District Fray Magazine | June // July 2022

T H E P R I D E G U I D E : 5 0 WAYS TO C E L E B R AT E T H E Q U E E R C O M M U N I T Y I N D . C .

80+ SUMMER EVENTS

A LIFESTYLE + ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE • JUNE // JULY 2022

D.C. H O S P I TA L I T Y R E I M AG I N E D 5 Changemakers in the Dining Scene R AC H P I K E + J O M C DA N I E L MARCELLE AFRAM E R I K B R U N E R -YA N G C H R I ST I A N I R A B I É N

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CHICKEN, FRIES + ADVOCACY: MARCELLE AFRAM

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COME AS YOU ARE: JO MCDANIEL + RACH PIKE

52 THE PRIDE GUIDE

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP. Marcelle Afram, Jo McDaniel + Erik Bruner-Yang. Photos by Andrew J. Williams III.

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FROM H STREET TO UKRAINE: ERIK BRUNER-YANG

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RADAR

6 Calendar

EAT

24 Best Bites in the Burbs

Managing Editor brandon@unitedfray.com

14 D.C. Changemakers 26 Taste the Season 28 Foraging for Shrooms 34 Food for Thought

BORDERLESS CUISINE: CHRISTIAN IRABIÉN

DRINK

36 A Day with Cassie Womack 40 Rosé Shopping 42 22 Queer Bars

MUSIC

46 Ezra Furman 48 Juneteenth 51 “Drumfolk”

CULTURE

70 “To Kill a Mockingbird” 72 An Indivisible Art Collective 74 Cue the Lights

LIFE

76 Father’s Day Gifts

84 QUEER ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: JAKE WESLEY ROGERS

MONICA ALFORD

Editor-in-Chief + Director of Media monica@unitedfray.com

32 Korean Food

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ROBERT KINSLER

Publisher robert@unitedfray.com

PLAY

78 Beginner’s Guide 80 Grown-Up Things

BRANDON WETHERBEE

NICOLE SCHALLER

Assistant Editor nicole@unitedfray.com

JAMIE MCCRARY

Senior Editor jamie@unitedfray.com

MICHAEL CLEMENTS

Editorial Consultant michael@unitedfray.com

JULIA GOLDBERG

Editorial Designer julia@unitedfray.com

CLAIRE SMALLEY

Production Designer claire@unitedfray.com

TOM ROTH

Key Account Manager tomroth@unitedfray.com

ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

Media Partnerships Lead andrew@unitedfray.com

MARTIN ESPINOZA

Senior Director of Events martin@unitedfray.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caroline Cliona Boyle, Emerson Dameron, Trent Johnson, Colleen Kennedy, Priya Konings, Nevin Martell, Joe Marshall, Lolo Mcgrath, Myles Mellor, Lanna Nguyen, Bree Rodrigues-Oliveira, Amanda Weisbrod, Andrew J. Williams III CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS + PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brandon Chen, E$, Priya Konings, Nevin Martell, Scott Suchman, Andrew J. Williams III CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

81 Batting Cages

Abi Newhouse

FUN

Jennifer Chase

82 Crossword 87 Illustration

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE COVER

Marcelle Afram, Erik Bruner-Yang, Christian Irabién, Jo McDaniel, Rach Pike COVER LOCATION

Jennifer Chase’s home in Northwest D.C.

DISTRICT FRAY |

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BEHIND THE SCENES. In early May, five standouts of the District’s flourishing culinary scene gathered at the Northwest D.C. home of prominent local photographer Jennifer Chase. The group — Erik Bruner-Yang, Christian Irabién, Jo McDaniel, Rach Pike and Marcelle Afram — were getting their star turn as the cover subjects of our June 2022 issue, celebrating the region’s dining community and Pride month. Photos by Andrew J. Williams III.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR D.C. HOSPITALITY REIMAGINED. There’s no question our food scene continues to grow by leaps and bounds,

with more and more award-winning spots receiving the national recognition they deserve and local chefs and restaurateurs becoming industry leaders. For this year’s Dining Issue, we decided to shed light on the locals who are making change either by creating safe spaces or supporting communities beyond D.C. — or both. Marcelle Afram, the talented mind behind Shababi Diner, is advocating for the Middle Eastern trans community while Rach Pike and Jo McDaniel are promoting inclusivity for the entire LGBTQ+ community at new bar and café As You Are DC. Erik Bruner-Yang recently volunteered with World Central Kitchen, serving food to Ukrainian refugees, and Christian Irabién is helping immigrant restaurant workers advance their careers through his initiative Hospitality Humans. We gathered this group on the porch of photographer Jennifer Chase’s stunning home in Northwest D.C. for a shoot one morning in early May, and it felt like being with family — cracking jokes, complimenting one another’s efforts and treating each other with the utmost respect for what everyone is doing to support our city. Our writers shared each of their stories, picking their brains about what makes them changemakers and what impact they are striving to make within the District.

Nevin Martell gave us a list of mouthwatering dishes worth venturing to the burbs for and explored the world of foraging, and Priya Konings wrote about a plethora of veggie-forward options. We are also very excited to celebrate Pride in our June issue. We interviewed 20+ locals in the LGBTQ+ community about what Pride means to them, their identity-affirming songs and how allies can support year-round. We also rounded up 22 LGBTQ+ bars around the city, and 30 Pride events to celebrate this month. I interviewed Ezra Furman about her upcoming album, trans activism and motherhood; Jake Wesley Rogers about being the next big queer rock ‘n’ roller; and Melanie Moore about playing Scout in the national tour of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Our assistant editor Nicole Schaller interviewed rapper and actress Jade Jones and our managing editor Brandon Behind the scenes at the June cover shoot. Jennifer Chase + Monica Alford. Photo by Andrew J. Williams III.

Wetherbee spent an afternoon with Estadio’s GM Jennifer Lucy shopping for rosé. We also interviewed the cofounders of An Indivisible Art Collective, caught a glimpse of a day in the life with Bidwell bar manager Cassie Womack, delved into the LGBTQ+ wrestling community, wrote a manifesto on why batting cages should exist in every ward, gave tips for shopping local for Father’s Day, and highlighted June programming at Arena Stage and Wolf Trap. Please pick up a copy at one of 22 local Whole Foods or at one of our new retail partner locations, including Steadfast Supply, Byrdland Records, PLNTR and Groom Guy inside Yours Truly Hotel. Go to districtfray.com for more details. Thank you for supporting local journalism!

MONICA ALFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RADAR | CALENDAR COMPILED BY CAROLINE CLIONA BOYLE + BREE RODRIGUES-OLIVEIRA

With the snow of winter long gone and the rains of spring finally on their way out, District Fray wants to welcome a fun and lasting summer with an events radar that caters to all tastes in the DMV. Featuring a variety of over-the-top stadium concerts, action-packed soccer matches and the beginning of Fray summer leagues, take advantage of the coming sunny days and get exploring. Consider taking a nice stroll to these events while you’re at it.

ONGOING

DC FRAY + AS YOU ARE FREE BINGO SERIES: FEELING LUCKY?

Get out of the house and jump back into fun with DC Fray and As You Are DC for a free, in-person LGBTQ+ happy hour bingo night running until the end of the year. Fray will provide the game night host, bingo materials including daubers and awesome prizes. Free. 7 p.m. As You Are DC: 500 8th St. SE, DC; asyouaredc.com // @asyouaredc

“DRUMFOLK” AT ARENA STAGE Electrifying, percussive dance fused with contemporary art forms fuel Step Afrika!’s latest production “Drumfolk,” inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739 in South Carolina. As a result of the rebellion, state laws mandated enslaved Africans could not assemble or use their drums which were used to signal the uprising. They took away the drums, but they could not stop the beat. $41+.

Various times. Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage: 1101 6th St. SW, DC; arenastage.org // @arenastage

GET FIT AT FESSENDEN PARK Nothing beats a good workout but having that workout in the sunshine of Fessenden Park. Join instructors from Tenleytown Fitness studios like Sport & Health and Well & Wonder for early morning fitness classes every Saturday that are bound to get your heart pumping. $15. 9 a.m. Fessenden Park: Wisconsin Ave. + Fessenden St. NW, DC; tenleytownmainstreet.org // @tenleytownms NOTE. All descriptions courtesy of event hosts and edited for clarity.

Ron Funches. Photo courtesy of DC Improv.

CALENDAR | RADAR SUMMERFEST CORNHOLE AT TYSONS CORNER DC Fray and Tysons Corner Center welcome you to experience an evening of fun with friends and family while competing in a game of doubles cornhole. They’ll provide the host, boards and bags for tossing, so all you have to bring is yourself. The tournament is open to all ages and skill levels, and there will be awesome prizes for winners courtesy of Tysons Corner Center.

Free. 6 p.m. Tysons Corner Center Plaza: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd. Tysons, VA; tysonscornercenter.com // @shoptysons

SUMMERFEST: HAPPY HOUR BINGO AT TYSONS CORNER CENTER DC Fray and Tysons Corner Center welcome you to a bingo series full of good luck and fun throughout the summer from May to August. DC Fray will provide the host and bingo materials (including daubers), and for the winners, awesome prizes courtesy of Tysons Corner Center. Your ticket guarantees you six to eight rounds of bingo with a prize each round. Free. 6 p.m. Tysons Corner Center Plaza: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd. Tysons, VA; tysonscornercenter.com // @shoptysons

6.1-6.7

CAPITAL CUP 2022 AT AUDI FIELD

The Capital Cup soccer tournament is back in the District, and reigning champs D.C. United are going to need a huge crowd cheering them on as they tack on more victories. With games against C.D. Águila and Club Xelajú, see a D.C. sports team prove themselves on an international scale and keep a hold on their rank as champions. $19+. 7:30 p.m. Audi Field: 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; dcunited.com // @dcunited

6.2

BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KENT AT BLACK CAT

Get yourself to one of the summer’s most anticipated punk charity events. Being for The Benefit of Mr. Kent is Black Cat’s salute to the recovering Kent Stax, a D.C. personality and drummer for local legends Scream. Featuring appearances from punk vets like Ian MacKaye and Nate Bergman, this show is a punk rock meet-up of legendary proportions that seeks to help out a great friend in need. $25. 7 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

DIANE THIEL AND CARL MARCUM VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALK It’s always a treat to have authors discuss their works. But at Lost City Books, the deal gets even sweeter when you have two critically acclaimed writers at the same event. Diane Thiel and Carl Marcum are both poets with astounding collections that can be purchased through Lost City Books online or inperson. Reserve your spot online and listen to these talented wordsmiths discuss the craft of writing. Free. 7 p.m. Virtual. lostcitybookstore.com // @lostcitybooks

6.2-6.4

HANNAH EINBINDER AT DC IMPROV

HBO Max is known as a great purveyor of hit shows. But when it comes to what makes hilarious comedy-drama “Hacks” thrive, all thanks go to Hannah Einbinder. A new face in primetime television, Einbinder is a comedic renegade who’s been praised by the likes of “The Late Show with Stephen

RADAR | CALENDAR Colbert,” NPR and the Just for Laughs festival. Don’t miss out on a comedian who’s taking the world of humor by storm. $25-$37. Various times. DC Improv: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; dcimprov.com // @dcimprov

6.3-6.15

SPANISH CINEMA NOW AT AFI SILVER THEATRE

AFI Silver Theatre and the Embassy of Spain are working armin-arm to host an event that captures the versatile legacy of Spanish cinema. Spanish Cinema Now unites the many sides of Spanish film and showcases current releases, adding to Spain’s touted place in the arts. From a Q+A with “Carpoolers” director Martin Cuervo to a screening of the highly-anticipated horror blockbuster “The Grandmother,” this film series highlights a beautiful cultural take on film. $8-$13. AFI Silver Theatre: 8633 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; afisilver.afi.com // @afisilvertheatre

6.4

POLITICS & PROSE: JORDAN CALHOUN’S “PICCOLO IS BLACK” Politics & Prose repeatedly plays host to renowned creatives. And this time, they’ve outdone themselves with an appearance by writer Jordan Calhoun. Touching upon his new memoir “Piccolo is Black,” Calhoun shines a light on being a self-described Black nerd, a person raised in the Seventh-day Adventist faith and a first-hand witness to the cultural hegemony of white private schools. Catch this fantastic writer at one of the District’s most prominent bookstores. Free. 3 p.m. Politics & Prose: 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; politics-prose.com // @politicsprose

6.4 + 6.5

CAPITAL JAZZ FEST AT MERRIWEATHER

Sway with the rest of the DMV at the area’s greatest testament to soulful sounds. Capital Jazz Fest is the District’s starstudded tribute to the American legacy of jazz. Featuring iconic musicians like Faith Evans and Common, this Merriweather Pavilion event is the ultimate tribute to an artform that has defined generations upon generations. $115.75-$230. 12 p.m.

Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.

Columbia, MD; merriweathermusic.com // @merriweatherpp

6.5

IRA GLASS AT KENNEDY CENTER

The United States is home to many amazing walks of life. And no one appreciates the American life more than NPR’s Ira Glass.

Widely known as the host of the popular radio show “This American Life,” catch Glass at the Kennedy Center as he discusses his many years with NPR and the countless stories he’s had the pleasure of telling. $20-$59. 7 p.m. Concert Hall at The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter

6.6

SIGUR RÓS AT THE ANTHEM

Critically-acclaimed bands come and go, but when it comes to Iceland’s Sigur Ros, the acclaim has stayed strong even after 8

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28 years. Traveling the world for a tour of grand proportions, Sigur Ros is hitting The Anthem for a night of terrific music and an out-of-this-world District crowd. And what’s stopping you from being a part of it? $60-$150. 8 p.m. The Anthem: 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc

6.8

HALSEY AT MERRIWEATHER

She’s strung out on love. Now she demands power. Since the Tumblr days of 2013, Halsey has stood out as a musician who’s taken dark feelings and turned them into beautiful electropop.

But now, with help from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails on “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power,” Halsey has taken darkness to a whole new level. Witness when worlds collide at Merriweather Pavilion. $29.50+. 7 p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; merriweathermusic.com // @merriweatherpp

6.9

HELMET AT BLACK CAT

Grimy, angry and completely unapologetic. Since 1992, Helmet has been the East Coast bare-knuckle band that pushes ’90s alternative to new, bitter heights. In NYC, there is no Puget Sound to lounge by — but there is a screaming subway to accompany Helmet’s music. See firsthand the aggression of Helmet at Black Cat. $20-$25. 7 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

TOMBERLIN AT SONGBYRD A somber and poetic voice in the world of folk, Louisville-based Tomberlin made a place for herself in every indie playlist, and is now touring in support of her latest album “i don’t know who needs to hear this…” Hoping this album will “examine space” and “make an altar for feelings,” Tomberlin presents a live experiment in this highly-anticipated tour at D.C.’s Songbyrd. $18-$20. 7 p.m. Songbyrd Music House: ​​540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

6.9-6.11

RON FUNCHES AT DC IMPROV

“I don’t need no new friends!” Arguably the most hilarious ball of sweetness turned ticking time bomb, Ron Funches is a goofy, wrestling-obsessed joker who’s been killing the standup game since the 2000s. Displaying an arsenal of jokes that touch on topics like fatherhood or niche video game references, see what Funches has to say when he crashes for a couple nights at DC Improv. $30-$140. Various times. DC Improv: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; dcimprov.com // @dcimprov

6.10

JUSTIN BIEBER AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

I don’t know about me. I don’t know about you. But I know nobody is better fit to fill the Capital One Arena than Justin “Believer” Bieber himself. A career-forward dynamo that started from YouTube virality and now reigns as pop music’s infallible prince, catch JB as he adds another chapter to the

CALENDAR | RADAR storybook of YouTube’s most defined pop sensation. $240+.

7:30 p.m. Capital One Arena: 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

get to Black Cat on June 11 and see one of the District’s very own rise to the top of the ska revolution. $20-$25. 8 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

6.10 + 6.11

6.12

ANNIE STOKES AT SONGBYRD

Annie Stokes is D.C.’s answer to the dark Americana fad sweeping Gen Z. Pulling influence from showtunes and classics of her youth, Annie Stokes wants to take you back to a simpler time and reveal the pitfalls of that simplicity. It’s Norman Rockwell meets Jack Kerouac meets cultural criticism, all taking place at Songbyrd. $10-$12. 7 p.m. Songbyrd Music House: 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

6.11

ALDOUS HARDING AT MIRACLE THEATRE

Like all art, music starts as a blank canvas. But hand a brush to Aldous Harding and blank becomes a distant memory when the amazing colors that make up Harding’s music take over. A 4AD label mainstay and experimental dynamo in indie folk, Harding plans to hit 8th Street’s Miracle Theatre and showcase the vibrancy of her music. $30. 8 p.m. Miracle Theatre: 535 8th St. SE, DC; themiracletheatre.com // @themiracledc

KILL LINCOLN AT BLACK CAT Fourth wave ska? A continuation of third wave? No matter what you call it, Kill Lincoln is the D.C. ska band that reignited the genre’s popularity in an East Coast frame of mind. With lyrics that rival the epic poeticism of Streetlight to instrumentation that touches on the “ska-core” of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones,

BILL MACKAY & NATHAN BOWLES / TALSOUNDS AT RHIZOME

Virtuosic and created with care, “Keys” is the joint venture of musicians Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles. Accompanied by the soothing synth atmosphere of TALsounds, watch as DIY supporters Rhizome play host to these amazing instrumentalists at a showcase that highlights talent worth getting excited about. $10-$15. 7 p.m. Rhizome DC: 6950 Maple St. NW, DC; rhizomedc.org // @rhizome_dc

PAUL MCCARTNEY AT CAMDEN YARDS What else can be said about the man who’s made myths into legends? Paul McCartney is a former member of The Beatles, in the midst of a 60+ year career and still tacking on even more iconic shows to his already massive reputation. Take a trip up Baltimore way and watch this loving legend steal hearts at Camden Yards. He’s a Beatle. It’s 2022. See him now. $399+. 8 p.m. Camden Yards: 333 W Camden St. Baltimore, MD; mlb.com/orioles

6.14

DC FRAY SUMMER 2022 LEAGUES: LAST DAY OF REGISTRATION

DC Fray Summer leagues are on the way, and we hope you will join in on the fun. Make sure you sign up before the deadline so

RADAR | CALENDAR you can find a league that welcomes you with kind words and open arms. dcfray.com/leagues // @dcfray

MANDY MOORE AT 9:30 CLUB Eventually, teen pop stars grow out of their teens. And no one has pulled off adulthood better than sweet-as-candy Mandy Moore. A movie star, songstress and charming individual all in one, witness Mandy Moore as she stuns the 9:30 crowd with an arsenal of new music — and maybe a few classics too. $50.

7 p.m. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

TOVE LO AT FILLMORE SILVER SPRING From “Habits” to “Disco Tits” to amazing songs galore, Tove Lo is the Swedish pop rebel whose dark and grungy vibes took music to new heights. She practices a sardonic cynicism but does so with a pristine mystique. She’s unapologetic. And that no cares, no insecurity bravado will go a long way when Lo packs The Fillmore in Silver Spring. $38.50+. 8 p.m.

The Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; silverspringdowntown.com // @fillmoresilverspring

6.15

SUPERCHUNK AT BLACK CAT

DIY and well-versed in their craft, Superchunk is the Chapel Hill indie band that created the blueprint for being punk rock outside of the major coastal cities. Making no concessions in their art and striving to be original in all rites, Superchunk comes to the Black Cat stage on the 15th and plans to make a lasting impact on the D.C. crowd. $25-$30. 7:30 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

6.16

ADA CALHOUN: “ALSO A POET”

What mends a disgruntled relationship better than beat poet Frank O’Hara? Ada Calhoun’s memoir chronicles her relationship with her father and their shared love of a mystifying writer, and seeks to build bridges with a shaky yet determined optimism. At this in-person event at Solid State Books, readers can get a closer look at how someone can live in the now while remembering a poet she never met. Free. 7 p.m. Solid State Books: 600 H St. NE, DC; solidstatebooksdc.com // @solidstatedc

6.16 + 6.17

SHERYL CROW + JASON ISBELL + WAXAHATCHEE AT WOLF TRAP

Take a stroll down the winding road with pop sensation Sheryl Crow. Having graced the ’90s with a string of tender-hearted hits, enjoy Crow at Virginia’s Wolf Trap with guests Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and indie sensation Waxahatchee. $49+. 7 p.m.

Wolf Trap: 1635 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; wolftrap.org // @wolf_trap

6.17

DRUNK BLACK HISTORY

Comedians Brandon Collins and Gordon Baker-Bone hit the road for a pre-Juneteenth celebration in D.C. This is an interactive show where prominent Black historical figures will 10 | JUNE // JULY 2022

finally get their dues through drunken anecdotes from booked guests. $6.19-$25. 10 p.m. DC Arts Center: 2438 18th St. NW, DC; dcartscenter.org // @dcartscenter

MORTIFIED AT BLACK CAT The popular Mortified DC, produced by Alex Hewett and Adam Ruben, stars everyday adults sharing their most embarrassingly real teenage diary entries, poems, love letters, lyrics and locker notes in front of strangers. Hailed as a cultural phenomenon

by Newsweek, this is a comic excavation of the strange and extraordinary things we created as teens. $20. 8 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

6.17 + 6.18

“THE DAILY SHOW” WRITERS STAND UP TOUR AT ARLINGTON DRAFTHOUSE “The Daily Show” writers’ stand-up show features the comics behind the jokes that make you laugh every night on Comedy Central’s premiere late-night show. These comedians tour the country performing their own material that you won’t see on “The Daily Show.” From making fun of their failed dating lives, being a cat owner or talking Trump, this show has something for everyone. $25-$30. 7 p.m + 9:30 p.m. Arlington Drafthouse: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA; arlingtondrafthouse.com // @arlington_drafthouse

6.17-6.19

SOMETHING IN THE WATER FESTIVAL

Musical jack of all trades Pharrell Williams has announced his Something in the Water festival will return this summer.

Produced by Redrock Entertainment and Live Nation, this festival kicks off right here in the District and commemorates Juneteenth weekend. Headliners include Pharrell & Phriends, Calvin Harris, Lil Uzi Vert and dozens more. $350+. 12 p.m.

