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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Volume 22 / Issue 19

ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim

NEWS
6
The Slow, Steady Push to
Legalize Sex Work

by John Riley

10

School Bathroom Battles

12

by John Riley

Community Calendartto

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sean Bugg, Chris Heller, Connor J. Hogan,
Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield
WEBMASTER
David Uy
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Julian Vankim

16
Shining Stars

FEATURE

Fronted by out gay singer
Olly Alexander, Years & Years have

gripped the electronica music scene

with a sound that is at once

familiar and fresh

Interview by Randy Shulman

SALES & MARKETING

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman
BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING
Christopher Cunetto
Cunetto Creative
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINT
Robert Moog

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Fiona Garden

METRO WEEKLY
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

OUT ON THE TOWN

22

DC Shorts Film Festival

by Doug Rule

STAGE

29

Michael Kahn talks Free For All

TRAVEL

31

Iceland

TECH

33

New Andriod Devices

NIGHTLIFE

37

BHTs Pride day at Kings Dominion

46

Last Word

Interview by Randy Shulman

by Kate Wingfield

by Rhuaridh Marr

photography by Ward Morrison

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

LGBT

News

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis released from jail
A taste of France in Mount Vernon Triangle

The Slow, Steady Push to

Legalize Sex Work
The LGBT community is slowly finding its voice when it comes to
decriminalizing the worlds oldest profession
by John Riley

DVERTISING ON RENTBOY.COM TURNED NICK

Kinkands life around.
The 33-year-old had broken up with his boyfriend, was homeless and couch-surfing at friends
houses, and was massively in debt, with no car, burgeoning
student loans and an income of barely $100 to $200 a week as a
masseur. Kinkand married a straight woman in what was purely
a financial arrangement, paying for her phone in exchange for
being added to her health insurance. He eventually moved out
of his wifes house in suburban Baltimore and in with friends in
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

the D.C. suburbs, which gave him access to a greater number

of potential clients. But last August, some of his clients began
propositioning him to provide more than just massages.
My clients kept asking for more, so I thought Why not get
paid for it? he says.
Two months later, Kinkand joined Rentboy.com as a masseur, touting not only his technical skills but offering companionship and emotional support.
I was on the website for four hours when I got my first
phone call, Kinkand recalls. This guy lived in Ashburn [Va.],

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

LGBTNews
and he said, Hey, can you come out here? I want to see you for
four hours. I told him it would be $800, and he said okay. So I
made more with my first client in four hours than I had in the
last two months combined.
Although business could wax and wane depending on the
month, Kinkand benefitted from some beginners luck. Four
days after joining Rentboy, he was contacted by a client who
paid for a first-class flight to New York City for an overnight.
He was then propositioned by a second client while waiting in
the airport lounge for a flight back to D.C. This second client
offered him $1,000 and a prepaid plane ticket. Kinkand slowly
made other connections, staying in the city for each subsequent
encounter.
It was supposed to be overnight, and I ended up staying
three weeks. I was seeing six to eight people a night, he says.
I got to see the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. I was like a
big kid. It was amazing. I saw four clients on Thanksgiving Day,
too.
Kinkand charged an hourly rate of $200, with $1,000 for an
overnight or if he had to travel to another city. With the money
he made, he began paying down his massive debts.
It was the first time in my life I felt happy, because I dont
look at myself as a sex worker, I looked at myself as more of a
therapist, Kinkand says. These are people who needed companionship, whether it be just a hug, naked lying in bed, or sex.
He also advertised on RentMen.com, but failed to meet prospective clients despite numerous messages. Kinkand instead
stuck with Rentboy, where the requests he received ran the
gamut, from the mundane to the kinky.
In my less than one year career with Rentboy, I saw everything imaginable, Kinkand says. I had a straight guy hire me
because he wanted somebody to hang out with. Ive had women
hire me to have sex with them. Ive had women hire me to have
sex with their husbands. Its a little bit of everything.
All of that came to an end when agents from the Department
of Homeland Security raided the headquarters of Rentboy on
Aug. 25, arresting the companys CEO and six other high-level
staffers. As soon as he heard of the raid, Kinkand suspended
his profile, worried about repercussions for having advertised
on the site. Later that day, the site was shut down by federal
authorities. Although Kinkand had already obtained another job
before the raid, his finances took a hit from the loss of Rentboy
income.
I was starting to get ahead on rent, paying off debt, he says.
I wasnt worried about housing. I was enjoying my life. Now,
Im back to the place where Im worried and working 60 hours
a week minimum just to pay the bills.
The Rentboy raid sparked a conversation among LGBT
organizations who noted that similar, heterosexual-geared
sites advertising escort services did not meet similar fates, and
decried the use of taxpayer dollars to crack down on sex workers ahead of other, more pressing priorities.
But while the reaction of the sex worker community to the
raid drew comparisons to the Stonewall Riots, the larger issue
of sex work was already being raised by concerned national and
international groups.
Amnesty International recently recommended decriminalizing sex work and prostitution in order to protect the human
rights of sex workers. Meanwhile, a few days prior to the raid,
four major LGBT rights organizations Gay and Lesbian
Advocates and Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian
Rights, the Transgender Law Center, and the National Center
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

for Transgender Equality issued statements pushing for the

decriminalization of sex work.
We very much agree with the Amnesty International statement that [decriminalization] would lead to safer conditions for
people doing sex work, that they would be able to do it in the
open and not be driven into more dangerous situations, particularly in underground or more hidden street work that does
make people more vulnerable, says Cathy Sakimura, deputy
director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The reason why so many LGBT and human rights organizations support decriminalization is because LGBT people and
LGBT youth in particular are heavily represented among the
sex worker population, says Sasanka Jinadasa, capacity building
and community resource manager at HIPS, Inc., a harm reduction agency that works closely with sex workers.
Targeting sex work is an indirect way of targeting the LGBT
community without calling it outright discrimination, she says.
Thats how a lot of discrimination happens in this country. We
wont say were directly homophobic or transphobic, but well
target the work, well target the living of people in these communities. And by attacking sex workers, were attacking a huge
segment of the LGBT community without having to say were
homophobic or transphobic.
Jinadasa adds that some social service agencies can exacerbate the problem by vilifying sex workers and essentially blackmailing them into behaving a certain way.
Unfortunately, a lot of social services agencies will tell you
that the only way to access resources, the only way to get better
this is their language or to get more money, or be stable, or
to be healthy is to leave the industry, she says. And thats really
unfortunate. People take a savior complex interest in the issue.
A lot of people want to help sex workers, but only if they want
to leave the trade. Thats not economically feasible for a lot of
people, and for some, its a choice that they stand by.
Becky, a 24-year-old transgender woman who occasionally
engages in sex work, says treating sex work like the way the
District currently enforces marijuana laws with a fine, not
jail time would have a big impact on the LGBT community,
because many transgender women have no other job opportunities. Becky believes regulating the sex industry or having a place
where sex workers could congregate without disturbing the
neighbors would provide more protection and remove some of
the stigma surrounding sex work.
For Kinkand, the issue of legality regarding the worlds oldest profession is one that needs to be addressed.
A lot of peoples biggest complaint about sex work is the
fact that there are these women or children that are being trafficked into the country to do this, says Kinkand. But thats all
underground stuff. If it were to become legal, it would reduce
that, because if I wanted to have sex with somebody and wanted
to pay for it, instead of going to some underground brothel or to
the street corner where these people are sick and have diseases
or something, I can go to a reputable place and see a reputable
person.
Its surprising how many people in this country are like,
Hey, you can do whatever you want behind closed doors,
he concludes. Well, whats the difference with sex work? If I
want to take you on a date, and I want to go to a nice meal and
everything like that, and I drop $400 and then we have sex, why
cant I just give you $400, have sex with you, and that could help
you with your life. If theyre willing and consenting, whats the
difference? l

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

LGBTNews

School
Bathroom
Battles

A ruling against a Virginia transgender

student could bolster opponents of LGBT
nondiscrimination policies
by John Riley

TRANSGENDER MALE STUDENT IN VIRGINIA

can no longer use the public restroom at his high
school. Instead, he will be relegated to a staff bathroom or other alternative private facility after a
federal judge ruled against him on Friday, Sept. 4.
Gavin Grimm, a junior at Gloucester High School in Gloucester
County, Va., had sought a preliminary injunction to allow him to
use the boys restroom, in keeping with his gender identity. But
U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar issued an order rejecting that
motion, prohibiting Grimm from using the boys restroom and
locker room facilities when he begins school this week.
Doumar did not provide any reasons for why he denied

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

Grimms request for a preliminary injunction, merely stating in

his order that an opinion further detailing his reasoning would
be forthcoming.
Grimms lawyers said they were deeply disappointed with
Doumars decision, calling the school boards restroom policy
harmful and stigmatizing.
As a result of the decision, Gavin will have to start the
school year under a demeaning and stigmatizing policy that
relegates him to separate restrooms from his peers, said Joshua
Block, a senior staff attorney with the ACLUs Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Project. We expect todays decision
to be reversed on appeal.
After coming out as transgender last year, Grimm and his
mother notified school authorities, who agreed to allow Grimm
access to the boys restroom. Grimm used those facilities for
nearly two months, without incident, before someone complained to the school board.
The school board was then inundated with complaints from
concerned parents and community members, backed by groups
like the Traditional Values Coalition and the Virginia Christian
Alliance, which have taken a firm stance on requiring students
in schools to use the bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex. As a result, the board voted to adopt a policy requiring
transgender students to use a staff restroom or other facility
separate from the general population.
It is difficult to face another school year of being singled
out and treated differently from other students, Grimm said
in a statement. I am determined to move forward because this
case is not just about me, but about all transgender students in
Virginia. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

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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.

Join the Mayors Office of Asian and

Pacific Islander Affairs for an AAPI
ACTION FORUM to discuss important issues and concerns affecting
the AAPI community in the District.
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 801 Mt. Vernon
Pl. NW. For more information, visit
apia.dc.gov.

WAYNE HOFFMAN visits The DC

Center to read from his newest book,

An Older Man. Event is sponsored by
DC Bear Crue. 2-3 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in,

for youth 21 and younger. 202-5673155 or testing@smyal.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). Call 202-291-4707, or visit

andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:309 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and

lesbian square-dancing group features mainstream through advanced

square dancing at the National City
Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle
NW, 7-9:30 p.m. Casual dress. 301257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern
Virginia social group meets for
happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,
11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, secondfloor bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

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

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, 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.
202-638-0750.

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

Anonymous Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,

3636 Georgia Ave. NW. The group is
independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ

women, 13-21, interested in leadership development. 5-6:30 p.m.

SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th St.
SE. 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP

for adults in Montgomery County

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

WOMEN IN THEIR TWENTIES, a

social activity and discussion group
for LBT women, meets on the second
and fourth Fridays of every month at
The DC Center. Social outing to follow meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.

GAY MARRIED MENS

ASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is a con-

fidential support group for men who

are gay, bisexual, questioning and
who are married or involved with
a woman, that meets on the second
and fourth Fridays of the month in
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

Dupont Circle at 7:30 p.m. GAMMA

also offers additional meeting times
and places for men in Northern
Virginia and Maryland. For more
information: GAMMAinDC.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor

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

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by

members of the LGBT community,
holds Saturday morning Shabbat services, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush
luncheon. Services in DCJCC
Community Room, 1529 16th St. NW.
betmish.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

free, rapid HIV testing. Appointment
needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
202-638-0750.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includ-

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBTaffirming social group for ages 11-24.

4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road NW.
Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422,
layc-dc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) prac-

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.

ing others interested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time, email

braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.

tice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit swimdcac.
org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/

walking/social club welcomes all

levels for exercise in a fun and supportive environment, socializing
afterward. Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P
Streets NW, for a walk; or 10 a.m. for
fun run. dcfrontrunners.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.

DC SENTINELS basketball team

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

holds bi-monthly dinner meeting
at a Metro-accessible restaurant in
suburban Md. to discuss plans for
fall museum visits and out-of-town
excursions. All welcome. Call for
meeting place and time. Craig, 202462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.
Join HIV Equal for its HIV EQUAL
PHOTO SHOOT, part of a national
multimedia campaign aimed at ending HIV stigma and promoting testing. 4-9 p.m. The DC Center, 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org or
hivequal.org.

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, 2-4
p.m. For players of all levels, gay or
straight. teamdcbasketball.org.

