Metro Weekly - 08-18-16 - Ricky Martin

AUGUST 18, 2016
12
CONTENTS
LOVE, ACTUALLY
If theres one thing Dolly Parton has an abundance

of, its love.
By Randy Shulman
OH, RICKY
Pop superstar Ricky Martin came out in 2010. Six

years later, hes never been happier -- or hotter.
Interview by Randy Shulman
34
Volume 23 Issue 16
24
AD INFINITUM
No Mans Sky is an infinite game filled with a very

finite number of things to do, but its utterly exquisite
By Rhuaridh Marr
SPOTLIGHT: SUMMER HUMMER p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.9

LOVE, ACTUALLY: DOLLY PARTON p.12 THE FEED: ALLIANCES p.15
THE FEED: GAY GAMES p.18 COMMUNITY: TAKING SUMMER IN STRIDE p.21
COVER STORY: RICKY MARTIN p.24 GALLERY: MARGARET DOWELL p.31
MUSIC: DOLLY PARTON p.32 GAMES: NO MANS SKY p.34 NIGHTLIFE p.37
LISTINGS p.39 SCENE: UPROAR p.44 LAST WORD p.46
Metro Weekly will not be publishing an issue next Thursday, August 25. Well see you on
September 1. Be sure to visit metroweekly.com daily for the latest news and updates.
Editorial Editor-in-Chief Randy Shulman Art Director Todd Franson Managing Editor Rhuaridh Marr Senior Editor John Riley Contributing Editor Doug Rule
Senior Photographers Ward Morrison, Julian Vankim Contributing Illustrator Scott G. Brooks Contributing Writers Gordon Ashenhurst,
Sean Bugg, Frank Carber, Fallon Forbush, Sean Maunier, Troy Petenbrink, Kate Wingfield Webmaster David Uy Production Assistant Julian Vankim
Sales & Marketing Publisher Randy Shulman National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Co. 212-242-6863 Distribution Manager Dennis Havrilla
Patron Saint Menudo Cover Photography Nino Muoz
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AUGUST 18, 2016 METROWEEKLY
CHRISTOPHER MUELLER
Spotlight
A Fistful of Dollars
The annual baudfest Summer Hummer raises funds for local actors
with emergency needs
EOPLE BRING DOLLAR BILLS AND THROW THEM

at the performers, says Eric D. Schaeffer. The more that
are thrown, the more clothes come off.
The Artistic Director of Signature Theatre isnt referring to a
night out at Secrets, but the Summer Hummer, an annual benefit for TheatreWashingtons Taking Care of Our Own, which
helps actors with emergency funds for things like unexpected
medical expenses. The evening of bawdy burlesque and show
tunes, brimming with sexual innuendo, involves more than a
hundred actors and theater professionals, including Schaeffer,
who co-directs the event with Matthew Gardiner. Matt and I tag
team it because its big, says Schaeffer. Theres so many people
that youre coordinating, it takes two of us to get it all organized.
Billed as an evening for Mature Audiences Only, this years
baudfest, subtitled Champions: Stronger, Harder, Longer,
will again be hosted by Rick Hammerly, who says the nastiest
things, laughs Schaeffer. The evenings tone is deliberately
sexualized, but in a playful, campy way. Last year, for instance,

Nova Payton sang He Fills Me Up, backed by a chorus of eight
women twirling glow-in-the-dark dildoes. The director is coy
about what surprises lie ahead for this years Hummer, which
takes place at Arlingtons Signature Theatre on Monday night,
but he reveals that Sherri Edelen will revive her iconic Miss
Pussy routine, sporting a tacky, nasty catsuit.
Last years Hummer raised $25,000 and this year
Schaeffer is hoping to best that number by five, noting that
$7,000 in sponsorships has already been raised. In all, Taking
Care of Our Own has dispensed more than $98,000 to theater
professionals, who can request up to $5,000, in need.
The Hummer is definitely the best night in the theater,
says Schaeffer, whose next big musical project at Signature is
Decembers Titanic. People are like, How are you going to do
fucking Titanic? And Im like, Just you wait, just you wait.

Randy Shulman
Summer Hummer V: Champions is Monday, August 22, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. (the one where everyone is usually liquored up
and gets a little looser) at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. General admission is $35.
VIP Reserved Seating is available for $100. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.
Spotlight
Ethan McSweeneys 2014 take on one
of Shakespeares late masterpieces gets
restaged as this years Free for All production. The Tempest features sprites, goddesses and fools holding court on an island
after a shipwreck. Now to Aug. 28. Harman
Center for the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Tickets
are free, distributed through a daily online
lottery system as well as a ticket line prior
to each performance. Call 202-547-1122 or
visit shakespearetheatre.org.
SCOTT SUCHMAN
THE TEMPEST
DAVID CAY JOHNSTON
The Making of Donald Trump is a just-published account from a former New York Times investigative journalist and current USA Today
columnist. David Cay Johnston delves into the family background
and business practices of the Republican nominee for president,
laying out the details of how Donald Trump has amassed his wealth
through investments in real estate and casinos and by taking
advantage of bankruptcy protection over and over again. Thursday,
Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call
202-364-1919 or visit politics-prose.com.
The Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets

7th Annual 17th Street Festival is intended
to celebrate 25 restaurants and gay-friendly businesses in the 1500 and 1600 blocks
on one of the gayest streets in the city.
Among 100 vendors and 50 artists and
performers, this years event includes a
baby parade at 1 p.m., a wagon parade at
2 p.m., and a dog costume walk at 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Call 202-656-4487 or visit 17thStreetFestival.org for more information.
COURTESY OF HISTORIC DUPONT CIRCLE MAIN STREETS
17TH STREET FESTIVAL
Out On The Town
SAUSAGE PARTY
HHHHH
Seth Rogans take-no-prisoners juvenile humor enhances an otherwise dark and unsettling tale about the nature of
existence and the meaning of god in this very R-rated animated comedy. Owing as much to the Christian-value series
VeggieTales as it does to Pixar, Rogan and company frequently mistake an overabundance of four-letter words for genuine
humor as food items learn the awful truth behind what lies beyond the supermarket doors. The film is unsettling in its flagrantly racist deployment of stereotypes, including a nebbishy Jewish Bagel, a hotheaded Lavash, a native American bottle
of Firewater, and a spicy lesbian taco, but it seems odd to get upset about it, as its just a cartoon. (Rogan might go too far
when, during the films opening song, featuring music by Alan Menken, German mustard sings boisterously about exterminating the juice.) Sausage Party isnt as consistently funny as anything South Parks Matt Stone and Trey Parker have
created, and you wonder what the pair might have done with the idea. But it does at least have an audacious, jaw-dropping
orgy at the climax that gives new meaning to the term food porn. Area theaters. Visit Fandango.com. Randy Shulman
Compiled by Doug Rule
FILM
A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS
Natalie Portman makes her directorial debut with an adaptation of

the autobiography of Israels most
famous living writer, the politically
provocative Amos Oz. Portman also
wrote the screenplay and portrays
Ozs mother in the Hebrew-language
film, set in Israels idealistic early
years. Opens Friday, Aug. 26. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS:
THE MOVIE
HHHHH
Jennifer Saunders beloved British
sitcom about two self-indulgent
women navigating the worlds of
PR, fashion and celebrity finally
makes the leap to the big screen.

The end result is far from perfect,
but Absolutely Fabulous is certainly
passable, which is more than Sex
and the City managed. As storylines
go, this one is entirely inconsequential. Really, Ab Fab is just a series
of set pieces beautifully dressed,
exquisitely styled, filled with gorgeous things designed to help
tee off the next celebrity cameo or
amusing throwback. The time has
never been so appropriate for the
ostentatious, extravagant escapism
of Eddy and Patsy (Joanna Lumley,
who hits every mark and generates the most laughs) and their
celebrity- and luxury-obsessed
ways, but Absolutely Fabulous:
The Movie cant be bothered to try
hard enough to give viewers what
they want. Perhaps its appropriate that Edina and Patsy star in
something so superficial, but we
need the incisive, ruthless Edina

and Patsy of yore. Instead, we get
a softer, less-defined, more box-office friendly version, one aware of
the outside world, but surprisingly
insular at the same time. Its good,
but not quite good enough. Now
playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Rhuaridh Marr)
BEN-HUR
Yet another example of Hollywood

running out of ideas, Ben-Hur is
eager to tell everyone that it isnt
a remake of the 1959 classic, but
rather a reimagining of Lew
Wallaces 1880 novel. Comparisons
will abound regardless (and not just
for the chariot race sequence), as
the Heston-starring 50s version
racked up 11 Oscars, a massive box
office, and monumental critical
praise. Thats a tough act to follow.
Jack Huston takes on the title role,
with Timur Bekmambetov directing

a script by Keith Clarke and John
Ridley. Opens Friday, Aug. 19. Area
theaters. Visit fandango.com.
COMCAST XFINITY
OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL
Outdoor cinema returns to the lawn

at Strathmore this summer and first
up, on Saturday, Aug. 20, is Jurassic
World, last years blockbuster and
the fourth in the Jurassic Park
franchise. Sunday night offers animated sensation Minions featuring
voice acting by Sandra Bullock, Jon
Hamm, Steve Coogan and Jennifer
Saunders. The final screening
on Monday, Aug. 22 is the Judy
Garland classic The Wizard of
Oz. Clearly, theres no place like
Strathmore. Festivities begin at
6:30 p.m., with screenings at 8:30
p.m. each night in the Gudelsky
Gazebo, 10701 Rockville Pike, North
Film Institute presents the 20-yearold original as part of its Keepin

It Real: 90s Cinema Now series.
Relive your tortured past with stars
Neve Campbell, David Arquette and
Courteney Cox. Sunday, Aug. 21,
at 9 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 22,
at 9:40 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
Tickets are $13. Call 301-495-6720
or visit afi.com/Silver.
STAGE
SEAN HAGWELL
...AND A GHOST GRRL
JOHN OLIVER
A night of stand-up in the citys leading performing arts venue from the British-born,
Emmy-winning comedian and writer, known for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his
own HBO satirical news show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Wednesday, Aug. 24,
through Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets
are $59 to $79. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.
Bethesda. Free. Call 301-581-5100

or visit strathmore.org.
FRONT COVER
The latest in its Xtra monthly

series, Reel Affirmations presents
Ray Yeungs story of a gay Chinese
American who develops a friendship and more with a closeted actor
from Beijing. Friday, Aug. 19, at
7 p.m. and 9 p.m. HRC Equality
Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave.
NW. Tickets are $12, or $25 for one
complimentary alcoholic beverage,
movie candy or popcorn, and VIP
seating. Call 800-777-4723 or visit
reelaffirmations.org.
HANDS OF STONE
Robert De Niro plays a legendary trainer who comes out of

retirement to coach world-class
Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran
(Edgar Ramirez), as he prepares
for a bout against undefeated
lightweight champion Sugar Ray
Leonard. Jonathan Jakubowicz
wrote and directed this biopic, distributed by the Weinstein Company
and also starring Ruben Blades,
Ellen Barkin, and pop star Usher as
Sugar Ray. Opens Friday, Aug. 26.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
HIGH HEELS
Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovars

campy and twisted mother-daughter battle royal gets the big screen
treatment as part of the American
Film Institutes Keepin It Real:
10
90s Cinema Now series. Victoria

Abril plays a broadcast news anchor
who tangles with her estranged
Cher-like mother (Marisa Paredes)
and even a drag queen (Miguel
Bose) impersonating her diva
mother in this 25-year-old melodramatic tale of kinky sex and murder. Saturday, Aug. 27, at 9:45 p.m.,
and Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 9 p.m.
AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville
Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $13.
Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/
Silver.
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
Charlize Theron is Monkey and

Matthew McConaughey is Beetle,
two sidekicks to Art Parkinsons
Young Kubo in this animated adventure. It follows Kubos battle with
the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and
other gods and monsters to save his
family and solve the mystery of his
fallen father, the greatest samurai
warrior the world has ever known.
George Takei is also among the voiceover cast. Opens Friday, Aug. 19.
Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
MECHANIC: RESURRECTION
Jason Statham returns as assassin Arthur Bishop in this Dennis

