Metro Weekly - 04-16-15 - James Alefantis

8/9/2019 Metro Weekly - 04-16-15 - James Alefantis

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRandy Shulman

ART DIRECTORTodd Franson

NEWS & BUSINESS EDITORJohn Riley

ASSISTANT EDITORRhuaridh Marr

CONTRIBUTING EDITORDoug Rule

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERSWard Morrison, Julian Vankim

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORScott G. Brooks

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8

APRIL 16, 2015Volume 21 / Issue 49

NEWS 10

THE E VOLUTION OF HILLARY by Rhuaridh Marr

12 MINOR V ICTORY

by John Riley

SCENE 16 TEAMDC’S SPRING SPORTSFEST

photography by Ward Morrison

18 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FEATURES 22 JAMES ALEFANTIS

by

Doug Rule photography by Todd Franson

28 THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO

DINING OUT FOR LIFE

OUT ON THE TOWN 32 TIGER ORANGE

by Rhuaridh Marr

36 GALLIM DANCE

by Doug Rule

SCENE 37 2015 HELEN HAYES AWARDS

AFTER PARTY


STAGE 38 V ANYA AND S ONIA AND

M ASHA AND S PIKE

by Kate Wingfield

SCENE 41 PHASE 1 R E-OPENING


NIGHTLIFE 45 MADONNARAMA AT TOWN


CLUBLIFE 52 TOWN & COUNTRY

by John Riley

CLUBLIFE 53 JIM GRAHAM’S NUDE MOVE

by John Riley

54 LAST WORD


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The Evolution of Hillary As Clinton makes her case for the presidential nomination, it’s importantto take note of her shifting LGBT positions

Clinton

By Rhuaridh Marr

I’M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.”With those words, Hillary

Rodham Clinton — former FirstLady, former junior Senator from

New York, former Secretary of State

— ended two years of rampant specula-tion, confirming that she will once again

seek the highest political office in theUnited States.

In a slick campaign video, Clintonspoke of everyday, hard-working

Americans and her desire to be theirchampion. She featured families, retirees,

workers, mothers, students and, almost aprerequisite for any prominent Democrat

at this stage, two gay couples — complete

with an upcoming wedding and a senti-ment about strong families. However,

though Clinton may now be positioning

herself as a champion not just of themiddle class but of all things LGBT, herhistory on that latter matter is somewhat

more obtuse than she’d have us believe.

Of course, it would be improper todescribe Clinton as anything less than a

supporter of LGBT rights. Throughouther career, whether as the nation’s most

preeminent woman during her husband’sPresidency, or her widely commended

(ignoring several conservative critics) ten-ure as Secretary of State, Clinton has vocal-

ly supported equality. It’s a perspective

often masked by two key pieces of legisla-tion during her time in the White House:

the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) andDon’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).

The former was a Republican billgranting states the right to refuse to rec-

ognize same-sex marriages performed in

other states, while also classifying mar-riage as between a man and a woman. Bill

Clinton signed it into law a few monthsbefore his re-election, citing overwhelm-

ing support from both Democrats andRepublicans in Congress (with a veto-

crushing majority in both the House and

U . S . S T A T E D E P A R T M E N T

the Senate) and the desire to quell any

attempts from conservatives to enshrinea heterosexual definition of marriage in

the Constitution.The latter was a compromise (some-

thing Clinton herself acknowledgedduring the 2007 Democratic primary

debates), formed after Bill Clinton’s elec-

tion promises to allow gays to serve open-ly in the military met opposition from the

Joint Chiefs, Congress and large portionsof the public. DADT allowed gay, lesbian

and bisexual soldiers to serve, but forcedthem into a legally-binding closet — mili-

tary personnel were prohibited from ask-ing a soldier about their sexuality or

from harassing or discriminating against

them, but the law was a far cry from thePresident’s original pledge.

In terms of DADT, the law directlycontravened Clinton’s personal stance

with regard to the rights of LGBT people(in 1999 she stated, “I don’t believe [it]

has worked”). She has long advocated

for equal rights in terms of employment

and partner benefits. White House docu-

ments, reported by Politico, show thatduring Bill Clinton’s presidency, Hillary

Clinton used the First Lady’s office topressure her husband into taking broad-

er steps towards embracing gay rights,

including the potential introduction of anexecutive order banning federal contrac-

tors from discriminating on the basis ofsexual orientation. It stalled — as did the

Employment Non-Discrimination Act,which would have prevented discrimina-

tion in the private sector based on sexu-

al orientation and which both Clintonssupported — but would eventually be

enacted by President Obama, coming intoeffect this month.

During her tenure at the StateDepartment, Clinton championed LGBT

rights on a global scale. At the UnitedNations’ Geneva office in 2011, Clinton

urged world leaders — including those

from countries with horrific records onthe treatment of LGBT citizens — to “be

on the right side of history” and supportgay rights.

“Like being a woman, like being a

L G B TNews Now online at MetroWeekly.comRubio enters the race for PresidentVatican shuts out gay French ambassador


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LGBTNews

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responded to an HRC form about mar-

riage by calling for the section of DOMAwhich restricted the federal government

from recognizing same-sex unions to berepealed. She stopped short, however,

of calling for the entire law to be dis-mantled or declaring support for mar-

riage equality. Alongside her opponent,

Barack Obama, Clinton continued to iter-ate a personal opposition to same-sex

marriage, telling viewers of a forum onLogo, “It’s a personal position.... [W]e

have made it clear in our country that webelieve in equality. How we get to full

equality is the debate we’re having, andI am absolutely in favor of civil unions

with full equality.”

LGBT advocates have long argued thatcivil unions are a “separate but equal”

measure, but Clinton had supportedthem as an alternative for years. “I don’t

support gay marriages, but I do support

extending benefits to couples, domesticpartner benefits,” The Washington Post reports her telling a voter in 2000.

As such, Clinton’s about-face on mar-

riage equality raised more than a few eye-brows. In her much publicized interview

with Gross on NPR, Clinton was askedwhether she had always supported mar-

riage equality, but had remained silentfor political reasons.

“That’s just flat wrong,” Clinton shot

back. Why had her views changed?“I think evolved is the word that a lot

of people have used,” she told CNN dur-ing a town hall interview last year. “It

really became very clear to me that if we’regoing to support marriage in our country,

it should be available to everyone.... So

yes, I evolved over time and I’m very, veryproud to state that I’m a full supporter of

marriage equality right now.”Whether or not Clinton is to be

believed — she is nothing if not an intel-

racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minor-

ity, being LGBT does not make you lesshuman,” she said. “And that is why gay

rights are human rights, and human

rights are gay rights.”Even more landmark was Clinton’s

inclusion of transgender rights in herspeech, a subject seldom discussed on the

world stage. During an interview withNPR’s Terry Gross last year, Clinton was

asked why she chose to highlight trans-gender equality. “LGBT includes the T,

and I wanted to stand up for the entire

community,” she replied. “I don’t believethat people who are the L, the G, the B

or the T should be persecuted, assaulted,imprisoned, even killed for who they are.”

Further cementing her credentials onequality for LGBT employees, Clinton

introduced federal benefits at the State

Department for same-sex spouses offoreign diplomats, putting them on par

with heterosexual couples. In a memoprovided to the New York Times Clintonwrote that “Like all families, our ForeignService families come in different con-

figurations; all are part of the commonfabric of our post communities abroad....

At bottom, the department will provide

these benefits for both opposite-sex andsame-sex partners because it is the right

thing to do.”For many, however, it’s Clinton’s

stance on same-sex marriage that willultimately define her.

In 2013, after leaving the StateDepartment, Clinton used the HumanRights Campaign’s Americans for

Marriage Equality initiative to announceher support for marriage equality. “[LGBT

Americans] are full and equal citizens anddeserve the rights of citizenship,” she

proclaimed. “That includes marriage.”Clinton noted that her views on mar-

riage equality have changed over time —

she was staunchly opposed to same-sexmarriage for personal reasons for most

of her political career. Both Clintonsopposed same-sex marriage during their

time in the White House, a sentimentthat followed Clinton into the Senate.

“I think a marriage has always been

between a man and a woman,” the NewYork Times quoted her as saying duringa press conference for her 2000 Senatecampaign, to which she later added that

she would have supported DOMA wereshe in the Senate in 1996.

By 2006, Clinton noted that the wayshe spoke about same-sex marriage “has

certainly evolved.” The following year,

during the Democratic primaries, she

ligent, shrewd politician — her com-

ments echo the feelings of a majority ofAmericans. In 1996, when DOMA was

signed into law by her husband, twenty-seven percent of the population sup-

ported same-sex marriage, according

to Gallup. By 2014, that number hadincreased to fifty-five percent. Ten years

ago, over thirty states had some man-

ner of ban on same-sex unions — today,over thirty states have equal marriage.America continues to evolve, as does

Hillary Clinton.“Just because you’re a politician,

doesn’t mean you’re not a thinking

human being,” Clinton told NPR’s Gross.“You gather information. You think

through positions. You’re not 100 per-cent set.... You’re constantly reevaluating

where you stand. That was true for me.”Clinton has been happy to take a back

seat in the fight for marriage equality —

she often stated that it was an issue bestleft to the states, and used her time at the

State Department to refrain from com-menting on domestic policy. Her current

stance in favor, however, will be invalu-able in shoring up liberal and LGBT

support for the Democratic nomination.Still, she could be punished by voters

in the face of potential opposition with

stronger records (Gov. Martin O’Malley,for instance, approved Maryland’s mar-

riage equality bill before Clinton madeher HRC declaration.) Clinton hopes her

strong past on LGBT rights will over-shadow her shaky evolution on marriage.

