bill Kristol and Adas Israel’s Rabbi Gil
Steinlauf. Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. The Aaron
& Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C.’s
Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW.
Tickets are $7. Call 202-518-9400 or visit
washingtondcjcc.org.
JONATHAN FRANZEN
Folger Library presents a PEN/Faulkner discussion
with this former National Book Award recipient,
reading from his latest bestselling novel, Freedom.
Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Washington National
Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Aves. NW.
Tickets are $22. Call 202.537.2228 or visit
nationalcathedral.org.
RICHARD WHITMORE
The Bee Eater: Michelle Rhee Takes on the Nation’s
Worst School District offers a profile of the rabble-
rouser Rhee, fleshing out the public figure with
details of her personal life and including an
interview with her about what she learned as the
embattled former chancellor of D.C. public schools.
Sunday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m. Politics and Prose, 5015
Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-364-1919 or visit
politics-prose.com.
COMEDY
AMY SCHUMER
With praise from Ellen DeGeneres — “Amy is one
of my favorites, I expect to see big things from this
girl” — Schumer has gone from competing on Last
Comic Standing to having guest-starring roles on
Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock and MTV and VH-1
shows such as Best Week Ever and I Love The 80s —
not to mention, The Ellen Show. Friday, Feb. 18, and
Saturday, Feb. 19, at 9:55 p.m. Arlington Cinema N’
Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets
are $18. Call 703-486-2345 or visit
arlingtondrafthouse.com.
FRED ARMISEN
The comic actor is best known for his nearly
decade-long stint on Saturday Night Live, where
he’s made a name for himself with risqué spoofs of
everyone from President Obama to Liberace to for-
mer New York governor David Paterson. He’s also
part of a new IFC sketch comedy series Portlandia.
He stops by the Black Cat for a rare night of stand-
up. Friday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-667-4490 or visit
blackcatdc.com.
DANCE
EDGEWORKS DANCE THEATER
The all-male company celebrates its 10th anniver-
sary season with a special program featuring signa-
ture works performed by former and current mem-
bers, plus the D.C. premiere of founder Helanius J.
Wilkins’s “Trigger,” a provocative work that raises
questions about how economic conditions affect
individual choices. Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday,
Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. Also Sunday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m.
Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $22. Call
202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.
GALLERIES
1708 GALLERY
Keith Lemley’s Something and Nothing is a sculp-
tural installation consisting of concentric rings of
white neon tubes, with artificial light filling the
space. Kimberly Witham’s Transcendence offers
photographs of the everyday animals of suburbia,
whose roadside deaths are often ignored. Opening
reception Friday, Feb. 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Through April 16. 1708 Gallery, 319 West Broad St.
Richmond. Call 804-643-1708 or visit
1708gallery.org.
HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN
“Black Box: Hans Op de Beeck” features the Belgian
multi-media artist’s black-and-white film Staging
Silence, which plays with perception and transforms
the real into the surreal in ways both ridiculous
and serious. Through Feb. 27. Hirshhorn Museum,
Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. Call
202-633-1000 or visit hirshhorn.si.edu.
JANE PETTIT EXHIBITION
“Mosaic Sticks” features small, whimsical, three-
dimensional portraits, flowers and abstracts,
through the merger of sculpture, mosaic and
collage. Through Feb. 28. River Road Unitarian
Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Road,
Bethesda. Visit rruuc.org or janepettit.com.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
“Beyond the Story: National Geographic
Unpublished” showcases nearly 50 never-
before-seen photographs taken by 15 of National
Geographic’s best photographers over the course
of last year. Topics range from Asia’s disappearing
glaciers to contemporary South Africa to the fight to
save the Jordan River to the struggles of women in
Afghanistan. Through June 12. National Geographic
Society, 1145 17th St. NW. Call 202-857-7588 or visit
ngmuseum.org.

TEXTILE MUSEUM
“Second Lives: The Age-Old Art of Recycling
Textiles” highlights the ways people in various
cultures ingeniously have repurposed worn but pre-
cious fabrics to create beautiful new textile forms.
The exhibition launches a year-long exploration at
the museum of the ties between textiles and envi-
ronmentalism. To July 10. The Textile Museum,
2320 S St. NW. Suggested donaton of $5. Call 202-
667-0441 or visit textilemuseum.org.

DINING
CAFE GREEN
1513 17th St. NW, Washington (202-234-0505)
“Organic” and “vegan” may not be phrases that fire
up the appetite like “deep fried” or “golden brown.”
But they might once you’ve tried Café Green. Who
wants spinach flax and kelp noodles when human-
ity has invented chili cheese fries? At Café Green,
you get both. It may be vegan chili and cheese, but
you’re not likely to feel deprived. Actually, along
with the range of traditional raw and vegan fare,
the uninitiated can indulge in all sorts of favorites,
from a “steak and cheese” sub to “mac n cheese” to
gelato. All this, and brunch on Sundays!

CAFÉ LA RUCHE
1039 31st St. NW, Washington (202-965-2684)
If you prefer Paris Las Vegas to Paris, France, then
Café La Ruche may not be your cup of tea. This
Georgetown stalwart is not an ooh-la-la experience
of French kitsch. Rather, Café La Ruche offers a
sort of cozy Francophile homecoming, pricking
memories of the 16th arondissement — not I.M.
Pei’s Louvre pyramids. The menu is wonderfully
simple, devoid of foam or other culinary curiosities.
Salade Niçoise is the salad you expect. Same goes
for the onion soup. The bits of flair are the same bits
introduced during France’s days of colonial empire
— North African merguez, for example. Of course,
any dependable French bistro wouldn’t be worth its
salt without traditional French desserts. Fans rave
about the iconic crème caramel.

D.C. NOODLES
1410 U St. NW, Washington (202-232-8424)
D.C. Noodles is focused on churning out delectable
dishes of fresh ingredients in unexpected combi-
nations. Asian pumpkin factors into at least two
standouts on the menu: Crispy, dense pumpkin
empanadas and the Red Curry Chicken with pump-
kin and spinach linguini. There are several enticing
noodle salads, featuring bean sprouts and string
beans. Wash it all down with an earthy saketini or
a heavenly Kaffir Lime Martini. Whatever you do,
don’t skip the dessert course of cold, coconut ice
cream and warm, sticky rice. It’s a match made in
carb heaven. l

