Nightlife Highlights: Bowie vs Queen, Washington Scandal’s Sequins & Scrums, Ladies Tea at Hank’s, and more!
Our picks of the best LGBTQ nightlife in the D.C. area this week!
BOWIE VS QUEEN
This Saturday, Aug. 3, starting at 9 p.m., the Black Cat offers another themed dance party with inherent appeal to LGBTQ pop music fans with a tribute to the music of two late, ’70s-minted queer icons and pop provocateurs. On the one hand, you’ve got the notorious gender-bender David Bowie, who during his pop peak had referred to himself as bisexual. On the other, the notorious same-sex-loving Freddie Mercury, frontman of Queen. In between comes “era relevant hits” at a party presented by the Lights & Music Collective. Black Cat is at 1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $10 to $15. Call 202-667-4490 or visit www.blackcatdc.com.
BOWIE BALL: THE LABYRINTH MASQUERADE
Speaking of Bowie, the Chicago-based DJ Heaven Malone started an annual glam and drag dance party over a decade ago that got to be so popular, even the Thin White Duke gave it a shoutout a couple of years before he passed into stardust in 2016. Earlier this year, the Bowie Ball in the Windy City was followed by the first-ever D.C. edition of the party three days after what would have been the glam rock legend’s 72nd birthday. A mere seven months later, U Street Music Hall welcomes back Malone to trade off spinning Bowiesque music sets with U Hall’s own Will Eastman, plus a live Bowiesque performance from Max Goldstein of Yoko & The Oh No’s. The second D.C. party, for those aged 21 and up, is fashioned as a masquerade party with a Labyrinth theme, referring to the 1986 musical fantasy film starring Bowie as the Goblin King alongside Jennifer Connelly and a bunch of puppets from Muppets creator and film director Jim Henson. Whether they wear attire related to that cult classic or not, fans are encouraged to “glam it up, dress like a dandy, and…love the alien with some glitter on top,” and to enter a contest for the best Bowie-inspired outfit — with assistance in the cause coming from a Glitter and Glam Makeup Booth. Friday, Aug. 9, starting at 9 p.m. U Street Music Hall is at 1115A U St. NW. Tickets are $8 to $10. Call 202-588-1880 or visit www.ustreetmusichall.com.
THE WASHINGTON SCANDALS: SEQUINS AND SCRUMS 2019
Inspired by similar efforts from other rugby teams around the country, the Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club started an amateur drag benefit two years ago. Members of the gay and inclusive men’s team don wigs, heels, and costumes to perform and compete for the title of “Scrum Queen,” with the contestant collecting the most tips advancing to the final round alongside two judges’ pick. Per advance online tipping, the leading three out of this year’s nine contenders are Phyllis Hole, Jenny Craigslist, and Joi Ryder. Margo Rita Swirlz, Areola Grande, and last year’s Scrum Queen Ms. Chattahoochee Coochee will co-host the third annual fundraiser, set for this Saturday, Aug. 3, starting at 8 p.m., at Red Bear Brewing. Proceeds go toward the team’s travel expenses for the Bingham Cup, a bi-annual gay rugby championship tournament, to be held in Ottawa in 2020. Red Bear Brewing is at 209 M St. NE. Call 202-849-6130 or visit www.sequinsandscrums.com.
LADIES TEA AT HANK’S DUPONT
This Sunday, Aug. 4, ushers in another edition in the monthly summertime party for lesbians and all others “under the rainbow” at the original Dupont location of the chain of restaurants run by Jamie Leeds. New for the 14th year of the 21+ event are partnerships with local and national nonprofit organizations, with the August beneficiary the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, which works with and for area young women and girls of color. From 3 to 5 p.m., Ladies Tea has the run of the place, with exclusive drink and food specials at the downstairs bar, finer libations in the upstairs space now known as Hank’s Cocktail Bar, plus the venue’s garden patio. Hank’s Oyster Bar Dupont Circle is located at 1624 Q St. NW. Call 202-462-4265. Visit wwww.hanksoysterbar.com.
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