Metro Weekly - 01-12-17 - Pre-MAL - Chuck King - Baltimore Eagle

JANUARY 12, 2017
19
CONTENTS
STRONGER TOGETHER
Participants in the upcoming Womens March
on Washington share thoughts about why its
important to be heard en masse
By John Riley
READY TO FLY
As the Baltimore Eagle prepares to reopen, co-owner

Chuck King talks about how the leather bar plans to
embrace the entire LGBT community
Interview by John Riley
Photography by Todd Franson
40
Volume 23 Issue 34
24
CHARM CITY
Sharp, funny and engaging, Mosaics Charm is a

stirring reminder to respect the person irrespective
of her, his or their gender
By Andr Hereford
SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS CARMACK p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.11

WANDERLUST: TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW p.12 PLAYING WITH POLITICS: RICHARD NELSON p.14
GOD BLESS BERLIN: IRVING BERLIN p.16 QUEERING CYMBELINE: THEATRE PROMETHEUS p.17
THE FEED: STRONGER TOGETHER p.19 COMMUNITY: LT. BRETT PARSON p.21
COVER STORY: READY TO FLY p.24 SOARING DC EAGLE p.32 MAL EVENTS p.35
GALLERY: WENDELL POINDEXTER p.39 STAGE: CHARM p.40
MUSIC: BRIAN ENO AND NINE INCH NAILS p.42 NIGHTLIFE p.45 COVERBOY: PETER p.45
SCENE: GREEN LANTERN p.52 LAST WORD p.54
Real LGBT News and Entertainment since 1994
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers Gordon Ashenhurst,
Sean Bugg, Frank Carber, Fallon Forbush, Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint COMMAND MC Cover Photography Todd Franson
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JANUARY 12, 2017 METROWEEKLY
MATT DOWNING
Spotlight
Country Goodness
INCE THE MID-2000S, CHRIS CARMACK HAS TRAversed a slow but assuredly steady career path. His first
big break was as a Bruce Weber model for Abercrombie &
Fitch. He later starred in The O.C. and appeared Off-Broadway
opposite Alec Baldwin in Entertaining Mr. Sloane. Yet, it wasnt
until 2013 that his star broke Hollywoods ozone.
It really has been a phenomenal experience for me, says
the 36-year-old star of Nashville, on which he plays gay country star Will Lexington. The role allowed Carmack to combine
his love of music (hes an accomplished jazz saxophonist and
blues guitarist) with acting. To have it finally pay off in a professional manner is very reaffirming, he says. But that experience was threatened when Nashville was abruptly cancelled
last season by ABC.
As so often is the case these days, the fans rallied and the
show was given a new lease on life by Country Music Television.

And Carmack is grateful for CMTs fifth season reprieve. This
was probably more of a life changing role than it was a career
changing role for me, he says. It uprooted me and changed
everything about where I was both mentally and emotionally.
Raised in Rockville, Md., Carmack returns to the area this
weekend to perform songs from his vibrant EP, Pieces of You,
as well as several numbers from the show, because a lot of
fans come out to see Will. He hopes his portrayal of an out
gay country star will help to culturally smooth the way for
acceptance of those country artists currently in the closet. Still,
he understands the fear that keeps them there. When you
roll that dice [of coming out], youre rolling the dice of your
career, he says. I think its a scary place for any gay artist to
be. Randy Shulman
Chris Carmack appears Sunday, Jan. 15, at The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 to $25. Call 202-787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.
Spotlight
LOTUS
Long a staple at influential festivals, from Bonnaroo to

Outside Lands, Lotus is a jamtronica band dance/
electronic jam formed in 1999. The five-pieces sound
often recalls the Talking Heads, Jamiroquai and LCD
Soundsystem, as well as their jam band pioneers Phish and
Grateful Dead, though admittedly less of the latter as the
years have gone by. And with the release of last years stirring, strong set Eat the Light, Lotus has moved away from
its largely instrumental output to embrace the full power of
a song, as well as broaden its appeal and potential audience.
Friday, Jan. 13 and Saturday, Jan. 14. Doors at 8 p.m. 9:30
Club, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $25, or $45 for a 2-Night
Ticket. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
GLADYS KNIGHT
IN LET FREEDOM RING!
The seven-time Grammy Awardwinning Empress of Soul leads this

years free musical celebration honoring Martin Luther King, Jrs legacy, courtesy of the Kennedy Center
and Georgetown University. Also
on the bill is the Let Freedom Ring
Choir with music director Rev. Nolan
Williams Jr. The 15th annual John
Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award
will be presented to Abel Enrique
Nunez, executive director of the
Central American Resource Center.
Monday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. Kennedy
Center Concert Hall. Free tickets will
be given away two per person on a
first-come, first-served basis starting
at 4:30 p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
DASHBOARD
CONFESSIONAL
One of the 20th centurys more commercially successful emo bands,

the Chris Carrabba-led Dashboard
Confessional reemerged last year after
a five-year hiatus. The Swiss Army
Romance is both the first and last album
released by the group, as its debut
in 2000 and then as limited edition
deluxe box set in 2010. Sunday, Jan.
22, at 7:30 p.m. Fillmore Silver Spring,
8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $27.50. Call 301.960.9999
or visit fillmoresilverspring.com.
Spotlight
CHINA NATIONAL
DANCE DRAMA THEATER
Confucius is a new dance drama, performed

by the China National Opera & Dance Drama
Theater and directed and choreographed by
Kong Dexin, a 77th-generational descendant Of
the legendary teacher/philosopher. Presented
as part of China Performing Arts Agencys
Image China cultural exchange initiative,
Confucius uses traditional Chinese music, opulent costumes, expressive choreography , and
an ensemble of 50 performers to relate a quest
to instill codes of ethics, honor and benevolence during a dicey but significant period in
Chinas history. Friday, Jan. 13, and Saturday,
Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1:30
p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are
$30 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
AARON TVEIT
In 2010, he portrayed Peter Orlovsky, the partner of poet Allen Ginsberg (James
Franco) in Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedmans Howl. Yet Aaron Tveit is far better
known for musical theater, on Broadway (Next to Normal, Catch Me If You Can) and
on screen (Danny Zuko in Foxs Grease Live!, Les Miserables). No doubt Tveit will
sing songs from those during the pop cabaret hes developing for his Wolf Trap debut.
Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635
Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $40 to $55. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.
ROE
Originally commissioned by the Oregon

Shakespeare Festival, playwright Lisa Loomers
drama focuses on the two women at the heart of
the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion:
Sarah Weddington, the young, brilliant attorney
who argued the case, and Norma McCorvey,
the complex, single woman seeking an end to
an unwanted pregnancy. Bill Rauch directs
a large cast including Jim Abele, Sarah Jane
Agnew, Kenya Alexander, Mark Bedard, Zoe
Bishop, Sara Bruner, Catherine Castellanos, Gina
Daniels, Pamela Dunlap, Richard Elmore, Susan
Lynskey, and Amy Newman. In previews starting Thursday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. Runs to Feb. 19.
Kreeger Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.
Out On The Town
JULIETA
Pedro Almodovars new film focuses on a mother-daughter bond broken by the decision to suffer in silence after the death
of the girls father. Based on three short stories by Alice Munro, the Spanish-language melodrama is told in flashback and
stars Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte. Opens Friday, Jan. 13. Landmarks Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave.
Call 301-652-7273 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
20TH CENTURY WOMEN
Five years after his loosely autobiographical film Beginners explored

a familys experience after the patriarch comes out as gay (Christopher
Plummer in an Oscar-winning role),
Mike Mills returns with another
film somewhat based on his own
life. This time, he nods to his mother and the women who helped raise
him. Set in 1979, Annette Bening
plays a fifty-something single
mother who enlists the help of two
younger women (Greta Gerwig, Elle
Fanning) and a man (Billy Crudup)
to raise her adolescent boy (newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann). Opens
Friday, Jan. 13. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.
MOONLIGHT
HHHHH
One of those rare and extraordinary
cinematic experiences that pulls
you deeply into its narrative, the
Golden Globe-winning Moonlight
artfully guides viewers towards
an emotional payoff without once

feeling manipulative or artificial. It
is an extraordinary achievement in
this cut-and-paste era of cinema, a
time when movies fail to ignite so
much as a spark of genuine, earned
emotion. The 80s-set story of a
young boy who comes to terms with
his identity and sexuality in a harsh
South Florida neighborhood refuses
to lazily cleave to its genre. There
isnt an off performance in the film,
which employs a solely AfricanAmerican cast come Oscar time,
Moonlight could be the one film to
give Hollywood a credible reason to
break its too-white image without
resorting to tokenism. Now playing.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
(Randy Shulman)
PATRIOTS DAY
Less than three years after the

Boston Marathon tragedy, Peter
Berg offers a sprawling procedural starring Mark Wahlberg as
Sgt. Tommy Saunders who leads
an investigation to find the bombers. With Kevin Bacon and John
Goodman. Opens Friday, Jan. 13.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
THE ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW
Landmarks E Street Cinema

screens Richard OBriens camp
classic, billed as the longest-running midnight movie in history.
Landmarks showings come with
a live shadow cast from the Sonic
Transducers, meaning its even
more interactive than usual. Friday,
Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 14, at
midnight Landmarks E Street
Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.
com.
STAGE
COPENHAGEN
Theater J presents Michael Frayns

Tony-winning play about the historic 1941 meeting between German
physicist Werner Heisenberg and
Danish physicist Niels Bohr, friends
and colleagues who found themselves working for opposing sides
in the war to develop the atom
bomb. Eleanor Holdridge directs
Tim Getman, Michael Russotto
and Sherri Edelen. To Jan. 29. The
Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater,
Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW.
Tickets are $19.13 to $64.13. Call

202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.
LIZZIE THE MUSICAL
Yes, that Lizzie, the little Borden

girl who was tried for brutally murdering her parents with
an axe in Massachusetts in 1892
though later acquitted. Pinky Swear
Productions revives the tale in a
riot grrrl-steeped show created
by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim
Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt. A
feminist tale of sex, rage and murder that shows how little agency
women had in the Bordens time.
Opens Thursday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m.
To Feb. 5. Anacostia Playhouse,
2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets
are $35. Call 202-241-2539 or visit
pinkyswear-productions.com.
SOMEONE IS GOING TO COME
Scena Theatre presents the emotionally powerful drama featuring two-time Helen Hayes Award
winner Nanna Ingvarsson, David
Bryan Jackson, and Joseph Carlson.
Robert McNamara directs Jon
Fosses poetic play about passion,
paranoia and jealousy, as a strange
couple moves into an isolated, rundown house to be left alone, never
11
fully believing theyll get their wish.

To Feb. 5. Atlas Performing Arts
Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are
$20 to $35, or $10 in previews. Call
202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.
THE HARD PROBLEM
Tom Stoppards latest explores the

complexities of defining consciousness, the nature of belief, and how
to reconcile hard science with lived
experience. Matt Torney directs
Studios 10-member cast, including Tessa Klein, Nancy Robinette,
Martin Giles, Kyle Cameron, and
Joy Jones. In previews. Runs to Feb.
19. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets
NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
PHOTO CREDIT
TITANIC: THE MUSICAL
WANDERLUST
The Travel & Adventure Show seeks to inspire the

travelers in us all
AVE YOU EVER TAKEN A RIDE ON A CAMEL? A TRIP TO THE

desert is no longer required: you can experience one this weekend
within the confines of the Washington Convention Center. Its just
one of several engaging attractions available at this weekends Travel &
Adventure Show.
Its a very, very hands-on show, says spokesperson Jonathan Golicz.
We like to think of ourselves as a very experiential event, so youre really
going to get to talk to people that are the experts and put your hands on
different parts of travel, whether it be a camel ride or eating a local cuisine.
For instance, samples of various cuisines will be available during live
cooking demonstrations at the intimate, stadium-style Taste of Travel
Theater (this years participants include Matteo Venini of Lupo Verde,
Guillermo Pernot of Cuba Libre, K.N. Vinod of Indique and Bombay Bistro,
and Sherene James of the Jamaican Embassy). Also on offer: free Segway
rides, a rock climbing wall, a Turkey Photo Booth, and a Global Beats Stage
featuring live performances by musicians and dancers from the Bahamas to
Botswana, Ireland to India.
More than 150 destinations are represented at the annual convention, now
in its 13th year. Youre going to meet thousands of vacation experts who are
on hand to help you plan, personalize and book your next trip, Golicz says.
A third of vendors at last years show considered themselves LGBT-friendly,
according to Golicz, who adds, I know for a fact that most of the Caribbean
is LGBT-friendly, at least those who are exhibiting with us. Naturally, the
Caribbean is the leading region of interest at a show held in winter. Hotspots
trending for gay travelers in 2017 include Aruba, St. Martin, Belize and the
U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Atlantic City, Fort Lauderdale and Key West.
The goal of the show, says Golicz, is to really help you find a vacation
thats right for you and discover something that you may not have thought of
previously. Doug Rule
The Travel & Adventure Show is Saturday, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Jan.
15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Pl. NW.
Tickets are $11 for one day or $18 for two days online, or $15 and $22 at the door.
Call 202-249-3000 or visit travelshows.com.
12
Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer has

retooled composer/lyricist Maury
Yeston and writer Peter Stones
large-scale musical to make it both
intimate and immersive, improving
our understanding and appreciation
of its themes, proving there are both
relevant and uplifting things to take
away from it. Schaeffer worked with
Paul Tate dePoo III to effectively conjure the ocean liner through
the ingenious use of gangplanks
and bridges, used by actors as the
ships various decks. With a cast of
20, most actors do double, triple,
even quadruple duty, juggling both
major and minor roles, and having
so many actors in constant motion
helps convey the feeling of being
on a bustling ocean liner. Titanic
ends with a reprise of the moving
hymn Godspeed Titanic, sung in
full throttle unison by the entire cast,
positioned to fill the room. If tragedy
can produce an uplifting moment,
this is most definitely it. Runs to
Jan. 29 in the Max, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40 to
$89. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org. (Doug Rule)
MUSIC
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
Johannes Debus makes his debut

conducting the BSO and pianist
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. The program features Rossinis Overture to
The Barber of Seville, Beethovens
Piano Concerto No. 2, and Brahms
Symphony No. 1 often dubbed
Beethovens 10th. Friday, Jan. 20,
at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3
p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Also Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $33 to $99. Call 410-7838000 or visit bsomusic.org.
EDDIE FROM OHIO
Neither the singing percussionist Eddie Hartness nor any other

