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EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman
ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
POLITICAL EDITOR
Justin Snow
NEWS & BUSINESS EDITOR
John Riley
NEWS
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CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christian Gerard, Brandon Harrison, Will OBryan
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
BATTLEGROUND ATLANTA
by Justin Snow
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
FEATURES
14
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
19
KINK 101
by John Riley and Doug Rule
WEBMASTER
David Uy
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PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim
EVENT CALENDAR
MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER 2015
by Doug Rule
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STAGE
33
by Dour Rule
TECH
35
PATRON SAINT
Touko Laaksonen
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Todd Franson
CES 2015
by Rhuaridh Marr
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla
EDITOR EMERITUS
Sean Bugg
CHOIR BOY
GEARS
38
NIGHTLIFE
43
CLUBLIFE
50
by Doug Rule
photography by Julian Vankim
METRO WEEKLY
1425 K St. NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
202-638-6830
MetroWeekly.com
All material appearing in Metro Weekly is protected by federal copyright law and may not be
reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Metro Weekly assumes no
responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. All such submissions are subject
to editing and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Metro Weekly is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims
made by advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or
their agents. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or
advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of
such person or organization.
METROWEEKLY.COM
SCENE
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FIREPLACE
photography by Ward Morrison
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LAST WORD
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGBT
News
by Justin Snow
METROWEEKLY.COM
GAGE SKIDMORE
UNDREDS OF SOCIAL
conservatives descended on
Georgias Capitol Tuesday
to express their support for
Atlantas former fire chief, as the state
becomes the frontline in the ongoing
debate over religious liberty and tolerance.
Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin
Cochran has been propped up as the
poster child of liberal intolerance since
his firing earlier this month, following
controversy over anti-gay statements he
made in a 2013 self-published book, Who
Told You That You Are Naked?, which
classifies homosexuality as a sexual perversion and compares it to beastiality and
pederasty. Following a 30-day suspension during which an investigation was
conducted by the city, Cochran was fired
by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Jan. 6,
sparking backlash from religious conservatives claiming Cochrans constitutional
rights had been violated.
According to Reed, the decision to fire
Cochran came after an erosion in confidence in the former fire chief due to his
actions and remarks during his suspension. My decision has nothing to do with
his religion and everything to do with his
judgment and conduct as the leader of
the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and
a member of my Cabinet, Reed said in
a statement. Mr. Cochran ignored the
Citys Ethics Code which establish a clear
protocol which must be followed before
a Commissioner may engage in private
activity for pay. Mr. Cochran made
numerous judgment decisions regarding
the book that are unacceptable for a leader in City of Atlanta government: he sold
the book without the requisite approval;
Perkins
METROWEEKLY.COM
LGBTNews
Perkins, who drew parallels to the terrorist attack on a satirical magazine, Charlie
Hebdo, in Paris last week. Whether its
a journalist in France satirically writing
about religion or a fire chief in Atlanta,
Georgia writing about the sacred teachings of his faith, the silencing of either is a
threat to the freedoms of all, Perkins said.
The naked truth is that the actions taken
against the Chief are designed to send a
message that will silence Christians and
in effect force them to check their faith
at the door of public service.
According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, supporters of Cochran hope
Tuesdays rally will build support for a
religious freedom bill introduced in the
Georgia Legislature. The bill, which mirrors similar religious freedom bills that
have popped up in states across the country as marriage equality has continued to
spread, is opposed by LGBT groups who
believe it could provide a license to discriminate. Georgia Equality has voiced
opposition to the bill, which they argue
would allow people to discriminate
against LGBT people because treating
LGBT people equally would burden
their religious beliefs.
Despite those concerns, the firestorm
of controversy over Cochrans termination has increased the profile of the legislation. On Tuesday, Republican Gov.
Nathan Deal voiced support for a version
of the bill that would only apply to government agencies and not private businesses. I personally do not think that
the adoption of such a law would have
the negative impacts that many people
portrayed it would have, Deal told The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The debate over religious freedom
laws has been been elevated to national
levels over the past year, with the firing of Cochran only fueling it further.
The U.S. Supreme Courts July decision
in the Hobby Lobby case, which found
some religious employers can refuse to
pay for insurance coverage of contraception under the federal Religious Freedom
Restoration Act, increased the clash over
religious liberty and LGBT rights. One day
after the Supreme Court handed down
the Hobby Lobby decision, Mississippi
enacted a state Religious Freedom
Restoration Act (RFRA), which seeks to
ensure that state action or an action by
any person based on state action shall not
burden a persons right to the exercise of
religion. When the law was being considered by lawmakers, advocates argued
the bills broad language would allow
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those burdens to include nondiscrimination laws. The bill mirrored a controversial measure approved by Arizona
lawmakers and vetoed by Arizona Gov.
Jan Brewer (R) last February following
national attention. Such bills, introduced
in Republican-dominated states, are part
of a broader backlash to gains across the
nation for marriage equality. Opponents
of LGBT rights justify the move by pointing to states with marriage equality and
existing nondiscrimination laws that
encompass sexual orientation that have
seen a growing number of conflicts, as
in New Mexico, where the states highest court ruled a wedding photographer
violated the states Human Rights Act
by refusing service to a same-sex couple.
While Cochran has found social conservatives solidly in his corner, LGBTrights groups have defended Atlantas
besieged mayor. The fact that Mayor
Reed lost confidence in Kelvin Cochrans
ability to do his job is completely unsurprising, and his decision to terminate
Cochran was right, fair and in the best
interest of all Atlantas residents, said
Chad Griffin, president of the Human
Rights Campaign, in a statement. People
of faith take their religious convictions with them to the workplace every
day, but Cochrans unprofessional and
irresponsible conduct was completely
unrelated to his personal convictions.
Instead, his actions before and during the
investigation left him unfit to serve, and
if Mayor Reed had not taken action, it
would have represented a severe failure
Fortune 500s
Earn Fairness
Accreditation
marketplace
METROWEEKLY.COM
11
LGBTNews
McAuliffe (D) in attendance.
In addition to Capital One, the other
companies honored for their LGBTfriendly workplace policies include
tobacco giant Altria, used car retailer
CarMax, Dominion, the commonwealths
top provider of electricity and natural
gas, and Genworth, a financial planning
and insurance company.
We have accredited these companies because they have policies in place
that clearly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and protect them from discrimination in the
workplace, James Parrish, the executive director of Equality Virginia said in
a statement announcing the honorees.