“I’m hitting the road to earn your vote,

because it’s your time and I hope you’ll join me on this journey,” she said in her

campaign announcement video.For potential voters, whether Hillary

Clinton’s personal journey on LGBTissues has gone far enough remains to

be seen. l

APRIL 16, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM

Minor Victory LGBT advocates receive White House backing in their fight to banconversion therapy for minors at the state level

by John Riley

FOR APRYL PRENTISS, THE

news out of the White House lastWednesday was a validation.

That was the day the White

House responded to an online petition

posted on its website calling for a legisla-tive ban on conversion therapy. Valerie

Jarrett, a senior adviser to President

Obama, told those who had signed thepetition that the president was not cur-

rently supporting any federal law but wasthrowing his support behind state-level

efforts to prohibit licensed therapists


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LGBTNews

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the long history of significant trauma

caused by conversion therapists, I fullybelieve many of them would not choose

to subject their kids to it. They buy a liein an hour of desperation that change is

possible. These therapists continue topeddle that lie.”

Prentiss believes that hearing from

the president, the Surgeon General of theUnited States, and organizations opposed

to the practice of conversion therapy willhelp change the national conversation as

it relates to issues of LGBT identity, andmay even lead more people who have

undergone the practice — without suc-cessfully altering their sexuality — to

speak out.

“One of the things I’ve been more sur-prised by in organizing for this cause for

the past year is how many people, bothin the LGBT community and outside

it, have no idea that this form of ther-

apy exists anymore,” she said. “Whenthey find that it does, most people are

astounded and outraged.”Also validated by Obama’s support

for state-level bans of conversion ther-apy? The D.C. Council, which received

a barrage of criticism from conserva-tive groups and organizations, such as

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays andGays (PFOX), the Family Research

Council (FRC) and the Maryland-based

International Healing Foundation (IHF)after it passed a bill prohibiting licensed

therapists from practicing on minors lastyear. The bill, which went into effect

after surviving a period of congressionalreview, mirrors similar measures passed

and signed into law in both California

and New Jersey.“I’m very pleased to see the

President’s statement calling for an endto conversion therapy for minors,” said

Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3),the lead sponsor of the bill. “The District

has already recognized the harm of thisso-called therapy and voted unanimously

to ban it in 2014.”

Obama’s stance on conversion therapywas also praised by the National Center

for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), which inJune 2014 launched the #BornPerfect

campaign, aimed at ending the practiceof conversion therapy by 2019, as well as

advancing the rights and equal treatment

of LGBT youth.“There are few things more powerful

to our children’s self-worth than hav-ing the President of the United States

say you matter,” said NCLR ExecutiveDirector Kate Kendall in a statement.

from subjecting minors to any therapy

that bills itself as able to “change” or“convert” one’s sexual orientation or

gender identity.

“When assessing the validity of con-version therapy, or other practices that

seek to change an individual’s genderidentity or sexual orientation, it is as

imperative to seek guidance from certi-fied medical experts,” Jarrett wrote on

behalf of the president. “The overwhelm-ing scientific evidence demonstrates that

conversion therapy, especially when it

is practiced on young people, is neithermedically nor ethically appropriate and

can cause substantial harm.”Prentiss, who serves as deputy direc-

tor of LGBT issues at the Richmond-based Alliance for Progressive Values,

called the Obama administration’s

expressed support for an end to the prac-tice of conversion therapy on minors

“revolutionary” for a sitting president.As a former Christian youth group

leader-turned LGBT activist, receivingObama’s backing is not just a political

validation, but a personal one. Prentisshas experience with conversion therapy,

which she underwent to try and sup-

press her attraction to other women.Raised in a conservative household in

Virginia Beach, she underwent an eight-year struggle with her identity and has

previously testified in favor of local banson conversion therapy before both the

D.C. Council and the Virginia GeneralAssembly, calling the period from thetime she was 19 to 27 “an emotional,

physical hell.”Prentiss said Obama’s bringing pub-

licity to the issue is a step towards heal-ing some of the emotional and psycholog-

ical damage done to children questioningtheir sexual orientation or gender iden-

tity who undergo conversion therapy.

“By coming forward and speakingout on an issue that has struggled to

gain national recognition because of thenature of the trauma and the condi-

tion of the survivors, [President Obama]has brought the issue into the light

and made it nationally known. This is

huge,” Prentiss says. “The trauma that isoften an effect of conversion therapy is

consistently downplayed by those whocontinue to practice it. They wrap the

trauma up in rhetoric aimed at convinc-ing those who would advocate against

a ban that the same-sex attractions areunwanted and that every parent has the

right to choose treatment for their kids.

Yet, if parents were truly informed about

“These powerful statements from

President Obama and Valerie Jarrett notonly affirm the lives of our transgender

brothers and sisters, but the lives ofall LGBT people. Today, our president

made clear that we can and must do

better. Every LGBT child deserves tolive with full dignity, free from shame,

embraced for who they are.”

Samantha Ames, a staff attorney andthe #BornPerfect campaign coordina-tor for NCLR, notes that the president’s

approach to banning conversion therapyaligns closely with her organization’s

goals. While U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier

(D-Calif.) introduced a joint resolutionin 2012 known as the Stop Harming Our

Kids Act, the resolution merely encour-aged individual states to take their own

steps to protect minors from efforts thatpromote or endorse conversion therapy.

The state-by-state approach is preferred

over a national piece of legislation, partlybecause a ban would be difficult to get

through Congress, but more importantlybecause it is the individual states who

deal with issues related to the licensingof counselors and therapists.

According to Ames, 18 states haveintroduced legislation to prohibit con-

version therapy on minors this year.

Although some of the bills have beendefeated, others are still working their

way through the committee process.“These measures usually attract broad

bipartisan support,” Ames says. “Thereare several still in the process of being

drafted, and I anticipate more this year.”

Ashley Lourdes Hunter, the nationaldirector of the Trans Women of Color

Collective (TWOCC), commended theWhite House for opposing the practice

of conversion therapy, but also noted thatleaders need to take a stronger stance

on violence directed against transgenderpeople, particularly transgender women

of color.

“We are thrilled that President Obamais in support of banning conversion ther-

apy, as there is nothing wrong with us,”Hunter says. “However, it is time that

the White House and President Obamastand up against the brutal violence and

institutionalized structural oppression

trans and gender non-conforming peopleof color are facing every day.”

Despite the District’s passage of a banon conversion therapy for minors last

year, similar bills in neighboring stateshave stalled, regardless of which party

controls the state legislature. In 2014,former Del. Jon Cardin (D-Baltimore



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Herring (D) over the prospect of tacklingthe issue from a different angle. The talks

deal with whether the attorney general orthe courts could begin going after those

who practice conversion therapy usingconsumer protection laws. A New Jersey

Superior Court judge ruled in February

that therapists who engage in conversiontherapy and misrepresent homosexuality

as a disease or disorder that can be curedor changed are violating that state’s con-

sumer protection laws.Regardless of what Herring does,

Hope intends to keep introducing the

bill during each subsequent legislativesession until it finally passes. “I’ve always

believed that we are changing hearts andminds,” he says. “Every year we bring

this bill up, we make people more com-fortable with it, bringing us closer to our

goal of achieving equality for everyone.”Hope’s determination to keep bring-

ing the bill back up wins support fromallies such as the Alliance for Progressive

Values and especially Prentiss, who is

looking forward to partnering with himto advocate on the bill’s behalf.

“I am determined to see this ban takeplace in Virginia,” Prentiss says. “I don’t

care how long it takes.” l

ingful to know that we have supportfrom the White House,’ Parrish says. “It’s

unbelievable, really, that such a damag-ing practice — and one that is condemned

by all the major health organizations — isstill legal in almost all states. Being gay

or transgender is not a choice — we mustdo everything we can to protect all of our

youth as they come to terms with who

they are.”Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), the

lead patron of a bill proposing a conver-sion therapy ban in Virginia, said the

president’s support of state-level effortsto halt the practice illustrates not only

the evolution of his personal stance on

gay rights, but that of society at large.“I hope this announcement will be the

shot in the arm that the bill needs,” Hopesays. “I’m just delighted the president has

decided to get involved in this issue. Noone in the science community believes

that homosexuality is a mental disorderor curable.”