Independence Avenue: somethinginthewater.com // @somethinginthewater

6.19

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL AT UNION STAGE

Patty B presents the Juneteenth Freedom Day Music Festival, emceed by Nori Nori and DJ Akademiks, featuring artists Nia Dinero, RUEPRATT and Ellie Imani. A portion of the proceeds from this event will support All About Caring Project Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping high school students transition to college with the help of scholarships and care packages. $35-$150. 7 p.m. Union Stage: 740 Water St. SW; unionstage.com // @unionstage

THEE PHANTOM AND THE ILLHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AT WOLF TRAP Part B-Boy, part Beethoven, Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra combines the energy and passion of hip-hop, with the beautiful, sweeping sounds of a live orchestra. This allAfrican American orchestra commemorates Juneteenth with a performance at Wolf Trap. $27+. 6 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; wolftrap.org // @wolf_trap

CALENDAR | RADAR

6.20

6.22

Born to a Dominican mother and Mexican father in New Jersey, 21-year-old Ambar Lucid grew up just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of New York City in the quiet suburbia of Little Ferry where she spent her youth daydreaming of a brighter future. The singer combines folk-tinged, bilingual indie-pop and R&B tracks to tackle the hopelessness and sadness teens often face in today’s complex world. $18-$20.

7 p.m. Songbyrd Music House: ​​540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

Frenchie Davis, singer-songwriter, actress and social activist, is originally from Los Angeles, California. Her theatrical credits include the Broadway cast of “Rent,” two tours of “Dreamgirls” and the national tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” for which she was nominated for a Grammy. Accompanying Davis is The Experience Band & Show, a feel-good funk, pop, R&B, jazz, go-go and sometimes rock-infused band. Free. 7 p.m. Songbyrd Music House: ​​540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

AMBAR LUCID AT SONGBYRD

6.21

“BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER” AT LANDMARK’S E STREET CINEMA This colorful comedy of sexual discovery chronicles the life of Megan, a typical teenager coming of age in anything but typical fashion. Megan’s super normal suburban existence is filled with friends, pom-poms and rah-rah enthusiasm. But her straight-laced parents suspect that their “little poodle” may, in fact, be showing deviant tendencies. $7. 1:30 p.m + 7:30 p.m. Landmark’s E Street Cinema: 555 11th St. NW, DC; landmarktheatres.com // @estreetcinema The Linda Lindas. Photo by Zen Sekizawa.

FRENCHIE DAVIS AND THE EXPERIENCE BAND & SHOW AT SONGBYRD

6.24

HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT 35TH ANNIVERSARY FT. JUDAS PRIESTESS AT SONGBYRD

Raise a beer (or two) and celebrate the 35th anniversary of the cult film phenomenon “Heavy Metal Parking Lot.” The evening will feature a screening of the documentary, followed by a discussion with the film’s creators, Jeff Krulik and John Heyn. The excitement continues with a performance by Judas Priestess, the world’s only all-female tribute to Judas Priest. $15-$25. 7 p.m. Songbyrd Music House: ​​540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc DISTRICT FRAY | 11

RADAR | CALENDAR

6.25 NICK KROLL AT WARNER THEATRE Nick Kroll has established himself as one of today’s most sought-after creators, writers, producers and actors in both film and television. Dubbed “the Picasso of Puberty” by The New York Times, Nick co-created, writes, produces and performs more than 30 voices on the Emmy-nominated Netflix animated series “Big Mouth,” which has been heralded by Vanity Fair as one of TV’s most honest depictions of growing up. 7 p.m. $25. Warner Theatre: 513 13th St. NW, DC; warnertheatredc.com // @warnertheatre

6.27

THE GODDAMN COMEDY JAM // DC IMPROV 30TH ANNIVERSARY

The DC Improv Comedy Club celebrates its 30th anniversary with a comedy and music party too big for its own stage. Every comedian wants to be a rock star — so the Goddamn Comedy Jam features standups doing a set, then performing their favorite song accompanied by a live band. The Jam regularly sells out venues on both coasts and has become a favorite event at comedy festivals. $40-$65. 8 p.m. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

7.1

NATIONALS VS. MARLINS

Nothing beats a ballgame on Fourth of July weekend. And who better to root for than America’s team, The Washington Nationals. Kick off your Independence Day festivities with a Friday night game and hopefully a Nats win. $18+. 6:05 p.m.

Nationals Park: 1500 S Capitol St. SE, DC; mlb.com/nationals // @nationals

7.2

BEX AT DC9

BEX is the dream-pop brain baby of Bex Vines from North Carolina, with live members Mary Steinbrecher on bass, Lila Richardson on drums and Lauren Hewer on lead. Written with inspiration from dreams and stream-of-consciousness prose, Bex’s performances transport and enchant audiences while giving space to provide a highenergy environment. $15. 7:30 p.m. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; dc9.club // @dc9club

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7.4

THE EARTH, WIND & FIRE TRIBUTE BAND AT CITY WINERY

Share the spice of life with a wonderful Independence Day concert at the District’s City Winery. Playing the disco-soul hits charted by our favorite elements of nature, the Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band plans to make the Fourth of July feel like the 21st night of September. $24-$35. 7:30 p.m. City Winery: 1350 Okie St. NE, DC; citywinery.com/washingtondc // @citywinerydc

FOURTH IN FREDERICKSBURG ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW See the outstanding art and goods the DMV has to offer. This Independence Day arts festival is your chance to celebrate local creatives and the terrific work they put out into our community. Celebrate our nation’s independence by supporting the artists who help make it beautiful. $85-$185. 10 a.m. Downtown Fredericksburg: Sophia St. Fredericksburg, VA; fredericksburgartsandcraftsshows.com

NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE Kick off 4th of July festivities at a parade in our nation’s capital. Families can watch marching bands, floats, military units, giant balloons and more to celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic, red, white and blue celebration of America’s birthday. Free. 11:45 a.m. National Mall: Constitution Ave NW + 7th St NW to 17th St NW, DC; july4thparade.com

CALENDAR | RADAR RED, WHITE & BREW AT THE USASOA ROOFTOP Join the board of directors, staff, and volunteers of United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA) on the rooftop patio of their Capitol Hill office building as they celebrate the birth and independence of our great nation. Featuring a rooftop patio with an amazing, unobstructed view of the Capitol Building dome, the Washington Monument and the fireworks display, avoid the crowds on the mall and the long lines. Free.

7 p.m. United Soldiers and Sailors of America: 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; usasoa.org // @usasoa

7.8 + 7.9

“PINK FLAMINGOS” AT LANDMARK’S E STREET CINEMA This camp-freak-trash-cult sensation from writer/director John Waters is shocking, funny and gleefully depraved. Two unwholesome families — wanted criminal Divine and her egg-obsessed, mentally ill mother and murderous kidnappers Connie and Raymond Marble — battle to the death for the title of “The Filthiest People Alive” in an all-out assault on good taste. $10.50-$12. 11:59 p.m. Landmark’s E Street Cinema: 555 11th St. NW, DC; landmarktheatres.com // @estreetcinema

7.9

THE CHICKS AT JIFFY LUBE LIVE

“How them black-eyed peas taste, Earl?” Playing heartfelt music and living beyond icon status, The Chicks are a band that needs no introduction, but deserves all the praise. Roll through and listen to the country-pop trio that’s always been on the cutting edge. $40+. 7:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live: 7800 Cellar Door Dr. Bristow, VA; bristowamphitheater.com // @jiffylubelive

7.11 + 7.12

BIKINI KILL AT THE FILLMORE

They’re the band that put punk femininity on the map, and they didn’t care what anyone had to say about it. Join these riot grrl titans as they take on The Fillmore and reignite a rebellious punk spirit here in the DMV. $41+. 7 p.m. The Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; silverspringdowntown.com // @fillmoresilverspring

7.13

RANDY FELTFACE AT THE COMEDY LOFT

International sensation Randy Feltface’s live show is a highenergy existential crisis, full of biting observations, razor sharp crowd work and rapid arm movements. Since beginning his comedy career in Melbourne, Feltface has performed eight solo stand-up comedy shows, released three comedy specials, played sold-out seasons in London and New York and been nominated for Best Comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. $25. 7.30 p.m.

The Comedy Loft of DC: 1523 22nd St. NW, DC; dccomedyloft.com // @dccomedyloft

7.14

BAD MEDICINE SKETCH SHOW AT DC IMPROV

Back and better than ever, the Bad Medicine Show is a highenergy sketch comedy bent toward the dark, absurd reality of life. Each show brings you new hilarious characters, videos, music and of course, sketches about situations you hope you’ll never be in. Deep down, Bad Medicine is simply a group of friends trying hard to forget the political town they live in. $17.

7:30 p.m. DC Improv Comedy Club: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; dcimprov.com // @dcimprov

7.16

JOE PERA AT 9:30 CLUB

He’s not boring. He’s an absurdist. Joe Pera is a comedian extraordinaire hailing from the streets of Buffalo. Best known for his current Adult Swim series “Joe Pera Talks with You,” Joe’s grandfatherly approach to standup has followed him from “Conan” to “Late Night with Seth Meyers” to Comedy Central with phenomenal audience reception. $35. 6 p.m. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

7.17

HOP ALONG AT BLACK CAT

Hop Along is a band from Philadelphia made up of Frances Quinlan, Tyler Long, Joe Reinhart and Mark Quinlan. The band’s most recent album “Bark Your Head Off, Dog,” was released in 2018 to critical and commercial acclaim. The highlylauded, record- addressed disappointment, particularly in man’s misuse of power and relates accounts from the periphery — one’s attempts to retreat from the lengthening shadows of tyrants, both historical and every day. $22-$25. 7:30 p.m.

Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

7.18

FUCKED UP: DAVID COMES TO LIFE TOUR AT UNION STAGE

Fucked Up is a psych-rock-groove band whose drums are mixed wide with a propensity for drones, delay pedals and repetition.

Elements of doo-wop, krautrock, groove, digital hardcore are central to Fucked Up’s unique sound. $20-$40. 7:30 p.m.

Union Stage: 740 Water St. SW, DC; unionstage.com // @unionstage

7.20

FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN AT D.C. UNITED

Sure to be a match-up for the ages, FC Bayern München are traveling all the way from Bavaria to play local favorites D.C. United at Navy Yard’s Audi Field. $75+. 7:30 p.m. Audi Field: 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; dcunited.com // @dcunited

THE LINDA LINDAS AT BLACK CAT Half Asian and half Latinx. Two sisters, a cousin and their close friend. The Linda Lindas channel the spirit of original punk, power-pop and new wave through today’s ears, eyes and minds. $18-$20. 7:30 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc DISTRICT FRAY | 13

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The subjects of this month’s cover are not only spearheading successful brick-and-mortars and pop-ups — they’re giving back to our community. From creating neighborhood hubs to supporting those in need, these industry leaders are reimagining hospitality as we know it. Take chef Erik Bruner-Yang, who dropped everything to volunteer with World Central Kitchen serving food to Ukrainian refugees. Or Marcelle Afram, who’s hard at work opening

CHANGEMAKERS O F D.C . D I N I N G L TO R. Erik Bruner-Yang, Rach Pike, Jo McDaniel, Christian Irabién + Marcelle Afram. Photo by Jennifer Chase.

Palestinian spot Shababi Diner while advocating for the Middle Eastern trans community. Rach Pike and Jo McDaniel, co-founders of As You Are DC, are fostering a safe and inclusive space for the queer community, and Christian Irabién is leading Hospitality Humans, an initiative helping immigrant workers advance their restaurant industry careers. Read on for these five changemakers’ stories — and ways you can support their mission to give back.

CHICKEN, FRIES + A DVO C AC Y WORDS BY AMANDA WEISBROD | PHOTO BY JENNIFER CHASE

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Marcelle Afram, chef and owner of Shababi, shares their advocacy journey — from musakhan to Palestinian and LGBTQ+ rights.

Marcelle Afram’s mission at soon-to-re-open Shababi Diner is to foster a safe space for D.C.’s queer Middle Eastern community while serving up traditional Palestinian fare. The spot’s name is slang for “my people” in Arabic, representing the kind of welcoming space Afram hopes to procure.

Afram’s initial idea for Shababi popped into their head in October 2020, only a few months after they publicly came out as transgender. But back then, it was still only a fledgling concept rooted in the Palestinian recipe for rotisserie chicken known as musakhan, a dish Afram’s paternal grandfather often told stories about.

Musakhan, often considered Palestine’s national dish, features roasted chicken traditionally baked with onions and seasoned with sumac, allspice and saffron. The chicken is served over taboon bread (similar to flatbread) and topped with fried pine nuts. Afram’s version is slightly different as it is served in the rotisserie chicken style with a side of American french fries — but still inspired by the Palestinian dish.

“As far as my heritage was concerned, I am closest to my Palestinian roots,” Afram says. “Throughout the pandemic, I had this idea of ‘How do I bring voice to that?’”

Finding Their Voice Afram continues, “For a lot of my career, I feel I’ve been tokenized for my heritage, but nobody seemed focused on [my] Palestinian roots. I felt something was lacking, especially in [my] drive toward finding my voice in the most authentic and honest way possible.”

Afram left their position as chef at restaurants Maydan and Compass Rose in December 2020 to open their chicken and fries pop-up at their friend’s diner in West Alexandria, expecting the venture to last only for a month or two. It lasted nine.

Pretty soon they couldn’t keep up with demand and called in their wife and stepson for reinforcement. Naturally, brick-andmortar was the next step.

“The response was so overwhelming — talking about it chokes me up,” Afram says. “[The attacks on Gaza] happened while we were doing this pop-up, so it allowed us to advocate, in a way. I think it really brought up this fight I was ready to take on in whatever way I could.”

Advocating for Change During the pop-up, Afram raised more than $10,000 that went directly to charity organizations to support Palestinian communities, including United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society. This advocacy work helped the chef realize their personal niche at the intersection of Middle Eastern visibility and queer rights.

Laila Mokhiber, director of communications for UNRWA USA, says Afram’s Shababi chicken operation uplifted many of the fundraisers supporting food assistance and mental health care for Palestine refugees.

“Marcelle and Shababi were one of our most innovative and dedicated community partners in 2021,” Mokhiber says. “These results could not have been achieved without their creative outreach, fundraising efforts and commitment to the cause.

Marcelle embodies the best of our community; we can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.”

Afram plans to continue fundraising efforts once Shababi reopens for business at a stand-alone location, hopefully later this year.

“Committing funds to those directly helping Palestinian and/or LGBTQ+ communities is so important to what we are doing and planning to do,” Afram says. “All of our merch profits will go to organizations directly involved in causes, probably the ones mentioned above in addition to any we come across working on micro-levels. We also hope to continue to raise funds via other means, whether through events or specials.

Ideally, we will have the diner closed Mondays and Tuesdays and I imagine at least once a month we will use one of those days for community events to help raise funding, too.”

A Space to Connect Afram acknowledges they aren’t the first to do this sort of advocacy work, but says their advantage is the following they garnered throughout their culinary career. Afram says they’re not afraid of having a controversial voice and shares insight into why their immigrant parents toned down the traditional Middle Eastern fare at their family diner back in the day. “[My parents] accommodated the white public around them because that’s what they felt like they needed to do for protection,” Afram says. “For me, the biggest word in all of this is ‘reclamation.’ I’m providing my narrative for my food.”

To tell the Palestinian story and raise support for Middle Eastern LGBTQ+ people everywhere, Afram plans to host events and speakers once Shababi is fully operational, so the space not only serves delicious chicken but also a sense of community and togetherness.

“Shababi is rooted in advocacy, a voice and ‘my people,’ and that is complex,” Afram says. “This space is specifically for the queer Arab community to feel they can connect with others, because it can be a really isolated experience with the lack of representation.”

Learn more about Shababi at shababichicken.com and follow on Instagram @shababidiner. Follow Marcelle Afram on Instagram @marcelle_g.

DISTRICT FRAY | 17

S PA R K I N G C H A N G E T H RO U G H S E RV I C E WORDS BY JAMIE MCCRARY | PHOTO BY JENNIFER CHASE

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Celebrated D.C. chef Erik Bruner-Yang shares his volunteer experience with World Central Kitchen in Ukraine — and why service is at the heart of his leadership.

Working on the border of Ukraine and Poland, Erik BrunerYang was living his values. The D.C. chef and restaurateur — known for his ethos of giving back — was part of World Central Kitchen’s Chefs for Ukraine, a volunteer-led effort to serve hot, around-the-clock meals to refugees. Launched in February just days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the initiative is helping feed thousands of refugees at eight different Polish border crossings, and stations across Moldova, Romania and Hungary.

An immigrant himself, Bruner-Yang felt convinced to help.

“I just had this calling,” Bruner-Yang says. “I called chef José Andrés, [founder of WCK], and got on board.”

On March 1, Bruner-Yang flew abroad to join Chefs for Ukraine. Together with two other volunteers, he set up a satellite food station in Medyka, the busiest border crossing between Poland and Ukraine. At the time, more than 5,000 Ukrainian refugees passed through Medyka daily.

Over the course of the week, Bruner-Yang worked daily shifts serving meals to refugees, providing hot dishes like Polish Żurek soup to help combat the cold.

Now back in D.C., he is still processing the experience.

“I definitely left feeling I didn’t accomplish much — there’s so much to do,” Bruner-Yang says. “I’ve [struggled with some] guilt. The needs never stop.”

The Power of 10 While Chefs for Ukraine is Bruner-Yang’s first war relief effort it is far from his first community service experience.

Bruner-Yang joined the WCK initiative on the heels of launching his own community response initiative, The Power of 10.

Started just one week after the Covid-19 shutdown, The Power of 10 helped mobilize the D.C. area to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the restaurant industry. Bruner-Yang and his nonprofit team worked to raise $10,000 weekly to subsidize 10 full-time jobs for laid-off restaurant workers and provide 1,000 meals to frontline workers.

The Power of 10 also prioritizes sustainability: The program is structured as a model any neighborhood can follow — and as a potential blueprint for local governments.

“We wanted to model a strategy of mobilizing resilient restaurant workers,” Bruner-Yang says. “It allowed our community to play a vital role in addressing the pandemic’s damage.”

To date, The Power of 10 has supported 65 restaurants nationwide, provided more than 350,000 meals and disbursed $1.2 million in aid.

He’s continued The Power of 10 as an initiative primarily fighting food insecurity, a critical problem extending well past the pandemic. Staff still deliver weekly meals to nonprofit partners, with ambitions of growing the program with a slew of new restaurant partners.

“The pandemic highlighted the fact any of us could suffer [from food insecurity],” Bruner-Yang says. “Many we served during Covid struggled with food insecurity well before the pandemic.”

A Mantra of Service Bruner-Yang’s recent acts of service illustrate his fundamental leadership philosophy: give back. As a leading local chef and restaurateur, he’s run nearly a dozen D.C. establishments since 2011, Bruner-Yang builds his businesses around helping others.

“That’s always been an internal mantra, something part of the fabric of each restaurant,” he says. “The Power of 10, for example, is an outward expression of this.”

Currently the owner of H Street’s Taiwanese-Cambodian café Maketto, Yoko & Kota and Shopkeepers, Bruner-Yang remains highly conscious of his restaurants’ locations. Most of his businesses have opened on the H Street Corridor, an area facing increasingly high levels of gentrification.

Bruner-Yang endeavors to intentionally integrate into H Street’s existing culture — and attract other businesses with the same values. “[I want to make sure] both the businesses and I are fully integrated into what happens in our neighborhood,” he says.

“When new spots like [Indian curry restaurant] Daru chose to open on H Street, I hope places like Maketto helped make it happen.”

Giving with Gratitude Bruner-Yang is staying focused on growing his businesses and The Power of 10 — and keeping in touch with his WCK team in Poland. As the war continues — BBC estimates nearly six million refugees to date, half of which crossed into Poland — he’s attuned to other potential service opportunities with Chefs for Ukraine.

In D.C., he’s also focused on “keeping it small.” Pre-pandemic, he operated seven restaurants, a commitment demanding many management hours (and much less sleep). Today, he’s scaled back to three.

As a changemaker of D.C.’s dining scene, Bruner-Yang embraces his servant-leadership. A self-identified “old guard of D.C. dining” — he’s experienced and learned a lot over the past decade — he’s grateful for the chance to help guide up-andcomers.

“I feel like we were able to lay a framework across D.C. to set other chefs and restaurant owners up for success,” Bruner-Yang says. “Helping other people achieve what they want to achieve: That’s my way of making change.”

For more on World Central Kitchen and Chefs for Ukraine, visit wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine. Follow Bruner-Yang at @erikbruneryang and the Power of 10 Initiative at @powerof10initiative on Instagram.

Maketto: 1351 H St. NE, DC; maketto1351.com // @maketto1351 Shopkeepers: 1231 Florida Ave. NE, DC; shopkeepersdc.com // @shopkeepersdc Yoko & Kota: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; theroostsedc.com // @theroostdc; @yokoandkota DISTRICT FRAY | 19

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C OM E A S YO U A R E WORDS BY COLLEEN KENNEDY | PHOTO BY JENNIFER CHASE 20 | JUNE // JULY 2022

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D.C.’s inclusive cafe from Rach Pike and Jo McDaniel serves up radical hospitality.

First things first, As You Are DC is not named after the classic Nirvana song.

“It just describes our mission,” shares co-founder Rach “Coach” Pike. “We workshopped names and loved this one. We call it AYA (pronounced eye-yah) for short.”

Name aside, the Barracks Row queer cafe and lounge may be reaching toward a type of nirvanic transcendence in its mission.

When they dropped “bar” from their original name, they embraced a larger, more inclusive community when the space opened on March 22, 2022.

Co-owners Pike and Jo McDaniel are both pros in the service industry and met in 2018 while working together at A League of Her Own. Pike was a bartender and head of security and McDaniel was the general manager. McDaniel says they “fell into step” back then and have more recently become partners in both life and business. In the last year, they bought a place together in Northeast, opened As You Are DC, and adopted a black pointer Onyx to join their 12-year-old Australian shepherd mix Twiggy. (“We went hard this year,” McDaniel jokes.)