LGBT community, family and friends.

6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-onthe-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.
RVSP preferred. brendandarcy@
gmail.com.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Takoma Park,

7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.
Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments
other hours, call 301-422-2398.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 13
ADVENTURING outdoors group

hikes strenuous 10.7 miles with 2000

feet of elevation gain in northern
Shenandoah National Park, featuring unusually scenic stream valley.
Experienced and fit hikers only.
Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, bug
spray, sturdy boots, towel and about
$15 for fees. Carpool at 8:30 from
East Falls Church Metro Station.
Craig, 202-462-0535.
adventuring.org.

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.

BETHEL CHURCH-DC progressive

and radically inclusive church holds

services at 11:30 a.m. 2217 Minnesota
Ave. SE. 202-248-1895, betheldc.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 972 Ohio

Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
REFORMATION invites all to 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.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
services at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Onetta
Brooks. Childrens Sunday School, 11
a.m. 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax.
703-691-0930, mccnova.com.

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. 202-6387373, 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.

NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND

SUPPORT GROUP for gay men liv-

ing in the DC metro area. This group

will be meeting once a month. For
information on location and time,
email to not.the.only.one.dc@
gmail.com.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic

Mass for the LGBT community. 6
p.m., St. Margarets Church, 1820
Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome.
Sign interpreted. For more info, visit
dignitynova.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.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST wel-

ST. STEPHEN AND THE

INCARNATION, an interracial,

comes 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 commu-

nity for worship. 10:30 a.m., 6130

Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria.
hopeucc.org.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered

new age church & learning center.

Sunday Services and Workshops
event. 5419 Sherier Place NW.
isd-dc.org.
Join LINCOLN CONGREGATIONAL

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 welcomingand-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.

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.

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

13

MONDAY, SEPT. 14
BOOK READING UPLIFTS HIS
SPIRITS (BRUHS), a book and

movie discussion group for GBT

black men, meets to discuss Unity:
Brother and Sister, focusing on SGL
Women of Color writers. Event is
free to the public. 6-9 p.m. MLK
Library, 901 G. St. NW, Lower Level
A, Room A-5. For more information,
visit facebook.com/bruhsdc.
The DC Center holds a monthly
meeting of its YOUTH WORKING
GROUP to discuss issues affecting
and ways to positively influence
District youth. 6-7:30 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Hains Point, 927

Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV Testing at WHITMANWALKER HEALTH. At the Elizabeth
Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th
St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max
Robinson Center, 2301 MLK Jr. Ave.
SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.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.
202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.

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.

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.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

US HELPING US hosts a black gay

mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER
POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.
Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van
Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always
welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, secretary@wetskins.org, wetskins.org.

WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH

HIV/AIDS Support Group for newly

diagnosed individuals, meets 7 p.m.
Registration required. 202-939-7671,
hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 15
CENTER BI, a group of The DC
Center, holds a monthly roundtable
meeting to explore issues of bisexuality and sexual identity. 7-8 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle area,

6:30 p.m. afwash@aol.com,
afwashington.net.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:309 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/

walking/social club serving greater

D.C.s LGBT community and allies
hosts an evening run/walk. dcfrontrunners.org.

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. 703-746-4986 or text 571214-9617. james.leslie@inova.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

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

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE

DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,
where volunteers assemble safe-sex
kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court
NW. thedccenter.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg,

414 East Diamond Ave., and in
Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire
Ave., Suite 411. Walk-ins 2-6 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978 or
Takoma Park at 301-422-2398.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 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. Appointment

needed. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700.
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, 703-521-1999. 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. 202-567-3155,
testing@smyal.org.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ

YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL,
410 7th St. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy
Chu, 202-567-3163, catherine.chu@
smyal.org.

US HELPING US hosts a support

group for black gay men 40 and
older. 7-9 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave.
NW. 202-446-1100.
Whitman-Walker Healths GAY

MENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS/

STD CLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701
14th St. NW. Patients are seen on
walk-in basis. No-cost screening for
HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis and herpes testing
available for fee. whitmanwalker.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16
BOOKMEN DC, an informal

mens gay-literature group, discusses Eminent Outlaws: The Gay

Writers Who Changed America,
by Christopher Bram. 7:30 p.m. The
DC Center. All are welcome. bookmendc.blogspot.com.

THE TOM DAVOREN SOCIAL

BRIDGE CLUB meets for Social

Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity Center, 721

8th St. SE, across from the Marine
Barracks. No reservation and partner needed. 301-345-1571 for more
information.

WOMAN TO WOMAN: A SUPPORT

GROUP FOR HIV-POSITIVE
WOMEN WHO LOVE WOMEN,

meets at the Womens Collective.

Light refreshments served. 5:30-7
p.m. 1331 Rhode Island Ave. NE.
For more information, contact June
Pollydore, 202-483-7003.

WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-

versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,

Steam, 17th and R Streets, NW. All
welcome. For more information, call
Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5

p.m., and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatransculturalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio

Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison
Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH

offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703-5491450, historicchristchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker

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

IDENTITY offers free and confiden-

tial HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

East Diamond Ave. Walk-ins 2-7 p.m.
For appointments other hours, call
Gaithersburg at 301-300-9978.

JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-

gram for job entrants and seekers,

meets at The DC Center. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
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. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite
200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.

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. Carl, 703573-8316. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

15

Shining Star
Fronted by out gay singer Olly Alexander, Years & Years have gripped the electronica music
scene with a sound that is at once familiar and fresh Interview by Randy Shulman

(L-R) Mikey Goldsworthy, Olly Alexander and Emre Trkmen

16

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

MIKE MASSARO

ars

N THEIR VIDEO FOR SHINE,

Years & Years front man Olly Alexander
stands in a daze as a house violently
explodes around him, debris swirling in
every direction.
The video appears to draw its inspiration from E.T. and Close Encounters of the
Third Kind. But it can also be viewed as
a metaphor for the career of this British
electronica trio, whose career in the past
year has exploded, first in the U.K. and
now in America.
Its almost too overwhelming, says
the impossibly soft-spoken Alexander.
The 25-year-old college dropout had
never expected hear the songs he wrote
played on the radio, let alone to be performing them for packed houses around
the world. I still havent put my head
around it.
Comprised of singer Alexander, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy, and keyboardist Emre Trkmen, Years & Years were
recently awarded the coveted BBC Sound
of 2015 honor, propelled in part by a
number one single, King. Their sumptuously lush synthpop sound is punctuated by Alexanders crisp, clear tenor and
effortless way with complex phrasing.
Alexanders melody lines are slick and
catchy, and nowhere is this more evident
than on Shine, perhaps one of the most
addictive listens to emerge on the electronica front in years.
Even stranger is that the formation of
this band, now poised for genuine superstardom, came about by happenstance.
Goldsworthy, an Australian transplant
to England, was looking to start a group.
Rumors abound that he asked Alexander
to be part of the group after hearing him
sing in the shower at a friends house. But
Alexander tells of more mundane origins.
I met Mikey at a party at my house,
recalls Alexander, who had a budding
career as an actor, and had appeared in
the hit British series Skins and opposite
Jim Broadbent and Jeff Goldblum in the
hit film Le Week-end. And he was like,
Im starting a band. And I was like, Let
me be in your band.
The alchemy worked. Years & Years
may not be a household name but their
star is rising, indicated by an upcoming
9:30 Club appearance on Saturday, Sept.
19, which is already sold out.
Alexander, who is gay and makes a
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

17

point of writing male pronouns into his lyrics, marvels over the
direction his life has taken.
Its wild and definitely crazy, he says. Im trying to make
the most of it while I can.
METRO WEEKLY: Lets start with your childhood. What was it like?
ALEXANDER: I was born in Yorkshire, which is in the middle of

England. We lived in a city called Blackpool for a long time

its kind of the Las Vegas of the UK. It has a theme park and
fair grounds, its by the sea. My dad worked in the theme parks,
so I was always in and out of them. And we didnt have much
money, but we werent destitute or anything. We moved from
there to the countryside in Gloucestershire, and then my parents
divorced when I was 13 and my mum raised us. I spent much of
my teenage life in the countryside.
MW: Did you come out as a teenager or did you wait till later?
ALEXANDER: I didnt really come out to my mum until I was about
20. I had moved to London when I was 18, as soon as I had
enough money to do that. I talked to my mum over the phone
and I told her I was gay, and she was like, Yeah, that makes
sense, thats cool. Didnt really bat an eyelid. Afterwards I felt
like I should never have been afraid to tell her, because shes
always been a very supportive, liberal mum. There was no reason for me to have been afraid. I guess that everyone struggles
with coming out, whoever you are, but it was a great experience.
MW: Did you come out to your dad as well?
ALEXANDER: No, I dont really have a relationship with my dad. I
havent really seen him since my parents divorced. I have totally
lost communication with him out of choice. And I think he
knows now, yeah, Im pretty sure he knows. But it didnt seem
kind of relevant to bring up or to get in touch because of it.
MW: Do you think that growing up in the countryside keeps people
in the closet? Is there more of a hostility there towards gays?
ALEXANDER: The countryside is a little bit less progressive than
the city, for sure. Ten years ago there was less visibility for gay
people in the media and gay people in culture generally. And the
people you heard of that were gay happened to have tragic or
doomed stories. There was nobody gay at my school that I knew
of. And people believe me people always got bullied. Words
like fag or queer were just a catchall term for somebody you
wanted to insult. So being gay was bad it was not something
you wanted to be. I definitely was aware of that when I was at
school. I felt really afraid to admit that was who I was. I think
things have changed, but I still dont think its easy, whoever you
are or wherever you live.
MW: What sparked the realization that you were gay?
ALEXANDER: I had a crush on a friend at school, who was a boy,
and I didnt totally understand what it was at the time. This
was when I was 13. But I just knew I wanted spend all my time
around him and kiss him. And that was probably the first time.
I mean, when I watched Disney movies as a kid, I liked the girls
because they looked pretty and nice. But I wanted to see more of
Aladdin than Jasmine.
I didnt fit in at school ever. I felt very much like a misfit. I went
out of my way to be different as well; Id wear eyeliner to school
and paint my nails. I wanted to be different as well as feeling very
different and I didnt like a lot of the kids at school. They kind
of went for me.
MW: You were bullied?
ALEXANDER: Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah. I was bullied quite a bit. But
it tapered off by the time I was 15. I could stand up for myself
by then.
MW: What did they do?
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

ALEXANDER: It ranged from just being called names and people

generally picking on me to the slightly more physical stuff, like

being pushed around, tripped. But I just hated school. Hated it. I
didnt like the environment. Never felt comfortable. I was small
and had big, crazy hair and I was always wearing weird clothes
and weird jewelry.
MW: If youre being bullied, what was it in you that made you want
to continue to stand out by wearing jewelry and eyeliner?
ALEXANDER: I felt different inside and I wanted to be different on
the outside, too. Like anybody, youre trying to figure out your
identity at that age, and for me, something that felt good was an
identity through the external what I was wearing and how
I would present myself. And even though it would sometimes
attract attention, it felt like I validated myself. I had a certain
retribution in that feeling, you know?
MW: You started acting at 16. How did that come about?
ALEXANDER: I did this program called the National Youth Theatre.
You went and did this course with a theater group and you could
go to auditions. I went to an audition for a TV show called Skins
when I was 16. The casting director liked me and she said, Ill
help you get an agent if you want. And I met up with this agent
in London I took the train down by myself and she just took
me on.
I ended up getting the first job that I went for. I was still at
school at this point I just finished my first year at college. And
my college were like, You cant stay here, so I dropped out and
just started acting.
MW: How did that go for you initially?
ALEXANDER: Initially it was kind of amazing because I was desperate to leave my small town and experience things in the
wider world. The first movie I got was filming in Tokyo and
like going to Japan at 17 was mind-blowing for me. I was just
so overwhelmed by the experience. It was overwhelming and
confusing because I hadnt studied to be an actor or anything. I
didnt know what I was doing. They had to explain to me about
what action meant and all that stuff. So it was kind of difficult.
But it also meant I could have a lifeline away from my country
town, I could make my money, and pay my rent in a flat, make
new friends. And there were gay people it was a totally freer
environment. It was exciting and I was overjoyed that I had been
given the opportunity to be part of it.
MW: Did you enjoy the acting?
ALEXANDER: Some of it, yeah. Sometimes its frustrating because
its just not your own work. And thats what I wanted to do. I
wanted to be able to write things and often youre just doing
someone elses work, youre saying someone elses lines in someone elses movie. It doesnt feel as creatively rewarding as music.
MW: So no aspirations to be a romantic lead.
ALEXANDER: The thing about acting is that 99% of it is the way you
look. And if you dont look like a romantic lead, then you arent
going to play a romantic lead. And I never looked like a romantic
lead. I dont really care about being a great romantic lead.
MW: As far as music goes, what kind of things did you listen to
growing up?
ALEXANDER: I liked a really big variety. Stuff that my mum would
play in the car was my earliest musical obsession stuff like
Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morissette and Whitney Houston. I
really got into Stevie Wonder at that time as well. Then when
I was at school, I was into more grungier stuff Nirvana, that
kind of punk pop. I just ended up listening to shit like that. I was
obsessed with Jeff Buckley. I listened to a lot of him and singersongwriters. I was really into that for a long time. Male icons. I
didnt get into electronic music until a bit later on.