These companies know that policies
welcoming diversity and inclusion are
not only good for business, but are the
right thing to do.
Diversity, equality and inclusion
are central to the Capital One culture,
a culture that thrives because of the
varying experiences, backgrounds and
perspectives offered by our associates,
said Lane Hopkins, managing vice president of enterprise human resources
at Capital One. From programs and
resources offered through our LGBT
Associate Network, to a broad range of
benefits and development opportunities, we are committed to fostering an
environment where all of our associates
feel heard, valued and respected. We are
very proud to be recognized by Equality
Virginia.
The other companies being honored
also acknowledged Equality Virginia
for recognizing their efforts to promote
workplace fairness.
The families of today, including
those of my colleagues at Genworth,
reflect the great diversity that defines
America. We are committed to supporting that diversity and creating an
environment of inclusiveness for all of
our employees, said Marty Klein, the
companys chief financial officer. Its
a commitment that also extends to our
customers. As a provider of insurance
solutions that help families become
more financially secure, self-reliant and
prepared for the future, we are dedicated to helping all families protect
those they love. This is a mission we at
Genworth share with Equality Virginia,
and we are proud to be part of it.
Others argue that adopting nondiscrimination policies just makes good
business sense.
At Dominion, we want to attract
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marketplace
METROWEEKLY.COM
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LGBTCommunityCalendar
Metro Weeklys Community Calendar highlights important events in
the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to
volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to
calendar@MetroWeekly.com. Deadline for inclusion is noon
of the Friday before Thursdays publication. Questions about
the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at
202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.
SMYALS REC NIGHT provides a social atmosphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuring
dance parties, vogue nights, movies and games.
More info, catherine.chu@smyal.org.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., by
appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.
Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, testing@smyal.org.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for Lost Dog & Cat Rescue
Foundation at Falls Church PetSmart. To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
CENTER MILITARY AND DOD PRIDE host their
monthly PENTAGON LGBT HAPPY HOUR at
WEEKLY EVENTS
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by
appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian squaredancing group features mainstream through
advanced square dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m.
Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia social
group meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9
p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16
WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
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WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
LGBTCommunityCalendar
DIGNITY NORTHERN VIRGINIA 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
dignitywashington.org.
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag-
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
CHICK CHAT, an age 50+ lesbian singles group,
WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS MEMORIAL
EPISCOPAL CHURCH celebrates Low Mass at 8:30
a.m., High Mass at 11 a.m. 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW.
202-232-4244, allsoulsdc.org.
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.
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LGBTCommunityCalendar
ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION, an
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
MONDAY, JANUARY 19
WEEKLY EVENTS
WEEKLY EVENTS
Michael Brazell teaches BEARS DO YOGA, a program of The DC Center. 6:30 p.m., Green Lantern,
1335 Green Court NW. No cost, newcomers welcome. 202-682-2245, thedccenter.org.
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LGBTCommunityCalendar
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
BOOKMEN DC, an informal mens gay-literature
group, discusses selected essays from Love,
Christopher Street: Reflections of New York City,
edited by Thomas Keith. 7:30 p.m. DC Center, 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. All welcome. bookmendc.
blogspot.com
GAY & LESBIAN INTERNATIONAL (GLINT), a
WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets
about 7:45 p.m., covered-patio area of Cosi, 1647
20th St. NW. All welcome. Jamie, 703-892-8567.
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers
free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by
appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
METROWEEKLY.COM
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aback by the sheer scale of it. But its certainly friendlier than it may initially seem.
Nigel Williams, Mr. DC Eagle 2013, says newcomers shouldnt be scared. Use your first MAL as an
educational experience by attending the various
parties, auctions or receptions, or by engaging
people huddled in small groups throughout the
hotels main lobby.
Id say, Its great that youre going. Be
respectful. Go with an open mind. Dont go in
judging, Williams advises. Visit the vendor mart. Educate yourself about the various
toys, gear, kinks. Meet people and talk with
them. If you have a particular fetish, or youre
just starting out in the scene, the vendors are
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SCENE 1: LEATHER/BDSM
PERSON OF INTEREST:
Mindy Chateauvert
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? San Francisco in 1976. At that time
and what you dont like, and what youre willing to try and
what youre not willing to try, and what stuff turns you on
and what stuff doesnt turn you on. When I negotiate with
somebody, we spend the first two or three days talking about
what were interested in, before anything happens. So this is
not something thats just sort of like, Oh, I meet you at a bar
and then we go home and do something. Its a long process
and preparation.
WHAT CLUBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE SCENE? There are a lot of different groups. One of
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a safe environment. The BDSM community insists on negotiating and understanding what each partner is interested
in their limits, their ideas, and most importantly this idea
of power exchange. Its an old saw, but something to remember: The bottom, if you will, always has the right to say no.
And when that no happens, its supposed to stop. Thats the
whole point.
All leather, all the time. Some time in the 90s, gear started
happening and I thought it was great from the very beginning. Its a whole other approach to kind of a masculine,
kinky kind of sexuality. Over time, I think Ive gotten more
into gear, and less into leather. When I was 12 years old, I had
a neighbor who was a football player, who I would tie up. And
I would punch him until he cried, and then send him home to
his father. And hed come back the next week to do it all over
again, so I know he enjoyed it. I didnt think of it as gear back
then. But oh, it was so hot.
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO IT? Its sexual, but its not just sexual.
Any gay person should be able to relate to it, because its similar to being gay. The gay community is not just about being
gay. Its not just about the sex. And its the same way with the
gear community. Its not just about the gear. Its more about a
shared experience, shared interests. If youre talking leather
versus gear, its pretty much a matter of what you wear, what
kind of dress you think is sexy. What the gear guys are doing
when they go into the dungeon and play is really not that different from what the leather guys were doing 30 years ago in
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gear clubs in this area. You have your rubber club, which is
more open to gear than your traditional leather clubs usually
are. Most of the guys into gear play tend to be younger. They
tend to be less likely to be aligned with a club. Theyre more
likely to be GDIs, as the old guys would call them God
Damn Independents. That term comes from back in the days
when most guys were expected to affiliate themselves with a
club. And GDIs were the guys who refused to. Today, most
guys are unaffiliated.
BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION? I have no idea. I dont know if there
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? I first saw puppy play way back
in 2002 at SouthEast LeatherFest (SELF) in Atlanta. It was
a leatherman out with his pup right there at the event, he
was leading his pup through. I was introduced to them by my
sir at the time. He knew them. At that time that particular
sir was very much against it. So I had to wait. It was at MAL
2008 where I first pupped out.