Gansel-helmed thriller, also starring Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones
and Michelle Yeoh. Opens Friday,
Aug. 26. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.
PARIS, TEXAS
As part of the series Wim Wenders:

Portraits Along the Road, the
American Film Institute will screen
through mid-September more than
a dozen films by the New German
Cinema auteur. Among those to
be screened are 1987s acclaimed
Wings of Desire as well as Buena
Vista Social Club, his influential documentary from 1999 that, in partnership with musician Ry Cooder,
helped spark international interest in Afro-Cuban music. But next
week brings Wenders most successful film, the 1984 art house hit
and Cannes and Sundance sensation
Paris, Texas, presented in a newly
restored version. Co-written by
Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard,
it follows Harry Dean Stanton as an
amnesiac, presumed dead for four
years, who wanders the American
Southwest and reconnects with
his brother (Dean Stockwell), wife
(Nastassja Kinski), and seven-yearold son (Hunter Carson). Ry Cooder
provided the distinctive score that
went on to inspire everyone from
U2 to Kurt Cobain. Monday, Aug.
22, at 7:30 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre,
8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
or visit afi.com/Silver.
SCREAM
Wes Craven revitalized the horror

genre with this postmodern scary
slasher comedy that begat sequel
after inferior sequel. The American
The adventurous Landless Theatre

Company teams up with the
Kings Players for a reprise of an
LGBT-themed production from
this years Capital Fringe Fest. The
third production in the companys
new space, ...and a Ghost Grrl is a
farce with music about the secrets
and lies of a love triangle between
three women that, needless to say,
doesnt end well. Friday, Aug. 26,
and Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. East
Street Arts Center, 919 N. East St.,
Frederick, Md. Tickets are $25. Call
301-473-2233 or visit landlesstheatre.com.
BORN FOR THIS:

THE BEBE WINANS STORY
Infamous televangelists Jim and

Tammy Faye Bakker are part of
the story told in a new musical by
gospel star and PTL Club regular BeBe Winans. The musical
deals with the struggles of fame
and belief, and features Juan and
Deborah Joy Winans as their reallife uncle BeBe and aunt CeCe. With
Milton Craig Nealy as Pop Winans,
Nita Whitaker as Mom Winans,
Kiandra Richardson as Whitney
Houston, and Chaz Pofahl and
Kirsten Wyatt as Jim and Tammy
Faye. A world-premiere co-production between Arena Stage and
Atlantas Alliance Theatre. Closes
Sunday, Aug. 28. Kreeger Theater,
1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300
or visit arenastage.org.
HAMLET
Founded shortly after World

War II, the National Players has
helped launch the careers of many
young stage and performance artists, often giving them their professional debut after college. The
national touring company offers the
Bards most prolific play in a Free
Summer Shakespeare production.
Now to Aug. 28. Root Family Stage
at Olney Theatre Center, 2001
Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney,
Md. Tickets are free, with reservations recommended. Call 301-9243400 or visit olneytheatre.org.
HAND TO GOD
Avenue Q sounds like childs play

compared to Robert Askins comedy focused on teens of a Christian
puppetry ministry in a small Texas
town. Touted as a blasphemous
and ruthless comedy about sex, sin-
LOVE, ACTUALLY
T
FRAN STRIEN
HERES ALL SORTS OF LITTLE FLAVORS, DOLLY PARTON

says of her new album, Pure and Simple (see review, page 32). True
love, lasting love, all-time love, cheating love, sexy love, romantic
love, I tried to cover it all.... I tried to be true to each song, and not overproduce it. It was a very organic thing for me.
Parton decided to create the album after a tour was planned. We
were calling our tour Pure and Simple, and I thought, Well, we need an
album. So the prolific songwriter, known for hits such as Jolene and
Nine to Five, not to mention her own theme park, focused on love. My
fiftieth anniversary [of marriage to Carl Dean] is this year. So I thought, Ill
just write a whole album of love songs.
Love, it turns out, has long been a guiding tenet for Parton. I grew up in
a very spiritual family, she says. We were taught to love each other. We
were taught to be good to our neighbors. We were taught to love people.
And that includes LGBT people.
I dont even think about whether youre straight or gay, I just love
you because I love you, she says. I dont judge people. I think everybody
should be allowed to be exactly who they are, and be allowed to love exactly who they love. I just think thats the way it should be. Were all Gods
children. And we all have a right to our own happiness.
Her attitude is an anomaly in country music, and for those in the industry less-than-tolerant, she has forthright words
What really gets me, is so many of the country people are supposed to
be good Christian people. To me, they should exercise more of what the
Bible says to love one another, to love your neighbor, and not to judge,
and just to love. Thats Gods business. God is the judge.
Theres room for everybody to be more accepting of all people, she
concludes. Not just gays and lesbians there is just so much prejudice in
this world about so many people, for people being different. Were all Gods
children. We should love one another, accept one another.... I think people
should get over themselves and just start thinking about what would make
this world a happier, better place. A good place to start would be to allow
people to be free and happy in their own selves. I just cant imagine that
you can be happy judging and criticizing other people all the time. What
kind of life is that? Id rather just go with the flow and love everybody. And
maybe God will love me more for loving more. Randy Shulman
Pure and Simple is available Aug. 19 from Amazon and streaming services.
ners and sock puppets, Joanie Schultz

directs a production led by Liam Forde
as a foul-mouthed, demonically possessed puppet. With Susan Rome,
Caitlin Collins, Ryan McBride and Tim
Getman. Extended to Sunday, Aug. 28.
Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW.
Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.
JELLYS LAST JAM
Signature Theatre kicks off its new

season with a celebration of the music
and life of jazz pioneer Jelly Roll
Morton. Washington native Mark G
Meadows stars as Morton, leading a
cast that also includes, among others,
Tony Award winner Cleavant Derricks
(Dreamgirls), Felicia Boswell (Motown
The Musical), and Signature star
Nova Y. Payton. Matthew Gardiner
directs the musical featuring a book
12
If theres one thing Dolly Parton has an

abundance of, its love.
by George C. Wolfe and lyrics by

Susan Birkenhead. Pride performance
set for Friday, Aug. 26. Runs to Sept.
11. Signatures Max Theatre, 4200
Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.
KURIOS - CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
Cirque du Soleil returns with a show

set in the latter half of the 19th century, but otherwise unconstrained
by time or imagination. Its a fantasy
world developed by writer and director Michel Laprise, a longtime Cirque
designer who also directed Madonnas
sensational 2012 Super Bowl halftime
show and the MDNA Tour. Kurios,
according to a Chicago Tribune critic,
is a dazzling, hyper-detailed, potent,
quixotic and generally fantastic show.
To Sept. 4. The Big Top in Lerner
Town Square at Tysons II, 8025
Galleria Dr. Tysons. Tickets are $39 to

$170. Call 877-924-7783 or visit cirquedusoleil.com/kurios.
SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF
Billed as the story of Louis Armstrong

that you dont know, drama critic
and biographer Terry Teachouts first
play makes its D.C. premiere opening
the second season of Mosaic Theater
Company. Eleanor Holdridge directs
local great Craig Wallace in this oneman show, portraying Armstrong, his
manager Joe Glaser, and his rival Miles
Davis. Set on the night of Armstrongs
last public performance in 1971, the
play takes a hard look at Satchmos
life and his role in the Civil Rights
Movement. The production also kicks
off a provocative season-long discussion series, Race and Music: Blacks,
Jews and the Independent Artist.
Opens in a pay-what-you-can preview on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m.

Runs to Sept. 25. Lang Theatre in
the Atlas Performing Arts Center,
1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20 to
$60. Call 202-399-7993 or mosaictheater.org.
THE LONESOME WEST
A dark Irish comedy from Martin

McDonagh, the writer/director of
the Oscar-winning film In Bruges as
well as Behanding in Spokane, closes
out Keegans record-breaking nineteenth season. Mark A. Rhea directs
this tale of rivalry between two
brothers, portrayed by Matthew J.
Keenan and Bradley Foster Smith,
set in the tiny Irish backwater of
Leenane. Closes Saturday, Aug. 27.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St.
NW. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call

202-265-3768 or visitkeegantheatre.com.
THE MIKADO, THE PIRATES

OF PENZANCE
Chicagos
The
Hypocrites
Repertory take on some of the silliest roles ever written for musical
theater, performing two of Gilbert
& Sullivans best-loved comic operettas. Presented promenade style,
with some seats on stage with the
actors, Sean Graney directs the tales
of scurvy pirates, modern MajorGenerals, and star-crossed lovers.
Closes Sunday, Aug. 21. Theatre
Lab at Olney Theatre Center, 2001
Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney,
Md. Tickets are $30 to $55. Call 301924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

- SYMPHONIC METAL VERSION
Stephen Sondheim gave the quirky,

upstart Landless Theatre Company
permission to amp up his most
famous tale for its twice-staged,
Helen Hayes Award-nominated
Sweeney Todd-Prog Metal Version.
Now, its author and composer
Rupert Holmess turn, challenging Landless to test its mettle and
metal with The Mystery of Edwin
Drood. The choose-your-own-ending musical from 1986 is a dark tale
of deception, based on the unfinished novel by Charles Dickens.
Opens Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. To
Oct. 2. Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311

Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg.
or visit landlesstheatre.com.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Andrew Lloyd Webbers long-running musical is touted to be bigger

and better than ever before in a
new touring production overseen
by Matthew Bourne and Cameron
Mackintosh and featuring new choreography and sets. The chandelier
is still a centerpiece, and the score
hasnt changed a note. Remaining
performances Thursday, Aug. 18,
and Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., and
Saturday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. and 7
p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House.
Tickets are $25 to $149. Visit kennedycenter.org.
MUSIC
ARETHA FRANKLIN
The Queen of Soul returns to Wolf

Trap for a performance drawing
from her rich repertoire and
maybe, just maybe, her rich hat collection. Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m.
The Filene Center at Wolf Trap,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$35 to $65. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.
BLACK MASALA
D.C.s own eight-piece Balkan and

funk band consisting of members
from Thievery Corporation perform

a show with opening acts M.H. &
His Orchestra and the Shadow Girl
Sound Collective. Saturday, Aug. 20.
Doors at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th
St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.
CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET
The 7th annual summer cabaret

series at ArtSpace Falls Church runs
every weekend through September
19. Next up in the series: Musical
composing duo and married partners
Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory
Smith (Sleepy Hollow, Turn of the
Screw) in a 10-year revue of their
work, Dreamland, on Friday, Aug.
19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m.,
and Helen Hayes Award-winning
musical theater actor Sam Ludwig
in Sam and the Amazing QuasiInteresting Dream Date, or A Brief
Interview with a Hideous Musicals
Fan, on Friday, Aug. 26, and
Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. ArtSpace,
410 South Maple Ave., Falls Church.
Tickets are $18 to $20 per show, or
$50 for a table for two with two glasses of wine, and $100 for four and a
bottle of wine. Call 703-436-9948 or
visit creativecauldron.org.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH
A Broadway powerhouse, the fourfoot-eleven Chenoweth made her

debut nearly two decades ago in
Kander and Ebbs Steel Pier. From
Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown
to Wicked to On the Twentieth

