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OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Randy Shulman

OCTOBER 8, 2015
Volume 22 / Issue 23

ART DIRECTOR
Todd Franson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rhuaridh Marr
SENIOR EDITOR
John Riley
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Doug Rule

NEWS

Appealing to HRC
by John Riley

COMMENTARY
10
Pride and Prejudice
by Sean Bugg

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim

12

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Scott G. Brooks

SCENE
15
Hillary Clinton addresses an HRC
Gathering at the Mayflower Hotel

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

SALES & MARKETING

Community Calendar

photography by Ward Morrison

SCENE
16
HRCs 19th Annual Dinner

photography by Ward Morrison

FEATURES
18
Ellen Page
Interview by Randy Shulman

PUBLISHER
Randy Shulman

24

Jennifer Hoppe-House

BRAND STRATEGY & MARKETING

Christopher Cunetto
Cunetto Creative

27

Gluttonous Gaming

OUT ON THE TOWN

32

Matt Pond PA

34

Bad Dog

FILM

38

Freeheld

STAGE

40

Synetics Alice in Wonderland

TECH

42

Hot New Hardware from Microsoft

NIGHTLIFE

45

photography by Ward Morrison

54

Last Word

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Rivendell Media Co.
212-242-6863
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Dennis Havrilla

PATRON SAINT
Laurel Hester
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Pamela Hanson

METRO WEEKLY
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2015 Jansi LLC.

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

Interview by Connor J. Hogan

by Rhuaridh Marr

by Doug Rule

by Doug Rule

by Chris Heller

by Kate Wingfield

by Rhuaridh Marr

Sausage Fest at Wunder Garten

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

Brian Sims plans congressional run

Vatican disciplines gay priest

WARD MORRISON

LGBT

News

Now online at MetroWeekly.com

Biden speaking at the Washington Convention Center, Oct. 3

Appealing to HRC

Joe Biden and Hillary Clintons speeches at HRCs weekend events demanded
the LGBT community achieve further successes
by John Riley

S HE STRODE ONSTAGE TO SWELLING MUSIC,

thunderous applause and cheers and whoops from
the audience, Vice President Joe Biden was a rockstar at least for the night.
The keynote speaker for last Saturdays 19th annual Human
Rights Campaign National Dinner, Biden received a heros
welcome after an effusive introduction by the organizations
President Chad Griffin. This man is not afraid to speak his
mind, and he has never shied away from speaking up for us,
Griffin told the crowd, praising the vice presidents embrace
of the LGBT community, even when it wasnt politically expedient to do so.
In many peoples minds, Bidens legacy on LGBT rights will
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OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

always be tied to his 2012 Meet the Press interview, when he

told host David Gregory he was absolutely comfortable with
the concept of treating same-sex and opposite-sex marriages
equally. A favorite among Democratic-leaning activists due
to his propensity for unscripted, blunt political assessments,
Bidens appeal has charmed many in the LGBT community who
see him as an authentic ally.
Several activists called out as the Vice President reached
the podium, urging him to step into the 2016 race for the White
House.
You should run! someone shouted.
Dont say that, Biden responded, as the room erupted
with cheers. Bidens hypothetical candidacy for the Democratic

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

WARD MORRISON

LGBTNews

Clinton speaking at the Mayflower Hotel, Oct. 3

presidential nomination has been hyped by some in the media,

amid polling that suggests party frontrunner Hillary Clinton
had sustained injuries to her reputation and trustworthiness.
But on Saturday night, Biden downplayed his role in the
equality fight. Rather, the vice president said, the credit must
be given to those at the grassroots level who risked their jobs,
livelihoods and, at times, their physical well-being in demanding their constitutional rights.
Ive been thanked for speaking, apparently out of turn,
on Meet the Press, he said. But the speed which things have
changed since 2012 to today...is not because of any national
figure that spoken out. Not because of any of the celebrities that
youll have stand before you tonight.... Its because of all of you,
and thousands of faceless people like you, who have had the
courage to stand up and speak, speak their hearts and minds.
Biden credited the LGBT community with not only liberating
themselves by demanding equality, but their straight allies who
may have been too afraid to speak up in defense of LGBT rights.
The very fact that we recognize that love is not a political
matter, its a basic human right, is because of you, he said. I
want to pay tribute to the women and men whove taken great
risk, and had the courage to change things. To change the world
in which my grandchildren will grow up, all for the better. We
owe them, we owe you.
Biden dismissed what he called the shrill voices that continue to fight any progress on LGBT rights, saying they are in
the minority and will ultimately not be successful in their cause.
He urged those in attendance to take fate into their own hands
and shape their destiny. He also noted the majority of the coun8

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

try is much more progressive on LGBT rights than most might

assume.
The American people are so much better than their leaders
give them credit for, he said. The American people are already
with you. Look at the numbers. He then took a dig at the GOP.
Theres homophobes still left. Most of them are running for
president.
Biden believes the key to harnessing the widespread support for LGBT equality is to first educate people about the discrimination that the community still faces. Most people wrongly
believe that the nations civil rights laws already protect LGBT
people, resulting in the current impasse.
To better educate the public, Biden suggested that wealthy
LGBT donors invest money into advertising campaigns designed
to inform people of the discrimination that LGBT individuals can face in 31 states and why the Equality Act, a bill that
would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination, is necessary.
The first part of change is information, Biden said. Calling
on the people of each of these states to demand change that
they think has already happened is not going to be as hard as
you think.
Bidens speech served as a bookend to one given that morning by Hillary Clinton to more than 800 LGBT activists and
employees of the HRC. Clinton sought to establish herself as
a warrior for justice, as HRCs Griffin described her in his
introduction.
Clinton vowed to be an advocate for the LGBT community and serve as a bulwark against attempts to reverse gains on
issues like marriage equality and open military service. She also
contrasted her views on various LGBT-related issues to those of
her potential GOP opponents, seeking to cast them as, at best,
out of touch with the country, and, at worst, malicious in their
opposition to various forms of LGBT equality.
Were going to face some ridiculousness, especially from
our friends in the GOP, Clinton said. Were going to hear a lot
from the folks running on the other side. And I want to tell you:
Believe what they say. If any one of them, heaven forbid, were to
be elected president, they will enact policies that will threaten
you and your families.
Clinton alluded to dissention and dissatisfaction among segments of both the Democratic Party and the electorate at large,
calling for unity and warning what the impact of not voting
could be.
The stakes in this election are high for this country. Theyre
high for so much of what we believe in and the progress we can
continue to make, Clinton said. It can be undone. President
Obamas executive actions can be rescinded. The next president
may get three Supreme Court Justice appointments. We could
lose the Supreme Court, and then thered be a whole new litigation strategy coming from those who oppose marriage equality.
Clinton celebrated the victories achieved under the Obama
administration and praised the activists for their commitment
to fighting for LGBT rights, noting that Youve helped change a
lot of minds, including mine.
Vowing never to use individual rights as a political bargaining chip, she cast her 2016 presidential campaign as one
in which a pro-equality policy agenda can be sustained and
advanced.
I see the dangers you and your families face, she said. And
Im running for president to end them, once and for all. Ive been
fighting alongside you and others for equal rights, and Im just
getting warmed up. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

HILLARY THORNTON @HILLARYWKYT

COMMENTARY

Pride and Prejudice

Even states have pride, at least until someone like Kim Davis comes along
by Sean Bugg

EING AN EXPATRIATE KENTUCKIAN, IM PRETty familiar with the stereotypes my fellow Americans
have of residents from the Bluegrass State: uneducated, gun-crazy, holy-rolling Christians, who once
a year put on fancy hats to drink mint juleps at the horse track.
Sadly, while those stereotypes dont really describe my family or other Kentuckians I know, they also contain elements of
statistical and experiential truth. Kentucky ranks near the bottom for high school graduation and college degrees, and state
funding of public schools something its never excelled at
has consistently fallen over the past few years.
And damn, Kentuckians love their guns. Most of my family
had or have them, including my grandmother who kept a shotgun handy for the starlings in her garden, plus the one day she
almost shot my uncle for walking around his own barn. I realize
it sounds crazy to people whove never lived out in the middle
of nowhere, but having lived there its why my passionate support for gun control comes with a sincere desire for reasonable
exceptions based on such things as location and need.
Then there are the holy rollers, my roundabout way to finally
mention Kentuckys most recently famous Christian, Kim Davis.
The anti-gay county clerk is the reason so many Kentuckians
including a substantial number of not-gay-friendly conservatives flinch when they see Kentucky mentioned in the
national news. If youre a Kentuckian in a story thats not running on ESPN, then its highly likely youre just embarrassing
your home state.
As for Davis, I probably shouldnt throw around a term like
holy roller because it is derogatory and not entirely fair. Then
again, Ive never been a fan of the far edges of Protestantism, not
because of snake-handling or speaking in tongues, but because
of the way they treat women. Its easy to spot the women who
belong to holy roller churches: always long skirts, never pants,
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OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

little to no makeup, and long, uncut, and unstyled hair.

Notably, its not so easy to spot the holy roller husbands
since theyre allowed to look like everybody else, down to the
jeans, dirty boots, and farmers caps. I find it pretty rich that
Davis, with her religiously enforced and strictly limited sartorial
choices, is now being defended by the very people on the political right who want to free women from Muslim rules requiring
hijabs and burqas.
In Daviss church, sisters wear a veil or head covering during prayer and worship as a symbol of their submission according to Gods order of Creation. Its like backwoods Sharia law,
but for Jesus, so Fox News is fine with it.
I bring this up late in the game because were at the tail end
of Daviss 15 minutes and just coming off the ineptly chosen
fight her lawyers and supporters chose to pick with the Vatican.
First, it was very odd that a woman from a religious tradition
with little historical patience for popery would approach a
meeting with Pope Francis the way a tween girl would a backstage hug from Justin Bieber. Second, while the whole affair
should remind everyone that too many pro-gay people are cutting the pope too much slack for his quiet love the sinner, hate
the sin approach, it was also marvelously satisfying to watch
the Vatican put the smack down on Davis and force her Liberty
Counsel lawyers to call the leader of the Catholic Church a liar.
Its a fitting climax to a political story that was wafer thin
to begin with. Davis has been backed into a corner created by
her craven, hate-peddling lawyers. Judging from the reactions
of family, friends, social media, and even many politicians in
Kentucky, many of the states residents have been rolling their
eyes at the woman demanding her right to a government job
and wishing her Washington lawyers would stop using her and
embarrassing the state. Its time for Davis and her supporters to
get back to work. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

11

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.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including

others interested in Brazilian culture,
meets. For location/time, email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.com.
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice
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.

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers for

Food & Friends. To participate, visit
burgundycrescent.org.

BROTHER, HELP THYSELF is

partnering with comedian Margaret
Cho to sell a block of 100 tickets to a
special performance of her psyCHO
tour at D.C.s Warner Theatre. 6-9
p.m. 513 13th St. NW. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
brotherhelpthyself.net.

ADVENTURING outdoors group

hikes 9 strenuous miles with 2,000
feet of elevation gain to see highest
waterfall in Shenandoah National
Park. Bring beverages, lunch, bug
spray, sturdy boots, and about $20 for
fees. Carpool at 8:30 a.m. from East
Falls Church Metro. Craig, 202-4620535. adventuring.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)

practice session at Takoma Aquatic

Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. 7:30-9
p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features

mainstream through advanced square
dancing at the National City Christian
Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30
p.m. Casual dress. 301-257-0517,
dclambdasquares.org.
The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern
Virginia social group meets for happy
hour at Sheraton in Reston, 11810
Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor
bar, 7-9 p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.

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.

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 discussion and activity group

for LBT women, holds its meetings
on the second and fourth Fridays of
each month. Group social activity to
folow the meeting. 8-9:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS
GAY MARRIED MENS
ASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is a con-

METROHEALTH CENTER offers

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

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
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.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-

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

youth 21 and younger. 202-567-3155
or testing@smyal.org.

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics

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

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

WOMENS LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE for young LBTQ women,

affirming social group for ages 11-24.

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

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.

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.
12

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

The local D.C. chapter of the

National Organization for Women
hosts the FIRST ANNUAL DC NOW
FEMINIST RETREAT to discuss
crafting a strategic policy agenda
centered around social justice in
2016. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 1200 G St. NW,
Suite 400. For more information, contact Monica Weeks, DC
NOWs membership director, at
WashingtonDCNOW@gmail.com.
The DC Center hosts confidential
FREE HIV TESTING for all interested people. 4-7 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center hosts a VOLUNTEER
ORIENTATION session for those
interested in helping with The DC
Center or getting involved in any of
its programs. 12-3 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: A

CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF
MAME DENNIS AND CARL RIZZI

at Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St.

NW. Doors open 4:30 p.m., celebration starts 5 p.m.

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

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

DC SENTINELS basketball team

meets at Turkey Thicket Recreation

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

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for

LGBT community, family and friends.