MW: Did you have any inkling that you would eventually be doing

what youre doing now?

ALEXANDER: [Laughs.] Oh yeah. Ive been kind of curating this
moment in my head for my entire life. I wrote a song when I was
ten years old and performed it at my school assembly. I was like,
I want to be a singer-songwriter. I want to sing my own songs
someday to thousands of people. I was obsessed with becoming
that person.
MW: How did Years and Years form?
ALEXANDER: Mikey, the bassist, was over from Australia six years
ago and wanted to start a band. He put an ad online and Emre
responded. They met up and talked about starting a band. I met
Mikey soon after at a party at my house, because he worked with
my housemate. And he was like, Im starting a band, and I was
like, I really want to sing again and Ive just moved to London,
let me be in your band.
MW: Did they know you were gay from the start?
ALEXANDER: Oh, yeah, definitely. Never was an issue. They just
saw that as something completely separate from what we were
doing as a band. It didnt feel relevant at the time.
MW: Do you write most of the songs?
ALEXANDER: Yeah, yeah. Someone else might write the bass line
or the drum rhythm, but I write every lyric and all the melodies.
MW: So how does it feel now knowing that hundreds of thousands
of people are enjoying your music?
ALEXANDER: Its very hard to describe how it feels because essentially I feel exactly the same as I always did. [Laughs.] Even like
a year ago when nobody really knew our music. And now that

people do know the songs and I can kind of objectively see how
incredible it is, its almost too overwhelming. It feels very surreal. Its a very strange, odd feeling. Because those songs [on the
album], I wrote them very naively I didnt expect any of them
to be hits on the radio. So its a very young experience for me, the
whole thing. I still havent put my head around it.
MW: Youre adamant about the use of male pronouns in your lyrics.
Why is that so important to you?
ALEXANDER: Well, just for myself, I wanted to be able to express
my sexuality in a way that felt empowering. Ive grown up listening to women sing about men and men sing about women in this
kind of direct, potent way. I wanted to be able to translate my
own sexuality my own experiences in a song, and be able to
say boy and him. It felt good to do that.
On a larger scale, we should be having different kinds of relationships and different sexual dynamics represented in popular
music. Theres lots of different ones, not just male and female,
and I think people are ready to consume that. We dont need to
be force-fed just one dynamic. Its boring and doesnt represent
the way people are now. Im not trying to tell anybody how they
should write music, or how they need to phrase the lyrics at all. I
just think it would be cool if we could see it happen more often.
MW: What about the theory that when you write a song, if you keep
it pronoun free, anybody can transpose themselves into that song?
ALEXANDER: Thats true. Lots of songwriters think that way and
lots of songs are like that. But you know, lots of songs are also
gender-specific. A lot of hip-hop, a lot of urban music, a lot of
pop music is all gender-specific. It hasnt stopped Katy Perry

MIKE MASSARO

I wrote a song when I was ten years old and performed it at my school assembly.
I was like, I want to sing my own songs someday to thousands of people.
I WAS OBSESSED WITH BECOMING THAT PERSON.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

19

singing about boys. It didnt stop Michael Jackson singing about

girls. I think people dont need to see an artist and find them only
singing about the opposite gender.
MW: Do you think that being out at the start of your career makes
it easier for you to be more open and expressive?
ALEXANDER: [Laughs.] Thats a good question. I suppose, whats
always been important to me is to never lie. If Im going to be
somebody whos creating something, I want to be as honest and
authentic as possible. But Ive noticed that the press and the
world sometimes want to label you. They want to define you.
Thats, I guess, a natural instinct for anybody. But you can feel
very limited to be defined by words.
I get labeled as gay singer, blah, blah, blah, and Im okay with
that. But also, Im allowed to change and want different things
and evolve. Im only twenty-five. But Im not really too worried
about it because I feel like Im just happy to be able to express
myself in an honest way. No one else can have control over that
its my decision. So I guess Ill keep doing that.
MW: Are you having fun with it, enjoying this rush of success with
the band?
ALEXANDER: Yeah, its wild and definitely crazy. Im in a different
country almost every other day. Theres no time to really reflect
on whats going on around you, but I love performing and I love
singing and I love music and I do get to do those things pretty
much every day. Its way better than anything else. Of course, I
go through strange head spaces I get scared and anxious and
such. But I feel like its a good opportunity to really have some
incredible life experiences. Im trying to make the most of it
while I can.
MW: Is there a country in particular where the audience has really
resonated with you?
ALEXANDER: Every place is unique. You have different shows on
different nights with different crowds and its kind of difficult to
just name one place as better than the other. But Ive had a few
shows that Ive really loved. All my life Ive wanted to go to San
Fransisco, and it was just this tiny place called Rickshaw Stop.
And that was an amazing show I was feeling really emotional.
It was a really special show with the crowd.
American audiences are always super-enthusiastic and
responsive and nice. We go to Poland sometimes because for
some reason were really big in Poland. Whenever we play a
show there, were like rock stars. Theyre so grateful that youve
come and I get people who come up to me all the time in Poland
saying Were so happy youre here and your musics amazing.
One guy said to me, There are no openly gay artists were so
far behind and so happy you could come here and play. That
was an amazing experience.
MW: Poland still lags behind other European countries in fully
embracing LGBT rights, doesnt it?
ALEXANDER: Theyre not as bad as Russia, but yeah, theyre still a
little bit behind other places in Europe, definitely.
MW: How does it feel to play in a country that may not support
gay rights?
ALEXANDER: Well, sometimes I really question the ethics of a
country, but it would feel totally wrong to, in any way, place
that upon the people who want to come to your show. In those
kinds of countries, the response you get is normally amazing.
But I wouldnt want to possibly do a show for their government.
[Laughs.]
MW: When you do tour a country like that, and you are openly gay,
do you think that culturally you have helped to bridge a gap?
ALEXANDER: Thats a really tough question to answer. Is it really
our job in countries like the UK to say how other countries live?
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

There are marginalized and oppressed people in those countries

that dont have a voice and dont have any representation. So
if can go to countries like that and do a show and that means
something to those people and they can come and see you, then
I think that is only a good thing. And I love to be able to do that.
MW: Is there any place youve played that you really dont want to
go back to?
ALEXANDER: [Laughs.] Let me see. The only thing is Im a vegetarian, so often I can only ever eat bread and cheese in places like
Prague. Thats kind of annoying after like the fourth day.
MW: So you really cant partake in some of the cuisines in some of
the countries?
ALEXANDER: Yeah. We went to Japan and it was amazing but I
struggled to eat nearly anything.
MW: Some of their food is vegetarian-based.
ALEXANDER: Right. But so much stuff has fish sauce or oil, or is
cooked in fish broth or something. It was difficult.
MW: Youre in a relationship with Neil Amin-Smith, the violinist
from Clean Bandit.
ALEXANDER: Thats right. We met on tour. We supported Clean
Bandit on tour in the UK, almost a year ago. I dont know what
the chances are that you meet someone that you like really fall
in love with, on tour, and they also they just happen to be a hot
violinist.
MW: How do you maintain a relationship when youre both touring?
ALEXANDER: Well, it has some pluses because we both understand
each others schedules and each others ridiculous lifestyles. It
can be totally ludicrous, the things that you do. Equally, its really
tough because you have zero routine. You cant just have Friday
night, pizza night, or you know, like Netflix. You cant ever really
do things like that. Which is maybe a totally fantasized idea of a
couple. We just communicate a lot as much as possible and
travel to see each other a lot in ridiculous ways. Like take a plane
to spend the night in Italy. We make it work.
MW: Ireland recently became the first country to legalize gay marriage by popular vote. Two things: how does it make you feel as a
young gay man to be watching all this happen, and as a celebrity,
how does it feel to be possibly thought of as a spokesperson to help
further the cause?
ALEXANDER: I am of course overjoyed when a country can legalize
same sex marriage. I think thats a great step in the right direction. Even for me, and Im only 25, it has seemed like in the last
10 years that Ive been aware of gay culture, things have really
come a long way. But Im also really aware of the history of gay
rights and the gay movement and how things can change really
radically, and can go backwards. Also the fight legally may have
been won in some countries, but the attitudes take much longer
to change.
I think theres still a long way to go in terms of changing
peoples hearts and minds towards homosexuality. I really care
about LGBT issues. I really care about social change. The community is so diverse and there are so many different challenges
and issues within it that we just need more people speaking
about it. We need more people from the community speaking
about their experiences and the problems they face and the
experiences theyve had so we can have a really layered conversation in the public eye. I will always speak out on it because I
care about it. And hopefully it will encourage other people to do
the same.
Years & Years perform Saturday, Sept. 19 at the 9:30 Club, 815
V Street. The show is currently sold out. To download the bands
debut album, Communion, visit yearsandyearsofficial.com. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

21

SEPTEMBER 10 - 17, 2015

Compiled by Doug Rule

SPOTLIGHT
BE STEADWELL AND THE
NEXTNOW FEST AT THE CLARICE

Strings - part of the LGBT Program Sept. 17

Shorts
List
Now in its 12th year, the DC Shorts Film Festival continues to expand
T

HE DC SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL, FOUNDED BY JON GANN IN 2003, IS STILL VERY MUCH
a bricks and mortar event. Over 11 days, 125 short films all less than 30 minutes long screen in
30 distinct programs, including an LGBT-themed one featuring eight films and set for Thursday,
Sept. 17.
But dont fret if you cant be among the 8,000 expected festivalgoers attending physical screenings.
More than 100 films are available to watch online at the same time as the film festival, Gann says. The
festival has created a Netflix-inspired ancillary the DC Shorts Online Film Festival. For either $15 or $30,
festivalgoers can purchase unlimited access to watch most of the films online access thats only available
during the festivals run. The online access compliments the festival, increasing the number of viewers and
overall exposure for the films. While I would love people to come every night of the festival, I know thats
not going to happen, says Gann.
Another way DC Shorts has expanded its modus operandi beyond a traditional festival is through its
9th annual Screenwriting Competition. On Friday, Sept. 18, actors will offer readings from six scripts
winnowed down by festival programmers from 145 entrees after which festivalgoers will vote for their
favorite. The winner earns $2,000 to make the film plus a guarantee that it will screen next year. Its a great
way to get an inside look at how a movie is created from the very beginning, Gann says. Canadian David
Feehan won the 2014 competition for Breakin(g), about a cunning elderly mother who foils a home burglary
attempt. The film will screen multiple times this year.
In its 12-year history, DC Shorts has established itself as the largest festival of its kind on the East
Coast but its impact is being felt even farther afield. Another program, set for Wednesday, Sept. 16, offers
the Best of Sunderland Shorts Film Festival. Sunderland is one of D.C.s sister cities, a former industrial
town in the north of England, Gann explains. Through a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities, DC Shorts helped organizers launch the U.K. towns first-ever film festival this summer.
Gann expects therell be more Sunderland programs in the future. A film festival is kind of an attractive
and not overly complicated way for small towns to expand their culture mix. Doug Rule
The 2015 DC Shorts Film Festival runs Thursday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 20, primarily at
Landmarks E Street Cinema and US Navy Memorials Burke Theatre. Individual tickets are $12 in advance
or $15 day-of, or $100 for an All-Access Festival Pass. Call 202-393-4266 or visit
dcshorts.org for more information and a full schedule.
22

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

Queerpop artist Be Steadwell blends

soul, folk and spoken-word, offering
a live performance enhanced by loop
pedal vocal layering and beat boxing.
But Steadwell, who performs Friday,
Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., is just one of two
dozen events taking place this weekend at the Clarice Smith Performing
Arts Center as part of the second
annual NextNow Fest. Its a way to
demonstrate the creative nature of the
University of Maryland and the students and the community who are a
part of that, Martin Wollesen, director of the Clarice, told Metro Weekly
last year. The fest culminates in the
Arts Tailgate featuring Baltimores
Bosley and his nine-piece soul band,
on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. The
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center,
University Boulevard and Stadium
Drive in College Park. Most events
are free. Call 301-405-ARTS or visit
claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.