For more OUT ON THE TOWN listings

please visit
www.metroweekly.com

METROWEEKLY.com 49
 dining

50 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011


Daniel Schwartz
Razzle Dazzle
With a solid cast and an elaborate set, you’ll be a bit heady
from all the goings-on in On The Razzle
I
n On The Razzle, an
incompetent tailor creates
a too-tight parade uniform
for the show’s shopkeeper,
Zangler. “I suppose it will have
to do, at a pinch,” Zangler har-
rumphs, adding, “One false move
and we could have a farce on our
hands.”
There are actually few false
moves in Constellation Theatre’s
production — and still the show is
nothing but a farce.
As it happens, the comedy, writ-
ten by the storied Tom Stoppard,
traffics in just the kind of fun
punnery popular with the Carrie
Bradshaw set. It’s also as light
on substance as the Sex and The
City oeuvre. This isn’t the usual
high-minded Stoppard fare, mind
you. It doesn’t explore existential
themes, a la his Tony-winning
Doug Rule stage
Farsical behavior: Michael Glenn, Jennifer Crooks, Joe Brack
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Are Dead, or chaos theory, as in
Arcadia. It’s not even as sharp
as his screenplays for Brazil or
ON THE RAZZLE Shakespeare in Love.
But you won’t leave On the
Razzle wanting for more. With a
HHHHH solid cast and an elaborate set — it
moves on a mechanical turntable!
To March 6 — chances are you’ll be a bit heady
from all the goings-on.
Source Theatre “On the razzle” is a British
1835 14th St. NW term to describe excessive rev-
elry, Lindsay Lohan-style. In this
case, the focus is on an Austrian
$25-$30
store clerk (Ashley Ivey) and
202-204-7741 his naive apprentice (Matthew
constellationtheatre. McGloin), who decide to shirk
org their duties to mind the shop
while the boss is away. They take
an unexpected day trip to cos-
mopolitan Vienna. Zangler, the
shop’s owner, has also gone to
Vienna, initially to wine and dine
his fancy fiancé, and then to stop
his niece from eloping with her
beloved. The plot itself derives
from a 19th century Viennese play
by Johann Nestroy that has also
inspired Thornton Wilder’s The
Matchmaker and Jerry Herman’s
musical Hello, Dolly! (That’s a lot
of mileage out of one ephemeral,
forgotten story.)
There’s no Dolly in Stoppard’s
story, set at the turn of the 20th
century, during the Austro-
Hungarian Empire before World
War I. But Michael Glenn plays
up the larger-than-life aspects
of Zangler, with diva-like show-
manship, complete with bells on
his boots. Glenn dominates the
stage with his booming voice and
confident mannerisms. You have
no reason to doubt why everyone
fears the character — even as they
pity the man for his lack of refine-
ment and his constant stumbling
to find the right word or phrase,
to much comic relief.
Ashley Ivey and Matthew
McGloin lead the cast as the fussy
store clerk Weinberl and his naive
apprentice Christopher, respec-
tively. McGloin especially dazzles
as the eager beaver Christopher,
displaying the right mixture of
reserve and rowdiness. After
Weinberl prattles on and on
about the value of the merchant
class and then asks Christopher
if he’s ever thought of that, he
retorts: “Not in so many words,
Mr. Weinberl.”
Charlotte Akin plays three
characters with aplomb, includ-
ing Zangler’s stern German assis-
tant Gertrud and better still as
Fraulein Blumenblatt, Zangler’s
sister-in-law in Vienna, a dowa-
ger who tells everyone she meets
about a brief romantic encounter
she once had. And then there’s
Katie Carkuff’s turn as the campy
Viennese fashionista Madame
Knorr, Zangler’s betrothed. Few
can resist her charms. Designer
Kendra Rai dresses up Carkuff in
gorgeous period fashion. Rai also
gleefully embellishes the play’s
running joke about the fashion for
continues on page 53
METROWEEKLY.com 51
 Kate Wingfield stage
stan barouh
Oedipal Rush
With a street poet’s ear for the music of language,
Luis Alfaro brings an urban vibe to the ancient tragic tale
F
lowing with the
rhythm and energy of
well-tuned invective,
Luis Alfaro’s Oedipus
el Rey brings an urban vibe to
Sophocles’s ancient and tragic
tale of the man who can’t escape
his fate. Set in modern-day Los
Angeles, this is a Chicano Oedipus
with attitude who’s come of age
in juvenile detention centers
and prison. When his latest stint
behind bars ends, he returns to
the barrio of his birth determined
to make something of himself. But
even as he ascends the neigh-
borhood’s hierarchy, the will of
the gods is silently and inexorably
being done.
Alfaro has a street poet’s ear
for the music of language, wheth-
er English or Spanish. Bringing
fresh authenticity to the postur-
52 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Violent ruptures: the cast of Oedipus el Rey
ing culture of the young Chicanos,
he blithely ignores much of the
color-by-numbers dialogue and
OEDIPUS interactions we see so often
EL REY elsewhere. Even when the play
closely tracks the original, this
is never simply Oedipus the King
with Latin accents. This is Alfaro
searching for something endemic
To March 6 in the struggle of a young Chicano
male trying to find himself among
Woolly Mammoth his own; how deeply he wants to
connect and yet how easily he is
641 D St. NW
able to destroy.
Although some of the ideas
$30-$65 could have been transmitted with
202-393-3939 greater clarity, what does come
woollymammoth.net through loud, clear and with
impact is the sense that, for many
young men, even the basic urge to
respect oneself and find happiness
cannot always survive in a com-
munity in which control has sup-
planted hope and opportunity.
Unfortunately, despite Alfaro’s
potent concept, director Michael
John Garces has not brought
his players to the cohesion this
Oedipus requires. Though we
sense the rhythm Alfaro seeks
from the intermittent chanting
and commentary of the Coro — or
chorus — these moments, though
energetic and woven with evoca-
tive sound and music, lack color.
Without this binding force, the
play loses some of its momentum.
Similarly, Garces has not
drawn all the players into a uni-
fied vision of this place and time.
Although David Anzuelo gives
his Laius, Oedipus’s biological
father, a compelling intensity,
his demeanor does not suggest
the kind of leader he must have
been to head a barrio. As Creon,
Jocasta’s suspicious brother, Jose
Joaquin Perez offers charisma,
but his machismo is over-played
to the point of distraction.
These shortcomings aside, the
cornerstone performances here
are strong and interesting. As
Oedipus, Andres Munar delivers
a carefully crafted presence, one
that is at times completely com-
manding of our attention, and at
others understated to the point
of unassuming. When engaged,
Munar brings a highly effective,
disarming realism to his Oedipus.
The character never feels con-
trived. In the scene in which he
first meets Jocasta and begins to
woo her, his need to understand
her is palpable and original. As
Jocasta, Romi Dias makes for a
convincingly wounded but endur-
ing matriarch. Her initial resis-
tance to Oedipus and then the
softening that comes as she begins
to be heard and understood is
artfully rendered. Although their
chemistry cannot be described as
searing, the emotional connection
these actors generate rings very
true.
What works far less well is
the shedding of their clothes. The
employment of nudity, especially
the sexual kind, is a risky proposi-
tion in live theater. Unless han-
dled with the utmost care, it is bound to
break the fiction. Here, unfortunately,
the actors simply cannot maintain their
wonderfully crafted emotional connec-
tion through the complex choreography
necessitated by the choice. And even
if such nakedness is symbolic (of their
biological connection or their emotional
need), there is no denying it has to be
sexual as well – it is, after all, part and
parcel of the horror and pathos to come.
But with the constraints of full nudity
we lose the sexual quotient — the actors
barely touch. Was the breaking of a finely
wrought piece of suspended disbelief
worth it? Not at all. Unless, of course,
you’re sitting in the front row.
The other downside to nudity is the
reality that it may crowd-out the far
harder-won achievements of a play. Even
flawed, this production gives a striking
contemporary voice to an ancient tale
and, on that alone, it resonates. l

continued from page 51

plaid: “I think this tartan fad has had its

fling,” one chides another.
The script’s steady stream of ver-
bal comedy, from double entendres to
malapropisms, is enhanced by the stag-
ing. Director Nick Olcott has the action
move as quickly as the quips, allowing for
oodles of slapstick. Working with set and
lighting designer A.J. Guban, the physical
comedy is far beyond what’s called for in
the script. In fact, Guban’s transporting
set design, especially with the decadent
mechanical stage allowing for three dis-
tinct scenescapes — a shop, an elegant
restaurant and a garden — is a revela-
tion in the Source Theatre space, which
becomes far more than just a glorified
black box.
You might not mistake it for Vienna —
but you’ll enjoy spending time there just
the same. l