Century, Chenoweths star shines
brightest when shes on stage. But
shes a nimble performer whose
career has successfully traversed
every medium, including TV and
film. Her favorite, however, is performing concerts. I like concert
work, because I love the aspect of a
live audience and I get to sing songs
that maybe I wouldnt normally
get to do, Chenoweth told Metro
Weekly last year when she appeared
at Wolf Trap for the first time. She
returns Sunday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m.
The Filene Center at Wolf Trap,
1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are
$25 to $65. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org.
MIRANDA LAMBERT
She may have only come in third

during the first season of USA
Networks Nashville Star, but
Lambert is the biggest star to
emerge from that reality series
and one of the biggest stars in all
of country. Shes captivated critics
and audiences with her winning
personality, astute songwriting and
sense of candor on display in
new, post-Blake Shelton heartbreak
music. Kip Moore and the Brothers
Osborne open. Thursday, Aug. 25.
Doors at 6 p.m. Merriweather Post
Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent
Parkway, Columbia, Md. Tickets
are $45 to $125. Call 800-551-SEAT
or visit merriweathermusic.com.
13
THE BANGLES
The Bangles are decidedly not on

a Farewell Tour. Although silent
the last decade of the 20th century,
Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson and
former fill-in Go-Gos member Vicki
Peterson have been a going entity
for almost two decades now. The
original trio walks like Egyptians
to D.C.s most celebrated concert
venue next weekend. Sunday, Aug.
21. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V
St. NW. Tickets are $35. Call 202265-0930 or visit 930.com.
READING
GREGG SHAPIRO
How to Whistle is a collection of

short stories focused on gay men
who are unrepentantly sardonic,
sybaritic and wry. All of the writing
is based on observations and recollections from the author, whose previous works include Protection and
Lincoln Avenue. Thursday, Sept. 1,
at 6:30 p.m. East City Bookshop, 645
Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Call 202-2901636 or visit eastcitybookshop.com.
BIZ MARKIE: FILLMORE FLASHBACK
The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, as MTV once called him, will once again relive his glory
days, hosting and spinning for another 80s vs 90s Dance Party presented by radio station
Hot 99.5. Local cover bands New Romance (the 80s) and Heres To The Night (the 90s)
join Markie, a Maryland resident known for Just A Friend. Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m.
Fillmore Silver Spring, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $15.50. Call 301960-9999 or visit fillmoresilverspring.com.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARTS
JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SERIES
Free concerts featuring locally and

nationally recognized musicians
are on tap every Friday through
Labor Day, amidst the gallerys
collection of large-scale sculptural works. Remaining performances
in the series are: Rock, blues and
old-school R&B from Moonshine
Society on Friday, Aug. 19, and local
jazz ensemble the Fred Hughes
Trio, featuring bassist Amy Shook,
drummer Frank Russo and namesake pianist, on Friday, Sept. 2, from
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. National Gallery
of Art Sculpture Garden, between
7th and 9th Streets NW. Call 202289-3360 or visit nga.gov.
OLNEYS THE SOUND OF

SUMMER CONCERT
Local musical theater heavyweights

Tracy Lynn Olivera, Bobby Smith,
and Rachel Zampelli perform cabaret in this Concert with a Cool
Breeze. Cool summer favorites
from the Beach Boys, the Drifters
and other classic American pop
songs will be featured. Saturday,
Aug. 20, at 8 p.m. Mainstage at
Olney Theatre Center, 2001 OlneySandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.
or visit olneytheatre.org.
14
PRINZE GEORGE
Vocalist Naomi Almquist might

put you in mind of Lana Del Rey
or Lizzy Plapinger, lead singer of
moody New York synthpop duo
Ms Mr, whose vibe and sound
Prinze George echo. The increasingly buzzed-about locally derived
band, also featuring instrumentalist Kenny Grimm and drummer
Isabelle De Leon, returns for a
hometown concert in support of
the just-released cinematic debut
album Illiterate Synth Pop. The concert also comes on the eve of Rock
and Roll Hotels week-long 10th
Anniversary celebration featuring
concerts by Ex Hex, Lower Dens,
Titus Andronicus and Milemarker,
among others. Saturday, Aug. 20.
Doors at 7 p.m. Rock and Roll Hotel,
1353 H St. NE. Tickets are $12 in
advance, or $14 on the day. Call
202-388-ROCK or visit rockandrollhoteldc.com.
ROCHELLE RICE
An alumna of Howard Universitys

premiere vocal jazz ensemble the
Afro Blue Vocal Band, who also
earned the title of 2013 Best Jazz
Vocalist by the Washington City
Paper, Rochelle Rice now prepares to make her Kennedy Center
debut. This free concert of jazz-inspired contemporary pop and soul
will revolve around Rices new set
Wonder. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit
kennedy-center.org.
SEAL
The former Mr. Heidi Klum performs a concert 25 years after he

exploded onto the scene with hits
Killer and Crazy. Seal Samuel
tours in support of last years
rather maudlin set of love songs,
7. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m.
Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW.
Tickets are $47.50. Call 202-7834000 or visit warnertheatredc.com.
SKYE | ROSS FROM MORCHEEBA
There are three members of

Morcheeba, but DJ Paul Godfrey
long ago stopped touring with the
pioneering British moody triphop act. So two years after their
last sojourn to D.C., vocalist Skye
Edwards and multi-instrumentalist
Ross Godfrey Pauls brother
return, this time in support of Skye
| Ross. The forthcoming new set
was recorded as a duo and is said
to be more raw and gutsy and less
electronic or digitally manipulated,
all based on their experiences performing as a duo. Its intended as a
side project the trio Morcheeba
is apparently on hiatus. Thursday,
Aug. 25. Doors at 7 p.m. 9:30 Club,
815 V St. NW. Tickets are $27.50.
Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.
EXHIBITS
FUN-DERFUL
Humorous, fun art from local artists is the focus of an exhibit that
has inspired a mini-FUN-raiser,
titled Can You Spare A Square?
with additional artworks, made on
small squares, donated by artists to
benefit the gallery and available for
purchase. Closes Aug. 28. Del Ray
Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon
Ave. Alexandria. Call 703-731-8802 or
visit thedelrayartisans.org.
REFRESH VI
Long View Gallery presents its sixth

annual exhibition featuring new
works by gallery favorites, this year
including Sondra N. Arkin, Michelle
Peterson-Albandoz, J. Jordan
Bruns, Lori Katz, Georgia Nassikas,
Curtis Speer, Eve Stockton, and
Robert Stuart. Also represented are
two artists new to Long View, Matt
Neumann and Darlene Charneco.
Opening reception is Thursday,
Aug. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On display through Sept. 18. Long
View Gallery, 1234 9th St. NW. Call
202-232-4788 or visit longviewgallery.com.
ETC.
IRA GLASS
The public radio star behind This

American Life makes his Wolf
Trap debut with a solo show,
Seven Things Ive Learned, sharing
his insights on being a storyteller. Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m.The
Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551
Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25
to $55. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or
visit wolftrap.org. l
DESIREE SANSING
theFeed
Students in the GSA at McKinley Technology Education Campus hold up signs vowing to stand strong on LGBT rights in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
ALLIANCES
LGBT students talk about why GSAs matter to them and what
schools can do to make sure they work By John Riley
IDDLE SCHOOL WAS ROUGH FOR CODY WILSON. EVERY SINGLE

day, Id come to school and Id be bullied, he says. Id be told to kill
myself. I didnt have anywhere to go. I didnt have any teachers to turn to.
It was just torture. Id come home every day crying because I felt so alone in life.
As a transgender student, Wilson was punished by his peers for daring to be
his true self. Because of that sustained negativity, when he enrolled as a freshman
at West Potomac High School in Fairfax, Va., he had trouble trusting people, finding it difficult to make friends and struggling with social anxiety when it came to
interacting with his peers. Although he eventually found a niche of his own in West
Potomacs robust arts program long a haven for the LGBT community it wasnt
until Wilson joined his schools Gay-Straight Alliance in his sophomore year that he
finally began to let down his guard.
A very good friend of mine told me about the GSA. I had never heard of it before.
I also talked to my Latin teacher, Mr. [Robert] Rigby, about it, and he was like,
Yeah, come. Its in this room on Thursdays, says Wilson, now a 17-year-old college
freshman. When I started going, it was such a welcoming atmosphere, like I could
be myself there. It was really a safe space for me. It was a breath of fresh air. I was
like, Oh my God, I can relax now. I dont have to worry about people judging me or
thinking harshly about me.
Wilson was involved in the West Potomac GSA during both his sophomore and
senior years (he skipped junior year to start college early). The club helped him
become more self-confident and assured, and he saw similar changes in his fellow
GSA members. He even noticed a change in those people he knew were LGBT, but
werent involved in the GSA.
Thats in part due to the willingness of many faculty members to offer their classrooms as safe spaces for LGBT students, which has helped improve the school environment for those who are out. Some teachers, including Rigby, the faculty advisor
to West Potomacs GSA, have gone even further. When a student was kicked out of
her home after coming out, Rigby contacted a local organization for LGBT homeless
youth to secure a place to live.
Its not just in school, making sure that kids arent being bullied, but its in life.
Facts About
LGB Students
(Source: CDC, trans students not
included in study)
1 in 5
have been forced to

have sexual intercourse
1 in 8
have cut school because

they didnt feel safe
60%
have felt sad or hopeless
43%
have considered
attempting suicide
30%
have attempted suicide

(four times more likely
than a heterosexual
student)
15
theFeed
These teachers go above and beyond, Wilson says. If they
werent there, I know people who would be dead right now,
honestly, because they were in such low places.
Wilsons story is far from unique. Schools that actively
foster an LGBT-supportive atmosphere have happier, safer
LGBT students. According to a recent survey by Vanderbilt
Universitys Peabody Research Institute, LGBT or questioning students at schools with GSAs are 52% less likely to
hear homophobic remarks from fellow students or teachers.
Theyre also 36% less likely to fear for their personal safety,
and 30% less likely to be victimized
because of their sexual orientation or
gender identity.
The proven benefits of GSAs are
likely to make LGBT advocates take
notice, particularly with the release
of another study highlighting the
risks facing lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens. According to the CDC,
LGB students in high schools are
nearly twice as likely to be bullied
as their heterosexual peers. That
alone is shocking, but its the effect
it can have on the student that makes
the data hard to swallow. Not only
do LGB students experience higher
rates of truancy, they are also more
likely to use illicit drugs, and more
likely to contemplate or attempt suicide. Of those who have considered
ending their lives, almost a third
attempted to do so.
GSAs arent just a distraction from
the harassment an LGBT child can
face from peers, theyre a vital part of helping solve the
problem something recognized by the government. Under
the Federal Equal Access Act, any school that receives government funding and has at least one other non-curricular
club must allow students to form a GSA, and the GSA must
be given access to the same resources as other clubs. The
issue, then, is not so much whether GSAs exist at least,
nominally but whether a school can find a faculty member
willing to sponsor or serve as an advisor to a GSA. Which
can prove to be difficult.
Every single club has to have an adult sponsor, says
Desiree Sansing, a teacher and sponsor of the GSA at
McKinley Technology Education Campus in Northeast D.C.
Its not gay- or straight-related, its just protocol. So if a
school does not have an adult to sponsor the club, Im not
sure how they would be able to have a GSA.
If I were not the GSA sponsor, the students would have
to go and find an adult who was willing to be the sponsor,
adds Sansing. Thats where active versus inactive comes
into play. There are, Im sure, some GSAs where the students are really excitable and want to get the club going,
and they cant find anyone to be the sponsor, so they just
find a teacher whos willing to say theyre the sponsor, but
that teacher may not have the resources they need to be
successful.
Within D.C. Public Schools, nearly all of the citys high
schools have a GSA chapter, as do ten middle school cam-
puses and seven elementary school campuses. In Virginia,