Hope’s bill died in committee, due

largely in part to across-the-board oppo-sition from the Republicans who control

both chambers of the Virginia GeneralAssembly. But Hope is currently in talks

with the office of Attorney General Mark

Co.) introduced a bill calling for a con-version therapy ban, but eventually

withdrew it after the bill failed to gainsignificant traction in the Democratic-

dominated General Assembly during anelection year. As a result, LGBT rights

advocates decided to focus their effortson regulatory oversight of the practice.

“We applaud the White House for

bringing attention to the harmful prac-tice of so-called conversion therapy,”

said Carrie Evans, the executive directorof Equality Maryland, the Free State’s

top LGBT rights organization. “EqualityMaryland and our allies in Maryland’s

medical and behavioral occupations con-

tinue to believe that the current regu-latory scheme is the sharpest tool we

have in Maryland to combat this practice.To date, there have been no complaints

lodged in Maryland. We urge anyonewho has underwent this ‘therapy’ from

a licensed professional in Maryland andwishes to file a complaint to contact us.”

Across the Potomac, Equality

Virginia’s executive director, JamesParrish, also had words of support for

the White House’s stance.“As we work here in Virginia to end

so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ it is mean-

METROWEEKLY.COM APRIL 16, 2015


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

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SATURDAY, APRIL 18ADVENTURING outdoors group hikes a moderate7.5 miles along the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail nearManassas, Va. Bring beverages, lunch, mud-worthy boots, bug spray, sunscreen, and about $7 for fees.Carpool at 9 a.m. from the East Falls Church MetroKiss & Ride lot. For more info, contact Theresa,252-876-1469. adventuring.org.

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organi-zation, volunteers today for Lost Dog & Cat RescueFoundation at Falls Church PetSmart. To partici-pate, burgundycrescent.org.

CHRYSALIS arts & culture group hears paneldiscussion hosted by the Washington HistoricalSociety on “Walt Whitman in Washington,” featur-ing Martin Murray, President of the WashingtonFriends of Walt Whitman, and Garrett Peck, authorof new book on Whitman in Washington. Free. 11a.m.-12:30 p.m., Carnegie Library in Mount VernonSquare. Lunch follows. Craig, 202-462-0535. [email protected].

The DC Center holds its monthly LGBT ASYLUMSEEKERS/ASYLEES FORUM for refugees andpeople in the midst of the asylum seeking process.7-9 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offersfree HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707 or andromedatranscul-turalhealth.org.

BET MISHPACHAH, founded by members of theLGBT community, holds Saturday morning Shabbatservices, 10 a.m., followed by Kiddush luncheon.Services in DCJCC Community Room, 1529 16th St.

NW. betmish.org.

BRAZILIAN GLBT GROUP, including others inter-ested in Brazilian culture, meets. For location/time,email [email protected].

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atHains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 8:30-10 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC FRONT RUNNERS running/walking/socialclub welcomes all levels for exercise in a fun andsupportive environment, socializing afterward.Meet 9:30 a.m., 23rd & P Streets NW, for a walk; or10 a.m. for fun run. dcfrontrunners.org.

DC SENTINELS basketball team meets at TurkeyThicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE,2-4 p.m. For players of all levels, gay or straight.teamdcbasketball.org.

DIGNITYUSA sponsors Mass for LGBT community,family and friends. 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Allwelcome. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

GAY LANGUAGE CLUB discusses critical languag-es and foreign languages. 7 p.m. Nellie’s, 900 U St.NW. RVSP preferred. [email protected].

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testingin Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite411. Walk-ins 12-3 p.m. For appointments other

hours, call 301-422-2398.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17LGB PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP FORMONTGOMERY COUNTY offers a safe place toconnect and explore issues of identity. 10-11:30 a.m.16220 S. Frederick Rd., Suite 512, Gaithersburg, Md.For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offersfree HIV testing, 9-5 p.m., and HIV services (byappointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscul-turalhealth.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice sessionat Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 6:30-8 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

GAY DISTRICT holds facilitated discussion forGBTQ men, 18-35, first and third Fridays. 8:30 p.m.The DC Center, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 202-682-2245, gaydistrict.org.

GAY MARRIED MEN’S ASSOCIATION (GAMMA) is a confidential support group for men who aregay, bisexual, questioning and who are marriedor involved with a woman, that meets regularlyin Dupont Circle at 7:30 PM and also Northern Virginia and Maryland. For more information:GAMMAinDC.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At theElizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St. NW,9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appoint-ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIVtesting. Appointment needed. 1012 14th St. NW,Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

PROJECT STRIPES hosts LGBT-affirming socialgroup for ages 11-24. 4-6 p.m. 1419 Columbia RoadNW. Contact Tamara, 202-319-0422, layc-dc.org.

SMYAL’S REC NIGHT provides a social atmo-sphere for GLBT and questioning youth, featuringdance parties, vogue nights, movies and games.More info, [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-6 p.m., byappointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

THURSDAY, APRIL 16CENTER GLOBAL, a group of The DC Center,holds its annual reception at Cobalt/30 Degrees.6:30-8:30 p.m. 1639 R St. NW. For more informa-tion, visit thedccenter.org.

The HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN and BET

MISCHPACHAH present a screening of Triangles:Witnesses of the Holocaust. The film uses interviewsand images to tell the story of the LGBT victims ofthe Holocaust. Question-and-answer session to fol-low. Tickets are $10 online or at the door. 7-9 p.m.1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. For more information, visit hrc.org.

The POLY DISCUSSION GROUP of The DCCenter holds its monthly meeting for those interest-ed in polyamory or non-monogamous relationships.7-8 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For moreinformation, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atTakoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW.7:30-9 p.m. swimdcac.org.

DC LAMBDA SQUARES gay and lesbian square-dancing group features mainstream throughadvanced square dancing at the National CityChristian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, 7-9:30 p.m.Casual dress. 301-257-0517, dclambdasquares.org.

The DULLES TRIANGLES Northern Virginia socialgroup meets for happy hour at Sheraton in Reston,11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, second-floor bar, 7-9p.m. All welcome. dullestriangles.com.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testingin Gaithersburg, 414 East Diamond Ave., and in

Takoma Park, 7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 411.Walk-ins 2-6 p.m. For appointments other hours,call Gaithersburg, 301-300-9978, or Takoma Park,

301-422-2398.

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., byappointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger.202-567-3155 or [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a Narcotics AnonymousMeeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW.The group is independent of UHU. 202-446-1100.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE for youngLBTQ women, 13-21, interested in leadership devel-opment. 5-6:30 p.m. SMYAL Youth Center, 410 7th

St. SE. 202-567-3163, [email protected].

Metro Weekly’s Community Calendar highlights important events in

the D.C.-area LGBT community, from alternative social events to

volunteer opportunities. Event information should be sent by email to

[email protected]. Deadline for inclusion is noon

of the Friday before Thursday’s publication. Questions about

the calendar may be directed to the Metro Weekly office at

202-638-6830 or the calendar email address.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 19WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session atHains Point, 972 Ohio Dr., SW. 9:30-11 a.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DIGNITYUSA offers Roman Catholic Mass for the

LGBT community. 6 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church,1820 Connecticut Ave. NW. All welcome. Sign inter-preted. For more info, visit dignitynova.org.

FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON meets forworship, 10:30 a.m., 2111 Florida Ave. NW, QuakerHouse Living Room (next to Meeting House onDecatur Place), 2nd floor. Special welcome to lesbi-ans and gays. Handicapped accessible from PhelpsPlace gate. Hearing assistance. quakersdc.org.

INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT,God-centered new age church & learning center.Sunday Services and Workshops event. 5419 SherierPlace NW. isd-dc.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF REFORMATION invites allto Sunday worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. Childcare is avail-able at both services. Welcoming LGBT people for 25 years. 212 East Capitol St. NE. reformationdc.org.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OFWASHINGTON, D.C. services at 9 a.m. (ASL inter-preted) and 11 a.m. Children’s Sunday School at 11a.m. 474 Ridge St. NW. 202-638-7373, mccdc.com.

NEW HSV-2 SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUP forgay men living in the DC metro area. This groupwill be meeting once a month. For information onlocation and time, email to [email protected].

ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION, an

“interracial, multi-ethnic Christian Community”offers services in English, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., andin Spanish at 5:15 p.m. 1525 Newton St. NW. 202-232-0900, saintstephensdc.org.

UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ARLINGTON, anLGBTQ welcoming-and-affirming congregation,offers services at 10 a.m. Virginia Rainbow UUMinistry. 4444 Arlington Blvd. uucava.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OFSILVER SPRING invites LGBTQ families and individuals of all creeds and cultures to join the church.Services 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. 10309 New Hampshire Ave. uucss.org.

UNIVERSALIST NATIONAL MEMORIAL

CHURCH, a welcoming and inclusive church. GLBTInterweave social/service group meets monthly.Services at 11 a.m., Romanesque sanctuary. 1810 16thSt. NW. 202-387-3411, universalist.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 20CENTER FAITH, a group of The DC Center for LGBTpeople and their religious allies, holds its monthlymeeting. 7:30-8:30 p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105.For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

WEEKLY EVENTS

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice sessionat Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr. SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visitswimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30p.m. Garrison Elementary, 1200 S St. NW. dcscan-dals.wordpress.com.