DANCE METRO DCS

2015 CHOREOGRAPHERS
COMMISSION SHOWCASE

An independent panel of dance professionals helped select three local

choreographers deserving of wider
recognition as well as direct
grant support in developing new
dance works through the 2015
Choreographers Commissioning program. The recipients, who will perform their new works on the Dance
Place stage, are: Adrienne Clancy and
the ClancyWorks Dance Company,
with the uniquely architectural partnering and socially charged choreography of Dream Catchers; Hayley
Cutlers Cradle, a sarcastic yet personal exorcism of the notion that women
can have it all, performed with the
darlingdance company; and Sarah
Beth Oppenheim and Heart Stuck
Bernies quirky, luscious operetta
Woodbind. It Courses. Saturday, Dec.
12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, at
7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE.
Tickets are $30. Call 202-269-1600 or
visit danceplace.org.

DESTINY OF DESIRE

Over the next two months nearly

every professional theater company
in the region will present a play by a
female writer as part of the unprecedented Womens Voices Theater
Festival. Its an effort to tip the scales
toward female playwrights, who in
any other two-month span are woe-

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

23

fully underrepresented on stages in

D.C. and across the country. For its
part as one of the festivals originating
theaters, Arena Stage offers the latest from Helen Hayes Award-winning
playwright Karen Zacarias (The Book
Club Play), a telenovela-styled fastpaced modern comedy set in Mexico.
Jose Luis Valenzuela directs a cast featuring Esperanza America, Gabriela
Fernandez-Coffey, Carlos Gomez and
Nicholas Rodriguez. Opens in previews Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. To
Oct. 18. Mead Center for American
Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

DIANA ROSS

After two summers in a row at Wolf

Trap, the Supreme diva moves north
for Strathmore. And hearing all those
Motown-era and disco classics in the
Music Center? Talk about the sweetest hangover you wont want to
get over. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $69 to $249. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.

LATINA SUPREMES

The D.C.-based Elizabeth Pringle

wrote and directed Latina Supremes,
staged as an all-female cabaret conducted by pianist Mari Paz and featuring opera singer Patricia Portillo and
guitarist Diana Saez. Pringles cabaret
highlights popular female composers from throughout Latin America,
among them Mexican composer
Consuelo Velasquez, Violeta Parra
(whose Chilean folk anthem Gracias
a La Vida has been famously covered
by Mercedes Sosa and Joan Baez),
Peruvian singer-songwriter Chabuca
Granda, whose La Flor de la Canela
has become an unofficial anthem for
Lima, and Maria Elena Walsh, one of
Argentinas most popular writers in
various genres, from childrens books
to politically charged songs. Saturday,
Sept. 19, at 2:30 p.m., and Sunday,
Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. Source, 1835 14th St.
NW. Tickets are $18 to $38. Call 202204-7763 or visit inseries.org.

RSCS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Folger Shakespeare Library hosts

a screening this weekend of the
Royal Shakespeare Companys The
Merchant of Venice, which is directed
by Polly Findlay and stars PalestinianIsraeli actor Makram J. Khoury, best
known for his role as the chair of
the Palestinian National Authority in
the final season of The West Wing.
The screening, recorded live from
Shakespeares hometown Stratfordupon-Avon, is intended as something
of a refresher of this controversial
and thought-provoking classic exploring perennial societal problems from
prejudice to religious bigotry. Next
spring, the Folger Theatre will stage
the world premiere of Aaron Posners
adaptation, set in post-Civil War
Washington and renamed District
Merchants. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7
p.m. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201
East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $20.
Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.
24

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

SMITHSONIANS
FOOD IN THE GARDEN

The National Museum of American

History offers a Garden Party featuring gardening and photography demonstrations, tours of the World War
II-era Victory Garden, and a reception with custom cocktails by Green
Hat Gin Distillery plus snacks and
garden-fresh food. The event kicks
off with a panel discussion about
American food and garden traditions
past, present and future. Thursday,
Sept. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The
Victory Garden outside the National
Museum of American History, 12th St.
and Constitution Ave. NW. Tickets are
$40, including food samples and two
cocktails. Call 202-633-1000 or visit
americanhistory.si.edu.

THE DC GURLY SHOW

Having grown out of local drag king

organization the DC Kings, the DC
Gurly Show isnt your grandfathers
burlesque. Its focused more on playing with gender than teasing with
sex. This Sunday, Sept. 13, the queer
burlesque organization offers a Back
to School show at Freddies Beach Bar
hosted by Lexie Starre and featuring Sammy Smooth, Pearl Middleton,
James Fondle, Dixie Castafiore,
Velouria Moon, Sofia and Phoenix
Del Rey. Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 p.m.
Freddies Beach Bar, 555 South 23rd
St., Arlington. No cover. Call 703-6850555 or visit dcgurlyshow.com.

WAYNE HOFFMAN

As a novelist, Wayne Hoffman

has touched on his upbringing in
Montgomery County (Sweet Like
Sugar) as well as his life as a young
gay man in the sexually volatile 1990s
in New York (Hard). Now, in An Older
Man, hes exploring life as a middleaged bear on the East Coast, living
sexually free and open in a way that
no previous gay generation has been
able to do. Hoffman returns to D.C. to
read from the book at the DC Center.
Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. The DC
Center for the LGBT Community,
2000 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245
or visit thedccenter.org.

WOMEN CHEFS: ARTISTS IN THE

KITCHEN, THE ART OF TASTE

Its not just in professional theater:

Women are also being spotlighted
over the next two months for work
in professional cooking at least
at Strathmore anyway. The organizations Women Chefs multi-event
series includes a portraiture exhibition, weekly cooking demonstrations
and a panel discussion, all for free. The
exhibit Artists in the Kitchen depicts 22
chefs as captured by 21 visual artists.
Opening reception is Thursday, Sept.
10, from 7 to 9 p.m., and the exhibit
runs through Nov. 8. Meanwhile,
Susan Delbert of the Fourth Estate,
Nora Poullion of Restaurant Nora and
Michelle Houser of Rockvilles Full
On Craft Eats and Drinks are among
those leading weekly Art of Taste
demonstrations at Strathmore, but up
first is Susan Callahan, chef instruc-

METROWEEKLY.COM

tor at the University of Maryland, on

Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. Also
upcoming in this Women Chefs series
is a discussion on the topic moderated by curator Harriet Lesser. Bonnie
Benwick of the Washington Post, Pizza
Paradisos Ruth Gresser, who is also
president of the organization Women
Chefs and Restaurateurs, and artist
Joyce Zipperer will be part of this
panel on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. All
events at the Mansion at Strathmore,
10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda.
Tickets are free, though reservations
required for the demonstrations and
discussion. Call 301-581-5100 or visit
strathmore.org.

FILM
A WALK IN THE WOODS

HHHHH
A Walk in the Woods, the best-selling
travel memoir written by Bill Bryson,
is legendary. In it, Bryson recounts
his attempts to hike the 2,220-mile
Appalachian Trail with Stephen Katz,
an old friend recovering from alcoholism. The book is funny in the way
Brysons books are always funny its
pleasant and curious and sprinkled
with just enough childish humor to
bring the phrase young at heart to
mind. This movie is none of those
things. Director Ken Kwapis reduces
the movie to a collection of dull slapstick gags and reprehensible womanizing. If Kwapis wanted to stick to
the spirit of Brysons book, which can
certainly raise eyebrows with its own
brand of womanizing, he couldve
done so without stooping to tired gags
about female body size and sex. With
Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Nick
Offerman. Now playing. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com. (Chris Heller)

THE ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW

Every Friday and Saturday Landmarks

E Street Cinema shows films at midnight that are more risqu or campy
than the usual fare. And, no surprise,
once a month brings screenings of
a certain cult classic. Each screening is accompanied by the shadow
cast Sonic Transducers, who act out
the film in front of the screen with
props and costumes. Friday, Sept. 11,
and Saturday, Sept. 12, at midnight.
Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555 11th
St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.

STAGE
CAPS FOR SALE, THE MUSICAL

Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer and

Michael J. Bobbitt have adapted the
childrens book by Esphyr Slobodkina
for a 75th Anniversary world premiere
production at Adventure TheatreMTC that also serves as its contribution to D.C.s Womens Voices Theater
Festival. Patrick Pearson directs this
one-hour show for all ages, featuring
music and lyrics by William Yanesh,

about a peddler whose caps are stolen

while he naps. Opens Friday, Sept.
11, at 7 p.m. To Sept. 27. Adventure
Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.,
Glen Echo. Tickets are $19.50. Call
301-634-2270 or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

DOGFIGHT
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul adapted this
show, with book writer Peter Duchan,
from the 1991 movie. Dogfights music
is sweet and tuneful, subtle and timeless but with songs strong enough
to stand on their own and get radio
play today. Keyboardist Jake Null
leads a six-piece ensemble in Keegans
production, directed by Christian A.
Coakley and Michael Innocenti, that
brings to life the many songs that
could become show tune anthems for
a newer generation of musical theater
lovers, from Some Kinda Time to
Nothing Short of Wonderful to the
beautiful, moving ballad Give Way.
And as the musicals boy and girl who
find love despite the odds, Tiziano
DAffuso and Isabelle Smelkinson win
us over through their honest and naturalistic portrayals. To Sept. 19. Keegan
Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets
are $35 to $45. Call 703-892-0202 or
visit keegantheatre.com. (Doug Rule)

FRIENDSHIP BETRAYED

WSC Avant Bard presents a rarely produced comedy by Spanish playwright

Maria de Zayas y Sotomayor, a fourcenturies-old play with a proto-feminist story that doesnt feel dated. Kari
Ginsburg directs a comedy about liberated ladies in love and lust, re-staging
it in the roaring twenties. Opens in
previews starting Thursday, Sept. 10,
at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Tuesday,
Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. To Oct. 11. Gunston
Theater II, 2700 South Lang St.
Arlington. Tickets are $30 to $35. Call
703-418-4808 or visit avantbard.org.

IRONBOUND

For its contribution to the Womens

Voices Theater Festival, Round House
Theatre Company which, it should
be noted, has been ahead of the gender curve, regularly staging works by
women in recent years presents a
work by Polish-born Martyna Majok,
who recently won a major theater
prize designating her an Emerging
American Playwright. Daniella Topol
directs Majoks Ironbound, a humorous
and heartfelt look at a hard-working
immigrant struggling as a single mother in modern-day America. Alexandra
Henrikson, Jefferson A. Russell, Josiah
Bania and William Vaughan make up
the cast. Now in previews. To Oct. 4.
Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West
Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are $36 to
$51. Call 240-644-1100 or visit roundhousetheatre.org.

NIGHT FALLS
ON THE BLUE PLANET

Theater Alliance presents a new play

by Kathleen Akerley, presented as
part of the Womens Voices Theater
Festival. Night Falls on the Blue Planet

focuses on one womans complex and

unexpected journey in discovering
herself and healing from a lifetime of
trauma. Rex Daugherty directs a cast
including Jeanne Dillon-Williams,
Natalie Cutcher, Kerri Rambow,
Amanda Haddock-Duchemin and
Peter Finnegan. Now to Sept. 27.
Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon
Place SE. Tickets are $35. Call 202241-2539 or visit theateralliance.com.