“It’s interesting to watch As You Are find its place,” McDaniel says. “Every week, something else happens that feels like we’ve reached another element of our community.”

Reclaiming a Queer Legacy Pike, going into full history prof mode, points out As You Are is reclaiming an important queer past for Barracks Row. “We’ve learned recently in our ANC meetings the building we’re in was a gay singalong bar called Johnny’s in 1949. There is a history and path of this site as queer and/or marginalized people-owned establishments.”

Pike continues, “At 200-years-old, this is some of the oldest commercial real estate in D.C. We’ve got rainbow lights all over the building because we’re not in hiding anymore.”

On any given day, you will find solo patrons sipping lattes while working on their laptops or a group of coworkers meeting for a light lunch. In the evening, there may be friends singing karaoke, getting their markers lined up for bingo, watching the Washington Mystics game (AYA is the official Mystics bar sponsor) or teams squaring off for a game of cornhole. AYA is expanding into sponsoring more sports teams around the District, too, from Stonewall Kickball DC and Krazy Pitches softball team to Washington Prodigy, the women’s tackle football team.

AYA even offers its own spin on D.C.’s beloved drag brunches. Half & Half features drag king performances and a tea party — an afternoon dance party with deep roots in D.C. queer history. DJ MIM just kicked off a new dance party, one long in the works for AYA and at one time contested by the ANC. “But even when the dance floor is in full swing, we still have this sort of loungey or more chill area,” McDaniel states of the two-story venue.

Pike and McDaniel eventually won over the ANC, who were initially concerned about late-night noise.

A Culture of Radical Hospitality McDaniel manages the cafe and bar, but she is also the community event organizer and has big plans for AYA’s cafe culture, which is central to their mission of creating community and queer brave spaces. The queer story time event Greetings, from Queer Mountain, every other Thursday night, is a coffeehouse favorite, and they are holding a fundraiser for the Black queer filmmaker Olivia Miles’ project entitled “The Before.”

“There’s no limit to what we’ll host as long as it aligns with our mission,” McDaniel states before sharing even more planned partnerships and events, including several Pride events.

Pike points out that following the debacle at Nellie’s, AYA decided to have a “safety management” rather than security team. The difference is key to their mission of radical hospitality.

“We’re not managing human beings,” Pike says of their philosophy. “We’re managing the experience at As You Are by being friendly, welcoming and warm. We know what the community wants and needs to celebrate safely. We don’t police or profile anybody when they walk in the door. And we follow an enthusiastic model of consent. ‘Sure’ is not good enough for us. It has to be a ‘Hell yes’ on the dance floor. And we know that because we’ve done this a long time.”

The whole staff trains together as culture creators and holds each other accountable.

“There are no hard and fast rules,” McDaniel shares. “If you’re still not sure you’re never alone in your decision making.

We often ask, ‘Can I get a second set of vibes?’ Our barista/ bartender Haize E. Daize came up with that: ‘I need a second vibe check here.’”

Fostering a community also means supporting environmental sustainability and working with local vendors.

AYA works with Compost Cab, recycling their coffee grounds and food scraps. Their coffee comes from the women and queerowned B Corp-certified Thread Coffee Roasters in Baltimore.

Besides two lower price point beers, all their beers and several of their spirits come from local breweries and distilleries.

“We’re seeing and recognizing the queer community as whole humans,” McDaniel asserts. “We will have weekend dance nights, providing for the folks who want it. There’s always going to be a market for that, but there’s also a need for meeting space, a safe space, a community space.”

Good vibes, second vibes, inclusion and community. If this isn’t nirvana, I’m not sure what is.

Follow Pike and McDaniel on Instagram @theycallmecoach25 and @thejomcdaniel.

As You Are DC: 500 8th St. SE, DC; asyouaredc.com // @asyouaredc

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SUPPORTING IMMIGR ANT RIGHTS T H RO U G H BO R D E R LE SS C U I S I N E WORDS BY TRENT JOHNSON | PHOTO BY JENNIFER CHASE 22 | JUNE // JULY 2022

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Muchas Gracias!’s Christian Irabién fosters an inclusive environment within the restaurant industry.

D.C. chef Christian Irabién has experienced his fair share of stressful kitchens, a common environment for many in the restaurant industry — especially on-the-rise cooks. Though it’s easy and obvious to promise yourself your restaurant will be different, it’s much more difficult to put plans and practices in place to ensure stressful cycles are broken.

The food industry was a constant when Mexican-born Irabién first moved to the U.S., settling in El Paso, Texas, at age 11. With family members manning restaurants, he experienced the teamwork required in the kitchen. Irabién eventually found his way into several D.C. kitchens in his late 20s — a relatively late start to professional culinary life — before eventually setting out to establish his own footprint as a restaurateur.

“Being a third-generation immigrant and having a mom who worked three jobs while struggling with the language barrier and the culture clash — and not knowing how to advocate for yourself — it can be really difficult to reach beyond what you have in front of you,” Irabién says. “So many people are telling you, ‘You can’t.’”

Now, Irabién is one of the District’s most notable chefs actively making a difference while proving “you can,” whether offering advancement opportunities in his eatery or providing education to people moving up in their careers.

Collaborating for Change This kind of inclusive and educational training is integral to Irabién’s Hospitality Humans initiative, a mission born out of necessity and somewhat by accident.

The initiative is more than a few learning modules. Irabién offers workshops on leadership, communication and other forms of professional development out of his restaurant Muchas Gracias!, which itself started when he saw an opportunity to help restaurant workers struggling at the onset of Covid-19.

“The restaurant industry is pretty tight-knit,” Irabién says.

“Everyone does a great job rooting for and supporting each other when they can. We’ve been able to grow. We were never supposed to be there, and now there’s a sign up and we’re there.”

Irabién started Muchas Gracias! as a pop-up to support a few American immigrant workers during the pandemic. From there the restaurant expanded, allowing them to add tables, resources and more staffers to the operation. Despite its success on the city’s “Best Of” lists, Muchas Gracias! has continued to represent more than authentic Mexican dishes with quick volume.

“The original restaurant was focused on Tex-Mex. We were even calling it ‘borderless cuisine.’ As Muchas started evolving and growing, some of the people who were helping [and worked in other restaurants] came and helped us here because they were out of work.”

He also supports immigrant rights through his contemporary, coastal Mexican pop-up Amparo Fondita.

Initially slated to open as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in early 2020, Irabién scaled back as a pop-up, hosting locations at both District Space in Brookland and Union Market’s Cotton & Reed.

Most recently, he teamed up with Qui Qui chef Ismael Mendez for a one-night, five-course pop-up collaboration in Shaw. Irabién — now up for the RAMMY Award for Rising Culinary Star of the Year— is currently in fundraising mode and plans to announce a location for Amparo soon.

His culinary ventures have also served as blank canvases to

accomplish his goal of fostering a more inclusive, educational environment in the restaurant industry. Irabién says the idea for Hospitality Humans first popped into his mind about six years ago. With the pandemic shuttering neighboring restaurants in 2020, he wanted to do all he could for the folks he employed.

“We were working with a lot of Latin American immigrants — every restaurant does,” he says. “You hear a lot, ‘We can’t find staff, we can’t find experience.’ My question is always: ‘Why aren’t you training the people in your restaurant to move forward?’ It’s this weird cycle.”

Nourishing Professional Growth Irabién believes the industry has to allow people to grow into undertaking the work rate restaurant owners and managers expect. One disconnect is caused when restaurant management is unable to effectively communicate to its largely Latin American workforce.

“Workers can’t advocate for themselves,” Irabién says.

“There’s zero connection beyond the work being done. A lot of times in these roles, people there the longest may get promoted.

But just because I know the recipes and how to organize the walk-in, doesn’t mean I know how to lead or train people, and how to manage a team. For me, the question was ‘How do we fix that?’”

Because of how Muchas Gracias! worked with immigrant workers and people out of work, the goal was to train the staff to the point they could run the business. From there, Irabién says he sought to work with each of the people individually in order to better understand their goals.

Despite best efforts, the chef says some people are simply accustomed to the traditional restaurant environment, a hostile place where people live by the old adage that pressure cooks diamonds.

“You can’t save everyone, but we try,” Irabién says. “At the beginning, I had more than one person leave the restaurant because they felt I wasn’t managing properly because I wasn’t screaming at people.”

So far, Irabién has trained the people who run both the front and back ends of Muchas Gracias!. And though it’s still mostly small in scope, aside from a few workshops he’s done for other area restaurants, Irabién says the goal for Hospitality Humans is to create a collective of professionals and leaders in the DMV who are interested in embodying the hospitality aspect of the business — for customer and employees alike.

“We’re in the business of caring for people,” Irabién says. “[I’ve talked to] other chefs about the difference between growing up with the privilege to go to culinary school [versus] someone trying to support two families, one here and the other across the border. It’s a whole different ball game.”

For information about Muchas Gracias!, Hospitality Humans and more, visit muchasgraciasdc.com and follow the restaurant on Instagram @muchasgraciasdc. Follow Amparo Fondita on Instagram @amparofondita and Irabién at @christianirabien.

Muchas Gracias!: 5029 Connecticut Ave. NW, D.C.; 202-244-5000; muchasgraciasdc.com // @muchasgraciasdc DISTRICT FRAY | 23

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Beef tofu stew at Lighthouse Tofu in Annandale Arriving at the table still bubbling, trailing wisps of steam, you must wait a moment before plunging into this spice-laced stew that revivifies in myriad ways. 4121 Chatelain Rd. Annandale, VA; lighthousetofu.com Birria de res quesotacos at Little Miner Taco in Brentwood You may have drooled over these gloriously gluttonous tacos on Instagram. Don’t worry, they live up to the hype IRL, full of 24 | JUNE // JULY 2022

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It’s time to shake up your D.C. dining routine. Get out to Maryland and Virginia to get a taste of what’s cooking beyond the city limits. Trust us: These dishes are well worth the drive.

slow-braised beef and melted jack cheese, with beef consommé on the side for dunking. 4308 Rhode Island Ave. Brentwood, MD; littleminertaco.com // @littleminertaco Breakfast sandwich at Sunday Morning Bakehouse in North Bethesda On those mornings you want to be a glutton, order this. The soft, buttery brioche bun cradles a rich combination of bacon, scrambled eggs, melted Swiss and aioli. 11869 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD; sundaymorningbakehouse.com // @sundaymorningbakehouse

EAT The Brooklyner at Stracci Pizza in Alexandria This rectangular Roman-style pizza boasts a crispy, featherweight crust and a fusillade of toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, stracciatella, ricotta, Calabrian chili and a squiggle of honey. 106 Hume Ave. Alexandria, VA; straccipizza.com // @straccipizza Butter bread at Manoa Bakery Café in Annandale Similar to Japanese milk bread, these plump, airy loaves are best used for making French toast, grilled cheese sandwiches and bread pudding. Or you can simply toast a slice to revel in its delicate richness. 7326A Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA; manoabakerycafe.com // @manoabakery The Crispwich at The Girl & The Vine in Takoma Park This stellar sandwich is packed with smoked turkey, avocado, pepper jack cheese, bacon and dijonnaise. As if that wasn’t enough, a fistful of kettle chips are sprinkled into the center, adding a surprising crunch factor. 7071 Carroll Ave. Takoma Park, MD; the-girl-the-vine.square.site // @thegirlandthevinetp Croque Madame at Parc de Ville in Fairfax A sunny side up egg sits atop a cloak of melted gruyère. Pop the yolk as you cut in to reveal gentle folds of ham lavished with bechamel sauce boasting just enough nutmeg. 8296 Glass Alley Fairfax, VA; parcdeville.com // @parcdevilleva Dan dan noodles at A&J in Rockville A tangle of long, flat noodles — reminiscent of fettuccine — come topped with rich peanut buttery sauce and a scattering of cracked peanuts. Drizzle on some vibrantly red chili oil to create a spicy-savory-nutty bite that’s unforgettable. 1319 Rockville Pike #C, Rockville, MD; aandjrestaurant.com // @ajrestaurant Everything Pop-Tart at Northside Social in Arlington This ain’t the Pop-Tart of your childhood — and that’s a good thing. Speckled with everything seasoning, the flakey rectangle hides a slather of cream cheese. 3211 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; northsidesocialva.com // @northsidesocial Kalbas sandwich at Yekta Kabob Counter in Rockville Tender pink folds of garlic-peppered, pistachio-studded mortadella are the stars of this memorable sandwich filled out with juicy tomatoes, pickles and ruffled sprigs of parsley.

1488 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD; yektamarket.com // @yekta_kabobi_market Kao soi at Esaan in McLean A chicken leg lurks in a bowl of well-spiced coconut curry filled out with a bird’s nest of egg noodles, half-moons of red onion and lemon wedges for a hit of acid. 1307 Old Chain Bridge Rd. McLean, VA; esaanmclean.com // @esaantumbar Lebanese Bride manoushe at Z&Z Manoushe Bakery in Rockville Though it’s comparable to pizza and pita, manoushe is its own deal. This grilled flatbread comes coronated with tangy housemade labneh, za’atar, tomato, cucumber and mint. 1111 Nelson St. Rockville, MD; zandzdc.com // @zandzdc

Naem khao at Padeek. Photo by @blurryvisionphotos.

Marinara rustica pizza at Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown The mainstay round comes simply topped with crushed tomatoes, roasted garlic, a sprinkle of parmesan and fresh basil, though pros know to take it up a notch with a few extra toppings, like ’nduja, ricotta and Calabrian chiles. 12207 Darnestown Rd. Darnestown, MD; inferno-pizzeria.com // @pizzeriainferno Naem khao thadaeu at Padaek in Falls Church Start meals with this DIY lettuce wrap set up where you furl together crispy coconut rice, sour pork, peanuts and all sorts of bright, beautiful herbs. 6395 Seven Corners Ctr. Falls Church, VA; padaekdc.com // @padaekdc Napoli sub at the Italian Store in Arlington You can’t go wrong with any sandwich here, but we’re partial to this spicy sub jammed full of pepperoni, capicola ham and mozzarella. 5837 Washington Blvd. + 3123 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA; italianstore.com // @theitalianstore Peking duck at Lao Sze Chuan in North Bethesda First you receive petite squares of crispy duck skin on turbinado sugar, a bite so indulgent it feels like dessert. Ten minutes later, the rest of the duck arrives with all the fixins, so you can roll up the tender meat with plum sauce, cucumbers and pickled daikon in still-steaming, diaphanous pancakes.

20 Paseo Dr. North Bethesda, MD; laoszechuandmv.com // @laoszechuan_dmv Premium combo at Honey Pig BBQ in Annandale Get a group together to tackle this epic meaty spread, featuring kalbi beef rib, pork belly, shrimp, octopus and so much more.

Despite your best efforts, you’ll probably still have leftovers to savor when you get home. 7220-C Columbia Pike Annandale, VA; honeypigbbq.com // @honeypigbbq Taiwanese chicken at Jumbo Jumbo in Rockville Betcha can’t eat just one. Tossed in five-spice and golden-fried, these popcorn chicken bites packed with tender, juicy meat are irresistible. 15192 Frederick Rd. Rockville, MD; jumbojumbocafe.com Torta asada at Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita in Arlington This ’wich is a beast. French bread is split open and packed with New York steak complemented by avocados, tomatoes, cheese and pickled chilies. 2911 Columbia Pike Arlington, VA; tortasytacoslachiquita.com // @ttlachiquita2911 Veggie combo platter at Beteseb in Silver Spring Spread out on a swathe of tangy injera bread are dollops of misir wot (stewed red lentils), kik alicha (split pea stew), atakilt wot (spiced cabbage), ye gomen wot (simmered collard greens), and shiro wot (chickpea stew). A meal that’s as filling as it is flavorful. 8201 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD; betesebrestaurant.com // @beteseb1 Deep-fried whole flounder at Ruan Thai in Wheaton Awash in lard prik sauce made with fistfuls of aromatic Thai basil, the fish’s golden skin crackles when you dive in for the tender meat beneath, using the sticky rice on the side as your utensil. 11407 Amherst Ave. Wheaton, MD; ruanthaiwheaton.com // @ruan_thai_ DISTRICT FRAY | 25

Spring 202 2

WORDS BY PRIYA KONINGS

TASTE THE SEASON | EAT As the world evolves, we continue to strive toward greater sustainability. Part of sustainability includes eating seasonally, as it allows you to support local farms and farmers. The fewer fruits and vegetables that must be transported or artificially manipulated to grow, the more nutritious the food, the lesser negative impact on the environment, and the better those ingredients taste. To support the sustainability movement, every season we’re featuring a series of dishes from D.C. restaurants that celebrate the best of the season’s bounty. This spring, we are including dishes using everything from leeks to morel mushrooms to artichokes to peas.

Amazing Artichokes: Modena’s crispy fried artichokes Artichokes are one of spring’s most popular vegetables, and they don’t taste better than when chef John Melfi batters and fries them at Modena. Served with lemon oil and drizzled with sea salt, these fried ’chokes are crunchy, salty and addictively good. All you need is one of the restaurant’s dynamite cocktails to pair with the dish.

The dish is great for sharing but a word of advice: You may want to hoard it all for yourself. 1199 H St. NW, DC; modenadc.com // @modenadc

Lively Leeks: Lapis’ aushak Onions of all types are in season in spring, including spring onions, ramps and leeks. At Lapis, you can get your fill of leeks with an order of their famous Afghan dumplings, called aushak. Delicate dumpling wrappers are stuffed with shredded, sautéed leeks and then boiled. Once plated, a duo of sauces is spooned over the dumplings as a finishing touch. The first is a creamy, garlicky yogurt sauce, the second is a savory tomato and split pea sauce; combined they bring a blend of tang and warmth to the dish. 1847 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; lapisdc.com // @lapisdc

Meaty Morels: Indique’s morel vegetable stew In the world of mushrooms, morels are one of the most highly coveted varieties, largely because they aren’t farmed — morels can only be found in the wild. Their chewy texture, nutty flavors and delicate, intricate form are other reasons to love them. Don’t get too attached though, because these gems are only found growing between March and June in certain locations. To sample these delightful ’shrooms in an especially creative dish, visit Indique, where the morels come soaked and swimming in a rich South Indian coconut curry. The coconut milk is infused with green chiles, curry leaves and ginger, and chopped carrots and potatoes add texture and flavor. The dish is meaty and decadent, and an optimal way to sample the season’s best mushroom. 3512 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; indique.com // @indiquedc

Beefsteak rainbow salad. Photo by Reema Desai.

Perfect Peas: Timber Pizza’s "The Julia” If there was ever a vegetable to represent spring, it would be the humble pea. It’s not just English garden peas which are in season, however. Sugar snap peas, pea shoots and snow peas are also at their best in the spring. While peas on a pizza may sound unusual, you will be pleasantly surprised by Timber Pizza’s “The Julia.” Crisp dough arrives smothered in cheese and topped with fresh sugar snap peas, a drizzle of pesto made from pea shoots and a generous heap of a pea shoot salad tossed in a lemon dressing. The pea shoots bring a sweet, fresh element to the dish and the sugar snap peas have an awesome crunch. For a pizza that epitomizes seasonality, this is it.

809 Upshur St. NW, DC; timberpizza.com // @timberpizzaco

Radiant Radishes: Beefsteak’s rainbow salad This dish is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds, with a whirlwind of color and flavor from different veggies. A bed of arugula, which is also a spring vegetable, comes topped with sugar snap peas and watermelon radishes with a gorgeous bright pink hue, tomatoes, feta cheese and crunchy puffed quinoa. A fresh lemon-honey dressing adds a bright citrus note and hint of sweetness to this vibrant salad. 800 22nd St. NW, DC; beefsteakveggies.com // @beefsteakveggies

Super Stinging Nettles: Iron Gate’s focaccia Iron Gate’s Mediterranean-inspired menu always features a house-made, seasonal focaccia involving creative use of an in-season vegetable. This spring, their chewy focaccia is covered in gorgeous tomatoes, creamy goat cheese, pine nuts and a generous dollop of nettle pesto. Stinging nettle is a leafy plant that tastes grassy and earthy, somewhat similar to spinach. When converted into pesto the result is a bright, bold and slightly peppery sauce that compliments the tangy goat cheese and sweet tomatoes.

1734 N St. NW, DC; irongaterestaurantdc.com // @irongatedc

DISTRICT FRAY | 27

A wild chanterelle found in Fairfax County, Virginia.

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Wild Discovering the allure + adventure of foraging WORDS + PHOTOS BY NEVIN MARTELL

EAT sustain yourself solely with food gathered in the wild was a powerful one, and it stayed with me — though more as an abstract idea, rather than something I would pursue — unless I found myself shipwrecked on a deserted island or stranded in the woods.

As I grew into adulthood, foraging faded from my life, except for the occasional handful of wild berries picked on a hike.

That changed over a decade ago when I began writing about food as a full-time job, which coincided with the rise of foraged ingredients showing up at some of the most celebrated restaurants in the world. Foraging with a chef seemed like a great story, so I spent an afternoon looking for morel mushrooms with Patrick O’Connell, chef-proprietor of the renowned Inn at Little Washington. It was like being a kid on an Easter egg hunt. Each time we spotted one of the distinctive honeycombed caps, I felt a zing of electric joy, a shiver of excitement.

From that moment on, I was hooked.

There was one problem: Between parenthood and work, I didn’t have much time to devote to my new interest. To learn what I could — albeit in piecemeal, slapdash fashion — I reported foraging stories whenever I could.

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The signs weren’t good, but I remained hopeful.

The newly risen sun’s rays were piercing between the trees nearly horizontally, offering an appearance of warmth this mid-March morning, but it was still so cold my breath left me in gusty wooshes of steam. As I strode along the still-frozen ground of the trail, my hiking boots elicited gentle crunches from the crystallized dirt, sounding like they were chewing mouthfuls of granola. Could ramps really be coming up in conditions that felt more like the end of winter rather than the beginning of spring?

My fingers were crossed. A year earlier on the same date, I harvested the wild onions in abundance here in Northern Virginia. They should be up.