SCENE 4: ROPEWORK/BONDAGE
PERSON OF INTEREST: Eli Sirra
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You invite people to come and show off the different kinks,
like using electro devices on a sub. Then, afterwards, you can
ask questions of both the dom and the sub. You can also read
books about rope bondage.
In the club, I will often flag that Im interested in rope
bondage with a gray handkerchief in my left pocket. If theyre
interested in being a sub, they will wear one on the righthand side. Thats another way you can show interest.
BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION? I think the biggest misconception
is that people think that you are just tying them up, and thats
it that theres nothing in addition to it. I think some people
also think that ropework has to be done pretty, like entirely
symmetrical or neat. But thats not the case. For me, its just
the fact that the person is bonded. Its about the struggle
against being tied that makes it erotic.
SCENE 5: WATERSPORTS
SCENE 6: SPANKING/FLOGGING
went to a party for women and trans folk, and I was good with
a rope and lasso, so that brought an interesting kink to things.
But this one night at Tracks, I was with friends and we met
this guy who wanted to be humiliated by a woman or group
of women. So I tried it, and it was like a duck to water. It was
natural. It was fun.
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO IT? I guess Im a unique person. Im
the way it feels. BDSM has parts of that. But theres also a
try everything to see what I liked. That was one of the things
I tried.
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO IT? If you love a mans penis, why not
all of a mans penis? A penis is more than just for penetration.
HOW IT WORKS: There are a lot of ways. The easiest thing
to do is be a watersports top first, because the act of getting
pissed on is a bigger leap than pissing on someone or into
their mouth. And you dont have to confine yourself to the
bathtub, because thats not always fun, but rubber sheets and
a rubber play mat will work very nicely.
WHAT CLUBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE SCENE? There really arent any clubs around in D.C.,
though you can find watersports parties. They all vary. There
can be as many as 200 people at a party in New York, for
example, or it could just be two guys getting together at someones house to play. Pretty much any kink is difficult to find
among vanilla guys at a vanilla bar. But there are some guys
who are very open about their kinks. Other times, theyre not,
because some of the vanilla guys can be judgmental.
You can always go online to Manhunt or Recon and
check the box for watersports. Sometimes, when one goes to
a leather bar, one may find a sub boy chained to a urinal, who
says, Please, sir, dont waste that. And its okay to pee on the
boy. At an event like MAL, youll see people wearing a yellow
hanky on their right. Its okay to go up and talk to him and ask
him about the scene.
BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION? That its really smelly, or that
you can get an STI from it. Its actually very clean. Youre
not going to be repulsed by the smell. Theres no risk of
physical injury. Its probably one of the safest kinks there
is, besides getting a handjob. Its easy, doesnt cost anything,
and requires no preparation, whereas even regular anal sex
requires extensive preparation. Its one of the easiest, safest
kinks there is, which is why its a lot more common than some
BDSM activities.
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mental part to it, thats 24 hours a day for some. There are
roles, like ladies, subs, doms. There are verbal and nonverbal
cues to stop or go, based on how far you want to go, and how
far you can go. What I will typically ask is questions like, Do
you have any shoulder problems? That helps me in terms of
planning what theyre going to do. If they cant stand, I have
to take that into account. I need to think about their physical limitations, and ask them, Have you done this before? If
they dont know the answer to that question, then you have
to teach them that.
WHAT CLUBS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE SCENE: Theres the leather community, the BDSM
community. Its all about finding a group that works for you.
SCENE 7: BDSM/DOM-SUB
ROLE PLAY
PERSON OF INTEREST: Chaz
meeting people online, and I hooked up with a kinky bottom, who suggested bondage. And we did it, we had a great
time. And it just seemed to spark an interest in me, and I just
kept pursuing it. And Ive now been in it about 15 years. And
Ive met a lot of great people along the way. I dont play a lot
because Im old-fashioned Im relationship-oriented and
monogamous-bound.
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO IT? As a dominant, it is definitely the
power exchange. Its definitely the trust. Theres an erotic
element to it that really powers it. If Im playing with a sub-
ceptions. One, that most people who are into kink have psy-
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Event Calendar
Mid-Atlantic Leather 2015
By Doug Rule
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
DC Leather Pride: Welcome to MAL 2015
9 p.m. til close
Shirtless Men Drink Free from 10 to 11 p.m.
Green Lantern
1335 Green Court NW
Greenlanterndc.com
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16
MAL Registration
3 to 10 p.m.
Capitol Rooms A and B
Host Hotel
Bootblacks on Duty
Benefitting Mr. MAL Travel Fund and the
Leather Heart Foundation
4 to 10 p.m.
Lower Level
3 p.m. to Midnight
Lobby Level
Host Hotel
Exhibit Hall
4 to 10 p.m.
Lower Level
Host Hotel
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DC Bar Cre:
Leather Bear Party & Patio Cigar Party
6 to 11 p.m.
No cover before 9:30 p.m.
Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St. NW
dcbearcrue.com
Mister International Rubber Cocktail Party
7 to 10 p.m.
Thornton Room
Host Hotel
Highwaymen TNT Fetish Party:
ExtremeO
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Regency Ballroom B
Host Hotel
trashandtravel.com
SigMa Dungeon Party
8 p.m. to Midnight
$20 SigMa members, $25 nonmembers
1636 R St. NW, Second Floor
sigmadc.org
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
MAL Registration
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Capitol A and B
Host Hotel
Bootblacks on Duty
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Lower Level
12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Lobby Level
Host Hotel
Exhibit Hall
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lower Level
Host Hotel
Mid-Atlantic Kennel Korps: Puppy Park
VII puppy mosh
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Congressional A and B
Host Hotel
makkorps.org
BDSM Demonstrations by SigMa
Noon to 2 p.m.
Regency A and B
Host Hotel
sigmadc.org
International Mr. Leather 2015 Judges
Announcement
Noon to 1 p.m.
Thornton Room
imrl.com
Onyx Cocktail Party &
Leather/Fetish Gear Show
Live Auction benefits SMYAL and Onyx
2 to 6 p.m.
Suggested donation of $5
Congressional A
Host Hotel
onyxmen.com
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
MAL Brunch*
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Capitol A and B
Host Hotel
MAL Registration
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capitol Room Foyer
Host Hotel
Bootblacks on Duty
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lower Level
Noon to 6 p.m.