Virginia-bred member of Eddie
From Ohio actually has any ties to
the Buckeye State the folk acts

name is simply an obscure tribute to
Ed From Ohio Crawford, the lead
singer/guitarist of 80s-era alt-rock
act Firehose. Since its founding 25
years ago, Eddie from Ohio has gone
on to tour regularly throughout the
U.S. But the Wammie-winning act
remains particularly popular in its
native region, typically selling out
weekend shows well in advance
at big, lauded venues such as the
Birchmere. This year is no different: Tickets remain only for shows
Friday, Jan. 13, and Sunday, Jan. 15,
at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701
Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
Tickets are $39.50. Call 703-5497500 or visit birchmere.com.
PHOTO CREDIT
LYLE LOVETT AND JOHN HIATT
PLAYING WITH POLITICS

A
Richard Nelsons slice-of-life plays are inspired by American politics
MERICA AND AMERICANS ARE PERCEIVED IN CLICHED WAYS IN

much of the world today, says Richard Nelson. Understandably so, I guess.
The past years shifting political landscape is reflected in two series of plays
by Nelson, focused on progressive families in the same small New York town. The
Apple Family Plays, set between 2010 and 2013, followed events during the Obama
presidency. Developed with New Yorks Public Theater, Nelson eventually took the
plays on tours to Germany and England.
To watch a group of people struggle and try to understand and articulate their
own frustrations and confusions is something that made audiences in Europe feel
really quite sympathetic and empathetic with these characters. It really presented
our country, I think, in...a different way for it to be seen. Thats what Im hoping we
have with The Gabriels, as well.
The Gabriels is a series of three plays set during the 2016 election. The 90-minute
plays premiered in New York, with the final installment opening on election night.
The premise is deceptively simple: In their Rhinebeck home, a family discusses issues
stirred up during the campaign, without arguing about right or wrong.
This years election...was a very fraught and volatile event, Nelson says. Its
really people just trying to express and articulate to their own family their own confusions, frustrations or ambiguities and how these questions are within the context of
a family life, of a personal life, of a professional life, of relationships.... And all of those
things entwined together are one of the things that makes us human.
Nelson developed both series as a result of hearing a lot of conversations going on
in my own living room [about] how people were thinking about and talking about our
country. I wasnt hearing those conversations expressed in any other way not on
television, not in the news. His intent was to provide slice-of-life portrayals of two
progressive-leaning families in present-day America, where politics is one among
many facets of life explored, alongside personal, social, economic and familial issues.
Im not really a political writer in the sense Im not trying to argue any case
or make any point of convincing anyone of anything, Nelson says. The fact that
politics are part of my characters lives I think thats pretty much all of our lives.
Doug Rule
The Gabriels Trilogy Hungry, What Did You Expect? and Women of a Certain
Age runs in rep to Jan. 22 in the Theater Lab. Tickets are $49 each show, or $120
for full-day weekend marathons. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
14
Two admired singer-songwriters share the stage for an intimate

acoustic evening of unforgettable
stories and iconic songs. More
than three decades into his career,
the Texas-based Lyle Lovett fuses
elements of country, swing, jazz,
folk, gospel and blues into his
convention-defying music, while
Indiana-bred John Hiatt is into his
fourth decade of an Americana/
blues career. Performing together,
they offer what Hiatt dubs our
little Smothers Brothers comedy
show. Thursday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $55 to $95. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
Sir Mark Elder conducts pianist

Jeremy Denk in Ravels Left Hand
Concerto, as part of the NSOs first
folklore-inspired program bookended by Stravinskys The Firebird
and Rimsky-Korsakovs Legend of
the Invisible City Suite. Thursday,
Jan. 12, at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13,
at 11:30 a.m. a Coffee Concert
with a la carte breakfast items available to purchase beforehand and
Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m. Kennedy
Center Concert Hall. Tickets are
$15 to $89. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.
THE ANTI-BALL W/ANTIBALAS &

FRIENDS
Every night during the week of

President Donald Trumps inauguration, the Black Cat hosts what
its calling a series of CounterInaugural Events dubbed You
Cant Grab This Pussy. The
series culminates in a Planned
Parenthood-benefiting concert
featuring the funky Afrobeat band
Antibalas supporting a lineup that
includes Kyp Malone of TV on
the Radio, Kimya Dawson, Trixie
Whitley, Holly Miranda, Elenna
Canlas and Domenica Fossati of
Underground Systems, Jeffrey
Lewis, Kat Wright, Dia Luna
and Stuart Bogie of Superhuman
Happiness, Miles Francis, and
Teen. Saturday, Jan. 21. Doors at 10
p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW.

Tickets are $30. Call 202-667-4490
or visit blackcatdc.com.
TOM CHAPLIN OF KEANE
While British band Keane is on a

hiatus as a group, its soaring lead
singer strikes out on his own. Tom
Chaplin tours in support of The
Wave, an album of pop songs every
bit as anthemic and emotional as
youd expect, with lyrics intimately sharing his drug problems and
stints at rehab over the past decade.
Tuesday, Jan. 17. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW.
or visit thelincolndc.com.
TWOPIANISTS
Virtuosic
husband-and-wife
duo Luis Magalhaes and Nina
Schumann build on the two-piano
repertoire popularized by famous
duos including Ashkenazy and
Previn and Argerich and Freire.
The South African couple, who
have been performing together as
TwoPianists since 1999, travels to
Maryland to play dueling takes on
works by Franck and Barber, as
well as Bachs Goldberg Variations.
Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701
Rockville Pike, North Bethesda.
or visit strathmore.org.
DANCE
COLLAGE DANCE COLLECTIVE
A Memphis-based dance ensemble

comes to D.C. to offer a celebratory performance to honor dynamic
contributions to our history. The
focus is the work Rise, which showcases both the companys professionals as well as students in its
conservatory. Dancers from the
Jones Haywood School of Dance
and the Duke Ellington School of
the Arts will also join the Collage
Dance Collective in its D.C. performances. Friday, Jan. 13, at 7:30
p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2:30
p.m. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th
St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $35. Call
202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.
GANDINI JUGGLING
World-renowned jugglers Sean

Gandini and Kati Yla-Hokkala
founded the British dance troupe 25
years ago, with the goal of reinventing and reinvigorating juggling for
the 21st Century as well as to help
spread the contemporary circus
movement popularized the world
over by the likes of Cirque du Soleil.
Four jugglers and four ballet dancers feature in Gandini Jugglings
latest show, 4x4: Ephemeral
Architectures, which premiered
at the 2015 London International
Mime Festival at the Royal Opera
House. The work explores the
connections between the two performative fields of juggling and
ballet, from mathematical patterns

to sheer athleticism, and features
choreography by Royal Ballet
dancer Ludovic Ondiviela, original
music by Nimrod Borenstein and
lighting by Guy Hoars. D.C. string
ensemble rogue collective accompanies. Sunday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $28 to $68. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.
KANKOURAN WEST
AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY
As part of its annual presentation

celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Day, Kankouran invites guests to
explore Africa in Visit Casamance,
portraying the cycle of seasons of
the people inhabiting the agrarian Casamance region of Senegal.
Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m., and
Sunday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. Dance
Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are
$25 in advance, or $30 at the door.
Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.
KIMBERLY BARTOSIK/DAELA
New York-based Kimberly Bartosik

directs dancers in Ecsteriority4
(Part 2), a work examining power
and desire through brief, intense
encounters where each impulse
is fully and boldly executed.
Performance contains some violent
imagery. Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m,
and Sunday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. Dance
Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are
$25 to $30. Call 202-269-1600 or
visit danceplace.org.
COMEDY
HAL SPARKS
Best known as Michael from

Showtimes Queer as Folk, these
days Hal Sparks dabbles in various
media, from starring on the Disney
XD cable channels Lab Rats, to performing as lead singer and guitarist
for rock trio Zero 1, to guest-hosting
and starring on progressive radio
stations nationwide. He returns to
the area less than a year after his
last visit and will no doubt weigh
in on Donald Trumps swearing
in, which occurs before his run
of shows. Friday, June 20, and
Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 and 10 p.m.,
at Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse,
2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington.
or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.
STEPHANIE MILLERS SEXY

LIBERAL COMEDY TOUR
Now
More
Than
Ever...
Outrageous Political Comedy is
the promise of this night of standup led by a comedian known from
SiriusXMs Progress channel and
the Progressive Voices app. A
day after Trumps inauguration,
Stephanie Miller will perform a set
alongside real-life best friends and
Afro-Saxons Frances and Angela,
collectively known as Frangela, who
PERVERSION THERAPY
Through paintings, performance objects and multimedia installations, Perversion Therapy is intended
as a celebration of queer bliss and domestic deviance
in direct response to the anti-LGBT history and
attitudes espoused by the president-elect and members of his cabinet. The exhibit features works by
interdisciplinary artists Eames Armstrong and John
Moletress, and includes an outrageous live work, performed at the opening and again on Wednesday, Jan.
18, from 7 to 9 p.m., in which the artists subvert the
anti-LGBT practice of conversion therapy by affirming all things queer and transgressive. Summer Camp,
Kunj, Salvadora Dali, and Johnny Fantastic take
part in the opening reception Friday, Jan. 13, from 6
to 9 p.m. Exhibition on view through Feb. 4. Mead
Theatre Lab at Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW. Tickets are
$15 to $30. Call 202-733-6321 or visit culturaldc.org.
have been seen everywhere from

Millers talk show to The Oprah
Show to the film Hes Just Not That
Into You, and John Fugelsang, a
regular on Bill Mahers talk shows
and host of Tell Me Everything on
SiriusXMs Insight. Saturday, Jan.
21, at 8 p.m. Sidney Harman Hall,
Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F
St. NW. Tickets are $60 to $85, or
$150 for VIP with post-show Meet
& Greet. Call 202-547-1122 or visit
shakespearetheatre.org.
READINGS
CHUCK D
Rap, Race, Reality is the title of

a speech the Public Enemy hiphop legend will give as part of
the McLean Community Centers
annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Celebration. Born Carlton Douglas
Ridenhour, Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer Chuck D has increasingly made a name for himself as a
political activist, having co-hosted a show on Air America Radio
15
and provided commentary about

Black Lives Matter and the 2016
presidential campaigns on TV
news. Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m.
Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,
Mclean, Va. Tickets are $20. Call
703-790-0123 or visit mcleancenter.
org/alden-theatre.
JOHANNES MARKUS
MAUREEN DOWD AND

CARL HULSE
GOD BLESS BERLIN
The InSeries devotes its latest revue to one of the great unsung heroes
of the American songbook
HERE ISNT AN ETHEL MERMAN IMPERSONATION OR ANYTHING

like that. The songs are just sung as the songs, Brian J. Shaw says of Irving
Berlin: A Simple Melody. Still, avoiding comparisons with Merman would be
impossible several of the Broadway divas best-known hits were written by Berlin,
meaning any fan will enjoy the latest InSeries production.
A lot of people say that Irving Berlin didnt just write American music, that he
was American music, says Shaw. We work really hard to keep alive the music of the
American Songbook, and Irving Berlin is a big part of that. Berlin is less well-known
than fellow musical theater/American Songbook giants George and Ira Gershwin or
Cole Porter. So many people...are unaware of these songs or their place in history
in terms of creating the American pop culture as we know it today, Shaw says. It
goes well beyond the unofficial second National Anthem God Bless America and
the Bing Crosby holiday classic White Christmas. Theres also Cheek to Cheek,
Puttin On The Ritz and Ive Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.
Take Ethel Merman and her signature song, Theres No Business Like Show
Business it was penned by Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun. He also
wrote the stage and screen musical Call Me Madam starring Merman. That was
another childhood favorite of mine, Shaw says. Once I learned who Ethel Merman
was, I followed more of her work, and it led me to that.
Shaw, an Ohio native, has both performed in and designed costumes for previous
InSeries productions, but recently has been helping founder Carla Hubner run the
organization. For Irving Berlin, Shaw served as assistant director to Abel Lopez, who
has helmed many previous InSeries shows, including Bari Bierns joint revue of songs
by Berlin and Harold Arlen (Somewhere Over The Rainbow). This time around, six
cast members perform nearly 30 Berlin songs over the course of 90 minutes.
Youre getting quite a whirlwind tour of Irving Berlins works, Shaw says.
There are little historical anecdotes and factoids that people will get as unobtrusively as possible [but] its a musical revue and is way more about the music than it is
trying to give you a history lesson. Doug Rule
Irving Berlin: A Simple Melody opens Friday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m., and runs weekends to
Jan. 28 at Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $22 to $42.
Call 202-204-7763 or visit inseries.org.
16
The Hill Center kicks off a new

series called Full Proof Punditry
with two writers for the New
York Times: The brash, Pulitzer
Prize-winning columnist Maureen
Dowd and Chief Washington
Correspondent Carl Hulse. The
town hall-style event will feature
prognostications about whats to
come in the scary, unpredictable
Trump era, all washed down with
drinks made with Civic vodka, produced by D.C.s first women-owned
distillery Republic Restoratives.
Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Old Navy
Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20
day-of event. Call 202-549-4172 or
visit HillCenterDC.org.
STORY DISTRICTS TOP SHELF
An annual best-of showcase featuring some of the best tales told

over the past year at this storytelling organizations many events
around town. Unlike other storytelling organizations, Story District,
formerly known as SpeakEasyDC,
is focused on congenial camaraderie rather than competition no
judged Story Slams here. Top
Shelf is a curated group of eight storytellers, partially winnowed down
by a panel of independent judges.
Saturday, Jan. 14. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW.
or visit thelincolndc.com.
EXHIBITS
ARTISTS CHOICE
Works by 37 members in the