Then one of my foraging companions, Jonathan Till, pointed to the merest hint of greenery sprouting through the crackly cover of dead leaves carpeting the forest floor.

“They’re up, but they’re still little.”

My hope slipped out with my next exhale. Rushing to get out the door that morning; the hour-long drive; putting up with the cold; all that for no ramps. But that is the deal you make when you are a forager. Sometimes you come home with a bounty; many times you return empty-handed. No matter what, you are always rewarded with good exercise, fresh air and the calming power of the woods. I comforted myself with that thought as we headed back to our cars.

“Give them a week or so,” Till reassured me as we parted ways. “They’ll be up.”

As I started my long drive home, I began thinking how I ended up in the woods that morning. My journey took a looping, meandering route, beginning as a young boy when I didn’t even know the word foraging, much less what it meant. We lived on an untamed 200-acre spread in the western reaches of New York. My younger sister and I would grab our blue enamel pails to pick raspberries from unruly tangles of brambles.

We’d eat them scattered over vanilla ice cream or underneath dollops of freshly whipped cream.

When my grandmother visited, we gathered young, tender dandelion greens and she would toss them with sweet-sour Pennsylvania Dutch bacon dressing. As the spring thaw set in, I would head into the woods with my father to collect sap from the towering sugar maples that proliferated our property. In the smoky, steamy wooden shack by our garage, he boiled it down to make rich syrup we wantonly poured over pancakes and into our milk when our mother wasn’t looking.

The mythology of foraging continued to seep in through the books I most loved growing up. They were stories of survival, like “The Swiss Family Robinson,” “Robinson Crusoe” and Jean Craighead George’s “My Side of the Mountain,” which follows a boy who runs away from home to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. The idea you could n g up

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Foraging Calendar Get a taste of the wild side.

These backwoods edibles are listed in the first month they are usually ready to harvest, though most will be available for two months or longer.

Remember noobs: Go out with a knowledgeable forager and never eat anything that hasn’t been verified by an expert.

FEBRUARY Bittercress Garlic mustard MARCH // APRIL Morel Chicken of the woods Ramps Stinging nettles Japanese knotweed Watercress

There was a trek through Vancouver Island’s backwoods on the hunt for chanterelles with Ian Riddick, a gentle bear of a chef with a keen eye for the golden hued mushrooms. Another jaunt took me through Northern Virginia with Jonathan Till, then the chef of Evening Star Café in Alexandria.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that walk in the woods was pivotal in my foraging journey.

With the onset of the pandemic, my writing work dried up in a bone-chilling instant. There was one upside: I suddenly had an excess of time. A month after the shutdown began, I was taking my young son for a hike when I spotted what I was sure was a morel. I posted a picture online, where my instinct was confirmed by several knowledgeable foragers. I was elated.

That single find gave me the confidence to begin hunting morels on my own.

Sometimes I’d bring my son along, luring them with bribes like, “Find 10 morels and I’ll buy you a Lego set,” an offer I learned to regret as I quickly realized just how sharp their eyes were.

I reconnected with Till, who became my foraging sensei, teaching me how to identify half a dozen mushrooms and other wild edibles like garlic mustard, wineberries and ramps. He had an uncanny eye for not only spotting stuff when we were out on rambles, but also knowing when things would start popping up — which is why I found myself back in Northern Virginia a little more than a week after our first failed expedition for ramps this spring.

As we headed into the woods on the same trail, my heart sank. All the signs pointed to another failure: It was see-your-breath cold, the ground was hard and I spotted a patch of infant ramps no higher than the week before.

But then we veered off the trail and came over a rise. Spread out before us for almost as far as the eye could see were ramps, their green leaves the perfect height for harvesting. I felt a zing of electric joy, a shiver of excitement. Jackpot!

I pulled out my knife and a mesh bag and began working.

JUNE Chanterelle Cattails JULY Wineberries Mulberries Serviceberry Black trumpet Lion’s mane Oyster Hedgehog Lobster Porcini AUGUST Puffballs SEPTEMBER Maitake Pawpaws Acorns Crabapples OCTOBER Persimmons Black walnuts 30 | JUNE // JULY 2022

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EAT

A Guide to

Vegetarian Eating in D.C.’s Korean Restaurants WORDS + PHOTOS BY PRIYA KONINGS

Historically, D.C. residents have had to travel to Annandale, Virginia to get their Korean food fix. Of late, however, Korean restaurants have been popping up throughout D.C. proper and are here to satisfy your Korean food cravings. For those of you less familiar with the cuisine, there is much more to Korean food than Korean BBQ. In fact, Korean food can be pretty vegetarianfriendly. Here’s a guide with lots of recommendations to help you choose the best vegetarian dishes local Korean spots offer.

Anju: The Upscale Korean Restaurant

CHIKO: Korean Fast-Casual

There is nothing not to love about Anju. The warm and inviting ambiance, the creative cocktails and the decadent Korean fare.

Their juk, which is a savory Korean rice porridge, is one of the major highlights. The dish changes with the seasons, but always remains divine. The ddukbokgi, Korean rice cakes, are another highly recommended dish. The rice cakes have just the right amount of chewiness and are soaked in a sweet and savory soy sauce. Wheels of lotus root add crunch while mushrooms bring a meaty element to the dish. I would be remiss not to mention Anju’s Korean sweet potato. It is one of the dishes that has people coming back time and again. The dish features baked sweet potato drenched in a silky honey butter sauce, sprinkled with Maldon salt and crowned with scallions and walnuts for texture. 1805 18th St. NW, DC; anjurestuarant.com // @anjufrc

The restaurant hosts a separate vegetarian menu that includes Brussel sprouts with furikake, a seasoning made of toasted sesame seeds and nori, green beans cooked with a fermented soybean and red chili pepper paste called ssamjang, noodles cooked in a wok to bring a smoky, earthy flavor to the noodles, and fried rice with crunchy fried shallots. Various locations; mychiko.com // @chikofrc

BUL: Where Korean Beverages Meet Korean Food This casual Adams Morgan spot has an extensive menu with a plethora of vegetarian options. The Korean pancakes, which are savory egg-based pancakes, come in a veggie version where crunchy carrots and zucchini are folded into the batter and cooked into the pancake. Egg mari, a Korean style omelet, is another winning dish with spicy siracha bringing some heat.

The soondubu jjigae is my personal favorite of the vegetarian dishes on the menu; the tofu stew is warm and heady from an infusion of garlic, soy sauce and Korean red pepper flakes called gochugaru and the tofu is melt-in-your-mouth soft. Be sure to check out the drink menu as well, which includes different kinds of soju, which is a Korean liquor, Korean rice wines and Korean beers. The soju flavors range from yuzu-flavored to lemon-infused and, for the adventurous, yogurt soju. Korean sodas, in wild flavors like cream, rice and cinnamon, are also available for a non-alcoholic option. 2431 18th St. NW, DC; buldc.com // @wearebul

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. BUL dish. Magpie and the Tiger dish.

Magpie and The Tiger: The Best Korean Spot for Vegetarians Kevin Tien’s newest venture is everything we hoped for. The menu is small but full of gems. Vegetarians are well taken care of, with eight of the 11 dishes either vegetarian or easily converted to vegetarian. The Korean potato salad is sinfully rich, with creamy chive-dusted potato salad serving as a filling for a crêpe made of griddled cheese. It’s as epic as it sounds.

Battered cauliflower comes drenched in a gochujang-infused sauce and stir-fried pea shoots are tossed in a bold garlic dashi sauce. Every dish aims to, and succeeds at, lighting all your senses on fire. 828 Upshur St. NW, DC; magpieandthetiger.com // @magpieandthetigerdc

Mandu: The Authentic Korean Food Experience Mandu are Korean dumplings and so it makes sense the crunchy, chewy veggie dumplings at Mandu are one of the venue’s best items. Mandu also serves up perfect chap chae — springy Korean sweet potato noodles swirled with spinach, mushrooms, soy sauce and fragrant toasted sesame seed oil.

For the most classic Korean dish, try the vegetarian bibimbap — rice covered with stir-fried veggies, an over-easy egg and healthy drizzle of spicy gochujang. 453 K St. NW, DC; mandudc.com // @mandudc DISTRICT FRAY | 33

EAT | FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Bag of Tricks WORDS BY NEVIN MARTELL | PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN

When Katsuya Fukushima started cheffing two decades ago, every tool he needed to use at events fit into a traditional knife roll. Then he spent eight years working alongside José Andrés — including serving as chef de cuisine of the original incarnation of Minibar. There was a season at Ferran Adrià’s visionary El Bulli. Finally, Fukushima teamed up with his partners, Yama Jewayni and Daisuke Utagawa, to create their renowned restaurant group, which now includes Daikaya, Bantam King, Haikan, Hatoba and Tonari.

Along the way, there were innumerable events, countless dishes. He began needing more tools and a broader array of them. At some point, he outgrew the knife roll. Fukushima began using a classic red toolbox. That was too heavy and bulky, so he transitioned to canvas bags. Those didn’t work well either.

In 2016, he was in Tokyo with his girlfriend and spotted a dapper black leather bag at the Comme des Garçons boutique.

The sleek tote, featuring two zippered pockets running along each side of the interior, looked like something a doctor might carry on house calls — or a fashionable chef could use for his kitchen gear.

But with a price tag of $250, it seemed like too much of a splurge. Fukushima left it on the shelf, trying not to regret his frugality. Shortly afterwards, his girlfriend surprised him with it as a gift. He’s been bringing it to events ever since.

What goes into the bag depends on what he’s cooking. He has a thousand different kitchen tools stored in the backroom of his home.

“I’m a pack rat,” he admits. “Sometimes my girlfriend will look at something in there and ask, ‘Why do you need this?’ I tell her, ‘One day I’m gonna use it.’”

When he unpacks the bag the day we meet, he reveals some of his favorite chef toys. In a tangerine-colored drawstring bag, there’s another gift from his girlfriend: a Hermès Attelage stainless steel spoon, the looping end of the handle modeled after a stirrup.

“Usually, chefs carry a spoon in their back pocket to taste stuff,” he says. “I figured I should do it in style.”

There’s a hockey stick-shaped brush tipped with horsehair, purchased in Japan. He uses it to clean off one of his pet peeves: the crusty bits that cling to the inside of a pot as a liquid reduces. There are other pieces from Japan. A large metal grater for root vegetables, like daikon and mountain yam; a sharkskinlined wooden paddle for grating wasabi; a fire truck red handheld Gangy No. 300 can opener Fukushima calls a badass brass knuckle.

A few items have very specific uses, like the faded red Matfer sugar pump with a dull copper tip, used back in his Minibar days to inflate small globes made of melted sugar, and the wooden Mexican molinillo he used at Oyamel to make hot chocolate.

34 | JUNE // JULY 2022

“I probably stole it from there,” he admits of the latter.

“Thanks, José!”

Nearby is a silver disc-shaped caramelizing iron, which is heated over a flame then delicately, quickly pressed into the sugar atop crème brûlée or crema catalana, creating the crackly caramelized crust.

“The sugar flames up and smokes up,” says Fukushima. “It’s a nice presentation.”

Of course there are several knives, plus a portable steel to keep them sharpened. Today’s array includes several of the chef’s longtime favorites: a Japanese utility knife, its handle wrapped in slender strips of bamboo; a folding chef’s knife; a classic Opinel No. 8 folding pocket knife.

There’s even one that has never seen action — “because I don’t go out foraging,” Fukushima says — a gorgeous porcini mushroom knife featuring a small folding brush at one end, made in Italy by Legnoart.

Almost everything in the bag is hand-powered, but there are a couple of exceptions, including a classic white iPod from the 2000s still loaded with Fukushima’s OG playlist of old school hip-hop that was the soundtrack when the Daikaya ramen shop opened. Another is an electric Dremel rotary tool, traditionally used by crafters for etching, engraving, polishing and sanding.

But in Fukushima’s hands, it is a method for gently perforating fragile foods.

Recently, he used it to create a hole in the bottom of a hollow puff of Indian poori bread. He dipped the delicate dome into black powder made with dried uni and charcoal to mimic a sea urchin shell, then filled the poori with uni. This is definitely not an application covered in the Dremel’s instruction manual.

So, what is Fukushima going to add to this unorthodox collection next? Given its scope, it’s hard to believe he needs anything else.

“You can never have enough knives, spoons or notebooks,” he hedges. “And I want a gentleman’s pen. I don’t know how many times I’ve been at the airport and needed to fill out some paperwork, but I’ve been without a pen. I want to be like James Bond and pull out a nice pen.”

Follow Katsuya Fukushima on Instagram @katsuya_fukushima to learn more.

Bantam King: 501 G St. NW, DC; bantamking.com // @bantamkingdc Daikaya: 705 6th St. NW, DC; daikaya.com // @daikaya_ramen Haikan: 805 V St. NW, DC; haikandc.com // @haikandc Hatoba: 300 Tingey St. #170, SE, DC; hatobadc.com // @hatobadc Tonari: 707 6th St. NW, DC; tonaridc.com // @tonaridc

DRINK

DRINK Bar manager, event planner, virtual cocktail class connoisseur and allaround industry pro, Cassie Womack of Bidwell is no stranger to the hustle and bustle of hospitality and restaurant life.

A connector of people, she thrives on the community and conviviality that comes with managing the bar at Bidwell. She’s also taken an active role spearheading event planning for the Union Market restaurant. With the start of Pride Month, Womack shares what a typical day looks like at Bidwell — as well as some of the upcoming Pride events she’s most excited to launch.

FROM OPEN TO CLOSE AT BIDWELL Behind the scenes with Cassie Womack WORDS BY LANNA NGUYEN + PHOTOS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

BY THE HOUR 9 a.m.

This is when the day starts for Womack, depending on how late the previous night kept her at work. As soon as she’s up, the calls begin.

“My phone just automatically starts going,” she says of the liquor reps, distributors and other industry contacts that keep her phone buzzing bright and early.

After responding to various inquiries, she checks in on liquor orders, ensuring everything is on schedule in light of recent truck driver shortages. If not, she troubleshoots any issues, oftentimes becoming the delivery driver herself.

10 a.m.

Pending last-minute delivery changes, Womack arrives at Bidwell midmorning. If all is in order and deliveries are on time, she tackles administrative tasks, taking advantage of the early quiet hours at the restaurant before turning her attention to checking inventory.

She continues to settle into her morning and communicates with her team, bracing for any pop-up staffing changes.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Based on the day, Womack will jump in to assist with prep work ahead of service.

“Most restaurants are understaffed — we’re really burning the midnight oil,” she says of the team’s bandwidth.

“Anything I can take off their plate, just to make their shifts easier, that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll go in and I’ll prep whatever I need to prep.”

Cassie Womack at Bidwell Restaurant.

If there’s an upcoming event, she’ll meet with the chef to discuss any particulars and logistics.

In between meetings, responding to emails and prep work, Womack finds time to test out recipes for new cocktail creations.

4 p.m.

The doors open at Bidwell and service starts.

“We’re open at four o’clock and then we’re on,” she says.

With happy hour running from 4-7 p.m., the anchor restaurant at Union Market welcomes in a rush of guests.

“That’s typically a very busy time for us.

It’s kind of nonstop,” Womack adds.

7 p.m.

Happy hour ends and the team prepares for transition to dinner service.

Bidwell is currently without a general manager, so Womack took on the role — in addition to operations manager, bar manager and at times switching to floor and back-of-house manager. Sometimes this includes expediting, hosting and washing dishes.

“It’s whatever else needs to be done,” Womack says of the shifting nature of the job. “It’s like a puzzle. You get in where you fit in.”

8 p.m.

Dinner rush sets in and continues for the next few hours. Womack sets the pace and flow for the restaurant, ensuring smooth service for the evening.

11 p.m.

Depending on the weather and if guests linger, the dinner rush can go through closing time. Womack remains until service has ended.

1:30 a.m.

After cleanup and closing, Womack leaves for the night.

2:30 a.m.

Womack arrives back at home and the day officially ends.

DISTRICT FRAY | 37

DRINK

BEYOND THE DAY-TO-DAY Bringing people together and forming connections comes naturally to Womack. As a bar manager, she tends to her regular customers, anticipating their arrival with their drink of choice at-the-ready as they walk through the doors. When in-person bartending was not an option during the pandemic, she ran virtual demonstrations and cocktail classes, continuing to build the sense of community despite not being physically together with her guests and regulars.

The restaurant reopened in April 2021 and it’s been all systems go since, including spearheading themed events for Bidwell as well as programming for Pride. Last year she helped launch the inaugural Drag Queen and King Brunch at Union Market’s Dock5. Modeled after drag balls, the category was community — a fitting theme for Womack.

“I’m really big on the diversity aspect: There’s always something that separates us, but when we all come together, we’re a mighty fist,” Womack reminisces. “The [Drag Queen and King Brunch] was truly diversity. And it was beautiful.”

Womack is excited to continue the momentum on the heels of last year’s successful celebrations. This time around, she’s planning for an even bigger slate of events, beginning with a panel aimed to drive better understanding and connection. Other festivities in the works include drag karaoke, a kickoff party at Dock5, and an all-black and white ball culminating with the second annual Drag Queen and King Brunch.

“The kickoff party is going to bring in all types of people. And that’s just what I like to see. I like to see everyone together having a good time.”

Learn more about Cassie Womack and her work at Bidwell and beyond on Instagram @underground.bartender.

Bidwell DC: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; bidwelldc.com // bidwell_dc

38 | JUNE // JULY 2022

Bidwell Restaurant martini.

Rosé Shopping with Estadio It’s almost summer — and that means it’s almost rosé season.

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE | PHOTOS BY BRANDON CHEN Warmer weather means it’s time for chilled wine. And no wine has been more popular in warm weather months than rosé. The genre has exploded over the last decade. Year after year, more and more rosé options are available at your local grocery and liquor store.

Unlike most reds and whites, most rosés are not available year-round. What’s an uneducated rosé appreciator to do? Ask someone that knows wine, obviously.

We went to the person responsible for the wine at one of D.C.’s best restaurants to enjoy a glass: Estadio.

Estadio General Manager Jennifer Lucy is quite familiar with wine from the Basque region. If you’ve saddled up to the 14th St. bar for an after-work glass of wine, you’re most likely familiar with their excellent selection. The one small issue with Estadio, 40 | JUNE // JULY 2022

and most every restaurant that offers a well curated selection of wine, is their list is mostly exclusive to the restaurant. Unlike most spirits and beer, what you enjoy at the restaurant is not available in your local liquor store. We asked Lucy to go wine shopping with us.

Whole Foods is conveniently located around the corner from Estadio. Lucky for us, their spring rosé selection is well stocked and a fine starter for your 2022 summer of rosé.

Lucy’s guidance will work regardless of where you buy your wine. None of these recommendations are tied to a specific bottle.

Before we dive in, Lucy reminded us what drinking rosé is all about. “It’s really about pleasure, as most wine is, but it’s even more about enjoying a summer day.”

L TO R. Jennifer Lucy at Estadio + perusing the wine selection at Whole Foods.

DRINK THE MORE DETAILS, THE BETTER

NOT ALL WINE IS VEGAN

If a trusted distributor, specific location (a region is helpful but not specific enough) and breakdown of each variety (if it’s a blend) is listed, you should be in good shape.

Whole Foods occasionally lets the consumer know the wine they’re purchasing is vegan. Isn’t all wine vegan? Not exactly.

Lucy pulled a bottle off the shelf at Whole Foods and highlighted the back label.

“They’re calling out the specific winemaker here.

So that means that this wine is made by a person, which leads me to believe this is someone doing it with care. That’s kind of interesting.”

NOT ALL PROVENCE IS EQUAL Lots and lots of bottles of rosé proclaim their origin from Provence, France, which is great because lots and lots of excellent rosé comes from Provence. But just because Provence is advertised doesn’t mean it’s good. Or bad.

Once again, the more details, the better. That’s why Lucy went with a bottle of Commanderie de la Bargemone. Yes, it’s from Provence, but the label specifies exactly where in Provence it hails from.

Related, great rosé does not have to come from Provence. Once again, rosé is a genre of wine. Just like how great reds and whites can hail from most anywhere, the same goes for rosé.

CINSAUT ISN’T BAD Rosé isn’t a type of wine, it’s a genre of wine. Some are blends, some are not. Lucy enjoys blends with cinsaut. So if you see a blend with the familiar grenache and syrah and new-to-you cinsaut, don’t stay away.

IMPORTERS MATTER This may be the most important thing to remember when shopping for rosé. If you have an importer you trust, you should be good. We purchased some bottles because of the reputation of their importer, not because of rosé expertise. Lucy recommends Skurnik Wines, Winebow, Kermit Lynch and Hand Picked Selections for starters.

If you’re not stocking the wine at award winning restaurants and bars, maybe ask your favorite general manager or sommelier who they buy from.

WINEMAKERS MATTER Similar to trusting an importer, Lucy also trusts winemakers. This may be applicable for the wine drinker that knows a specific bottle they enjoy at restaurants.

For example, Getariako Txakolina’s Ameztoi Rubentis is Estadio’s go-to rosé. So when Lucy spotted Getariako Txakolina’s Gañeta Rosé on Whole Foods’ shelf, that was the most obvious purchase of the trip. We also picked up a Bonny Doon Vineyard rosé and Muga rosé for the similar reasons.

“It just means that it’s not filtered with egg whites. A lot of wines are filtered with egg whites. So when I say vegan, that’s what it means to me, that it’s either unrefined completely or they use another process.”

AND IF YOU ABSOLUTELY HATE YOUR PURCHASE? Here’s a tip that extends beyond rosé.

“Put it in ice water and make it really, really cold. Because the colder the wine is, the more muted the flavors are going to be. And if you have a rosé that you like, I would definitely recommend taking it out of the fridge at least 15 minutes before you’re going to drink it, because you want it to warm up a little bit.”

If that doesn’t work, “You can always make sangria with a bottle of wine. If you add sugar and citrus and some fruit and add some more booze, you can come up with something fun.”

