Clublife section: Metro Weekly magazine, Washington, DC newspaper

Think Pink

The Task Force plans to paint the town queer this weekend

Published on May 2, 2012, 8:11pm

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force produces the famed Winter Party Festival in Miami, with the tagline ''party with a purpose.'' But why should Miami have all the fun? ''Not everything we do has to only be about politics,'' agrees the Task Force's Russell Roybal. ''We can mix a little fun in it, too.'' This weekend, the Task Force presents its second Pink & Purple Weekend in D.C., with two nightlife parties as well as an awards brunch. ''Instead ...[more]

Taking a Drag in Arlington

Freddie's Beach Bar hosts this year's Miss Gay Arlington drag pageant

Published on April 26, 2012, 7:01am

You won't see drag queens in swimsuits at the Miss Gay Arlington pageant. ''There are several queens who God blessed with an extremely good body, and many of their numbers incorporate swimsuit-like attire,'' says Daniel Hays, promoter of the pageant, which takes place Saturday, April 28, at Freddie's Beach Bar. But like most drag contests, Miss Gay Arlington celebrates those who like to put on extra layers of costumes and makeup to create a female persona -- the focus isn't ...[more]

Martini Madness

Area bartenders shake and stir Best Martinis at Beacon Bar event

Published on April 12, 2012, 2:56pm

''It's a matter of pride for the bartenders to present these drinks, so they really go all out,'' says Hector Torres, a partner at Beacon Bar & Grill. On Tuesday, April 17, Beacon hosts its 5th Annual Best Martini Contest, where guests and a panel of judges vote on their favorite Skyy-vodka-based concoctions shaken and stirred for the occasion by bartenders from area venues. Bought in advance, a $20 ticket gets a guest at least one tasting portion of each ...[more]

Very Cherry

The Cherry Fund's annual circuit party aims for expansion

Published on March 29, 2012, 4:26am

For the first time in many years, the hit radio station Hot 99.5 has been touting Cherry as an HIV/AIDS dance benefit, mentioning it as part of its community calendar. It's just one of the ways organizers have stepped up marketing and promotion of the annual circuit party. ''We expect to do a little better than last year,'' says James Decker, co-chair of the Cherry Fund. Actually, last year's Saturday night main event at Town was one of the three ...[more]

Raw Talent

DJ Bil Todd's passion for music was nurtured in rural Virginia

Published on March 29, 2012, 4:25am

Growing up gay in rural Virginia, Bil Todd bonded with music in a way he didn't with people. ''I retreated to music more than I sought comfort in my family or my church or my teachers or anything,'' says the Loudoun County native. ''That's where I went for a lot of my answers. I felt like music provided an outlook, it provided a window to the world that was so foreign.'' {Bil Todd (Photo by Julian Vankim)} Though his family ...[more]

Illusionists

The stage is set for the 25th Miss Gay D.C. America Pageant

Published on March 22, 2012, 12:51am

When reigning titleholder Kirby Kolby steps down at Saturday's Miss Gay D.C. America pageant, the experience may be bittersweet. But the emphasis really should be on the sweet. After all, she didn't stop there. She went on to take the Miss Gay America title in October 2011 at the national pageant of ''female illusion'' in Columbus, Ohio. While the Raleigh, N.C., resident's win, representing the D.C. title at the nationals, put her at the top of her game, she has ...[more]

Junior's Return

Legendary gay New York DJ Junior Vasquez is happy to return to D.C., where clubgoers ''get it''

Published on March 15, 2012, 2:00am

Junior Vasquez took the news of Whitney Houston's death hard. ''I was pretty much depressed,'' he says. ''I was bed-ridden for about four days, it just got to me.'' The legendary gay DJ helped put Houston on the dance floor, so to speak, creating signature remixes for many of her hits and helping assemble the popular remixed CD from 2000's Whitney: The Greatest Hits volume. Turns out, Vasquez had been reflecting on his legacy long before Houston's death last month. ...[more]

Town and Gown

This month Town welcomes two of the strongest contestants on the current season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''

Published on March 8, 2012, 1:24am

One day, maybe D.C. will have another homegrown contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race. But for now, every weekend Town features Miss Tatiana, season two's third runner up. This month, however, the nightclub presents two current Racers from Southern California -- two of season four's strongest contestants, in fact. Willam Belli performs this Saturday, March 10, followed by Chad Michaels on Saturday, March 24. {Chad Michaels and Willam Belli (Photo by Mathu Andersen)} ''[Drag Race is] like a working education,'' says ...[more]

Otter Season

David Brown's Otter Crossing is geared toward hunters looking for otters of the gay male variety

Published on February 23, 2012, 5:10am

Once thought to be an endangered species, otters are now so prevalent in D.C. that, like deer, a hunting season has sprung up. Of course, Otter Crossing, which takes place the first Friday of every month at the DC Eagle, is geared toward hunters looking for otters of the gay male persuasion, not the better-known semiaquatic weasel. {David Brown: Otter Crossing (Photo by Todd Franson)} And just what is a gay male otter, you ask? ''I get that one all ...[more]

Pink Palace

Phase 1 of Dupont is ready to brighten up lesbian nightlife when it opens next Friday in the old Apex/Badlands space

Published on February 2, 2012, 7:20am

There's a refurbished dance floor, which will be flanked by tables and chairs. There's also an enhanced sound system and more lights. But the biggest change to the space once known as Badlands and Apex and re-opening next Friday, Feb. 10, as Phase 1 of Dupont, comes in the back area off the main dance floor. There the walls are painted a color labeled ''sexy pink.'' ''That was Allen's touch of femininity,'' quips Angela Lombardi, the longtime manager at Phase ...[more]

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