6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-theHill, 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 confidential

HIV testing in Takoma Park, 7676

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 11
BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers for DC
Central Kitchen. To participate, visit
burgundycrescent.org.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture group

tours Montpelier, recently-restored

historic home of James & Dolley
Madison near Orange, Va. Carpool at
9 a.m. from East Falls Church Metro,
return by 6 p.m. Drivers needed.
Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@
verizon.net.

MONDAY, OCT. 12
ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes

4 or 5 easy-to-moderate miles in Rock

Creek Park, beginning and ending at
Cleveland Park Metro. Bring beverages, snack, bug spray and $2 trip fee.
Hike begins at 10 a.m. from top of escalators of eastern side of Connecticut
Avenue NW, at Cleveland Park Metro;
hike ends around 1 p.m. Call Randy,
619-757-0640. adventuring.org.
The DC Center holds a monthly meeting of its YOUTH WORKING GROUP to
discuss upcoming initiatives. 6-7:30 p.m.

2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more

information, visit thedccenter.org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 13

WEEKLY EVENTS

GAY & LESBIAN ACTIVISTS

ALLIANCE meets at 7 p.m. in Dupont

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

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

Circle area to discuss pending legislation in the D.C. Council. All welcome.
202-667-5139. glaa.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

The DC Center hosts a meeting of

its COMING OUT DISCUSSION
GROUP, which offers a safe place to
explore issues of identity. 7-8:30 p.m.
2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.

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 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.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

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

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing.

5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200,
Arlington. Appointments:
703-789-4467.
THE DC CENTER hosts Coffee Drop-

In for the Senior LGBT Community.

10 a.m.-noon. 2000 14th St. NW. 202682-2245, thedccenter.org.

WASHINGTON WETSKINS WATER

POLO TEAM practices 7-9 p.m.

Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van

Buren St. NW. Newcomers with at
least basic swimming ability always
welcome. Tom, 703-299-0504, 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.

The DC Center hosts a meeting of its

TRANS DISCUSSION GROUP, for

those who are transgender or nongender conforming and their allies.

7-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The LATINO LGBT TASK FORCE,
a collaborative effort of The Mayors
Office on Latino Affairs, The DC
Center, and various community
organizations, meets to discuss issues
affecting the LGBT Latino community
in the District. 5:30-7 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, contact Eric Perez, eric.perez@
thedccenter.org or 202-682-2245.

WEEKLY EVENTS
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. 7:30-9
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

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

13

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14

THE HIV WORKING GROUP of THE

DC CENTER hosts Packing Party,

BIG GAY BOOK GROUP meets to

discuss Ill Give You the Sun by Jandy
Nelson. 7 p.m. 1155 F Street, NW Suite
200. All welcome. For more info, visit
biggaybookgroup.com.

where volunteers assemble safe-sex

kits of condoms and lube. 7 p.m.,
Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court
NW. thedccenter.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,

Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
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. whitman-walker.org.

14

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

RAINBOW RESPONSE, a coalition

of individuals and groups dedicated
to combating LGBT intimate partner
violence, holds its monthly meeting at
The DC Center. 6-8 p.m. 2000 14th St.
NW, Suite 105. For more information,
visit thedccenter.org.
THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets
for Social Bridge. 7:30 p.m. Dignity
Center, 721 8th St. SE, across from
the Marine Barracks. No reservation
needed. 202-841-0279 if you need a
partner.

WEEKLY EVENTS
AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,
Steam, 17th and R NW. All welcome.
For more information, call Fausto
Fernandez, 703-732-5174.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds

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

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.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 202745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-

gram for job entrants and seekers,

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

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

scene
Hillary Rodham
Clinton speaks
to a gathering of
the Human Rights
Campaign at the
Mayflower Hotel
Saturday, October 3
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

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

15

scene
HRCs 19th Annual
National Dinner at
the Washington
Convention Center
Saturday, October 3
scan this tag
with your
smartphone
for bonus scene
pics online!

Photography by
Ward Morrison

16

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

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

17

Ellens
Pride

WITH FREEHELD, THE GIFTED, OUT ACTRESS ELLEN PAGE FINALLY GETS TO
PLAY GAY IN ONE OF THE YEARS MOST COMPELLING AND ESSENTIAL DRAMAS
INTERVIEW BY RANDY SHULMAN

Ohhhh, Ellen!
God, I just gave her an award last nigh

PAMELA HANSON

Its an overcast, chilly Sunday afternoon in Washington,

D.C. And Allison Janney is at the Unite to Face Addiction
Rally on the National Mall. She takes a brief respite from
questions about the cause to wax adoringly about Page,
to whom she presented the National Vanguard Award at
Saturday nights HRC National Dinner.
The first time I met her was on Juno, says the
Emmy-winning star of Mom. And I was so intimidated
by this little girl, who looks always younger than she is
how incredibly grounded and powerful her intelligence
is. Any time I spend time with her, I learn something
about the world, because shes so informed and articulate
and she loves art and music and is always turning me
onto to new artists. I always leave her feeling like I know
something new. I love her so much.
Whats not to love about the Canadian-born 28-yearold, whose roles have ranged from a sardonic, pregnant
teen in Juno to the heroic Kitty Pryde in the X-Men series
of films? Page has even endeared herself to the gaming
community, appearing in both likeness and voice in the
moody, cinematically-driven title Beyond: Two Souls.
With Freeheld, Page has undertaken perhaps her
most personal role to date, portraying Stacie Andree, the
domestic partner of New Jersey police detective Laurel
Hester. (See Chris Hellers review on page 38.) Based on
real life events set in 2002, what begins as a blissful swirl
of love and romance quickly turns despondently tragic as

18

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

ight!

Hester is diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

However, there are more hurdles than just health issues.
The detective wants her pension to go to Andree upon her passing, but a craven band of county freeholders stubbornly (and
homophobically) refuse the request, despite state laws that
would allow them to enact the contrary. The battle for equality
that ensued served as a harbinger of things to come, as change
started to sweep the nations attitude about gay marriage. Still,
the movie, magnificently acted by Page, Julianne Moore and
Michael Shannon, serves as a trenchant reminder of how tenuous our legal rights are. We may live in a democratic society, but
we are all subject to the whims and beliefs of those in power.
Freeheld marks the first time Page, who came out in 2014
while speaking at an HRC event, has portrayed a gay character
on screen. Yet she doesnt feel she should receive any special
plaudits for doing so.
When people are [called] brave in regards to playing
LGBTQ people, thats borderline offensive, she told Time
Magazine in August. Im never going to be considered brave
for playing a straight person, and nor should I be. Its hard to
say this, because the context of the film is so deeply tragic, but
for me there was a deep sense of peace on set that I had not
felt in a really long time, potentially since I was a teenager and
first having these really beautiful, fortunate moments in films.
There was something about being out, getting to play a gay
character, and getting to play a woman who is so inspiring to
meit was such an amazing experience for me. Honestly, if I
played gay characters for the rest of my career, Id be thrilled.
I wish I could, honestly!
In person, Page has a luminous, graceful beauty. Theres
a gentleness to her demeanor that the gritty, tough roles she
often undertakes belies. Relaxing in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton

in Georgetown last Friday, she reflected on the award she was

about to get from HRC.
Its an extraordinary honor. I am humbled by it because
I feel like more truly brave and truly courageous people have
done the work that let me get to live the life Im living with my
girlfriend right now.
The girlfriend of nine months artist Samantha Thomas
combined with being fully out has brought a newfound sense of
elation to Pages life.
To experience being in love and get to live my life, hold my
partners hand, bring her to the premiere of the film, go down
the red carpet its all these firsts in my life, she says. Im like,
This is the first time Im in an out relationship in an airplane!
That might sound so insignificant to a lot of people, but probably not to a lot of people in the LGBT community because they
would understand. I cant tell you how special it is. Its really
extraordinary, and I feel really lucky.
As more people like Ellen come out and show that it doesnt
affect their career, all people will feel more comfortable about
being honest about who they are and being authentic, says
Janney, when asked of Matt Damons recent comment that gay
actors ought to remain closeted so as to maintain an air of mystery, allowing them to disappear into roles better. Thats hogwash, of course. Take Page, for instance, who takes passionate
umbrage with Damons comments: shes had no trouble vanishing into the roles she plays. In many regards, Page is very much
like Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore: you forget youre watching a performance and fully believe in the character theyre creating. Its a rare gift that many movie stars lack.
Were actors, says Janney, who will once again join forces
with Page in the upcoming comedy Talullah. It doesnt matter
who we are. Thats what we do, we play different people.

METRO WEEKLY: What was it that got you into acting as a career?
ELLEN PAGE: It was accidental. I was in the drama club and some-

PAGE: I was thinking about girls a lot probably at 14 or 15. But it

one came to my school when I was 10, looking for kids to audition for a CBC movie of the week. I went and auditioned and got
the part. At first I was like, Oh this is a cute experience. Youll
have fun doing this cute thing. At first, I think it was just seen as
this little thing that was happening in my life, and that was going
to be it. So it was like a keep playing soccer, keep your grades
up kind of thing. But then that part turned into a show, and then
that show lead to something else, which lead to something else.
And then, really, it was when I was 15, when I really started to
fall in love with film in general, that I got really excited. I knew
thats what I wanted to do. I moved out and to Toronto when I
was 16, and I just worked and worked.
MW: The turning point was Hard Candy.
PAGE: For my career, for sure. Absolutely.
MW: A difficult film to make, I imagine. You were fairly young at
the time for such harsh subject matter.
PAGE: I was 17. You look back and think, Oh, I was 17. Oh yeah, I
guess that was difficult or intense or a strange film. At the time
I just loved the script, I loved the character, and thrived off the
intensity of it.
MW: Juno gave you the national exposure that propelled your
career forward.
PAGE: Yes, thats when I went from being anonymous to not so
much.
MW: Not being anonymous meant that eventually you had a decision to make. Along those lines, when did you first realize that you

wasnt something that I was fully embracing. I would have boyfriends and things. Then I started to have experiences in the last
year of high school. It wasnt until I was 20 that I was in my first
actual relationship.
MW: Did you come out to your folks at that point?
PAGE: Yeah. Basically I fell in love with someone and was like,
Hey, Im in love with this person, thats that. It wasnt really
like a big coming out.
MW: Howd they take it?
PAGE: Great. They were super-kind to my partner, and lovely to
me. Im really fortunate.
MW: Theres an interesting contrast here, because in Freeheld,
of course, theres a very awkward coming out for Laurel, and an
acknowledgement publicly of her relationship with Stacie. Its ultimately revealed that Laurel could have come out much sooner. Do
you see any parallels in your life?
PAGE: I see parallels in the ability to relate to what it feels like
to be in a closeted relationship, as well as realizing I wish Id
come out way earlier, because Im happier than I could have
ever imagined. For me personally, internally what Id went
through to get to that time was the time I needed, because there
was a period when I thought it was impossible to come out. I
used to think my whole life was going to be in the closet. I was
out to my family and friends but Im talking about that bigger,
public, walking down the street holding a partners hand what
have you. I was looking forward at my life with sadness think-

20

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

were gay?

An idea exists that you cannot be a gay actor, particularly a young, out gay actor. Its an idea that I believed
and participated in. I FELT GUILTY ABOUT NOT

BEING A VISIBLE PERSON FOR THE

LGBT COMMUNITY.

ing, Is this what its going to mean to be an actor? I remember

having those thoughts, which, of course, I dont have anymore
at all. You look back and think, Why did I think that, and why
do people have to think that? And you wanna be like, Stop
thinking that. Lets change this. Lets stop this double standard
in Hollywood. Why cant we have more of an LGBT presence in
Hollywood?
MW: Still, you didnt come out publicly until 2014. Were you pressured to stay in the closet?
PAGE: Its hard to explain. No one was going, You cant be out.
No one was saying that. Its complicated, because I dont think
any of the attitude thats shifting you to believe certain things
is even coming from a negative place. I think its mostly coming from a protective place, a wanting you to have a successful
career place. Theres nothing mean about it, theres not like a
malicious intent with it. I think it is more of a general idea
like any general idea we would have in society that makes our
society homophobic, transphobic, biphobic.
Its just an idea that exists that you cannot be a gay actor,
particularly a young, out gay actor. Its this idea that, for some
reason, I believed and listened to and participated in. I felt guilty
about not being a visible person for the LGBT community. And,
quite frankly, personally, I feel like I should have felt guilty. Im
a very, very privileged person. Of course the right thing to do is
to say Im gay. For myself as a person and for the community,
you know?
MW: Was a weight lifted?
PAGE: Oh, my, yes. Immediately. Immediately. Im happier than I
could have ever imagined, and its a ripple effect in every aspect
of my life, including my work. I think my work suffered being
closeted.
MW: How so?
PAGE: I think being closeted was way, way destructive to my
work. For me personally and this may not be the case for some
people being closed off, being sad, feeling uninspired, losing
an excitement for my job in general, because of just how I was
feeling. It just takes your energy away.
Now that Im out and living my life freely, I feel so much
more open. I feel like my spirit has lifted. I have more energy, I
feel more creatively inspired than Ive potentially ever felt. I feel
way, way, way happier in life and also in my job and in the work
that I do as an out gay actor.
MW: I love how diplomatic you are in your answer.
PAGE: [Laughs.] Well you gotta be careful, right? Because the
truth is I am privileged in a lot of ways. And those in our community that are the most affected and suffer the most are the
most vulnerable. My experience is different from other peoples
experiences. You cant just be like Come out, everybody!
Theres people who, if they would come out, might be at risk of

serious violence, you know? Its different for different people.