Estadio: 1520 14th St. NW, DC; estadio-dc.com // @estadiodc

EMBRACE

YOUR COMMUNITY 22 LOCAL LGBTQ+ BARS TO KNOW

42 | JUNE // JULY 2022

DRINK A great way to celebrate Pride Month is to put yourself out there and embrace your community. From sudsy breweries to over-the-top homes for drag, here is a list of the queer watering holes that call the DMV home.

QUEER-OWNED 18th & U Duplex Diner Over 20 years strong and on the road toward many more, D.C.’s Duplex Diner is the queer answer to late night diner camaraderie. 2004 18th St. NW, DC; duplexdiner.com // @duplexdiner

Dacha In Russian, it means “vacation cottage.”

In Shaw, it’s the beer garden that gay D.C. has claimed as one of their beloved homes. Stocked with a globe-trekking brews and a bites menu that mimics the classic beer hall, let yourself feel cozy at this vacation site just moments away from your front door. 1600 7th St. NW, DC; dachadc.com/beer-garden-shaw // @dachashaw

Denizens Brewing

At Jo and Rach’s place, all you need to be welcomed and have a great time is yourself. Swinging the door open for anyone who’s in the LGBTQ+ or actively supporting their queer loved ones, As You Are is the District’s space where you can be the real and authentic you. 500 8th St. SE, DC; asyouaredc.com // @asyouaredc

You will always have a seat at Denizens Brewing. Owned and operated by a loving family with roots in the LGBTQ+ community, this brewhouse opens the door and rooftop for anyone who wants to be their authentic self and bond with others doing the same. 1115 East-West Hwy. Silver Spring, MD + 4550 Van Buren St. Riverdale Park, MD; denizensbrewingco.com // @denizensbrewing

A League of Her Own/Pitchers

Red Bear Brewing Co.

as you are.

WORDS BY BREE RODRIGUES-OLIVEIRA + PHOTO BY BRANDON CHEN

BREW CREW

A joint force in promoting a proLGBTQ+ D.C., these side-by-side establishments seek to welcome everyone who needs a spot of their own in the District. These spaces provide a sporty, hometown bar feel. When you take a seat at either bar, you are welcomed with open arms. 2319 + 2317 18th St. NW, DC; alohodc.com // @alohodc; pitchersbardc.com // @pitchersdc

Freddie’s Beach Bar Freddie’s Beach Bar is the DMV’s destination for lively LGBTQ+ nightlife that likes to have a laugh. From taco tuesdays to karaoke nights to drag queens galore, there is never a dull moment at this queer-owned Arlington hotspot.

And like they’ve advertised, everyone is welcome. Yes, that also includes straight people. 555 23rd St. S Arlington, VA; freddiesbeachbar.com/arlington // @freddiesbeachbar

Licht After falling in love with the cozy cafés of Southern Germany’s Mannheim, Spencer Hurd recreated that comfy atmosphere with his sophisticated queer lounge, Licht. Filled with stunning art and versed in classic cocktails, Licht is your destination for a night out that feels like a night in. 1520 U St. NW, DC; lichtdc.com // @lichtdc

This brewery is no pit stop. It’s the destination and next site for your D.C. adventures. A bar rooted in the quest for fun and a philosophy of acceptance and sustainability, Red Bear Brewery is the place for queer people who appreciate a down-to-earth brewhouse vibe. Hosting drag events, trivia nights and a monthly social hour for trans-masc locals, stepping into Red Bear is like stepping into a warm bear hug. 209 M St. NE, DC; redbear.beer // @redbearbrewing

Wunder Garten A modern American take on the classic German biergarten, Wunder Garten is a queer welcoming space for anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of the brew. Pick from a wide selection of sudsy trinken while embracing the NoMa atmosphere. Alles gut und alles fun at this safe space for the District’s LGBTQ+. 1101 First St. NE, DC; wundergartendc.com // @wundergartendc

THEY’RE THE GREATEST DANCER DC9 While most of the District knows DC9 as a music venue, the queer community’s reason for frequenting this punk-rooted establishment is the out-of-this-world dance scene. Hosting a plethora of DISTRICT FRAY | 43

DRINK queer dance nights like the ’90s-reminiscent Peach Pit or the dark disco ball Sleaze, DC9 is your next spot for music that is unapologetically queer and makes you want to shake your cares away. 1940 9th St. NW, DC; dc9.club // @dc9club

The Dirty Goose If you’re looking for a DJ to save your nightlife, look no further than the welcoming rooftop of U Street’s Dirty Goose.

Consistently featuring appearances from spinmasters like Lexis Lane, Alex Love and Farrah Flosscett, this dance hub is so footstomping that even Britney herself would want to get down like no one’s around. 913 U St. NW, DC; thedirtygoosedc.com // @thedirtygoose

Green Lantern If you’re a queer person who refuses to spend your nights out sitting at the bar, then get yourself to Green Lantern and take part in some of their wicked dance nights. From underwearclad Dirtee Disco to the throwback-obsessed Rewind: Request Line, you’ll be shaking your rump more than you’ll be sipping your drink. They even have a Get Bent yoga night if that’s how you like to get your body moving. 1335 Green Ct. NW, DC; greenlanterndc.com // @greenlanternwdc

Kiki Featuring underwear contests, harness nights and showcases by some of D.C.’s most talented DJs, you’ll find your thrill at this U Street queer haven. Dance the night away. 915 U St. NW, DC; dcwannahaveakiki.com // @dcwannahaveakiki

Number Nine Making their name as a proper addition to the world of video bars, Number Nine makes their bar worth a second and third visit with their menu of phenomenal drinks. From spicy jalapeno margaritas to a friendly little lass called the violette lady, Number Nine isn’t just a palace to get a drink. 1435 P St NW, DC; numberninedc.com // @numberninedc

WHAT A DRAG JR’s Bar Whether you want a drag race watch party, an ode to pop icon divas or a chance to explore the vast expanse of gender, JR’s is your place for drag-stravaganza. This love letter to the LGBTQ+ community welcomes anyone with the drive to masquerade or a profound love for pageantry. 1519 17th St. NW, DC; jrsbar-dc.com // @jrs_bar_dc

Shaw’s Tavern Dinner and a show takes a new meaning at Shaw’s Tavern.

Featuring a weekly Sunday dinner hosted by Kristina Kelly, watch as a rotating cast of skilled entertainers show you what D.C. drag is made of. And if you’re more of a good eats fan than a drag fan, then by all means take advantage of Shaw menu classics like their fluffy hush puppies and Colonel Shaw’s chicken sandwich. 520 Florida Ave. NW, DC; shawstavern.com // @shawstavern

Trade

For men who are large, in-charge and have a couple of dance moves under their belts, Uproar Lounge is the bear bar that will satisfy all your wants and needs. From frequent spinnings

by D.C.’s premiere bear DJs to dance socials for those with fantastic fantasies, Uproar is by no means a whisper. 639 Florida Ave. NW, DC; uproarlounge.com // @uproarloungedc

At Trade, drag is not just a performance, it’s a community.

Proudly showcasing drag artists who range from feminine, masculine to non-gender-conforming, Trade is your space for drag nights that are over-the-top, filled with talent and ready to affirm and support anyone in the LGBTQ+ family. Featuring local talents like Rico Pico and Vagenesis, there is never a dull moment at this space for gender non-conformity and all things beyond. 1410 14th St. NW, DC; tradebardc.com // @tradebardc

COCKTAILS + MORE

WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME

Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse

DIK Bar

Uproar Lounge & Restaurant

Brunch, lunch, dinner. Whenever you choose to indulge in bread and circuses, make sure circus is at Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse. A D.C. staple founded by a loving Greek family, Annie’s has a drink list filled with countless classics and Annie’s originals on their way to being classics. From Logan Lemonades to the stellar Annie Darling, there is no shortage in drinks with legacies to last. 1609 17th St. NW, DC; anniesparamountdc.com // @anniesparamountdc

Jane Jane Get cozy with a gin-soaked felon. Try your hand at some spicedup short shorts. 14th Street’s Jane Jane is your next destination for cocktails worth their weight in gold. From carefully-crafted recipes to quality spirits and mixers, this LGBTQ+ take on the classic salon is your space for drinks that will undoubtedly make you a connoisseur of only the finest libations. 1705 14th St. NW, DC; janejanedc.com // @janejanedc

44 | JUNE // JULY 2022

It’s Dupont Circle’s favorite Italian restaurant. But for those in the District who pride themselves on being LGBTQ+, Dupont Italian Kitchen becomes DIK Bar, a second home and cozy getaway for the District’s queer community. Featuring great meals, stellar drinks and even better company, DIK Bar is the place for meeting up with friends and catching up with one another. A Dupont fixture since 1986, Dupont Italian Kitchen helps to put the community in LGBTQ+ community. 1637 17th St. NW, DC; dupontitaliankitchen.com/ // @dupontitaliankitchen

Larry’s Lounge Dog-friendly and ready to serve amazing drinks, Larry’s Lounge is generous and welcoming. Whether you’re new to the DMV or new to the LGBTQ+ community, Larry’s is a great place to make bonds and meet locals who accept you for you. Community is the backbone of this 18th Street gem. 1840 18th St. NW, DC; fb.com/larrysloungedc

MUSIC Ezra Furman WORDS BY MONICA ALFORD

leans toward the

Wild

Ezra Furman walks gingerly up to the mic.

She’s clad in a leather jacket, tight black dress, faded Doc Martens and hot pink tights, with most of her wavy hair covering her face.

Guitar in hand, she looks straight out into the audience and says, “Transgender in the state of Texas in March 2022. This is not a f—king around type of situation.”

She then launches into “Evening Prayer aka Justice” from her 2019 punk rock album “Twelve Nudes,” an immediate introduction to the rawer edges of her sound that swerve in an entirely different direction from the softer indie songs written for coming-of-age Netflix show “Sex Education.”

MUSIC Her lyrics evoke a sense of urgency, a call to action: “If you’ve got the taste for transcendence that translates your love into action / And participate in the fight now for a creed you can truly believe.”

Furman’s entire set has punk energy, and yet there’s a vulnerability to her onstage presence. She’s playing a SXSW showcase organized by songwriter, producer and 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry to highlight EqualizeHer, an initiative combating gender inequality in the music industry. Perry pauses Furman’s set at one point, making sure the audience hears it straight from her that Furman, who has been making music for 15+ years, is incredible and about to blow up the airwaves.

“That was a bit of a moment,” Furman says of Perry’s interruption.

Fast-forward to the end of April, when I’m on a 50-minute Zoom call with the prolific artist talking about everything from having a cocktail party with Talmudic-era rabbis to all the pleasant surprises found in motherhood to the excitement — and nerves — surrounding her upcoming tour.

Furman kicked things off in L.A. in late May, with a steady lineup of shows over the next four months including a stop at Baltimore’s Ottobar on September 17. Her new album “All Of Us Flames” won’t be released until August 26 but she’s steadily putting out new songs like “Forever in Sunset,” an ‘80s-infused rock ballad about a woman trying to warn her new lover that she’s trouble.

She describes her new songs as “a lot gentler and a lot less screamy,” and says she’s learning to sing “a little prettier.”

“I always wanted to lean toward the wild. Garage rock and punk rock are so in my blood. They’re so my home — [my] starting point.”

While her songwriting gig for “Sex Education” is close to her heart, she sees a bit of a disconnect between the fact that she’s best known for those songs but prefers the creative freedom of doing whatever she wants with her own albums — including performing them live.

“We don’t play anything we wrote for ‘Sex Ed.’ The show has used music from our records and we play those still, but we also made a lot of original music for it. So far, we’ve decided never to play any of it because that’s the corporate job and making records is my art life.”

But then again, she says, maybe she’s drawing the line too bold and bright between the two. Either way, she’s ready to be back on the road.

“I really missed playing rock ‘n’ roll,” she says. “It’s one of my top five favorite things to do.”

With such a large gap between live shows due to the pandemic, Furman says she feels a bit like a new artist making her debut.

“I feel like a little crinkly butterfly unfolding some new equipment,” she says with a quiet intensity. “I had a lot of second puberty feelings during lockdown. The shows kind of feel a bit like my quinceañera.”

A little over a year ago, she came out as a trans woman and a mother on Instagram, sharing her experience for a very specific reason. She wrote: “One problem with being trans is that we have so few visions of what it can look like to have an adult life, to grow up and be happy and not die young. When our baby was born, I had approximately zero examples that I had seen of trans women Photo by Tonje Thilesen.

raising children. So here’s one for anyone who wants to see one.

I’m a trans woman and a mom. This is possible.”

This new chapter of her public life has created uncertainty, and she’s understandably cautious as she navigates people’s reaction to who she is.

“There’s an element of extreme self-consciousness in putting out new music and putting out new pictures of myself, and a new version of myself that can be translated via media — like in an interview like this.”

The pendulum continues to swing for her on being open about her personal life. While she doesn’t see herself as an activist, she understands why just being herself carries weight in the trans community.

“Somehow, I made it my job to air the contents of my soul.

My work as an artist tends to be an exploration of my deepest, most visceral concern of the moment and that tends to overlap a lot with my personal life and being part of a hated group: trans people. When you are part of a group that has been demonized and politically weaponized, your personal life becomes almost like activism.”

Furman says it’s a charged event to show up in public at all when you are physically gender nonconforming, and small acts of support go a long way. “[When] people who aren’t trans interact with trans people, you should know we are looking for confirmation that you’re not part of the faction that wants us to disappear. We are looking for reasons to be comfortable or uncomfortable. Who can I trust? Who thinks I’m disgusting? Who is pissed off at me? Who might hurt me? It’s worth reminding cis people that being trans is a social war we didn’t ask for, and we’re watching out for enemy fire.”

This is why pronouns, she continues, are such a big part of the conversation.

“It is the quickest social signal that people aren’t at war with me as much of the world around me is.”

Her forthcoming record is, in a way, its own form of activism.

She describes it as a first-person plural album made “for use by threatened communities, and particularly ones I belong to: trans people and Jews.” This shift in her focus toward community has coincided with motherhood, and a keen interest in interdependence and finding her chosen family.

“I knew I wanted to be a parent, and yet I did not realize how much I would actively love it. It’s sort of freaking me out and making me not want to work on other things. I think it’s quite good for me — spiritually.”

Toward the end of our conversation, Furman looks at me and asks with immense sincerity, “Who are you?”

This encapsulates the earnestness with which she approaches everything in life — even an honest moment with a stranger. At the root of it all, it seems, is building connection.

“It seems obvious in retrospect, but I didn’t realize that you make your own community around your art project and your band. Whatever I talk about — it changes who listens. I feel more comfortable in a room with a higher percentage of queer people in it, and so it’s nice that that’s where I work.”

Learn more about Furman at ezrafurman.com and follow her on Instagram at @ezra.furman.visions. Catch her at Ottobar in Baltimore on September 17.

Ottobar: 2549 N Howard St. Baltimore, MD; theottobar.com // @theottobar DISTRICT FRAY | 47

Motown Meets

Thee Phantom & the Illharmonic Orchestra celebrate Juneteenth and mixed musical genres at Wolf Trap.

Mozart WORDS BY CAROLINE CLIONA BOYLE

Long before the resurgence of mashups on TikTok, Thee Phantom blended hip-hop and rap with a repertoire of classical music. In a special performance on Juneteenth, Thee Phantom will perform at Wolf Trap alongside the Illharmonic Orchestra, a 40-piece all African American ensemble.

Jeffrey McNeill and Andrea Coln are the powerhouse duo behind Thee Phantom. An internationally recognized project formed in 2001, Thee Phantom has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The Kennedy Center. McNeill is the selfproclaimed maestro of Thee Phantom, and Coln will perform alongside McNeill under her moniker The Phoenix.

McNeill expresses the group’s upcoming Juneteenth performance will be a show that alchemizes “the evolution of the Black experience and Black music.”

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and is a symbol of Black liberation. The holiday recognizes the continued efforts to dismantle systems of oppression that pervade societal structures.

The classical music industry is long known as lacking inclusivity of ethnic minorities. Thee Phantom’s pairing with The Illharmonic draws attention to the need for equity within orchestral classical music.

Coln emphasizes the importance of representation within the industry and its promising effect on aspiring musicians of minority backgrounds.

“If there’s a person who can come to our show and say ‘I see this differently, I know I can aspire to this,’ then we’ve done our jobs,” Coln says.

Chemistry beyond artistic compatibility also drew McNeill and Coln together 21 years ago. The pair are a couple entering their 11th year of marriage.

Jeffrey McNeill at Carnegie Hall. Photo courtesy of the artist.

MUSIC The couple shares a love for layering the simple melodies of classical music with the contemporary vibrancy of rap and hip-hop. Growing up in North Philly, McNeill’s exposure to a wide variety of music — from Motown to Mozart — spurred an enthusiasm to mix the Beastie Boys with Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

Thee Phantom’s unique combination of sound challenges the misconception that classical music and hip-hop are dissonant genres. In actuality, both hiphop and rap can match the cadence of classical music, McNeill explains.

“The greatest composers will tell you there’s only 12 notes,” he says. “It’s how you rearrange those 12 notes that makes sense to you. [Combining] classical music, jazz and R&B collide doesn’t feel different to me. When I combine [the sounds], it feels like a natural progression.”

Coln echoes the sentiment, emphasizing, “These two genres are not as different as people think. If there’s one person who comes to the show with a different idea of what hip-hop is and how they feel about the mixing [the genre], they can also [find] value and a connection.”

A Juneteenth Celebration with Thee Phantom & the Illharmonic Orchestra is June 19 at Wolf Trap. Tickets start at $27, gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; wolftrap.org // @wolf_trap

Summer at Nature’s Music Venue Nestled in the lush woods of Vienna, Virginia, Wolf Trap blends two innately grounding entities — music and nature.

The venue is housed on the only national park committed to advancing the performing arts, and this year’s summer series will showcase a wide range of genres, from orchestral music to indie sounds.

Director of programming Diana Ezerins says Wolf Trap’s multiple stages — both indoors and out — allow visitors to experience the performing arts in any manner they prefer. Whether a picnic and dancing on the grounds for a more social experience, or booking seats for closer proximity to the stage, visitors can craft their individual experiences.

At the core of Wolf Trap’s summer experience is the desire to further an intergenerational love for music.

With an eye toward community engagement, “The only thing better for a young person engaged in music is to see other people who love [music, too],” Ezerins says.

This year, notable events include Broadway in The Park, Masters of the Mic and a performance by The Washington Ballet.

The venue’s summer series culminates with Joyfully Together led by The Washington Chorus’s Dr. Eugene Rogers, an intergenerational, intercultural musical experience joining 8,000 choir singers from the DMV in community and song. The multilayered performance will include 15-minute solo performances of each individual vocal ensemble, in addition to pop-up performances on the grounds.

“We’re just happy to be able to reflect the region we live in and respond to what’s happening in society through this awesome platform,” Ezerins says.

DISTRICT FRAY | 49

MUSIC

HOW STEP AFRIKA!

KEEPS IT MOVING WORDS BY EMERSON DAMERON

Step Afrika! is a contemporary dance company showcasing top-of-the-game performers in the tradition of stepping, an integral staple of Black culture, particularly for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The group’s latest production is “Drumfolk,” a high-intensity, celebratory and participatory tribute to the role of rhythm and percussion in the African American diaspora.

“Drumfolk” will run in D.C. at Arena Stage from May 31 to June 26.

C. Brian Williams is the founder and producer for Step Afrika! For 28 years, he’s worked to build a platform for artists and performers, working with agents to ensure bookings and tours run smoothly, raising funds, reviewing grant proposals and pouring his heart into this one-of-a-kind arts organization. We chatted with Williams about the inspiration behind “Drumfolk” and the importance of creativity and movement in modern life.

District Fray: What was Step Afrika! doing when Covid-19 hit?

C. Brian Williams: When the pandemic first hit, Step was in the middle of a three-week, sold-out off-Broadway run. We were getting ready for what might have been our biggest performance year ever.

“Drumfolk” just hit this stage in New York and was getting great reviews. The pandemic hit right before the third weekend of the show — we actually saw the lights go down in the theater on Broadway. We were performing at 42nd and 7th, right in the heart of everything. And the next day, it was vacant.

about. The first is the Stono Rebellion of 1739. I would love for anyone who’s coming to this show to just Google that so they come with a little bit of a background to the story. This is not a play — we won’t walk you through exactly what happened in the Stono Rebellion. Also Google the Negro Act of 1740.

Then when you come to the show, it will be even richer. Lastly, I would say come ready to participate. The more energy the audience gives to the artists, the more they can give right back.

How did Step Afrika! respond?

We shifted to digital platforms and started making videos, doing Zoom rehearsals and rehearsing outside. In the middle of June, we rehearsed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and a rain shower cut rehearsal early. It was crazy trying to pivot and figure out how to still create and maintain 28 years of performing arts history. I’m proud to say Step Afrika! kept our artists employed throughout the entire pandemic without incident. We provided health insurance for all our artists and continue to do so. I think we doubled down on our support in providing full-time, excellent employment for artists.

For those who spend most of our time working at desks, how would you suggest bringing some physical movement into our lives?

One of my favorite movement exercises is just walking, to be honest. As a former dancer, I now spend most of my time at a desk and there’s no way I have the time and the stamina to workout [the way] my artists do. But I can get up and walk for 30 or 45 minutes. I can do some very, light pushups, sit-ups and training just to keep the body active. I think gentle, consistent exercise is just as good for the person who works at their desk as for a professional dancer, football player or soccer player, or whatever — just taking care of our bodies through basic exercise.

What would you like people to know before they attend “Drumfolk”?

First and foremost, “Drumfolk” is inspired by two very significant moments in American history I would guess 99% of Americans know nothing

“Drumfolk” is at Arena Stage’s Fichandler Stage from May 31 through June 26, 2022. Tickets run from $41-$95 and can be purchased at arenastage.org.

“Drumfolk” cast. Photo by Jacob Andrew Iwinski.

Arena Stage: 1101 Sixth St. SW, DC; arenastage.org // @arenastage DISTRICT FRAY | 51

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THIS PAGE. DJ Chan Don. Photo by Interstellar Studio. OPPOSITE PAGE. Alicia Horton above. Ari Schwartz to the right. Photos courtesy of subjects.