where GSA membership is often restricted to high schoolers,
Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County,
and Loudoun County have GSA chapters, but some schools
do not yet have a confirmed faculty advisor or sponsor.
In order to be successful, Sansing believes a GSA must
meet certain criteria: It has to be visible, so that students
are aware of its existence; it must have regular meetings,
complete with plans for activities or discussions; and it must
have an adult who is well-versed enough in LGBT issues to
address any that students may bring
up. D.C. has worked hard to ensure
any GSA established is a success:
Each school is given an LGBT liaison,
and teachers can seek guidance from
the schools liaison, and can also take
a training course in LGBT competency to better help and inform students.
Its system Sansing notes many other
school districts do not have.
Just saying you have a GSA is
a whole lot different than being a
GSA, she says. Being an active GSA
that discusses issues like bullying,
name-calling, teen suicide, and character development thats going to
be the key. I think thats whats transformed our schools culture.
Tina Bradley, the GSA sponsor at
Ballou STAY High School, a program
for 18- to 24-year-olds who wish to
complete their high school degree,
says having a GSA on campus has not
only reaped benefits for the individual students involved in the club, but has helped change the
culture of the school to be more welcoming and accepting
of LGBT students. When the GSA co-hosted the schools
annual Hair & Fashion Show event, even straight students
who werent involved in the club were willing to help with
planning and setup for the event.
GSA, especially this year, was involved in so many
things across the school that there were students that you
wouldnt normally think of being supportive of the GSA who
were, she says. People who might have been vocal against
it before have now come around to seeing and welcoming
these students as their peers and classmates.
One of Chaiya Mohanty Ortizs two sons is a transgender
graduate of Fairfax Public County Schools. There was a
notable change in Kayden after he became involved with the
GSA at Robinson Secondary School. Unfortunately, he had
to struggle through middle school before he was able to take
advantage of the support network a GSA can offer. Middle
schoolers in Fairfax, even at secondary schools that run
through 12th grade, are prohibited from taking part in afterschool events like their high school peers, which meant
Kayden couldnt join GSA until he became a freshman.
I know for him, seventh grade was very difficult, and
eighth grade as well, as this was the time he was coming out,
and he was bullied a lot, Ortiz says. Once he was able to
become involved with the GSA club, things started turning
around. He realized that there was a contingent of allies out
When I started
going, it was such
a welcoming
atmosphere, like
I could be myself
there. ...
It was a
breath of
fresh air.
16
theFeed
there available to him. Also, I think he started becoming
more comfortable being out.
Kayden, now a 19-year-old freshman in college, says the
GSA made high school much easier for him and his friends,
some of whom had been spiraling downward into depression. After getting involved with the GSA, their self-esteem
increased and their grades started to improve. Whats more,
the school itself adapted to the new normal of open, accepted LGBT students.
With the introduction of the safe space stickers that
we started giving out, I noticed that the bullying definitely
decreased at Robinson, he says. People were starting to
realize that the thought of bullying a transgender or a lesbian/gay/bisexual individual is an outdated thought process.
Kaydens own involvement in the GSA helped make him
more confident, and inspired him to become active in the
fight for transgender rights.
It definitely made me want to become more of a leader
in the transgender advocacy field, he says. I went to many

Fairfax County [School] Board meetings. I also spoke at one.
Ive been on the news several times for trans advocacy work,
talking about Fairfax County, specifically, and the Gavin
Grimm-Gloucester County case. It just made me step up to
the plate.
For Cody Wilson, having a GSA with an active, engaged
teacher at the helm made the difference between being out
and proud at school and becoming another CDC statistic of
violence and bullying.
These teachers allow kids to feel safe coming to school,
and not feel like every day is just torture, he says. Its
extremely important to have teachers that make you feel
safe and [to] have a GSA. Every week, I know kids who this
is the highlight of their week. This is the place where they
can have a sigh of relief. They can finally be open about who
they are, and who they want to love, and who they identify
as. Its extremely important. l
GAY GAMES
Rio 2016s record number of LGBT athletes has led to both pitfalls and wonderful moments
of love and acceptance By Rhuaridh Marr
TS OFFICIAL, RIO 2016 IS THE GAYEST OLYMPICS

ever. Not only are there a record number of out gay,
lesbian and bisexual athletes competing in Brazil, viewers have also witnessed several heartwarming moments
between athletes and their loved ones. Its a stark contrast
from ceremonies past, even just two years ago at the 2014
Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where homophobia was
at the forefront and athletes and broadcasters alike were on
high alert for incurring the wrath of the increasingly bigoted
host nation.
Unfortunately, Rio 2016 has also been a reminder that,
while the sporting world is more at ease with a growing LGBT
contingent, theres still a lot of progress to be made. The most
glaring example of this came from The Daily Beast. Were not
sure what possessed the sites editors to allow journalist Nico
Hines to write the story he would eventually publish, but
imagine the discussion went a little something like this:
Hines: I want to walk around the Olympic Village, using
dating apps to see which athletes are looking for sex.
Daily Beast: Sure. Will you just be profiling straight
athletes?
Hines: No, I can use Grindr, too. Ill tell them Im married to a woman, once Ive learned who they are and where
they want to meet.
DB: Love it.
Hines debuted his article, I Got Three Grindr Dates in
an Hour in the Olympic Village, last week to massive outcry. Not only did he use a mocking tone when writing about
the various athletes he messaged (His profile read Im
looking for sex.... He asked for a sex foto but Im a bit of a
prude like that, so I sent a selfie from the fencing earlier this
week), Hines also included identifying information such
18
as height, weight, nationality and sport. Information that

would have made them instantly recognizable to their teammates. Information that threatened to endanger the lives of
those who had traveled from countries that still consider
LGBT people to be worthy of prison or death.
After Twitter erupted and other publications started
criticizing the reporting, Daily Beast was forced to heavily
edit the article and include a lengthy Editors Note. That
wasnt enough, and eventually the entire article was deleted
an unprecedented move, but one that, given the levels of
anger on social media, was inevitable. We were wrong. We
will do better, editors promised, but the damage was done.
Hines has now been withdrawn from Olympics coverage,
and the International Olympic Committee condemned the
story as simply unacceptable in an email to Outsports, but
it remains to be seen what fallout there will be for those
athletes identified in Hines desperate attempt to get read.
Still, poor judgement in reporting hasnt been exclusively
reserved for online publications. NBCs Chris Marlowe was
forced to apologize after he called Brazilian beach volleyball
player Larissa Franas wife her husband. She gives a hug
to Lili. That is her husband, he incorrectly told viewers,
before clarifying that Clearly, Liliane is Larissas wife.
The BBC called one of its commentators ill judged, after
Paul Hand announced Lets hope they dont go onto two
blokes sat next to one another during a kiss cam at a tennis
match. And never one to shy away from homophobia (or
xenophobia, or sexism, or any other number of controversies), renown tabloid The Daily Mail blasted two straight,
male swimmers for sharing a hug after winning the mens
synchronized 3 meter gold medal, saying they should have
settled for a manly pat on the back. They responded to the
Oral
Fixation
you can listen
to any story at
MetroWeekly.com
Gay Games
just look for the

speak button
anger that generated by writing another article questioning the

pairs sexuality.
Thankfully, in amongst the more distasteful aspects of this
years Olympics, there have been several wonderful stories of
love and acceptance. British hockey players Kate and Helen
Richardson-Walsh led the charge, becoming the first married
same-sex couple to compete together at the Olympics.
We just want to show that its a normal thing, Kate told The
Sun. Were not out there shouting it, its just part and parcel of
who we are.
Marriage was evidently on the minds of a few athletes in Rio,
as proposals amid Rios stunning backdrops are increasingly
du jour. At the womens rugby sevens finals, Isadora Cerullo
was sharing a moment with her Brazilian teammates, after they
narrowly failed to beat Australia. Then, she heard the voice of
Marjorie Enya, her girlfriend, who had taken to the pitch with
a microphone in hand. Enya proposed to Cerullo, who accepted,
prompting an eruption of cheers and applause in the stadium.
As soon as I knew she was in the squad I thought I have to
make this special, Enya told BBC Sport. I know rugby people
are amazing and they would embrace it. She called Cerullo
the love of my life, adding, I wanted to show people that love
wins.
It was followed this week by news that British race walker
Tom Bosworth had dropped to one knee on Copacabana Beach,
proposing to boyfriend Harry Dinley. The pair tweeted their
engagement, with the simple message: He said YES!!!
Though Bosworth failed to medal in the 20km walk event,
thus far six of the 51 out LGBT athletes at this years games have
managed to achieve a podium finish. Canadian rugby player
Jen Kish (womens sevens) and British diver Tom Daley (mens
synchronized 10-meter) both secured bronze in their respective events; Italian swimmer Rachele Bruni (10km) and British
dressage riders Carl Hester and Spencer Wilton (team dressage)
scored silvers; and Rafaela Silva this week won Brazils first gold
medal of the games in judo (womens 57kg).
Silvas win in particular carries extra meaning, as she chose
a post-match interview to publicly come out for the first time.
Speaking with Globo Sports, Silva discussed the life she and
partner Thamara Cezar had built together, including their kids
in this case, three dogs and Cezar handling several aspects
of Silvas life, including her social media presence, all so Silva
could focus on winning gold. Silva called Cezar an inextricable
component of her Olympic win.
She was there every day and knew how I was feeling, when
I was sick when I wasnt, Silva said. Everything I needed, she
was there to do it, so she is also very important in this victory. l
20
BLAZEJ LYJAK
Community
TAKING SUMMER IN STRIDE

Early runs and plenty of motivation help the DC Front Runners
survive the sweltering heat
AVE YOU EVER WANTED TO RUN ON A GORGEOUS, SUNNY DAY,

only to stop because you realize its too hot? Its a regular problem in D.C.
thanks to sweltering summer temperatures and high humidity, but Jeffrey
Gonzalez, coordinator of the DC Front Runners, has a solution for you: change the
time you exercise.
In July and August, we actually move our Saturday morning runs to 9 a.m., says
Gonzalez, coordinator of the social gay running club, DC Front Runners. Normally,
during the other months, we start at 10 a.m. On Saturdays, we also run along Rock Creek
Parkway, which is fairly shaded, and theres a water fountain at our meetup point.
It also helps to have a running buddy for motivation, which is why, even on the
hottest days of the year, anywhere from 30 to 40 Front Runners will congregate at the
statue of Taras Shevchenko near the intersection of 23rd and P Streets NW. The group
divides into pace groups, based on ability level, and sets out along a pre-planned
course. Newer members are often handed a ribbon designating them as a first-time
runner, which alerts more experienced members of the club to watch over them and
ensure they arent abandoned or left alone.
The club currently boasts about 360 active, dues-paying members ($25 per year)
and is about to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Gonzalez, who has been running with
the Front Runners for the past nine years, says that regardless of skill level, everyone
is welcome to join.
We have people of all different abilities, whether theyre fast or slow or they want
to walk, he says, adding, Or just go to happy hour with us. John Riley
DC Front Runners meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and on Saturdays at
9 a.m. during the summer months, for 3- to 6-mile runs or walks. The group also meets
on Sundays at 9 a.m. for 8- to 12-mile runs. All runs convene at the intersection of
23rd and P Streets NW. For more information, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
THURSDAY, August 18
Black, Gifted & Whole and the
University of the District of
Columbia host the first-ever
SAFESPACE OPEN HOUSE, for
LGBTQ students of color seeking information about college or
professional trade certifications.
The event seeks to connect
them with culturally competent
community resources, and
will also provide confidential
HIV testing on site throughout
the day. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 4200
Connecticut Ave. NW. For more
information, visit safehousebgw.
eventbrite.com.
The DC Anti-Violence Project
(DC AVP), a group dedicated
to combating anti-LGBT hate
crimes, hosts an artists forum
at Busboys and Poets bringing together LGBT artists in
spoken word, dance, poetry,
visual art and other forms of
artistic expression. The event,
TAKING THE STAGE, TAKING

A STAND: LGBTQ VOICES
AGAINST VIOLENCE seeks to
give these artists a safe space to

perform and bring together the
community in light of recent
anti-LGBT attacks. 7-9 p.m.
2021 14th St. NW. For more
information, call 202-682-2245.
The DC Center holds a meeting of its POLY DISCUSSION

GROUP, for people interested
in polyamory, non-monogamy
or other non-traditional rela-
21
tionships. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St.

NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The DC Center hosts a recurring
workshop on SOLUTIONS FOR
WELLNESS PLANNING. 6:30-7:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
FRIDAY, August 19
GAY DISTRICT, a group for GBTQI
men between the ages of 18-35,

meets on the first and third Fridays
of each month. 8:30-9:30 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit gaydistrict.org.
Weekly Events
DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC)
practice session at Hains Point,

927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
The DC Center hosts a meeting

of KHUSH DC, a support group
for LGBTQ South Asians. 1:303:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite
105. For more information, email
board@khushdc.org.
The DC Center hosts a monthly LGBT ASYLEES SUPPORT
MEETING AND DINNER for LGBT
refugees and asylum seekers. 5-7
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
Weekly Events
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.
BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, includ-
Weekly Events
LGBT-inclusive ALL SOULS
MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
celebrates Low Mass at 8:30

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

972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
FRIENDS MEETING OF
WASHINGTON meets for worship,
10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW,

Quaker House Living Room (next
to Meeting House on Decatur
Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome
to lesbians and gays. Handicapped
accessible from Phelps Place gate.
Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.
HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT

GROUP for gay men living in the
Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor

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

culture, meets. For location/time,
email braziliangaygroup@yahoo.
com.
DC metro area. This group will be

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

DEVELOPMENT, God-centered
LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP
DC FRONT RUNNERS running/
HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker
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.
PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-
affirming social group for ages

11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia Road
NW. Contact Tamara, 202-3190422, layc-dc.org.
practice session at Hains Point, 972

Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
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.
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.
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.
DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for
SATURDAY, August 20
GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses

critical languages and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellies, 900 U St.
NW. RSVP preferred. brendandarcy@gmail.com.
CHRYSALIS arts & culture
group visits National Archives

to see exhibition on Amending
America, about the thousands
of Constitutional amendments
that have been proposed over the
years, only a few of which have
been adopted. Free. Non-members
welcome. Meet at 11 a.m. past security inside the 9th & Constitution
Avenue NW entrance. Lunch follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. craighowell1@verizon.net.
22
LGBT community, family and

friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel
Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary
Road, Alexandria. All welcome. For
more info, visit dignitynova.org.
SUNDAY, August 21
ADVENTURING outdoors group
hikes 9 strenuous miles with

1500 feet of elevation gain on
Appalachian Trail near Paris, Va.
Bring plenty of beverages, lunch,
bug spray, sunscreen, sturdy boots,
about $15 for fees, and money for
wine tasting that follows. Carpool
at 8:30 a.m. from East Falls Church
Metro Station Kiss & Ride lot. For
more info, Harris, 443-415-7856.
adventuring.org.
new age church & learning center.

Sunday Services and Workshops
event. 5419 Sherier Place NW. isddc.org.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA services at 11 a.m., led
by Rev. Emma Chattin. Childrens

Sunday School, 11 a.m. 10383
Democracy Lane, Fairfax. 703-6910930, mccnova.com.
ST. STEPHEN AND THE

INCARNATION, an interra-
GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at

Quaker House, 2111 Florida Ave.
NW. getequal.wdc@gmail.com.
HIV Testing at WHITMANWALKER HEALTH. At the
Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center,
1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At
the Max Robinson Center, 2301
MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For an appointment call 202-7457000. Visit whitman-walker.org.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

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

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

free, rapid HIV testing. No
appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV test-
ing. 5-7 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite

200, Arlington. Appointments: 703789-4467.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in,
for youth 21 and younger. Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-5673155 or testing@smyal.org.
The DC Center hosts COFFEE
DROP-IN FOR THE SENIOR LGBT

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

mens evening affinity group. 3636
Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.
WASHINGTON WETSKINS
WATER POLO TEAM practices 7-9
cial, multi-ethnic Christian

Community offers services in
English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and
in Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton
St. NW. 202-232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.
p.m. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300

Van Buren St. NW. Newcomers
with at least basic swimming ability
always welcome. Tom, 703-2990504, secretary@wetskins.org,
wetskins.org.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SILVER SPRING
WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH
invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to

join the church. Services 9:15 and
11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire
Ave. uucss.org.
MONDAY, August 22
Weekly Events

927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
HIV/AIDS Support Group for

newly diagnosed individuals,
meets 7 p.m. Registration required.
202-939-7671, hivsupport@whitman-walker.org.
TUESDAY, August 23
The DC Centers GENDERQUEER
DC support and discussion group,
for people who identify outside the
gender binary, meets on the fourth
Tuesday of every month. 7-8:30
p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.
Weekly Events
ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL
HEALTH offers free HIV testing,
9-5 p.m., and HIV services (by

appointment). 202-291-4707,
andromedatransculturalhealth.org.
ASIANS AND FRIENDS weekly
dinner in Dupont/Logan Circle

area, 6:30 p.m. afwash@aol.com,
afwashington.net.
practice session at Takoma Aquatic

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

COLLABORATIVE offers free
HIV testing and STI screening

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

Virginia Square Metro. For

more info. call Dick, 703-5211999. Handicapped accessible.
Newcomers welcome. liveandletliveoa@gmail.com.
SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5

p.m., by appointment and walk-in,
for youth 21 and younger. Youth
Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-5673155, 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.
WEDNESDAY, August 24
THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB will
Weekly Events

AD LIB, a group for freestyle con-
JOB CLUB, a weekly support pro-
meet for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30

p.m. Dignity Center 721 8th St., S.E.
(across from Marine Barracks). No
reservation needed. Call 202-8410279 if you need a partner.
versation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m.,

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

927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit
swimdcac.org.
DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds
practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison

Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.
KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY

(K.I.) SERVICES, at 3333 Duke St.,
in private home near Dupont Circle

to discuss DC Council legislative
priorities for the fall. 7 p.m. All welcome. For more information, contact Rick, 202-328-6278. glaa.org.
FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, a

group for LGBT people looking
to quit cigarettes and tobacco use,
holds a weekly support meeting at
The DC Center. 7-8 p.m. 2000 14th
St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
The DC Center hosts a monthly

meeting of its HIV PREVENTION
WORKING GROUP. 6-8 p.m. 2000
14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more
information, visit thedccenter.org.
offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m.

and 12:05 p.m. All welcome. 118 N.
Washington St., Alexandria. 703549-1450, historicchristchurch.org.
Alexandria, offers free rapid HIV

testing and counseling, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. 703-823-4401.
LGBT focused meeting every

Tuesday, 7 p.m. St. Georges
Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland
Ave., Arlington, just steps from
GAY & LESBIAN ACTIVISTS

ALLIANCE holds quarterly meeting
HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH
gram for job entrants and seekers,

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

free, rapid HIV testing. No
appointment needed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202638-0750.
NOVASALUD offers free HIV
testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N.
15th St., Suite 200, Arlington.
Appointments: 703-789-4467.
PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club
for mature gay men, hosts weekly
happy hour/dinner. 6:30 p.m.,
Windows Bar above Dupont Italian
Kitchen, 1637 17th St. NW. Carl,
703-573-8316.
Submit your community event for
consideration at least 10 days prior
to the Thursday publication you
would like it to appear. Email to calendar@metroweekly.com. l
23
Oh, Ricky
Pop superstar Ricky Martin came out in 2010. Six years later,
hes never been happier or hotter.
Exclusive Interview by Randy Shulman
Photography by Nino Muoz
Hey, man!
Ricky Martin bursts forth with an immediate warmth and
familiarity, an ebullience one doesnt generally encounter when
interviewing international superstars by phone.
And then comes the graciousness.
Thank you for your time.
Celebrities never say that.
Unfortunately, our time is short a strict 20 minutes has
been allotted by Martins people for our exclusive interview.
Yet on this Monday morning, Ricky Martin is in a bright, joyful
mood, more than happy to talk about the impact coming out has
had on his life six years after the fact, his deep-rooted feelings
over the Pulse nightclub tragedy (the majority of the victims
were not just gay, but Puerto Rican), and the importance of
getting out the vote for his candidate of choice, Hillary Clinton.
He recoils briefly when the name George W. Bush is mentioned Martin headlined Number 43s inaugural in 2001 and
sets the record straight, even before hearing the full question.
He wants to be very, very clear: Hes a Democrat. One hundred
percent, tried-and-true Democrat. He supported Obama. He
supports Clinton. Case closed.
Martin, currently on a world tour that will arrive at Wolf
Trap on Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25 (its
one of only two planned stops in the states the other being
Hollywood, Florida), is one of the music worlds most formidable
entertainers, one who helped to bridge the cultural gap between
Spanish and English language recordings. Though his biggest hit
remains 1999s Livin La Vida Loca, a song with an infectious
hook and a sexy, growling delivery, hes had several noteworthy
singles since culled from an array of 11 solo albums, including
A Quien Quiera Escuchar, awarded a 2016 Grammy (his second)
for Best Latin Pop Album. Hes had a modest acting career,
including roles on General Hospital and Glee, and two stints on
Broadway, in Les Miz and Evita. Hes been a coach on The Voice
Australia, The Voice Arabia and La Voz... Mexico. And hes also
the author of a childrens book Santiago the Dreamer as well
24
25
as Me, a memoir that spent several weeks atop the New York
Times bestseller list.
Children, arguably, are the cause dearest to his heart. As head
of the Ricky Martin Foundation, he advocates for the global
well-being of children. Its exactly what youd expect from the
father of eight-year-old twin boys.
Ricky Martin is not merely a great entertainer hes a genuinely great human being. To the point where his home nation of
Puerto Rico declared August 31, 2008, to be International Ricky
Martin Day. Not bad for a guy who, in 1984, was rejected from
his first audition for the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo as being
too short.
Good thing they came to their senses after audition number
three.
METRO WEEKLY: Hi, Ricky.
RICKY MARTIN: Hey, Randy! How you doing, man? Thank you
for your time!
MW: No, thank you for your time. This is a great honor.
MARTIN: Where are you based out of?
MW: Washington, D.C. Were an LGBT publication here.
MARTIN: Oh, man. Im glad were doing it!
MW: Well, at least you know Im not going to ask you if youre gay.
MARTIN: [Laughs.] Why not, man?
MW: Maybe I should.
MARTIN: [Laughs.] First question: Are you gay?
MW: First question: Can you confirm the rumors that youre gay?
MARTIN: [Laughs.] Im as gay as they come, man! What can I say?
MW: Okay, then lets start there. What is it like to go through years
of being asked by the press and not really

being able to answer that honestly and openly? I dont think most of us can even perceive
of what that kind of stress that is, to hide
your sexuality publicly.
MARTIN: Youre full of fear, you know?
For many years, youre just obsessed with
acceptance, but according to your beliefs,
and your religion, and maybe a little bit of
your culture as well, it tells you that to feel
this way is evil its something that I dont
wish upon anyone.
But Ive said it many times: I wish I could come out again,
man, because the feeling was so beautiful. Its so amazing that its
like, Man, why didnt I do it before? Everybody goes through
this process. Its easier for some, and its really difficult for others. There are many men and women out there that unfortunately die without being able to go through the coming out process.
Thats really sad. I consider myself someone very lucky. After I
came out, the love that I received from the audience, from the
media, from my family....
MW: But in your case, and in the case of many other celebrities,
you are constantly barraged by the press. I mean, here you are, a
musician, trying to make music, youre trying to entertain, and yet
your personal life becomes such a focal point. That cant be easy
to navigate.
MARTIN: It was worse for me in a sense because my religion
and even my culture was telling me that it was bad to feel what
I was feeling. I went through it. It was very I would say painful, but I am a survivor in the sense that Im here. Im alive. A lot
of people in the process, unfortunately, they look for a gun and
decide to end their lives. That was not my case. So today, what
can we do? Be an example. And let people know that you can do
whatever you want in life. Your sexual identity has nothing to do

with how far you can go in life.
MW: You came out in 2010, before we had gay marriage, before
all the battles for our rights really began to turn the tide. How do
you feel when you look at how far things have come in such a short
time?
MARTIN: Listen. When youre walking down the street, or when
youre doing an in-store, and youre getting to meet your fans,
or even through social media, and you read or hear about testimonies of people, saying, Ricky, thanks. Thanks for coming
out, because the day you came out, I realized that it was okay
to be gay, especially for the Latin community here in the
United States. When I go to countries like Argentina, Colombia,
Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and meet with the LGBT
community, and meet with people that are struggling with their
identity in these countries, and they tell me that because of how
I came out, it made it way easier for them, thats what I take with
me. Today, all I do is celebrate my sexual identity. Im proud of
who I am.
MW: Did you notice a change in your fan base at all? Was it even
perceptible?
MARTIN: The day I came out, a million people started following
me on Twitter. That same day.
MW: Thats a big change.
MARTIN: It is a big, positive change. A lot of people told me,
Ricky, youre going to lose your female fan base. I think its
quite the opposite. All the fears were in my head. When I came
out, everything was better.
It shouldnt matter. Then again, we live in show business. Its
full of fantasy, so the audience, they create a certain image in
I wish I could come out again, man, because the feel
Its so amazing that its like,

didnt I do it before?
26
their heads about the artists they follow. I understood what people were telling me, but they were all wrong. Im still selling out
arenas. Im still selling out stadiums. And its really something
that I shouldnt be concerned about. No one should be.
MW: Youve been in the music industry for over 25 years....
MARTIN: I started when I was 12, and I am now 44 years old. Its
been a while.
MW: What has music done for you in your life? What has it brought
to you, being part of this process?
MARTIN: To be able to talk about my culture through music,
with the rhythms that I use, with the instrumentation that
I use, to be able to create fusion between Latin and Anglo
and African sounds, to go to continents like Asia, and to go to
countries like Japan, Korea, even China, and perform, and to
see people reacting to these ethnic sounds I tend to work with
and to see people enjoying them as if they grew up listening
to these ethnic sounds is something that really moves me,
really inspires me. To see how boundaries are broken, and how
beautiful it is to unite cultures through music its something
that you cant explain, really. To see people in China, singing
to songs in English and in Spanish, is incredibly special. Thats
what keeps me here.