Lobby Level
Host Hotel
Exhibit Hall
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lower Level
Host Hotel
Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2015 Contest*
1 to 4 p.m.
Non-pass-holder tickets available for $25
Regency A, B, C & D
Host Hotel
METROWEEKLY.COM
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SPOTLIGHT
GIGI
The American Film Institutes Silver Theatre celebrates MLK Day by screening a free documentary
featuring footage of the civil rights legend. King: A
Filmed RecordMontgomery 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. 19, at 1:45 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are free.
Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.
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THE T PARTY
TIG NOTARO
In addition to lesbian comic Tig Notaros breadand-butter base of stand-up, chances are youve also
appreciated her generally behind-the-scenes television writing work most notably for Comedy
Centrals The Sarah Silverman Program and Inside
Amy Schumer as well as her occasional contributions to PRIs This American Life. Notaro, a
Mississippi native who lives in Los Angeles, returns
to the area for an unusual winter stop. Monday,
Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St.,
Annapolis. Tickets are $25. Call 410-268-4545 or
visit ramsheadonstage.com.
FILM
PADDINGTON
STILL ALICE
Julianne Moore offers another terrific, heartbreaking and unforgettable performance also awardwinning, a la the Golden Globes most recently this
time as Alice, a mother who is starting to forget her
words (her stock-in-trade as a linguistics professor)
due to early onset Alzheimers. Richard Glatzer and
Wash Westmoreland direct this film, based on Lisa
Genovas novel, that also stars Alec Baldwin as Alices
husband and Kate Bosworth, Hunter Parrish and
Kristen Stewart as their children. Opens Friday, Jan.
16. Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call
202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
STAGE
BAD JEWS
BASKERVILLE:
A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
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IN PRAISE OF LOVE
THE TEMPEST
One of Shakespeares late masterpieces, a magical tale in which sprites, goddesses and fools
hold court on a deserted island after a shipwreck.
Ethan McSweeney directs a Shakespeare Theatre
Company production. Closes this Sunday, Jan. 18.
Sidney Harman Hall, Harman Center for the Arts,
610 F St. NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.
MUSIC
AFRIKA BAMBAATAA AND
FUNK FOR THE DREAM
D.C.s Fort Knox Recordings presents this celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., featuring DJ sets
from electro-funk master and godfather of hip-hop
Afrika Bambaataa, plus multi-genre local group Fort
Knox Five. Sunday, Jan. 18. Doors at 9 p.m. U Street
Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call
202-588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.
ARI HEST
METROWEEKLY.COM
Best of the Babes 25th Anniversary Show features highlights from the comedic music ensemble
featuring Ohio-based Sally Fingerett, Philadelphiabased comedic singer Deirdre Flint and two locals,
Grammy-winning lesbian multi-instrumentalist
Marcy Marxer and former The Hags singer Debi
Smith. In an interview with Metro Weekly a couple
years ago, Smith summed up the Babes outlook to
songwriting and performing: We look at life, as its
happening, usually in a comedic way [and] through
a wacky viewfinder. Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7:30
p.m., at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $35. Call 703-549-7500 or
visit birchmere.com.
LAURA BENANTI
SUPER DIAMOND
THE SMITHEREENS
DANCE
32ND ANNUAL
CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE
KANKOURAN
WEST AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY
SUSAN MARSHALL
A MacArthur Fellow last decade and the director of dance at Princeton University, ballet-minded
choreographer Susan Marshall has been developing
a new work involving the body, objects and sound
with So Percussion composer and musician Jason
Treuting and visiaul artist Suzanne Bocanegra. The
trio will perform sketches from the new work next
weekend at the American Dance Institute. Friday,
Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. American
Dance Institute, 1501 East Jefferson St. Rockville.
Tickets are $31.25. Call 301-984-3003 or visit americandance.org.
READINGS
ROGER COHEN
The Girl from Human Street: Ghosts of Memory in a Jewish Family is an intimate
memoir about this award-winning New York Times columnists family legacy,
from pre-Holocaust days in Lithuania to apartheid-era South Africa to U.S. and
Israel more recently. Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.
600 I St. NW. Tickets are $12, or $28 for two tickets and one book. Call 202-4083100 or visit sixthandi.org.
COMEDY
PORKCHOP VOLCANO
This live short form improv troop specializes in rapid-fire laughs inspired by
audience suggestions and performs on special Saturday nights at its home base,
the Arlington Drafthouse. Saturday, Jan. 24, at 9 p.m. Arlington Cinema N
Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets are free. Call 703-486-2345
or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.
While its galleries are closed for renovation and expansion, the National Gallery
of Art has set up throughout its East Building a special installation of modern
sculpture from its renowned holdings. And three times a week, the gallery offers
a new 60-minute guided tour highlighting these works, allowing patrons to
engage with each other in open-ended discussions about, in addition to the guide
pointing out connections between, the works on view, from Alexander Calders
monumental mobile Untitled from 1976 to Andy Goldsworthys decade-old
Roof. The relationship between I.M. Peis East Building and John Russell Pops
West Building is also examined. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, at 1:30 p.m.
National Gallery of Art East Building Information Desk, 3rd Street at Constitution
Avenue NW. Call 202-737-4215 or visit nga.gov.
Once There Were Billions: Vanished Birds of North America documents those
species of birds weve lost on this continent over the past two centuries, from
the puffin-like great auck to the Carolina parakeet to the heath hen to the passenger pigeon, not to be confused with the commonplace carrier pigeon. Through
October. National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu.
GALLERIES
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: TOURING THE GLOBE FOR 75 YEARS
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center presents this ambitious and colorful exhibition on the second floor of the National Museum of Natural History,
exploring the heritage, daily experiences and diverse contributions of Indians
and Indian Americans. Through Aug. 16. National Museum of Natural History,
10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu.
A juried multi-media art show, Personally Speaking: 12x12 features Capitol Hill
Arts League member artists revealing their personal style through work that
holds a personal meaning to them. Opening reception is Saturday, Jan. 17, from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m. Runs to March 5. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. Call
202-547-6839 or visit chaw.org.
The Folger Shakespeare Librarys latest exhibition focuses on the first great age
of mass communication, the Renaissance, which launched printing, developed
diplomacy and created postal systems. All of this triggered an obsession with
encryption and secret communication that produced some of the periods most
brilliant inventions, most beautiful books and most enduring legacies, including
that of code-breakers and cryptographers. Through Feb. 26. Folger Great Hall in
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Free. Call 202-544-7077 or
visit folger.edu.