Capitol Hill Arts League are featured in this juried exhibition,
including: Mary Ellen Abrecht,
Kasse
Andrews-Weller,
Ken
Bachman, Paula Cleggett, Fierce
Sonia, Vince Iannacchione, JoAnn
Lamicella Laboy, Ohana Murao,
Hernan Murno, Ann Pickett, and
Judy Searles. Opening reception
Saturday, Jan. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Runs to Feb. 1. Gallery in Capitol
Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE.
Call 202-547-6839 or visit chaw.org.
ABOVE & BEYOND

GERARD PANGAUD: THE ART OF
FRENCH COOKING
The man behind former D.C. restaurant Gerards Place and now chef
at Malmaison on the Georgetown
Waterfront, Gerard Pangaud was
the youngest chef ever to receive
a two-star Michelin rating (for his
PHOTO COURTESY OF THEATRE PROMETHEUS
namesake French restaurant prior

to moving to the U.S.). At the Hill
Center on Capitol Hill he offers
another Art of French Cooking
class, predicated on his approach
in the kitchen emphasizing the creative and unique over the rote and
standard in other words, winging
it versus relying on a recipe. For his
next class, designed at the intermediate to advanced level, Pangaud
demonstrates how to make a seared
tuna salad, gratin of endives and
ham with Swiss cheese, and a chocolate brownie with his signature
vanilla ice cream. Saturday, Jan. 14,
at 11 a.m. Hill Center, Old Navy
Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
Cost is $85. Call 202-549-4172 or
visit HillCenterDC.org.
KING: A FILMED RECORD...

MONTGOMERY TO MEMPHIS
Once again the American Film

Institute celebrates MLK Day by
screening a free documentary featuring footage of the civil rights
legend. King: A Filmed Record...
Montgomery to Memphis includes
his stirring I Have A Dream
speech at the Lincoln Memorial,
and also features narration and
commentary from Sidney Poitier,
James Earl Jones, Paul Newman,
Charlton Heston, Harry Belafonte,
and Ruby Dee, among others.
Sidney Lumet and Joseph L.
Mankiewicz co-directed and produced this 1970 film. Monday, Jan.
16, at 11 a.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are free, available at the box
office starting at 10:30 a.m. day-of.
Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/
Silver.
PRETTY BOI DRAG
A year after setting out to revive

the art of drag kings in D.C., former
DC King Pretty Rik E toasts the
success of the event he co-founded
that has since expanded to include
a monthly bottomless brunch. Chris
Jay returns to host the shenanigans
featuring many of the areas best
drag kings. Patrons are encouraged
to wear Pretty Boi Swag to win
tickets to future shows and branded attire, including Pretty Boi Drag
caps. Sunday, Jan. 22, from 2 to 5
p.m. Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd
St. NW. Tickets are $20 in advance,
or $25 day-of show. Call 202-2931887 or visit prettyboidrag.com.
THE ANTI-INAUGURATION
Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta

Taylor and Anand Gopal lead yet
another anti-Trump event, this one
hosted at the Lincoln on the night
of the inauguration and presented
by Jacobin Magazine, Haymarket
Books and Verso Books. Other
speakers to be announced. Friday,
Jan. 20. Doors at 7 p.m. Lincoln
Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Tickets
are free, but seats available on a
first-come, first-served basis. Call
202-328-6000 or visit thelincolndc.
com. l
QUEERING CYMBELINE
T
Theatre Prometheus bucks tradition to tell stories

of societys marginalized
O OUR KNOWLEDGE, NOBODY HAS EVER DONE THE PLAY WITH A QUEERED
narrative, says Tracey Erbacher, whose company, Theatre Prometheus is undertaking Cymbeline. One of the later-era, lesser-regarded plays in Shakespeares oeuvre, its
one few theater companies stage.
Theres a lot going on, Erbacher says. Its one of those plays where you start summarizing the plot, and you realize that youve been talking for five minutes. Theres parted lovers,
and fathers, and evil queens, and separations, and lost/kidnapped children, and 20 years of
trying to find each other all of Shakespeares greatest hits. Its also not a simple tragedy,
comedy or farce, but has aspects of all three. Thats partly what drew Erbacher to the play.
Life isnt one thing comedy, drama or farce. Its all of them at the same time until you cant
handle it any more. I love that about Cymbeline.
Theatre Prometheuss production puts a lesbian love story at the plays center, as well as
casting more women altogether. As in the original Shakespeare, King Cymbeline still forcefully rejects the relationship between courtier Posthumous and his daughter Imogen only now
Posthumous is portrayed as a woman by a woman. [As a man] hes a terribly bland...romantic
hero, Erbacher says. As a woman who is being forced out of her society because she married
the princess, suddenly Posthumus is a lot more interesting.
Among other things, the queer-identified Erbacher says the result is an interesting world
that is actually quite similar to our own, one in which a majority of people are okay with
queer identity and relationships. Its these father figures, these symbols of traditional authority, that cant deal with their increasingly queer society and try to put limits and restrictions
on that, she says. And in that way it seems quite similar to where were living right now.
Donald Trumps political ascendancy has only reinforced Theatre Prometheuss focus to
put women and minorities front and center, either via novel, progressive twists on classics or
through new plays. As a result of the election, the company plans to get more activist, and
[work] harder to carry out our mission, and [work] harder to share the stories that right now
are being really frequently ignored such as the lived experiences of immigrants and gays.
If you can get somebody in a room to see somebody live and love within the context of a
story, says Erbacher, it makes it so much harder to other that group of people. Doug Rule
Cymbeline opens in previews Thursday, Jan. 12, and runs to Jan. 29,
at the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. Tickets are $20.
Call 202-631-6291 or visit theatreprometheus.org.
17
SHUTTERSTOCK / ALF RIBEIRO
theFeed
STRONGER TOGETHER
Participants in the upcoming Womens March on Washington share

thoughts about why its important to be heard en masse By John Riley
HAT STARTED OUT AS AN IDEA ON A FACEBOOK POST HAS

grown into a national show of strength. The day after President-elect
Trump is sworn into office, hundreds of thousands of women will march
through D.C. in a powerful, visual declaration that they will no longer be silent about
issues that matter to them.
Theresa Shook, a retiree from Hawaii and a Hillary Clinton supporter, conceived
the idea after Clintons defeat. Shook hypothesized what might happen if women
were to mobilize and march through Washington, D.C. during Inauguration weekend. Sure of her idea, she created a Facebook event, and after receiving 40 responses
went to bed. By the the following morning, she had 10,000.
I think what Theresa felt was that she wanted to join other women in unity, to
show our new president power and how women can come together, says Carmen
Perez, one of the national co-chairs of the Womens March on Washington.
As her idea took off, Shook handed over the reins to Perez and three other women
Tamika Mallory, Bob Bland, and Linda Sarsour who had experience organizing
marches and enlisting people and representatives to get involved. Though the march
is nonpartisan, a number of organizations that are either liberal-leaning or opposed
to Trump also came on board to help ensure its success. Interest in the event has
continued to grow, with half a million women expected to march on Saturday, Jan.
21 half of them in Washington and the rest in one of 268 sister marches held in
cities throughout the world that day.
I think the moment right now has allowed us to actually step out of our silence
and really be intentional about intersectionality and collaboration, says Perez. I
think thats what this march is trying to accomplish. Were coming together, not only
in solidarity, but also seeing our liberation bound in one another.
For many women, the march serves as a way to counteract the divisiveness that
was sown and the misogynistic rhetoric that was employed during the presidential
campaign.
One of the things Im so excited about with this march is that theyve put a human
rights frame around womens rights, says Terry ONeill, president of the National
Organization of Women (NOW), one of the groups co-sponsoring the march.
While NOW will be using the march to promote several issues LGBT equali-
ty, reproductive health and justice, economic justice, ending

racism and voter suppression,
ending violence against women,
and getting women into the
Constitution of the United States
ONeill says that many other
women have been mobilized
because of their disgust for the
incoming administration.
ONeill doesnt mince words
when it comes to the threat she
believes the Trump administration poses to women. She calls
Vice President-elect Mike Pence
a rabid anti-women crusader
and President-elect Trump the
Predator-in-chief enabled
by his cabinet of abusers.
[Trump] has bragged about
committing sexual assault
himself, he has surrounded himself by men who stand
accused of domestic violence
Steve Bannon is one. He
has brought Roger Ailes into
his inner circle, a serial sexual harasser, says ONeill. He
has nominated Andrew Puzder
for Secretary of Labor, who
sexually objectifies women in
his ads, and then pays them
a starvation wage, and has
done everything to stop the
advancement of a living wage
for workers. And, of course,
in Steve Bannon, [Trump] has
also brought Neo-Nazis and
white supremacists to the
19
theFeed
White House of the United States. Its extremely trou- to have our voices heard, says Morganfield. Of course,
bling to women. This is why women are flocking to this you have the other things that are at risk that everyone
march, on two months notice. Its unheard of most knows about. Things like womens reproductive rights are
marches of this type require 15 to 24 months to plan.
at risk. Womens ability to organize economically is at risk.
Mara Kaiser Braunger, vice president of external rela- Womens ability to be able to run for any office and have
tions for Planned Parenthood of Washington, D.C., says that any traction is at risk. But all of those things are even more
some women may be motivated to demonstrate because of at risk when we dont have the ability to talk about them.
fears over what the incoming administration will do to curb
ONeill, of NOW, hopes that the march will inspire
reproductive freedom.
women, regardless of
The people who are
political affiliation, to get
now in power do not look
involved and begin orgafavorably upon the type of
nizing at the local level.
access, especially in terms
Women are going to
of reproductive health
have a number of opporcare, that is necessary for
tunities, really, she says.
a healthy, thriving sociThe first thing they need
ety, says Braunger. And
to do is look in their comthe threat has never been
munities. There are many
more palpable.
opportunities for people
My
generation
to plug in, even if theyre
has never really had to
in red states, sometimes
engage about reproducespecially if they live in
tive health issues in this
red states.
manner. It is a sobering
In North Carolina,
time, she adds. And so
the NOW chapter is
part of the power of these
very involved with
people who have been
Moral Mondays, That
Planned Parenthood supis a movement that only
porters for so long, but
needs more volunteers,
were never maybe vocal
ONeill says, referring to a
about it, are coming
coalition of religious leadtogether to be steadfast
ers, community organizain our resolve to make
tions, and representatives
sure womens access to
from the labor, LGBT and
reproductive health care
immigrant communities
is available to all.
that demonstrates against
Jackie Savage
Jackie Savage, a memregressive actions taken
ber of the regional leadby the North Carolina
ership team for the D.C.
legislature. For instance,
chapter of the Womens
the coalition heavily
March on Washington,
protested the infamous
views the marches as a call to action that many women are anti-transgender bathroom bill HB 2.
heeding, whatever issue happens to motivate them.
Its very exciting, because theres been a virtual coup
Not just in D.C., but all over the nation, women are detat in North Carolina, and Moral Mondays is doing
coming together to say This isnt okay, Savage says. The everything to reverse it, says ONeill.
language that was used during the election, and a whole host
Morganfield notes that some people still question the
of other issues that need to be addressed. I see this as the purpose of having a womens march and mistakenly view it
beginning of a larger movement.
as a protest against the incoming administration.
From a personal standpoint, Savage is worried about the
I say to people who wonder why a womens march is
erosion of LGBT rights, including the right to marriage and important, why is any march important? What do people
freedom from discrimination, particularly for members of march for? They march because they feel disenfranchised,
the transgender community.
or they feel left out, she says. Or they feel like equalitys
I felt like we were moving in a very positive direction, not happening for them. If we cant get our voices heard
and now Im very worried that the community is going to be through the regular channels, and even if we can, thats our
extremely vulnerable, she says.
right. Thats freedom of speech. If you dont agree with it,
Mercy Morganfield, another member of the regional you dont have to march.
leadership team for the D.C. chapter, says the key issue of
But many people are asking, Why even march? And
the womens march is the First Amendment and its protec- that could be a giving up, or the time for protest is over.
tions for freedom of speech and freedom of association.
But were not protesting anything, she continues. We are
I think the biggest thing we have at risk right now is the mobilizing, energizing and catalyzing women to action. And
ability to speak freely, and to organize, and to march. And the country should feel good about that. l
I felt like we
were moving in a
positive direction,
and now Im
very worried
the community
is going to
be extremely
vulnerable.
20
Community
group features mainstream
through advanced square
dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas
Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual
dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice. The team is always

looking for new members. All
welcome. 7:30-9:30 p.m. King
Greenleaf Recreation Center,
201 N St. SW. For more information, visit scandalsrfc.org or
dcscandals@gmail.com.
TODD FRANSON / FILE PHOTO
The DULLES TRIANGLES

Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at
Sheraton in Reston. All welcome. 7-9 p.m. 11810 Sunrise
Valley Drive, second-floor bar.
For more information, visit
dullestriangles.com.
FAMILIAR FACE
Parson
Lt. Brett Parson heads the MPDs newly-overhauled

Special Liaison Division
FTER ALMOST TEN YEARS OF WORKING IN LIAISON UNITS, I WAS READY

to go back on patrol, says Lt. Brett Parson of his 2009 departure as supervisor of
the Metropolitan Police Departments Special Liaison Unit, following seven years
as supervisor for the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit. I was ready to get back into responding to calls for service and pounding the pavement on a day-to-day basis.
Primed for a change, Parson has returned to a role for which hes both well known
and admired in the LGBT community: Hell serve as the manager of the Special Liaison
Division, overseeing all the units, from LGBT to Hispanic to deaf and hard of hearing.
The SLD is meant to improve communication between the force and the communities
its officers are sworn to serve. We really have to walk that fine line between being enforcers and being advocates for the community, notes Parson. We want to be reaching out
and helping people get improved service so that they feel safer.
The expectation is that we should be visible where the community is and where the
community feels safe. I would love some day for police officers to show up to any community event, uninvited, and for people not to look at them and go, Oh, my God, what happened? I would like a day when we show up to these events and people smile, and open
their arms, and hug the officers, and know the officers names. John Riley
The MPDs Special Liaison Division office is at Dupont Circle, 1369A Connecticut Ave. NW.
The LGBT Liaison Unit can be reached at 202-498-9829.
For more information, visit mpd.gov.
THURSDAY, January 12
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA
TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH
offers free HIV testing and HIV

services (by appointment). 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To
arrange an appointment, call
practice session at Takoma

Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300
Van Buren St. NW. For more
information, visit swimdcac.org.
welcomes runners of all ability

levels for exercise in a fun and
supportive environment, with
socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at
7 p.m. at 23rd & P Streets NW.
For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS run-
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay
202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
ning/walking/social club
and lesbian square-dancing
HIV TESTING at WhitmanWalker Health. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at

1525 14th St. NW, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical
Center, 1701 14th St. NW, and 8
a.m-5 p.m. at the Max Robinson
Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE. For an appointment call
202-745-7000 or visit whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and
confidential HIV testing at
two separate locations. Walkins accepted from 2-6 p.m.,
by appointment for all other
hours. 414 East Diamond Ave.,
Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
New Hampshire Ave., Suite
411, Takoma Park, Md. To set
up an appointment or for more
information, call Gaithersburg,
301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,
301-422-2398.
METROHEALTH CENTER
offers free, rapid HIV testing.

Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange
an appointment, call 202-6380750.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing,

3-5 p.m., by appointment and
walk-in, for youth 21 and
younger. Youth Center, 410 7th
St. SE. 202-567-3155 or testing@smyal.org.
Us Helping Us hosts a
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
MEETING. The group is inde-
pendent of UHU. 6:30-7:30

p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.
For more information, call 202446-1100.
WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ
women, 13-21, interested in

leadership development. 5-6:30
21
p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th

St. SE. For more information, call
202-567-3163, or email catherine.
chu@smyal.org.
FRIDAY, January 13
The DC Center holds a meeting of its
DC LGBTQIA DISABILITY GROUP

to support, educate and empower
people with disabilities. 8-9 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For
more information, contact Andy
Arias, andyarias09@gmail.com.
WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES

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

women, meets at The DC Center
on the second and fourth Fridays of
each month. Group social activity
to follow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m.
more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Weekly Events
holds a practice session at Howard

University. 6:30-8 p.m. Burr
Gymnasium, 2400 6th St. NW. For
more information, visit swimdcac.org.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
affirming social group for ages

11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road
NW. Contact Tamara, 202-3190422, layc-dc.org.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a

social atmosphere for LGBT and
questioning youth, featuring dance
parties, vogue nights, movies and
games. For more info, email catherine.chu@smyal.org.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others interested in Brazilian

culture, meets. For location/time,
email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.
com.
holds a practice session at

Montgomery College Aquatics
Club. 8:30-10 a.m. 7600 Takoma
Ave., Takoma, Md. For more information, visit swimdcac.org.
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
walking/social club welcomes runners of all ability levels for exercise

in a fun and supportive environment, with socializing afterward.
Route distance will be 3-6 miles.
Walker meet at 9:30 a.m. and runners at 10 a.m. at 23rd & P Streets
NW. For more information, visit
dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
LGBT community, family and

friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St.
NW. RSVP preferred. Email brendandarcy@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, January 15
ADVENTURING outdoors group
holds Winter Holiday Party in the

early evening at a private home in
Alexandria. All welcome. For more
information, contact Craig Howell,
202-462-0535 or craighowell1@
verizon.net.
SATURDAY, January 14
Weekly Events
The DC Center hosts a monthly LGBT ASYLEES SUPPORT

MEETING AND DINNER for LGBT
refugees and asylum seekers. 5-7
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing
and HIV services (by appointment

only). 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Decatur Center,
1400 Decatur St. NW. To arrange
an appointment, call 202-291-4707,
or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
BET MISHPACHAH, founded
by members of the LGBT community, holds Saturday morning

Shabbat services in the DC Jewish
Community Centers Community
Room, followed by Kiddush luncheon. 10 a.m. 1529 16th St. NW.
For more information, visit betmish.org.
22
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30

a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300
Cathedral Ave. NW. 202-232-4244,
allsoulsdc.org.
BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive

and radically inclusive church
holds services at 11:30 a.m. 2217
Minnesota Ave. SE. 202-248-1895,
betheldc.org.
holds a practice session at Wilson

Aquatic Center. 9:30-11 a.m. 4551
Fort Dr. NW. For more information, visit swimdcac.org.

in a fun and supportive environment, with socializing afterward.
Route will be a distance run of 8, 10
or 12 miles. Meet at 9 a.m. at 23rd
& P Streets NW. For more information, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DIGNITYUSA offers Roman

Catholic Mass for the LGBT
community. All welcome. Sign
interpreted. 6 p.m. St. Margarets
Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave.
NW. For more info, visit dignitywashington.org.
FAIRLINGTON UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH is an open,
inclusive church. All welcome,
including the LGBTQ community. Member of the Reconciling
Ministries Network. Services at
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. 3900 King
Street, Alexandria, Va. 703-6718557. For more info, visit fairlingtonumc.org.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
welcomes all to 10:30 a.m. service,

945 G St. NW. firstuccdc.org or
202-628-4317.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,

Quaker House Living Room (next
to Meeting House on Decatur
Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome
to lesbians and gays. Handicapped
accessible from Phelps Place gate.
Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST welcomes GLBT community for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130
Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

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

meeting once a month. For information on location and time, visit
H2gether.com.
INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered
new age church & learning center.

Sunday Services and Workshops
event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isddc.org.
Join LINCOLN
CONGREGATIONAL TEMPLE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST for
an inclusive, loving and progressive

faith community every Sunday. 11
a.m. 1701 11th Street NW, near R in
Shaw/Logan neighborhood. lincolntemple.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
services at 9 a.m. (ASL interpreted) and 11 a.m. Childrens Sunday

School at 11 a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW.
202-638-7373, mccdc.com.
NATIONAL CITY CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, inclusive church with
GLBT fellowship, offers gospel worship, 8:30 a.m., and traditional worship, 11 a.m. 5 Thomas Circle NW.
202-232-0323, nationalcitycc.org.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH,
a Christ-centered, interracial,
welcoming-and-affirming church,
offers service at 10 a.m. 680 I St.
SW. 202-554-4330, riversidedc.org.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE

INCARNATION, an interra-
cial, 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.
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF
ARLINGTON, an LGBTQ welcom-
ing-and-affirming congregation,
offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia
Rainbow UU Ministry. 4444
Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to

join the church. Services 9:15 and
11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire
Ave. uucss.org.
UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL
MEMORIAL CHURCH, a welcom-
ing and inclusive church. GLBT

Interweave social/service group
meets monthly. Services at 11 a.m.,
Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16th St.
NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.
MONDAY, January 16
CENTER FAITH, a program of The
DC Center, hosts a meeting for the
LGBT community and their religious allies. 7:30-9 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
CHRYSALIS arts and culture
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to
group takes a driving tour of

the September 1862 Antietam
Campaign, near Hagerstown, Md.
For more information, contact
Craig Howell, 202-462-0535 or
craighowell1@verizon.net.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led
The Metro D.C. chapter of PFLAG,

a support group for parents, family
members and allies of the LGBTQ
community, holds its monthly
meeting at The DC Center. 7-9 p.m.
more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m.

Childcare is available at both services. Welcoming LGBT people for
25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE.
reformationdc.org.
by Rev. Emma Chattin. Childrens

Sunday School, 11 a.m. 10383
Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-6910930, mccnova.com.
Weekly Events
Weekly Events
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. For more information, email
getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
holds a practice session at Dunbar

Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
St. NW. For more information, visit
swimdcac.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

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

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. 703-823-4401.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012
14th St. NW, Suite 700. For more
information, call 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite

200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT

COMMUNITY. 10 a.m.-noon. 2000
14th St. NW. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
US HELPING US hosts a black gay
mens evening affinity group for

GBT black men. Light refreshments
provided. 7-9 p.m. 3636 Georgia
Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle

area, 6:30 p.m. For more information, email afwash@aol.com, or
visit afwashington.net.
practice session at Takoma Aquatic
Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 300 Van Buren
swimdcac.org.

in a fun and supportive environment,
with socializing afterward. Route
distance is 3-6 miles. Meet at 7 p.m.
at Union Station. For more information, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice. The team is always looking

for new members. All welcome.
7:30-9:30 p.m. King Greenleaf
Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW.
For more information, visit scandalsrfc.org or dcscandals@gmail.
com.
THE GAY MENS HEALTH

COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening

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

swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more information, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org.
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

Health. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at 1525
14th St. NW, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at the
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center,
1701 14th St. NW, and 8 a.m-5 p.m.
at the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE. For an appointment call 202-745-7000 or visit
whitman-walker.org.
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
IDENTITY offers free and confi-
HIV/AIDS Support Group for

newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.
TUESDAY, January 17
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, hosts a monthly roundtable

discussion around issues of bisexuality. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW,
Suite 105. Visit thedccenter.org.
dential HIV testing at two separate

locations. Walk-ins accepted from
2-6 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond
Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. or 7676
New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411,
Takoma Park, Md. To set up an
appointment or for more information, call Gaithersburg, 301-3009978, or Takoma Park, 301-4222398.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,
The DC Center hosts a meeting

of HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. 703-823-4401.
6-7 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite

105. For more information, visit
thedccenter.org.
METROHEALTH CENTER
GROUP FOR GAY AND BI MEN.
THE HIV WORKING GROUP of

THE DC CENTER hosts a Packing
Party, where volunteers assemble

safe-sex kits of condoms and lube.
7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. Visit thedccenter.org.
offers free, rapid HIV testing.

Appointment needed. 1012 14th
St. NW, Suite 700. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-638-0750.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
LGBT focused meeting every

Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland
Ave., Arlington, just steps from
Virginia Square Metro. For
more info. call Dick, 703-5211999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5
p.m., by appointment and walk-in,

for youth 21 and younger. Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-5673155 or testing@smyal.org.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ

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

SE. For more information, contact
Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, or catherine.chu@smyal.org.
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing
and HIV services (by appointment).