ALICIA HORTON SHE/HER YOUTH OUTREACH DIRECTOR OF TRANS MARYLAND

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What Pride means to you Living authentically and unapologetically, even when your favorite thing to do is play video games.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Not changing the way you act around us and still being the same friend you were before fiding out we were LGBT. Your identity-affirming song “Listen” from The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin, but I also love “Mama Told Me” by Alex Newell. @transmaryland // transmaryland.org

ARI SCHWARTZ SHE/HER NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUENCY DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AIPAC) What Pride means to you Moving through the world authentically and unapologetically with a deep and sincere sense of self-love, a profound respect for lesbian history and building lesbian community.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Spend money at lesbian/queer establishments (i.e.

As You Are. DC in Southeast DC) Your identity-affirming song “Closer” by Tegan and Sara @apschwartzesq // aipac.org DISTRICT FRAY | 53

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KATIE PARK THEY/THEM, EMMA CLEVELAND SHE/HER + DAVID COMBS THEY/THEM BAND MEMBERS OF BAD MOVES What Pride means to you While none of us have a strong

emotional attachment to the Pride Parade or the corporate events, we do find meaning in Pride where it’s bringing visibility to the trans and queer activists who have come before and fought for queer rights. And it can be an opportunity to get together with our queer friends and wear our coolest outfits.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Stay focused and active in response to the growing, regressive right wing movements to enact laws taking rights away from trans people. Don’t be transphobic. Donate to the Trans Lifeline.

Your identity-affirming song We wrote several songs on our first LP, “Tell No One,” that are about exploring queer identity as a youth: “Spirit FM,” “Crushed Out,” “One Thing” and “Cool Generator,” to name a few. Our 2020 record, “Untenable,” has a song called “Cape Henlopen” about gender identity and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. @badmovesdc // badmoves.bandcamp.com

54 | JUNE // JULY 2022 THIS PAGE. Bad Moves. Photo courtesy of subject. OPPOSITE PAGE. Billy Dixon above. Photo by Jay Lee. Blaq Dinamyte below. Photo courtesy of subject.

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What Pride means to you A moment to reflect on the legacy of queerness’ fight to stay alive throughout the centuries and the role of the trans angels who led the way. I’m not so much into corporate America’s attempt to both whitewash and profit off of a literal days’ long riot that ignited a revolution.

But I do love a good ki, so it’s complicated.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Understand we are more than just LGBTQ and we deserve allyship beyond and before June. Give a crap on July 1.

Your identity-affirming song I love the song “Feel Special” by the K-pop girl group TWICE. It’s about the power of friendship getting you through the hardest times and it reminds me so much of the chosen family over created within the queer community in professional wrestling and in my personal life. It’s a serious bop and that’s on period. @thebillydixon

BLAQ DINAMYTE HE/HIM DRAG KING What Pride means to you A chance to celebrate with the community, like a family reunion of sorts.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Support the community by showing up when we need it and where it counts like policy changes and voting interests.

Your identity-affirming song Anything by Incubus or ’90s house music. “Princes of the Universe’’ by Queen works too. @blaq_dinamyte_

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COLTON GIBBONS HE/THEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAKE SOCIETY CO What Pride means to you Living in my truth, happily and fully while being empowered and celebrated.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community People can support the LGBTQ+ community as well as the trans and gender-expansive community every month by volunteering, buying nonprofit or collective’s merch, resharing posts and just staying educated on pressing issues and needs of the community.

Your identity-affirming song “Fiel” by Los Legendarios, Wisin and Jhay Cortez @colton.gibbons // cakesocietyco.org

CASEY DAWES SHE/THEY YOGA TEACHER What Pride means to you A continuous relationship with growth and personal well-being.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Supporting the LGBTQIA community every month looks like listening, showing up and engaging with community directly.

Your identity-affirming song “Try Jesus” by Toby Nwigwe and Jabari Johnson @cmfdinc2.0 // cmfdyoga.com

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THIS PAGE. Colton Gibbons above. Photo courtesy of subject. Casey Dawes below. Photo by Craig Hudson at Yoga Heights. OPPOSITE PAGE. Crystal Edge above. Daniel Penchina below. Photos courtesy of subjects.

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What Pride means to you Being unabashedly yourself. Society has come a long way but there are still people in this world who want to erase us from history. Look at the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida. We need to let these people know we aren’t going anywhere. More importantly, we need to do it for the young people. As a young, closeted kid, I remember how powerful it was to see an out and proud person on the street. I want to be that for someone else.

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Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Support queer spaces. There are so many amazing queer spaces in the DMV that need your support all year in order to stay open. There are so many queer individuals who make their living in these spaces and when a queer bar closes. It can be really devastating. Also please consider donating to a queer charity. Homelessness is a huge problem in the trans community, especially for trans youth and there are a ton of organizations that work toward helping trans women. You can also donate clothes and makeup for trans individuals who need it.

Your identity-affirming song ”People Like Us” by Kelly Clarkson @itscrystaledge

DANIEL PENCHINA HE/HIM INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMYAL What Pride means to you An opportunity to pause and appreciate how far we’ve come as a community — and how much work remains ahead of us — and celebrate one another in the space we share.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community There are so many ways. Nonprofits and movement organizations always need financial support, but also volunteering. We at SMYAL rely heavily on volunteers and mentoring to support queer youth. Also, by doing the work to understand the issues facing the LGBTQ community, fostering welcoming spaces and just being nice to one another, we can make our community that much more welcoming and affirming.

Your identity-affirming song “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers @dpenchina // smyal.org DISTRICT FRAY | 57

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DJ CHAN DON SHE/HER LOCAL DJ What Pride means to you The authority to be who I am without acknowledging judgment.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Create affirming spaces and take into consideration there’s always room to learn more.

Your identity-affirming song “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris and Rihanna or “FourFiveSeconds’’ by Rihanna. @djchan_don // djchandon.com

HEATHER HAMILTON SHE/HER PHD CANDIDATE OF LINGUISTICS AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY What Pride means to you The assertion, affirmation and celebration of the existence of queer people. That we are here, we are queer and we aren’t going anywhere. Pride means pushing back, for all to see, against the norms, traditions, and institutionalized and internalized beliefs many people hold about others. Pride is about change and growth and as a result, it is a living, always-evolving beast. Pride means community, solidarity and pleasure. I also see Pride as a showcase of the work we have yet to do, as a time to sit down and listen to the people who are saying — in whatever way they choose — Pride is still not inclusive or representative, and are doing something about it.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Learn, listen, look. Take time to learn about people who are different from you, especially about those who are a part of a marginalized group (in this case, queers). Do your own work to learn so as not to burden members of marginalized communities when accessible resources already exist. When people of a marginalized group tell you something is affecting them (e.g., heteronormativity, homophobia, transphobia), listen to and believe them. And finally, look around to see whether you have LGBTQ+ people (or members of any marginalized group) in your life. If you don’t, or not enough, it means you are enabling or complicit in an unsafe space and you need to challenge the systems in place that make it that way.

Your identity-affirming song “Marceline” by Willow Smith @heather.ham 58 | JUNE // JULY 2022

DJ Chan Don above. Photo by Interstellar Studio.

Heather Hamilton below. Photo courtesy of subject.

JAPER BOWLES HE/HIM DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUESTIONING AFFAIRS

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What Pride means to you The celebration of diversity of queerness and acceptance.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community PUT YOUR PRONOUNS IN YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE. Your identity-affirming song “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen @japer_bowles // communityaffairs.dc.gov/ molgbtqa

JAY BARBER HE/HIM FOUNDER OF WICKED MONDAZE WITH DJ MIM + BAR DC What Pride means to you Pride means exactly what it means.

I love that I have built and am a part of a community that is wide and deep and different. We all have different perspectives and ways of navigating this life and it has given me a strength I didn’t know I had before coming out. I have so much pride in belonging to this community.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Listen to the LGBTQ+ community and directly help people within that community in whatever way you have the capacity to do so.

Your identity-affirming song “Stay” by Meshell Ndegeocello @jaywalkingdc

Japer Bowles above. Jay Barber below.

Photos courtesy of subjects.

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JR NEXUS RUSS HE/THEY SOCIAL ACTIVIST + FOUNDER OF DEAR NEXUS What Pride means to you As a queer person who’s Black and Filipino American, Pride means being all that you are all the time, and regularly affirming and reminding yourself you are more than enough and that you belong in a world that tries to tell us otherwise.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Just know you don’t have to go far to support LGBTQ+ individuals, because many of us hold intersectional identities.

Whatever communities you are part of, we’re there and could use your support to be all of us all the time.

Your identity-affirming song “That’s What I Want” by Lil Nas X, just to see and hear him unapologetically sing about what he wants. It’s affirming to see more folx living at some of the intersections I do who are taking up space in a world that’s literally trying to hurt and kill us. @awayoflife0 // askdearnexus.com

JACQ JILL THEY/SHE LOCAL DJ What Pride means to you Pride has morphed over the years for me. It originally solidified as one of the first places I felt more than accepted, but celebrated. Current day, it’s when my queerness feels most powerful and I hold fast to finding community with others rejected by the mainstream. My work is guided by the knowledge any and all cultural innovation is derived from the leadership and creativity of Black and brown trans and queer people. Understanding this, Pride is about celebrating those who fought before us, doing the work of removing our internal bias and demanding the upheaval of discriminatory laws against us. Above all, Pride is a movement and our continued momentum is essential.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Obvious ways include political activism, for example advocating for mutual aid and the redistribution of wealth. Also ensuring current queer protections stay intact. I think people forget each of us have our own platform in some capacity. It may be with our art, at work or our interpersonal lives. Whatever power you have, use it to include people in our community. Chances are, if it’s something cool queers did it first. Elevating us will at the very least make you cooler by proxy ;) Your identity-affirming song These songs affirm my identity, encompassing my love of underground music, complexities of once being a closeted person and reclaiming sexuality. “Another Life” by D’Angelo & The Vanguard from “Black Messiah,” “Big Fun” by Inner City, “Weather Channel” by Sheryl Crow, ‘Tecno Misógino” by Moderna + Theus Mago. @itsjacqjill 60 | JUNE // JULY 2022

JR Nexus Russ above. Photo courtesy of The Welders. Jacq Jill below. Photo by Renie Harrison.

LISA STEPHEN FRIDAY SHE/HER FRONTWOMAN OF LISA JACKSON & GIRL FRIDAY

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What Pride means to you I always associate Pride with community. When I see queer people gathering together, it informs me we are never alone. We should be proud of ourselves and of each other for surviving and thriving in a world that isn’t inclusive to us.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community I think it is very simple. It’s about nonqueer people creating a society that does not tolerate any kind of queer phobia.

If non-queer people support religions, politicians or God forbid, Chick-fil-A, then they are upholding systems and beliefs that are harmful and oppressive to queer people. Stop doing that and you will be supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Your identity-affirming song “Man Enough to be a Woman” by Jayne County @lisastephenfriday

MARK CHALFANT HE/HIM ARTISTIC + EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER What Pride means to you Radical self-acceptance and self-love, which so many people struggle all their lives to attain.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Seek out art by LGBTQ+ artists — music, film, poetry, theatre. And tip your server well.

Your identity-affirming song ”Message of Love” by the Pretenders @mark.chalfant // witdc.org Lisa Stephen Friday above. Photo by Ethan Hill.

Mark Chalfant below. Photo by Mikail Faalasli.

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MCKENZIE BEARD SHE/HER THE HEALTH 202 RESEARCHER AT THE WASHINGTON POST What Pride means to you Being able to walk through life authentically and honestly, to proclaim to yourself and the world, “I deserve to take up space exactly the way that I am, no matter others’ perceptions of the way I love.”

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Taking the time to educate yourself about the strife the LGBTQ+ community has persevered through, in addition to our successes and momentous contributions to modern culture, is a key aspect of being an informed ally and an educated member of our society yearround.

Your identity-affirming song “Expectations” by Belle and Sebastian @beardkenzie // mckenziebeard.com

MEREDITH WHITE-BELL SHE/HER FIREFIGHTER + FOOTBALL PLAYER What Pride means to you Pride. This is a deep question because of how I grew up. My family is very religious and when I discovered I was attracted to women in high school, it wasn’t acceptable in my house or at school. I did not explore my sexuality until college and still did not fully embrace it until after.

After some family drama/trauma I decide to stop living a lie and embrace who I am. I found pride in who I am, every aspect of myself. I am a masculine of center person so wearing clothes that aligned with me inside was a huge part of embracing and accepting who I am and how I wanted to show up in the world.

My mission has been to foster an environment for my daughters that allows them to be whomever or whatever they want to be. One of my coworkers came to me a few months 62 | JUNE // JULY 2022

ago because her niece was having some trouble at school around her sexuality and gender identity. Just being able to provide a listening ear, someone she could relate to and feel comfortable talking with, in my mind was huge for me. It is something I did not have growing up. I guess I have become something of a mentor, which really makes me happy. Something so seemingly small I know can have a big impact on this young person.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Get to know us. There’s not a doubt in my mind everyone knows, lives across from, works with someone in the LGBTQ+ community. If we took time to get to know each other, people would be pleasantly surprised we are not much different from them.

Your identity-affirming song I love this question because music is my favorite artistic expression. In “Diamond,” Rihanna has a line that says, “Find light in the beautiful sea, I chose to be happy.” @mer3b3ar

McKenzie Beard above. Meredith White-Bell below. Photos courtesy of subjects.

ONRAÉ LATEAL WATKINS SHE/HER

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What Pride means to you The queer and queer-affirming community I immerse myself in every day.

It is the joy I get when someone affirms my androgynous outfit of the day.

Pride is the fluttering butterflies that visit my stomach when a mentee seeks my guidance on how to share their gender pronoun evolution with their parents. It is the excitement I feel when I receive a kiss from a beautiful queer and Black partner. It is the awkwardness I combat when I shop in the men’s section at my favorite clothing store. It is the smile that overwhelms my entire face when a young queer person stops to tell me they hope to be as fly as me one day. Pride is what I hope to always offer myself and others as I evolve as a super-talented Black and queer woman.

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Encourage people to mind their business. If someone decides to use pronouns she/her on a Tuesday and they/them on a Saturday, that’s their business. If your cisgender friend decides to wear a pink frilly jacket with gaudy jewelry and bright lipstick to Sunday brunch, then rock hypermasculine attire to work on Monday, that’s their business. If you decided to go on a date with a trans nonbinary person three months ago, then find interest in dating a cisgender woman tomorrow, that’s your business.

Your identity-affirming song “Lost in London” by Asiahn. I love compositions that emote a trap soul vibe, especially songs about queer love and sensuality. This is the first time I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing a popular Black femme presenting singer-songwriter who identifies as a lesbian openly reflect on an intimate experience with the same sex so gently and so vividly. I hope to continue to hear artists expand their lyricism beyond the gender binary. This song helps me feel seen and represented in a world that often feels very restrictive toward queer culture and the LGBTQ+ community. As a Black queer artist and public programmer, I do my best to remain authentic in how I express my gender. Songs like “Lost in London” only help to affirm my evolving Black queer journey. @onraelateal // onraelateal.com

PATRICK KERN HE/HIM OWNER OF LITTLE DISTRICT BOOKS What Pride means to you To borrow a phrase from Alok Vaid-Menon, Pride is my reminder “we are a community that is defined by love.”

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community I think the most important thing is solidarity. When one part of the community is attacked, we all need to respond together to show our strength.

Your identity-affirming song It’s a bit cliche, but I always think of “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn because even though it’s supposed to be a sad love song, it is about resilience. @littledistrictbooks // littledistrictbooks.com Onraé Watkins above. Patrick Kern below. Photos courtesy of subjects.

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STEPHANIE MERCEDES SHE/HER QUEER LATINX ARTIST + PODCASTER What Pride means to you Simultaneously a space for queer joy and queer mourning. Pride for me is normally expressed through my artwork. How can I create spaces for my community to honor those who lost their lives for our liberation?

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community Support queer artists.

Work to end gun violence.

Remember the world is intersectional.

Your identity-affirming song I am currently working on producing an opera for 2022-2023 with CulturalDC. I am pulling different pitches and tones from my practice of melting down weapons and transforming them into sculptures and musical instruments. I think the soundscapes I am composing — based in the material practice of turning a negative into a positive — maybe doesn’t affirm my queer identity, but reflects its possibilities. @mercedes_theartist // stephaniemercedes.com

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Stephanie Mercedes. Photo courtesy of subject.

CULTURE District Fray: What was your casting experience like for “Beauty and the Beast”? Did you originally THE audition for Belle?

Jade Jones: No, not at all. The casting director reached E PRID out to me and said, “We want you in the show. We just E don’t know where yet.” I never saw myself in any part of GUID [“Beauty and the Beast”]. For Mrs. Potts, I felt I was too young. And then for Belle, well, there has never been a Belle like me. So, I was like, “Where are they going to put me? Am I going to be a spoon? I’m too popular to be spoon” — but I did need a job. I got a call from the casting director a week later wanting me to come in and read for Belle. The director of the show, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, cast me in my first equity show, so I was comfortable when I went in the room and I just did it. I didn’t try to recreate anybody else’s version of Belle. I took the script and applied it to me, and I left feeling really good about it — but also left feeling they could go another way. If I get it, I get it. If I don’t, that just means it wasn’t for me and doors open for something else. And then the next day I got the call saying I got it.

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Jade Jones’ love for music runs in their blood. As a child, Jones would tag along on tour with their mom and aunt, a gospel duo. Having grown up surrounded by music and performing, it’s no surprise the DMV native has now found success as an actor, singer, songwriter and rapper under the moniker Litty Official.

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Starring in numerous musical theatre productions throughout the DMV since 2014, Jones garnered critical acclaim last November as Belle in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at Olney Theatre. Now signed with an agency, Jones has their sights set on Broadway, and plans to make a return in 2023 to reprise their role as Belle in Olney’s production next season.

Despite being on the theatre track since high school, becoming a recording artist happened more on a whim. During the first summer of the Covid-19 pandemic when theaters shut down, Jones created a mixtape in their bedroom using GarageBand and Litty Official was born. Since then, they toured at festivals, including the Juneteenth festival in Harlem and New York PopsUp, dropped another mixtape in the summer of 2021 — and hinted a third one is in the works.

We spoke with Jones about their dual personas, D.C.’s music scene and tips on celebrating Pride.

Photo courtesy of subject.

How does your theatre stage presence compare to performing as Litty Official?

I turn into a different person when I’m on stage doing my own thing as opposed to having to strictly follow somebody’s script or music. [As Litty Official], I love for the audience to turn up. I really enjoy working on Litty Official because it’s me. And it’s a part of me I don’t get to express all the time. Whereas Jade Jones the actor, there’s a recipe I have to follow.

What’s great about D.C.’s theatre and music scene?

There’s so much music. Aside from the rap thing, D.C.’s one of the top cities in the country for theatre. The musical theatre is great, but also the jazz scene is amazing. I love to go to Mr. Henry’s in Southeast and sit in on some of the jazz jams. It’s so rich for music and culture in D.C. because there’s so much history.

As a LGBTQ+ artist, what can people do to support safe queer spaces and LGBTQ+ rights during Pride month and beyond?

Give your drag queens a dollar. Support your drag queens of color, your trans and nonbinary drag queens. One thing I hate is when people go to drag shows and do not tip the performers.

They think the performers are just there because they love it, which they do, but they are also making it their livelihood.

Make sure you tip and respect your fellow drag queens.

Favorite D.C. drag queens? Tierra Misu, Echinacea Monroe and Vagenesis. First theatre production? “Fiddler on the Roof.” Disney character you most identify with?

Dijonay Jones from “The Proud Family.” Biggest musical inspirations? Lady Gaga, Billie Holiday, Elvis Presley, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Drake. Current artist you’re listening to on repeat? Summer Walker. Go-to de-stressor: Nice cup of café au lait and a blunt.

To learn more about Jade Jones, visit jadethecreative.com and follow them on Instagram @littyofficial. Listen to Litty Official’s music on Spotify, Apple Music or SoundCloud.

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Pride Month, a chance to highlight all shades of the rainbow, is finally here. As the closest return to normal since 2019, celebrate all things LGBTQ+ at identity-affirming dance parties, drag show extravaganzas, film screenings and the annual parade.

We also don’t want this month to pass without recognizing the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, whose participants paved the way for ongoing LGBTQ+ advocacy to achieve equity in the U.S. To commemorate, brush up on queer history, then let loose and immerse yourself in all the Pride.

ONGOING BEER CLUB WEDNESDAYS Every Wednesday, members of the Dacha Beer Club meet to sample three stellar selections from an extraordinary brewery.

Taste the best of craft beers at one of the District’s most queerfriendly hot spots. Free. 4 p.m. Dacha Beer Garden Shaw: 1600 7th St. NW, DC; dachadc.com/beer-club // @dachashaw

DINNER N DRAG A dragtastic twist on the classic dinner and a show. Featuring charismatic drag star Kristina Kelly and an ever-changing cast of phenomenal entertainers, this Sunday spectacle caters to those who love over-the-top performances with a slap of class.

Reservations required. Free. 8 p.m. Shaw’s Tavern: 520 Florida Ave. NW, DC; shawstavern.com // @shawstavern

DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR The summer series Drag Queen Story Hour returns to inspire a love of reading, teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others. Join Shear Queen at this familyfriendly literary event across the street from The Line Hotel at Unity Park. Free. 11 a.m. Unity Park: 1771-1795 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; admodc.org/storytime // @dragqueenstoryhour 66 | JUNE // JULY 2022

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GET BENT MEN’S YOGA CLASS It’s always handy to be a bit loose and limber. Join the Get Bent men’s yoga class every Wednesday, a great chance to stay active and healthy while chatting with other members of the gay community. Don’t miss this weekly salute to LGBTQ+ health and happiness. Free. 6:30 p.m. Green Lantern: 1335 Green Ct. NW, DC; greenlanterndc.com // @greenlanternwdc

JOHNNIE & JORGE’S KARAOKE NIGHT Sing your heart out. Johnnie & Jorge’s is the queer Thursday night karaoke party that invites you to play your favorite song and croon along the best you can. Whether it’s songs from 2000s pop princesses like Britney or new queer dynamos like Lil Nas X, all queer anthems are welcomed and cued with request. You don’t have to be an amazing singer to participate.