You just never know what someones been through. You never
know someones childhood. You never know what their family is
like. I feel like its too easy to be judgemental. Everything is more
complicated than it seems.
MW: Matt Damon recently said that gay actors should stay in the
closet because it allows them to remain a blank slate, and therefore
be better actors they become more believable in their roles. It
was a horrible statement, but does he have a point at all?
PAGE: He doesnt have a point because he related it to sexuality.
Heterosexual actors and actresses do not have to go to great
lengths to hide their sexuality. Yes, of course, keep your private
life private. Protect yourself. Have boundaries. When youre a
public person, you need to think about your safety. But if its in
relation to sexuality, then no thats an unfair double standard.
Heterosexual people walk down the red carpet with their partners all the time, they talk about their children....
MW: Yet if you walk down the red carpet with a girl, and especially
if youre closeted, it becomes a thing.
PAGE: Totally. And I think that will change. And its going to continue to change the more people come out.
MW: Lets talk about the film. What was it like working with
Julianne Moore?
PAGE: Amazing. Shes one of the best actors, ever, I think,
and she is the most generous actor you could work with.
Protective. Kind. Shes there every day with complete and

Laurel and Stacie did

something important and
critical and inspiring in a time
of unimaginable difficulty.
People walk out of the theater
moved, saying, I DONT THINK
I EVER REALLY REALIZED
THAT THIS IS WHAT [LGBT]
PEOPLE HAD TO
DEAL WITH.
METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

21

[Matt Damon]
doesnt have a point
because he related
it to sexuality.
Heterosexual actors
and actresses do not
have to go to great
lengths to hide
their sexuality.

THATS AN
UNFAIR
DOUBLE
STANDARD.
utter excitement and delight because she loves her job. Shes
so hard-working and so meticulous, that when she gets to the
set she operates from this place of complete and utter openness everything is about the present moment. And my favorite part of the job is that moment with another actor. Its that
reality youre creating in the midst of the world around you,
creating a moment hopefully as authentically and as truthfully
as possible, but is separate from the reality in which we exist.
And when youre working with someone like Julianne, she just
forces you to be present.
MW: It must have been a challenge to film the latter-stage cancer
scenes, as they were so realistic. Its not just brutal on Laurel, but
on Stacie, who has to cope with the fact that the woman she loves
is dying and theres nothing she can do about it, though she tries.
PAGE: This film goes to an extra emotional level because you
know it was actually someones experience. Never could I ever
begin to imagine or remotely understand what this experience
was like for Stacie. We care very much about Stacie wed
be shooting, text her from set, always wanted to make her feel
included and safe, and to know that we had her best interest in
our hearts.
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OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

MW: This is such a small, intimate film and everything else in mov-

ies these days seems like a big, cinematic event to draw people
into theaters. I worry if its going to be a tough marketing sell to
audiences.
PAGE: I absolutely hear what youre saying, but I think something
were seeing mostly in television is that there is this desire to
be watching stories about LGBT people and African-American
people. Theres this desire to see more of a reflection of reality.
And people, for the most part, love a love story. Theyre drawn to
a stunning love story, and I feel like lesbians havent really had a
movie like this in the sense that men have had Milk, Philadephia,
Brokeback. Of course, weve had wonderful love stories between
women, but nothing necessarily like this.
MW: What does the movie mean to you, personally?
PAGE: For me, the film is a celebration of how far weve come
in a short amount of time this happened only ten years ago.
Its also a demonstration of how important that recent Supreme
Court decision is. Because if these women could have gotten
married, they wouldnt have been in this situation. And, of
course, when we have this amazing moment of progress, there
tends to be backlash. I hope that this film can show people, with
the emotional throughline of a love story, that Hey look, were
the same, no different. Were just asking to be treated equally.
I think Laurel and Stacie did something important and critical and inspiring in a time of unimaginable difficulty. And I think
that is the thing that makes [straight] people walk out of the theater moved, saying I dont think I ever really realized that this
is what [LGBT] people had to deal with. I keep hearing people
walk out and go like, God, it feels like it took place in the 70s
how did this happen ten years ago? And you also want to be like,
Hey, a lot of people still want this to be happening.
MW: One thing that struck me was that, though its set in 2002,
Freeheld raises the subject of personal religious preferences, much
like whats happening with county clerk Kim Davis. It seems to be
the new weapon of our opponents.
PAGE: Religious freedom, religious liberty its so important,
so crucial. Sadly weve seen it used and abused to discriminate
whether its been based on gender or race, and now LGBT
people. I think it will go away, because theres a momentum. I
think of how far weve come how far so many people who at a
certain point would have had this mindset. And its just because
theyre not exposed to LGBT people. The more and more people
are coming out, the more and more people are living their lives
openly, the more and more people have personal connections
and understand that were all the same, it changes. So I think
right now, I think its a loud minority at least in this country. Obviously, there are places in the world where you can get
thrown in jail for being gay.
The thing that makes me the most sad is when I just see people misunderstanding each other, inflicting pain on one another.
Discrimination in general, whether its towards the LGBT community, the African American community, the First Nations
community, the environment, which please, Im a part of, too
Im sitting in the Ritz with water bottles, right now. But you hear
what Im saying. I often just think it comes from a place of lack of
exposure, misunderstanding, perpetuating a certain rhetoric for
whether its political gain, or what have you. But it makes me sad
to think of people growing up and being made to feel less than.
MW: Do you think there be a day when were all out and visible?
PAGE: I feel hopeful enough to say yes, dont you?
Freeheld opens Friday, Oct. 9 at the Landmark E Street and
Bethesda Theatres. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

23

g
o
D
d
a
B
Gay Family

Screenwriter Jennifer Ho
ppe-House wanted to tell
about a family one wher
a story
the least of everyones e being gay was
By Connor J. Hogan // Phworries
otography by Barbara Gree
n

e says.
couldnt break into television, Jennifer Hoppe-Hous
time. She
So I wrote a feature with my girlfriend at the
partner.
became my writing partner and is still my writing
ts for FXs
With Nancy Fichman, Hoppe-House has penned scrip
ie.
Frank
and
Damages, Showtimes Nurse Jackie, and Netflixs Grace
val, Hoppe-House
Now, as part of the Womens Voices Theater Festi
which deals with
is setting out on her own with her play Bad Dog,
nce them both.
addiction, family, and the shared stories that influe

METRO WEEKLY: Tell me a little bit about Bad Dog.

JENNIFER HOPPE-HOUSE: I wanted to make a play about people

who happen to be gay not a play about people being gay. We

all have other issues. We dont deal with the issue of being gay
for the rest of our lives. I also wanted to deal with addiction from
the perspective of the addict. There are a lot of plays from the
perspective of the people that addicts hurt, but addicts feel a lot
of pain, too. They take that pain from their families and they go
out into the world and they experience more of it, and they cause
more of it. Lastly, I wanted to see how a family is remembered
as a group. How do we treat our mutual histories? How do we
remember it the same, and how do we remember it differently?
How does humor affect that history? I also finally wanted to
write something by myself.
MW: What was your family life like?
HOPPE-HOUSE: I grew up in Dallas. I went to an arts magnet high
school, and discovered playwriting there. It was the coolest
thing it was the 80s, and in that part of Dallas, in this high
school, nobody thought about being gay. There wasnt a stigma
attached to it. Most of the guys in the dance department were
gay. There were all kinds of races, all kinds of sexual identities
in the 80s in Dallas. There, I found my pockets of people and I
said, Oh, this is part of life, I dont have to be stigmatized by it.
Ive been out since I was 17 or 18. I never hid it from anyone
24

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

no employer, nobody at a dinner party, nobody anywhere. My

mother used to call it being gay with a vengeance.
MW: When did you realise you were gay?
HOPPE-HOUSE: I had a friend my best friend who I was madly
in love with, but I had no idea I was in love. She was straight, but
you know, we were teenagers. Youre coming into your sexuality, and there are all those questions: What do you do? Who do
you do it with? Theres such a curiosity and excitement behind
sex when youre a teenager. Thats the thing about sex and sexuality, youre kept from it until youre old enough. I remember
I had boy dates and nothing really happened. One day, I slow
danced with my best friend and my blood suddenly became carbonated. I was driving home and thinking: What is wrong with
me? Am I gay? Then I was like, Oh forget it. Theres not much
I can do about this.
So I know there was a transition period between feeling
sexual attraction towards a girl and accepting myself as gay, but
once I accepted it, I was off. My sister even talked to me about it
and we went out to lunch. She was older and very somber about
it. Then I found out, years later, that she was gay.
MW: It must have been pretty incredible to learn that your sister
was also gay?
HOPPE-HOUSE: For me, it was important to represent that story
on stage. Its part of my life and its part of life for a lot of people.

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

25

and my blood sudnd

ie
fr
st
be
my
th
wi
ed
I slow danc
WHAT IS WRONG WITH
T,
GH
OU
TH
I
.
ed
at
on
rb
ca
denly became
h forget it. Theres
O
,
ke
li
s
wa
I
en
Th

Y?
ME? AM I GA
this.
not much I can do about
Its very much part of the world that I live in and I wanted
that to be seen.
One of [Olneys] donors asked me, How come you have two
gay women in this play? How come there are two sisters who are
gay? Its because I have come across that a lot like a lot. I have
probably ten to fifteen friends who are gay and who have gay
siblings as well. I know one family where its three out of four.
Talk about a fun Thanksgiving. Everybody can cook, everybody
is funny, and the table looks fabulous.
MW: You mentioned addiction, is that something you have personally dealt with?
HOPPE-HOUSE: It is. Ive had to deal with it in so many different
ways. Ive had to stop smoking pot. Ive had to stop drinking.
Ive had to stop taking sleeping pills of any kind. I was treated
for ADD, and I got addicted to pain medication and ended up
in treatment for it. I am an addict, but I am being treated for it.
MW: How did you get involved with screenwriting and, more specifically, Grace and Frankie?
HOPPE-HOUSE: When I realized that I could actually make money
writing, I thought, Ill just move to Los Angeles, and become
a TV writer which didnt happen. I just couldnt break into
television. So I wrote a feature with my girlfriend at the time.
Shes still my writing partner. We were together for 10 years,
and now we are just exes in a room bickering in front of people.

26

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

We were friends with the creator of Nurse Jackie who liked

our writing a lot, and the well was starting to run dry for us, so
they said Come on to Nurse Jackie. Thats how we got started
in television. Then, we landed in Marta Kauffmans office and
Howard Morris was there they are the creators of Grace
and Frankie and we just hit it off. I am in love with Marta
Kauffman. She is my mentor and my friend, and the greatest boss
Ive ever had. Shes maternal and loving and generous. Im very
lucky. Now I say good morning to Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin
every morning.
MW: How does it feel to be writing for two legends?
HOPPE-HOUSE: I write for the characters. But when I get down
to the set and Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are saying the words
that I wrote, I cant believe it. Its like slow dancing with that girl
the first time. Its like, Whoa my blood is carbonated. I mean,
I was and am a huge Lily Tomlin fan every time I see her I
giggle. I still cant believe she knows my name.
Bad Dog is part of the Womens Voices Festival and runs to
October 25 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd,
Olney, MD. Tickets range from $35 to $55. For more information
call 301-924-340 or visit olneytheatre.org.
Read Doug Rules review of Bad Dog on page 34. l

Gluttonous Gaming
by Rhuaridh Marr

HIS HOLIDAY SEASON, GAMERS HAVE

a bevy of incredible titles to look forward
to. As the nights draw in, the weather cools
and we all retreat indoors, what better time
is there to get lost in the wonders of a digital
world? Publishers clearly agree, as the run
up to the holidays is when most major franchises launch
their latest editions and console manufacturers wage war
by producing system-defining titles designed to showcase
why their hardware deserves your hard-earned dollars.
To keep on top of this incredibly busy release season,
weve compiled a list of 16 essential titles you need to
pay attention to and one you should definitely avoid.
Whether its high-octane racing, fast-paced gunplay, emotional puzzlers, finger-crushing music games, or delightful
platformers, theres something for everyone here. Ready
your fingers folks and get ready to game on.