METROWEEKLY.com 53
 Doug Rule music

any unsuspecting souls at the

local Starbucks.
Her second time at bat, Adele
set out to ramp things up. “In
real life, I’m sarcastic and very
cheeky,” she says in 21’s press
release. “I don’t think the play-
ful me came across on the first
album.”
Adele is still not the sec-
ond coming of Amy Winehouse
— she’s not nearly that wild or
unhinged. The set’s most power-
ful track, after all, is the searing
but tender “Someone to Love,”
in which Adele pines for the one
she considers the love of her
life, who’s moved on. “Don’t for-
andrew yee

get me, I beg,” she pleads. “I’ll

remember you said, ‘Sometimes
it lasts in love, but sometimes it
Come of age: Adele hurts instead.’” Her delivery of

Soul Fire
the freighted lyrics makes your
heart break even more.
All throughout 21, Adele,
now 22, expresses deep pain as
Adele’s new 21 is something close to a revelation, she struggles to get over a love
that went sour. She even offers
beyond what she hinted at with her promising 2008 debut a forcefully felt, acoustic version
of The Cure’s “Lovesong.” In that

Y
ou want a tell-
ing sign that Adele
Adkins, known by just
her first name, has tal-
ent to spare, that she’s the genu-
ine article? How about this? She
can make anyone love a track
produced by Ryan “OneRepublic”
Tedder. Tedder is the shlock-
meister behind hits “Apologize,”
“Bleeding Love,” “Halo,” “Already
Gone” and so many others all
made out of the same cloth, just
with different singers. They all
have the same melodramatic,
over-processed aesthetic. It’s not
bad, per se, but it can be too much
to take, leaving you feeling gooey.
But Tedder’s work with Adele
on her new album 21 sounds
little like that. “Turntables” is a
dramatic ballad, sure, but nei-
ther the orchestral swells nor
Adele’s vocalizations overdo the
sentiments. And the magnificent
“Rumor Has It” swaggers to a
swampy, bluesy beat, with a back-
ing chorus parading around Adele
and lyrics running around like
conflicting rumors. Is Adele’s
lover leaving her for another? Or
is Adele the other woman? Or is
he the other man? The answer
changes from verse to verse. You
can’t believe everything you hear,
she’s relaying. Sometimes, you
don’t know what to believe.
ADELE In fact, maybe it’s not fair to
credit Adele for Tedder’s improved
21 output here. We weren’t there
during the recording process; who
knows which party had the domi-
Columbia nant musical ideas? (Saying other-
$11.98 wise is how rumors get started.)
But anyone who might have wor-
ried about a watering down of the
Available
British singer’s sound from work-
Feb. 22 ing with überproducers — Tedder,
Greg Wells, Fraser T. Smith and
especially Rick Rubin — can sigh
with relief, and then gasp. For 21
is something close to a revelation.
It’s beyond what Adele hinted at
with her promising 2008 debut
19. Back then, she came across as
a moodier version of Duffy — but
still nearly as beholden to tender,
down-tempo balladry as her com-
patriot.
Her music never threatened
respect, and in her contemporary
take on old-school soul, she may
remind you of Cee-Lo Green and
his dazzling 2010 set The Lady
Killer — without offering anything
quite as acerbic as “Fuck You,”
of course. In the end, Adele has
turned out a thrilling album that
draws inspiration from soul leg-
ends, past and present.
Adele turns up the heat from
time to time. She kicks off the pro-
ceedings with the rousing blues of
first single “Rolling In The Deep.”
“The scars of your love remind me
of us,” she sings. “They keep me
thinking that we almost had it all.”
The backing chorus sings with an
echo, as if they were recorded in
an empty concert hall — or com-
ing straight from Adele’s empty
heart.
Next comes “Rumor Has It,”
which just builds and builds, with
dramatic pauses, swirling vocals,
patty-cake handclaps and puls-
ing drums. By song’s end, you’re
dumbfounded.
And those chattering classes
at Starbucks? They’re sure to shut
up and take notice, as well. l

54 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

METROWEEKLY.com 55
night
life
listings
Destinations Map pages 64-65
Thursday, 02.17.11

Annie’s
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-
7pm • $4 Small Plates,
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis •
Upstairs open 5-10pm

Apex
College Night, 10pm-4am
• DJ Randy White •
VJ Frenchie • Free with
college ID, $5 without •
18/21

Banana Café
Piano Bar Happy Hour,
4-7:30pm • $3 rail mar-
garitas, rail drinks and
domestic beers • $3.95
Cuervo margaritas •
Chuck Smith on piano,
7:30pm-close • $3 off
Mojitos after 7:30pm

Cobalt/30 Degrees
Happy Hour, $1 rail
drinks, $2 beers, $5 call
drinks, 4-7pm • $3 rail
drinks and beers, $5
call drinks, 7-10pm • $1
Vodka Drinks, 9-11pm •
Underwear Contest w/
Lena Lett, midnight • DJ
Chord • DJ Mad Science
• No Cover • 21+

DC Eagle
Power Hour, 4-6pm •
“Pigout” Night, 9pm-close
• Leather, Shirtless and
Hankie Code Specials •
Beer Bar: K-9 Corps

DIK Bar
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail
Drinks and Select Beers,
$3 • Absolut and Premium
Beers, $4

Fireplace
Happy Hour, $2.50 Rail
and Domestic, 1-9pm •
Rail Vodka $2, 9-11pm
• VJ Dina Valentine,
downstairs • DJ Brooklyn,
upstairs
t

METROWEEKLY.com 57
 Coverboy Photography by
Jeff Code

Will isn’t upset about being newly single. “We just realized we weren’t in the
same place,” he says. And he means it, literally — it was a long-distance relation-
ship that wasn’t working. The 21-year-old who lives Towson, Md., spends his
days focusing on school as a senior at Towson University studying business and
marketing. When he’s not hitting the books, Will likes to take part in anything ath-
letic. He’s a big fan of running, surfing, swimming and rugby. When hanging out
with friends in D.C., Will can be found at Nellie’s. “I love meeting new people,”
he says. “I’m pretty easygoing.”
t