South Africa-born, Virginia-based artist Elsabe Dixon investigates our relationship with changing systems and networks using organic and repurposed material,
focused on the biological life cycle of insects. In Live/Life at Artisphere, Dixon
shows an insect life cycle as an ephemeral gesture over a period of five months.
To Feb. 22. Artist In Resident Studio at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington.
Call 703-875-1100 or visit artisphere.com.
National Geographic imports this exhibition from New Yorks American Museum
of Natural History exploring the complex and intricate farm-to-fork food system,
with sections devoted to growing, transporting, cooking, eating, tasting and
celebrating. Through Feb. 22. National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW.
Tickets are $11. Call 202-857-7588 or visit ngmuseum.org.
Transformer presents its 12th annual solo exhibition with a focus on Jameson
Magrogan. Oil, Then Acrylic investigates the artists relationship to the mythos
of art history through painting, drawing, sculpture and print. Through Jan. 31.
Transformer, 1404 P St. NW. Call 202-483-1102 or visit transformerdc.org.
Pegged to the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and just one of
several exhibitions at the Newseum marking the occasion, Make Some Noise:
Students and the Civil Rights Movement explores the new generation of student
leaders that emerged in the 1960s to fight segregation and fight for civil rights.
John Lewis, now a U.S. representative from Georgia, and Julian Bond, a former
chair of the NAACP, are among the leaders highlighted here. Through 2015.
Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $21.95 for general admission.
Call 888-NEWSEUM or visit newseum.org.
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The Library of Congress commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights
Act with a yearlong exhibition highlighting legal and legislative victories and
shedding light on the individuals who shaped the civil rights movement. Through
Sept. 12. The Library of Congresss Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE.
Call 202-707-8000 or visit loc.gov/exhibits.
Well-known expressions of Japanese culture have their roots in Chinese arts and
ideas, from Buddhism to tea to ink painting. The Smithsonian Institutions Freer
Gallery of Art offers an exhibition featuring Chinese and Japanese paintings,
lacquer ware and ceramics from the 13th through the 19th centuries. To June
14. Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or
visit asia.si.edu.
A century after the extinction of the passenger pigeon and 50 years after the
Wilderness Act, the Smithsonian American Art Museum offers an exhibition
examining humankinds relationship to birds and the natural world in the
works of 12 contemporary American artists, including Rachel Berwick, Barbara
Bosworth, James Prosek and Tom Uttech. Through Feb. 22. Smithsonian
American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets NW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu.
Baltimores quirky Visionary Art Museum offers its 20th annual exhibition,
this one championing lifes grand Eureka! moments, held in common by
Earths most dynamic and intuitive evolutionaries, from inventors, scientists,
Americas founding fathers, dreamers and saints. The show was co-curated by
filmmaker and publisher Jodi Wille and AVAM founder and director Rebecca
Alban Hoffberger. Through Aug. 30. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key
Highway. Baltimore. Tickets are $15.95. Call 410-244-1900 or visit avam.org.
WINDOW TO WASHINGTON
32
METROWEEKLY.COM
The organization NOVA Pride has recruited Iota to set aside one day every week
to explicitly serve LGBT residents and allies in the Clarendon community, originally started as a promotion of the first annual Northern Virginia Pride Festival,
held last fall. Each Tuesdays event starts with a Smasher Lunch at 11 a.m., and
includes a Happy Hour from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. that kicks off with Mikeys Bar A
Video Wall at 7 p.m. Iota Club and Caf, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. No cover.
Call 703-522-8340 or visit novapride.org. l
stage
Praiseworthy
The real power of Choir Boy is
in its subtle, graceful and
evocative style of storytelling
IGOR DMITRY
by DOUG RULE
School for Boys, an African-American school set in an unspecified, present-day location. (President Obamas is one portrait
hanging above designer Jason Sherwoods warm, classically
minded set, as if to suggest hes an alumnus.)
Pharuss poise is quickly ruined when the school bully, Bobby
(an impressionistic Keith Antone), who is also Pharuss main
rival, rattles him mid-song with verbal taunts of sissy and
faggot-ass nigga. Uncharacteristically, but also understandably, Pharus flinches, and in response the schools Headmaster
Marrow (a commanding Marty Austin Lamar) flinches too.
Choir Boy chiefly centers on the headmasters growing concerns about whether Pharus is the right fit to lead his schools
celebrated choir. No question hes the most talented as well as
the most charismatic and lovable but maybe hes just a little too
lovable too sweet, too soft, too sissy-like.
If you didnt know any better, youd be forgiven for thinking
that McCraney wrote the part of Pharus for Jelani Alladin, so
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nice and mostly magnanimous Pharus can only make a play for
peoples respect; he doesnt know or doesnt think he knows
how to make anyone fear him. He also doesnt know how to love,
and generally represses his sexual feelings but one can only go
so far, or so long, living like that, McCraney suggests.
There are a few tear-inducing moments in Choir Boy a
heartbreaking conversation when Pharus talks to his mother
by phone or the way a couple of the boys subtly but surely (and
only privately) show Pharus affection. There are also plenty of
gentle laughs, through clever wordplay and a few choice cultural critiques. But the real power of the piece is in McCraneys
subtle, graceful and evocative style of storytelling. Heartstrings
arent pulled in obviously manipulative ways, were not beaten
on the head about the key themes or takeaways, and everything
remains a little mysterious, more suggestive than definitive. As
with life, in Choir Boy there are few clear or easy or altogether
happy resolutions.
By plays end, the bullied choir boy isnt entirely victorious
and certainly not unscathed in overcoming anti-gay adversity.
And theres just something satisfyingly realistic, particularly
as seen through gay eyes, about the way Pharuss experiences
of being bullied, disrespected, misunderstood or rejected are
shown to have subtly colored his life, and presumably will continue to do so. At the same time, they leave a theatergoer with
few doubts about Pharuss faith to carry on or his ability to look
ahead, to make a future brighter than his past to forgive his
trespassers, if not forget what they did.