THE FIX

HHHHH
Taken at face value, The Fix is a natural fit for the nations capital, with the
regions built-in audience of political
junkies, who will no doubt see flickers of real people they know in the
various portrayals on stage. But The
Fix is too cold and calculating, a melodrama without a beating heart, full of
characters we dont much care for.
Dana P. Rowes music a rock-oriented musical blend of Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Kander and Ebb is as
uninspiring as John Dempseys book.
Think of the show as Evita meets
Chicago with all the cynical maneuverings and political pomp and pizazz
that implies, yet without the wink and
smile, or signs of showbiz honesty.
To Sept. 20. Signature Theatre, 4200
Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.
org. (Doug Rule)

THE IMPORTANCE OF
BEING EARNEST

Scena Theater remounts its hilarious,

gender-bending 2011 production of
the Oscar Wilde classic satire. Scenas
Robert McNamara directs a cast
including Nanna Ingvarsson, Brian
Hemmingsen as Lady Bracknell
Danielle Davy, Bob Sheire, Graham
Pilato, David Bryan Jackson, Ellie
Nicoll, Amie Cazel and Mary Suib.
Closes this Sunday, Sept. 13. Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St.
NE. Tickets are $10 to $45. Call 202399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

project based on the web series A

Softer World by Emily Horne and Joey
Corneau. As conceived of and directed by Jenny McConnell Frederick,
Truth & Beauty Bombs focuses on a
photographer who sets out to capture as much of the world as he can
before he goes blind. Randy Baker,
Norman Allen, Heather McDonald,
Shawn Northip and Alexandra Petri
assisted with the writing. To Oct. 4.
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H
St. NE. Tickets are $20 to $30. Call
202-399-7993 or visit rorschachtheatre.com.

THE OREGON TRAIL

WITCHES VANISH

Flying V presents Bekah Brunstetters

play The Oregon Trail, a tale of two
young women named Jane, both on
a painful path towards self-recognition, examining the impact of memory and the legacy of sadness across
generations. Amber Jackson directs
Madeline Key, Kelsey Meiklejohn,
Julia Klavans, Ryan Tumulty and
William Hayes in this production, Flying Vs contribution to the
Womens Voices Theater Festival.
Now to Sept. 20. The Writers Center,
4508 Walsh St. Bethesda. Tickets are
$15 to $25. Call 301-654-8664 or visit
flyingvtheatre.com.

TRUTH & BEAUTY BOMBS:

A SOFTER WORLD

Known for ambitious stagings of

eccentric, or just plain out-there,
tales, Rorschach Theatre offers a new

As part of the Womens Voices

Theater Festival, Venus Theatre
Company presents Claudia Barnetts
Witches Vanish, which explores the
weird sisters from Macbeth in a series
of stylized, highly visual vignettes
employing puppetry, poetry and surrealism. Deborah Randall directs. The
Venus Theatre Play Shack, 21 C St.
Laurel, Md. Tickets are $20. Call 202236-4078 or visit venustheatre.org.

WOMEN LAUGHING
ALONE WITH SALAD

Kimberly Gilbert, a Helen Hayes

Award winner as Marie Antoinette
last season, is once again the rightful
star in the eccentric and very adult
season opener at Woolly Mammoth
Theatre Company. Women Laughing
Alone with Salad by Sheila Callaghan
(2009s Fever/Dream), also the com-

panys contribution to the Womens

Voices Theatre Festival, is a bawdy,
gender-bending comedy about sex,
desire and shame and a biting critique of our image-obsessed culture.
Kip Fagan directs a cast also featuring
Meghan Reardon, Janet Ulrich Brooks
and Thomas Keegan. Now in previews.
Opens Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. To
Oct. 4. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St.
NW. Tickets range from $45 to $73.
Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.

MUSIC
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

Marin Alsop kicks off the new BSO

season with a concerto favorite and an orchestral masterpiece:
Rachmaninoffs Rhapsody on a
Theme of Paganini, featuring Cliburn
Competition winner Olga Kern,
and Richard Strausss love note to
nature, An Alpine Symphony. The
program kicks off with Anna Clynes
Masquerade, whose world premiere
was in 2013 with a performance by
the BBC Symphony Orchestra as led
by Alsop. Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Also Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday,
Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.,
Baltimore. Tickets are $20 to $99. Call
410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

25

JEFFREY WATTS

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Company

BILL KIRCHIN & TOO MUCH FUN

Bill Kirchin, the Grammy-nominated

guitarist of country-rock band
Commander Cody, also performs in
the even wider-ranging band Too
Much Fun, which blends traditional
American music, rock, country, blues
and swing. Jumpin Jupiter opens.
Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The
Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $25. Call 703549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

COMMUNION: CONRAD SEWELL,

FREEDOM FRY, CLARA-NOVA

A decade ago, a group of musicians

led by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons
started a regular bar night in London
showcasing some of the citys best
new artists. Communion has since
become a record label and concert
promoter, and teams up with the
9:30 Club for a concert at Virginias
Jammin Java featuring up-andcoming Australian powerhouse pop
singer Conrad Sewell, who has supported Maroon 5 this year on tour;
the Echosmith-esque hazy surf-rock
of the half-French/half-American
husband-and-wife duo Freedom Fry;
and jangly indie-pop American artist Clara-Nova. Friday, Sept. 11, at 8
p.m. Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave. E.
Vienna. Tickets are $10 in advance, or
$15 day-of. Call 703-255-3747 or visit
jamminjava.com.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

Four years after its last stop, this

popular Seattle-based indie-pop/altrock band returns to Merriweather
Post Pavilion to delight those who
appreciate how the bands silly name
actually captures its sound: cute but
creepy, funereal yet festive, with
pristine melodies pre-washed in
slightly ragged production. The band,
fronted by tenor Ben Gibbard, is now
a trio after the departure of Chris
Walla and tours in support of its
subtly dramatic eighth set, Kintsugi.
Explosions in the Sky joins the band
as a very special guest. Sunday, Sept.
13. Doors at 6 p.m. Merriweather
Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent
26

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets are

$40 to $55. Call 800-551-SEAT or
visit merriweathermusic.com.

Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road,

Vienna. Tickets are $45 to $125. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

JACKSON BROWNE

LIZZ WRIGHT

With hit songs from 30 and 40 years

ago, including Rock Me on the
Water, The Pretender, Late for
the Sky and Somebodys Baby,
Jackson Browne helped pioneer a
style of passionate, heartfelt rock that
artfully expresses political and personal views. He stops by Wolf Trap in
support of his 14th studio set, Standing
In the Breach, released last year.
Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. The Filene
Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road,
Vienna. Tickets are $35 to $60. Call
877-WOLFTRAP or visit wolftrap.org.

KAY LYRA AND RICHARD MILLER

Adams Morgans The Grill from

Ipanema celebrates its 23rd anniversary of being D.C.s main arbiter
of Brazilian food with a special concert featuring two noted BrazilianAmerican musicians, part of a new fall
Thursday night music series. Bossa
nova composer and singer Kay Lyra is
literally the daughter of bossa her
father is the genres founder, Carlos
Lyra. Meanwhile, guitarist Richard
Miller, born and raised in Rio de
Janeiro, is on the faculty of Columbia
University but is a regular in D.C.,
whether performing at the Kennedy
Center, the State Department or the
DC Jazz Festival. Thursday, Sept. 17,
at 7:30 p.m. The Grill from Ipanema,
1858 Columbia Road NW. No cover
charge, first come, first served. Call
202-986-0757 or visit thegrillfromipanema.com.

KELLY CLARKSON, PENTATONIX

The original and best American Idol,

Kelly Clarkson remains one of the
hottest properties in the business
and shes still as strong as ever.
Clarkson is joined on her latest tour
by Pentatonix, the five-piece a cappella sensation who won NBCs The
Sing-Off competition in 2011. Eric
Hutchinson and Abi Ann are opening
acts. Saturday, Saturday, Sept. 12, and
Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. The Filene

METROWEEKLY.COM

A blues-fired R&B singer with a countrified bent and a gospel and jazz background, this New Yorker by way of
Georgia sometimes powers her smoky
contralto to its full-throttle peak or its
highest height, but the point is never
to showboat. Wright will knock you
out with lyrical power, stun you with
beautiful, elegantly crafted melodies
and shock you with vocal subtlety.
She returns to the Howard Theatre
with support from a four-piece band
as part of a CD Release Show for her
first set in five years, the just-released
Freedom & Surrender. Friday, Sept. 11,
at 8 p.m. The Howard Theatre, 620 T
St. NW. Tickets are $39.50 to $75. Call
202-588-5595 or visit thehowardtheatre.com.

MADONNA

Shes gonna carry on: The queen of

queens to many of a certain generation, at the very least once again
takes over the Verizon Center as part
of her latest world tour, focused on
her Rebel Heart though the highlights are once again sure to be her
various reinterpretations of classics and older hits in her repertoire.
Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept.
13, at 8 p.m. Verizon Center, 601 F St.
NW. Tickets are $93 to $358. Call 202628-3200 or visit verizoncenter.com.

MIXTAPES 7-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer have

thrown their insanely popular popmusic party Mixtape all over D.C.,
from Town to the Black Cat. But Van
Horn and Bailer return the party to
the 9:30 Club for yet another anniversary, this one lucky No. 7, a toast
to good fortune. Saturday, Sept. 12.
Doors at 11 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V
St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-2650930 or visit 930.com.

Piotr Gajewski kicks off the National

Philharmonics new season with
a toast to two of Americas greatest composers: Leonard Bernstein
and George Gerswhin. Bernsteins
Symphonic Dances is drawn from West
Side Story, his classic re-imagining
of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet as
a quintessential American story and
in a quintessential American form,
the Broadway musical. Meanwhile,
Gershwins An American in Paris is the
indelible jazz-influenced symphonic
poem, a very idealistic and romantic
that is, American take on the City of
Lights. Thomas Pandolfi, considered a
leading interpreter of Gershwin, joins
to perform another popular piece, the
Concerto in F, which blurs classical
lines by incorporating jazz, blues and
ragtime elements. Saturday, Sept. 19,
at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3
p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301
Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Tickets are $29 to $89. Call 301-5815100 or visit strathmore.org.

STROMAE

Chances are youve heard his 2009

pan-European chart-topping hit Alors
on Danse with or without Kanye
Wests added rap. Two years ago, this
singing/rapping artist, born Paul Van
Haver in Belgium to a Rwandan father,
scored another massive continental
hit Papaoutai, which followed very
much in the same mold: a mix of hyper
Eurodance, moody French pop and
intriguingly festive Afrobeat. In short,
Stromaes music is a global dance-pop
amalgam that is catchy and hard-todeny. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.
Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd.
NE. Tickets are $45. Call 202-503-2330
or visit echostage.com.

SUSAN GRAHAM & JAKE HEGGIE

Vocal Arts DC presents a concert

featuring one of todays most popular American mezzo-soprano, Susan
Graham, performing a new song cycle
written for her by Jake Heggie, who
will accompany her on piano. Heggies
Iconic Legacies is inspired by the
artifacts donated by First Ladies to
the Smithsonian. The program also
includes works by Schumann, Rorem
and Berlioz. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7
p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
Tickets are $50. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

THE SHIRELLES

Original member and co-founder

Beverly Lee still tours under the name
the Shirelles, the Rock & Roll Hall
of Fame act credited with establishing the girl group genre almost 70
years ago. Lee performs with two other
women the sweet-sounding doo-wop/
R&B hits popularized by the group on
a stop in the D.C. area also including
comedian Billy Finch as a featured
guest. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.
Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club,
7719 Wisconsin Ave. Tickets are $45.
Call 240-330-4500 or visit bethesdabluesjazz.com.

WHITE FORD BRONCO

D.C.s all 90s party band, cheekily named after O.J. Simpsons notorious failed getaway car, sing through
that decades songbook in all styles of
popular music. The 9:30 Club presents
a more intimate concert at U Street
Music Hall featuring the five-member
ensemble, made up of singer/guitarist Diego Valencia, singer Gretchen
Gustafson, guitarists Ken Sigmund and
McNasty and drummer Max Shapiro.
Saturday, Sept. 12. Doors at 7 p.m. U
Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-588-1880 or
visit ustreetmusichall.com.

WICKED JEZABEL

Pauline Anson-Drosss popular lesbian

all-covers party-rock band Wicked
Jezabel has been rocking as well as
raising money for various good causes
all over the region for a decade now.
Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. Freddies
Beach Bar, 555 South 23rd St.,
Arlington. Cover is $5. Call 703-6850555 or visit freddiesbeachbar.com.

DANCE
DANA TAI SOON BURGESS
COMPANY

Touted as the poet laureate of

Washington dance by the Washington
Posts Sarah Kaufman, Dana Tai Soon
Burgess serves as an official U.S.
cultural ambassador in addition to
regularly touring the world with his
eponymous company. For this years
Kennedy Center engagement, the
troupe performs three company repertory works Picasso Dances, Mandala
and Confluence and offers the premiere of his newest work, We choose
to go to the moon, a depiction of human
space travel created in collaboration
with NASA. Saturday, Sept. 19, and
Sunday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. Kennedy
Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are
$28 to $45. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.