Just come in with a great attitude. Free. 7 p.m. As You Are DC: 500 8th St. SE, DC; asyouaredc.com // @asyouaredc

WEDNESDAY MUSICAL TRIVIA Who knew listening to the “Hamilton” soundtrack at the gym could come in handy? Wednesday nights at Wunder Garten are musical trivia nights. Gather up your Broadway-obsessed friends and play side-by-side in a bar night dedicated to the phantoms and green witches of your favorite staged shows. You could even win prizes and show off how much of a musicals whiz kid you are. Free. 7 p.m. Wunder Garten: 1101 First St. NE, DC; wundergartendc.com // @wundergartendc

6.3-6.12 CAPITAL PRIDE 2022: REUNITED After a pause due to the pandemic, the Capital Pride Alliance is fully back organizing its annual celebration of Washington’s LGBTQ+ community. With more than 300 exhibitors spread NOTE: All descriptions courtesy of event hosts and edited for clarity.

CULTURE over Pride’s parade, street festival and many parties, pridegoers can enjoy music, food and drink in an identity-affirming environment. Various prices, times and locations. Capital Pride Festival: capitalpride.org // @capitalpridedc

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For Pride Week, Adams Morgan’s outdoor film series will be showing a documentary from local filmmaker Josh Davidsburg. The film chronicles Muffy Blake Stephyns, a D.C. bureaucrat by day and drag queen by night. Join by 8 p.m. for a special Q&A with the filmmaker and star, a free cookie from Insomnia Cookies and freshly popped popcorn from Gifted Curators. Free. 8 p.m. Marie Reed Soccer Field: 2200 Champlain St. NW, DC; admodc.org/movies // @admobid

BENT: PRIDE MONTH KICKOFF Start off Pride Month with an action-packed concert featuring many talented LGBTQ+ voices. Showcasing artists like the We The Kingz, Sweet Pickles and hosting honors done by Jaxknife & Vagenesis, this event will kick-start June in the most queerfriendly way possible. Join in on the affirming fun and party to some of the LGBTQ+ community’s most dynamic musicians. $25. 10 p.m. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

“UNBREAKABLE”: A MUSICAL ABOUT QUEER HISTORY

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6.10 BOOTY REX PRIDE PARTY

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. presents the East Coast premiere of this choral work sharing the untold stories of our community. Using different music genres and told in multiple scenes, “Unbreakable” presents stories from American LGBTQ+ history including Harvard’s Secret Court of 1920, the life of transgender activist Sylvia Rivera, The Lavender Scare, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, the AIDS crisis and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Jane Addams, among others. $25+. 3 p.m. + 8 p.m. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; thelincolndc.com // @thelincolndc; gmcw.org/unbreakable // @gmcwashington

DJs Kristy la rAt, Natty Boom, Junebullet, Wannabe, bent and mothershiester have battled sandstorms, flooding, homophobes, scorpions and more to excavate the most thumping, beat-driven dinosaur. Take a trip to the Black Cat dancefloor for the unveiling of the Booty Rex, a creature scientists feared was lost to the world forever. These musical, time-traveling paleontologists will transform their legendary annual party into a Jurassic-sized pride. $20. 8 p.m. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

6.5

This year’s race proceeds benefit the local LGBTQ+ and disenfranchised youth organizations, including but not limited to Team DC’s student-athlete scholarship and the Wanda Alston Foundation. $55. 7 p.m. Historic Congressional Cemetery: 1801 E St. SE; congressionalcemetery.org // @congcemetery; dcfrontrunners.org // @dcfrontrunners

CRAFT AND COCKTAILS: CROSS STITCH PRIDE EDITION Get your pride on with a cross stitch project that reflects the inclusion and celebration of all peoples. You’ll receive instruction on how to make a stitch, how to read a pattern and how to make a beautiful image on cloth. $40. 11 a.m. Shop Made in DC: 325 Morse St. NE, DC; shopmadeindc.com // @shopmadeindc

6.6 NOAHFINNCE Noah Adams is a voice for a generation who is fed up from being told how to be. A virtuoso performer, NOAHFINNCE is ready to flip off tradition and roles society expects him to fulfill.

Adams brings his own alternative and no-nonsense take on LGBTQ+ issues. $15-$20. 7 p.m. Songbyrd: 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

“OUTSPOKEN”: WOMEN’S SPOKEN WORD & NIGHT OF OTHER QUEER EXPRESSION An annual celebration of women’s spoken word and other queer expressions, the space is open to all, welcoming any gender identity and especially encouraging the trans women and cis women community to share words on the mic. Audience members can expect a diverse chorus of voices, and an array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies and more. $10-$20. 8 p.m. Busboys and Poets Brookland: 625 Monroe St. NE, DC; busboysandpoets.com // @busboysandpoets

DC FRONT RUNNERS PRIDE RUN 5K

FUSE: PRIDE WOMXN’S PARTY W/ DJ ELECTROX + DJ HONEY + DJ MIM The efforts of queer womxn past and present have revolutionized the world around us. In honor of this community, Tagg Magazine and LURe DC are co-hosting a Pride party for all the queer-identifying womxn of the DMV. Featuring amazing sets by DJs Electrox, Honey and MIM. $20.

10 p.m. Howard Theatre: 620 T St. NW, DC; thehowardtheatre.com // @howardtheatre

RIOT! THE CAPITAL PRIDE OFFICIAL OPENING PARTY Featuring a star-studded appearance by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner SYMONE, kick off your Pride weekend at D.C.’s largest Pride party and main event. $20+. 9 p.m. Echostage: 2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE; echostage.com // @echostagedc; capitalpride.org/event/opening-party // @capitalpridedc

6.10-6.13 KINETIC PRIDE DC 2022 WEEKEND D.C.’s premiere nightlife producers KINETIC are partnering with Capital Pride Alliance to celebrate Pride. KINETIC Pride DC incorporates top talent, unique performances and stunning visuals for a Pride you won’t forget. $69+. 10 p.m. Echostage: 2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE; echostage.com // @echostagedc DISTRICT FRAY | 67

CULTURE

6.11

6.21

CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE

TRANSMASCULINE & NONBINARY SOCIAL HOUR

This year a modified route will honor our history and acknowledge the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in D.C. while respecting the origins and importance of taking to the streets in our fight for equality. Be prepared to experience one of the largest Pride parades to ever take place in the Capital City. Free. 3 p.m. Logan & Dupont Circle Neighborhoods: capitalpride.org/event/parade // @capitalpridedc

Red Bear Brewing Co. is once again hosting their transmasculine + nonbinary social hour. Red Bear’s social hour is your shot at putting community back in trans community.

Free. 6 p.m. Red Bear Brewing Co: 209 M St. NE, DC; redbear.beer // @redbearbrewing

MIXTAPE PRIDE PARTY

6.24

Witness queer D.C.’s wonderful amalgamation of house, indie and electropop. 9:30 Club is proud to host their MIXTAPE Pride Party. A dance party promoting queer love and amazing music, come through for DJ sets from phenomenal artists like Matt Bailer, Keenan Orr, Tezrah and LEMZ. All are welcomed at this event and are encouraged to dance like nobody’s watching. $20. 9 p.m. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

CAKE Society is hosting a trans-friendly boxing class with help from the Georgetown University Boxing Club. Take a step into the world of boxing with other trans folks and comprehensive instruction that affirms your identity. A boxing ring knows no gender. Duke Ellington College Track Field: 1600 38th St. NW, DC; cakesocietyco.org // @cakesocietyco

PRIDE ON THE PIER AND FIREWORKS SHOW The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, presents the 3rd annual Pride on the Pier and Fireworks show during D.C. Pride. Watch the celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment. $75-$125. 2 p.m. District Wharf: 760 Maine Ave. SW, DC; wharfdc.com // @thewharfdc

CAKE SOCIETY DC TRANS/QUEER BOXING CLASS

6.26 2ND ANNUAL GROWING PRIDE

6.11-6.12

A Pride event geared toward the whole family. This event features more than 15 queer-identifying creators and multiple amenities geared toward providing children a fun and educational afternoon. Free. 12 p.m. The Garden ALX: 5380 Eisenhower Ave. Ste. C Alexandria, VA; thegarden.net // @thegardenalx

REMIX! THE OFFICIAL CAPITAL PRIDE SATURDAY PARTY

LOUDOUN PRIDE

Featuring four unique dance floors, this popular event showcases a plethora of talented DJs remixing your favorite beats. $20-$50. 9 p.m. City Winery: 1350 Okie St. NE, DC; citywinery.com/washingtondc // @citywinerydc

Join the inaugural festival filled with live performances, community vendors, food, music and more. Taking place at Claude Moore Park, this festival is open to all ages and invites the entire DMV, whether they’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or a supportive ally. $7.50. 1 p.m. Claude Moore Park: 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Rd. Sterling, VA; eqloco.com // @loudounpridehq

6.12 PRIDE CONCERT Put yourself at the Pride event with phenomenal headliners like DNCE and “Drag Race” Winners Willow Pill and Symone.

Capital Pride’s Hot 99.5-sponsored Pride concert is an overthe-top party that turns America’s main street into a gigantic dancefloor. Free. 1 p.m. America’s Mainstreet: 3rd St. + Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; capitalpride.org // @capitalpridedc

6.14 GEORGE M. JOHNSON DISCUSSES “ALL BOYS AREN’T BLUE” WITH EBONY LADELLE Renowned writer George M. Johnson visits D.C. on his All Boys Aren’t Banned tour. Speaking with “Love Radio” author Ebony LaDelle, Johnson’s appearance will touch upon his experiences as a Black queer man and how he navigated the adolescent and adult worlds as his true self. This event is perfect for teens looking to affirm their place in the ever-changing world. Free.

6:30 p.m. Mahogany Books Anacostia: 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, DC; mahoganybooks.com // @mahoganybooks 68 | JUNE // JULY 2022

MIC CHECK WITH GRAY WEST: STAND-UP COMEDY & DRAG SHOW This stand-up and drag extravaganza features some of the best LGBTQ+ comics and drag queens in the District. MIC CHECK is 60 minutes of comedy and drag. $15. 7 p.m. The Comedy Loft of DC: 1523 22nd St. NW, DC; dccomedyloft.com // @dccomedyloft

6.28 LITTLE SMYALS MIDDLE GRADES QUEER BOOK CLUB SMYAL LGBTQ+ Youth Services introduces to the middle grade kids of the DMV their Little SMYALs Book Club, a hybrid book reading event for ages 10 to 13. This event wholeheartedly welcomes everyone who is LGBTQIA+, gender nonconforming and those who are exploring or questioning their identities.

Queer identity can start at any age. Put your family in a space where everyone knows they’ll be safe and beloved. Free. 5:30 p.m. SMYAL: 410 7th St. SE, DC; smyal.org // @smyal_dmv

MAKING CHANGE DRAWING PARALLELS +

Actor Melanie Moore on playing Scout and reaching audiences in the touring production of award-winning play “To Kill a Mockingbird” WORDS BY MONICA ALFORD

CULTURE “This is not your mom’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’”

Actor Melanie Moore, who plays the precocious tomboy Scout Finch in the touring production of Harper Lee’s classic story, shared this sentiment on a recent call while the cast was performing in Cleveland.

“It’s not the movie. It’s not the book. It’s a completely different thing.”

She’s speaking about Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which has garnered national attention with Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher at the helm as director and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas in the role of Scout’s father Atticus. Set in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression, “To Kill a Mockingbird” doubles as a coming-of-age tale through the lens of 8-year-old Scout and a heart-wrenching parable for the consequences of racism and prejudice during a trial where Atticus defends a Black man accused of raping a young white woman.

The production, which comes to the Kennedy Center from June 21 to July 10, has been touring for two months after a twoyear hiatus due to the pandemic. Moore says the audience’s response to the story in each city has shifted slightly, and she’s interested to see how the reactions will continue to change as the tour ventures further south.

“It’s cool to watch the way our show affects people in different ways across the country,” she says. “As we’re getting closer to the Mason-Dixon Line, it’s hitting a little bit differently because it is a show set in Alabama. If you’re from the South, you not only grew up hearing these stories but seeing things that were quite similar to some of the things we’re talking about in our show. It’s going to be interesting to keep moving further and further south, where there are a whole bunch of parallels to these stories. But throughout all of America right now, we unfortunately have a lot of parallels to what happened during this story in 1934.”

Moore is the first actor to portray Scout in Sorkin’s play who is actually from the South. She grew up a tomboy in Georgia and her entire family is from Tennessee, so she says she inherently understands the character — and nailing the accent was easy for her.

“I know her. I feel like she lives within my bones.”

She also brings a fresh take to the role as someone with a background almost exclusively in musicals and dance narratives. Her credits include winning a season of “So You Think You Can Dance” and performing in Broadway musicals like “Hello, Dolly!” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” “[As] a physical person and a physical actor, I’ve had a lot of fun with [Bartlett Sher] developing a different way of moving when I play my younger and youngest version of Scout, versus a little bit older, versus the adult version of Scout. The way she walks is different. The experiences she’s had — they do change people. There’s an openness about kids when they’re really young and they haven’t been afraid of much. These kids are sheltered and they’re a little wild in some ways, which is really fun to play. It gives me a place to really grow from.”

She’s thankful for the physical vocabulary she’s built with Sher, as it plays to her strengths as an artist and complements Scout’s free spirit.

“Scout is ready to get into a fight with anybody while at the same time ready to run across the stage and skip and do hopscotch. She’s a really, really fun character to play.”

And while Scout is a central figure in this production, she’s not the focal point.

Richard Thomas (Atticus) + Melanie Moore (Scout). Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

“Aaron Sorkin is such an amazing writer,” Moore says. “He takes this [story] and flips it on its head to make the court case of Tom Robinson, which is a very short chapter in the book, the main thing that happens in our show. It’s the thing we keep returning to. It sets the stage for all of the transformation to happen.”

Moore thinks the show is hitting a nerve with audiences because of how relevant it is to our current political climate.

She’s hopeful it might spark social activism for some, and further ignite it for others.

“No matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on, you can walk away from this and want to sit down at the table and investigate where you lie and where you sit among these characters. Who are you in this community? Are you somebody who is watching these events occur? Are you somebody who is actively fighting against these events? I hope it makes [audiences] want to get involved in their communities and be part of actual, real change so that when this play is revived in 25 or 30 years, we can bring our kids to see it and say, ‘Wow, this is something that is no longer happening.’ We have the power. It’s our turn to get involved.”

“I KNOW HER. I FEEL LIKE SHE LIVES WITHIN MY BONES.” The actor is also certain audiences will pick up on the cast’s closeness, which she credits in large part to her onstage parent.

“Our Atticus is Richard Thomas, and he’s so warm and kind on and off stage. I think his warmth and the love our cast has for one another really does permeate the entire company and the entire audience.”

She also says Jacqueline Williams, who plays the housekeeper and Scout’s mother figure Calpurnia, is a joy to watch opposite Thomas. And she makes sure to note that Mary Badham, the actress who originally played Scout in the 1962 film, is playing cantankerous neighbor Mrs. Dubose. “[When we] walked into the room for our first table read and Mary Badham was there, I was just like, ‘Okay well, here it is.

She was nominated for an Oscar for this.’ When you talk about [playing Scout] being a daunting task, it is. But Mary has been nothing but supportive. She is just having a blast.”

Whether it’s Badham’s supporting role, the closeness of the actors or the relevance of the subject matter that draws you in, Moore is confident everyone will leave the theater with much on their minds.

“I hope [the audience] feels inspired to get to know people in their community and make change, and make sure this becomes a memory play instead of something that could be ripped from the headlines today with just a few small changes.”

“To Kill a Mockingbird” runs from June 21 to July 10 in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House. Tickets start at $49. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and follow Moore on Instagram at @melaniekmoore.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter DISTRICT FRAY | 71

ART

An Indivisible Art Collective creates spaces of resistance, art + growth.

WORDS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

72 | JUNE // JULY 2022

AS MEDICINE

CULTURE “Art is fundamental to spiritual wellness and liberation. It’s a human right.” This quote is from the mission statement of the An Indivisible Art Collective.

This is the heart of An Indivisible Art Collective (AIACDC), a D.C.-based social action and equity-focused nonprofit that harnesses art education and creativity as food for the soul.

Summer 2017, friends Laquavia Alston and Carolina Meurkens — two socially-conscious artists — launched the initiative in response to the volatile political and social climate permeating the country.

What began as an impromptu conclave of artists, musicians, activists and creators valuing community building and racial equity blossomed into a beautiful space of resistance, where often silenced and overlooked voices are centered — and a variety of transformative programs and collaborations are incubated.

“We were craving a space for marginalized artists, queer folks and Black folks, by us and for us, to put on art and [have] a safe space,” Meurkens says.

The integrated art space spotlights storytelling and provides a platform for marginalized voices. It is a direct response to what Alston describes as “the muting of voices.”

Today, the five-person collective spearheaded by Alston and Meurkens offers art education to kids — including through Art Hour, the Collective’s virtual art education program — curates community events and workshops, addresses food insecurity and more.

Divergent Paths Converge Alston and Meurkens share a love of music, art and community, but their differing paths are a microcosm of the inequitable access to certain opportunities.

“As unique as we all are, we all have different learning styles,” Alston expresses. “It’s not fair to children to lump them all together, because we are so different.”

Before moving to D.C., Alston carved out her creative journey in Charleston, South Carolina, inspired by the Lowcountry’s rich legacy of Black musicians. In her youth, Alston, a trained classical singer, had access to many resources, including her high school choir, but not the resources needed to fully develop her gift.

Not until her undergraduate years did she receive her first private voice lesson, where she discovered a genre of music uniquely tailored to her vocal talents. In the past, she’d been introduced to Beethoven and Mozart, but only briefly. This unearthing was transformative and propelled her to later open an independent voice studio, showcase her talents at several local music festivals like Piccolo Spoleto, and ultimately pursue public funding available to artists.

Alston now recognizes the enduring benefits of beginning your exploration early in life, the very opportunity facilitated by the Collective.

“There’s a level of discipline, achievement and pride that comes with honing in on a craft at a young age,” Alston asserts. “Also, you learn the skill of transference; you’ll learn how to transfer the knowledge from your voice lessons to your math lesson.”

The Collective believes this same cultivation of artistic talent equipped youth to use their free time in isolation for personal growth and to process raw emotions during the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests.

Coming of age in New York, Meurkens had access to a plethora of opportunities. The daughter of an Afro-Brazilian mother and German father — a professional musician L TO R. Laquavia Alston + Carolina Meurkens. Photo by Eli Rudy IV.

— she grew up on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan in a predominantly white neighborhood. It was there she was introduced to the piano at age 4 and the violin at age 5, receiving lessons until age 22.

Meurkens declares with pride her mother “busted her ass” to ensure she received exposure to an array of musical disciplines that gave her a variety of mediums through which to express herself and cope.

“Art is fundamental to spiritual wellness and liberation,” Meurkens shares. “When you’re going through something, or when you need to express yourself, sometimes you don’t have the words for it. Music for us, that’s something that really connects us as friends, as co-founders of this organization. We both saw music as that outlet; it’s really [about] giving kids the skills and the breadth of knowledge and art that exists.”

Meurkens describes herself as a multidisciplinary artist who is a writer with the heart of a musician. After studying literature and music and pursuing a creative writing certificate, all from the University Maryland, she’s now pouring her skills into An Indivisible Art Collective.

Art Reflecting The Times “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times,” iconic jazz singersongwriter Nina Simone once said. Both founders evoke this notion through the Collective’s programs and the way they lead their lives.

Meurkens and Alston are entrenched in the D.C. community, juggling various creative pursuits: Meurkens is balancing a marketing career while serving as editor-in-chief of Mixed Mag and communications and events manager of An Indivisible Art Collective; and Alston is founder and owner of La Mezzo Voice Studio and director of operations for An Indivisible Art Collective.

The two are using the Collective as a vehicle to empower young people and lift up the community by providing arts education and critical services. Through Arts Hour, they are introducing D.C. youth grades K-12 to the arts ranging from instrumental/vocal music, creative writing, visual arts, photography, graphic design and more, which simultaneously supports local arts instructors.

The Collective is partnering with Serve Your City DC, which provides at-risk youth access to life-changing experiences; the Social Justice School, which encourages youth to be scholaractivists; and Empower DC, which promotes the self-advocacy of low and moderate income D.C. residents to sustainably improve their quality of life.

The Collective also addresses food insecurity through several initiatives and partnerships, including a collaboration with the D.C Fridge Collective to open a community fridge and pantry in the Trinidad/Ivy City neighborhood.

For the co-founders, merging art with a focus on addressing social issues remains necessary. Adressing gentrification, which is eroding the community’s cultural bastions, like jazz clubs and theaters, is one of their top priorities.

Meurkens and Alston recognize there’s much more work to be done, and are continuing to harness the collaborative energy that’s bringing forth change in the region.

Visit aiacdc.com to learn more about An Indivisible Art Collective and follow them on Instagram @aiacdc.

Follow Meurkens and Alston on their personal IGs @caromeurkens and @laquaviaa.

DISTRICT FRAY | 73

Each month, local comedian and actor Joe Marshall sits down with BY S a local artist to pick their brain D R WO about all things creative and their role in the D.C. performing arts scene. sold-out shows at the new venue,

ARS JOE M

When the pandemic shut down live events, jokes were scarce and smiles were covered by masks. Out of the stale-faced silence emerged Kinda Live Comedy (KLC) — a quirky, local comedy production company whose shows have expanded from D.C. to New York with the goal of providing laughter, diversity and community for audiences and comedians alike.