Choir Boy (
) runs to Feb. 22 at Studio Theatre, 14th &
P Streets NW. Tickets are $44 to $88. Call 202-332-3300 or visit
studiotheatre.org. l
tech
Best in Show
CES was dominated by a focus on
4K televisions and curved screens
by RHUARIDH MARR
SONY
Vegas to showcase a product the company was once the undisputed king of: television. Sonys Trinitron sets were the hallmark
for high-quality viewing in the 80s and 90s, but with HDTV and
the introduction of Samsung and other players into the market,
the company had somewhat lost its relevance. Still, the Japanese
electronics giant wasnt exactly going to roll over and admit
defeat. With 4K (also known as UltraHD) being the talk of the
town at CES 2015, Sony decided to show just how powerfully its
manufacturing arm can flex, and debuted its flagship XBR 900C,
which slots in at the top of its Bravia line of TVs.
The set itself is incredibly thin. Available in 55-, 65-, or
75-inch sizes, the 4K/UltraHD/super-high-res displays are just
4.9mm at their thinnest point (thats less than 0.2 inches, for
us Americans). Sony dubs it virtually frameless, and theyre
certainly not lying. These ultra-slim TVs come with Sonys
Triluminos tech to improve picture clarity and color accuracy, as
well as the X1 4K processor, purported to upgrade and enhance
4K footage as well as any other content you plug into or stream
to your TV. Android TV, Googles fast, fluid OS, should make
watching your favorite content simple, while PlayStation Now
is onboard, letting gamers connect a PlayStation controller and
stream PS3 games no console required.
The price? Well, if you have to ask, you likely cant afford
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35
Walkman ZX2
and Sony isnt revealing it, which should be another hint that a
second mortgage might be on the cards for the 75-inch model.
Still, if you can afford them, Sony is also offering choice, in the
form of the slightly chunkier XBR X930C and X940C sets (these
names roll off the tongue, we know), in 65- and 75-inch variants
respectively, which swap out extreme thinness for front-facing,
powerful speakers. Both come with the same image processor
and Android/PlayStation capabilities as their svelte siblings. For
the rest of us there are 4K screens ranging from 43- to 75-inches,
which should carry more palatable price tags.
Fans of high-quality audio now have another option for listening to their favorite music: enter the original king of portable
audio (Sony has lost quite a few thrones in the past decade or
so), the Walkman the Walkman ZX2, to be specific. The long
and short of it? This is strictly for audiophiles, not people who
think Spotify is good enough for enjoying their music catalogue.
Crafted from aluminum and leather, it isnt intended to compete
with the iPod touch. In fact, the ZX2 would likely spit on the
iPod for settling for iTunes-quality mp3s.
Heres some facts for those of you who know whats what in
the audio world (disclaimer: I havent a clue what half of this
means). Sony claims the ZX2 is capable of beyond-CD quality,
thanks to its S-Master HX digital amp, DSEE HX processing
(which recreates high-frequency information in mosic thats
lost in normal audio files), up to 192 kHz/24-bit audio, support
for MP3, WMA, FLAC, linear PCM, WAV, AAC-LC, HE-AAC,
Apple Lossless, AIFF, and DSD, and gold-plated copper plate,
oxygen-free copper cables, and high purity lead-free solder to
help bolster sound quality. Theres even more crammed into the
ZX2s frame to aid audio quality, but well settle for this: the ZX2
will blow most other portable music players out of the water.
With 60 hours of MP3 playback and 33 hours of Hi-Res Audio
playback, Android 4.2 which brings all of Googles OS and apps
36
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SUHD
G Flex 2
suggest, this curved smartphone, which comes in silver or a gorgeous claret red, can bend. Quite dramatically, actually, with
the smartphone always returning to its original, slightly curved,
shape no matter how hard you flex the device (within reason, of
course). In an era of Bendgate with the iPhone 6 Plus and the
need for cases to protect from scrapes and scuffs, its nice to see
LG thinking outside the box a little when it comes to durable
smartphone design. Pricing and release date are unannounced,
but AT&T has already confirmed that they will carry the G Flex 2.
Samsung, comparatively, had a relatively demure CES.
There were few major announcements, with the company going
through the motions with regards most of the devices it had on
show. As with the rest of CES, Samsung was on-hand to further
confuse consumers with an onslaught of 4K/Ultra HD/UHD
displays, except the South Korean company saw fit to further
add fuel to the acronym-heavy fire with the reveal of its latest
flagship display technology: SUHD.
Lets clear something up: that S, which stands for Super,
doesnt bring any great resolution over normal UHD rivals.
Samsung hasnt crammed any extra pixels in to warrant the
super prefix, so what makes its new sets so fantastic? Well,
perhaps most notably, theyre the first mass-produced TVs to
offer HDR content. Yes, its yet another acronym, but HDR is
something smartphone users will be familiar with, and stands
for high dynamic range. In laymans terms? Your new Samsung
TV is capable of offer bright, richer images with better contrast
and detail.
The improvement in image quality is backed up by a rather
eye-popping 500 nits of brightness (Samsung claims its twice as
bright as standard televisions), 10-bit panels, and Quantum Dot
color technology which claims to use 50,000 minute crystals in
the display to improve contrast and brightness, as well as reproduce colors a purported 64 times better than normal televisions.
Naturally, Samsungs new sets are curved, and theyre available
in sizes stretching from 48- to a breathtaking 88-inches.
As with LG and its webOS smart TV software, Samsung is
leveraging its homegrown Tizen OS to power its new TVs. The
software promises to offer enhanced responsiveness, while
keeping all of your content to a single, scrollable screen to
reduce clutter and confusion. Of course, Samsungs unusuallynamed Milk music- and video-streaming service is onboard,
as well as Sonys PlayStation Now gaming service a nice
touch if youre not keen on one of Sonys own sets, or ruining
your home cinema setup with a games console and its many
wires. Unfortunately, Samsung is remaining tight-lipped on
pricing and release dates for its SUHD TVs, but, as with LG,
this much technology especially at larger sizes isnt going
to be cheap.
One of the most intriguing products Samsung announced at
CES wasnt a glitzy TV or 360-degree speaker (though it had
both on offer). Instead, it was something more humble: a portable, external drive. The unassumingly named Portable SSD
T1, though, is arguably something everyone should know about.