Freddie’s Beach Bar
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Karaoke, 9pm
Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
Shirtless Men Drink Free,
10-11pm • “Best Of”
Contest, 11:30pm • DJ
Back2bACk
Hippo
1 W. Eager St.
Baltimore, Md.
Hip Hop • DJ Kuhmeleon
• $6 from 10-11pm, $8
after 11pm • 25+
JR.’s
Happy Hour, 4-8pm • $11
All You Can Drink Rail
(upgrade to a better liquor
for $20) • Power Hour,
8-9pm • $4 Rail $2 JR.’s
drafts, 9pm to close
Lace
Happy Hour, 6-8pm •
Half-Price Cocktails &
Appetizers • $3 Vodka all
night • DJ Mims • 21+
Nellie’s Sports Bar
Beat The Clock Happy
Hour $1 - 5-6pm, $2 -
6-7pm, $3 - 7-8pm •
Buckets of Beer $12 •
DADT Service Members
United/Active Duty, 8pm
Omega
Happy Hour, 4-9pm •
Karaoke with Howard,
10pm • $3 rail vodka,
all night
Phase 1
Karaoke starting at 7pm •
DJ LS or Drag King hosted
• 21+ • No cover
PW’s Sports Bar
9855 Washington Blvd. N
Laurel, Md.
301-498-4840
Karaoke in the Lounge
So Addictive Lounge
733 Elden St.
Herndon, Va.
The L Night • Karaoke, all
night • Burger Specials •
No Cover
Ziegfeld’s/Secrets
Shirtless men drink free
(rail & domestic), 10-11pm
• All nude male dancers •
Dancing w/ DJ tim-e, 9pm-
close • Cover
Friday, 02.18.11
Annie’s
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm •
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis • Upstairs open
5-11pm
Apex
Caliente Grande • DJ
Michael Brandon • 18/21
• $10
Banana Café
Piano Bar Happy Hour,
4-7:30pm • $3 rail mar-
garitas, rail drinks and
domestic beers • $3.95
Cuervo margaritas •
Gordon Kent on the Piano,
8:30pm-12:30am
Cobalt/30 Degrees
Happy Hour, $1 rail drinks,
$2 beers, $5 call drinks,
4-7pm • $3 rail drinks
and beers, $5 call drinks,
7-10pm • Dirty Pop DC,
10pm • DJ Jim Gade •
DJ Keenan (downstairs) •
Free vodka drinks, 11pm-
midnight • 21+ • $8
DC Eagle
Power Hour, $1 Off Rail
and Domestic, 4-6pm
• Shirtless and Leather
Specials until Midnight
• Beer Bar: Leathermen
of Color/Rod McCoy •
Bootblack: Peter
DIK Bar
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail
Drinks and Select Beers,
$3 • Absolut and Premium
Beers, $4
Freddie’s Beach Bar
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Karaoke, 9pm
Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-10pm •
All-U-Can-Drink Smirnoff
Buffet, $15, 11pm-close •
Mama’s Trailer Park, 10pm
Hippo
Baltimore, Md.
Benefit for Mss Metro
Charm City Classique,
10pm • Karaoke, 9pm
JR.’s
Happy Hour, 5-9pm • Beer
Bust, $8 All You Can Drink,
$4 SKYY Vodka Drinks •
$4 Corona $6 Red Bull and
vodka, 10pm-close
Lace
Happy Hour 6-8pm •
Half Price Cocktails &
Appetizers • $3 Rum
Specials, all night • DJ
Miss Tiff, 10pm-3am •
$10 after 10pm • 21+
Nellie’s Sports Bar
Beat The Clock Cocktails,
$1, 5-6pm, $2, 6-7pm,
$3, 7-8pm • Buckets of
Beer $12
Omega
Happy Hour 4-9pm • Men
of Omega, 10:30pm • VJ
Darryl Strickland
Phase 1
DJ Luz • Dancing, 9pm-
close • $5 cover • 21+ •
phase1dc.com
PW’s Sports Bar
9855 Washington Blvd. N
Laurel, Md.
301-498-4840
Drag Show in lounge •
Half price burgers and
fries
So Addictive Lounge
733 Elden St.
Herndon, Va.
Music, Videos and
Dancing • No Cover •
soaddictivelounge.com
The Lodge
21614 National Pike
Boonsboro, MD, 21713
301-591-4434
thelodgemd.com
DJ Christy, 7pm-2am • $5
Cover after 9pm

For addresses, phone numbers and locations of individual clubs, bars, parties, and special events, please refer to our Destinations map on pages 64-65. METROWEEKLY.com 59
 What’s on your What’s in your nightstand drawer?
nightstand? I don’t think there’s anything in my
A picture of my nightstand drawer. I keep condoms and
family and friends, lube in my underwear drawer
GQ and my in my dresser.
finance book.
What are your television favorites?
Modern Family. I think it’s really funny.

What’s the last movie you

saw in a theater?
No Strings Attached. I like Natalie
Portman and Ashton Kutcher, they’re
adorable together.

Town Banana Café Fuego

Downstairs: DJ
BacK2bACk • Upstairs: DJ
Wess • Doors open 10pm
• Drag Show starts at
10:30pm • $3 rail drinks
from 10-11pm • 21 and
over, $5 from 10-11pm,
$10 after 11pm • $10 all
night for those aged 18-20
Ziegfeld’s/Secrets
2nd Anniversary Black &
White Party Celebration
• Special appearance
by adult film star Trevor
Knight in Secrets • All
nude male dancers • The
Ladies of Illusion hosted
by Tatiyanna Voche, first
show at 11:15pm • DJ
Don T in Ziegfelds • DJ
Jason Royce in Secrets
• Cover
Saturday, 02.19.11
Apex
Kristina Kelly and the Girls
of Glamour, 11pm • 18/21
• $10
Piano Bar Happy Hour,
4-7:30pm • $3 rail mar-
garitas, rail drinks and
domestic beers • $3.95
Cuervo margaritas •
Gordon Kent on the Piano,
8:30pm-12:30am
Cobalt/30 Degrees
Happy Hour, $1 rail drinks,
$2 beers, $5 call drinks,
4-7pm • $3 rail drinks
and beers, $5 call drinks,
7-10pm • BARE: The
Dinah-Club Skirts kickoff
party, 10pm • DJ Rosie •
DJ Keenan • $8 • 21+
DC Eagle
Happy Hour Leather
Specials • Potomac MC
on Beer Bar at 9pm •
Bootblack: Peter
DIK Bar
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail
Drinks and Select Beers,
$3 • Absolut and Premium
Beers, $4
Freddie’s Beach Bar
Breakfast buffet, 10am-
2pm • Crazy Hour, 4-8pm
• Karaoke, 10pm
@Aqua
1818 New York Ave. NE
Red Party • Live per-
formances by Gigi Paris
Couture • DJ Flaco • $3
Vodka & Miller Lite until
11:30pm • Male Dancers
• Shooter Boys • Free
private parking • Cover
Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-9pm with
Beat the Clock Specials
on Rolling Rock and Rail
Vodka starting at 50 cents
• All-U-Can-Drink Bacardi
Buffet, $17, 10pm-close •
Underwear Party, 11pm-
close (upstairs)
Hippo
Baltimore, Md.
Masquerade, 10pm •
Karaoke, 10pm
JR.’s
$3 Coors Light, $4 rail
vodka highballs, all day
and night • Showtunes
from 4-8pm

60 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

 What was your favorite cartoon
when you were a kid?
The Wild Thornberrys.
What superhero would you be?
Flash, because I run a lot.
Who’s your greatest influence?
It’s a tie between my mom and dad.
My dad is the smartest person that I’ve
met and my mom is the most caring.
So together, they’re like
a superhero in itself.
What’s your greatest fear?
To be unhappy, relationship-wise or
job-wise.
Pick three people, living or dead,
who you think would make the
most fascinating dinner
guests imaginable.
Frank Sinatra, James Dean and
Nicki Minaj.
What would you serve?
My three favorite foods: pizza, Velveeta
Macaroni and Cheese and Nutella,
out of the jar.
How would you describe your
dream guy?
Someone who knows what he wants,
who is happy, tall, dark and handsome
and has a great smile.
Define good in bed.
Being open to try new things and just
knowing the other person and realizing
what they like and what they want.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
I don’t have a favorite artist. I love all
kinds of music. My iPod goes from
Drowning Pool to Sinatra. I always have
it on shuffle.