Just Cause 3

OCTOBER
ROCK BAND 4

Harmonix
PS4, Xbox One
Like every great music biography, its the year
of the comeback for music games. Harmonix
has taken Rock Band to rehab, cleaned it up,
stripped it back to its roots and is sending it out
on an intimate tour to get fans reacquainted
with its incredible group gameplay. Gone is all
the fat: theres no online play, a pared down
setlist and career mode has been overhauled.
Harmonixs focus was on Rock Bands core
functionality: grabbing three friends, deciding on the lead singer, guitarist, bassist and
drummer (or, indeed, rotating between roles)
and then rocking out in the living room on the
series high quality, plastic instruments. Aiding
that is a new Solos mode that lets players create
their own riffs during songs mash as many
buttons as you like, theres no penalties, just
creativity. Whats more, while its arguably
the weakest setlist to date (.38 Special, The
Outfield, The Both anyone? No?), if youve
METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

27

purchased any of the thousands of tracks available on PS3 or

Xbox 360, theyll all work here. Get ready to rock again. (Now
available)
UNCHARTED: THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION

Sony Computer Entertainment

PS4
Sony has a relatively light first-party lineup this holiday season.
Rather than schedule any major new releases (most were pushed
to 2016), theyre instead relying on remakes and remasters to
pad out the calendar. Still, there are certainly worse games than
the Uncharted series to overhaul. Oft lauded as among the best of
the last generation, Nathan Drakes Indiana Jones-aping adventures featured incredible graphics, sumptuous voice acting and
deeply cinematic gameplay.
Naughty Dogs flagship franchise wowed gamers on PS3
and thanks to upgraded textures and lighting and a rock solid
60 frames-per-second at 1080p courtesy of Bluepoint Games
should wow gamers old and new all over again on Sonys latest console. One point though, the series surprisingly popular
multiplayer has been excised. Instead, players gain access to the
Uncharted 4 multiplayer beta (penciled in for December). Sony
giveth, Bluepoint taketh away. (10/09)
YOSHIS WOOLLY WORLD

Nintendo
Wii U
If Sonys cupboard looks barren, thats nothing for whats happening over at Nintendo. Almost every major release that the
company teased lacks a release date or has been pushed from
this year (Star Fox, were looking at you), leaving a small handful
of titles to please the ten million people who bought a Wii U. No,
really, ten million. We were surprised, too.
Snark aside, Yoshis Woolly World is a game that really only
could have came from Nintendo (or perhaps Media Molecule).
Yoshi returns to consoles in a side-scroller notable for two
reasons. First is that his world and every character within is
fashioned from yarn. Each texture looks as though it were handknitted for the game its gorgeous. Second is that we Americans
(and Canadians) have been forced to wait four months to get our
hands on Yoshis yarn balls. Europe and Australia received the
game in June. (10/16)
GUITAR HERO LIVE

Activision
PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Whereas Rock Band is going back to its roots, Guitar Hero is
ditching its former manager and exploring a more modern
sound in a bid to appeal to those burned out on the series last
generation. Gone are the other instruments (vocals remain), in
comes a new, 6-button guitar and a focus on putting you, the
player, at the center of your own live rock concert.
How will it accomplish that? Full motion video. Yes, people,
FMV games are back, though here its part of a highly polished
presentation that wants to give gamers the closest to experience
of actually rocking out at a concert short of having bottles of urine
thrown at you from the crowd. Theres no backwards compatibility for music here, instead Guitar Hero TV will essentially be
Spotify for Guitar Hero, offering curated, constantly updated playlists for gamers to choose from (and presumably pay for). (10/20)

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ASSASSINS CREED SYNDICATE

Ubisoft
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Another year, another Assassins Creed. After the somewhat
lukewarm reception of Unity last year it was ambitious but
deeply flawed Ubisoft has transplanted gamers to Victorian
London during the latter part of the Industrial Revolution.
Players can choose from two protagonists, brother and sister duo
Jacob and Evie Frye. Jacob utilizes brute strength, while Evie
uses her wits and stealth. Expect guns, swords, knifes, grappling
hooks (very du jour in Victorian times, didnt you know?) and
controllable carriages.
Can it rejuvenate this rather tired franchise? It remains to be
seen. If Ubisoft can actually make the game run proficiently and
get the loading times to under three days, it could certainly be
more enjoyable than Unity. (10/23)
HALO 5: GUARDIANS

Microsoft
Xbox One
The game that cemented Xbox as a legitimate contender returns
for its fifth outing, with an increasingly incomprehensible plot,
eye-searingly pretty graphics, and at least 215% more Nathan
Fillion. It also introduces substantial changes for the campaign.
As well as taking control of series protagonist Master Chief,
players will also control Spartan Locke and the other members
of Fireteam Osiris either as the leader, issuing commands to
AI-controlled comrades, or as up to four players playing cooperatively.
Multiplayer has also been extensively reworked, stripping
away the Call of Duty-inspired levelling system and putting players back onto an equal plane. Instead of adding attributes, youll
be battling for control of the best weapons on any given map
much like the incredible glory days of the first two Halo titles. As
long as Microsoft and 343 Industries can prevent the embarrassing failures of the Master Chief Collection from plaguing it, Halo
5 could be an incredible addition to Master Chiefs ongoing quest
to save humanity/the universe/his own sanity. (10/27)
MINECRAFT: STORY MODE SEASON PASS DISC

Telltale Games
Mac, PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita,
Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS
Telltale has a solid history of turning unexpected franchises into
solid, story-driven games, so weve every faith that Minecraft:
Story Mode will do justice to the incredibly popular blocky
world-builder. However, they also deserve notoriety for the
most inconceivably pointless release this fall. Minecraft: Story
Mode will actually release digitally on October 13, but two weeks
later a disc version follows. Great, you may think, as that saves
on having to download the game except theres a problem.
Telltale releases these games episodically over a period of
months. The full game wont be available on October 27. What,
exactly, does the disc contain? The very same season pass thats
available digitally buy the disc and youll still have to download episodes two through five when they release. No, we dont
get it either. (10/27)
WWE 2K16

2K Games
PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
With the hottest, sweatiest man-on-man action this side of
PornHub and more melodrama than a Univision telenovela,

WWE 2K16 is the latest annual gaming

update of everyones favorite fake sport.
Expect gameplay refinements, graphical improvements, liberally oiled (and
beautifully detailed) musculature, and
randomly, playable versions of Arnold
Schwarzeneggers T-800 Terminator.
(10/27)

NOVEMBER
NEED FOR SPEED

EA
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Another franchise that suffered from EAs demands for yearly
titles, Need for Speed took a break for 2014 the first year we
havent had a new NFS game since the early 00s. This time
around, were treated to yet another reboot in a series thats had
more facelifts than a Real Housewife. Taking inspiration from
NFSs most popular titles Underground and Underground 2
its a restrained experience this time around, with races taking
place on tight, beautifully-rendered city streets and crammed
with slick, beautifully-rendered real world cars.
Your focus here is winning races, unlocking points and then
spending those points on micro-managing and upgrading your
auto. Pick a focus, drifting or racing, and youll be dropped into
its campaign featuring live action cutscenes (without the
awful green screens used in past entries). If developer Ghost
Games can return Need for Speed to its racing and tuning past,
we could have the first must-buy for the franchise in years. (11/3,
early 2016 for PC)
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III

Activision
PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Black Ops III flashes the story forward forty years to a future where
air warfare is nullified by incredibly sophisticated air defense
systems. Thus, warring nations must resort to covert operations
behind enemy lines, utilizing science, technology and robotics to
help soldiers become supersoldiers and oh, who cares?
No one will play Black Ops IIIs campaign. Everyone will play
its overhauled multiplayer, which makes use of the future tech
to give players jetpacks, advanced weaponry and sci-fi abilities
to take down enemies with. Ever-popular zombies mode returns
with both a campaign and multiplayer elements. Multiplayer is
so popular and the main story so inconsequential that the latter
was removed from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions theyre
multiplayer only. (11/6)
RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER

Square Enix
Xbox One
Two years ago, Crystal Dynamics rebooted the story of Lara Croft
known to gamers everywhere as the original PlayStations
badass treasure hunter and dinosaur slayer. It was such an
incredible, emotional, gorgeously depicted reimagining of Laras
early years that we awarded it five stars in our review. For the
sequel, which is a timed exclusive to Microsofts console, players
will be treated to even prettier graphics, more tomb raiding and
even greater puzzles to complete, all while controlling a more
battle-hardened Lara than the ingenue we were treated to last
time around. Were already sold. (11/10)

FALLOUT 4 (above)

Bethesda Softworks
PC, PS4, Xbox One
One of the most anticipated games this year, last year and really
since Fallout: New Vegas was released in 2010, Fallout 4 is the
latest mammoth effort in the post-nuclear apocalypse survival
RPG franchise. Set in a ruined Boston, players (and their canine
companion) will explore hundreds of locations, enjoy deeply
expansive character creation, engage in romances, produce children, build, maintain and defend their own homes (which can
grow to become towns), and work through the myriad of quests
and side missions that typify the Fallout experience.
This time around, players will take control of their character on the day the bombs drop in 2077, before taking shelter underground in Vault 111. Theyll emerge 200 years later
as the sole survivor, with the entirety of Boston and parts of
the Commonwealth to explore. An improved V.A.T.S. system,
detailed graphics, an enhanced color palette (goodbye, grey and
brown!), and the potential for mod support on Xbox One mean
that we couldnt be any more excited for release day. (11/10)
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT

EA
PC, PS4, Xbox One
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, gamers could find some
of the best multiplayer action of the PS2 era. Battlefront took the
Star Wars franchise and dropped players in the midst of many
of the iconic, large-scale battles that took place within George
Lucas universe as well as numerous new and imagined conflicts. Handed the keys to an X-Wing, given control of a blaster,
or asked to not cut their own limbs off with a lightsaber, players
would fight as part of the rebels or the empire to gain control
of a particular location usually by eradicating the other team.
Now, just like the film franchise, its back. Rebooted by EA
and using their powerful Frostbite 3 engine, its Battlefront for a
modern era, with multiplayer for up to 40 people, 12 maps, midair dogfights and the ability to control a number of Star Wars
greatest characters. If you want to battle as Luke against Vader
on Hoth, with AT-ATs stomping past and TIE fighters zooming
overhead, its all here. Oh, and it looks amazing. (11/17)

DECEMBER
TOM CLANCYS RAINBOW SIX: SIEGE

Ubisoft
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Venerable espionage writer Tom Clancy may have died in 2013,
but his name lives on through the Rainbow Six series of games
(and his millions of book sales, of course). Siege strips back
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OCTOBER 8, 2015

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Yoshis Woolly World

the franchises many

entries and instead
focuses on tense,
close-quarters combat between small
teams.
Opposing
teams are dropped
into a number of
environments and
situations and then
tasked with either completing a task or eradicating the opposite
team. Hostage mode, for instance, could place one team inside
a house and demand that they prevent the opposing team from
breaching the building and rescuing the hostage.
Siege features a pretty incredible destruction engine, which
makes the most of the games destructive weapons. If you want
to blow a hole in a wall and charge through, guns blaring you
can. On the other hand, why not send a drone, scout out the
location, and plan a swift and silent attack? Teamwork will be
rewarded and players will be locked to a specific class during
play, so this definitely isnt a game for those who like to play
multiplayer bouts with a rocket launcher and grenades and no
regard for teammates. For everyone else, it should be heartpounding fun. (12/1)
JUST CAUSE 3

Square Enix
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Speaking of heart-pounding fun, Just Cause 3 isnt so much a shot
of adrenaline as it is a pound of crack cocaine on an extremely
generous I.V. drip. Rico Rodriguez and his gravity-defying grap-

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pling hook return, this time to a fictional Mediterranean island

ruled by a brutal dictator with global ambitions. Theres 400
stunningly realized miles of terrain and ocean to cover, with
more verticality (both above and below ground) than the previous game, as well as new planes, cars, bikes, boats, weapons, and
abilities. Chief among those is the wingsuit which, alongside the
grappling hook and parachute, should give players even more
reason to get as much flight time as possible.
Oh, and did we mention that the destruction engine is even
more thorough and advanced than ever before? And that the
hook can now tether multiple objects together? We cant wait
to attach three tanks to a helicopter and make the worlds most
awesome wrecking ball. (12/1)
XENOBLADE CHRONICLES X

Nintendo
Wii U
Another title that has taken on flagship status for the Wii U in
the absence of any other first-party (and most third-party) titles,
Xenoblade Chronicles X actually has a pretty interesting history.
An open world JRPG, the Wii original debuted to critical acclaim
in 2010, but no American release was scheduled by Nintendo.
Fans demanded a release, forming organizations specifically
devoted to asking Nintendo to bring the game to our shores. Two
years later a limited run of discs were produced, and copies of the
game now sell for up to $100. This time around theres no such
fan campaign as Nintendo has only delayed Xenoblades release
by nine months. If you loved the original and own a Wii U, or
like JRPGs, Xenoblade looks to more of the same, albeit heavily
upgraded for the Wii Us extra oomph. For anyone else who owns
a Wii U and isnt a fan of the genre, roll on 2016. (12/4 ) l