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Decatur Center, 1400
Decatur St. NW. To arrange an
appointment, call 202-291-4707,
or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
holds a practice session at Dunbar

Aquatic Center. 7:30-9 p.m. 101 N
swimdcac.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a

group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
US HELPING US hosts a support
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
Whitman-Walker Health holds its

weekly GAY MENS HEALTH AND
WELLNESS/STD CLINIC. Patients
are seen on walk-in basis. No-cost
screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis
and herpes testing available for fee.
Testing starts at 6 p.m, but should
arrive early to ensure a spot. 1701
14th St. NW. For more information,
visit whitman-walker.org.
IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing at its Gaithersburg

location. Walk-ins accepted from
2-7 p.m., by appointment for all
other hours. 414 East Diamond
Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. To set up
an appointment or for more information, call 301-300-9978.
group for black gay men 40 and

older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
WEDNESDAY, January 18
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens
gay-literature group, discusses
Our Caribbean: A Gathering of
Lesbian and Gay Writing from the
Antilles, edited by Thomas Glave.
7:30 p.m. DC Center, 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. All welcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com
THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL
BRIDGE CLUB will meet for
Social Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity

Center, 721 8th St., S.E. (across
from Marine Barracks). No partner
needed. Call 301-345-1571 for more
info.
WOMAN TO WOMAN: A
SUPPORT GROUP FOR HIVPOSITIVE WOMEN WHO LOVE
WOMEN, meets on the third
Wednesday of each month at The

Womens Collective. Light refreshments served. 5:30-7 p.m. 1331
Rhode Island Ave. NE. For more
information, 202-483-7003.
Weekly Events
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
versation, meets about 6-6:30 p.m.,

Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
gram for job entrants and seekers,

meets at The DC Center. 6-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more info, www.centercareers.
org.
METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. No appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012
14th St. NW, Suite 700. For more
information, call 202-638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV
testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N.
15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club
for mature gay men, hosts weekly
happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. More
info, contact Carl, 703-573-8316.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
p.m. Newcomers with at least basic

swimming ability always welcome.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. For more information, contact Tom, 703-299-0504
or secretary@wetskins.org, or visit
wetskins.org. l
Submit your community event for
consideration at least 10 days prior
to the Thursday publication you
would like it to appear. Email to calendar@metroweekly.com.
23
Interview by John Riley

Photography by Todd Franson
Ready
to Fly
As the Baltimore Eagle prepares to reopen, co-owner Chuck King talks about how the leather bar
plans to embrace the entire LGBT community
E GET PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS EVERY

single day: Are you open yet? Are you open yet?
To say people are excited about the reopening of the
Baltimore Eagle would be an understatement. When the leather
bar finally opens its doors again on Monday, Jan. 16, Chuck King
and his staff are prepared to get slammed by a rush of eager
customers.
We know were going to get our asses handed to us, says
King, one of four co-owners of the entertainment complex. And
thats okay. Were ready for it, but we want to try and do it as
quietly as possible. I dont know if thats going to be possible.
Not if the response hes been getting in the run up to launch is
anything to go by. Its been four years since the original Baltimore
Eagle located on the same plot of land at 2022 N. Charles St.
closed. For two decades, the bar served Baltimores leather
community, until the the death of owner Richard Richardson
forced it to shutter.
The bar was bought by Baltimore real estate developer Ian
Parrish, who intended for it to reopen under new management.
In June 2014, Parrish approached King, his husband, Greg, and
John and Bob Gasser to manage the property. King remembers
working out the clubs initial business plan during a weekend in
the Gassers New Jersey condo in August 2014.
We locked ourselves in the condo for three days, and said,
If were going to do this, were going to have this business plan.
Were going to hammer it out, were going to come up with all
the details, says King. And we did. We sat there for three days,
day and night, arguing, saying we want this, this person wants
that, whatever.
Since then, its changed even more so. Theres things that we
nixed and things that we added, but essentially its still the same
business plan from the beginning, which is great. Were really
24
proud of that and well see that mission and that vision through
no matter what.
What makes the new Baltimore Eagle distinct from the old
bar is its diversification. The complex features not only a leather
Code bar, where fetish wear is required to enter, but a sports
bar, an outdoor patio area, and a small dance floor on the first
floor. Upstairs, theres Nest nightclub, which has a stage for drag
shows, musical acts, and entertainers, and can be rented out for
private parties. And theres a packaged goods store that will sell
wine, beer and liquor, a fetish art gallery, and a leather shop all
scheduled to open two weeks or so after the main bar.
I think were past the overwhelming parts now, because we
finally have our foot into the ground, King says. Ive never run
a leather shop before. Ive worked in retail tons, and so has Greg,
but a leather shop? Luckily, we found a great partner.
The other overwhelming aspect was, we had no idea how
much money this was going to take. We initially thought, Oh,
you know, $300,000 should be good, and it probably would have
been if we had just kept the downstairs and turned the upstairs
rooms into apartments, but were hundreds of thousands of dollars over budget.
Not that overspending will matter once people start experiencing the new space.
We believe the community will be thrilled with what weve
put into it, so we dont think weve made a mistake by going over
budget, King say. We dont want to do something half-assed,
we want to do it the right way from the beginning.
Part of that overspend can be attributed to legal and local
wrangling required to finish construction. Additionally, King
and co. had to sweet talk several local community organizations,
who had accused the Eagle of failing to be transparent.
When we finally...showed them drawings and visions and
LEATHER IS A WAY FOR ME TO FEEL GOOD

ABOUT MYSELF. I WEAR IT PROUDLY AND
I FEEL EMPOWERED.
I feel empowered because of history,

I feel empowered because it looks good,
I feel empowered because it
makes me confident.
25
everything else about what we are going to do, they fell in love
with us, says King. They have been behind us ever since, and
now they call us the shining beacon in Charles North and they
keep telling us that were going to really help change this environment around us and were all about it.
That support is part of what will fuel the Eagles success,
but its also the passion King and the other co-owners have for
the place for leather, for its history, for the community. Even
if they never make millions with the Baltimore Eagle, knowing
that theyve given people another place to call home is enough.
If its successful, thats just a bonus.
Were not doing it because we want to be rich, says King.
Were doing it because were passionate about it.
METRO WEEKLY: How did you get involved in the leather scene?
CHARLES KING: When I first moved to Los Angeles, I was work-
ing in a department store. Leather had always intrigued me. The

badass biker and that sort of thing always stuck in my mind. I
worked at the Broadway department store, which I think Macys
ended up buying years later. There was a gentleman in the suit
department, and his name was Sam and he had bright red hair
and a bright 70s mustache. Really nice guy, very flamboyant. I
had just turned 21, and I expressed interest in going to a leather
bar after we had become friendly.
He was like, Oh, Im going to take you to a leather bar.
He said, Meet us at this Mexican restaurant in Silver Lake. I
cant remember the name. He didnt come to the restaurant, but
another friend of ours did, so it was me and two other guys.
They said, Okay, were going to go ahead and go to the
Gauntlet. Im in a black T-shirt and jeans and I dont even think
I had boots. They told me what to wear, and I wasnt prepared,
but I was okay. We go into the Gauntlet, and Im not kidding you,
it was wall-to-wall men dressed in leather. I was like, Holy shit,
Im so terrified but so excited at the same time.
Im standing up against the wall and all of a sudden comes
walking this leather guy and hes got glasses on and hes got the
I ever did go there by myself.

MW: When did you begin to get more immersed in the scene?
KING: Im just going to be real honest here. Before I was able
to feel comfortable going to the leather bars myself, back in
the day, we used to have these hotlines that you would call for
sex. I remember reading one of the gay newspapers in West
Hollywood and seeing this particular ad called the Leather Line,
or something like that. I dialed that thing probably twenty times
before I finally got up the nerve just to actually get on the phone
and talk to someone.
If you didnt like someone you could press nine and theyd
go to the next person or the next person or the next person, and
then I finally met somebody who was a serious leather guy and
ended up going to his house and having my first experience.
That was in the early to mid-90s. Thats how I think a lot of
guys hooked up.
I started dating a leather guy who was a master-type, and he
wanted me to be his boy and quit my job and go to school and
clean the house and that sort of thing. I could never do it. Im too
independent for that. When we were dating, he would take me to
leather places and Tom of Finland art
shows, things like that, and that really
We didnt know how the neighbors would react, being this
gave me some exposure.
old, dark leather bar, but weve had almost every single
MW: Was there any part of the leather
or fetish scene that shocked you or made
neighbor tell us how theyre so excited and
you think, Maybe Im not into this as
much?
KING: If youre into fetish or kink or
whatever, theres certainly things not
everybody is into or willing to try.
cover, the masters cap, and hes head-to-toe leather, and hes Even today, theres things. Certainly brown hankies. When you
just walking by and Im thinking, Oh, that guys really hot and first hear about that, or fisting, or extreme things, youre like,
he takes a look at me, and he stops, and he goes, Whats up, What is that? Now Im desensitized to all of that thinking, but
boy? I just didnt know what to say. All of a sudden, he takes back when I was younger, I had no idea what that stuff was and
off his glasses, and it was Sam. And he goes, Hey, girl! Whats then when I found out about it went, No, thats bullshit, thinkgoing on? It was the funniest moment. It was such a memorable ing somebody was pulling my leg. Like puppy play. I think today,
experience because it really broke me, in a sense, of this image its still so hard for people to wrap their heads around it, but its
that I had in my head.
such a way of the future.
Ill always remember that. It was fun, but it was terrifying at
Its like the leather community had a dry spell, because after
first to go into a leather bar, because even though I knew who the AIDS crisis, they started forming back again, but it was baby
this guy was, I didnt know anybody else, and everyone was in steps, because a whole part of the community had passed away.
leather. Im just this kid from the Midwest whod only been Then, all of a sudden, theres this thing called pup play, and that
there six months, and wearing totally inappropriate stuff for a reinvigorated the leather community. It allows younger guys
leather bar, but it was my first turn, so it was great.
to get into that and they can call themselves pups, and puppies
MW: Did you start going regularly after that?
traditionally dont listen very well, so they get to play that indeKING: It was a very occasional thing. I was still way too young pendent role because, Im a pup, I dont listen. They still get to
and nervous to even attempt going there by myself. I dont think experience that leather, that kink. Leather can be very expen-
THEY DONT CARE ITS A GAY BAR, THEY WANT TO

COME AND SPEND MONEY AND GET GREAT BEER.
26
Sports Bar
sive, but if you call yourself a pup and you put a little mask on,
then you can get into a leather bar or you can go and meet people
who are into that lifestyle and then learn about it.
That, I think is great. That has drawn this young crowd,
this young millennial crowd. I think the average age for MAL
probably used to be about 35 to 40. Now the average age, I think
is probably 25 to 35. You still get your older guys. We still have
tons of them, but the age range is really, really moving down,
and thats great, because its really going to help the future of
this community.
MW: What does leather mean to you personally?
KING: Leather, to me, is a form of expression. Its a way for me to
feel good about myself. It doesnt mean I have to put on leather
to feel good about myself, but when I do, I wear it proudly and
I feel empowered. I feel empowered because of history, I feel
empowered because it looks good, I feel empowered because
it makes me confident, in a sense, in a different way than my
normal day-to-day confidence. It makes me feel sexual in a way
thats me. Its a look that I enjoy and that I feel very good in.
MW: You say leather makes you feel empowered because of its history. Can you elaborate?
KING: If you study the Eagles, they started back in the 1940s.
They had been in war and had experienced camaraderie with
their military brothers. Many of them were straight. Then, when
they came back from the war, that was all taken away from them
because the war was over and they didnt really have any other
way to express that. Thats how these motorcycle clubs began.
Motorcycle gangs, in a sense, in San Francisco and other places
around the world, and thats when the first Eagle happened.
When I speak about historically, I mean when I put on my
leathers, I feel a huge sense of camaraderie with my brothers
of leather. Im a member of Command MC here in Baltimore.
Im very proud of that. When we all do outings, whether were

wearing leather or not, we have a great sense of pride of who we
are as a club, because we do good charity work and we love each
other very closely. Its really about love and about sharing and
compassion and honesty.
MW: The Eagle franchise has become known for having a similar
feel, no matter which city you go to, with that traditional, dark,
cruisy bar atmosphere, common when the leather scene was just
starting. Why do you think that has become emblematic of the
Eagle brand?
KING: You said emblematic. Its exactly that, and its something
that, if we didnt offer it, we wouldnt really rightfully have the
ability to use the Eagle name. I think if we didnt offer that, some
sort of a dark, cruisy leather bar aspect, then we would be lying
to ourselves and trying to pretend like were something that we
really shouldnt try to pretend we are.
Back in the 70s, they would paint a building, a little, small,
couple rooms black and theyd put a rainbow flag outside and
then they would say, Hey, were a gay bar and itd be packed
every single night. Today, you have to really diversify to be a
successful business. Weve diversified in ways that even were
unsure, because we dont know how everyone will react. The
preliminary results from what weve done and through our
research and from bringing friends and family and other people
in, have been off the charts, and thats great. Were thrilled about
that, but you really never know until you open your doors.
A big part of that diversification also means that we had to, in
our eyes, put this a little bit more into the mainstream. We have
things like a packaged goods store, we have a sports bar, and we
have an upstairs nightclub thats going to appeal, hopefully, to
many people. That allows us to take the square footage thats
normally expensive and be able to have that dark leather bar, and
27
Sports Bar, featuring leather memorobilia
Sports Bar
be honest to our history, while still looking forward to the future

without ever forgetting about where we came from.
MW: Youre going to have the back Code bar where only those
in leather or fetish dress code will be allowed in on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays. Does that extend to other scenes, such as
puppies?
KING: Definitely. It can be puppies, puppy play, and sports gear.
Theres one particular fetish that isnt going to work for us
suit-and-tie fetish. Its a fetish to some people, but thats not
what were looking for. But if youre into some sort of fetish gear
thats recognizable, absolutely.
MW: Whats the biggest risk in opening the bar?
28
KING: The biggest risk is just through diversifying and whether or not people will buy into our vision. Whether or not they
thought we are not enough leather, or we are not enough underground dark bar.
If it was small, if it was 2,000 square feet and that was it, and
it was just a leather bar, yeah, you can still succeed. Theres tons
of them all over the country and they do really, really well but
if you have a property thats 10,000 square feet, you cant just
have a leather bar. Its just never going to work and be profitable
and allow four people to actually live on even a small income.
MW: Throughout the country, theres been closures of gay bars,
particularly leather bars, and some have wondered whether a busi-
Code Bar with original artwork by Scott Hill
ness venture like this is even sustainable.