Lace The Lodge DIK Bar JR.’s PW’s Sports Bar

Happy Hour, 6-8pm • 21614 National Pike
Half Price Cocktails & Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Appetizers • $3 Tequila, 301-591-4434
all night • DJ Miss Tiff, thelodgemd.com
10pm-3am • $10 after Refresh:
10pm • 21+ Dance=Dance=Dance •
$5 XXL ReFresher all night
Nellie’s (Super sized specialty
Zing Zang Bloody Marys, drink changes weekly) •
Nellie Beer, House Rail $1 Busch Light Cans all
Drinks and Mimosas, $3, night Doors open 9pm •
11am-5pm • Buckets of $5 cover until 11pm • $8
Cover, 11pm-2am
Beer, $12
Phase 1 Town
DJ LS • Dancing, 9pm- Mardi Gras Party •
close • phase1dc.com Upstairs: DJ Chris Cox •
Downstairs: DJ Wess •
Doors at 10pm • Drag
PW’s Sports Bar Show at 10:30pm • $3 rail
9855 Washington Blvd. N
drinks, 10-11pm • $8 from
Laurel, Md. 10-11pm, $12 after 11pm
301-498-4840
• 21+
Karaoke in the lounge •
Charity Bingo with Cash
Prizes 3rd Sat. of Every Ziegfeld’s/Secrets
Month All nude male dancers
• The Ladies of Illusion
hosted by Ella Fitzgerald,
So Addictive Lounge
first show at 11pm • DJ
733 Elden St. Spyke in Ziegfelds • DJ
Herndon, Va. Daryl Strickland in Secrets
College Night • VJ Q • • $5 before 10:30pm,
Dancing • 18 to enter, $10 after
21 to drink • No Cover
over 21
Sunday, 02.20.11 Happy Hour, all night • $2 SKYY Highballs and $2 9855 Washington Blvd. N
Rail Drinks and Select Coors Light Bottles, all day Laurel, Md.
Banana Café Beers, $3 • Absolut and and night 301-498-4840
Piano Bar Happy Hour, Premium Beers, $4 Happy Hour all night
4-7:30pm • $3 rail mar- Lace
garitas, rail drinks and Fireplace Lyrics and Lace Open Town
domestic beers • $3.95 Happy Hour, $2.50 Rail Mike, 8pm • To perform, WTF Circus • Both floors
Cuervo margaritas • and Domestic,1-9pm • VJ email dclace@yahoo.com open • Second floor make
Karaoke, 6:30pm-close • Albert Lee, downstairs • • Happy Hour, 6-8pm • out room featuring music
Emceed by Zoe DJ Wesley, upstairs Half-price Cocktails & by Ryan Duncan (Pink
Appetizers • No cover Sock) and Bil Todd (RAW)
• 21+ • Performances by Banaka
Cobalt/30 Degrees Freddie’s Beach Bar
LevelOne offering Champagne Brunch Buffet, and Jessica Deverreoux
1/2-priced burgers all 11am-3pm • Crazy Hour, Nellie’s • Clowning around by
night starting at 4pm • 4-8pm • Drag Show host- Drag Brunch, hosted by X-Faction • Music down-
Martinis, $5 • FlipOutDC ed by Destiny B. Childs, Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am- stairs by Ed Bailey and
Flip Cup, 6pm • $2 PBR featuring performances 3pm • $20 Brunch Buffet Aaron Riggins • Balloons
tall boys • Homowood by a rotating cast, 9pm • • House Rail Drinks, Zing Animals • Doors open at
Karaoke, 9pm • Karaoke • No cover Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie 10pm • 18+ • $5
Showtunes and movies •
Beer and Mimosas, $3,
• 21+ • No cover 11am-close • Buckets of Ziegfeld’s/Secrets
Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-9pm with Beer, $12 • $2 Nellie Beer All nude male dancers
Blast, 3-8pm upstairs in Secrets •
DC Eagle $3 Smirnoff (all flavors)
Open 2pm • Animal • Trailer Park Karaoke Cover
Kimgdom Party and Pot with Mama, 9:30pm Phase 1
Luck until the animals Live Music all night •
Monday, 02.21.11
leave • Torn jeans, $3.50 Coronas and Bud
shirtless and underwear Hippo
Baltimore, Md. Lights • Drag King show
specials, 9pm-midnight every second Sunday, 9pm Annie’s
• Open until 3am for Saloon open 4pm-2am 4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm •
President’s Day $4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis

METROWEEKLY.com 61
 What’s your favorite website?
Facebook.
Who should star in a movie
about your life?
A lot of people tell me I look like
Ryan Phillippe.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Nick Lachey from 98 Degrees.
If your home was burning, what’s
the first thing you would
grab while leaving?
Photo albums.
What’s your biggest turn-on?
Confidence.
What’s your biggest turn-off?
Cockiness. There’s a fine line between
it and confidence.
What’s something you’ve always
wanted to do but haven’t yet tried?
I’d love to skydive over the Great
Barrier Reef.
What’s something you’ve tried that
you never want to do again?
Anchovies.
What position do you want to play
in the big baseball game of life?
Mostly, I’m a catcher, but I’m not afraid
to step up to the plate if it’s
someone I like.
Boxers, briefs or other?
Boxer-briefs.
What’s your favorite season?
Fall. I love the weather and the color
changes and all the holidays start.
What’s your favorite food
to splurge with?
Tapas and good sangria.

Banana Café JR.’s Banana Café Green Lantern Omega Cobalt/30 Degrees
Open Mike, 7pm-close • Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $1 Piano Bar Happy Hour, all Happy Hour Prices, 4pm- Happy Hour, 4-9pm • $3 Happy Hour, $1 rail drinks,
Emceed by Zoe • $3 off all Vodka Highballs and $1 night • $3 rail margaritas, close • FUK!T Packing Rail Drinks, All Night $2 beers, $5 call drinks,
Mojitos after 7:30pm JR.’s Drafts • Buy 1 Get rail drinks and domestic Party, 7-9pm 4-7pm • $3 rail drinks
1 Free, 7-9pm • Monday beers • $3.95 Cuervo mar- PW’s Sports Bar and beers, $5 call drinks,
Cobalt/30 Degrees Night Showtunes garitas • Gordon Kent on Hippo 9855 Washington Blvd. N 7-10pm • Absolut cock-
Happy Hour, $1 rail the Piano, 7:30pm-close Baltimore, Md. Laurel, Md. tails, $6, 10pm • 21+ •
drinks, $2 beers, $5 call Nellie’s Sports Bar Showtune Video Madness, 301-498-4840 No cover
drinks, 4-7pm • $3 rail Beat The Clock Happy Cobalt/30 Degrees 9pm-1am 75 cents off bottles and
drinks and beers, $5 call Hour, $1 - 5-6pm, $2 Happy Hour, $1 rail drinks, drafts • Movie Night DC Eagle
drinks, 7-10pm • Martini - 6-7pm, $3 - 7-8pm • $2 beers, $5 call drinks, JR.’s Open 4pm • Jock/
Mondays, 10pm • $5 any Buckets of Beer $12 • 4-7pm • $3 rail drinks Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $1 So Addictive Lounge Underwear Night Specials
martini • 21+ • No cover Poker Texas Hold’em, 8pm and beers, $5 call drinks, Vodka Highballs and $1 733 Elden St. • SIR/DOM Meeting 3rd
7-10pm • Flashback, 10pm JR.’s Drafts • Buy 1 Get 1 Herndon, Va. Floor, 8pm
DC Eagle PW’s Sports Bar • DJ Kuhmeleon • 2-4-1 Free, 7-9pm Drag Bingo 8pm with
Happy Hour, 4pm-close, 9855 Washington Blvd. N rail drinks • $2 Millers Ophelia Bottoms • Pizza DIK Bar
both floors Laurel, Md. and drafts • 21+ • No Specials • No Cover Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail
cover Majestic Nightclub
301-498-4840 2922 Annandale Rd. Drinks and Select Beers,
DIK Bar Buzztime Trivia competi- Falls Church, Va. $3 • Absolut and Premium
tion • 75 cents off bottles DC Eagle Wed., 02.23.11 Beers, $4
Happy Hour, all night • Crazy Tuesday • Happy
Rail Drinks and Select and drafts Open 4pm • 2-4-1 Hour, 10-11pm, all drinks,
Beers, $3 • Absolut and Specials on rail and $5 • Hosted by Jocelyn Annie’s Fireplace
Premium Beers, $4 domestics, both floors • Carrillo • mymajesticclub. Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Humpday Prices, $2.50
Tuesday, 02.22.11 APA Pool League, 7:30pm com Stella Artois, $4 House Domestic Beers All Night
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Long
Freddie’s Annie’s Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • DIK Bar Nellie’s Sports Bar
Happy Hour, 4-7pm • $4 Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail and Vodka Martinis
Singles Night, 8pm Stella Artois, $4 House Beat The Clock Happy Freddie’s Beach Bar
Drinks and Select Beers, Hour, $1 - 5-6pm, $2 Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • Drag
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya $3 • Absolut and Premium Banana Café
Green Lantern Cocktails, $4 Manhattans - 6-7pm, $3 - 7-8pm • Bingo, 9pm
Beers, $4 Buckets of Beer $12 • Happy Hour, all night •
Happy Hour, 4pm-close and Vodka Martinis Gordon Kent on the Piano,
• Karaoke, 9:30pm • Drag BINGO hosted by Shi-
Freddie’s Beach Bar Queeta Lee, 8pm 7:30pm-close
Bears Do Yoga, 6:30pm
(Upstairs) Crazy Hour, 4-8pm •
Karaoke, 9pm