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OCTOBER 8 - 15, 2015

Compiled by Doug Rule

Pond (L) and Hansen

SPOTLIGHT

PHOTO CREDIT

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR

CARL RIZZI AKA MAME DENNIS

Pond
Farewell
The band Matt Pond PA is gearing up for its final tour

GH, I SOUND LIKE A HIPPIE, MATT POND SIGHS, HIS FRUSTRATION WITH
the current state of the music industry evident. I feel like Im allowing myself
to be swallowed by negativity. I dont want to do that. Id like to have positive
thoughts, you know?
The bands current label, Doghouse Records, is trying to crush us, he explains, adding,
Im not exaggerating. As a result of a full-on brawl with the label Pond and bandmate Chris
Hansen dont expect to see a dime from album The State of Gold, released earlier this year and
have completely soured on doing anything more. After years of throwing their all into their
music a full-time job even if youre just barely scraping by in a part-time way its over
for the band Matt Pond PA.
Id rather...focus on something more in my community to build something tangible, he
says. I love music more than anything, but I think we have to break up.
Currently, Pond is ignoring the negativity, as he gears up to tour the country with his band
of 17 years. Its a last hurrah before an indefinite hiatus and it kicks off next Wednesday, Oct.
14, at D.C.s Rock and Roll Hotel. These may be the last times we see these places. And there
are people that come to see us play and thats amazing! I dont take it for granted, he says.
After the tour, Pond will focus on opening an equity-based distillery/restaurant and bar
in Kingston, N.Y., the town in the Catskills that has become the Pennsylvania natives refuge.
Yet music is still likely to factor into his future. For one, he would like to perform live at his
prospective Kingston establishment, and he says fans from all over can come have a free drink
or more, or they could stay on my floor.
Pond also hopes to mentor budding musicians, such as his tours opening acts, cellist Shawn
Alpay, also a member of Matt Pond PA and fellow New York-based singer-songwriter Laura
Stevenson. Anything I can do to help anyone else who I care about or whose music I love I
would do in a second, Pond says. I mean, thats the point the point of not only music but
living. Doug Rule
Matt Pond PA performs Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the Rock and Roll Hotel,
1353 H St. NE. Tickets are $16. Call 202-388-ROCK or visit rockandrollhoteldc.com.
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The revue Love, Love, Love honors the

life of Carl Rizzi, who was legendary
around town as drag performer Mame
Dennis. Rizzi founded the Academy
of Washington, which among other
distinctions became instrumental in
fundraising for Whitman-Walker back
when AIDS was ravaging the community in the 80s. A small group
of the late Rizzis friends, including
Frank Nowicki and Jim McGlade,
will pay their respects in a special
event at Town Danceboutique, which
has donated its space for the tribute. Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. Town
Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW.
Call 202-234-TOWN or visit theacademyofwashingtoninc.com.

ALL THINGS GO FALL CLASSIC

Over the past four years, the D.C.based All Things Go has grown from
its roots as a music-promoting website and blog to a presenter of concerts both locally and nationally.
This weekend the company offers the
second Fall Classic on the outdoor
stage at D.C.s hip Union Market.
Just as last years event headlined
by Future Islands and Tove Lo, the
lineup this year is a strong showcase
of buzzed-about indie acts, led by upand-coming Norwegian dance artist
Kygo as well as sharp neo-disco New
York band The Knocks. We certainly
pride ourselves on a certain level of
discovery, All Things Gos Will Suter
told Metro Weekly last year. Curated
food selections will also be on offer in
Dock 5 from popular vendors including Maketto, Takorean, the Bespoke
Kitchen and Dolcezza. Saturday, Oct.
10, starting at noon, at Dock 5 at Union
Market, 1309 5th St. NE. Tickets are
$60 in advance or $80 day-of. Call
800-680-9095 or visit allthingsgofallclassic.com.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

Marin Alsop leads the BSO in Edward

Berkeleys concert adaptation of
Prokofievs sumptuous ballet piece
Romeo and Juliet, derived from the
Bards classic play, featuring seven
local actors and presented in association with Folger Theatre. Friday, Oct.
16, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, at
3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore.
Also Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301

Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.

Tickets are $10 to $99. Call 410-7838000 or visit bsomusic.org.

CAKE OFF

Signature presents the world-premiere of a wild musical satire about

a battle-of-the-baking-sexes starring
Sherri L. Edelen and Todd Buonopane
from Broadways Cinederella. Joe
Calarco directs the show written by
Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia
Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam
Gwon (Ordinary Days). To Nov. 22.
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell
Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or
visit signature-theatre.org.

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 emphasizing 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 the Loire Valley, demonstrating how to cook a salad of warm goat
cheese, salmon with beurre blanc and
an apple tart tatin. Saturday, Oct.
10, at 11 a.m. Hill Center, Old Navy
Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
Cost is $85. Call 202-549-4172 or visit
HillCenterDC.org.

LA-TI-DO

Regie Cabico and Don Mike Mendozas

La-Ti-Do variety show is neither karaoke nor cabaret. In addition to higherquality singing than most impromptu
karaoke, Cabico and co-host Mendoza
also select storytellers who offer spoken-word poetry and comedy. Held
at James Hobans on Dupont Circle,
the shows in October feature Chris
Sizemore, one of the most valued players in D.C.s musical theater scene,
a regular star at Signature Theatre
especially, plus the newly formed
American Pops Orchestra and the
National Broadway Chorus, both led
by Luke Frazier. Monday nights at 8
p.m. James Hobans Irish Restaurant
& Bar, 1 Dupont Circle NW. Tickets
are $15, or only $7 if you eat dinner at
the restaurant beforehand. Call 202223-8440 or visit latidodc.wix.com/
latidodc.

MARGARET CHO

A bisexual San Francisco native of

Korean descent, Margaret Cho is preparing to return to sitcom television
this fall as a guest on ABCs Dr. Ken
two decades after her short-lived but
pioneering ABC series, All-American
Girl. But right now the 46-year-old is
embarking on a new stand-up concert,
which shell tour throughout the U.S.
and Europe this fall. And in each city,
Cho, an ordained minister, will marry,

live on stage, a couple selected from

a group of online applicants in each
city inspired by her decade-long
work in fighting for marriage equality.
I think it will be such a great memory
for people a joyful celebration of
what weve created, Cho told Metro
Weekly in a recent interview. Ive had
a number of people propose to their
partners at my shows, so its become
a semi-regular feature in the journey
towards marriage equality, and where
weve been legally over the last 15
years. Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. Warner
Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. Tickets are
$41.50 to $74.50. Call 202-783-4000 or
visit warnertheatredc.com.

MEGAN HILTY

Over the past decade, actress Megan

Hilty has played Glinda in Wicked,
Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5: The Musical
and Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes, but shes most widely known
as the ambitious Ivy Lynn on Smash,
the NBC television series about the
making of a new musical. Hilty makes
her debut at the Barns at Wolf Trap
performing theatrical favorites and
songs off her debut pop album, It
Happens All The Time. Friday, Oct. 9, at
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf
Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $45 to $50. Call 877-WOLFTRAP
or visit wolftrap.org.

OASIS DANCE COMPANYS

BENEFIT GALA

The Enchanted Forest is this local

LGBT-oriented companys annual gala,
a benefit show for Josephs House, and
featuring the fifth annual gala AlstonGillard Awards, which will honor individuals who have helped LGBT youth
in the D.C. metro area: Eleanor Holmes
Norton, Luna Luis, Sheila Alexander
Reid, Cornelius Baker, Serena K. Parks,
Alan Sharpe and Travis Wise. Sunday,
Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. Lang Theatre at Atlas
Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE.
General admission is $25, VIP tickets
start at $50. Call 202-399-7993 or visit
oasisdanceco.com.

PAN

Billed as a prequel to J.M. Barries

Peter Pan story, this British-American
blockbuster fantasy adventure offers
another swing through Neverland,
this time with Hugh Jackman as
Blackbeard, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily
and Amanda Seyfried as Mary and Levi
Miller as 12-year-old Peter. Joe Wright
directs. Opening Friday, Oct. 9. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.

ROBERT J. PRIORE

Speak-Easy features Amikaeyla Gaston

singing live covers of standards by Ella
Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne
and Etta James, all while a multi-ethnic
cast of dancers explore the difficulties
that LGBT and interracial couples face
in finding love and maintaining relationships. The Kennedy Center presents two free performances from this
gay CityDance choreographer as part
of its Millennium Stage programming.
Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10,
at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium

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33

Stage. Tickets are free. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

SPOOKY MOVIE: HORROR FILM

FESTIVAL

NICHOLAS GRINER

Now in its 10th year, the Spooky Movie

International Horror Film Festival
offers 10 days of horror-filled screenings. The festival opens on Thursday,
Oct. 8 with Kyle Rankins new zombie comedy starring Deb Clarington,
Night of the Living Deb. Other standout
attractions include visual artist Corin
Hardys arresting first film The Hallow,
a sensation at this years Sundance
Film Festival (Saturday, Oct. 10), two
Spooky Shorts Showcases (Sunday,
Oct. 11), and two 40th anniversarypegged screenings of The Rocky Horror
Picture Show with underground drag
performer Peaches Christ, on Sunday,
Oct. 17. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633
Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets
are $12 for regular screenings, or an All
Fest Pass is $80. Call 301-495-6720 or
visit afi.com/Silver or spookyfest.com.

STORY DISTRICT AND CAPITAL

PRIDE: OUT & ABOUT

Good
Grief
Olney Theatres Bad Dog is a very funny comedy about
serious problems

LCOHOLISM IS NO LAUGHING MATTER SO YOU MIGHT BE SURprised at how much youll laugh during Jennifer Hoppe-Houses endearing
and funny Bad Dog (HHHHH). A comedy about serious problems, Bad Dog
is downright hilarious, especially in the hands of the exemplary cast director Jeremy
B. Cohen has assembled for Olneys world premiere production. Holly Twyford and
Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan are perfectly cast as the troubled yet trenchant Molly and her
wife, the sweet, sympathetic Abby, a therapist who has only ever known the alcoholic
Molly as sober until now. Yet even greater laughs not to mention dramatic fireworks are to be found in interchanges between Molly and her uber-Jewish mother,
Lois (a captivating Naomi Jacobson) and especially her competitive sister Linda (a
feisty Emily Townley).
We also meet Mollys oldest and more demure sister Becky (Amy McWilliams),
her father Walter (Leo Erickson), and the woman for whom Walter left Lois thirty
years ago, Sondra (Gladys Rodriguez). It turns out the entire Drexler clan has been
summoned to Molly and Abbys home after a drunken Molly rammed her Prius into
her house, effectively realized by set designer Tony Cisek.
The manifest hole in the living room wall isnt as nearly as large as the internal,
emotional holes left over a lifetime by Mollys supremely dysfunctional family.
Its not giving too much away to say that the show ends with Molly and family in
full-on bad dog mode yet also with a clear sense that things wont be the same
going forward. Molly eventually breaks down and cries over how things have played
out and she also grieves, quite probably for the first time, over the loss of her dog,
whose freakish recent death contributed to her relapse. Its amazing what good grief
can do. Doug Rule
Bad Dog runs to Oct. 25 at the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center,
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $42.
Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

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Formerly known as Speakeasy DC,

storytelling organization Story District
once again teams up with Capital
Pride, this time for a special night of
stories in honor of National Coming
Out Day. Storytellers include Mike
Boyd, Alex Brewer, Cristina CalvilloRivera, Gina Chirillo, Morgan Givens,
Robin Katcher, Alan Mishler and
Amanda Sapir. Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7:30
p.m. Malmaison, 3401 Water St. NW.
Tickets are $25. Call 202-817-3340 or
visit storydistrict.org.

THE CAPITAL HEARINGS

One of D.C.s most versatile a cappella

ensembles, the five-year-old Capital
Hearings have performed everywhere
from embassies to flash mobs to roller derbies. Before a series of holiday
performances, the group offers a fall
concert of classical, jazz and contemporary a cappella tunes a diverse mix
ranging from Hildegard von Bingen to
Indigo Girls to Lady Gaga built on
the theme Spark of Genius exploring
the ways in which technology impacts
our lives. Local singer-songwriter
Margot MacDonald will perform as
special guest, demonstrating her talents with live digital looping. The fall
concert takes place in the attractive
performance space at downtowns
newly remodeled First Congregational
United Church of Christ. Saturday,
Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. Live! at 10th and G,
945 G ST. NW. TIckets are $20 in
advance, or $25 at the door, which
includes post-concert dessert reception with wine and beer. Call 202-6284317 or visit thecapitalhearings.com.

FILM
BIG STONE GAP

Adriana Trigiani directs a tale of

family secrets and self-discovery in
a small coal-mining town during the
late 1970s and featuring a star-studded
cast including Ashley Judd, Patrick

Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jane

Krakowski, Anthony LaPaglia and
Jasmine Guy. Opening Friday, Oct.
9. Regal Kingstowne Stadium 16 &
RPX, 5910 Kingstowne Towne Center.
Alexandria. Call 844-462-7342 or visit
regmovies.com.