As its name would suggest, its a drive of the solid-state variety,
which means blistering read and write speeds 450 MB/s for
both via USB 3.0 for its 250GB, 500GB or 1TB of storage. All
that speed is rather reasonably priced, too, given this is SSD
technology, with the lowest storage option starting at $180,
reaching up to $600 for the full terabyte. In bang-for-bucks
terms, its an incredible deal, letting those with a lot of data to
carry around finally have both speedy performance and high
capacity without completely draining their account. Expect the
T1 to reach stores this January. l
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37
gears
Ford GT
Future Perfect
by RHUARIDH MARR
METROWEEKLY.COM
Of course we had to start with this. Lets cut right to the chase:
this is not your fathers GT40. Unlike the mid-00s retroinspired Ford GT, which brought V8 muscle and a 60s aesthetic
to the supercar party, this GT which enters production in 2016
is thoroughly modern. That aggressively sliced, aerodynamic
bodywork is crafted from carbon fiber and aluminum to save
weight. Gone are the eight-cylinders of old, replaced with Fords
twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 and before you balk at that
fact, the engine shoves more than 600 horsepower to the GTs
rear-wheels, and has one of the best power-to-weight ratios of
Buick Avenir
BUICK AVENIR
This isnt a car you can expect to drive any time soon,
so dont get your hopes up, but Buicks graceful Avenir
concept deserves a mention regardless. The massive
four-door (which is bigger than a Cadillac Escalade)
is a marriage of Buick design traditions, including its
sweep-spear bodyside and VentiPorts, and a glimpse
at future production vehicles from the brand fitting,
given Avenir is French for future. Its design, a collaboration of Buicks global design team, was intended
to really [take] your breath away, by representing
a break from convention and progressiveness in
technology. What does all of that marketing-speak
translate into? A beautiful concept car whose beauty
isnt skin deep. Under the surface, a direct-injected
V6 with fuel savings features like stop/start and active
fuel management purrs away, connected to a ninespeed auto and shifting the Avenir via a twin-clutch
all-wheel-drive system. Inside the Avenir, youll find
Buicks next-gen infotainment system, Intellilink,
complete with a 12-inch touch screen and driverrecognition features such as automatically synced
preferences for navigation and calendar events. In the
rear, passengers can connect their devices to video
screens, while relaxing in premium leather seats and rich carpeting. Buick arent saying if well see any or all of the Avenirs
features in a new model any time soon but if they can successfully distill it into a production model, theyve surely got a hit on
their hands.
VOLKSWAGEN CROSS COUPE GTE
Chevy Bolt
39
Chevy Volt
METROWEEKLY.COM
Ford isnt the only mass-market automaker with a supercar on the horizon. Honda,
makers of the reliable CR-V and Civic,
dabbled with a high-performance vehicle
Acura NSX
in the late 80s, eventually giving birth to
the much-loved and often celebrated NSX
supercar. Here in the States, it was Hondas Acura brand which
sold the car, and the Acura NSX carved its own little space in
supercar history as an affordable, attractive barnstormer of a
car. Light, fast and surprisingly brilliant, a new version has been
hotly anticipated since the old car went to the scrapyard in the
sky in 2005.
Its finally here. After years of teasing, Honda is ready to
show the final car in all of its glory wearing Acura branding
for its Detroit debut, naturally and what theyve delivered is
something pretty incredible. It doesnt stray too far from the
2013 concept NSX on the outside, which is good, as the car is
gorgeous. The NSXs exterior design project leader, Michelle
Christensen, stated that the NSX uses Interwoven Dynamic
design, which she believes blends the best parts of exotic sports
car form with supercar function. Under the dramatic exterior
lies a chassis thats made from a variety of materials, chief among
which is aluminum, which should make the NSX strong and
light. Carbon-fiber flooring and high-strength steel pillars round
out the NSXs metalwork, making for a taut car which, combined
with its independent front and rear suspension, brake torque
vectoring and ceramic brakes should make for an intense driving
experience. Powering all of this Japanese beauty? A longitudinally mounted, turbocharged, dry-sump V6 capable of outputting more than 550 horsepower. Thats not all, though, because
the engine works in conjunction with three electric motors to
drive all four of the NSXs wheels, something Acura are referring
to as Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. The 2016
NSX is expected to hit dealers this summer with a price starting
around $150,000, but if Honda/Acura can get it right, it should
be worth every penny. l
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NIGHT
LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 01.15.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
DC Leather Pride presents Welcome to MAL
2015, 9pm Featuring
International Mr. Leather
Ramien Pierre Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm
Featuring music by DJs
BacK2bACk
JR.S
$3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2
JR.s drafts, 8pm to close
Throwback Thursday featuring rock/pop retro hits
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44
METROWEEKLY.COM
scene
Freddies Beach Bar
Saturday, January 10
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+
FRI., 01.16.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Friday Night Videos with
resident DJ Shea Van Horn
VJ Expanded craft beer
selection No cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis Upstairs open
5-11pm
COBALT/30 DEGREES
All You Can Drink Happy
Hour $15 Rail &
Domestic, $21 Call &
10pm-4am Featuring DJ
Erik Gruber and DJ MF
21+ $40 per night or $60
for weekend pass Tickets
available at MAL host hotel
or online at forttroff.com or
codedc.com
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm New
Gay App GRUNT presents
1 Nation Under GODS
Featuring adult lm star
Francois Sagat debuting
KickSagat Gear, Andrew
Christian model Pablo
Hernandez and DJ Jack
Chang, 10pm-close $12
Cover
HYATT REGENCY ON
CAPITOL HILL
Mister International
Rubber Cocktail Party in
the Thornton Room, 7-9pm
Extreme0 Dance Party,
hosted by the Highwaymen,
in Regency B, 10pm-2am
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1, 11pm-midnight Happy Hour: 2-for1, 4-9pm $5 Coronas, $8
Vodka Red Bulls, 9pm-close
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
$5 Absolut & Titos, $3
Miller Lite after 9pm
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
TOWN
Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, BacK2bACk
downstairs Doors open
at 10pm For those 21 and
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2 and
2-4pm Featuring Kristina
Kelly and the Ladies of
Illusion Bottomless
Mimosas and Bloody
Marys Happy Hour: $3
Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5
Call, 4-9pm The ladies of
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45
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Bears Can Dance MAL
Celebration, 9pm-close
Featuring DJ Jeff Eletto
No Cover
HYATT REGENCY ON
CAPITOL HILL
Leather Cocktails (sold out
event), 7-9pm in Regency
Ballroom MAUL Report
for Duty Uniform Party,
10pm-2am in Congressional
B FxCK Dance Party,
10pm-3am in Regency B,
C and D
TOWN
MIXTAPE Dance Party,
10pm-close DJs Shea
Van Horn and Matt Bailer
Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee and
BaNaka Music and videos by DJ Wess downstairs
Cover $8 from 10-11pm,
$12 after 11pm 21+
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka highballs, $7 Vodka Red Bulls