KING: I dont think its a seeming failure of leather bars. Look at
any of the leather bars that have closed within the past 10 years
or so. You have the Chicago Eagle, owned by the same owner
that runs International Mr. Leather Competition. It didnt close
because of failure. It closed because the owner was tired. Hes in
his early 80s and he just doesnt want to have to deal with it anymore. Thats why it closed, because he just said, Fuck it. I have
IML. I make a ton of money on IML. Why do I want to bother
myself with this bar now, too? Thats why it closed, and its still
an unoccupied property, from what I understand. Its just sitting
there. I dont think hes actually sold it yet.
In Los Angeles, the Gauntlet had closed. I dont know what
the circumstances were. Any of these leather bars that seemed
to have closed within the past decade or so, theres a couple of
things that you have to look at. You have to look at the age of
the owner. Almost every single one that closed, the owner was
either in his 60s or 70s, or even early 80s, and they just wanted
Nest Nightclub
29
Nest Nightclub
out. They are in areas where the real estate has gone up a lot in
the last 30 years, so now theres more money into it.
MW: Do you think mobile apps like Grindr or Scruff are hurting
gay bars?
KING: I dont believe that. I think thats a cop out. The easiest
thing to say is, Oh, people on Grindr. Everyone has the same
experience. When you get on Grindr and shit like that, how
many people do you ever really hook up with? Almost none,
right? I dont care if you were the hottest guy in the world, its
not like people are hooking up every single day on Grindr. That
experience is pretty rare. You can ask anybody, I dont care what
you look like or who you are, and its a lot of bullshit and its a lot
of gameplay. I guarantee its not Grindr.
Grindr is a waste of time for all of us when we have nothing
better to do. We pull it up on our phone and we start chatting to
someone and then you never talk to that person again. Maybe six
months later, Hey! Honestly, I think I hooked up with somebody on Grindr maybe twice? Im not kidding you. I dont think
thats the problem.
MW: Then what is the problem?
KING: We are not forcing ourselves to really take a look at what the
issues are. The issues are property value real estates going up.
MW: What role do you see the Eagle playing within the Baltimore
gay scene?
KING: Its very interesting. The Baltimore gay scene is in huge
transition right now. Recently, The Hippo closed. Not too long
ago, PWs in Laurel closed. There was another gay bar out near
Greektown. I forget the name of it, but they closed maybe a
year-and-a-half, two years ago. I dont think theyve closed
because they are unsuccessful. Chuck Bowers, when he closed
The Hippo, he didnt close it because he was broke, he closed
it because he was just tired. He just needed to retire. We chat
Future Leather Store
30
When you get on Grindr and shit like that, how many people do you ever really hook up
with? Almost none, right? I DONT CARE IF YOU WERE THE HOTTEST GUY IN THE WORLD, ITS
NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE HOOKING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY ON GRINDR.
fairly often, because we bought a bunch of their stuff from their
building.
You still have Leons and Drinkery and Grand Central over
there, but Grand Centrals Don Davis has been very clear that
hes looking to retire. If somebody were to come in and buy it,
he would jump at the chance. I dont know how long that will be
around. I hope its around for a while because I think gay bars do
better when they have more options and competition, because it
keeps us on our toes. We dont want to be the only place in town.
Its great for revenue, but we dont want to be the only place.
The gayborhood is moving in this direction. The Pride
Committee just decided that Pride is now going to be here.
Theyve left Mount Vernon because they were getting no support in Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon is on the up-and-up, and
its very gentrified now. So the gayborhood is looking for a new
place to call its own and this neighborhood is very in the very
early stages of that.
We see ourselves as a flagship to help this neighborhood
really grow and become something way better than it is right
now. The people in the area are amazing. Its funny, because we
didnt know how the neighbors would react, being this old, dark
leather bar, but weve had almost every single neighbor tell us
how theyre so excited were going to have a restaurant, and they
dont care its a gay bar, they want to come and spend money and
get great beer. People just dont care anymore.
MW: Have you gotten any church groups or community groups
protesting you?
KING: No, not at all. Its been pretty good, actually. Theres a
church right over here, I think its St. Marks, if Im not mistaken.
Thats where a lot of community association meetings are, and
they are so welcoming to our community. It doesnt matter who
you are or what gender you come from or whatever, but they
dont have any issues with us even having our meetings there.
Im sure with Pride happening literally right outside in front of
our building in June, theyre going to be asked to participate.
I think we live in a pretty good area. Its blue collar, its very
friendly, its hipster, underground. Its transgender, its gay, its
straight. Its a really crazy mix around here and thats really cool.
Recently we put a billboard up, right next to Penn Station. It
was a huge billboard with a leather guy on it and it said something like, Buckle up, your ride is coming. The comments on
social media about that were, Holy crap, back ten, fifteen years
ago theres no possible way yes could get away with doing that.
Its okay now, because we need to be out and proud of who we
are, whether were leather men, or queer, or transgender. Its
to say, Look, its accepted and its okay, and it doesnt matter
what background you come from or who you are, its just about
coming and celebrating our differences and our diversity. Come
to our place because we accept you. l
The Baltimore Eagle, at 2022 N. Charles St. in Baltimore, will have

a soft opening on Monday, Jan. 16. An official opening party is
currently scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 3-5. The Eagle is located at. Call 410-200-9858 or visit thebaltimoreeagle.com.
WARD MORRISON
Soaring Eagle
Moving beyond just leather has helped the DC Eagle

become a go-to spot By John Riley
HEN I BOUGHT THE BAR YEARS AGO, I SAT DOWN WITH

another business owner, and we talked about how the gay
community was changing, especially with the leather scene,
says Ted Clements, co-owner of The DC Eagle. The leather scene is not
like it was here years ago. The puppies have become a big phenomenon.
Then theres the bears, also gear, and superheroes, and furries, and stuff
like that. Its just a whole different mindset these days, but we try to be
inclusive, and provide a safe, sane, consensual place for people to come
so everyone can have fun and be themselves.
Since opening its new space on Benning Road NE in 2015, the DC
Eagle has undergone renovations to create different spaces that cater
to the growing subgroups. Besides traditional leather/kink, the Eagle has
hosted the cast of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Imperial Court
of Washington, D.C., and has offered to host parties for local sports clubs,
community organizations, and the underground hip-hop and techno scene.
The building really dictates a lot of its own character, says Clements.
We carved up a part of it for the cigar bar. We use that as a hardcore
leather area, so the leathermen always feel they have a home. The Exile,
on the third floor, is a large dance party [space]. We have a lot more lights
now. We have a kick-ass stereo up there.... So were a lot more diversified, a lot more inclusive than we were in our last location.
It is a bit unique that we have the licenses to be open 24 hours on
the weekends, says the bars manager David Hanley. Thats another
32
thing that the underground music scene absolutely loves. Because some
of the groups were operating in abandoned warehouses, and would get
shut down by police because they didnt have all the right permits in place.
And theyve absolutely embraced the fact that we have the licenses to go
until 7 or 8 in the morning, like they like to do.
With Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, the bar will return to its leather
roots, hosting two cigar socials, a Leather Pride party, a Breeches and
Leather Uniform party (known as BLUF), and two dance parties SIR and
Distrkt C, on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively. Every hour, the bar
will run a 30-passenger shuttle bus from the Hyatt Regency, which serves
as the host hotel for MAL Weekend. The Eagle will also host Lucendias
food truck, which serves barbecue and Southern comfort food, throughout
the weekend, so revelers can grab a quick bite to eat in between sets.
Despite the overabundance of leather/kink youll see during MAL
Weekend, the Eagle has benefitted from diversification, attracting crowds
including those that are predominantly straight that previously would
have avoided a gay leather/levi establishment.
I think that one of the things that we struggled with internally in our
own minds was that we had so much space, says Hanley. Although
we have a large, prosperous leather community in D.C., at least from my
perspective, it was unfair to ask essentially everyone to come out every
night to support such a large venue.
So we started diversifying our lineup, and we got into D.C.s underground music scene, a little bit of the hip-hop scene, and really started
reaching out into other avenues. Because in order to be really successful
in the town, you really need to reach out so that everyone feels welcome. l
The DC Eagle is located at 3701 Benning Rd. NE. For more information, or
a schedule of upcoming events, visit dceagle.com.
34
TODD FRANSON
Your Cheat Sheet for every Official and Unofficial

MAL Event This Weekend By Doug Rule
HIS WEEKEND, OVER 3,000 PEOPLE WILL DESCEND ON THE

Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, as Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend
returns to the District. Leather veterans and curious newcomers
alike can enjoy a whole host of official and affiliated events from the
32nd annual Mr. MAL contest, to the Exhibitor Hall of leather gear and
goods for sale, to puppy play and more.
While the Hyatt will be MALs main hub, many gay and gay-friendly clubs in other parts of the city will host at least one MAL-inspired,
fetish-oriented function over the long weekend, which culminates in the
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The DC Eagle will play host to several
events throughout the weekend, including the first MAL version of the
wildly popular dance party DistrktC. Meanwhile, the Green Lantern continues to be another unofficial off-site meeting ground. And for those in
need of refueling, the D.C. institution Annies Paramount Steakhouse,
open 24-hours all weekend long, is only an Uber ride away.
The following list of events includes official, MAL-ticketed events for
weekend pass holders designated with an asterisk. Admission to the
Exhibitor Hall and other events on the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hills lower
levels are available for $15 for one-day entry or $30 for all three days. Full
registration, with a weekend pass, is $250. Visit leatherweekend.com for
more details, or my.yapp.us/CentaurMC to download the new Leather
Weekend app.
All listings subject to change.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
DC Leather Pride: Welcome to
Leather Weekend
Porn performers Dolf Dietrich and
Hugh Hunter welcome leather
titleholders with
music by DJ Keenan Orr
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
DC Eagle
3700 Benning Rd. NE
DCEagle.com
Shirtless Men Drink Free

10 to 11 p.m. & 12:30 to 1 a.m.
Green Lantern
1335 Green Ct. NW
Greenlanterndc.com
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
MAL Registration
3 to 10 p.m.
Capitol Rooms A and B
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
SIR Kick Off Dance by ManUpp

Mr. IML 2016 1st Runner Up Todd
Harris co-hosts a party with
Los Angeles DJ Max Bruce
presented by Joe Whitaker
Exile at DC Eagle
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
manupp.net
Exhibitor Hall
4 to 10 p.m.
Lower Level
Highwaymen TNT Party:

Impact Deux
DJ Twin returns for another
impactful event
10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Regency Ballroom B
DC Bar Cre: Leather Bear

Party & Patio Cigar Party
DJ Say What
6 to 11 p.m.
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St. NW
facebook.com/BearHappyHour
Mister International Rubber
Meet and Greet Party
7 to 9 p.m.
Congressional A&B
facebook.com/MIRubb/
SigMa BDSM Play Party
D.C.s only all-male BDSM/kink
organization
8 p.m. to Midnight
1636 R St. NW, Second Floor
sigmadc.org
RoughHouse
presented by Growlr
Porn performer Billy Santoro hosts
intimate dance party featuring
DJ Mateo Segade
9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Green Lantern
Furball DC Dance Party

GoGo Bear Dancers and beats
by Atlanta DJ Vicki Powell plus
DJs Aaron Clark, Clark Price and
George dAdhemar of Pittsburghs
popular party Honcho
10 p.m. till late
U Street Music Hall
1115 U St. NW
ustreetmusichall.com
Safe Word Dance Party
Bite The Fruit co-presents DJ
Jesse MadScience Jackson
11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Cobalt
1639 R St. NW
facebook.com/cobaltdc
Code DC Co-Sponsored by
NastyKinkPigs
DJs David Merrill and
Shea Van Horn
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
$40 for one night,
or $60 for Weekend Pass
Gear, uniform, leather or naked
(strictly enforced)
MAL 2017 Events
Bootblacks on Duty
Benefitting Mid-Atlantic Deaf
Interpreting Fund
3 p.m. to Midnight
Lobby Level
4 to 10 p.m.
Lower Level
35
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
MAL Brunch*
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Capitol A and B,
Congressional A & B
MAL Registration
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capitol Room Foyer
Bootblacks on Duty
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lobby and Lower Levels
Exhibitor Hall
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lower Level
WARD MORRISON
Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2017

Contest*
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Non-pass-holder tickets are $25
Regency A, B, C & D
Glorious Health Club

2120 West Virginia Ave. NE
codedc.com
Code runs a shuttle between
10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
MAL Registration
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Capitol A and B
Bootblacks on Duty
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Lobby and Lower Levels
Exhibitor Hall
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lower Level
Puppy Park 9
A puppy mosh co-hosted by
NYC-PAH and Boy Tom
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Regency B, C and D
nycpah.org
International Mr. Leather 2016
Judges Announcement
Noon to 1 p.m.
Congressional A
imrl.com
SigMa BDSM Demonstrations
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Regency B, C and D
36
Onyx Cocktail Party

& Gear Show
Fetish Auction to benefit Black,
Gifted & Whole
2 to 6 p.m.
Congressional A and B
onyxmen.com
SpankDC Presents Spank!
Monthly male/male spanking party
2 to 6 p.m.
Green Lantern
spankdc.com
6 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Leather Cocktails*
7 to 9 p.m.
Regency Ballroom
Cigar & Pipe Men Social
Co-Sponsored by Joe Whitaker
and HotCigarMen.com
7 to 10 p.m.
Patio at DC Eagle
HotCigarMen.com
495 Bears Presents A Boxers
and Jocks Dance
Eric Jennings and
Jeffrey Eletto host
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Green Lantern
Empire City Motorcycle Club
Bar Night
Leather Biker Bar Night
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
DC Eagle
MAUL (Mid-Atlantic Uniform

League) Party
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Congressional B
uniformleague.org
DistrktC: Masters, Boys & Pigs
DJs Jared Conner and Dee
Martello spin special MAL edition
of party powered by Scruff
10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Exile at DC Eagle
Distrktc.com
Horse Meat Disco MAL
Weekend
Local DJs Lisa Frank and the
NeedlExchange present the return
of the popular U.K dirty disco
DJ collective
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Unnamed Venue
300 Morse St. NE
facebook.com/DJLisaFrank
NastyKinkPigs: FxCK Muscle
DJ Jack Chang, with Dirty
Demos & GoGo Boys
10:30 p.m to 4 a.m.
Regency B, C & D
Nastykingpigs.com
Code DC
DJs Jake Marx & Eric Gruber
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
$40 for one night, or $60 for
Weekend Pass
Glorious Health Club
Code shuttle runs
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Womens Tea Social

