Passover season is upon us, and like any good shiksa, I’ve unearthed my beloved Prince of Egypt VHS (featuring Whitney and Mariah’s heart-melting, Oscar-winning duet), gulped down a healthy portion of Manischewitz and lost a heated game of find-the-hidden-matzo at a very nontraditional early Seder. The Rock & Roll Hotel joins in the festivities this Thursday, April 5, with The Shondes, a Brooklyn-based indie punk powerhouse with strong roots in both the Jewish and queer communities. Riding high on the fall 2011 release of their third full album, Searchlights, The Shondes launched their current tour at SXSW and have been tearing up the southeast with the emotive vocals, thrash-worthy hooks and impish attitude that have made them modern darlings of a punk scene that’s itching for unapologetic chutzpah. Come party with WTGG and D.C.’s own Troll Tax and Fell Types this Thursday for a feisty live show that will energize you for the...
It should happen every day. In an ideal world it could, would, and you would love it. You stroll in and the music wraps around you. It’s the perfect amount of people (although-in reality-it won’t really matter), and oh what’s that? They are playing your song. That song that not only makes you remember why it’s your favorite, but conjures up the memory of every time you've ever listened to it. You look behind with a smile that can only be meant to tell the entire club that you're all about to run this place. Because after all: It’s Girls Night Out. It should start with an idea. Perhaps it’s a glance at your calendar or a text during the day that involves the words: “Damn girl, where you been?” (Ok. So in reality it would most likely not involve commas and instead probably have an exclamation point or…five.) Perhaps...
A quick guide to everything Queer/ Lesbian that I wish I had known when I first moved to the District. Part I of II She.Rex- the best dance party this side of the Mason-Dixie. DJs Coach Vee, Shelly Crush and Junebullet throw the closest thing to a Brooklyn/Mission dirty queer dance party every second Friday of the month at Chief Ikes. And this place is not a hipster-infested dive during the typical night; it is, in fact, an actual dive bar—complete with bartender sporting a non-ironic mullet. She.Rex brings you the best of dance rock, pop, hip-hop and electro. Not to mention 2 for $5 PBRS. Phase 1 opened its doors in 1970 and is—therefore—the oldest lesbian bar in the country. Phase has everything from a dance floor—music most frequently provided by DJ Staylo—as well as a pool table, drag shows and the DC Gurly Show. Not to mention it’s the...
New York-via-DC-via-San Francisco artist, Najva Sol, grew up in Rockville, MD as part of a Muslim/Iranian family. At 17 she picked up and moved to New York. “Since then I’ve traveled all over with my camera and my notebook, helping organize and contribute to artistic and activist groups wherever I am,” explains Sol. Sol was one of the 25 contributors to the book Love, InshAllah a ground breaking collection of work written by—and about—Muslim women. Released on Valentines Day 2012, the writers speak “openly for the first time about love, relationships, sexuality, gender, identity, homophobia, and racism,” according to the website. “I got involved in Love, InshAllah in a very organic way,” says Sol. “It literally fell into my lap when I was opening at the New York release party for the hilarious and brilliant play ‘The Domestic Crusaders’ by Wajahat Ali, about a Muslim family. Some Columbia Professor that...
When I think about the reason why I started running I am always faced with the hard/sad/inevitable reality that it all started with a girl. I know what you’re thinking, “Doesn’t it always?” Perhaps it was her spunky laugh and eye for fashion. Perhaps it was the way that I watched her deal with so many changes in her life and her complete ability to handle anything, especially with the help of the people closest to her, Rodger and Brad. I can’t be sure that I’ll ever know the exact reason, but I’m relieved at the opportunity to finally admit to both myself and the world the cold hard fact that: I started running for Rachel Zoe. It all happened one day at the gym when I happened to be working out with a friend (I use both the terms “working out” and “friend” loosely). I had finished my workout...
The sculpture garden skating rink is closed, the cherry blossoms are in bloom, my bike ride to work is becoming steadily sweatier—yep, it's springtime in D.C. Come out of hibernation for your Allegra prescription and head to Barracks Row on Wednesday, March 14, to welcome monthly Jell-O wrestling back to Phase 1 after its winter hiatus. Here's WTGG's cheat sheet for newbies and a memory-jogger for old-timers. All might be fair in love and war, but in Jell-O wrestling, etiquette counts. For the wrestlers: If you sport a sexy bra or bathing suit top in the ring, you're almost guaranteed a wardrobe malfunction. Those who prefer to keep their dignity (and their nipples) to themselves should opt for a sports bra or tank top. Or, bare it all. Wear sexy underwear (one WTGG staffer recommends black XS H&M boxer briefs or American Apparel neon orange briefs) and do a crunch or two...
Spring has sprung, groundhog be danged - oh merciful earth you rotate us just slightly closer to the sun and then there was joy! We begin to emerge from our neighborhood bars, squinting, seeking out rooftops from which we can enjoy bleary brunches and plot how to best spend the next six months of blissful light and long days. As you shake out your muscles toned from incessant shivering perhaps you long to stretch those limber limbs. Perhaps rugby isn't your sport and soccer requires foot-eye skills you just haven't cultivated. Maybe you want to try something new...I'mma cut the two paragraph lead-up short and just say it: how's abouts you gives ultimate frisbee a try? How about you play it with fellow queermos - Ultimate Out. Ultimate Out member Cara R wants to see you there. She's pretty sure that if you have a modicum of physical fitness then...
f you’re a dollar store fanatic like me (and why wouldn’t you be? where else can you find knockoff Drano, a Rick Springfield CD and Cadbury Creme Eggs in the same aisle?!), you’re familiar with the concept of the grab bag. They’re the crumpled brown paper bags, stapled at the top and bulging with mystery, that sit next to the cash register and tempt curious customers to shell out an extra buck for the thrill of gambling on what could be inside. What did I just buy? Who knows! A doo-rag? Hand sanitizer? A plastic Santa that poops out gumballs? It doesn’t matter, really. The excitement is in the surprise. This brings me to Velvet Lounge, the D.C. bar circuit’s answer to the dollar store grab bag. I never know what I’m going to find there, but it always looks off-brand, kicked-around, and cheap. And I mean that as a...
Homoground—the podcast website that has been highlighting and promoting queer and allied musicians since January 2011—has a new project in the works and they need your help! Homoground is in the process of creating the first ever Feminist Playing Cards, a collaboration of 14 feminist identified artists that “are illustrating a deck of cards that’ll feature different feminist musicians on the face of each card,” explains Lynn Casper, Homoground producer and the leader of the playing card project. While Homoground is predominately a queer site the artists behind the cards are not necessarily queer identified. “They’re feminist artists making cards of feminist musicians,” says Casper. “Many of these artists are heavily involved in their DIY communities and have contributed immensely to the feminist movement through various outlets including music, zines, and—of course—their artwork.” “The idea came about when I was thinking about a unique project Homoground could do to raise...
People always say "good things come in small packages," and if WTGG's Honey I Shrunk The Queers party was considered a "small" package, I'd say people are right. The ladies—and some fabulous boys—of the District came out to The Fab Lounge on Friday, Feb. 24, to play with inflatables, dance to the best hits of the 80s and relive one of the most amazing movies of our youth: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Nothing says 80s like neon. WTGG warms up the dance floor. Imagine "If You Leave" playing in the photograph. It's ok if you want to take a Pretty in Pink moment here. ...She shoulda chose Duckie... Ok, NOW you're dancing. BREAK FOR A CRAYON FIGHT! Her HRC DJ Battle winner...