S.J. EWING & DANCERS,

CITYDANCE

Along with dancers in her eponymous company, this Australian-born

CityDance OnStage Ignite artist leads
a free Afternoon of Dance that serves

as a kickoff to the new season as well

as a celebration of the local dance
community, at least that affiliated with
CityDance. CityDance Conservatory
Dancers, CityDance Dream alumni and
other local artists will also perform.
Sunday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. Hill Center,
Old Navy Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania
Ave. SE. Free. Call 202-549-4172 or
visit sjewing.com.

COMEDY
KATE BERLANT

Praised in a 2013 New York Times

profile as a magnetic improvisational comic and a skilled physical
comedian whose work is experimental, unpredictable and subversive in
a manner similar to Tig Notaro, but
also remarkably impersonal and nonautobiographical. But you can see it
for yourself and for free, courtesy of
the Kennedy Center and its impressive new comedy programming series.
Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. Kennedy
Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are
free, distributed two-per-person in the
States Gallery at approximately 5:30
p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

GALLERIES
CHAMBER MUSIC: THE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF ELIZABETH SPRAGUE
COOLIDGE

In honor of the 150th anniversary of

her birth, the Library of Congress
presents a new exhibition about the
woman who supported establishment
of the institutions first music venue,
the intimate, finely tuned Coolidge
Auditorium that required an act of
Congress but finally opened in 1925.
An accomplished pianist and avid composer, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidges
passion was chamber music and her
mission was to make it more widely
available and accessible by sponsoring
concert tours around the world and
commissioning new works. The exhibit features 40 items, most drawn from
the Coolidge Foundation Collection at
the Library, which holds the worlds
largest music collection. Through Jan.
23. Performing Arts Reading Room

John F. Kennedy, poets Frank OHara

and Allen Ginsberg, critic Harold
Rosenberg, choreographer Merce
Cunningham, and painters Willem
de Kooning and Fairfield Porter are
among the friends and family members represented in a National Portrait
Gallery retrospective of this abstract
expressionist painters work. Most of
de Koonings paintings hang in private
collection and have rarely been seen
by the public before. Through Jan.
10. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and
F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or
visit npg.si.edu.

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 202737-4215 or visit nga.gov.

INGENUE TO ICON: HILLWOODS

FASHION EXHIBITION

MONSTER FISH: IN SEARCH OF

THE LAST RIVER GIANTS

Subtitled 70 Years of Fashion from the

Collection of Marjorie Merriweather
Post, the Hillwood Museum offers
a special exhibition focused on the
elegant fashions and sumptuous fabrics documenting the evolution of 20th
Century fashion and all drawn, naturally, from the late Hillwood owner
who gave the place so much style.
Through Dec. 31. Hillwood Estate,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are
$18. Call 202-686-5807 or visit hillwoodmuseum.org.

Based on the popular National

Geographic Wild series, this interactive exhibit includes clips from the
series, life-size fish sculptures and several family-friendly activities designed
to educate visitors about the massive
fish that Dr. Zeb Hogan, the aquatic ecologist who is the host of the
Monster Fish series, has spent decades
exploring. Through Oct. 11. National
Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St.
NW. Tickets are $11. Call 202-857-7588
or visit ngmuseum.org.

LITTLE BLACK BOOKS: ARCHIVES

OF AMERICAN ART

OFF THE TABLE, ONTO THE WALL:

TORPEDO FACTORYS CERAMIC
GUILD

Gallery in The Library of Congresss

James Madison Memorial Building,
101 Independence Ave. SE. Call 202707-8000 or visit loc.gov/exhibits.

ELAINE DE KOONING: PORTRAITS

An exhibition that would be harder

and less interesting to pull off in
todays mobile-based culture, Little
Black Books: Address Books from the
Archives of American Art features a
handful of personal address books of
influential American artists. Pocket volumes of scrawled names and numbers
on display come from artists including
Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Joseph
Cornell and Ad Reinhardt. Through
Nov. 1. Smithsonians Archives of
American Art, 8th and F Streets. NW.
Call 202-633-7940 or visit aaa.si.edu.

MODERN SCULPTURE: DIALOGUES

IN THREE DIMENSIONS
While its galleries are closed for renovation and expansion, the National

The Scope Gallery, the ceramics co-op

arm of Alexandrias Torpedo Factory,
displays the latest works of ceramic
wall art from the Washington Ceramic
Guild, developed around a cosmic and
celestial theme. To Sept. 27. The Scope
Gallery at Torpedo Factory Art Center,
105 North Union St. Alexandria. Free.
Call 703-548-6288 or visit torpedofactory.org.

ONCE THERE WERE BILLIONS

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 con-

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

27

fused 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.

ONE LIFE: DOLORES HUERTA

The National Portrait Gallery offers

its first exhibition devoted to a Latino
figure. Dolores Heurta co-founded the
National Farm Workers Association
with Cesar Chavez in 1962 and fought
for the passage of the California
Agricultural Labor Relations Act of
1975. Taina Caragol curated an exhibition that vividly traces the 13 years
between those two actions. Through
May 15. National Portrait Gallery, 8th
and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300
or visit npg.si.edu.

ROBB HILL: HOMELANDS: A

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

HomeLands: A Photography Exhibition

includes Robb Hills striking black
and white images offering a powerful meditation on the themes of
home, land and loss. Now to Oct. 18.
PhotoWorks Gallery at Glen Echo
Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard.
Glen Echo, Md. Call 301-634-2274 or
visit glenechophotoworks.org.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964: A

LONG STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

The Library of Congress commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Civil

Rights Act with a yearlong exhibition highlighting legal and legislative

28

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

victories and shedding light on the

individuals who shaped the civil rights
movement. Closes this Saturday, Sept.
12. The Library of Congresss Thomas
Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE.
Call 202-707-8000 or visit loc.gov/
exhibits.

UNDER A SUMMER SUN

Del Ray Artisans offers this summer-themed art exhibit as part of

its Gallery Without Walls program
and presented at the Vola Lawson
Animal Shelter. Participating artists donate 40 percent of each sale
to be shared equally by the nonprofit
arts group and the Animal Welfare
League of Alexandria. Through Sept.
27. Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, 4101
Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria.

VANESSA BELLS HOGARTH

PRESS DESIGNS

Virginia Woolfs younger sister was

one of Englands most famous postimpressionist painters. Vanessa
Bell helped start what became the
Bloomsbury Group of writers, artists
and intellectuals in London between
World Wars. But she also designed
many of the book covers for Hogarth
Press, simple arts-and-crafts designs,
with recurrent geometries and lowercase lettering, and featured in this
exhibition. Through Nov. 13. National
Museum of Women in the Arts. 1250
New York Ave NW. Admission is $10.
Call 202-783-5000 or visit nmwa.org.

METROWEEKLY.COM

WINDOW TO WASHINGTON

Window to Washington: The Kiplinger

Collection at HSW is an exhibition at
Washingtons Carnegie Library that
traces the development of the nations
capital from a sleepy Southern town
to a modern metropolis, as documented through the works of artists.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., exhibition was made possible by
a donation from the Kiplinger family.
Its also an early step in a reorganization effort by the society, which
has struggled to revive ever since
its short-lived effort a decade ago to
run a City Museum of Washington
proved too ambitious. Open Tuesdays
through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Historical Society of Washington,
D.C., at the Carnegie Library, 801 K
St. NW. Call 202-393-1420 or visit
dchistory.org.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

GERARD PANGAUD:
CLASSIC FRENCH COOKING

The man behind the 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 twostar Michelin rating (for his namesake
French restaurant prior to moving
to the U.S.). At the Hill Center on
Capitol Hill he offers another Classic
French Cooking Class, predicated on
his approach in the kitchen emphasiz-

ing the creative and unique over the

rote and standard in other words,
winging it versus relying on a recipe.
For this months class Pangaud offers
a tour of Alsace, demonstrating how to
cook an onion tart, venison stew with
dry fruits, and a plum tart. Saturday,
Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. Hill Center, Old
Navy Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave.
SE. Cost is $85. Call 202-549-4172 or
visit HillCenterDC.org.

MARYLAND RENAISSANCE
FESTIVAL

As summer nears its end, thoughts

naturally turn to jousting, feasting,
crafts, theater, music and merriment. Ah yes, its time once again for
Maryland Renaissance Festival, one
of the worlds largest festivals recreating a 600-year-old era in jolly old
England. Set in a woodsy park outside
of Annapolis, Md., patrons are encouraged to dress up in period costume.
(They can even rent such duds.) But
they shouldnt bring weapons, real or
toy, or pets, as they tend to eat the
turkey legs, which in this context are
also weapons. Weekends through Oct.
25. Maryland Renaissance Festival,
Crownsville Road, Crownsville, Md.
Tickets are $19 to $24 for a single-day
adult ticket, $34 to $98 for multi-day
passes, or $130 for a season pass good
for all 19 days. Call 800-296-7304 or
visit rennfest.com. l

stage

Bargain Bard
For 25 years, the Free For All has been
serving up Shakespeare to the citys
delighted, theater-loving masses
Interview by RANDY SHULMAN

SCOTT SUCHMAN

N 1991, FALSTAFF WROUGHT HAVOC AT CARTER

Barron.
Merry havoc, naturally, as the show was Shakespeares
ribald comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Michael
Kahn, then the new artistic captain of The Shakespeare Theatre
at the Folger, had been tasked with concocting an event that,
like its counterpart in New York, provided full Shakespearean
productions to the masses. Absolutely free.
Twenty-five years later not to mention one Lear, two
Hamlets, and three Much Ados the Free for All has evolved
into a Washington institution, simultaneously heralding the end
of summer and launching the citys fall theater season.
In 2009, Kahn moved the event from the grassy splendor
of the Carter Barron Amphitheatre to the elegant confines of
Sidney Harmon Hall. Audiences could now now experience

fuller, richer productions in an even more intimate setting, one

without the roar of National-bound planes overhead. And this
years revival of Midsummer Nights Dream, director Ethan
McSweeneys surreal romp complete with riotous mudfight,
magical floating piano, and a rather plucky Puck, is a sure-fire
delight. To help compensate for the lack of an outdoor milieu,
the theater is for the first time holding a day-long festival at the
Harmon on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Theres downstairs tours of the costume room and wig room,
says Kahn. Backstage tours that reveal how the show works.
There are two performances of the Mini-Midsummer, an hourlong adaptation of the show for young kids. Games, facepainting,
quizzes, a variety of things. There will even be two showings of
Midsummer that day a matinee and an evening show.
On the phone from his New York apartment, Kahn reflected
on the early years of the Free for All and the importance of serving up free Shakespeare, not just for the audiences but for the
artists themselves.
METRO WEEKLY: What was it that inspired you to start the Free

for All?
MICHAEL KAHN: I got my start as a Shakespeare director from Joe

Papp I had only done very avant garde off-Broadway plays.

He asked me if I would do Measure for Measure in Central Park.
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29

SCOTT SUCHMAN

And that began this part of my career. When I was hired at the
Folger, one of the things that was asked of me was whether it
would be possible to do free Shakespeare in Washington. I said,
Of course. I would really, really love to do it if we could find the
resources and the place.
We found Carter Barron, which, at that time, was not being
used. It had been previously used a lot by the Met Opera and
the ballet but after the riots, after the assassination of Dr. King,
people didnt want to go to that neighborhood. So the theater
was pretty much in disuse. When we said we would like to do
free Shakespeare there, there was quite a lot that had to be done
with it. The dressing rooms painted, finding lighting equipment,
refurbishing the whole thing.
I was so surprised and pleased by the enthusiasm of
Washington for Shakespeare. I felt that it was for everybody,
about everybody, and everybody needed to see it. The Folger
was so small and I had known what an influence the free
Shakespeare had in New York City, with audiences getting to
see that work for the first time. Kids, people who couldnt afford
going to the theater were able to do it. All of those things made
me want to replicate that. And so we did.
MW: Your space at the Folger was tiny. Carter Barron, massive by
comparison. It was less a matter of transporting a production than
reinventing it for a much larger space.
KAHN: Right. We went from playing 240 people at the Folger to
4,000 people at Carter Barron. We had to not only stretch the
scenery, but also had to rework the production for that size stage.
MW: Were there issues with performing outdoors?
KAHN: The first time it rained, we had to stop everything and put
the mics in plastic wrap. We got smarter about that as we went
along. But every night when we opened the gates, it was such a
wonderful feeling to watch all those people rushing in. It made
you remember why you wanted to create theater.
MW: How so?
KAHN: At the end of every season, wed be tired tired of the
amount of work we were doing, tired of talking about budgets
and all the problems that making theater has. And wed go
out there and all of a sudden we remembered why we did it in
the first place. The actors loved it. There was a little barbecue
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

backstage and they cooked. It was just a wonderful experience.