GETEQUAL meets 6:30-8 p.m. at Quaker House,2111 Florida Ave. NW. [email protected].

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At theElizabeth 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 appoint-ment call 202-745-7000. Visit whitman-walker.org.

KARING WITH INDIVIDUALITY (K.I.) SERVICES,3333 Duke St., Alexandria, offers free “rapid” HIVtesting and counseling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 703-823-4401.

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OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS—LGBT focused meeting every Tuesday, 7 p.m.St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 Oakland Ave., Arlington, just steps from Virginia Square Metro. For more info. call Dick, 703-521-1999. Handicappedaccessible. Newcomers welcome. [email protected].

SMYAL offers free HIV Testing, 3-5 p.m., by appointment and walk-in, for youth 21 and younger. Youth Center, 410 7th St. SE. 202-567-3155, [email protected].

SUPPORT GROUP FOR LGBTQ YOUTH ages 13-21 meets at SMYAL, 410 7thSt. SE, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathy Chu, 202-567-3163, [email protected].

US HELPING US hosts a support group for black gay men 40 and older. 7-9p.m., 3636 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-446-1100.

Whitman-Walker Health’s GAY MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS/STDCLINIC opens at 6 p.m., 1701 14th St. NW. Patients are seen on walk-in basis.No-cost screening for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Hepatitis andherpes testing available for fee. whitman-walker.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today forEverybody Wins! DC’s 2015 Gala. To participate, burgundycrescent.org.

The HIV WORKING GROUP of The DC Center holds a monthly meeting. 6-8p.m. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

THE LAMBDA BRIDGE CLUB meets for Duplicate Bridge. 7:30 p.m. DignityCenter, 721 8th St. SE, across from the Marine Barracks. No reservation needed.703-407-6540 if you need a partner.

WEEKLY EVENTS

AD LIB, a group for freestyle conversation, meets about 6:30-6 p.m., Steam, 17thand R NW. All welcome. For more information, call Fausto Fernandez, 703-732-5174.

ANDROMEDA TRANSCULTURAL HEALTH offers free HIV testing, 9-5 p.m.,and HIV services (by appointment). 202-291-4707, andromedatranscultural-health.org.

DC AQUATICS CLUB (DCAC) practice session at Hains Point, 927 Ohio Dr.SW. 7-8:30 p.m. Visit swimdcac.org.

DC SCANDALS RUGBY holds practice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garrison Elementary,1200 S St. NW. dcscandals.wordpress.com.

HISTORIC CHRIST CHURCH offers Wednesday worship 7:15 a.m. and 12:05p.m. All welcome. 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria. 703-549-1450, historic-christchurch.org.

HIV TESTING at Whitman-Walker Health. At the Elizabeth Taylor MedicalCenter, 1701 14th St. NW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At the Max Robinson Center, 2301MLK Jr. Ave. SE, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For an appointment call 202-745-7000. Visitwhitman-walker.org.

IDENTITY offers free and confidential HIV testing in Gaithersburg, 414

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

JOB CLUB, a weekly support program for job entrants and seekers, meets atThe DC Center. 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. More info, www.centercareers.org.

METROHEALTH CENTER offers free, rapid HIV testing. No appointmentneeded. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700. 202-638-0750.

NOVASALUD offers free HIV testing. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2049 N. 15th St., Suite 200, Arlington. Appointments: 703-789-4467.

PRIME TIMERS OF DC, social club for mature gay men, hosts weekly happyhour/dinner. 6:30 p.m., Windows Bar above Dupont Italian Kitchen, 1637 17thSt. NW. Carl, 703-573-8316. l



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munity’s causes,” he says. “And I think it’s important for small

businesses to support local organizations, too.”Alefantis attributes his loose-limbed, casual outlook to his

noncompetitive nature, a quality best exemplified by the game inComet’s name. “I love ping-pong,” he says. “It’s not table tennis.

You play to win, kind of, but you’re not trying to kill your oppo-nent. You’re trying to have a good time.”

MW: Do you ever wish you had pursued more theater? Or would you like to do that in the future?ALEFANTIS: I would love to. The restaurants are a bit like theater.Every day is like a new show. The interior is like a set. So it ful-

fills a lot of those desires. [But] it’s fun to do projects that beginand end — a restaurant has no end. So it would be exciting to do

something that opens, is a success or failure, and then closes,

over a shorter term.

But I’ve been able to support theater. Last year at StudioTheatre, I sponsored a play directed by my friend Tom [Story],Terminus — really experimental, in the black box upstairs. AndI’ve [supported] other work. My good friend Chris Moukarbel,

who grew up in Washington with me and was a waiter withme on 17th Street — I was a waiter at Il Radicchio back in high

school and college, and Chris worked at Pepper’s. He went to theCorcoran and went to Yale and became an artist and a filmmak-

er. I was the producer of his first film, Me @ The Zoo, about thebirth of the Internet celebrity-ism and Chris Crocker — “LeaveBritney Alone” — who was kind of one of the first big YouTube

celebrities. Growing up in rural Tennessee, Crocker was gayand a cross-dresser, and he was really bullied. He couldn’t go

to high school because it was too dangerous, so he was like


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Particularly in terms of the strides we’ve made as Americans,

where at least in urban areas, there’s much more tolerance,much more acceptance and great laws that have been put in

place in many areas of the country. But then if you go to Africa or

you go to El Salvador, or you go somewhere else, the protectionsare not there. So these are people who are from a different cul-ture, who are able to maybe have a few examples of gay people

who they like and respect.MW: But as you just said, outside of major metropolitan areas

America isn’t often a beacon on LGBT concerns. For example, Inoticed in the bathroom lined with state plates at Buck’s, you havean Indiana plate front and center above the toilet.ALEFANTIS: A customer just mentioned that the other day. Youknow, Indiana is a place in America. It’s unfortunate that they

have leaders that are terrible people, but the gay citizens ofIndiana are people, too. So we fight the battle to include, not to

exclude. Indiana is where people live. We’re Americans. You

can’t condemn them just because there are a few crazy leaders.MW: You mentioned having a lot of employees who have worked

for you since nearly the beginning. Why do you think people seemto like working for you, or that you have pretty low staff turnover?ALEFANTIS: Oh, I hope that they do. I try and pay people a goodwage. It takes a long time to train someone to do things as a chef,

the way you want it done. And those people are really valuable

people. And if you have those people for a long time, they usuallyshare your values. Another thing we try and do here is create a

community. So those people are a part of our community, andthey share our values, and I show them respect because they arehardworking and talented. Mutual respect, good pay. I try andgive people the schedule they want. But at this point it’s not just

me. I have managers in place that are strong, good leaders too.

MW: What inspired you to open Comet Ping Pong?ALEFANTIS: I had Buck’s, and there wasn’t a lot up here. There’s

Politics and Prose, an amazing bookstore and an institution. And

there was a Thai restaurant called the Thai Room — the first

Thai restaurant in Washington. It had kind of gone downhill. Itwas known for its Thai food, but either our conception of Thaifood changed, or their food changed — but anyway, they were

there for 32 years. And then one day there was a For Lease signon the outside, and they were closed. So I was like, “Oh, no! I’m

going to have to open a restaurant there or else someone else isgoing to do it. And it’s my block.” It was just a couple years after

I started Buck’s. It felt like I had been in Buck’s for a long time

at that point, because it was like two years and I was exhausted.It was just grueling.

I ended up getting the space. At that time, it had been an openrestaurant for 32 years, and I was like 31 or something, so that

restaurant had been there for longer than I had been alive. Thisis a lot of responsibility. And then my friend Eric Hirshfield, who

used to own Duplex Diner, was like, “I’m going to buy the Comet

sign. You’re opening a restaurant, why don’t you take it?” And Ithought, I should totally have that sign, and then I’ll have a name.

The Comet sign used to hang next to Cashion’s in AdamsMorgan, over a liquor store and deli owned by Sid and his wife

Beverly Drazin. They were there for a long time, and peoplereally loved that place and had a lot of nostalgia for it. And they

were really part of the community.MW: So Comet Liquors essentially inspired the ethos of Comet Ping

Pong, though not ping-pong itself. Where did that come from? Did you grow up with the game?ALEFANTIS: Yeah, I loved ping-pong. We played it at my family’s

lake cottage in upstate New York, because my parents are from


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and a half, and have good food.I also believe in value. You should be able to go out to eat and

not be gouged. The job of a restaurant is not to extricate as much

money as possible from you over a certain amount of time, andthen have you leave. We try not to rush people. Even like casual

restaurants now, or these small-plates places, you end up spend-ing $50, $70 a person and you didn’t even notice it and you didn’t

really have anything. And you’ve been there for an hour and ahalf. [ Laughs.] Whereas Comet you can have legitimately goodfood, good for you, sourced from a farm, fresh and healthy, andyet it’s still affordable.