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Regency Suite, 11th Floor
DC Leather Pride: BLUF DC
DJ Say What?
4 to 8 p.m.
DC Eagle
blufdc.eventbrite.com
Otter Crossing:
Last Chance Tea Dance
DJs Mark Louque of
Provincetowns FagBash and
resident StrikeStone! spin for this
second annual event
5 to 10:30 p.m.
Town Danceboutique
ottercrossing.com
6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Church
DJs MadScience and Wess and
featuring Pussy Noir and other
special guests
9 p.m. to 1:45 a.m.
Trade
1410 14th St. NW
facebook.com/TradeBarDC
Official Closing Dance: Dark &
Twisted
Baltimore DJ Ultra Nate returns
for a second year of deep and
soulful beats
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Non-pass-holder tickets $35 or
$45 day-of
9:30 Club
815 V St. NW
930.com
Shuttle runs from 10 p.m. to
3:30 a.m. l
Gallery
Wendell Poindexter
Oil on Canvas, Left: The Wildeyed Boy From Freecloud, Right: Dichotomy
WP2432@gmail.com
39
STAN BAROUH
Stage
Charm City
Sharp, funny and engaging, Mosaics Charm is a stirring reminder

to respect the person irrespective of her, his
or their gender By Andr Hereford
EPRESENTATION MATTERS. ROLE MODELS MATTER. UNDENIABLY

powerful is the thrill of affirmation. A privileged majority spend no time in life
waiting to encounter their first role model, while others might wait their entire
lives before rubbing shoulders with a truly kindred soul. Such is the case for 33-year old
trans woman Ariella (Nyla Rose), one of the fascinatingly multi-layered characters in
Mosaic Theaters D.C.-premiere production of Philip Dawkins impactful, often hilari).
ous drama Charm (
Until the day Ariella enters her first etiquette class at The Center, an inner-city
organization for homeless and LGBT youth, shes never met a self-described tranny as refined and put-together as her new instructor, Darleena Andrews (BEllana
Duquesne). Inspired by real-life trans activist Mama Gloria Allen, our lady Mama
Darlin as Darleena insists her students address her quickly sets about introducing
her small class to the indispensable quality of charm. In so doing, she begins to teach
the racially and gender-diverse crew a vital lesson in how to treat others and, most
essentially, themselves with respect and kindness.
Given the plays profound message about the significance of transgender visibility,
its of immeasurable benefit to director Natsu Onoda Powers production that she
chose to cast the utterly charming genderfluid Duquesne in the role of Mama Darlin.
Duquesne inhabits the part with tremendous grace and fierceness, brandishing the
requisite charisma to win over her charges onstage and in the audience. The strong
note of genteel Southern formality running through her performance, in her speech
and her carriage, works to suggest the armor Darlins donned and burnished in order
to conquer a tough life. That Mama Darlins costuming, hairstyling and ever so proper
40
diction also occasionally suggest Tootsies

Dorothy Michaels perhaps is intentional.
Dorothy might have been merely a fiction
within a fiction, but the character endures
as a stirring reminder to respect the person inside the dress irrespective of her, his
or their gender.
In one of the plays wisest moves,
Mama has her own lessons to learn about
showing respect, and accepting folks of all
gender expressions. It requires she catch
up on some new terminology and give
more careful consideration to the empowering, liberating effect of voguing. (Her bit
on sagging pants, while perfectly sound,
feels more dated than merely old-school.)
The Centers gender-nonconforming
director D. (Kimberly Gilbert) challenges
Mama on her old-fashioned notions of the
appropriate ways for young ladies and
gentlemen to dress, speak and behave. Its
a deft method for the play to preach new
gospel to the converted, and to those who
could always benefit from stepping further
outside their bubble.
In willing herself to full, unfettered
life, Mama has concocted her own fiction within a fiction, and ultimately, shell
be challenged on that especially by
Ariella, a prostitute whose entire existence might be considered inappropri-
ate. Shes a potent fiction among

several in Dawkins unflinching
look at this disadvantaged community. Beautifully portrayed by
Rose, Ariella is tough, but not
impenetrable. She views herself
and all the trans women shes
known before Mama in a skeptical light, yet harbors a touching
need for connection that really
rocks Mamas world.
Theres a slight letdown when
Mamas whole truth finally does
filter out, as blows that are meant
to rock our world land only faintly. The dramas investment in
Mamas past apparently was lost
somewhere in the gleefully staged
chaos of Act One. But from beginning to end, the dialogue is sharp
and funny, and Ms. Duquesne
never fails to engage, provided
a prime platform by set designer Daniel Conways classroom.
Its an eye-catching criss-cross
of fluorescent fixtures, photo-collage and negative space. Lighting
designer Max Doolittle contrib-
utes well-timed blinks and flutters that play an important part in

the shows witty comedy.
The cast is terrific. Gilbert,
fresh off her performance as
Harper in Angels in America,
impresses as the caring, uncompromising D. As model-thin,
quick-witted Jonelle, Justin
Weaks does a lot with a character
about whom we learn relatively
little, turning her frequent trips
to the classroom whiteboard into
confections of comedy that add
much to the fun of spending time
in Mamas class. Jade Jones, in
the role of insecure young mom
Victoria, adds nuance and boundless good vibes to the inspiring
production.
Charm represents the second play in Mosaic Theater
Companys ongoing series,
Clamorous Encounters: Coming
of Age in America. Much like
Kirsten Greenidges Milk Like
Sugar which preceded it, its
unquestionably a success. l
Charm runs to Jan. 29 at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Lang Theatre, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $60.
Call 202-399-7993, ext. 2 or visit MosaicTheater.org.
Music
Eno
Technology and
Industry
tious. Eno excels precisely by avoiding

these pitfalls, producing what is essentially background noise that people might
actually want to listen to. The artist himself has likened the album to watching a
river, a comparison that holds up whether
one is hearing the general release or the
ever-shifting algorithmic version. In this
Brian Eno pushes the boundaries of ambient music, while Nine Inch
sense, Reflection offers exactly what its
Nails finds inspiration in its past By Sean Maunier
title promises it simply flows, inviting
N HIS NEW ALBUM REFLECTION, BRIAN ENO PROVES THAT HIS listeners into a thoughtful and reflective
reputation as an innovator is still very much deserved. In a career that has state of mind.
spanned decades, he has had time to polish and perfect the art of creating complex yet accessible soundscapes, particularly with ambient music, the term he coined NINE INCH NAILS WAS never about
for the genre he has done so much to define.
consistency. While the band has been
However, while Enos albums hold up as background music, they also reward around since the early 90s, its line-up
attentive, involved listening. Reflection (HHHHH) consists of a single 54-minute track has changed with each successive project,
that meanders, unbroken and unhurried, through subtle changes in mood and tone. with Trent Reznor its only steady memMoment to moment, the sustained ambience doesnt seem to change much at all, but ber. Since 2005s With Teeth, Atticus Ross
turn your attention back and youll notice that everything is somehow different. There has also lent his input to the project and
are no overt statements, theres no heavy handedness. Reflection is instead an exercise collaborated with Reznor on other work
in deliberate passivity, asking not demanding to be heard on a listeners own terms. most notably, on soundtracks for the
The album as released is enjoyable enough, but what is notable about Reflection is The Social Network and The Girl With the
the generative version, which automatically adjusts itself at different times of the day Dragon Tattoo, which won an Academy
so that, at least in theory, no two listens of the album will ever be exactly the same. At Award and a Grammy respectively.
least for now, fully experiencing the project as Eno intended requires the use of an iOS
The soundtracks hinted at the pairs
device, with no Android app on the horizon. Other than dedicated audiophiles and a versatility and seemed to signal a broadfew very intent listeners, however, a casual listener shouldnt notice much of a differ- er mainstream appeal that carried into
ence between that version and the standard release.
NIN as well. On 2013s Hesitation Marks,
Ambient music is a tricky thing to get right. The genre and its many offshoots are Reznors caustic edges gave way to a
littered with albums that come across as dull, inaccessible, or worst of all, preten- more subdued, complex sound. It was still
42
unmistakably NIN, but it felt decidedly tamer than what had come before it.
Not the Actual Events (HHHHH)
almost reads as a wilful distancing
from the accessible sheen of Reznor
and Ross soundtracks that bled into
Nine Inch Nails. The more electronic, atmospheric bent that Ross
brought to the project is still present,
but the more cerebral tone seems
to have been abandoned. After a
manic, guitar heavy opener and a
tense, drone-like interlude, the brief
EP peaks in energy and intensity on
its latter tracks, The Idea of You
and Burning Bright (Field on Fire),
which pulse with an angry energy
that recalls the pre-Ross days.
Its a lot to pack into 21 minutes, Ross (L) and Reznor
and more than anything, Not the
Actual Events seems like a brief highlights reel, recalling the
grating, industrial sound of the bands first decade. Despite Ross
influence, it is difficult not to get the sense that weve been here
before, and the callback to NINs earlier work has the unfortunate effect of making the project feel self-congratulatory and
navel-gazing.
The EP also marks Atticus Ross first credit as a member of
Nine Inch Nails, rather than a collaborator. But given his near
constant presence over the last decade, its too early to tell what
new directions he might pull Reznor in. That is, if breaking new
ground is even the point. Given the EPs similarity to what has
come before it, were left to wonder whether it will actually make
much of a difference at all. After all, the eerie, industrial ambience of NIN owes much to his input, and so the announcement
that he had been added permanently to the lineup felt somewhat
anticlimactic. It remains to be seen what exactly his inclusion
will mean for the band. Not the Actual Events is a solid enough
record, but it offers little that we havent heard before and
gives us very few reasons to be excited for what happens next. l
Reflection and Not The Actual Events are available now at Amazon.com and through streaming services.
43
NightLife
Photography by
Julian Vankim
45
CoverboyConfidential
Interview by Randy Shulman Photography by Julian Vankim
Its unfortunate Im missing MAL, sighs Peter. I really wish I wasnt. The reason? The recently christened Mr. Maryland Leather has a commitment in New York associated with his work as
a composer. While his COMMAND MC brothers are fully understanding, hes sorry to be missing
one of the nations largest, oldest leather events -- one hes yet to attend. Its definitely an anxiety for me, that Ive either disappointed people or actively upset them. I really want to make people proud, and I want to do positive things.
One of Peters current positive things is his #PartofthePack T-shirt, which he designed and
is selling to help support the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago (Booster.com/partofthepack2). Its the outline of a dog, says the 26-year-old, who also goes by Pup Orpheus. Then
a bunch of different labels or forms of identification, including lists of different races, different
BDSM roles, different body types, all part of the pack.
As far as the pup side of Peter, who sports an orange hanky in his right back pocket (anything
goes), the role play provides his life in leather an element of whimsy -- even though the origins of
pup play are in humiliation. It originated as a form of submissive punishment (mitts for paws so
you cant use your hands, cant verbalize, its taking away all of these agencies), but Peter feels
its evolved into something far more spirited, noting the newer form of pup play, in my mind, is
playful. Its more about getting in touch with your animal instincts.
Whats on your nightstand?
A Himalayan salt lamp - - it gives off a beautiful
warm glow and makes anyone look good in
bed - - and my external
hard drive.
DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday,
January 12
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: Tops Down $6
Top Shelf, Bottoms Up $3
Rail, $3 Bud Light, 4-9pm
Locker Room Thursday
Nights $3 Rail Drinks,
10pm-midnight, $5 Red
Bull and Frozen Virgin
Drinks DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka &
Kristina Kelly $200 Cash

Prize Doors open 10pm,
21+ $5 Cover or free
with college ID
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm DC
Leather Pride hosts 3rd
Annual Welcome to DC!
Party Featuring special
guests, Dolf Dietrich and
Hugh Hunter Music by
DJ Keenan Orr, 9pm-3am
$5 suggested donation
Centaur MC hosts Club
bar, 9pm-2am BootBlack
on duty, with Boy Tom
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Whats in your nightstand drawer?

It doesnt have a drawer. Ive got a drawer in
my dresser for all of the things that would be
in the nightstand drawer.
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless

Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Rock N
Retro: Rock Music Videos,
8pm-12am
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $3
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas $4
Heineken and Coronas,
5pm-close
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+
Friday,
January 13
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
5-9pm Friday Night
Videos with VJ Sean
McClafferty, 9:30pm
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail and
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out $6 Grey Goose
all night Two 30-minute open bars featuring
Grey Goose, 11-11:30pm
and 1-1:30am DJ
MadScience upstairs
DJ Keenan Orr downstairs
$10 cover 10pm-close
21+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm Cigar
Social sponsored by The
DC Eagle, Joe Whitaker,
and HotCigarMen.com,
8-10pm Joe Whitaker
and ManUPP present SIR
join us for a hot night
of Leather Men, Daddies,
Sirs and boys with Deep
and Dirty beats provided by
DJ Max Bruce, 10pm-3am
Visit ManUPP.net for
tickets Tickets also

available at the door
Spartan MC hosts Club
Bar, 9pm-2am BootBlack
on duty, with Brian Hilla,
Mid-Atlantic Drummer
BootBlack 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
$5 Smirnoff, all flavors,
all night long Growlr
Roughhouse, 9pm-3am
Featuring DJ Mateo
Segade $5 Cover before
10pm, $7 after 10pm 21+
JR.S
$2 Skyy Highballs and $2
Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Retro Friday, 10pm
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
47
What might we find in there?