NELLIES
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
46
METROWEEKLY.COM
PHASE 1
Dancing, 9pm-close
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald, 9pm DJ Steve
Henderson in Secrets
DJ Joey O in Ziegfelds
Doors 8pm Cover 21+
SUN., 01.18.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
9:30 CLUB
Reaction: MALs Closing
Dance Party, 9pm-4am
Featuring DJ James DJ
Dub Graham $35 in
advance with registration,
$45 at door
COBALT/30 DEGREES
BLUF: DC (Breaches &
Leather Uniform Fanclub),
4pm-10pm General
admission $10 in gear, $15
without gear $4 Stoli
and Miller Lite all day
Homowood Karaoke, 10pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Upstairs: The
NeedlExchange presents
Honcho Dance Party, 9pm
$9 in advance, $12 at door
Downstairs: Mamas
Trailer Park Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
TOWN
WTF: All You Can Eat
Dance Party, 10pm-close
Featuring various DJs
Free from 10-11pm, $5 after
11pm 21+
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights &
$3 Skyy (all avors), all day
and night
NELLIES
Drag Brunch, hosted by
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 9:30
pm Happy Hour: 2 for
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 01.19.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
ANNIES
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Drag Show hosted by
Kristina Kelly Doors open
at 10pm, show starts at
11pm $3 Skyy Cocktails,
$8 Skyy and Red Bull No
Cover, 18+
FREDDIES
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close Michaels
Open Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
Showtunes Songs &
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ Jamez $3 Drafts
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat The Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Poker Texas
Holdem, 8pm Dart
Boards
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour: 2
for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TUES., 01.20.15
9 1/2
Open at 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
Multiple TVs showing
movies, shows, sports
Expanded craft beer selection No Cover
ANNIES
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $4
Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour All Night Long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Underground (Indie Pop/Alt/
Brit Rock), 9pm-close DJ
Wes Della Volla 2-for-1,
all day and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat The Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour: 2
for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover Safe Word: A
Gay Spelling Bee, 8-11pm
Prizes to top three
spellers After 9pm, $3
Absolut, Bulleit & Stella
WED., 01.21.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
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47
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
4@4 Happy Hour, 4pm-7pm
$4 Small Plates, $4 Stella
Artois, $4 House Wines,
$4 Stolichnaya Cocktails,
$4 Manhattans and Vodka
Martinis
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Shirtless Thursday,
10-11pm Featuring music
by DJs BacK2bACk
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover 21+
THURS., 01.22.15
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
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METROWEEKLY.COM
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm $3
Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight,
$5 Red Bull, Gatorade
and Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Ripped
Hot Body Contest at midnight, hosted by Sasha
J. Adams and BaNaka
$200 Cash Prize Doors
open 10pm, 18+ $5 Cover
under 21 and free with
college ID
JR.S
$3 Rail Vodka Highballs, $2
JR.s drafts, 8pm to close
Throwback Thursday featuring rock/pop retro hits
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat The Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+ l
49
CLUBLIFE
Reactionary
Former Tracks DJ James Graham makes a return to MALs popular Reaction Dance
REMEMBER THE
first night that I auditioned at Tracks,
James Graham says.
Marty [Chernoff] the
owner came up to me at
the end of the night and
said, I want to just make
sure this isnt a fluke.
He scheduled Graham for
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METROWEEKLY.COM
at Georgetowns former
swanky spot Mie N Yu,
Graham took a little time
off as a club DJ and began
working as a manager at a
car dealership in Virginia.
But hes now raring to get
back behind the turntables
in a bigger way. Im really
wanting to take this on the
road, if you will, he says.
And hes eager to show
that last years great set
at Mid-Atlantic Leathers
Reaction dance wasnt
any more of a fluke than
his debut at Tracks two
decades ago. Reaction
organizer Danny Linden has
brought him back to be the
partys sole DJ, allowing
him to give partygoers a
true musical journey from
open to close.
I like all dance music,
he says, [but] I prefer syrupy, soulful type of stuff.
And thats the right overall
vibe for a Sunday night
party such as Reaction.
Youre winding down from
crazy Friday and Saturday
nights, he notes, so
youre coming into Sunday
and you dont want to beat
the horse too bad.
But that doesnt mean
he wont throw in a little
bit of tribal percussion, or
a little bit of edge courtesy of a choice cut or two
from Tiesto, Above and
Beyond or another of the
better producers in todays
EDM scene. Graham strives
to remain as current now
as ever.
Im creeping up in
age, he says, but musically and mentally Im still
that twenty-something/
thirty-something guy that
was jumping around all the
different clubs.
The Reaction Dance is this
Sunday, Jan. 18. Doors at
9 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V
St. NW. Tickets are $35 in
advance, or $45 on the day
of the event. Call 202-2650930 or visit 930.com or
leatherweekend.com. l
METROWEEKLY.COM
51
scene
Fireplace
Friday, January 9
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WARD MORRISON
52
53
Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your inspiration. Thank you for your patience. And
thank you for letting us be a part of the change.
JEFFREY TAMBOR, star of Amazon Studios Transparent, in his acceptance speech after winning the Golden Globe for Best
Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy. Tambor plays Maura Pfefferman, a middle-aged man who comes out to his family and
starts living as a woman over the course of the series. I would like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community, Tambor said, adding, This is much bigger than me. Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for putting us
on the map and making people aware of our story.
Goas Sports and Youth Affairs Minister RAMESH TAWADKAR speaking to journalists in the Indian states capital, Panaji, The
Hindu reports. Mr Tawadkar was announcing a series of centers specifically for LGBT youth, where the government will train
them and [give them] medicines too, in an effort to help stigmatised LGBT youths, who apparently require focused attention,
the paper quotes Tawadkar as saying.
U.S. District Judge KAREN SCHREIER, in a decision which ruled that South Dakotas ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Schreier put a stay on her ruling, pending an appeal from the state, so marriage remains on hold for
South Dakotas gay population.
To the generation that we lost and the people we continue to lose due to this disease, I just want to say
we love you, we remember you.
MATT BOMER, in his acceptance speech after winning Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Movie, or Miniseries at the Golden
Globes for his role as Felix Turner in HBOs The Normal Heart, which is adapted from Larry Kramers play about the
rise of HIV/AIDS in New York Citys gay population in the 80s.
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