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT

DEAD: THE STORY OF THE
NATIONAL LAMPOON

Director Douglas Tirola unearths

never-before-seen archival footage to
relive National Lampoons meteoric
rise from go-to magazine of the counterculture to a brand synonymous with
Hollywoods biggest comedies. Opens
Friday, Oct. 9; Tirola will appear for a
Q&A on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30
p.m. Landmarks E Street Cinema, 555
11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit
landmarktheatres.com.

HE NAMED ME MALALA

He Named Me Malala is Davis

Guggenheim
(An
Inconvenient
Truth)s intimate, inspirational portrait of Malala Yousafzai, who survived the Talibans attempt to kill her
and has emerged, now at age 18, as a
leading advocate for childrens rights
and last year became the youngestever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Opening Friday, Oct. 9. Area theaters.
Visit fandango.com.

LABYRINTH OF LIES

What if, a mere thirteen years after

WWII ended, most Germans had no
idea what happened in Auschwitz? A
pretty chilling thought even more
so when one realizes that its true.
Post-war, thousands of Nazi soldiers
and officials returned to normal life
and were ignored by a country that
only wanted to heal. Labyrinth of Lies
offers a facts-based retelling of the
Frankfurt Auschwitz trials, in which
prosecutors tracked down and convicted those who had helped killed
hundreds of thousands of Jewish people and other minority groups. Johann
Radmann (Alexander Fehling) is the
prosecutor in question, with Giulio
Ricciarellis film already selected by
Germany to contend for the foreign
language Oscar next year.Opening
Friday, Oct. 9. Area theaters. Visit
fandango.com.

PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD:
NIGHT NURSE

Hill Centers Pre-Code Hollywood

series Tough Dames in Satin Slips
focuses on films from a period just
before Hollywood cracked down on
directors and screenwriters with
moral guidelines known as the Hays
Code, spurred on by a threatened
Catholic Church boycott. Journalist
Margaret Talbot and film critic
Nell Minow host the series, which
next offers Night Nurse, William
Wellmans 1931 erotic tale featuring
Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell
as sexy, sassy big city nurses and a
young Clark Gable as their memorably
nasty nemesis. Sunday, Oct. 11, at 4
p.m. Hill Center, Old Navy Hospital,
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Free, but

registration recommended for guaranteed seating. Call 202-549-4172 or visit

HillCenterDC.org.

THE WALK

Robert Zemeckis, the director of

Forrest Gump and Cast Away, directs
a re-telling of the incredible story of
Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt),
who in 1974 launched a wire between
the Twin Towers of the World Trade
Center digitally recreated to incredible, and poignant, effect which Petit
then proceeded to walk across. Its in
3D, so if youre even remotely acrophobic, dont watch it. Now playing. Area
IMAX theaters. Visit fandango.com.

STAGE

ERMA BOMBECK: AT WITS END

Twins Allison and Margaret Engel

(Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of
Molly Ivins) offer a pits-and-all portrait of the award-winning humorist
Erma Bombeck. Arena Stage presents a world production as part of
the Womens Voices Theater Festival
directed by David Esbjornson and featuring Barbara Chishold as Bombeck.
Opens in previews Friday, Oct. 9, at 8
p.m. Runs to Nov. 8. The Arlene and
Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage,
1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or
visit arenastage.org.

SALOME

Yael Farbers new adaptation of Oscar

Wildes landmark play uses ancient

Arabic, Hebraic and Babylonian texts

to offer a fresh look at the womans
voice in history, presented by the
Shakespeare Theatre Company as part
of the Womens Voices Theater Festival.
In the South African-native adaptor and
directors hands, Salome becomes more
a dance of life than Wildes dance
of death. Now in previews. Runs to
Nov. 8. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St.
NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

THE GUARD

Fords Theatre offers the world premiere of Jessica Dickeys The Guard,
a comedic drama about Rembrandt,
Homer and those who protect the art
we cherish or the permanence of

BEAUTIFUL:
THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

A tapestry or really just another

jukebox of a musical focused on
the inspiring story of this singer-songwriters rise to stardom, told through
Douglas McGraths book as well as the
songs she co-wrote with her husband
Gerry Goffin and friends. This national
touring production of the 2014 Tonywinning hit stops by the Kennedy
Center in the same year King was feted
by the institution as a Kennedy Center
Honoree. Marc Bruni directs. To Oct.
25. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Tickets are $39 to $175. Call 202-4674600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

CANT COMPLAIN

Spooky Action Theater launches its

new season with the world premiere
of Christine Evanss Cant Complain,
focused on three generations of women
who meet in a hospital. Michael Bloom
directs the production, part of the
Womens Voices Theater Festival,
and featuring Cornelia Hart, Wendy
Wilmer, Tonya Beckman, Nicole
Ruthmarie and Eric M. Messner.
Evans, a native of Australia, is part
of the theater faculty at Georgetown
University. Weekends to Oct. 25.
Universalist National Memorial
Church, 1810 16th St. NW. Tickets are
$25 to $35. Call 202-248-0301 or visit
spookyaction.org.

CHIMERICA

A sensation in London, Lucy

Kirkwoods epic play Chimerica covers Sino-American relations from
Tiananmen Square to the 2012 presidential elections. Now to Oct. 18.
Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW.
Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

DESTINY OF DESIRE

The latest from Helen Hayes Awardwinning playwright Karen Zacarias

(The Book Club Play) is a telenovelastyle, fast-paced modern comedy set in
Mexico. Jose Luis Valenzuela directs
a cast featuring Esperanza America,
Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, Carlos
Gomez and Nicholas Rodriguez. To
Oct. 18. Mead Center for American
Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-4883300 or visit arenastage.org.

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OCTOBER 8, 2015

35

art and the impermanence of life.

Part of the Womens Voices Theater
Festival, the production is led by
Sharon Ott, directing a cast including Tim Getman, Mitchell Hebert,
Josh Sticklin, Kathryn Tkel and
Craig Wallace. Now to Oct. 18. Fords
Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are
$20 to $52. Call 800-982-2787 or visit
fordstheatre.org.

RICKY MARTIN

UPRISING

SAMORA PINDERHUGHES
ENSEMBLE: BILLY STRAYHORN
TRIBUTE

For its contribution to the region-wide

Womens Voices Theater Festival,
Alexandrias Metro Stage presents the
rolling world premiere of Uprising,
inspired by true tales from playwright
Gabrielle Fultons great-grandmother.
Thomas W. Jones II directs this play
with music, led by William Knowles,
exploring notions of freedom and
sacrifice, family and community, and
set in the aftermath of John Browns
raid on Harpers Ferry. Now to Oct.
25. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St.,
Alexandria. Tickets are $55 to $60. Call
800-494-8497 or visit metrostage.org.

MUSIC
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX

Last year the runner-up on the ninth

season of American Idol in 2010 was all
set to make her unexpected Broadway
debut, playing the role of an unexpected musical icon: Not Janis Joplin,
whom Bowersox sometimes recalls,
but the pioneering female country star
in Always, Patsy Cline. But the show
has so far failed to secure a proper theater on the Great White Way, so the
bisexual singer-songwriter continues
to tour in support of her sophomore
album, 2013s All That for This. Friday,
Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf
Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets
are $26 to $28. Call 877-WOLFTRAP
or visit wolftrap.org.

FOGHORN STRINGBAND WITH

JOEL SAVOY AND JESSE LEGE

Billed as the shining gold standard

for American Stringband music,
the Portland, Ore.-based Foghorn
Stringband formed 15 years ago at
a meeting of the National Oldtime
Fiddlers Contest. Tuesday, Oct. 13,
at 7:30 p.m. Hill Center, Old Navy
Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave.
SE. Cost is $15 in advance, or $20
day-of. Call 202-549-4172 or visit
HillCenterDC.org.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

Classical guitarist Sharon Isbin,

described by the Atlanta Journal
Constitution as the Monet of the
classical guitar, performs Rodrigos
Concierto de Aranjuez in a program of
classics from France and Spain conducted by Ludovic Morlot. Friday,
Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m.
Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets
are $15 to $89. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

36

OCTOBER 8, 2015

The gay Latin heartthrob drops by

what was formerly known as the
Patriot Center on the campus of
George Mason University. Friday, Oct.
9, at 8 p.m. EagleBank Arena at George
Mason University, 4400 University
Drive, Fairfax. Tickets are $40.50 to
$126. Call 703-993-3000 or visit eaglebankarena.com.

The East River Jazz Series presents

two free local performances by this
local septet led by recent Juilliard Jazz
grad Samora Abayomi Pinderhughes
presented by Smithsonian Associates
and the Kennedy Center. The concert, Billy Strayhorn: The Sutherland
Hotel, focuses on the period when
some of the greatest jazz compositions
of all time were written by Strayhorn,
who was Washington-native Duke
Ellingtons right hand man for
decades, responsible for many of the
Dukes most famous compositions,
including Take the A Train. In the
Dukes shadow, Strayhorn was also
notably an openly gay man, at least
as open as one could expect to be half
a century ago. Strayhorn, who died
in 1967, would have turned 100 this
November. Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5:30
p.m. Kogod Courtyard at the National
Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets
NW. Also Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
Visit eastriverjazz.net.

TERRI WHITE

Legendary Broadway vocalist Barbara

Cook brings Terri White back to the
Kennedy Center for a night of cabaret
after her show-stopping performance
in Follies two years ago. Friday, Oct.
16, at 7 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace
Theater. Tickets are $50. Call 202467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY

OF WASHINGTON

The Wesley Hymn Project was the

last project of Choral Arts founder
Norman Scribner, which the organization completed after Scribners
unexpected death earlier this year.
The organizations Scott Tucker leads
the Chamber Singers plus organist
Julie Huang Tucker, trumpet player
Terry Bingham and timpanist Julie
Angelis Boehler in a performance
celebrating the upcoming release
of the album featuring anthems and
organ works by Wesley, a founder
of the Methodist church, and his
descendants. Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4
p.m. Metropolitan Memorial United
Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska
Ave. NW. Recommended donation is
$20. Call 202-244-3669 or visit
choralarts.org.

THOMAS CIRCLE SINGERS

James Kreger leads this chamber choral ensemble kicking off its 40th anniversary season with the program I
Have Had Singing, featuring works
by favorite composers including

METROWEEKLY.COM

Aaron Copland, Z. Randall Stroope,

Stephen Paulus and Irving Fine.
Mezzo soprano Rebecca Henry will
perform Gwyneth Walkers A Heart
in Hiding, a lush suite of passionate
love poems by Emily Dickinson commissioned for Thomas Circle Singers
in 2007. The group focuses on performing diverse choral works and
raising awareness and funds for nonprofits addressing needs of the citys
underserved citizens. Saturday, Oct.
17, at 5 p.m. Live! at 10th and G, 945 G
ST. NW. Tickets are $25, followed by
a reception. Call 202-628-4317 or visit
thomascirclesingers.org.

UNDER THE STREETLAMP

Classic radio hits from doo-wop to

Motown to old-time rock and roll
are the name of the game with this
group, composed of former lead cast
members of Broadways Jersey Boys.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. Strathmore,
5301 Tuckerman Lane, North
Bethesda. Tickets are $28 to $68. Call
301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

DANCE
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

Washington Performing Arts and

CityDance co-present another annual
engagement from this historic ensemble, guided by founding member and
former principal dancer Virginia
Johnson. On the bill is the D.C. premiere of Coming Together, with choreography by European choreographer
Nacho Duato and music by American
composer Frederic Rzewski. Friday,
Oct. 9, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10,
at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sidney Harman
Hall, Harman Center for the Arts, 610
F St. NW. Tickets are $35 to $70. Call
202-547-1122 or visit washingtonperformingarts.org.

HUBBARD STREET 2

The acclaimed early-career ensemble

of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
offers a run of performances at the
Kennedy Center of Marikos Magical
Mix: A Dance Adventure, which combines movement with the innovative
shadow puppets of Manual Cinema.
Remaining performances are Friday,
Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10,
and Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1:30 p.m. and 4
p.m. Kennedy Center Family Theater.
Tickets are $20. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET

The Kennedy Centers own ballet

company offers a free performance
of two sections from in Balanchines
iconic Don Quixote, in celebration of
its 50th anniversary, plus excerpts
from the companys performances
later in the month in the Opera House.
Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. Kennedy
Center Millennium Stage. Tickets are
free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

THE WASHINGTON BALLET

The Washington Ballet opens its

season with a toast to Latin culture
featuring works by three of the big-

gest names in contemporary choreography: Bitter Sugar by Mauro de

Candia, Sombrersimo by Annabelle
Lopez Ochoa and La Ofrenda (The
Offering) pas de deux, La Llorona by
Edwaard Liang. Hans van Manen,
one of Europes eminent choreographers, is also represented with a performance of 5 Tangos, as is Marius
Petipas classic wedding pas de deux
from Don Quixote. Opens in a preview Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m.
To Sunday, Oct. 18. Kennedy Center
Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are
$30.50 to $102. Call 202-467-4600 or
visit kennedy-center.org.