Ten years ago, I said, I think Im going to retire. Ive done
everything I wanted. I am in a comfortable position for me to
say goodbye. But I didnt. Because the reaction of the audience
through social media is, like, When are we going to see you in
concert? And then theres my need to be on stage and perform.
Its my playground. Its where I become a child again.
MW: So you still get the same rush out of performing that you did
25 years ago?
MARTIN: Every day is completely different, but yes, at the end of
the show, when you see people of different cultural backgrounds
and different generations going at it, and what I mean by going
at it, Randy, is people really allowing themselves to feel free for
an hour and forty-five minutes of concert. Thats when I said,
Okay, were doing something right, and we must keep doing
this. Thats what my show is about its an hour and forty-five
minutes where I challenge the audience to forget about all their
issues in life, and for once, not feel judged, and not judge whos
standing next to you, whos dancing without a rhythm, but is still
dancing. That is what moves me and what inspires me to keep
doing this.
MW: I know youre a very spiritual person. And we live in a very
difficult time right now. A lot of your music is just ebullient. In a
sense, youre performing a spiritual service for people.
MARTIN: I appreciate that, and I thank you for it. Yes. Through
social media, or once again, walking down the street, you meet a
girl that tells you, I went to your show two months ago. Thank
you so much. Then, she goes off telling you how her life was
before the show, and how she felt bad about herself, she felt
she was full of insecurities, and all of a sudden after the show,
it was like a turning point for
her. That happens to me quite
often, Randy. It is very special,
so it is a big responsibility,
but its something that I take
with how can I say this in
English? I take with pride.
Thats why I keep doing this.
Apparently my music, my performance, my entertainment
heals people in different ways.
I dont want to sound arrogant
or weird about this, but its something that I get every day, and
it makes me happy.
MW: In June, we had the horrible tragedy at Pulse nightclub in
Orlando. So many of the victims there were Puerto Rican, as well
as gay. How did you feel when you heard about it? Particularly
since its so tightly connected with your own nationality.
MARTIN: I was spending my summer in the south of France, and
then this happened. I was devastated for obvious reasons. But
I also have friends who had friends in that club that night. In
order for me to get rid of my anger, and my frustration, I wrote
an essay. I was able to talk to the families of the victims, because
apparently they wanted to hear me, but I also needed to hear
them in order for me to heal, if you know what I mean. Its How
can I get rid of this anger? How can I get rid of this frustration?
How can I get rid of this uncertainty?
Well, my healing approach was being as close to the victims
as I could, and yes, I talked to a few of them. It is horrible.
What can I say, Randy? This is something that needs to stop.
Thats why every time I post a picture of me with my family on
Instagram, or on social media, one, I want to share because I
am proud of my family, but I also want to share because I know
ling was so beautiful.
Man, why
that that picture will reach millions of men and women who are
struggling with their identity, that because of attacks like this,
they feel afraid of accepting themselves, and I think that part of
my mission in life is to let the world know that theres nothing
wrong with loving and being loved.
MW: There was a point where you performed for George W. Bush.
But you
MARTIN: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. When I hear that I get nervous and I start sweating immediately. I was a young entertainer, seduced by fame and glory. Im going to tell you the line that
my manager at the moment brought me. He told me, You are
invited to sing at the ceremony, and you have the opportunity to
represent the Latino community. Would you do it? I said, Yes.
I am a Democrat. I supported Barack Obama. I campaigned for
Barack Obama and this is even before I came out. Now, Im
supporting and I am campaigning for Hillary Clinton. I am
a Democrat.
MW: I didnt think you werent. My point was going to be Bush
seems tame by comparison of what weve got up going right now,
with Trump. How do you feel about the fact that hes fomenting
racism in this country?
MARTIN: Well, I think that this is critical. We need to show up,
and we need to vote, and we need to vote for a country free from
hate. Weve taken so many amazing steps towards a future free
of prejudice. When you see this man talking, it is scary. Not only
for me, but for all my friends from different parts of the world.
They are alarmed of what this world could become if someone
like Trump gets to the White House. My activism in politics is
27
My activism in politics is based on Lets get out [and vote]. Especially to the Latino community.
We need to show up. We need to vote. We need to make

sure that wall is not built.
based on Lets get out [and vote]. Especially to the Latino community. We need to show up. We need to vote. We need to make
sure that wall is not built which makes no sense, because just
the idea of a wall separating us is ridiculous. I will not stop until
the day of the election.
MW: I was astonished when he said that Mexicans were rapists
and murderers. When he announced his campaign with that, I
thought, Well, hes never going to get past the starting gate.
MARTIN: Yet he is.
MW: Yet he is.
MARTIN: We have to go out and vote.
MW: Hillary has her own issues, though. There are a lot of people
looking for alternatives. What would you say to those who would
vote for someone other than Hillary at this point, as a vote for an
independent candidate could conceivably help put Trump in the
White House?
MARTIN: Well, you know what? Thats when someone like
Bernie Sanders comes in. He needs to campaign for Hillary. He
needs to bring his crowd, and vote for a woman that is so prepared to be in the White House.
MW: Let me ask you about fatherhood very quickly. What has
fatherhood brought to you? What is it like to be a dad?
MARTIN: It is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to
me. Every day is something new. Every day is full of surprises.
28
My kids are eight years old, and time just flies. I dont know
how I went from buying diapers to buying school uniforms. A
lot of people tell me, Yeah, its a big responsibility. Yes, it is a
big responsibility. Its not about you anymore. Its about them.
Every decision that I make is based on their well-being. Im only
starting. I want a bigger family, to be honest.
MW: What values do you impart on your children?
MARTIN: For them not to judge. For them to see the similarities
instead of the differences in people. I think Im doing a really
good job at it.
MW: Youre coming to Wolf Trap for two shows. What do you want
people to come away with from your concert?
MARTIN: I need them to first of all know that their attire has to
be as comfortable as possible, because they will dance like crazy.
And they will sweat. I want them to allow themselves to be free
for an hour and forty five minutes, and literally forget about all
the issues in life. Just be free. Just be happy. I promise they will
remember the show with joy. Its going to be fun a lot of fun.
Its a big carnival. Get ready. l
Ricky Martin appears on Wednesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug.
25, at 8 p.m. at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road,
Vienna. Tickets are $45 to $125. Call 877-WOLFTRAP or visit
wolftrap.org.
Gallery
Margaret Dowell
The Tobacco Series - Oil on Canvas, clockwise from top left:
For My Ancestors: Calvert County Tobacco - 30x24 2015, Searching for Glory - 8x10 2016,
Tobacco in My Veins - 10x8 2015, Touching the Past - 8x10 2015
margaretdowell.com
31
Countrys Queen
Dolly Partons charms shine as brightly as ever on her latest
release, Pure and Simple. By Sean Maunier
N 2014, DOLLY PARTON TOLD A BRITISH TABLOID, MY BOOBS ARE FAKE,

my hairs fake but what is real is my voice and my heart. Even then, her off-handed
response to accusations of lip-syncing on stage already seemed timeless, a perfect
encapsulation of her persona and her decades-long career. Journeying from country to
pop and back again, Partons most consistent quality is that of the glamorous, over-thetop diva with a heart of gold.
32
The superficial fakeries she lightly

mocks only emphasize this. Rather than
hiding her authentic self her unique
brand of country, her talent for songwriting, and the legendarily warm personality that has long endeared her to fans
behind the glitz and polish, Dolly Parton
gives it all to us at once. Like the best drag
queens, she has somehow nailed the trick
of appearing real and fake all at once,
blurring the boundary and giving us everything she is in one beautiful, rhinestoned
package.
Its almost audacious that the larger-than-life Parton has called her latest
FRAN STRIEN
Music
album Pure and Simple (HHHHH), but it more than lives up to

its name, with just ten tracks centered around that most classic
of themes: love. It plays to her strengths, blending her classic
country sound with a more contemporary sensibility and the
accrued wisdom that comes with four decades of stardom. This
time around, Parton does indeed keep it both pure and simple,
with clean vocals and stripped-back instrumentals. The result is
a timeless and uncluttered album that would have been just as
solid at the beginning of her career as it is now.
The title track lives up to the albums promise, with an ebullient mandolin washing over the simple guitar lines lending it an
understated brightness. The desire for a simple, uncomplicated
love may be universal, but in Partons hands it takes on a fresh
sheen. Pure and Simple is also heavy on slow-paced ballads, relying on guitar and soft, almost sighing vocals. Say Forever Youll
Be Mine and Kiss it (And Make it All Better) feel intimate and
heartfelt, and Richard Dennisons backing and duet vocals work
especially well on the latter. Next to these songs, Cant Be That
Wrong feels oddly uninspired, with lyrics like I dont wanna
be right if loving you is wrong. While the album is already
relatively short, the track probably could have been cut without
sacrificing much.
The ballads may provide the emotional weight of the album,
but they are largely eclipsed by more energetic numbers such as
Never Not Love You, a song about an enduring love that leaves
itself open to interpretation. Parton has never made a secret of
her affection for her fans, and this track leaves just enough room
to allow for the possibility that it is addressed to them, a thankyou for standing by her through the years. Her happily defiant
spirit is present as well on penultimate track Head Over High
Heels, a song about a runaway crush that nods without much
subtlety towards her own sex appeal.