MW: Do you have another restaurant concept in the works?ALEFANTIS: No, I’m not working on another restaurant rightnow, at all. I feel like it’s hard enough to do these things, and it’s

important to be committed to them. And after almost 12 years,I’m kind of able to do other things too. And to do something

bigger, you have to delegate better than I’m capable of doing.I have looked in a lot of locations, but so far nothing has stuck

with me. It’s also a really big commitment opening a restaurant

as an independent businessman. A lot of restaurants these daysare run by groups of people — like four brothers, and they can all

do their own thing. For me, if I can hold on to what I have, I’mhappy enough.

MW: And your brother is not involved with the restaurants, right?ALEFANTIS: No, my brother I think wouldn’t mind it. But he

isn’t. He has a wife and a kid. I think also being gay, you have alittle bit more freedom. You’re taught at the beginning that you

can be your own person, so take a risk. You’ve already taken so

many risks, you’re like, “Let’s just do another one.” [ Laughs.]Like when I opened Buck’s, people were saying, “You’re open-

ing a restaurant? You’re so crazy! What if you fail?” And I was

27. “What do you mean, fail? I’m just opening a restaurant. It’sgoing to be great. It’s going to be awesome.” And luckily so far

that’s turned out to be the case, but you never know. So now I’m

thinking, “Opening another restaurant? That’s really risky. Whatif you fail?” [ Laughs.] And also now it’s gotten really expensive,building things in Washington. Every time I look at a space, weget a quote for it, it’s $1 million at least. Usually it’s $1.5 million.

I’m like, “To build a pizza dive?”People are doing great work where they’re doing it. There’s

a lot of Comet wannabe restaurants around this town as it is.Comet-inspired restaurants. It’s great, it’s great.

MW: Do you have time for a personal life? Do you have a significantother?ALEFANTIS: I do have time for a personal life. I make time. At themoment, I’m single. But I date. I had a 10-year partner startingBuck’s. That was helpful because you could work all the time

because you’re in a relationship, especially if you’re in a relation-ship with someone else who wants to work on their own things

all the time. So that was nice getting started. I’m dating someone

now. Who’s adorable! And so nice. But he lives in New York, soit’s a problem.MW: You wouldn’t move back to New York even for love?ALEFANTIS: No, no way. New York is great to visit, but Washington

is a great place to live.

Buck’s Fishing and Camping is located at 5301 Connecticut Ave. NW. For reservations, call 202-364-0777 or visit bucksfishingand-camping.com.

Comet Ping Pong is located at 5307 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-364-0404 or visit cometpingpong.com. l


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LIFE

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015

DININGOUT FOR

T

O D D F R A N S O N

A complete guide to all participatingrestaurants, as of press time, byneighborhood, including meals and whatpercentage of each bill will be donated toFood & Friends. This year’s DINING OUT FORLIFE takes place on THURSDAY, APRIL23rd. Please note that RESERVATIONS ARESUGGESTED at most restaurants. Please callahead or visit OpenTable.com. For an up-to-date list of restaurants visitfoodandfriends.org/dol.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

ADAMS MORGAN

18TH & U DUPLEX DINER2004 18th St. NW

202-265-7828Dinner, 25%

CASHION’S EAT PLACE1819 Columbia Rd. NW

202-797-1819

Dinner, 35%

LA FOURCHETTE2429 18th St. NW

202-332-3077Lunch & Dinner, 35%

L’ENFANT CAFÉ ANDBAR

2000 18th St. NW

202-319-1800Dinner, 25%

LITTLE FOUNTAIN CAFÉ2339 18th St. NW

202-462-8100Dinner, 35%

MINTWOOD PLACE1813 Columbia Rd. NW

202-234-6732Dinner, 25%


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MARYLAND

PERRY’S1811 Columbia Rd. NW

202-234-6218Dinner, 25%

POP’S SEA BAR1817 Columbia Rd. NW

202-534-3933Lunch & Dinner, 35%

ATLAS/H ST.

LE GRENIER502 H St. NE202-544-4999Dinner, 25%

BLOOMINGDALE

EL CAMINO108 Rhode Island Ave.

202-847-0419Dinner, 25%

RUSTIK TAVERN84 T St. NW

202-290-2936

Dinner, 25%

BRENTWOOD

SALA THAIRESTAURANT

2300 Washington Place NE202-808-2189

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

BROOKLAND

BUSBOYS AND POETS625 Monroe St. NE

202-636-7230Dinner, 35%

STEEL PLATE3523 12th St. NE

202-290-2310Dinner, 25%

CAPITOL HILL

BANANA CAFÉ & PIANOBAR

500 8th St. SE

202-543-5906Dinner, 25%

CAFÉ BERLIN322 Massachusetts Ave. NE

202-543-7656Lunch & Dinner, 25%

HANK’S OYSTER BARON THE HILL

633 Pennsylvannia Ave. SE202-733-1971Dinner, 25%

THE OLD SIAM406 8th St. SE202-544-7426

Dinner, 25%

TRATTORIA ALBERTO506 8th St. SE202-544-2007Dinner, 25%

CHEVY CHASE

ARUCOLA OSTERIA5534 Connecticut Ave. NW

202-244-1555Dinner, 25%

BLUE 44 DC5507 Connecticut Ave. NW

202.36225%83Dinner, 25%

BUCK’S FISHING &CAMPING

5031 Connecticut Ave. NW202-364-0777Dinner, 50%

COMET PING PONG

5037 Connecticut Ave. NW202-364-0404Dinner, 50%

CHINATOWN

RARE SWEETS963 Palmer Alley NW

202-499-0077Lunch, 25%

CLEVELANDPARK

CACTUS CANTINA3300 Wisconsin Ave. NW

202-362-0776Lunch & Dinner, 25%

COLUMBIAHEIGHTS

ACRE 1211400 Irving St. NW

202-328-0121Dinner, 25%

THE HEIGHTS3115 14th St. NW

202-797-7227Dinner, 25%

DOWNTOWN

RURAL SOCIETY1177 15th St. NW

202-587-2629Dinner, 25%

DUPONT CIRCLE

ANNIE’S PARAMOUNTSTEAKHOUSE

1609 17th St. NW202-667-9148

Lunch & Dinner,

BEACON BAR & GRILL1615 Rhode Island Ave.

NW202-872-1126

Dinner, 25%

DUPONT ITALIAN

KITCHEN1637 17th St. NW

202-328-3222Dinner, 25%

GRILLFISH1200 New Hampshire

Ave. NW202-331-7310

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

HANK’S OYSTER BAR1624 Q St. NW202-462-4265

Dinner, 25%

LA TOMATE1701 Connecticut Ave. NW

202-667-5505Dinner, 25%

LAURIOL PLAZA1835 18th St. NW

202-387-0035Lunch & Dinner, 25%

M ST. BAR AND GRILL2033 M St. NW202-530-3621Dinner, 25%

MOURAYO1734 Connecticut Ave. NW

202-667-2100Dinner, 25%

PESCE RESTAURANT2002 P St. NW202-466-3474Dinner, 35%

STATION KITCHEN &

COCKTAILS2015 Massachusetts Ave.

NW(202) 265-1600Dinner, 25%

FRIENDSHIPHEIGHTS

LE CHAT NOIR4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW

202-244-2044Dinner, 35%

LOGAN CIRCLE

COMMISSARY1443 P St. NW202-299-0018

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

LE DIPLOMATE1601 14th St. NW

202-332-3333Dinner

LOGAN TAVERN1423 P St. NW202-332-3710

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

NAGE

1608 Rhode Island Ave.NW202-448-8005Dinner, 25%

PEARL DIVE OYSTERPALACE

1612 14th St. NW

202-319-1612Dinner, 50%

POSTO1515 14th St. NW

202-332-8613Dinner, 50%

THE PIG

1320 14th St. NW202-290-2821Dinner, 25%

VERANDA1100 P St. NW202-234-6870Dinner, 25%

MOUNTPLEASANT

BEAU THAI3162 Mount Pleasant

St. NW202-450-5317Dinner, 25%

MOUNT VERNON

BUSBOYS AND POETS1025 5th St. NW

202-789-2227Dinner, 35%

THE PALISADES

BLACKSALT4883 MacArthur Blvd. NW

202-342-9101Dinner, 25%

PENN QUARTER

RISTORANTE TOSCA1112 F St. NW

202-367-1990

Dinner,

PETWORTH

DC REYNOLDS3628 Georgia Ave. NW

Dinner, 25%

SALA THAIRESTAURANT

3716 Georgia Ave. NW202-629-1643

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

SHAW

1905 RESTAURANT1905 Ninth St. NW

202-332-1905Dinner, 25%

BEAU THAI1700 New Jersey Ave. NW

205.37750%329Dinner, 25%

DINO’S GROTTO1914 9th St. NW

202-686-2966Dinner, 25%

SHAW’S TAVERN520 Florida Ave. NW

202-518-4092Dinner, 25%

THALLY1316 9th St. NW

202-733-3849Dinner, 25%

TAKOMA

BUSBOYS AND POETS235 Carroll St. NW

202-726-0856Dinner, 35%

U ST.