COMEDY
RYAN SCHUTT, DANNY CHARNLEY,
ALEXX STARR AND ALLAN SIDLEY

The Hill Center presents D.C.-reared

New York-based comic Ryan Schutt for
a headline show as part of what it calls
its Sublime Stand-up Comedy Series
also featuring Chesapeake Bay native
Danny Charnley, Obama-impersonator
Alexx Starr and Allan Sidley, leader of
the improv group Lafrrican Americans
and host of the show. Friday, Oct. 16, at
8 p.m. Hill Center, Old Navy Hospital,
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Cost is $10
in advance, or $15 day-of. Call 202549-4172 or visit HillCenterDC.org.

SEATON SMITH

As part of its Comedy series the

Kennedy Center presents this up-andcoming Hollywood comic, currently
part of the cast of the forthcoming Fox
series Mulaney alongside star John
Mulaney plus Martin Short, Elliot
Gould and Nasim Pedrad. Sunday, Oct.
18, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Family
Theater. Tickets are free, distributed
in the lobby starting at approximately
5:30 p.m. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.

GALLERIES
AGE OF LAWYERS...IN
SHAKESPEARES BRITAIN

Age of Lawyers: The Roots of American

Law in Shakespeares Britain offers a
close-up look at the rapid increase of
legal actions 400 years ago, from the
laws impact on daily life to major
political and legal disputes some
invoking the 800-year-old Magna
Carta that still influence American
politics and government. Now to Jan.
3. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East
Capitol St. SE. Call 202-544-7077 or
visit folger.edu.

ELAINE DE KOONING: PORTRAITS

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.

INGENUE TO ICON: HILLWOODS

FASHION EXHIBITION

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 202-6865807 or visit hillwoodmuseum.org.

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. Through Oct.
18. PhotoWorks Gallery at Glen Echo
Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard.
Glen Echo, Md. Call 301-634-2274 or
visit glenechophotoworks.org.

THE ART OF JOHN LENNON

Road Show Company presents the

whimsical peace and love artworks of
the late Beatle in a collection of reproductions overseen by Nim Vaswani, an
authority on the works of Lennon. Did
you know Lennon was an artist before
he was a musician? On exhibition from
Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct.
18. Tysons Corner Center, 1961 Chain
Bridge Rd. Tysons Corner, Va. Free and
open to the public, with a portion of
the sale proceeds to be donated to the
Capital Area Food Bank. Call 844-8109100 or visit roadshowcompany.com.

THE BIG HOPE SHOW

Baltimores American Visionary Art

Museum offers its 21st annual exhibition, featuring over 25 artists offering
works in various media that champion the radiant and transformative
power of hope. Its an original and
unabashedly idealistic exhibition,
curated by Rebecca Alban Hoffberger,
founder and director of this original
and unabashedly unusual 20-yearold museum. Now to Sept. 4, 2016.
American Visionary Art Museum, 800
Key Highway. Baltimore. Tickets are
$15.95, or $20 for the preview party.
Call 410-244-1900 or visit avam.org.

UNCENSORED:
INFORMATION ANTICS

The DC Public Library presents an allmedia exhibition featuring local artists,

including Brian Davis, Nekisha Durrett,
Hasan Elahi, Paul Shortt, Fabiola
Yurcisin, and DC Public Librarys
Makers in Residence the FreeSpace
Collective. The artworks focus on
the intersection of data and censorship as part of Banned Books Week.
Through Oct. 22. Martin Luther King.
Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW.
Call 202-727-4943 or visit dcplf.org.

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.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

CONJURING ELEMENTS: A QUEER
RITUAL EXPERIENCE

Earth Pearl Collective and Monica

McIntyre Music present this performance featuring artists from multiple
disciplines inspired by the elements of
life, be it water as in the case of singersongwriter Tattiana Ageel, air specifically ether as with audio composer
Muthi Reed, earth with street shaman
Richael Faithful, fire and air specifically wind with burlesque dancer
Namii or all of four with cellist/songwriter Monica McIntyre. Monday, Oct.
12, at 8 p.m., preceded by a self-guided
meditation session at 7 p.m. Creative
Acts Learning Center, 631 Pennsylvania
Ave. SE. Ste. B. Tickets are $15 pre-sale
or $25 day-of. Visit inticketing.com/
events/conjuringelements.

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

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OCTOBER 8, 2015

37

film

Freeheld wants to make you

weep, but it cant rise to the
legacy of the woman it triumphs
by CHRIS HELLER

REEHELD IS A MOVIE WITH A TO-DO LIST.

The true story that inspired it a story about a
New Jersey police officer named Laurel Hester is
worthy of much more. In 2004, Hester was diagnosed with lung cancer. By early 2006, she was dead. She spent
the months in-between suffering. Local politicians refused to
grant a pension to her partner, Stacie Andree though under the
law, any straight cop would have been allowed to pass pension
benefits to his or her spouse so Hester fought. She petitioned
and appealed and protested. Her battle galvanized local activists,
38

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

sprung out from regional newspapers to national television. As

her body withered away, Hester stood on the frontlines of the
gay rights movement. And she won. Andree got a pension.
Freeheld (HHHHH) is too comfortable to rise to that legacy,
the formula behind it too brittle. Its almost a serviceable movie,
a tear-jerker that summons the weepies with all the subtlety
of an air-traffic controller and yes, sometimes, thats exactly
what a movie needs but director Peter Sollett steers Hesters
story through the deepest, calmest channels. It has no verve.
There is no risk. Its not difficult to imagine Ron Nyswaners
marked-up script, each box checked alongside each sensibly
planned beat, an ink accounting of Freehelds generic tone.
Whenever Sollett trains his camera on a detail, or dwells on a
tender moment, he diminishes it into something soft and warm.
His movie is wrapped in goose down, all snug and cozy and safe.
This isnt a melodrama its too yellow.
So, whats left to buoy Freeheld? Thankfully, the actors.
Julianne Moore plays Hester with grace, even as she strains to
find depth in Nyswaners script. Ellen Page rises to Moores level
as Andree, a confident woman who struggles to accept her lov-

LIONSGATE

Tear Jerker

ers terminal plight. She is at her best

when that confidence sags, her eyes
darting every which way as she muffles
Andrees fear and anxiety. Its been far
too long since Page has landed such
a meaty role, and her performance
unleashes so much of the talent thats
lurked in her tiny frame since Hard
Candy and Juno.
Steve Carell careens into this movie
as well, all loud noise and bravado
as he plays Steven Goldstein, a gay
rights activist who wants to leverage
Hesters plight for the battle to win
gay marriage. He doesnt quite belong
in Freeheld hes big and fun, while
Sollett keeps things small and sad
but his presence is a welcome diversion from the ordinary trappings that
entangle Moore and Page.
As if Freehelds instinct toward convention werent already
strong enough, it pivots away from all of these characters in its
last act to focus on the moral progression of Hesters partner, a
detective named Dane Wells. Played by Michael Shannon, Wells
learns to accept Hesters relationship with Andree; he tries to
rally the other police officers to protest for her; and, in the end,
he sways the political decision-makers to change their minds.
While Shannons performance is solid hes forced to turn
down his intensity in scenes with Page, and the subdued style
suits him well its frustrating to see yet another movie about
gay rights gravitate toward the journey of a traditional protago-

nist. Its just not interesting.

My fight is not about marriage. Its about equality, Hester
tells Goldstein in one scene, as he cajoles her into filming a commercial. The only thing I care about is justice for the woman
I love. A better movie wouldve dwelled on this point, raising
deeper questions about the struggles of a protest movement, as
well as what it takes to protect the privacy and dignity of activists. Freeheld doesnt bother to do that. Instead, it asks for tears.
Freeheld is rated PG-13 and runs 103 minutes. Opens Friday in
area theaters. l

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39

stage

Synetics Alice is an enthralling,

sophisticated experience for
adults and kids alike
by KATE WINGFIELD

NYONE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF

theater needs to take a good hard look at what
todays children and teens are watching. Chances
are, if they are even going to live theater, its a
musical. And if it is a musical, its more than likely thematically
one-dimensional, highly predictable and designed for the attention span of an app-addled mouth-breathing textaholic. Theres
just too much money at stake to do otherwise.
But if kids are being raised on (apologies to adult devotees)
the short, sharp, shlock of the average musical, who is going to
support all the other live theater when the current generation of
ticket holders, sponsors and donors decide they no longer feel
comfortable driving at night?
There is no escaping the fact that if kids are going to grow
40

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

into theater-going adults, they need to develop a sophisticated

palate. And you cant develop that on a diet of the formulaic, no
matter how colorful, tuneful or skillfully deployed. The appreciation of theater requires imaginative elasticity and patience
a lot of patience. Getting to that point of open-mindedness and
capacity (and all its rewards) must begin with early exposure to
the historically accurate, the geographically diverse, the traditional, the fringe, and the outr. It can come via books, art, film,
TV or theatre itself, but it must arrive undiluted and unabridged.
This is really a long-winded way of saying that Synetics Alice
in Wonderland (HHHHH) is just what so-called childrens
theater should be an adult piece that is imaginative enough
to enthrall a child, and original and sophisticated enough to
broaden their horizons.
The reason this Alice works on such fronts is its refusal
to compromise. The interpretation may embrace innocence
there are no squeamishly awful Jokers or dystopian death
matches but it is nevertheless told through Synetics Gothic
lens. Here, the laws of the universe wobble, dreams dance, the
strange and unpredictable rule, and a dark imagination flitters
along the edges like a swooping bat. With Synetic, it is never
going to be just for kids and that alone makes it ideal for a
nascent aesthetic.
Carrying the title role, Kathy Gordons Alice has the kind

JOHNNY SHRYOCK

Drink This

of giggly enthusiasm that sets the tone for a safe, if unfettered,

exploration. Keeping Alice convincingly twentieth century without getting too twee isnt an easy balance, but Gordon gets it
right, along with her nicely expressive movement. Though she
may seem rather terminally cheerful, it gels well with the surreal mood of the piece. After all, it wouldnt be much fun if Alice
burst into tears and screamed every time she encountered the
Cheshire Cat, would it?
As said Cat, Alex Mills puts his triple-jointed body to perfect
(purrfect?) use. Canny without being sinister, exotic without being creepy, Mills is another player who brings just the
right touch to the role. As his frenemy the White Rabbit, Tori
Bertocci delivers lots of cleverly expressive rabbity energy,
though her (speaking) role as Alices mother feels a bit more like
amateur dramatics.
Another standout, as always, is Vato Tsikurishvili, who makes
for a show-stoppingly fabulous Caterpillar and an appropriately
quick and cultivated Humpty Dumpty. Tsikurishvilis versatility
is increasingly remarkable; he is a beautiful, fluid mover, yet he
is also a convincing and expressive actor and an accomplished
comic. Hes ready for prime time.
Giving his Mad Hatter a completely original, playful edge,
Dallas Tolentino is fun to watch. One minute he may be twittering over a cup of tea and the next he is making a spectacularly
graceful dive over the table. As the March Hare and later the
King, Justin J. Bell has fun with his roles, as do Augustin Beall
and Thomas Beheler as Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Could
they have spiced it up a bit? Maybe, but it is clear that director
Paata Tsikurishvili is giving them some room to breathe and find
their inner comics.
What works less well is a bit of unevenness in the over-

all pacing. After a tremendous nine-tenths in which director

Tsikurishvili steers the many moving parts with much vision,
knowing when to slow the moment for a close-up and when to
paint a bigger picture, the final tenth in which Alice finally
meets the Queen (played by a rather wooden Renata Veberyte
Loman) and the subsequent trial loses its focus. Things rally at
the end, but not before some valuable momentum is lost. It is also
no small thing where one is seated at a Synetic production the
best visual effects are experienced in the central swath of seats.
Another conundrum is the not-infrequent disparity between
the quite extraordinary expressiveness of the movement and
dance and the sometimes distractingly non-expressive and
stiltedness of the spoken voices. Its hard to believe Synetic is
not aware of this fissure and they are surely balancing it against
the need to encourage their younger, less experienced performers. But as Vato Tsikurishvili shows, you can dance and you can
speak with equal musicality. Gordon nails it, but as a native Brit
playing a late Victorian, she should.
But although these points need to be made, overall this is
an amazing production. There is no question that the Synetic
budget has its limits and yet there is no end to the imagination and resourcefulness of Daniel Pinhas set and props,
Irina Tsikurishvilis clever and inventive choreography and the
intense sound and music atmospherics of Thomas Sowers and
Konstantine Lortkipanidze.
This is a rare and magical Alice. Whether old, young or in
between, everyone can fit down this rabbit hole.
Alice in Wonderland runs to Nov. 8 at Synetic Theater, 1800
South Bell Street, Virginia. Tickets are $15-$60. Call 866-811-4111
or visit synetictheater.org. l

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

41

tech

Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book

While its smartphones face an

uncertain future, Microsofts Surface
devices are firing on all cylinders
by RHUARIDH MARR