62 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

 What kind of animal would you be?
A tiger, because I like to run
but I’m not a cheetah.
What kind of plant would you be?
A plumeria tree. It’s the nicest
plant I’ve ever seen.
What kind of car would you be?
A 1956 T-bird convertible. My grandfa-
ther had one and I just loved riding in it.
What’s something you
want more of?
Time.
What are you most grateful for?
My friends and my family. They’re so
supportive in what I do and I support
them in whatever they want. I can trust
them with anything.
What’s your dream job?
I’d love to work for my favorite maga-
zine, GQ. It would be awesome to do
some kind of marketing for them.
State your life philosophy
in 10 words or less.
Eleanor Roosevelt said: “No one can
make you inferior without
your consent.” l

Green Lantern PW’s Sports Bar Banana Café Fireplace Lace Playbill Café
Happy Hour Prices, 4pm- 9855 Washington Blvd. N Piano Bar Happy Hour, Happy Hour, $2.50 Rail Happy Hour, 6-8pm • Happy Hour, 4-8pm •
Close • POZ DC Happy Laurel, Md. 4-7:30pm • $3 rail mar- and Domestic, 1-9pm • Half-Price Cocktails & Theatrical Karaoke Night,
Hour, 9pm-Midnight 301-498-4840 garitas, rail drinks and Rail Vodka $2, 9-11pm Appetizers • $3 Vodka all 9:30pm-1:30am • Drink
(Upstairs) Free Pool • 75 cents off domestic beers • $3.95 • VJ Dina Valentine, night • DJ Mims • 21+ specials • No cover
Bottles and Drafts Cuervo margaritas • downstairs • DJ Brooklyn,
Hippo Chuck Smith on piano, upstairs Nellie’s Sports Bar PW’s Sports Bar
Baltimore, Md. So Addictive Lounge 7:30pm-close • $3 off Beat The Clock Happy 9855 Washington Blvd. N
Bingo, 9pm • $2 Domestic 733 Elden St. Mojitos after 7:30pm Freddie’s Beach Bar Hour $1 - 5-6pm, $2 - Laurel, Md.
Bottle Beer Herndon, Va. Crazy Hour, 4-8pm • 6-7pm, $3 - 7-8pm • 301-498-4840
Drag Show with Cobalt/30 Degrees Karaoke, 9pm Buckets of Beer $12 • Karaoke in the Lounge
JR.’s LaCountress Farrington at Happy Hour, $1 rail DADT Service Members
Happy Hour, 5-7pm • $1 9pm • No Cover drinks, $2 beers, $5 call Green Lantern United/Active Duty, 8pm So Addictive Lounge
Vodka Highballs and $1 drinks, 4-7pm • $3 rail Happy Hour, 4-9pm • 733 Elden St.
JR.’s Drafts • Buy 1 Get 1 Ziegfeld’s/Secrets drinks and beers, $5 Shirtless Men Drink Free, Omega Herndon, Va.
Free, 7-9pm All nude male dancers call drinks, 7-10pm • $1 10-11pm • “Best Of” Happy Hour, 4-9pm • The L Night • Karaoke, all
• DJ tim-e, 9pm-close Vodka Drinks, 9-11pm • Contest, 11:30pm • DJ Karaoke with Howard, night • Burger Specials
• Cover Underwear Contest w/

For more nightlife listings go to www.metroweekly.com.

Nellie’s Sports Bar Back2bACk 10pm • $3 rail vodka, • No Cover • soaddic-
Lena Lett, midnight • DJ all night
Beat The Clock Happy tivelounge.com
Chord Bezerra • DJ Mad
Hour, $1 - 5-6pm, $2 Thursday, 02.24.11 Science • No Cover • 21+ Hippo
- 6-7pm, $3 - 7-8pm • 1 W. Eager St. Phase 1 Ziegfeld’s/Secrets
Buckets of Beer $12 • Baltimore, Md. Karaoke starting at 7pm • Shirtless men drink free
SmartAss Trivia, 8pm Annie’s/Annie’s DC Eagle Hip Hop • DJ Rosie • $6 DJ LS or Drag King hosted (rail & domestic), 10-11pm
Upstairs Open 4pm • Power Hour, from 10-11pm, $8 after • 21+ • No cover • All nude male dancers •
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm- 4-6pm • “Pigout” Night, 11pm • 25+
Omega Dancing w/ DJ tim-e, 9pm-
7pm • $4 Small Plates, 9pm-close • Leather,
Happy Hour, 4-9pm • close • Cover l
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House Shirtless and Hankie Code
Shirtless men drink free, Wines, $4 Stolichnaya Specials JR.’s
Rail and Domestics, Cocktails, $4 Manhattans Happy Hour, 4-8pm • $11
10-11pm • $3 Domestics, and Vodka Martinis • All You Can Drink Rail
all night • Men of Omega, DIK Bar (upgrade to a better liquor
Upstairs open 5-10pm Happy Hour, 4-9pm • Rail
10pm for $20) • Power Hour,
Drinks and Select Beers, 8-9pm • $4 Rail $2 JR.’s
$3 • Absolut and Premium drafts, 9pm to close
Beers, $4