BUSBOYS AND POETS2021 14th St. NW

202-387-7638Dinner, 35%

CAFÉ SAINT-EX1847 14th St. NW

202-265-7839

Dinner, 25%

COMPASS ROSE1346 T St. NW202-506-4765Dinner, 25%

EATONVILLE2121 14th St. NW

202-332-9672Dinner, 35%

JOJO RESTAURANTAND BAR

1518 U St. NW202-319-9350

Dinner, 35%

SALA THAIRESTAURANT1301 U St. NW202-462-1333

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

TICO1926 14th St. NW

202-319-1400Dinner, 25%

BETHESDA

BLACK’S BAR &KITCHEN

7750 Woodmont Ave.301-652-5525Dinner, 25%

SALA THAIRESTAURANT

4828 Cordell Ave.

301-654-4676Lunch & Dinner, 25%

TRATTORIA SORRENTO4930 Cordell Ave

301-718-0344Dinner, 25%

GARRET PARK

BLACK MARKET BISTRO4600 Waverly Ave.

301-933-3000Dinner, 25%


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HYATTSVILLE

BUSBOYS AND POETS5331 Baltimore Ave.

301-779-2787Dinner, 35%

ROCKVILLE

IL PIZZICO15209 Frederick Rd.

301-309-0610Dinner, 35%

MOSAIC CUISINE ANDCAFÉ

186 Halpine Rd.301-468-0682

Dinner, 25%

SILVER SPRING

ALL SET RESTAURANT& BAR

8630 Fenton St.301-495-8800Dinner, 50%

CUBANO’S1201 Fidler Ln.

301-563-4020

Dinner, 35%

TAKOMA PARK

MARK’S KITCHEN7006 Carroll Ave.

301-270-1884

Lunch & Dinner, 25%

REPUBLIC6939 Laurel Ave.

301-270-3000Dinner, 25%

VIRGINIA

ALEXANDRIA

CHADWICKS203 The Strand703-836-4442Dinner, 25%

INDIGO LANDINGOne Marina Drive

703-548-0001Dinner, 25%

ARLINGTON

LA COTE D’OR CAFÉ6876 Lee Highway

703-538-3033Dinner, 25%

CLIFTON

TRUMMER’S ON MAIN7134 Main St.

703-266-1623Dinner, 25%

CRYSTAL CITY

FREDDIES BEACH BAR555 23rd St. S.703-685-0555

Dinner,

FALLS CHURCH

CLARE AND DON’SBEACH SHACK

130 N. Washington St.

703-532-9283Lunch & Dinner, 35%

MOSAIC DISTRICT

SEA PEARL8191 Strawberry Lane #2

703-372-5161

Dinner, 25%

OLD TOWNALEXANDRIA

HANK’S OYSTER BAROLD TOWN1026 King St.703-739-4265Dinner, 25%

PENTAGON CITY

THAIPHOON ATPENTAGON ROW

1301 South Joyce St.703-413-8200Dinner, 25%

PINECREST

FOXFIRE6550 Little River Tpk.

703-914-9280Dinner, 25%

SHIRLINGTON

BUSBOYS AND POETS4251 S. Campbell Ave.

703-379-9757Dinner, 35%

GUAPOS RESTAURANT4028 Campbell Ave.

703-671-1701Dinner, 25%

PING BY CHARLIECHIANG’S

4060 Campbell Ave.703-671-4900Dinner, 25%

TYSON’S CORNER

KIZUNA8221 Leesburg Pike

703-442-7888Dinner, 35%


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APRIL 16 - 23, 2015

SPOTLIGHT

AFI FILM SERIES: ADVENTURES IN 3DOver the next week, the American Film Institute’sSilver Theatre screens three of the most recentacclaimed films shot with 3D technology. It’s thekickoff to a months-long series focused on use ofthe technology in various artistic genres, includingin stage productions and animation. The first three3D works are Jean-Luc Godard’s experimental andhard-to-explain 3D essay Goodbye to Language, a2014 Cannes Film Festival winner, James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxy, the Marvel Comics-based3D blockbuster following a vividly realized misfitteam of space rebels trying to root out a universal

villain, and Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity, which innova-tively captured the sense of being lost in outer space.Goodbye to Language screens Saturday, April 18, at 3p.m., Guardians of the Galaxy screens Sunday, April19, at 3 p.m., and Gravity screens Friday, April 24, at9:45 p.m., Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m., and Thursday, April 30, at 9:15 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $9 to $12.Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.

ALICE SMITHSoul-pop singer-songwriter Alice Smith is as under-stated and sophisticated as Christina Aguilera can be exaggerated and overdone, and she’s every bit as vocally talented. And her music, including her aston-ishing sophomore set She, is better than Aguilera’s.Released in 2013, She charts the ups and downs and

ins and outs of love, even just friendship, with musi-cal twists and lyrical turns as sharp and surprisingas they come. Friday, April 17, the Brooklyn-basedSmith returns once again to her hometown of D.C.“You want to do good at home,” she told MetroWeekly in 2012. “Whenever I go, and there’s peoplethere, somehow it’s always a little surprising, butit’s also always really exciting.” Friday, April 17, at8 p.m. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. Ticketsare $25 to $60. Call 202-588-5595 or visit thehow-ardtheatre.com.

CHERRY NOVA: ANNUAL DANCE EVENTStarted nearly two decades ago, the annual gaydance event Cherry returns with an astronomicaltheme and six parties at five venues, including twonew to Cherry’s orbit: The swanky Howard Theatre,

hosting the Friday, April 17 party featuring populargay tribal-house DJ Paulo, a Cherry veteran, andFlash, the intimate club with arguably the city’s bestlighting and sound systems, closing the weekendwith New York DJ BennyK on Sunday, April 19.The party weekend blasts off early, Thursday, April16, at Cobalt featuring DJs Brian Serving Ovahnessand Lizard Lounge-veteran Kostas. Saturday, April18, brings Town Danceboutique’s usual double-doseof Cherry, with Dr. Moody “Moodonna” Mustafa’safternoon birthday bash spun by gay circuit starDJ Joe Gauthreaux, and a peak-hour party upstairsheadlined by Tom “Superchumbo” Stephan, knownfor his edgy, hip-hop-informed deep-house sound.Finally, Mexico City DJ Isaac Escalante spins this year’s after-hours at Tropicalia early in the morningSunday, April 19. Tickets are $10 to $50 per party, or$100 for a Weekend Pass offering express entry to allevents. Visit cherryfund.org for more information.

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Compiled by Doug Rule

IF TIGER ORANGE ACCOMPLISHES ANYTHING, IT’S IN ANSWERING ONE IMPOR-tant question: Is there life after porn? For Johnny Hazzard, here under his real name,

Frankie Valenti, the answer is an assured “yes.”

Valenti undoubtedly will draw people to the film, eager to see if his charisma with his

clothes off can translate into work on the silver screen. In fact, Valenti is one of Tiger Orange’s

strongest aspects.The story follows two openly gay brothers. Todd (Valenti) moves back home to live with

Chet (Mark Strano, the film’s co-author) after his life in L.A. falls apart, and proceeds to

disrupt his brother’s life. Chet has mastered the art of closeted living, blending into his rural

community, running his deceased father’s hardware store, and existing alone. Todd is the

opposite: outspoken, unashamed of his sexuality, but in a similarly empty state of existence to

Chet, his life a series of sexual encounters and unfulfilling jobs.

The film’s conceit is the bubbling tension between the pair. Chet, jealous that Todd was

able to overcome their oppressive father and live openly, loathes his brother’s looks and lack

of responsibility. Todd is angry that his brother has shut off his sexuality, but resents that

his inability to do so cost him time with his father that Chet enjoyed. When the two finally

explode at one another, after Todd threatens Chet’s budding relationship with a former high

school fling (Gregory Marcel), it’s tense, dramatic, wonderfully staged.

The rest of the film doesn’t always maintain the same standard. As a freshman effort from

director and co-writer Wade Gasque, there are obvious signs of a lack of experience. Rough

edges exist, but they don’t mar the overall experience, and a higher budget and tighter editingwould likely have solved most of them.

It’s the performances you’ll remember after the credits roll. Valenti shines, striking a

balance between asshole, rogue and passionate dreamer. With further experience and refine-

ment, he could forge a career as a serious actor. Strano almost disappears under Valenti’s

charisma, forced into a sad pout for much of the film — but it pays dividends when his char-

acter is finally allowed to let rip and open up his emotions. There’s a wide range of supporting

characters, all of whom convey the folksy, small town ethos the film seeks to convey.

Though it can occasionally feel a little paint-by-numbers in its construction, Tiger Orange overcomes its familiar plot devices, offering two strong central performances and an intrigu-

ing contrast between its main characters. For Valenti, it’s proof there’s life after porn — and

it’s a good life indeed. — Rhuaridh Marr

Tiger Orange ( HHHHH ) plays Friday, April 17, at 7 and 9:15 p.m. at the HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Valenti will make a brief appearance after the 7 p.m. showing. For more information,

visit reelaffirmations.org.