Above all, Pure and Simple feels like an album that Parton set
out to make with modest expectations, which she meets beautifully. It contains no real knockout hits on the level of Jolene,
though the sultry toe-tapper Im Sixteen comes close, as
Parton drives home the themes of timelessness by singing about
the reckless optimism of youth. Pop and country are awash with
songs about feeling young at heart, but this time were made to
actually believe it. While this could easily become overwrought
in the hands of any other artist, its the kind of subject matter
that only someone like Parton could pull off with a straight face.
Its catchiness certainly doesnt hurt, either.
Late in her career, Parton shows a certain grace in opting
for a tried and true approach over a bid for reinvention. If the
album sounds overly familiar, its because it comes out of a style
and tradition of country music that she herself did so much to
define. Looking at Parton on the albums cover, in a plain white
jumpsuit, cradling a guitar in a Hallmark landscape, she seems to
invite us to take the title at face value.
Pure and Simple is, well, pure and simple, but then again this
is nothing new for Parton. At her best, she has taken feelings and
experiences that are at once deeply personal and widely relatable and presented them in songs that just demand to be sung,
clapped, and lip-synced along to. Pure and Simple may not rank
among her most memorable work, but it is quintessential Dolly,
an album that reminds us why she has such staying power. In an
increasingly uncertain world, its comforting to know that Dolly
Parton is a constant. l
Pure and Simple is available Aug. 19 from Amazon and streaming
services.
33
Games
Ad Infinitum
No Mans Sky is an infinite game filled with a very finite number of

things to do, but its utterly exquisite By Rhuaridh Marr
M STANDING ON THE SURFACE OF A TOXIC, CRAGGY PLANET. ACID

rain is falling, causing my suit to issue numerous warnings, as its resistance to the
harsh environment slowly depletes. All around are cliffs of brown, barren earth
dotted with strange flora and fauna that somehow thrives despite the toxicity. Ahead
lies my broken, battered ship, in desperate need of repair. No weapons systems, a damaged engine, only enough power to shield me from the elements and recharge my suits
energy. I need to find the resources to repair it, but where do I even begin? How can I
survive on this hellish world? And will I ever leave?
Welcome to my first five minutes with No Mans Sky (HHHHH), one of the most
anticipated games of 2016 if not all time. Its a game teased for a couple of years now,
one shrouded in relative mystery, but with some impressive goals. It would offer one
of the largest playable areas ever created, all procedurally generated by an advanced
mathematical formula, which would calculate each star system, every planet, all of the
moons, the weather systems, the plants, the animals, the resources, the space stations,
the buildings, the alien races, the frequency of storm patterns and even accurate day/
night cycles on each of the games worlds. And as for those worlds, there are a lot:
18,446,744,073,709,551,616, to be precise. Or, over 18 quintillion, to be less precise.
Lets put that number in perspective. The Milky Way contains only 100 billion
planets. There are 319 million people in the United States if we each owned 50 billion
planets, wed still be short some 2.5 quintillion to equal the number of visitable, explorable, entirely unique worlds in No Mans Sky. This is a game where seeing everything in
the game isnt just difficult, its physically and mathematically impossible.
So, its a pretty big game, but what do you actually do in No Mans Sky? Thats the
source of most of the controversy surrounding it. Unfortunately, indie developer Hello
34
Games and publishing partner Sony shovelled coal into the hype train at an incredible rate. Gaming websites and mainstream
media hitched their carriages to that train,
eventually causing the populace at large
to follow suit. By the time No Mans Skys
oft-delayed launch date had arrived, wed
learned much more about what wed be
doing in its 18 quintillion worlds and
the hype train promptly and spectacularly
derailed. Perhaps it was the vague hints at
multiplayer aspects that transpired to be
false. Perhaps it was the (frankly obscene)
decision to charge $60 dollars for it on
PS4. Perhaps it was the revelation from
those that got the game early that, without
an extensive day zero update, this gargantuan universe could be completed in as
little as 30 hours. Perhaps it was the fact
that it was nigh unplayable on many PCs
and prone to crashing on PS4. Or, perhaps its that, contrary to what many were
expecting, No Mans Sky is just another
survival game.
It is also a simple game. You scour a
planet for resources, use them to upgrade
your ship, your suit, your multi-tool
(which doubles as both excavator and
weapon), and then launch towards the
next planet or the next star system, all part
of an overarching goal to reach the center
of the universe. At the very start of the
game, tutorials are few and far between, which leads to a lot of
confused stumbling around, as you get to grips with the controls
and work through the basics of gathering items in your ludicrously small inventory, before crafting and repairing the ship.
Heridium, the required element to get it up and running, was a
concerningly long walk away, across a planet that was doing its
best to irradiate me. Once secured, however, I hopped into the
craft, fired up the engines and launched into space.
If you want a game to wow you, look no further. That first
moment, as my craft left the ground and soared into the green,
hazy clouds, before eventually bursting out into space, was
nothing short of breathtaking. Seeing asteroids, two other planets, a space station, a couple of giant ships and a large, beaming
sun burst into view was a phenomenal, dazzling experience. It
also showcases the technological marvel of the engine Hello
Games has crafted, which can launch you from planet to planet
and star system to star system without any perceivable loading
screens. My first few hours were filled with childlike wonder as I
explored these planets, scanning and uploading the various creatures and plants I came across, gathering precious materials and
selling them for profit on the Galactic Trade market, learning
how to craft my first hyperdrive to leap to the next star system,
and meeting the first of three alien races I would encounter in
this universe.
For anyone still curious as to what you do outside of basic
exploration, those aliens hold part of the answer. They can be
found in space stations, as well as in scientific laboratories and
other buildings on the surface of planets. Theyll try to speak
with the player, offering them simple quests such as gathering a
certain type of material, asking questions to improve the players
standing with their people, or offering upgrades to the players
suit and multi-tool. Learning the languages of these races is
another aspect of No Mans Sky, one achieved by finding knowledge stones, monoliths and ruins, which can be activated to provide single words, useful for discerning exactly what a certain
being is asking you to accomplish.
Elsewhere, there are beacons to help you locate downed
ships, secret bases, new technologies, distress signals, and other
areas worth visiting. You can also do things the old fashioned
way: activate your scanner, see whats in the surrounding area,
and walk there to have a look, or get in your ship and fly across
the planets surface to try and spot anything of interest.
Unfortunately, its here that the technical limits of the PS4
and Hello Games vision start to creep in. Flying across a planet
in particular, or landing on a new one for the first time, youll see
the world slowly resolve into view around you, as the random
generation creates the hills, caves, resource deposits and everything else across the surface of the planet. A side effect of this
process is that close-up, the various textures that comprise No
Mans Sky can look particularly ugly depending on the planet.
A snow-covered winter wonderland can be awe-inspiring with
its frozen beauty, but a barren, hot wasteland can be a brown
and grey mess of muddy texturework and all-too familiar terrain generation. Youll start to spot patterns in the algorithms
that form each world, hill, plant and tree, even though no two
creatures or bushes are alike. The cracks in the facade will show,
just as you become all too aware of how repetitive the gameplay
is, as well.
Really, the biggest bugbear is that youll do ostensibly the
same thing every time. Fly into a new star system, land on a planet, look for resources, or the oddly static aliens, or knowledge
stones, and then move onto the next planet, or the next system.
Youll sell resources for units, upgrade your ship or buy a new
one, or try to buy extra inventory slots for your suit. No Mans
Skys lack of handholding threatens to be its undoing, as it leaves
you to a near-infinite world filled with an almost total lack of
perceivable gameplay beyond mine this, go here, scan that, go
there, maybe make it to the center.
Unless, of course, you stop trying to play it like an RPG, or
an action-adventure game, or a recreation of every classic sci-fi
movie. No Mans Sky is at its best when you stop, sit back, and
just be. Theres the teasing storyline of Atlas, a mysterious, seemingly god-like force that implores you to abandon your quest
for the center of the universe and discover its origins instead.
Theres the lore of each of the three races to learn why are
there no cities, why are they so spread out, who created the
Sentinels, the autonomous, robotic security robots and ships
who guard the ecosystem of each planet (mine too much, or start
murdering innocent animals, and theyll deal swift punishment)?
Ive spent dozens of hours in No Mans Sky now, and most
of those were planned short sessions that quickly turned into
hours-long extravaganzas where I didnt perceivably do that
much, but loved every minute. Its one of the most relaxing experiences Ive had in a long time, as even with its overarching goals
discover Atlas or reach the center I found I was creating my
own mini quests. I wanted a bigger ship, I set about finding the
resources I needed to sell in order to buy one. I wanted to learn
as much as I could about the Vykeen, the games warrior race,
so I scoured every inch of a planet to find stones and learn their
language. I tried attacking some of the larger freighters and ships
that occasionally warp into view among the planets, and similarly had to engage in tense ship-to-ship battles as pirates sought to
steal my carefully collected treasures en route to space stations.
Theres no penalty for death in No Mans Sky, just head back
to where you died, or your ship exploded, and gather your materials. The highest my blood pressure ever reached was when the
game occasionally crashed during the warp sequences between
star systems (Ive had three crashes so far, but none caused
any major issues to my progress). And even with its occasional
annoyances and repetitive generation, there are still moments
when No Mans Sky can take my breath away, such as landing
on a planet, looking up, and realizing there are four other worlds
hanging in the night sky, waiting to be explored.
Is it for everyone? No. Many will buy No Mans Sky and
absolutely hate it. Theyll despise its slow pace, its relative lack
of gameplay, its daunting size, and its occasionally frustrating
mechanics (why is my inventory so small?!?). But for some,
theres a lot good grief, a lot to love here. Ignoring the
incredible scale, the mind-blowing technical achievement of
having 18 quintillion worlds and no loading screens, and the fact
that it was cobbled together by just ten people, No Mans Sky is a
game that constantly reminds players of how small they are, how
fragile they can be, how imposing space really is. It then hands
them a ship, a multi-tool, and a space suit and implores them to
get out there and explore it.
As the games gorgeous soundtrack swells, the algorithm
loads in a world of dense plants, weird animals, and a burnt
orange sky, and other planets loom large in the distance, begging
to be visited, youll forget about all of No Mans Skys problems.
In those moments, it is utterly, completely perfect. l
No Mans Sky is available now on PC and PS4. However, PC players are advised to wait until a planned patch has been issued to fix
a number of problems.
35
NightLife
Photography by
Ward Morrison
37
Scene
DrinksDragDJsEtc...
Thursday
August 18
9 1/2
Happy Hour: 2 for 1 on any
drink, 5-9pm Multiple
TVs showing movies,
shows, sports Expanded
craft beer selection
Music videos featuring
DJ Wess
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Happy Hour: Tops Down $6
Top Shelf, Bottoms Up $3
Rail, $3 Bud Light, 4-9pm
$3 Rail Drinks, 10pm-midnight, $5 Red Bull and
Frozen Virgin Drinks
Locker Room Thursday
Nights DJs Sean Morris
and MadScience Best
Package Contest at midnight, hosted by BaNaka &
Kristina Kelly $200 Cash
Prize Doors open 10pm,
21+ $5 Cover or free

with college ID
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm Strip
Down Thursdays Happy
Hour starts with shirtless
men drink $2 rail and
domestic, 5-8pm Men
down to their underwear
drink $1 rail and domestic,
10pm-12am DJ Theo
Storm starts spinning,
9pm-1am No Cover
21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Ladies Drink Free Power
Hour, 4-5pm Shirtless
Thursday, 10-11pm DJs
BacK2bACk
Uproar - Sunday, August 14

Photography by Ward Morrison
See and purchase more photos from this event at www.metroweekly.com/scene
JR.S
All You Can Drink for $15,
5-8pm $3 Rail Vodka
Highballs, $2 JR.s drafts,
8pm-close Flashback:
Music videos from 19752005 with DJ Jason Royce,
8pm-12am
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR

& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
Happy Hour, 4-7pm $1
PBR, $2 Yuengling, $3 Rail,
$5 Appetizers Extended
Happy Hour, 7-9pm, with
only $1 increase in price
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

Beat the Clock Happy Hour
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
$4 (7-8pm) Buckets of
Beer $15 Drag Bingo
THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB

Throbbing Thursdays
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
open 9pm Shows all
night until close, starting at
9pm $5 Domestic Beer,
$6 Imports $12 cover
For Table Reservations, call
202-487-6646
NUMBER NINE
drink, 5-9pm No Cover
SHAWS TAVERN
Miller Lite, $4 Blue Moon,
$5 Rails and House Wines
& Half-Priced Pizzas $4
Corona and $4 Heineken
start at 5pm Paint Nite,
2nd Floor, 7pm
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Happy Hour
all night, $4 drinks and
draughts 21+
TRADE
1410 14th St. NW
Doors open 5pm Huge
Happy Hour: Any drink
normally served in a cock-
tail glass served in a huge

glass for the same price,
5-10pm Beer and wine
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers
Shirtless Thursday DJ
9pm Cover 21+
Friday
August 19
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
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+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
$2 Bud and Bud Light
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottles, $4 Rail and Import
Bottle Beer, $6 Call No
Cover 21+ The Endup
with DJ Kudjo Onyx 3rd
Floor Exile Party until
4am $10 Cover at Door
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Smirnoff, all flavors, all
night long RockBoxx with
DJ Jim Gade, 9pm-close
Indie, College, Alternative
39
and New Wave Rock