METROWEEKLY.com 63
Destinations
7 DELTA ELITE 20 OMEGA
BARS & CLUBS 3734 10th Street NE 2122 P Street NW (rear)
VIRGINIA
(202) 529-0626 (202) 223-4917
D.C. Brookland Metro Dupont Circle Metro
12 FREDDIE’S
md m v
BEACH BAR
1 18th & U 555 South 23rd Street
DUPLEX DINER Crystal City, VA
2004 18th Street NW 8 DITO’S BAR @ 21 PHASE ONE
(703) 685-0555
(202) 265-7828 FLORIANA 525 8th Street SE
Crystal City Metro
Dupont Circle Metro 1602 17th Street NW (202) 544-6831
m&w r
r (202) 667-5937 Eastern Market Metro
Dupont Circle Metro wd
m&w r
Majestic Nightclub
9 9:30 CLUB 2922 Annandale Rd
815 V Street NW 22 REMINGTON’S
Falls church, VA
(202) 265-0930 11 THE FIREPLACE 639 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
(703) 538-8888
U Street / Cardozo Metro 22nd & P Streets NW (202) 543-3113
(202) 293-1293 Eastern Market Metro
Dupont Circle Metro m cw d v
So Addictive Lounge
2 APEX mv
733 Elden Street
1415 22nd Street NW Herndon, VA
(202) 296-0505 23 TOWN
(703) 481-0010
Dupont Circle Metro 13 FUEGO 2009 8th Street NW
mdvt 1818 New York Ave. NE (202) 234-TOWN
www.clubfuegodc.com U Street / Cardozo Metro
mdt mdvt
RESTAURANTS
3 BACHELOR’S MILL
1104 8th Street SE 25 1409 PLAYBILL CAFÉ
(202) 546-5979 14 GLORIOUS 24 ZIEGFELD’S /
1409 14th Street NW
Eastern Market / HEALTH CLUB SECRETS
(202) 265-3055
Navy Yard Metro 2120 W. VA Ave. NE 20002 1824 Half Street SW
Dupont Circle Metro
md (202) 269-0226 (202) 863-0670
m&w r v
mos Navy Yard Metro
m d v t gg

4 COBALT/30 DEGREES 26 Alberto’s
17th & R Street NW 15 GREEN LANTERN
2010 P Street NW
(202) 462-6569 1335 Green Court NW (behind
2438 18th Street NW
1335 L St.)
Dupont Circle Metro
(202) 347-4534
MARYLAND (202) 986-2121
mdt Dupont Circle Metro
McPherson Square Metro
ml
CLUB HIPPO
5 CREW CLUB 1 West Eager Street 27 Annie’s Paramount
1321 14th Street NW Baltimore, MD Steak house
(202) 319-1333 17 JR.’S
(410) 547-0069 1609 17th Street NW
McPherson Square Metro 1519 17th Street NW
(202) 232-0395
mos (202) 328-0090
Dupont Circle Metro
Dupont Circle Metro
THE LODGE
mv
21614 National Pike
6 DC EAGLE Boonsboro, MD 28 Banana Café &
639 New York Ave. NW (301) 591-4434 Piano Bar
(202) 347-6025 LACE
500 8th Street SE
Convention Center / 2214 Rhode Island Ave. NE
(202) 543-5906
Gallery Place / (202) 832-3888 PW’S SPORTS BAR Eastern Market Metro
Chinatown Metro wrd 9855-N Washington, Blvd.
ml Laurel, MD
(301) 498-4840
19 NELLIE’S
SPORTS BAR
900 U Street NW
(202) 332-6355
U Street / Cardozo Metro
m&w r

m mostly men  w mostly women   m&w men and women    r restaurant    l leather/levi

d dancing   v video    t drag    cw country western    gg go-go dancers    o open 24 hours s sauna

64 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

29 Beacon Bar & Grill
1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW
(202) 872-1126
Dupont Circle Metro

30 Café Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE
(202) 543-7656
Union Station Metro
7

31 D.C. Noodles
14
1410 U Street NW 13
(202) 232-8424
U Street-Cardoza Metro 30

32 DIK
1637 17th Street NW
(202) 328-0100
Dupont Circle Metro 24

mr

4 Level One 12
1639 R Street NW
(202) 745-0025
Dupont Circle Metro

33 M Street Bar & Grill

2033 M Street NW
(202) 530-3621
Foggy Bottom Metro
9
1
23
RETAIL 31 19

22

34 CAPITOL VIDEO
SALES 34 4
35
32
1729 Connecticut Ave. NW 36
8 27 28
(202) 265-9226 21

Dupont Circle Metro 11

17

26 25
2 20
35 CAPITOL VIDEO 5
SALES 29

514 8th Street SE 33

(202) 544-2808 3
15
Eastern Market Metro
6

36 HRC
ACTION CENTER
& STORE
1633 Connecticut Ave. NW
(202) 232-8621
Dupont Circle Metro

METROWEEKLY.com 65
66 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
 scene
Shift
Saturday, January 29
Cobalt

Photography by
Ward Morrison

PURCHASE YOUR photo AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE/ 67

68 See photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene

Charmed Disguise
Baltimore’s Club Hippo will be transformed this Saturday into a
Parisian-themed Masquerade
Bella Stassi promises
that this Saturday, Feb.
19, Baltimore’s Club Hippo
won’t look or feel like a nor-
mal night out. “Our plans
are to truly transform the
inside of the club to feel like
you’re in Paris,” she says,
“from [a replica of the]
Eiffel Tower to having side-
walk cafes.”
Just don’t confuse the
theme for New Orleans.
“It’s definitely not Mardi
Gras,” says Stassi. The par-
ty’s theme is “Masquerade
— the black, the gold, the
silver.”
It’s the year’s kick-
off event for Bellezza
Entertainment, the promo-
tions company Stassi runs
with her brother that last
year transformed the Hippo
twice for special parties.
“We took you down the
rabbit hole with [the party]
Wonderland,” says Stassi,
“and then we had everyone
dance nonstop under our
big top, which we called
Circus.”
This Saturday, you might
say they’ll be charming you
in disguise.
“We’re going to have big
performances,” stays Stassi.
“We always have our sexy
go-go dancers, and perfor-
mances by DJ Kuhmeleon,
Miss Sue Nami and Sabrina
White.” Also on tap is a per-
formance by the Pussycat
Dolls-styled Charm City
Cabaret, offering “a little
burlesque, a little cabaret, a
little can-can.”
There will also be spe-
cialty Parisian-themed
cocktails, sponsored in part
by Chambord. Corks will be
popped, too: “What would
a night be in Paris without a
little champagne?” wonders
Stassi.
Patrons don’t have to
wear a mask or dress up,
and there’s no official con-
test. Stassi expects a little
bit of everything. “We’re
really expecting anything
goes. Come as you are
or come fully decked out.
Just come and have a great
time.”
Bellezza Entertainment
throws a monthly party
elsewhere in Baltimore, in
addition to other special
events. Plans are in the
works for Stassi’s company
to branch out this year
S
clublife
with parties in Rehoboth,
Philadelphia, even D.C.
But, the Columbia resident
is proud to call Maryland
home.
“Maryland is really taking
a bunch of steps forward
by doug rule
[politically],” she says.
“We’re really close to legal-
izing same-sex marriage.
There’s a lot going on in our
community that’s exciting.
It’s a good time to celebrate
and have a fun environment
to come together.”
Masquerade is Saturday,
Feb. 19, from 10 p.m. to 2
a.m. Club Hippo, 1 West
Eager St., Baltimore.
Cover is $8 in advance,
$12 at the door.
Call 410-547-0069 or visit
clubhippo.com. l
METROWEEKLY.com 69
70 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
 scene
So Addictive Lounge
Saturday, February 5