Family HazzardTiger Orange is a launchpad forpornstar-cum-actor Johnny Hazzard,but offers much more than that


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DON’T DIE IN THE DARKCity Artistic Partnerships presents this one-act play shedding light on the per-sonal and patriotic motivations behind one of America’s most shocking acts of ter-ror, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Matty Griffiths produces this theaterpiece starring playwright/performer Joe Brack as John Wilkes Booth and BradleyFoster Smith as “Guitar,” providing music and conscience to the piece. “Out ofrespect for Mr. Lincoln,” the producers note, “we are not performing this playin a theater.” To April 26. Studio 1469, 1469 Harvard St. NW. Call 202-213-2474.

FILMFEST DCThe 29th Annual Washington, DC International Film Festival presents over 70features, documentaries and shorts from around the world over the next 11 days.

It opens Thursday, April 16, at Mazza Gallerie with Tango Glories, a feature filmfrom Argentina celebrating the wonders — not just musical but also psycho-logical — of the tango. This year’s festival includes at least two films, both docu-mentaries, of LGBT interest. Sophie Deraspe’s The Amina Profile, explores thetravails of online relationships through a focus on the email courtship between aFrench-Canadian woman and the American-Syrian author of a blog, “A Gay Girlin Damascus,” whose real identity was eventually called into question, screeningFriday, April 17, at 8:45 p.m., and Saturday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m., at Landmark EStreet Cinema. Thomas G. Miller’s Limited Partnership, focuses on the decades-long struggle of a binational gay couple to have their marriage recognized by thefederal government and U.S. immigration officials, screening Thursday, April 23,at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, at 9:15 p.m. at Landmark E Street Cinema.FilmFestDC runs to April 26. Tickets are $13 for most screenings, $45 for openingnight. Call 202-234-3456 or visit filmfestdc.org.

KEENAN ORR AT ARTS COALITION FOR THE DUPONT UNDERGROUNDOne of D.C.’s most versatile DJs, Keenan Orr regularly jumps between gay and

straight events, playing sets of music as disparate as house, hip-hop and chill-out. Occasionally, it all comes together, as it will next week when Orr headlinesa benefit for the Arts Coalition for the Dupont Underground. Last year the D.C.government signed off on a five-year plan by this nonprofit entity formed totransform a vast unused subterranean space, originally built as a trolley station below Dupont Circle, into a cultural destination — by offering art and designexhibitions, live performances, community events, even pop-up retail. Learnmore about still-developing plans at a U Street Music Hall hosted event also fea-turing music by three other local DJs/dance acts: Native Sun, Braulio Agnese andBurymeinamink. Tuesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. U Street Music Hall, 1115A U St. NW.Tickets are $15. Call 202-588-1880 or visit ustreetmusichall.com.

NORA POUILLON My Organic Life: How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape the Way We Eat Today tellsthe story of this influential Austrian-born local chef, whose Restaurant Nora inDupont Circle became the first certified organic restaurant in the country in 1999. Among other Pouillon efforts that helped sprout the natural foods movement

was her work initiating D.C.’s first producer-only farmers’ market, FreshFarmMarkets, which now oversees 11 markets in the area. Former Washington Post Food and Sunday Business editor Nancy McKeon will lead the conversationwith Pouillon, followed by a book signing. Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. Sixth & IHistoric Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $14, or $27 for one book and twotickets. Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.

FILM

AFI FILM SERIES: ORSON WELLES CENTENNIALFor the next two and a half months, the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatretoasts the 100th anniversary of late filmmaker Orson Welles’ birth with a screen-ing series of films he either made, starred in or inspired. The series kicks off thisweekend with Citizen Kane, his 1941 screen debut that is still widely consideredthe greatest film ever made. Also this weekend is a screening of Chuck Workman’snew documentary, Magician: Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles. Citizen Kane screens Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m., and Thursday, April 23, at 7:15 p.m. The Magician documentary screens Friday, April 17, at 5p.m., Saturday, April 18, at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at 5:15 p.m, and Thursday, April 23, at 5:15 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $9 to $12. Call 301-495-6720 or visitafi.com/Silver.

LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIE FESTIVALOnce again the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse brings athe Lord of the Ringstrilogy to the big screen for a one-day marathon. Fans are encouraged to dress upas a favorite character to earn a free movie pass for a future screening, and therewill also be a trivia contest and a Gollum impersonation contest. The Fellowshipof the Ring s screens at 12 p.m., The Two Towers at 3:15 p.m. and The Return ofthe King at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Arlington Cinema ‘N’Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $10. Call 703-486-2345 or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.



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18, at 8 p.m., Music Center at Strathmore, 5301Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $50 to$105. Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

BELA FLECK AND ABIGAIL WASHBURNLegendary banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, nominatedin more categories than anyone in Grammy his-tory, returns to the region to perform with his wife, Abigail Washburn, also a well-regarded banjo playerand vocalist. Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. Ram’s HeadOn Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $45.Call 410-268-4545 or visit ramsheadonstage.com.

DUKE DUMONTPart of a strong, young British crop of soul-informeddeep house DJs/producers also including Disclosureand Gorgon City, Duke Dumont has had someimpressive early success, as his first two singles bothreached the top of the charts in the U.K. and alsosnagged back-to-back dance Grammy nominations.First was “Need U (100%)” featuring the SierraLeone-born British singer A*M*E, and next camehis song “I Got U” featuring producer Jax Jones and vocalist Kelli-Leigh in an inspired interpolation andhomage to Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is YourLove.” Both feature on last year’s four-song EP1.Here’s hoping a full-length album is in the works. Saturday, April 25. Doors at 10:30 p.m. Nightclub9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-

0930 or visit 930.com.

GILBERTO GILThis Brazilian music legend is a leader of theTropicália movement and was more recently a for-mer Brazilian Minister of Culture. The singer/gui-tarist/composer returns to GW Lisner to performfrom his extensive catalogue. Friday, April 24, at 8p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The George WashingtonUniversity, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $45 to $75.Call 202-994-6800 or visit lisner.org.

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFFSinger-songwriter and banjo player Alynda LeeSegarra, a New York native of Puerto Rican descent,leads this tender, bluegrass-inspired indie-folk col-lective, which is based in New Orleans. Segarra

said in an NPR interview that this current six-piecegroup is “a very queer band.” Besides Segarra, whoidentifies as queer and as “a longtime ally of queercauses,” there’s also drummer/fiddle player YosiPerlstein, who is transgender. Hurray for the RiffRaff tours in support of last year’s Small Town Heroes. Tuesday, April 21. Doors at 7 p.m. Nightclub9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

KENNEDY CENTER’SCONSERVATORY PROJECTTwice a year, the Kennedy Center showcases the best young musical artists from leading musicschools through its Conservatory Project and itsfree Millennium Stage programming. Concerts ontap this round will come from star students at

Manhattan School of Music on Saturday, April 18, SanFrancisco Conservatory of Music on Sunday, April19, New England Conservatory of Music on Monday, April 20, Bienen School of Music at NorthwesternUniversity on Tuesday, April 21, the Juilliard Schoolon Wednesday, April 22, Eastman School of Music atRochester University on Thursday, April 23, BerkleeCollege of Music on Friday, April 25, and OberlinConservatory of Music on Saturday, April 26. Allperformances at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center TerraceTheater. Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visitwww.kennedy-center.org.

LEE ANN WOMACKPetite Texan continues to tour in support of last year’s classic country set The Way I’m Livin’ , her firstafter a seven-year absence. Womack’s stop at Wolf


SIMPLY SONDHEIM

HHHHH

Signature Theatre’s Simply Sondheim is billed asa “completely new revue” running for a couple ofweeks, after which it “will never be seen again.” Ofcourse, revues of Stephen Sondheim’s oeuvre pop uphere and there every couple years, and full Sondheimmusicals are produced even more frequently. In fact,this revue offers a tantalizing preview of one lesser-known Sondheim work Signature will produce nextwinter, Road Show, with the song “The Best ThingThat Ever Has Happened.” Nevertheless, any musi-

cal theater fan will find delight in this revue itself,co-developed by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer anddirected and choreographed by Matthew Gardiner.Jon Kalbfleisch leads a 16-piece orchestra from thestage every bit like a pops night at the symphony.Sondheim standards are cleverly intertwined andperformed by six Signature vets, most notably thesuperb Donna Migliaccio, lovable gay everymanBobby Smith, pristine-piped Stephanie Waters andthe swoon-worthy Kellee Knighten Hough. ClosesSunday, April 19. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40 to $95. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org. (Doug Rule)

SWING TIME! THE MUSICALMike Thornton, an actor who has worked withthe satire group the Capitol Steps, and his wife,

Cecelia Fex, have teamed up as co-producers for this big band-era musical revue about a group of per-formers putting together a wartime radio broadcast.Featuring film clips plus a live jazz band, the showfeatures tunes made popular by Duke Ellington,Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey andCab Calloway. Next shows are Sunday, April 19, at2 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m.Select dates to June 27. U.S. Navy Memorial’s BurkeTheater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $19or $49. Call 202-393-4266 or visit swingtimethemusi-cal.com.