Condoms, lube, tail plugs, a few bondage things like
tape and rope.
Are you a night owl or an early riser?
Early riser.
Whats the last thing you bought?
Dinner at the English Ivy in Indiana.
If you could have any superpower,
what would it be?
To be able to use power tools. I consider that a superpower. I am terrible with my hands, but good with my
fingers. Im the definition of unskilled labor.
What did you last binge watch?
I love things with H. Jon Benjamin, so Bobs Burgers
and Archer are kind of my background radio while Im
doing dishes or cooking. I love his voice and I love the
wit of those two shows.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
If were talking about very first, Mowgli from The
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),

$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover Friday Night
Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
SHAWS TAVERN
& Half-Priced Pizzas
Luke James Shaffer playing live, 8pm
TOWN
Patio open 6pm DC Bear
Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm
$3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Bottles Free Pizza, 7pm
No cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, ShiQueeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs following the
show GoGo Boys after
11pm Doors open at
10pm For those 21 and
over, $12 For those
18-20, $15 Club: 18+
Patio: 21+
48
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion Drag Show
with host Ella Fitzgerald
Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:30am
DJ Don T. in Secrets
Cover 21+
Saturday,
January 14
9 1/2
drink, 2-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded craft
beer selection No Cover
various DJs
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch at
Level One, 11am-2pm and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Jungle Book. I really liked that red underwear. Ive

always had a thing for underwear.
Name three musical artists youre
currently listening to.
Eartha Kitt, Christine Pedi, who does celebrity impressions, and Polish composer Karol Szymanowski. Hes
a gay composer from the beginning of the twentieth
century. Really sexy music.
What are your three favorite night spots?
Rock Bar in New York City - - Ive always had a great
time there. The DC Eagle is great. And Grand Central,
in Baltimore. Ive got an event there on Friday the 20th.
Inauguration Day.
Im figuring people will want to not watch the T V, get
out of their houses and maybe drink a little bit or find
someone to have a good time with to take their mind
off of things.
Whats your drink of choice?
Im easy. Ill usually take a vodka tonic or
whiskey on the rocks.
Mimosas and Bloody

Marys Happy Hour:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud
Light, 4-9pm NYC Takes
Over DC Dance Party,
10pm Doors open 10pm
$5 Cover 21+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
$2 off everything Empire
MC host Club Bar
BootBlack on duty: Pug
Distrkt C Masters, Boys
& Pigs, powered by Scruff,
10pm-8am, 3rd Floor Exile
Featuring DJs Jared
Conner and Dee Martello
Get tickets early via
ticketleap.com Tickets
also available at the door
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show, hosted
by Miss Destiny B. Childs,
8-10pm Karaoke,
10pm-close
GREEN LANTERN
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Doors open 2pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
2-9pm $5 Absolut and
$5 Bulleit Bourbon Pop
Tarts with DJs BacK2bACk,
9:30pm
SHAWS TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm
TOWN
Doors open 10pm Dirrrty
Pop, featuring Drew G
upstairs DJ Wess spins
music and video downstairs Meet and Greet
with Alyssa Edwards from
RuPauls Drag Race
All Stars, 9pm (tickets
required) Drag Show
starts at 10:30pm Hosted
by Lena Lett and featuring
Tatianna, Shi-Queeta-Lee,
Riley Knoxx and BaNaka
Cover $12 21+
Pick three people living or dead that you would

like to have a drink with.
Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Graham Chapman from
Monty Pythons Flying Circus.
Whats your pet peeve?
Definitely spelled with an a.
Whats your favorite food?
There are some foods that I cant stop eating once Ive
started, like ginger snaps. I have no self control when
it comes to them.
What animal would you be?
Id be a dog. One of the happy breeds, like Labs.
Humans love and take care of them.
Boxers, briefs, or other?
Jock straps.
Whats a brand youd recommend?
Nasty Pig - - the fabric they use is amazing. Theres one
super comfortable brand sold through Amazon called
Bunker. Its super cheap, too.
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm-4am
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion Drag Show
with host Ella Fitzgerald
Doors at 9pm, Shows
at 11:30pm and 1:30am
DJ Don T. in Ziegfelds
DJ Steve Henderson in
Secrets Cover 21+
Sunday,
January 15
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Flip Cup Homowood
Karaoke, hosted by Robert
Bise, 10pm-close 21+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 2pm SelfDefense Class, hosted by
Jackie Thompson 2-3:30pm
DC Leather Pride presents BLUF:DC Breeches
and Leather Uniform Fan
Club, 4-8pm Music by
D.C.s own DJ Say What?
BootBlacks at work
including International
Mr. BootBlack 2015 Eric
Joseph, a.k.a. Pup Chaos
Tickets available at
BLUFDC.eventbrite.com
Dress Code encouraged
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Karaoke,
8pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke downstairs,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $3 Coors Light
Bottles and $3 Skyy (all
flavors), 1pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Whats your biggest turn-on?

Pit smell is a big thing for me.
Whats your biggest turn-off?
Someone who doesnt honor consent.
Describe your dream guy.
I like guys along the age and body type spectrum.
Its more the personality. A similar adventurousness,
open-mindedness, who usually has a lot of kinks going
on as well, so that theres a big palate of interesting
things to draw from.
Define good in bed. Thats a fun one.
I usually want a memorable experience. Something Id
want to tell my close friends about, because
joy should be shared.
Whats the most unusual place youve
ever had sex?
Ive had a lot of sex outdoors. By a river,
in a lake, behind hay bales.
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Pop Goes the World with
Wes Della Volla at 9:30pm
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on
any drink, 2-9pm No
Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm
TOWN
Otter Crossing presents
Last Chance Tea Dance,
featuring DJ Mark Louque
(a.k.a. Father Figure),
creator of F*G B*SH,
Provincetowns underground queer event Also
featuring StrikeStone!
Gear welcome GoGo
Boys $8 Cover 21+
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge

only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
Monday,
January 16
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Monday Nights A Drag,
featuring Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
Showtime at 11:30pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
49
Whats the most memorable

pick up line youve ever heard?
I havent heard that many memorable ones honestly.
The thing about pick-up lines is that theyre either sort
of ironically funny, like, If I said you had a beautiful
body would you hold it against me? or theyre just
bad. If I say Im a composer or an artist, Ill sometimes
get, Youre so talented, and, of course, they havent
heard any of my music. So how could they know from
anyone else how good I am?
Whats your favorite make-out music?
I like deep house. That whole genre is good for that.
But honestly, I dont need music. I like the sounds of
two - - or more - - bodies.
Whats your dream vacation?
Id love to go back to Japan. I got to go there in 2013
and visit a friend, and it was just
mind-blowingly beautiful.
Apple or Android?
Apple.
off everything Endless

Happy Hour prices to anyone in a DC Eagle T-Shirt
Monday Madness: Free
Pool All Night and Day
$1 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts all night No
Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Singles Night Karaoke,
8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Open Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Showtunes Songs &
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft Pints,
8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
MLK Day Brunch with
50
Marvel or DC?
Not a comic person.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
Star Wars.
Which of these daddies would you want to get a
spanking from? George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, or
Tom Selleck.
I saw Tom Selleck in a previous one, and I was hoping
he would still be there.
Tom Selleck now, or Tom Selleck back in Magnum
PI days?
Magnum PI days, and Id want him to kiss my ass after
he spanked me so that the bristles of the mustache
activated all of those tender nerve endings.
Im sure Tom Selleck would be happy to do that.
I would hope so.
Whats your greatest fear?
It sounds dumb to say dying, but its more that there
will be still so many wonderful things or beautiful
things that I havent seen or experienced before I go.
Are we obligated to respect him as president?

We are obligated to hold him to the standard that has
been established for the presidency. When he falls
beneath that, he should be held accountable.
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

only $4
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
Wednesday,
January 18
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
JR.S
Buy 1 Drink, Get 1 Free,
5pm-midnight Birdie
LaCage Show, 10:30pm
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
DJ Honey Happy Hour:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud
Light, 4-9pm SIN Service
Industry Night, 10pm-close
$1 Rail Drinks all night
What era, apart from now, do you think y

ou belong in?
The beginning of the 20th century, like 1890 to 1920 ish. All my favorite composers are from then. Paris
at that time was exploding with art and poetry and
music. Its like Stephen Fry says in one of his sketches,
When the world was in uproar and to a young man
everything seemed possible.
How are you feeling about soon
to be President Donald Trump?
His past behavior does not dignify the seat of the
presidency. Im afraid for many people because of his
presidency and the political agenda that seems to be
coming with it.
Bottomless Mimosas,
11am-3pm Happy Hour,
4-7pm $3 Miller Lite, $4
Blue Moon, $5 Rails and
House Wines and HalfPriced Pizzas Trivia with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
Tuesday,
January 17
Does size really matter?

Size always is a factor. Its not the only thing that matters. Its not like bigger is better. Regardless of size,
its how you use it.
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
SHAWS TAVERN
Half Priced Burgers &
Pizzas, 5pm-close $5
House Wines & Sam
Adams Drafts, 5pm-close
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors
and Miller Lite all night
Wednesday Night Karaoke,
hosted by India Larelle
Houston, 10pm No Cover
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Buy 1 Drink, Get 1 Free,
4-9pm Jay Ray Trivia,
8:30pm The Feud Drag
Trivia Team Competition,
10pm, hosted by BaNaka
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night, 8pm
and 9pm Prizes include
bar tabs and tickets to
shows at the 9:30 Club
$15 Buckets of Beer for
SmartAss Teams only
Bring a new team member
and each get a free $10
Dinner
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Piano Bar with Jill, downstairs, 8pm
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don
T. in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
Thursday,
January 19
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Stonewall Darts Party
Locker Room Thursday
Nights $3 Rail Drinks,
10pm-midnight, $5 Red
Bull and Frozen Virgin
Drinks DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka &
Kristina Kelly $200 Cash
Prize Doors open 10pm,
What would you like to be remembered for?

For making others feel welcome and a part of things.
What are you most grateful for?
My family. The support that theyve had for me along
every step of my life, really.
Would you rather live longer or be wealthier?
Live longer. Id hope to be dynamic and active throughout the rest of my life as much as my physical and
mental capabilities permit.
What inspires you to be a better person?
My leather club brothers. Their empathy, their work in
the community.
What is your philosophy of life?
Be open, be thoughtful, be forgiving. l
Were seeking Coverboy candidates for 2017. If you
live in the D.C. metro area and are over 18, apply at
metroweekly.com/coverboyapp.
21+ $5 Cover or free

with college ID
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour Shirtless guys
drink $2 off all drinks,
8-10pm Jock or underwear gets $2 off all drinks,
10pm-midnight Free Shot
of Captain Morgan Cannon
Blast at 10pm No Cover
21+
NUMBER NINE
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
TOWN
Love Trumps Hate Rainbow
Bash, 9pm Featuring
DJ Keenan Orr and DJ
Tim Jackson $10 Cover
21+
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Rock N
Retro: Rock Music Videos,
8pm-12am
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
SHAWS TAVERN
& Half-Priced Pizzas $4
Heineken and Coronas,
5pm-close
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+ l
51
Scene
52
Otter Crossing at Green Lantern - Friday, January 6

Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene
53
LastWord.
People say the queerest things
If I had told you that we would win marriage equality...you might have said
our sights were set a little too high.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, speaking in Chicago during his powerful farewell address. Obama mentioned LGBT rights several
times during his speech, including noting that, For 240 years, our nations call to citizenship has given work and purpose to
each new generation Its why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, Iraq and Afghanistan and why men and
women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs as well.
hate crimes protections to LGBT individuals was unwarranted,

In 2010 you stated that expandingpossibly
unconstitutional....
Do you still feel that way?
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, questioning Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions during his Senate confirmation hearing. Sessions,
who has a history of anti-LGBT votes and statements, responded: The law has been passed, the Congress has spoken,
you can be sure I will enforce it.
I believe in allowing people who love each other to

share their lives together and honor it.
NICOLE KIDMAN, speaking on the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire show about her support for marriage equality particularly in
her native Australia, where it remains to be passed. I love when people love each other and want that to be acknowledged
legally, because thats protection, she went on to say. And commitment is a wonderful thing.
A parent is a parent, a child is a child,

a family is a family.
CYNTHIA NIXON, speaking with Britains The Telegraph about raising children in a same-sex household versus opposite sex
parents. I feel like a lot of prejudice we have against people is against people we barely know or have never even met. And
certainly when different kinds of people are able to be around each other...a lot of that fear and mistrust just evaporates.
life, and this whole deconstruction of gender,

The Lord wants usthisto have
whole redefinition of marriage,
all of these things is a mask for Satan.
DAVID BENHAM, former host of HGTVs Flip it Forward. The show was canceled in 2014 after Benham and his twin brother
Jasons history of anti-LGBT extremism came to light. Benham made his latest anti-LGBT comments
on Liberty Counsel radio show, Faith and Freedom.
54

Metro Weekly - 01-12-17 - Pre-MAL - Chuck King - Baltimore Eagle

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Metro Weekly - 01-12-17 - Pre-MAL - Chuck King - Baltimore Eagle

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JANUARY 12, 2017

As the Baltimore Eagle prepares to reopen, co-owner

Sharp, funny and engaging, Mosaics Charm is a

SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS CARMACK p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.11

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Tickets are $19.13 to $64.13. Call

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ballet, from mathematical patterns

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