Photography by
Ward Morrison

PURCHASE YOUR photo AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE/ 71

 Filth Cher and cher
alike... Gay people love
Cher. Last week, the
Dark Lady wrapped up
her Caesars Palace run
to focus on completing
her new CD and plan her
upcoming national tour.
:disgustingly offensive dirt, garbage, anything viewed as grossly indecent or obscene
by billy masters
So it was no surprise that
the faithful trekked to Las
Vegas to pay homage to
their queen — and among
the throngs and multi-
tudes was Kathy Griffin.
Prior to leaving L.A., she
tweeted a photo of her-
self decked in an eerily
Cher-esque ensemble
(circa “Turn Back Time”),
with a caption (in Tweet-
speak) that read: “Off 2
Vegas 2 c closing nit 4 the
FAB @Cher. Have 2 return
her outfit she doesn’t
exactly no I borrowed ;)”
Truth be told, Kath looked
pretty good in that drag.
At the concert, she ran
into one of the divas of
drag — the delightful and
virtually legendary Randy
Roberts. Those two
Cher nuts posed for the
paps and then made their
way backstage to share
libations with the Half
Breed....
Old stars... As much
as I love Kathy, Randy
and Cher, I couldn’t join
them in Vegas because
I love Mark Sendroff
more. These columns
have oft-chronicled the
wizardry capable of this
lawyer to the stars. There
is nothing he can’t do
— both professionally
and personally. And that
was highly evident when
those he loves most
came from near and far to
gather in Beverly Hills for
a sumptuous feast. Yes,
it’s true that the aver-
age age was somewhere
between 60 and death,
and that’s just how I like
72 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
it — I’ll go anywhere if it
means I’ll be considered
a “twink” (next stop, Zsa
Zsa’s house). I was at
the “kiddie table” with
Bruce Vilanch, Sam
Harris, Michael Orland,
Nancy Dussault and
her hubby Val. The next
table had Karen Morrow,
Julia Murney, Jason
Graae, Mimi Hines,
Jimmy James, Armelia
McQueen, David Engel
and Ken Page. Off in
little nooks around the
room one could spy
Steve Lawrence and
Eydie Gorme, and Bob
Mackie and his adorable
assistant Joe who were
on diva duty tending to
Marilyn Maye. At one
point, I locked eyes with
the dashing Gregory
Harrison. Toward the
end of the night, Carole
Cook and Tom Troupe
wandered in — they were
in the neighborhood and
I think responded to the
whiff of formaldehyde in
the air! It was as if some-
one mounted a musical
version of Cocoon —
which I suppose makes
me Steve Guttenberg.
The evening was filled
with love, fabulous food,
fond reminiscences, and
more love. People got
up to sing — Sam Harris,
Marilyn Maye, Nancy
Dussault, Mimi Hines,
Danny Guerrero (who
organized the show por-
tion of the night) - all
accompanied by the mas-
terful Michael Orland. But
the best was yet to come.
A few years ago, Eydie
Gorme said farewell to
the stage. I still bemoan
the fact that I never got
to see her live. When
Steve Lawrence got up
to sing, I turned to Sam
Harris and said, “You
don’t think.....” “Nah,
she’ll never do it,” said
Sam. At that moment,
I spied a little, slightly
hunched-over lady quietly
inching her way toward
the front. The moment
the light hit her, she was
erect, swinging, snapping,
and then the unthinkable
happened — Steve and
Eydie were singing “Our
Love is Here to Stay”
and there wasn’t a dry
eye in the house. The old
magic was back. Then
Eydie led a rousing ver-
sion of “Happy Birthday”
to Mark Sendroff, a Fete
that won’t soon be forgot-
ten....
Ask Billy... Zane in
Toronto asks, “What do
you know about that hot
blond guy in the trailers
for I Am Number Four? I
have no clue who he is,
but he’s gorgeous!”
That would be British
actor and model Alex
Pettyfer, who appears
to have sprung up out
of nowhere (aside from
some ads for Ralph
Lauren and The Gap). I
do immediately have to
identify him as hetero-
sexual, although he is not
interested in discussing
his relationship with co-
star Dianna Agron (from
Glee) other than to say
they are not engaged.
Despite some rumors
to the contrary, I’m told
that Alex is very down to
earth, humble and miss-
ing that quality so many
domestic actors have
— that feeling of entitle-
ment. In fact, he had to
be forced to audition for
I Am Number Four. He
simply felt that there was
no way he could carry a
big sci-fi thriller. He actu-
ally walked out of the
audition, saying, “I’m
sorry. I’m not right for
this. I can’t. I don’t want
to muck up your movie.”
After passing on dozens
of other actors, the cast-
ing people called Alex
back in two weeks later.
At that point, he thought
he had nothing to lose.
He screen-tested and the
rest is history.
Speaking of history,
let’s talk about a movie
in his past. There’s a
little British slasher flick
I’m sure none of you
saw called Tormented.
One reason to watch it is
because you get to see
all of Alex during a very
steamy, hot, almost ani-
malistic sex scene with
some girl in the backseat
of a car. Aside from show-
ing Pettyfer’s anatomy
from a variety of angles,
it actually contains a mes-
sage — the girl stops Alex
at the moment of entry by
producing a condom from
inside her bra! See? It’s a
safe-sex film.
When I’m completely
distracted by the hot sex
in the backseat of a car,
it’s time to end another
column. Personally,
I always enjoyed the
front seat — there was
a time I couldn’t have
an orgasm unless there
was a steering wheel
between my legs — but
that’s another story, and
we simply don’t have
space for yet another
anecdote. In fact, we
cut so much gossip for
print, you best check out
BillyMasters.com to see
what you’re missing. If
you’ve got a question,
drop a note to Billy@
BillyMasters.com, and I
promise to get back to
you before I take to car-
rying a condom in my
jock strap (well, they all
end up in there sooner or
later).... l
METROWEEKLY.com 73
“” Last Word
“New York is a place with lots of gays,
and I think it’s great. But I’m not in favor of gay marriage.
”
— Donald Trump, the thrice-married New York billionaire and reality television star, speaks out against marriage equality.
Trump attended last week’s CPAC conference after an invitation from the gay conservative group GOProud.
(Fox News)

“ These subtle, but nonetheless significant, changes

undermine the traditional American family relationships
that have served as the bedrock of our nation since its inception.
”
— Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) in a press release on the bill he introduced in the House of Representatives to require all federal
forms to use the terms “mother” and “father” when listing the parents of children. It would reverse a State Department decision
to list “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” on forms in order to include a broader range of families.

“ Blaine is NOT bi.

He is gay, and will always be gay.
I think it’s very important to young kids that they know this character is one of them.
”
— Ryan Murphy, co-creator of Glee, responding to online speculation that the show’s popular gay character,
Blaine — played by breakout star Darren Criss — would turn out to be bisexual.
(Perez Hilton)

“ This is a matter of civil rights.

We would no longer feel that we’re second-class citizens....
We would have a sense of pride and integrity because the state has finally recognized us as equal.
”
— Gary Okabayashi of Honolulu, who is hoping to enter a legally recognized civil union with his partner after 32 years.
Civil-unions legislation has passed the state Legislature and is expected to be signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D).
(Associated Press)

“ The basic unit of society is the family, and

the cornerstone of the family is marriage.
Marriage is and should be between one man and one woman.
”
— Indiana state Rep. Eric Turner (R), who sponsored a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
that recently passed the state House of Representatives.
(Indianapolis Star)

74 METROWEEKLY FEBRUARY 17, 2011