THE ORIGINALISTMolly Smith directs an Arena Stage world premiereof John Strand’s play about one of the biggest ene-

mies to the LGBT cause and civil rights in general:Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It’s hard toget excited about this one, although no doubt four-time Helen Hayes Award winner Edward Gero willdo Scalia justice. The play is performed in the MeadCenter’s Kogod Cradle in a new three-quarter thrustconfiguration. Extended to May 31, with a two-week break at the start of May. Mead Center for AmericanTheater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visitarenastage.org.

THE SORROW MESSAGEBaltimore’s adventurous company Daydreams +Nightmares Aerial (DNA) Theatre presents this darkand fantastical play by Annelise Montone about a boywho runs to the ocean after witnessing his parentsfighting. A thoroughly homegrown production, The

Sorrow Message incorporates aerial acrobatics andhigh technology in addition to more standard theaterfare. Closes this Sunday, April 19. Baltimore TheatreProject, 45 West Preston St. Baltimore. Tickets are$24. Call 410-752-8558 or visit theatreproject.org.

MUSIC BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAPeter Oundjian leads the BSO in a program featur-ing Mussorgsky’s stirring Pictures at an Exhibition,soloist Katherine Needleman performing VaughanWilliams’s Oboe Concerto, and Haydn’s Symphony No.96, “Miracle.” Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall,

1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Also Saturday, April

MONKEY KINGDOMTina Fey narrates this nature documentary aboutthe struggles of a family of monkeys living in ancientruins in the jungles of Sri Lanka. Mark Linfieldand Alastair Fothergill direct Monkey Kingdom, aDisneynature film timed for release around EarthDay with portions of box office receipts to be donatedto Conservation International. Opens Friday, April17. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2There are basically two reasons you might briefly

consider, or re-consider, seeing this ridiculous sequelto the ridiculous original about a dumpy, bumblingmall cop. (Oh Kevin James, must you always play the boob?) Those reasons are Saturday Night Live alum Ana “Delicious Dish” Gasteyer and lovable comedian-cum-talk show host Loni Love — both funny ladiesplay small roles in director Andy Flickman’s latestflick, which, with apologies to Gasteyer and Love,would flop hard if there was any justice in the world.Opens Friday, April 17. Now playing. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

ROAR“There’s never been a film like Roar,” boasts thetagline to the 1981 flop written and directed byNoel Marshall, who also starred in the film with hisreal-life wife Tippi Hedren, plus their real-life chil-

dren, including Hedren’s daughter Melanie Griffith.Landmark’s E Street Cinema will screen the flickthis weekend as part of its midnight screening series.Why? Because, as Movies.com notes, Roar is “thekind of bad movie that just needs to be seen to be believed.” Set in Africa, the film featured over 100lions, tigers, jaguars and other wild big cats whoeventually attacked essentially everyone on set atsome point, to the point of serious injury for some,including Marshall, Hedren and especially Griffith,who had to have facial reconstructive surgery. And yet Marshall was undeterred. He spent 11 years and$17 million on the film, which only made $2 million.“Even just watching it feels dangerous,” Movies.comsays. Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, at mid-night. Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW.Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

STAGE

ARDEN OF FAVERSHAMBrave Spirits Theatre presents this riff on Elizabethanplays, incorporating actual Shakespearean passages,as a housewife plots with her lover and two incom-petent hit-men to murder her husband. Dan Cranedirects the production from the four-year-old BraveSpirits, which focuses on staging dark, visceral, inti-mate productions. Closes Saturday, April 18. AtlasPerforming Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are$20. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

CLOSET LANDRick Hammerly directs the latest Factory 449 pro-duction staged in the small, black box theater at the Anacostia Arts Center. Rahda Bharadwaj’s Closet Land focuses on a government interrogator in a name-less country torturing a writer alleged to include anti-State messages in her work. David Lamont Wilsonand Sara Barker star in this two-person work stagedin the round and billed as a harrowing descent intothe nature of violence, the mind’s resolve and thehuman spirit’s endurance. Opens Friday, April 17, at8 p.m. To May 10. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 GoodHope Road SE. Tickets are $12. Call 202-631-6291 or visit factory449.com.


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Trap next week is sold out, but tickets are still available for the show at Ram’sHead in Annapolis. Amanda Shires opens. Tuesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. Ram’s HeadOn Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $65, or $145 also including dinnerand unlimited drinks. Call 410-268-4545 or visit ramsheadonstage.com.

ROSANNE CASHThe eldest daughter of country music legend Johnny Cash has carved her ownpath to fame. Rosanne Cash, with her deep, velvet-lined voice, is one of those art-ists who is infinitely and repeatedly listenable. Her latest album, The River and theThread , combines roots-oriented music with her trademarked lushness. Cash told Metro Weekly last year that the new set, produced by her husband and frequentcollaborator John Leventhal, is meant to convey “the theme of Southern place and

time.” “Somebody said that this record was the sound of a true marriage. And thatreally touched me deeply. John and I worked a long time to get to a place wherethe sum is greater than the parts.” Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. Music Center atStrathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $27 to $68. Call301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

VIJAY IYER TRIOThis celebrity jazz pianist returns with his longtime collaborators, bassistStephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, who as the Grammy-nominated Vijay Iyer Trio are known for covers of everything from Bernstein to M.I.A. Theensemble’s latest album Break Stuff includes originals plus renditions of jazz stan-dards including Billy Strayhorn’s Bloodcount, Thelonious Monk’s Work and JohnColtrane’s Countdown. Sunday, April 19, at 7 p.m., at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue,600 I St. NW. Tickets are $25 in advance or $28 day-of show. Call 202-408-3100or visit sixthandi.org.

DANCEPAN AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: SOLO TANGO DC Tango Festival presents the Pan American Symphony’s Solo Tango, a best oftango performance featuring two bandoneon players, Argentine tenor Martinde Leon and acclaimed tango dancers. Wednesday, April 25, at 8 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $35to $45. Call 202-994-6800 or visit lisner.org.

PILOBOLUSConnecticut-based dance troupe returns to D.C. to yet again show off its daring,athletic moves, this time in the intimate space of McLean’s Alden Theatre. Thecompany is known, as its gay co-dance captain Nile Russell told Metro Weekly afew years ago, “[for the] idea of weight-sharing.... Not so much lifting people, butpouring your weight into them to leave the ground.”Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. Alden Theatre at the McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., Mclean, Va. Tickets are $45 to $50. Call 703-790-0123 or visitwww.mcleancenter.org/alden-theatre.

COMEDY

OPHIRA EISENBERGHost of NPR’s second-most popular trivia comedy show Ask Me Another, thiscomedian and writer was previously selected as one of New York Magazine’s “Top10 Comics that Funny People Find Funny.” Matty Litwack opens for Eisenberg inthis free Millennium Stage performance also part of the new initiative Comedy atthe Kennedy Center. Sunday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.Tickets are free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

PORKCHOP VOLCANOThis live short form improv troupe specializes in rapid-fire laughs inspired byaudience suggestions and performs on special Saturday nights at its home base,

the Arlington Drafthouse. Saturday, April 18, at 9 p.m. Arlington Cinema N’Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets are free. Call 703-486-2345or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.

GALLERIES

BEYOND BOLLYWOOD: INDIAN AMERICANS SHAPE THE NATIONSmithsonian Asian Pacific American Center presents this ambitious and color-ful exhibition on the second floor of the National Museum of Natural History,exploring the heritage, daily experiences and diverse contributions of Indiansand Indian Americans. Through Aug. 16. National Museum of Natural History,10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit mnh.si.edu.



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IF THE SHOE FITSThe art and sole of the shoe is the focus of thismulti-artist exhibition at Strathmore, exploring thehistory and culture of footwear. In addition to aminiature shoe collection and pieces from Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase, the exhibition boasts designs by Marika Verploegh Chasse, Petros Chrisostomou,Suzanne Firstenberg, Joyce Zipperer and studentsat the Rhode Island School of Design. Through May31. The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 RockvillePike, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-5100 or visitstrathmore.org.

SPLENDOR & SURPRISE:ELEGANT CONTAINERS, ANTIQUE TO MODERNThe Hillwood Museum presents a special exhibitionfeaturing more than 80 remarkable boxes, coffers,chests and other containers that reveal the ways inwhich cultures have contained their most treasureditems and everyday objects over the past four centu-ries. Through June 7. Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12. Call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964:A LONG STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOMThe Library of Congress commemorates the 50thanniversary of the Civil Rights Act with a yearlongexhibition highlighting legal and legislative victories

and shedding light on the individuals who shapedthe civil rights movement. Through Sept. 12. TheLibrary of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building,10 First St. SE. Call 202-707-8000 or visit loc.gov/ exhibits.

THE VISIONARY EXPERIENCE:SAINT FRANCIS TO FINSTERBaltimore’s quirky Visionary Art Museum offersits 20th annual exhibition, this one championinglife’s grand “Eureka!” moments, held in common by Earth’s most dynamic and intuitive “evolution-aries,” from inventors, scientists, America’s found-ing fathers, dreamers and saints. The show wasco-curated by filmmaker and publisher Jodi Willeand AVAM founder and director Rebecca AlbanHoffberger. Th

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