It really was, Oh, of course, this is why we do theater because
these audiences really, really, really want to be here.
MW: How do you choose what production makes it to the Free for All?
KAHN: Its usually a production weve done two or three years
ago. Each season, as I see the productions and before they close,
I think, Oh, we should do this for the Free for All. And so we
save it. I make the decision based on the quality of the production and the fact that maybe we havent done it in Free for All.
Thats about it.
MW: Youve done quite few Much Ados and Alls Wells. Do you
avoid the lesser-known works?
KAHN: No, I dont avoid them. And quite frankly, because its free,
I really dont care. I want an audience there, but Im not gonna get
any money from the audience, so I just want them to have a really
good experience. If Id been able to save King John or Timon of
Athens, I would have, but I think there was another show, each
of those years, that I felt fit better into Carter Barron. Sometimes
scenically, a show doesnt work. You couldnt have scenery that
moved. There was no fly space, there was no wing space. So basically the plays that had unit sets were the ones that worked best.
Now we can bring anything in.
MW: Because youre now in the Harmon.
KAHN: Yes. There was a lot of distress when we moved. So many
people had made going out to Carter Barron and having a picnic
a tradition. There were a lot of people who were disappointed
and wrote to me. I understood it completely, but there were
really several reasons why we moved. One of them was when we
moved to the Harmon, I wanted people to know we were there
and you could get to us really easily. There was a Metro Station
across the street. So that was one thing.
Secondly, we never had to worry about rain, so we never had
rained-out dates where people had stood in line for tickets and
found out that it started to rain just before the show and we had
to cancel. And there werent any mosquitoes. We also wanted to
be able to do matinees for kids. And you couldnt do matinees out
at Carter Barron because sometimes it was 98 degrees and there
was no sunshade, no shelter. And the Carter Barron administration became rather difficult in saying what dates they would
give us rather than us saying, These are the dates we can do it,
which had always been how it was worked out. We helped make
Carter Barron popular and they began to see how they could
monetize the space. They began to say Weve only got these
weeks, and weve only got these weeks. They didnt fit in with
our schedule very well.
Now, we just opened Midsummer Nights Dream and theres
750 people in there every night having a wonderful time.
MW: While its fun to experience Shakespeare in an outdoor setting,
this way people can enjoy it in comfort and more intimately.
KAHN: And there are no mosquitos. And now audiences can really
hear it. There are no airplanes.
MW: Id never put it past you to sneak an airplane into a production.
KAHN: [Laughs.] Well, I would do that. And I would do it at exactly
the right time.
The 25th Anniversary Free for All presents A Midsummer Nights
Dream through Sunday, Sept. 13. Tickets are dispensed through
a daily random lottery. The 25th Anniversary Festival day-long
open house takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. is
free and open to the public. Full schedule of events at the theatres
website. All events take place at the Harmon, 610 F St. NW. Visit
shakespearetheatre.org to enter the daily lottery or for a full schedule of Festival events. l

travel

Northern Exposure
Iceland offers a truly original and
enthralling experience for those
seeking a different adventure
by KATE WINGFIELD

ANDRS NIETO PORRAS

TS A TIME-PRESSED VACATIONERS WELL-KNOWN

dilemma: finding a destination that is easy to reach, yet
feels like it is a million miles away. If you are an East
Coaster looking for a short but fascinating break this fall or
winter, your answer could be a trip north to Iceland.
This small island, just south of the Arctic Circle, sits between
two oceans (Atlantic and Arctic) and on the divide of two continental plates (North American and Eurasian). Not surprisingly,
it is volcanically active and topographically fascinating.
It also occasionally makes the news, such as when the volcano Eyjafjallajkull erupted and disrupted air traffic across
Europe in 2010 or, almost as explosively, when Beyonce and Jay

Z stopped by for a visit last year.

For the lower-profile, if equally intrigued visitor, this exciting
geologic and geographic destination makes for amazing natural
experiences with phenomenal variety many of which can be
enjoyed in the space of a few days. Not only are there the (mostly
calm) volcanos, but with little more than a modicum of effort you
can expect to discover or explore lava fields, breath-taking glaciers, green valleys, roaring rivers, immense waterfalls, bubbling
geysers, natural hot springs and even black-sanded beaches.
And thats what makes Iceland so unique: its like visiting
another planet.
Indeed, it is this other-worldliness that has frequently
caught the attention of location scouts. Films such as Thor: The
Dark World, Interstellar, Prometheus and Star Wars: the Force
Awakens, among many others, all filmed scenes in the country.
So how to plan a trip? Being a small country with a small population centered mostly in and around the capital of Reykjavik,
this is a peaceful, largely rural place. The roads are long, often
empty outside the city, and the driving is on the right-hand side
of the road. Put simply, if you are a reasonably travelled individual, you will find Iceland eminently manageable as foreign
countries go and you can expect to have as much or as little
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

31

autonomy as you like.

It is quite possible, for example, to fly into the main international airport of Keflavik on a red-eye, get some shut-eye at an
airport hotel and then rent a car in which spend a week exploring the country by road and inn at your own do-it-yourself pace.
Alternatively, you can base yourself at a comfortable hotel in
Reykjavik, enjoy the citys Nordically-hip scene and take the odd
bus tour out to the major attractions such as the Blue Lagoon,
a hot-spring-cum-spa experience. Or, if you are the outward
bound sort, you can arrange a jeep or snowmobile trip to see glaciers or volcanoes. In other words, if you are in an Iceland frame
of mind, there is pretty much something for everyone.
As with any travel prep, start by perusing the countrys official visitor site, the usual travel guides, and have a look at Trip
Advisor. Then its all about your budget, time, and expectations.
Having said that, it is also worth considering the season when
you plan your trip. Despite its location, Iceland has a temperate
climate with cool summers and winters that are surprisingly
bearable. Summer is a great time for hiking and pony trekking
and it is just cool enough in the mornings to make a swim in a hot
spring magically misty. But many save their travel for September
through April when the Northern Lights can often be spectacularly visible from many parts of the country. Road trips are easier
in spring and summer when there are no snow storms to contend
with, but the winter months offer their own spectacular treats
and vistas.
Getting to Iceland is another of its advantages. Flights from
the D.C. area are about five hours, give or take, with a slightly
longer return trip. Icelandair offers daily service out of Dulles
International and for those tired of the cattle-car experience,
their smaller planes, eclectic viewing options and Icelandic beer

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

can make for a nice change from the usual.

Its worth noting that to encourage tourism, Icelandair
does not charge extra for up to seven days layover in-country
between flights so consider a stopover if you are heading
to Europe. You might also want to try out the new discount
Icelandic airline WOW, which now flies out of BWI on certain
days of the week.
Another travelling plus, especially for those going solo, is
Reykjavik International Airport. Its a small, busy hub with a
light and airy Nordic style and some interesting shops. Its not
the worst place to browse, have a drink or sit and read a Kindle
during those inevitable post-security hours.
As for the people of Iceland if one can generalize they
are friendly, if not overbearingly so, and quietly dedicated to
helping their visitors. Interestingly, tipping is expected only for
exceptional assistance, not the usual bag-carrying and restaurant
service. Tourism is a big deal for Icelands economy and this is
reflected in the cheerful efforts online and in person to make the
countrys unique offerings easy to research, navigate and enjoy.
Things to bear in mind include the exchange rate (Iceland
is not cheap), the weather (winter can bring storms, summer
a cold rain), the wilderness (unmarked hot springs may scald,
you can fall into rivers and off mountains), the roads (signs can
be incomprehensible, drinking and driving dont mix), and your
street smarts (the crime rate is very low but not non-existent). In
other words: read up and then use your common sense.
So if you find yourself looking for a truly original and
enthralling experience that wont break the time bank, consider
the land of the midnight sun.
For more information about Iceland, visit iceland.is. l

tech

Xperia Z5 Premium

The Droids Youre Looking For

As Apple preps its latest
iPhones, Android manufacturers
are fighting for attention this fall
by RHUARIDH MARR

SONY

ERE ENTERING AN INTERESTING TIME

of year for the smartphone market. For most
manufacturers, its a time to panic, to vie for
column inches, to brawl for consumer attention. Why? Because fall means one thing: new iPhones. Those
two words are enough to send a cold sweat down even the most
confident marketing executives spine.
When Apple launches its latest iPhones, it does so without
concern for market trends, stock woes, or even financial crises.
There are just three constants in life: death, taxes, and that each
year Apple will sell millions of iPhones. The iPhone is the fruity
companys most important product. Despite Macs, the iPad, the
Apple Watch, their new Music service and the beleaguered iPod
line, its the iPhone that has been instrumental in helping Apple

stockpile over $200 billion in cash and rise to become Earths

most valuable company. At two-thirds of the companys annual
revenue, Apple can be confident of one thing: that no matter
what else is released for the remainder of 2015, nothing will
touch the iPhone.
And yet, perhaps even more surprisingly, fall is one of the
most popular times of year for Apples main competitors to
launch their various flagship handsets. Samsung typically dominates Android twice yearly in spring with its Galaxy S line,
then again in fall with the Galaxy Notes annual update. Most
other manufacturers, however, are choosing fall to convince
those unswayed by Apples all-conquering iPhones to part with
their cash.
First, weve got Sony. The Japanese tech giant, once the
Apple of its day, has come on hard times of late. Shuttering
divisions, selling property, laying off employees Sony is a far
cry from being the last word in televisions, media players and
other high-end gadgetry. Look to Sonys smartphone division
if you need further proof. After failing to grasp the importance
of Androids meteoric rise with several middling devices, Sony
attempted a comeback in 2013 with the Xperia Z. It was beautifully made, had a great screen, a good camera and was fully
water- and dustproof. Critics lauded it, consumers bought it in
METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

33

droves consumers in Europe and Japan, that is. Elsewhere,

particularly in the U.S. where carriers were unwilling to commit, Sony continued to struggle. That decline has only increased
as Sony released forgettable midrange devices and updated its Z
line in a bizarre biannual schedule these updates were often
so incremental that they started to blur together. Consumers
couldnt discern between Sonys newest smartphone and its
predecessor something no amount of marketing could spin
into sales.
No more with the Xperia Z5, it would seem. Whereas the last
model had a 1080p screen, the faulty Snapdragon 10 processor,
a waterproof body comprised of metal and glass and the usual
storage and connectivity options, the Xperia Z5 will have a 1080p
screen, the faulty Snapdragon 10 processor, a water wait. Has
Sony seriously announced the exact same phone again?
Well, yes and no. Sony announced three new devices, the
Z5 Compact, the standard Z5, and the new Z5 Premium. Aside
from an improved, 23 megapixel camera and a fresher version
of Android, theres little drastically different about the standard
Z5. Instead, those seeking Sonys best efforts should look to the
Premium. Here, the size has been stretched to an iPhone 6 Plusaping 5.5-inches, but the screen boasts four times the resolution
of Apples handset. Yes, Sony has condensed the 4K resolution and picture-improving screen tech of its Bravia TVs into
a smartphone. Its a world first something Sony hasnt been
able to claim for a while. That new camera is also a world-first,
taking just 0.03 seconds to focus. Sony is promising dramatic
improvements over the Z3, something it sorely needs to achieve,
as despite providing the tech for Apple and Samsungs incredible smartphone cameras, Sony has never been able to create the
same world-beating experiences for their own phones.
Whether American carriers buy into the Z5 hype is another
matter entirely. T-Mobile, which has supported Sony in the past,
has no plans to stock the Z5. Verizon havent even managed to
get the Z4v, a specially-created device announced months ago,
onto its shelves. Canada will get the Z5, but our neighbors to the
north may be alone in that regard.
While Sony may struggle to gain sales, Google is all but guaranteed to do well this fall. The tech giants Nexus line is designed
to showcase Android in its freshest, cleanest form and has been
a resounding success for both Google and the manufacturers it
partners with.
This year, all rumors point to two devices, a Nexus 5 made
by LG and a larger Nexus by Chinese firm Huawei yes, the
same Huawei that the House Intelligence Committee accused
of being a national security threat. For Google, such things are
mere trivialities. Huawei is the worlds third largest smartphone
manufacturer and Google wants to capture a sweet slice of the
massive Chinese smartphone market pie.
Everything points to the Nexus 5 replicating the budgetminded qualities of the original 2013 model. Itll be interesting to
see if LG and Google can keep the Nexus 5 to the $349 starting
price that made the original so popular. Huaweis 5.5 or 5.7-inch
phablet looks to be the flagship of the two, replacing Motorolas
Nexus 6 from last year. The rumor mill seems less certain
on what exactly Huaweis Nexus will contain though both
devices bodies have already been the subject of several leaks.
The original Nexus 6 retailed at $649 off contract which was
something of a steal, given its premium specs. Huawei has a reputation for delivering solid devices at low prices, which would
certainly set a precedent for a lower starting price than last year.
Both devices can be expected to include fingerprint readers
a necessity for Googles new Apple Pay rival. Each device will
34