No Cover
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
$2 Skyy Highballs and
$2 Drafts, 10pm-midnight
Pop and Dance Music
Videos with DJ Darryl
Strickland $5 Coronas,
$8 Vodka Red Bulls,
9pm-close
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
DJ Matt Bailer 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 Friday Night
Piano with Chris, 7:30pm
Friday Night Videos with
Chord, 9:30pm
SHAWS TAVERN
& Half-Priced Pizzas $6
Caipirinhas for Olympics
Luke James Shaffer
singing live, 8pm
40
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR

& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN
Patio open 6pm DC Bear
Crue Happy Hour, 6-11pm
$3 Rail, $3 Draft, $3 Bud
Bottles Free Pizza, 7pm
No cover before 9:30pm
21+ Drag Show starts
at 10:30pm Hosted by
Lena Lett and featuring
Miss Tatianna, ShiQueeta-Lee, Riley Knoxx
and BaNaka DJ Wess
upstairs, DJs BacK2bACk
downstairs following the
show GoGo Boys after
11pm Doors open at
10pm For those 21 and
over, $12 For those
18-20, $15 Club: 18+
Patio: 21+
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
normally served in a
cocktail glass served in a
huge glass for the same
price, 5-10pm Beer and
wine only $4 DJ Jeff
Prior, 10pm
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
All male, nude dancers,
hosted by LaTroya Nicole
Ladies of Ziegfelds,
9pm Rotating Hosts
DJ in Secrets VJ Tre in
Ziegfelds Cover 21+
Saturday
August 20
9 1/2
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:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3
Bud Light, 4-9pm Ladies
of LURe DC: Ladies Night
Dance Party, 10pm-close
Doors open 10pm $5
Cover 21+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 8pm
Happy Hour, 8-10pm
Draughts, $3 Domestic
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
KUERO: Latin Dance Party,
3rd Floor Exile $10 at the
Door 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Drag Queen Broadway
Brunch, 10am-3pm
Starring Freddies
Broadway Babes Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Freddies
Follies Drag Show, 8-10pm,
hosted by Miss Destiny B.
Childs No Cover
GREEN LANTERN
Bacardi, all flavors, all
night long 495 Bears
presents Bears Can Dance,
9pm-close No Cover
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
Doors open 2pm Happy
Hour: 2 for 1 on any drink,
3-9pm $5 Absolut and
$5 Bulleit Bourbon
Time Machine with Jack
Rayburn, 9:30pm
SHAWS TAVERN
Bottomless Mimosas,
10am-3pm The Magic
of Kourash Taie, 4-6pm
& Half-Priced Pizzas
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN
Patio open 2pm DC
Rawhides host Town &
Country: Two-Step, Line
Dancing, Waltz and West
Coast Swing, $5 Cover to
stay all night Doors open
6:30pm, Lessons 7-8pm,
Open dance 8-10:50pm
TempTation: JOCKZ
vs. NERDZ, featuring DJ
TWiN, 10pm-close
Music and video by DJ
Wess downstairs Drag

Show starts at 10:30pm
Hosted by Lena Lett and
featuring Miss Tatianna,
Shi-Queeta-Lee, Riley
Knoxx and BaNaka
Doors open 10pm $12
Cover 21+
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
normally served in a cocktail glass served in a huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Men of Secrets, 9pm
Guest dancers Ladies
of Illusion with host Ella
Fitzgerald Doors at 9 pm,
first show at 11:30 pm
DJs Doors open 9pm
Cover 21+
Sunday
August 21
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Homowood Karaoke,
hosted by Robert Bise,
10pm-close 21+
Shi-Queeta-Lee, 11am-3pm
$20 Brunch Buffet
House Rail Drinks, Zing
Zang Bloody Marys, Nellie
Beer and Mimosas, $4,
11am-close Buckets of
Beer, $15
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 12pm
Draughts all day and
night, $3 Domestic
Bottle Beer, $6 Call
Highwaymen Cookout, 5pm
No Cover 21+
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
FREDDIES BEACH BAR

Champagne Brunch
Buffet, 10am-3pm Crazy
Hour, 4-7pm Karaoke,
8pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour, 4-9pm
Mamas Trailer Park
Karaoke downstairs,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Sunday Funday Liquid
Brunch Doors open at
1pm $2 Coors Lights and
$3 Skyy (all flavors), all day
and night
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
Drag Brunch, hosted by
SHAWS TAVERN
Brunch with Bottomless
Mimosas, 10am-3pm
Sunday Funday Karaoke,
2nd Floor, 3-7pm $5 Stoli
Cocktails Happy Hour,
5-7pm $3 Miller Lite, $4
Blue Moon, $5 Rails and
House Wines & Half-Priced
Pizzas
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
THE HOUSE NIGHTCLUB
Rock Hard Sundays
Diverse group of all male,
all nude dancers Doors
41
open 9pm Shows all

night until close, starting at
9pm $5 Domestic Beer,
$6 Imports $12 cover
For Table Reservations, call
202-487-6646
TOWN PATIO
Open 2pm Cornhole,
Giant Jenga, and Flip-cup
inside Town
TRADE
Doors open 2pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Decades of Dance DJ
Tim-e in Secrets Doors
9pm Cover 21+
Monday
August 22
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
42
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Monday Nights A Drag,
hosted by Kristina Kelly
Doors open at 10pm
Showtime at 11:30pm
$3 Skyy Cocktails, $8 Skyy
and Red Bull $8 Long
Islands No Cover, 18+
DC EAGLE
Doors open at 5pm
Happy Hour, 5-8pm
Endless Happy Hour prices
to anyone in a DC Eagle
T-Shirt Free Pool All
Night and Day $1 Bud
and Bud Light Draughts, $3
Domestic Bottles, $4 Rail
and Import Bottle Beer, $6
Call No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Singles Night Karaoke,
8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long
Open Mic Night Karaoke,
9:30pm-close
JR.S
Happy Hour: 2-for-1, 4-9pm
Showtunes Songs &
Singalongs, 9pm-close
DJ James $3 Draft Pints,
8pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR
$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Texas Holdem
Poker, 8pm Dart Boards
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Shaw Nuff Trivia with
Jeremy, 7:30pm
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
Tuesday
August 23
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
DJ Honey Happy Hour:
Tops Down $6 Top Shelf,
Bottoms Up $3 Rail, $3 Bud
Light, 4-9pm SIN Service
Industry Night, 10pm-close
$1 Rail Drinks all night
DC Drag Wars, Season
2, #3, 8pm
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm
Karaoke, 8pm
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Birdie LaCage Show,
10:30pm Underground
(Indie Pop/Alt/Brit Rock),
9pm-close DJ Wes
Della Volla 2-for-1,
5pm-midnight
NELLIES SPORTS BAR

$2 (5-6pm), $3 (6-7pm),
Beer $15 Karaoke and
Drag Bingo
NUMBER NINE
After 9pm, $3 Absolut,
Bulleit & Stella
SHAWS TAVERN
Half Priced Burgers &
Pizzas, 5pm-close $5
House Wines & Sam
Adams Drafts, 5pm-close
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW
TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm Yappy Hour
Bring Your Dogs $4
Drinks and Draughts
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge

only $4
Wednesday
August 24
9 1/2
TVs showing movies,
No Cover
COBALT/30 DEGREES
Wednesday Night Karaoke,
hosted by Miss India
Larelle Houston, 10pm-2am
$4 Stoli and Stoli Flavors
and Miller Lite all night
No Cover 21+
FREDDIES BEACH BAR
Crazy Hour, 4-7pm $6
Burgers Drag Bingo
Night, hosted by Ms.
Regina Jozet Adams, 8pm
Bingo prizes Karaoke,
10pm-1am
GREEN LANTERN
Happy Hour all night long,
4pm-close
JR.S
Buy 1, 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 member
and each get a free $10
Dinner
NUMBER NINE
SHAWS TAVERN
and Half-Priced Pizzas
Piano Bar Second Floor,
8pm-close
SOMEPLACE ELSE BAR
& GRILL
1637 R St. NW

TOWN PATIO
Open 6pm $4 drinks
and draughts, 6-9pm
Nashville Wednesdays:
Pop-Country music and line
dancing, with line dancing
lessons from DC Rawhides
every other week
TRADE
Doors open 5pm Huge
only $4
ZIEGFELDS/SECRETS
Shirtless Night, 10-11pm,
12-12:30am Military
Night, no cover with
military ID DJ Don T. in
Secrets 9pm Cover
21+ l
Metro Weekly will

return on Sept.
1. For nightlife
listings from
August 25-31, visit
metroweekly.com/
nightlife.
43
44
LastWord.
People say the queerest things
I thought that the way that he handled

his announcement was really classy.
Apple CEO TIM COOK, telling the Washington Post that he consulted with Anderson Cooper at length multiple time
before coming out. I was getting advice from people who I thought were really great people who had
really deeply thought about it, he said.
After 2 amazing seasons of I Am Cait,

its time for the next adventure.
CAITLYN JENNER, in a tweet confirming that her E! reality show has been canceled. I Am Cait debuted strongly in 2015, but its
ratings dramatically declined during its second season. E! Entertainment said they were incredibly proud of I Am Cait, calling it a groundbreaking docu-series that sparked an important and unprecedented global conversation about
transgender people, their struggles and triumphs.
Gender identity, its really a spectrum and we dont need these labels.
Beer should have labels, not people!
AMY SCHUMER AND SETH ROGEN, in their latest commercial for Bud Light. The ad, which features trans actor Ian Harvie, has
been hailed by GLAAD for showing support for the transgender community.... Not only does it help bring more visibility to
the trans community, it also inspires other companies to do more to show their support.
The homos have been sending me messages threatening my life.

Most of them even say they want to rape me.
Ugandas Minister Of Ethics SIMON LOKODO, speaking with homophobic site Red Pepper. Lokodo, notoriously and vehemently anti-LGBT, discussed the governments various homophobic policies, criticized the West for the presence of gay people in
Uganda, and spread further lies about gay people and gay culture. My sources have revealed to me that the western world has
pumped a lot of money in the homosexuality spread campaign, he said. They want to finish off our beautiful culture.
You cant have a husband.

AN ANTI-LGBT PROTESTER, interrupting an HRC press conference in Alabama. The man was speaking to Dr. Paul Hard,
who was telling those gathered about his fight to have his marriage to his late husband recognized by the state.
As Hard recounted his husbands death, the protester laughed.
46

Metro Weekly - 08-18-16 - Ricky Martin

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AUGUST 18, 2016

If theres one thing Dolly Parton has an abundance

Pop superstar Ricky Martin came out in 2010. Six

No Mans Sky is an infinite game filled with a very

SPOTLIGHT: SUMMER HUMMER p.7 OUT ON THE TOWN p.9

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AUGUST 18, 2016 METROWEEKLY

EOPLE BRING DOLLAR BILLS AND THROW THEM

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Natalie Portman makes her directorial debut with an adaptation of

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need the incisive, ruthless Edina

Yet another example of Hollywood

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Outdoor cinema returns to the lawn

AUGUST 18, 2016 METROWEEKLY

Film Institute presents the 20-yearold original as part of its Keepin

...AND A GHOST GRRL

Bethesda. Free. Call 301-581-5100

The latest in its Xtra monthly

Robert De Niro plays a legendary trainer who comes out of

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Charlize Theron is Monkey and

Jason Statham returns as assassin Arthur Bishop in this Dennis

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As part of the series Wim Wenders:

Wes Craven revitalized the horror

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BORN FOR THIS:

Infamous televangelists Jim and

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HERES ALL SORTS OF LITTLE FLAVORS, DOLLY PARTON

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Cirque du Soleil returns with a show

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Galleria Dr. Tysons. Tickets are $39 to

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Billed as the story of Louis Armstrong

Opens in a pay-what-you-can preview on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m.

THE LONESOME WEST

A dark Irish comedy from Martin

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Stephen Sondheim gave the quirky,

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Andrew Lloyd Webbers long-running musical is touted to be bigger

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