ICROSOFT IS A COMPANY THAT IS CONstantly forced to prove itself. While Google,

Apple and others coast on tsunamis of positive
press and glowing reviews, Microsoft always
seems to have to work a little bit harder for love. Thats why,
when the companys executives took to the stage in New York
this week, Microsoft had to deliver its best. For the once-dominant Windows developer, anything less than perfection is reason
for immeasurable column inches dedicated to its decline and
imminent downfall.
Thats why its all the more impressive that in entirely subjective and utterly millennial terms Microsoft crushed it. Well,
for the most part. Lets start with the not-so-good.
If I asked you to put together a specs sheet for your ultimate
flagship smartphone comprised of currently available technologies what would you say? If the answer was an iPhone 6S
please leave, youre not playing the game properly. For everyone
else, lets put together a laundry list. The latest Snapdragon
multi-core processors. Three gigabytes of RAM. Generous internal storage plus support for up to 2TB MicroSD cards. Wireless
charging and fast-charging with a big battery. USB Type-C for
42

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

reversible cables and faster data transfers. Nokias incredible

Carl Zeiss 20 megapixel camera with the latest in optical image
stabilization, three-LED RGB flash and 4K video. Face-detection
unlock. Quad HD displays using AMOLED technology for rich
colors and inky blacks. Maybe two screen sizes, so users can
choose the device that fits their hand?
Sounds pretty incredible, right? The only thing we havent
mentioned is the software running on such a device. If I said
Android 6.0, geeks everywhere would have to look for tissues.
As it stands, though, these arent Google flagships. Far from it.
These mythical devices are in fact very real and very much running Windows 10 Mobile, Microsofts highly divisive and oftforgotten smartphone OS. Meet the Lumia 950 and 950 XL the
first Windows smartphone flagships in almost two years.
On paper, theyre pretty incredible. As up-to-date as its possible to be, theyre a confident statement from Microsoft in their
smartphone division one that has been the source of constant
embarrassment in annual sales reports. Microsoft even has one
standout feature. Continuum is the technology that allows touchscreen Windows 10 PCs to switch between desktop and tablet
mode. On smartphone, Continuum allows Windows 10 phones
to become miniature PCs. Use Microsofts Display Dock adapter,
which adds HDMI, Display Port and three USB slots, and connect to a monitor and youll be able to run universal apps on a
big screen think Word, Microsoft Edge and more. Its a level
of productivity that could revolutionize those who require basic
productivity but dont want a computer. Buy a screen, keyboard
and mouse and all you need to do is carry your phone into the
office, plug it in and youre ready to work. Thats pretty amazing.
Whats not so incredible is the fact that Microsoft is only a

MICROSOFT

Windows Shopping

couple of weeks away from launch and Windows 10 still feels

unfinished. Its undoubtedly more mature than Windows Phone
8.1, but theres still not enough to convince those rooted to iOS
or Android to make the switch. Particularly, Microsofts much
vaunted projects to help developers port Android and iOS apps
to Windows Phone have yet to bear fruit. If youve ignored
Windows Phones because they dont have your favorite apps,
Windows 10 isnt going to change that any time soon.
However, if youre currently invested in the Windows ecosystem and dont need to use Snapchat (among many other apps
that Windows devices lack), the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL,
with their 5.2- and 5.7-inch displays respectively, are enticing
upgrades. Its just a shame Microsoft went with such boring
almost tacky designs. Nokia was capable of taking polycarbonate and fashioning the plastic into something intricate and
beautiful. My fresh-looking, two-years-old Lumia 1520 is proof
of that fact. Microsofts all-plastic flagships just look... well,
cheap. At least theyre thin and light..
Should Microsoft have piqued your interest, both handsets
will be available from AT&T, or unlocked from Microsoft Stores
for $549 and $649 for the 950 and 950 XL respectively. For
everyone else, lets keep hoping that the oft-rumored Surface
phone makes an appearance sometime soon.
Speaking of Surface, if Microsoft needed confirmation that
it was still capable of breaking new ground, the launch of both
the Apple iPad Pro and Google Pixel C were perhaps the biggest
compliment imaginable. Many shrugged or insulted Microsoft
when it introduced the Surface tablet three years ago, touted as
being capable of replacing a tablet and laptop with its thin form
factor and keyboard cover. You can converge a toaster and a
refrigerator, but those things are probably not gonna be pleasing
to the user, Apple CEO Tim Cook once stated. Now? Everyone
is imitating Microsoft (even if it took until last years Surface Pro
3 for the original mission statement to be realized).
Enter, then the Surface Pro 4 and its a pretty incredible
update. Taking the Pro 3s slim magnesium frame, Microsoft
trimmed it down to 8.4 mm (0.33 inches) and stretched the display to 12.3-inches not by increasing the size, but by reducing
the bezel. That larger display is now 27361824, boasting 5 million pixels for over 267 ppi. Theres also a new Surface Pen with
1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and best in class latency, parallax and palm detection. In laymans terms, artists and notetakers will love it. It also snaps onto the Pro 4 magnetically and the
eraser tip returns to cancel mistakes.
Inside, Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 4 is 50 percent
faster than a MacBook Air, a result of its sixth generation Intel
processors. Buyers can spec up to 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage
and Core i7 power. That grunt will aid productivity and so will
the new Type Cover. Microsoft has managed to make it thinner, lighter and yet also given the keys greater travel for more
writing comfort and slot a bigger, glass trackpad in as well. That
keyboard also contains a fingerprint reader, though only for U.S.
buyers. Theres also a new dock with four USB 3.0 ports, two
4K-capable display ports and ethernet. Both the new cover and
the dock will also work with the Surface Pro 3, which is nice.
The Surface Pro 4 is available to order now starting at
$899, with it hitting stores properly on October 26. It may be
Microsofts greatest realization of its original goal to develop a
product that can replace both tablet and laptop especially with
the added versatility of Windows 10.
Of course, what if you really just want a laptop? Perhaps you
need the power, or a more stable typing experience. Or maybe
you just want a bigger display. Well, surprising pretty much

Lumia 950 XL

everyone, Microsoft now has you covered.

The Surface Book is the ultimate laptop their words.
Using the same magnesium construction as the Surface Pro, its
got a 13.5-inch display with 3,000 x 2,000 resolution (yes, thats
conveniently better than the MacBook Pro 13s 2,560 x 1,600)
thats also both touch and Surface Pen enabled. Why, you ask?
Thats because and Microsoft again surprised everyone in
attendance it can separate from the keyboard base. Yes, even
though its touted as a laptop, Microsoft couldnt resist making a
convertible device.
The screen portion contains the sixth generation Intel processors, up to Core i7, as well as up to 16GB GDDR5 RAM and
512GB of storage. It also contains half of the batteries the rest
are stored inside the keyboard section, which allows Microsoft
to claim up to 12 hours of battery life when the screen is connected to the base. Of course, the MacBook Pro has the option
of a dedicated GPU for seriously powerful work, something the
Intel graphics chip in the Surface Book cant compete with at
least when the display is undocked. Hook it up to the keyboard
and youll be able to take advantage of an optional NVIDIA GTX
GPU. Microsoft demonstrated its raw power by playing Gears of
War during their live demo, before pausing the game and editing
captured footage of the game session in Adobe Premiere.
If youre in the market for a fast, sleek, beautifully crafted
laptop (the dynamic fulcrum hinge looks like expensive watch
bracelet links) and youre either a Windows fan or platform
agnostic, the Surface Book really could be the best of both
worlds. A tablet and drawing device when you need it, a powerful laptop when youre in work mode. Naturally, that comes at
a premium. Prices start at $1,499 for the base model (128GB of
storage, 8GB of RAM, Core i5) and rises to $2,699 for the discrete GPU-packing flagship. Its available to preorder now and
reaches stores alongside the Surface Pro 4 on October 26.
And, as if two phones and two new PCs werent enough,
Microsoft also took time to announce a new version of their
Band fitness tracker. Last years model was highly divisive
amongst tech journalists, who criticized its bulky construction
and tight fit, but users seemed to love its screen, Cortana integration and myriad of sensors. As such, Microsoft saw fit (sorry)
to update the Band, with a new, curved OLED display, classier
metal build, and a barometer alongside the ten other variables
it measures (including heart rate, motion, skin temperature and
location). Theres also enhanced features, with Cortana getting
more functions and the ability to measure how much oxygen
your body is using during exercise, amongst others. If you liked
last years Band or are in the market for a powerful fitness
tracker-cum-smartwatch, the Band can be yours for $249 starting October 30. l
METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

43

44

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

NIGHT

LIFE
LISTINGS
THURS., 10.08.15

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

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

DC EAGLE
Thursday Night Football
Touchdown Specials
Jock Night specials
for men in jocks, 8-10pm
Highwaymen TNT on Club
Bar $2 Draughts Hot
Jock Contest at 11:30
Prize Package $100 in cash
and prizes

METROWEEKLY.COM

45

46

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

scene
Sausage Fest at Wunder Garten
Wednesday, September 30
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., 10.09.15

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 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 Spartan MC on
Club Bar $2 Draughts
Join D.C.s Leather
Motorcycle Club for their
bar night, 10pm-2am
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long
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., 10.10.15

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
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

METROWEEKLY.COM

Miller Lite, $4 Rail, $5

Call, 4-9pm AFTERGLOW
Dance Party, 10pm-close
Featuring DJ Team
Electrox & Milko in the
Lounge, DJ Barronhawk
on the dance floor Drink
specials all night $5
Cover 18+
DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-6pm
dcnine.com
DC EAGLE
Leather Sabbat Kick-Off
Party $2 Draughts
Jello Shots and DC Eagle
Basket of Cheer Raffle
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

OCTOBER 8, 2015

47

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm $5
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long JOX: The
Green Lantern Underwear
Party, 9pm-close
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
Love, Love, Love: A
Celebration of the life
of Mame Dennis and
Carl Rizzi, complete with
tributes Doors open
4:30pm, celebration starts
5pm MIXTAPE Dance
Party, featuring DJs Shea

48

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

Van Horn and MAtt Bailer,

11pm-close Peaches
Rub Album Release
win a pair of tickets to her
Oct. 26 concert at the 9:30
Club Music and video
downstairs by DJ Wess
Drag Show starts at
10:30pm Hosted by Lena
Lett and featuring Miss
Tatianna, Shi-QueetaLee, 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., 10.11.15

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
Post-Game 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
Sunday Football
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Champagne Brunch Buffet,
10am-3pm Crazy Hour,
4-7pm DC Gurly Show

presents A Nightmare on
Freddies Street: A Tribute
to Wes Craven, 9pm No
Cover charge Karaoke
after the show
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
8:30 and 10:30pm $5
Domestic Beer, $6 Imports
Happy Hour 7-8pm
$10 cover For Table
Reservations, 202-4876646 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., 10.12.15

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
DC EAGLE
Monday Night Football
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
Jersey Night support
your favorite team Free
Pool all night

FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

TUES., 10.13.15

GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Michaels Open Mic
Night Karaoke, 9:30pmclose

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

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

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

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

COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: $2 Rail, $3
Miller Lite, $5 Call, 4-9pm
Edie Beale Show, 7-9pm
SIN Industry Night
Half-price Cocktails, 10pmclose

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

DC9
1940 9th St. NW
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
dcnine.com
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm

METROWEEKLY.COM

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
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

OCTOBER 8, 2015

49

WED., 10.14.15

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 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
Edie Beale Show, 7-9pm
Gay Mens Chorus of
Washington Open Mic
Night and Wednesday
Night Karaoke downstairs,
10pm Hosted by Miss
India Larelle Houston
$4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors
and Miller Lite No Cover
21+

50

OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

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
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

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METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

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To say that marriage is between two men or two women, this is sin and
the Obama administration is celebrating sin
and they are pushing sin.
FRANKLIN GRAHAM, son of evangelist Billy Graham, speaking to TheBlaze. Graham wants gays and lesbins to know the truth,
that the lifestyle theyre living God will one day judge that. And theyll stand before God and God will condemn that.

We could not take the extra gay stuff

or celebrity stuff last night!!!!

50 CENT, in a since-deleted Instagram post, in which the rapper blamed a drop in viewership for Foxs Empire on
the shows gay content. Between the series premiere and the second episode, the show lost 3 million viewers.

I guess
around half.
DAVID BERGER, an openly gay former Vatican academic, guessing the number of gay men working for the Vatican.
Berger told German magazine Stern that In the Vatican, I experienced the number of gay men to be even higher
than the average for the rest of the Church.

We dream bigger.

Things seem so much more possible together.

Oscar-winning screenwriter DUSTIN LANCE BLACK, speaking with the Defining Marriage podcast about his relationship
with his fianc, British Olympic diver Tom Daley. I met someone who completely gets me, he said.

Have we always been 100 percent safe?

No. But Im undetectable.
Whos the Boss star DANNY PINTAURO, speaking on ABCs The View. Pintauro, who recently announced that he is HIV positive,
was asked if he and his husband practice safe sex. The question is, were married, and you try not to have limits
in your marriage, Pintauro stated, later adding, We have that understanding that Im taking care of myself,
hes taking care of himself.

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OCTOBER 8, 2015

METROWEEKLY.COM

METROWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8, 2015

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