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

also come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the latest version of

the OS. It places a greater emphasis on battery life, usability,
security and convenience. A September 29th reveal and October
13th pre-order date are currently being thrown around by various tech sites Google has yet to confirm anything, so take copious doses of salt with all of this information.
Sony isnt alone in desperately needing a successful device.
Poor, long-forgotten HTC needs resuscitating, too. Once the
industrys fastest growing smartphone maker, it lost its way a
couple of years ago by spreading itself too thin across a number
of forgettable devices. A comeback almost occurred with the
One flagship in 2013, but a bizarre advertising campaign and
two years of mediocre updates have failed to maintain consumer
interest. Indeed, this years One M9 has been a total disaster
sales revenues have plummeted, as has HTCs stock value.
It was recently delisted as one of Taiwans 50 most valuable
companies. Thats why rumors of a supposed new launch on
September 29th make sense. The Aero, as its being called, will
attempt to become HTCs new flagship device. Indeed, an invite
on Chinas Weibo social network touted two flagship devices
being announced. However, U.S. buyers shouldnt get excited.
Theres every likelihood these are Asia-specific devices, as HTC
attempts to regain a foothold in a market it once dominated.
The last of Androids big-name launches this fall comes from
a name few would have expected. BlackBerry yes, BlackBerry
is widely expected to launch its first ever Android device this
November. Thats momentous for several reasons, not least
because BlackBerry ignored Android in its early years due to
security concerns, instead choosing to develop BB10 and the
doomed PlayBook tablet. The Canadian firm then watched as
Google and Apple ate up the enterprise market it once dominated and consumers ignored Blackberry devices that couldnt run
the latest apps and services theyd come to love on their Galaxy
and iPhone smartphones.
Its a shame, as lately BlackBerry has been showing signs
of life. The Passport was arguably last years most interesting
smartphone, a square brute of a device with a full QWERTY
keyboard. It was impressively made, those physical keys felt
great to use, and its screen was beautiful but it was hobbled by
BlackBerrys OS. I wasnt a fan for several reasons in my original review, though later updates made it infinitely more usable
despite BB10s flaws.
Thats why the upcoming Venice is cause for excitement.
Leaks point to a device with a curved, Quad HD display, fast
processor, and the freshest internals for running full Android.
Whats more, BlackBerrys excellent productivity apps, such as
their fantastic Hub, appear set to be included. Thats not even
the most interesting thing about the Venice no, that would be
its form factor. BlackBerry are reviving the portrait slider, with a
physical keyboard hidden behind the phones display. Users can
tap away using the screen, or slide out a keyboard for firing off an
email or editing a document. Its the best of both worlds and looks
set to marry BlackBerrys security and productivity chops, as well
as their hardware prowess, with Googles all conquering OS.
The Venice is one of the most interesting BlackBerrys in
years its generated a huge amount of buzz since it was teased
in March and further leaked last month. Need proof? It managed
to dethrone rumors about Apples upcoming iPhone 6S from the
top spot on many tech sites for several days and generated more
discussion than any other Android device apart from Googles
Nexuses. BlackBerrys imminent coup de grce could be avoided
altogether if it gets the Venice right.
Roll on November, I say. l

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35

36

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

NIGHT

LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 09.10.15

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
ANNIES/ANNIES
UPSTAIRS
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: $6 Call
Martini, $3 Miller Lite,
$4 Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pmmidnight, $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
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Hot Jock Night, hosted
by Highwaymen TNT
Contest starts at 11:30pm
Over $100 in cash and
prizes

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

METROWEEKLY.COM

37

38

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

scene
BHTs Pride Day at
Kings Dominion
Saturday, September 5
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

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 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
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
$4 Drinks and $3 Draughts,
6-9pm
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
Tim-e in Secrets 9pm
Cover 21+

FRI., 09.11.15

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 and
Domestic, $21 Call &
Imports, 6-9pm Guys
Night Out Free Rail
Vodka, 11pm-Midnight, $6
Belvedere Vodka Drinks all
night Imperial Court of
DC Pre-Coronation Party
DJ MadScience upstairs
DJ Keenan Orr downstairs
$10 cover 10pm-1am, $5
after 1am 21+

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Free Happy Hour Buffet,
6-10pm $4 Rail, $3
Domestic, $10 Bucket
of Stella DC Leather
Pride on Club Bar $2
Draughts Imperial
Court visits the DC Eagle,
10-11pm come out
and greet our Sisters and
Brothers in their finery
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Wicked Jezebel, 8pm
$5 Cover Karaoke after
the show
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long The Men of
ONYX Mid-Atlantic present UnCover Your Fetish,
10pm-2am Featuring
GoGo Boys, Jello Shots
and Fetish Demonstrations

JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm $2 Skyy Highballs
and $2 Drafts, 10pmmidnight Retro Friday
$5 Coronas, $8 Vodka Red
Bulls, 9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailey Videos,
Dancing Beat the Clock
Happy Hour $2 (5-6pm),
$3 (6-7pm), $4 (7-8pm)
Buckets of Beer $15
NUMBER NINE
Open 5pm Happy Hour:
2 for 1 on any drink, 5-9pm
No Cover
TOWN
DC Bear Crue Happy
Hour, 6-11pm $3 Rail,
$3 Draft, $3 Bud Bottles
Free Pizza, 7pm No
cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, Epiphany B. Lee
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs GoGo Boys
after 11pm Doors open

at 10pm For those 21

and over, $10 For those
18-20, $15 18+
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
before 10pm Cover after
10pm (entry through Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs DJ
Darryl Strickland in Secrets
VJ Tre in Ziegfelds
Cover 21+
SAT., 09.12.15

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm $5 Absolut
& Titos, $3 Miller Lite
after 9pm Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover Music videos
featuring various DJs

METROWEEKLY.COM

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Drag Yourself to Brunch
at Level One, 11am-2pm
and 2-4pm Featuring
Kristina Kelly and the
Ladies of Illusion
Bottomless Mimosas and
Bloody Marys Happy
Hour: $3 Miller Lite, $4
Rail, $5 Call, 4-9pm
BearZerk Dance Party
Drink specials all night
Doors open 10pm $5
Cover 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Highwaymen TNT on Club
Bar $2 Draughts at
Club Bar
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show,
8-10pm, hosted by Miss
Destiny B. Childs No
Cover

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

39

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long JOX: The
Green Lantern Underwear
Party, 9pm Featuring
DJ David Merrill $5
Cover after 10pm (includes
clothes check)
JR.S
$4 Coors, $5 Vodka
Highballs, $7 Vodka Red
Bulls
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Guest DJs Zing Zang
Bloody Marys, Nellie Beer,
House Rail Drinks and
Mimosas, $4, 11am-5pm
Buckets of Beer, $15
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm No Cover

TOWN
Madonna After-Concert
Party, featuring DJ Tracy
Young, 11pm-close
Music and video downstairs by DJ Wess Drag
Show starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Epiphany
B. Lee and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm Cover
$12 21+
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
before 9:30pm Cover
after 10pm (entry through
Town)
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host
Ella Fitzgerald, 9pm
DJ Steve Henderson in
Secrets DJ Don T. in
Ziegfelds Doors open
8pm Cover 21+

SUN., 09.13.15

9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 3-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection No
Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
$4 Stoli, Stoli flavors
and Miller Lite all day
Stonewall Kickball
Scrimmage After-Party,
5pm Homowood
Karaoke, 10pm-close No
Cover 21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 2-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Doors open noon $7
Buffet with $2 Bud and
Bud Light Draughts
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm Karaoke, 8pm1am

40

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke, 9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all
day and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am3pm $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, 3-9pm No
Cover

ROCK HARD SUNDAYS

@THE HOUSE
NIGHTCLUB
3530 Georgia Ave. NW
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 7pm Shows at 8
and 10pm $5 Domestic
Beer, $6 Imports Happy
Hour 7-8pm $10 cover
For Table Reservations,
202-487-6646 rockharddc.com
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm No Cover
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
8pm Cover 21+
MON., 09.14.15

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
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
RuPauls Drag Race
Viewing and 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+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose

JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1,
4-9pm Showtunes Songs
& Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft
Pints, 8pm-midnight

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose

NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com

NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TUES., 09.15.15

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
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie La Cage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1, 5pmmidnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo

METROWEEKLY.COM

NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
Safe Word: A Gay Spelling
Bee, 8-11pm Prizes to
the top three spellers
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Yappy Hour: Happy Hour
for Dogs and their best
friends $4 Drinks and
$4 Draughts
WED., 09.16.15

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
4@4 Happy Hour, 4-7pm
$4 Stella Artois, $4 House
Wines, $4 Stolichnaya
Cocktails, $4 Manhattans
and Vodka Martinis

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

41

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail,
$3 Miller Lite, $5 Call,
4-9pm Wednesday
Night Karaoke downstairs,
10pm Hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston
$4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors
and Miller Lite No Cover
21+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close The Boys of
HUMP upstairs, 9pm
JR.S
Buy 1, Get 1 Free, 4-9pm
Trivia with MC Jay Ray,
8pm The Feud: Drag
Trivia, hosted by BaNaka,
10-11pm, with a $200

42

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

prize $2 JR.s Drafts and

$4 Vodka ($2 with College
ID or JR.s Team Shirt)
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
SmartAss Trivia Night,
8pm and 9pm Prizes
include bar tabs and tickets to shows at the 9:30
Club $15 Buckets of
Beer for SmartAss Teams
only Bring a new team
members and each get a
free $10 Dinner
NUMBER NINE
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm No Cover
Half-Price Hump Day
half-price drinks all day
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+ l

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

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44

SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT AT WWW.METROWEEKLY.COM/SCENE

METROWEEKLY.COM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

45

If that word marriage is really, really that important to you,

I can go with it.
CAITLYN JENNER, explaining to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres how she used to oppose gay marriage, according to Hollywood
Life. Jenner used to oppose the idea due to her traditionalist views, but has since changed her thinking on the issue.

They are a waste of taxpayer money.

They dont make the world better or safer.
BILL DOBBS, a gay rights activist discussing law enforcement raids against sex workers with the Wall Street Journal.
Dobbs organized a protest outside the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., to protest charges against
the CEO and employees of Rentboy.com.

On the issue of gay marriages, I again have said in our manifesto that
we will leave that to the people.
Malawi President PETER MUTHARIKA, on the Malawi Broadcasting Corporations Talk to the President program, responding
to a question on same-sex marriage. LGBT advocates plan to hold gay pride parades to encourage voters to
legalize homosexuality if Mutharika allows a voter referendum on the issue.

Once again, the gay community feels the need to be

sore winners.
Is it so difficult to allow this women (sic) her religion? ... The rights we have all fought for, mean nothing,
if we deny her hers.

CHRISTOPHER CICCONE, brother of singer Madonna, in a post on Facebook defending

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses.

Happiness tends to bring out the best in a person. And

Im so happy right now.
ESPN reporter ISRAEL GUTIERREZ, in a blog post explaining his struggles with coming out. Gutierrez was driven
to write the post because of his forthcoming marriage to his fiance.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

47