Founded by local comedians Hayden Arrington, Noah Goldstein and Victor Gonzalez, KLC launched their first show — not in a lively bar or crowded comedy club, but outdoors in a Northwest community garden. Any year outside of the strangeness of 2020, Wangari Gardens wouldn’t be an ideal venue for a comedy show. It has no chairs and poor acoustics; as a performing comedian, it’s less than comforting to know a ripe tomato is within arm’s reach of an audience member who might not like your jokes. What the KLC team lacked in location, however, they made up in community building.

“We want our audience to have a personal connection with us,” says Kate Blansett, a frequent host and team member. “We try to be intentional about creating that atmosphere, whether it’s passing or performing. We’re starting conversations, asking names and making jokes so when they come to our shows they feel like they’re with friends.”

The twice-monthly garden shows were free — and so were the drinks. Viewers leisurely snagged booze out of a college-style cooler filled with beer, champagne and orange juice (the mimosas went fast). Socially distanced audience members brought their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets and watched artists perform on a small makeshift stage, big enough for comedians to pivot about 90 degrees to the left. It was different, but it was alive. Real comedy was (kinda) happening again.

As Covid-19 restrictions began to loosen in 2021 and the success of the team’s personable, light-hearted approach to comedy shows began to spread, KLC moved from the garden to a permanent home at the Saloon on U Street — an intimate, two-level venue equipped with string lights and a full-service bar (goodbye, college cooler) that can seat nearly 100. Every Friday, KLC hosts 74 | JUNE // JULY 2022

HALL

hosting some of the most diverse comedian lineups in the area.

“From ethnicity, gender and age to the material, we want to create a platform where a wide range of stories and experiences can be shared on our stage,” says Hayden Arrington, who curates the brand’s digital presence. “Funny is funny. It doesn’t matter if a person onstage looks and sounds different than you; they’re going to find a middle ground through laughter to make everybody feel welcomed and included.”

Along with diversity, KLC’s booking style is unique in the fact they aren’t headhunters searching for the biggest names in comedy to headline their shows and fill up seats. They’re in search of people like themselves: the everyman comedian who’s often overlooked, driven by a love for the craft.

“We started (KLC) because we just wanted to perform and practice, but we weren’t getting booked often since we were new,” says Noah Goldstein, who serves as the team’s premier location scout. “That’s why we started our own show. Even as we grow, we try to look out for and take a chance on the talented underdogs.”

KLC’s shows give budding comedians a chance to develop their craft and earn their stripes in front of live audiences, and this approach has paid off handsomely. Comedians booked with KLC have gone on to perform at some of the major comedy venues in the city, including DC Improv, DC Comedy Loft and Hotbed, Underground Comedy’s new club in Adams Morgan.

“I think every comedian should produce their own show at least once,” says Victor Gonzalez, who made his DC Improv debut this year. “Every comedian, like a comedy show itself, has their own unique voice and style. Learning how to identify, promote and grow will have a direct correlation to your success as a comedian, just as it impacts the growth of a show.”

In 2022, KLC launched a New York branch called Kinda Live Brooklyn, spearheaded by Arrington, who recently moved to the city. From the garden to the Big Apple, a lot has changed over the past two years for KLC, but their mission remains the same.

“We just want to create a show where people are welcomed and feel they belong,” Arrington says. “Friendly rooms just seem to create the best opportunities for laughter.”

For more on Kinda Live Comedy, visit kindalivecomedy.net and follow them on Instagram @kindalivecomedy and @kindalivebrooklyn.

Kate Blansett performing at Saloon on U Street. Courtesy of Kinda Live Comedy.

CUE THE LIGHTS | CULTURE

LIFE 19 GIFT IDEAS FOR FATHER’S DAY WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE | PHOTO BY BRANDON CHEN Father’s Day is June 19. Whether the father figure in your life is a foodie, music junkie or just tired, we got you. Here are 19 D.C. area gift suggestions that might make dad happy. Since this is our dining issue, we’re starting with some food and beverage-related gifts.

LOST SOCK ROASTERS COFFEE One of D.C.’s newest roasters happens to be my favorite.

Head up to Takoma Park, D.C. and get dad caffeinated. If you’re gifting on the same day you’re picking up beans, you may want to get some of D.C.’s finest donuts, conveniently located only one block away at Donut Run. 6833 4th St. NW, DC; lostsockroasters.com // @lostsockroasters

WINE FROM ST. VINCENT WINE One of the best places to enjoy a glass of wine in D.C. happens to be one of the best-stocked wine shops in D.C. If you and dad have enjoyed a particular bottle outdoors at St. Vincent, buy it from the shop. It’s a gift for the entire family. (I’m not advocating children drinking wine. I am saying wine helps parents. Wine in moderation helps parents.) 3212 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; stvincentwine.com // @stvincentwine

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BEER FROM ATLAS BREW WORKS, DC BRAU, RED BEAR BREWING CO. OR SILVER BRANCH BREWING COMPANY Atlas has my favorite seasonal D.C. beer (Rowdy). DC Brau has my favorite overall selection of canned products. Red Bear Brewing has my favorite 16-ounce cans of D.C. beer (51st State IPA). Silver Branch has my favorite 12-ounce cans of D.C. area beer (Dr. Juicy IPA). It’s difficult to buy a bad six pack for a dad who enjoys beer.

Atlas Brew Works: 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE #102, DC; 1201 Half St. SE, DC; atlasbrewworks.com // @atlasbrewworks DC Brau: 3178-B Bladensburg Rd. NE, DC; dcbrau.com // @dcbrau Red Bear Brewing Co.: 209 M St. NE, DC; redbear.beer // @redbearbrewing Silver Branch Brewing Company: 8401 Colesville Rd. #150, Silver Spring, MD; silverbranchbrewing.com // @silverbranchus Byrdland Records finds.

LIFE CATOCTIN CREEK WHISKEY A trip to the distillery in Purcellville, Virginia is a great day trip and family-friendly (children are welcome to accompany adults on the tour). But a bottle at home is a way better Father’s Day gift. I love my kid but would much rather drink this stuff once they’re asleep for the night. 120 W Main St. Purcellville, VA; catoctincreekdistilling.com // @catoctincreek

LITTLE MINER TACO FIESTABOX I’ve received this as a gift for my birthday and would absolutely love to receive it for Father’s Day. There’s a good reason Little Miner made our Best Dishes at DMV Burb Spots. 4308 Rhode Island Ave. Brentwood, MD; 967 Rose Ave. North Bethesda, MD; 14067 Noblewood Plaza Woodbridge, VA; littleminertaco.com // @littleminertaco

FEDERALIST PIG PACKAGE One of D.C.’s finest BBQ purveyors conveniently offers a Father’s Day package. We know not every father figure loves meat. The package includes sides. The sides are not just smoked meats. 1654 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; 5504 Baltimore Ave. Hyattsville, MD; 4856 Cordell Ave. Bethesda, MD; federalistpig.com // @federalistpig

MEAT FROM HARVEY’S MARKET If you have the kind of dad who would rather smoke their own meats than have their meat smoked for them, just get them the meat. And where better to get meat than a butcher than has been in D.C. since 1931? Also, if they don’t have what you’re looking for, just walk down to the other side of Union Market and get some meats from Red Apron. 1309 5th St. NE, DC; harveysmarketdc.com // @harveysmarketdc

CORD OF WOOD DELIVERY FROM TIM CORBIN’S OF CULPEPER, VIRGINIA Unless you’re camping regularly, you probably don’t need a cord of wood. But a cord of wood delivered to your backyard is the gift that keeps on giving if you consider readily available wood for fires over multiple seasons a gift. I do. firewoodservicesva.com

LEATHER CHAIR FROM 1830DC VINTAGE FURNITURE 1830 is one of D.C.’s best vintage stores. It is the absolute best vintage store that’s only open about one weekend a month in D.C. Their stock rotates frequently, but their Instagram page makes it easy to peruse and purchase well-loved goods like leather chairs. 1830 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; 1830dc.com // @1830_vintage

PICTURE FRAME FROM GOODWOOD A photo of the family is the ideal Father’s Day and Mother’s Day gift (if you like your family). Rather than a quick Target trip, buy something a little more unique at GoodWood. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, walk down 14th to Miss Pixies.

1428 U St. NW, DC; goodwooddc.com // @goodwooddc

BAND T-SHIRT FROM JOINT CUSTODY Allow dad to sort-of relive his youth with some band merch he might have worn 10-20 years ago. 1530 U St. NW, DC; jointcustodydc.com // @jointcustodydc

“ALL THE ANSWERS” BY MICHAEL KUPPERMAN AT FANTOM COMICS Kupperman’s graphic novel about his father deserves to be a movie. Buy it for the dad in your life. Your relationship is most likely better than the subject of this excellent book. 2010 P St. NW, DC; fantomcomics.com // @fantomcomics

AFI MEMBERSHIP For the film lover in your life who you would like to see leave the house to watch films made for the silver screen. 8633 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; afisilver.afi.com // @afisilvertheatre

ALEBRIJES FROM ARTTEPUY I love Alebrijes, the colorful pieces of Mexican folk art, and have about a dozen. This is a great gift that could be from a kid or fellow parent. At $15, they’re affordable and purchasing them from Arttepuy inside La Cosecha supports both a D.C. business and Oaxacan artists. 1280 4th St. NE, DC; arttepuy.com // @arttepuydc

VINTAGE STEREO FROM BYRDLAND RECORDS This recommendation comes with caveats. Only buy a vintage stereo if you already have the media meant to be played on it. So if you buy dad a tape deck, make sure he has tapes he wants to play. If you buy a record player, make sure he already has vinyl.

You’re not trying to kickstart a new hobby/identity. 1264 5th St. NE, DC; byrdlandrecords.com // @byrdlandrecords

ENO SINGLENEST HAMMOCK FROM REI CO-OP For the dad who prefers the beach and/or outdoor music festival and really needs a nap. Various locations; rei.com // @rei

WASHINGTON NATIONALS 2022 CITY CONNECT HAT As of this writing, the Nats are in last place in the National League East. As of this writing, the Nats have the best City Connect merch in Major League Baseball. The highlight of the 2022 Nats fan season will most likely be the Washington Nationals Cherry Blossom hats. It’s perfectly fine if dad is a fair weather fan, he’s still a D.C. area resident and this hat just means you’re a D.C. area resident/like cool looking hats.

Washington Nationals Team Store: 1500 S Capitol St. SE, DC; mlb.com/nationals/fans/team-store // @natsteamstore

2022 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL: THE NATIONAL PARKS + FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS ANNUAL PASS D.C. has the best parks in the country. It’s a fact (if you consider park rankings facts). It’s a gift to be able to get into nature on a daily basis. But it’s an even nicer gift to take dad and the entire family to a National Park outside of D.C. If they never use it, this is also one of those gifts you can still feel good about because you’re giving money to the National Parks. nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm // @nationalparkservice

BABYSITTER A night out is a gift. If you want a night out with your partner and want to remain a parent, you need to hire a babysitter. You are not allowed to leave your small child unattended at home.

I am not giving you the name of my babysitter. Get your own.

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PLAY

D.C. INDEPENDENT IS ALSO WRESTLING QUEER HISTORY HISTORY WORDS BY LOLO MCGRATH

BEGINNER’S GUIDE | PLAY n the last three years, professional wrestling in Washington, D.C. has gone from the occasional WWE show televised and hosted in arenas, to being dominated by the new class of independent professional wrestlers. The likelihood of running into a fellow lover of the graps in your favorite bar is higher than ever, with wrestling shows providing one of the only spaces in the city where you’ll see the upstanding lanyard-wearing intern rubbing shoulders and pounding beers with punk rock legends. What was once a multi-decade indie drought in the district is now a wellspring of progressive companies dedicated to reflecting the culture of the DMV. With Pride Month upon us, we can all brag that D.C. boasts one of the queerest wrestling scenes in the entire world.

Referring to the D.C. metro area as the DMV will still get you looks of confusion from most American wrestling talent because like everything else in wrestling, there’s a little bit of inside baseball when it comes to the terminology. Mention the “Grapitol Region,” however, and the recognition kicks right in. From SLAMATA to “submission without representation,” our love for a good pun remains shameless. The first LGBTQ+ run wrestling show in D.C. history was lovingly named “Butch vs. Gore,” a title that may take a moment to shake a memory awake.

FOR AND BY, AND DIY What sets the Grapitol Region apart from our regional counterparts around the United States is it’s recognized as a place built largely for and by LGBTQ+ workers, giving us a remarkable amount of power and room to play that none of us take for granted. As typical for most straight dudes associated sports or hobbies, queer folks have always been present in wrestling, but have a history of being either misused or overlooked entirely. Here, we’ve been given the opportunity to cultivate a community largely informed by our values and ethics, two words not typically associated with professional wrestling. The first two companies to jump start the new era of the D.C. indies back in 2019 were Prime Time Pro Wrestling (now defunct, but not in our hearts) and F1ght Club Pro. Both are noted for how they’ve elevated and pushed the careers of queer wrestlers to main event status, with our beloved District as the backdrop.

I find it really beautiful the city has embraced professional wrestling as a form of art, since there’s sometimes an assumption professional wrestling is too tasteless and tacky to gain popularity among District residents. To the contrary, the ever-developing local indie fan base continues to flourish and be recognized as a space explicitly pro-LGBTQ+, as opposed to milquetoast allyship. DC Brau Brewing Company has hosted more than half of all local events since the indie vanguard made itself known, and their own commitment over the last ten years to queer allyship in the District is reflected when the ring goes up in the center of the brewery.

THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING IS USUALLY JUST THE CHECKBOOK As it is with most frustrations of D.C., the primary challenge with every show is the enormous amount of red tape

Lolo Mcgrath + Billy Dixon. Photo by Jay Lee.

companies have to tear through to simply make it to show day.

Running independent wrestling shows is expensive to the point of laughter, as promotions must go through the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (who are not quite beloved, as District residents can guess).

Wrestling is regulated with almost identical rules to boxing and mixed martial arts, and hyper-regulation often comes with an endless list of paperwork and money to be spent. Wrestling promotions and wrestlers themselves are forced to spend an exorbitant amount of money to keep up with a rule set and licensing that often doesn’t apply to us at all. The LGBTQ+ DIY community tends to suffer first. Wrestling shows are a labor of love, and I personally value paying wrestlers on our rosters at fair rates over ponying up cash for the sake of bringing bureaucracy into the ring.

WHERE THERE IS WRESTLING, THERE IS HEART For most of us in this little corner of the LGBTQ+ wrestling world, the spectacle and glitter is just the beginning. Wrestling demands imagination, creativity and the freedom to play.

Much to the shock of outsiders I speak to, those elements have created a space that makes it safe to come out in. I credit my wrestling family as the first reason I had the courage to come out as transgender myself, because of that encouragement to play and explore. Since wrestlers are constantly coming up with new ways to present their personas on short notice, fans and workers are already well-trained to embrace new names, and now, pronouns. Wrestling gives us permission to see the potential in how we want others to see us.

If you find yourself lucky enough to snag a ticket the next time an indie show is running in D.C., take a look around the room. You’ll see camaraderie that can’t be found anywhere else, a fresh space to socialize away from the constant competition of our day-to-day hustle. And no matter how in-your-face gay you assumed sweaty hotties in tights and makeup might be, trust me. As the indie wrestling star and former 51st State Champion EFFY has said, “Make it gayer!”

WRESTLERS TO WATCH The District is home to multiple championships, most notably through F1ght Club Pro. At the time of writing, Chocolate City Champion Billy Dixon and Pan Afrikan World Diaspora World Champion Trish Adora lead a roster that includes Kings of the District, notable for including Jordan Blade and Eel O’Neal and having District roots. D.C. native Mr. Grim is also carving out a name for himself and making an impression all along the East Coast.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ wrestling with F1ght Club Pro on Instagram @pawd_wc.

Check out Billy Dixon @thebillydixon, Trish Adora @trishadora202, Jordan Blade @jordan_blade92 and Eel O’Neal @eelonealbackup.

And follow author/professional wrestler manager Lolo Mcgrath at @leaux__leaux.

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PLAY | GROWN-UP THINGS

TAKING YOUR TODDLER OUT TO THE BALL GAME

NATS PARK EDITION WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

A trip to the ballpark is a rite of passage for American children.

Whether you’re going to indoctrinate them into your tribe or just need to kill an afternoon, there are some tips that should help every ticket holder. This has very, very little to do with onfield action. Most of these tips are applicable for professional basketball, hockey and soccer games. Football games are an entirely different beast. Here are nine do’s and don’ts to make your outing to the ball game a home run.*

1. Do expect to leave early.

Most adults I know don’t love sitting through nine innings of a last place team (the Nats are in last place as of press time).

Don’t expect a very young child to sit through six innings of baseball. If you want to see the bulk of the game, aim for 10 minutes after first pitch. If you want to see the end of the game (or post-game fireworks on July 1), aim for an hour after first pitch.

2. Don’t arrive early.

You have a 90-minute window to enjoy this experience. Make sure you see at least one inning of the game. Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch. If you don’t plan ahead, you may have to leave before anyone says, “Play ball!”

3. Do take the kid to the playground within the park.

And don’t be surprised if they don’t want to leave the playground. The Nats have a pretty good playground for kids behind center field. It’s a hit even when there isn’t a game. My kid wouldn’t leave the playground during Enchant. For the unfamiliar, Enchant is a massive light spectacular aimed at the Christmas crowd. It’s an attack on the senses, targeted toward forming minds. Did my kid want to run around the lights? Say hi to Santa? Dance on a glowing dance floor? Only after they spent 20 minutes in a playground, a playground slightly above average in the D.C. region. Try to remember when you were a toddler. Did you have more fun climbing up and sliding down or watching grown men make their clean, white pants dirty by sliding into second?

4. Don’t test your kid’s peanut sensitivity for the first time.

The song — you know the one — explicitly demands you eat peanuts and Cracker Jacks. If you don’t know your kid’s allergy status, do not test out their nut durability at the park. Just because you sing some lyrics doesn’t mean you need to live the lyrics.

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5. Do let your kid eat from a popcorn bucket larger than their head.

If your kid can handle the kernels, let them eat their weight in popcorn. It also makes for a cute photo.

6. Don’t let your kid play with your phone.

You’re going to need it for most everything in the park. Your phone now has your ticket. You’re going to use your phone to buy food and drinks. You’re going to use your phone to buy souvenirs. Don’t let your kid use your phone if it’s under 20% battery. Letting them watch “Bluey” or “Peppa Pig” may keep you disconnected from an extremely connected ballpark.

7. Do attend a Sunday game.

If your kid doesn’t nap, Sundays are ideal. Kids run the bases after the game and that should make them tired enough to make bedtime somewhat normal.

8. Don’t attend any Sunday game.

If your kid does nap, you may only want to consider 4 p.m. games. There are no 4 p.m. games on Sundays this year at Nats Park. There are two June 4 p.m. games: Saturday, June 11 at 4:05 p.m. against the Milwaukee Brewers (with a The Unstoppable Josh Bell MARVEL Super Hero™ Bobblehead giveaway) and Saturday, June 18 at 4:35 p.m. against divisional rivals Philadelphia Phillies (with a Kids 2006 Ryan Zimmerman Jersey T-Shirt giveaway). There are two more 4 p.m. Saturday games in July. The first is Saturday, July 2 at 4:05 p.m. against the Miami Marlins (with a kid’s bucket hat giveaway) and Saturday, July 16 against World Series Champion Atlanta Braves (with a Juan “Solo” STAR WARS™ Bobblehead (!) on Star Wars Day (!!!). These are the best four Nationals home games for toddlers this season. They have little to nothing to do with what happens on the field.

9. Do buy them something.

Let’s be honest, this is about indoctrination. The best way to make a kid like the thing you like is to get them a toy. So if you’re a fan of the Nats, get them a Nats branded toy or hat or shirt. Let them pick it out. If you’re a fan of the opposing team, get them your team’s hat or shirt and let them know they’re more special than the other kids because they’re different. *Don’t promise your kid they’ll see a home run.

PLAY

Major League Baseball almost didn’t happen in 2022.

Spring Training and Opening Day were delayed due to an owner-imposed lockout. Things looked dire for months. After months and months of delays, America’s pastime almost became a thing of the past.

I want one in every ward.

But issues got resolved. Every Major League Baseball club will play their full schedule of 162 games in 2022.

I want a batting cage outside Nats Park.

Unlike professional athletes, I, a D.C. resident, will not be able to visit a local batting cage 162 times in 2022. Or 16 times. Or twice. Because there are zero old-school batting cages in Washington, D.C. None.

Before I proceed, I am not saying there aren’t things considered batting cages in D.C. The Nationals obviously have batting cages inside the park for players. But I am not a professional baseball player.

I want a 24/7, 365-outdoor batting cage.

I want a batting cage in a bar. I want to get a free token with every beer.

I want a batting cage next to a Little League field.

I want a batting cage in a former coworking space.

I want a batting cage to take over an ax throwing bar.

I want a batting cage instead of another place to wager on professional sports.

I want batting cages because hitting baseballs is a wonderful stress reliever. It’s good exercise. It requires patience and concentration. It’s as difficult or easy as you want. It does not require anything other than token money (helmets and bats are always provided).

Every Ward Deserves a

BATTING CAGE WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE There’s a baseball training facility in the District, but it requires membership. And I am not a Little Leaguer trying to become a professional baseball player.

There are batting cages for coaches and Little Leaguers next to some public parks, the kind made of netting, with a short pitcher’s mound and a home plate. They’re wonderful places for kids to learn the fundamentals of hitting. But they’re not old school batting cages.

I am requesting the business owners of D.C. to invest in public batting cages that feature difficultto-maintain machines that do not perform as advertised, well-worn, hard plastic balls and unforgiving metal fencing.

Hitting in a batting cage is the most rewarding individual activity one can do while trapped in a cage. It’s a near religious experience for me and something I would like to share with as many people as possible. But unless I charter a bus to Prince George’s County, it seems like this will remain a wish.

If the owners of Major League Baseball can come to their senses and make nice with the players to make a full baseball season in 2022 happen, why can’t some reasonable business owners take a swing on old-school batting cages in D.C.?

Probably because old school batting cages are costprohibitive due to space and insurance. Probably.

Giving people weapons and alcohol probably increases insurance premiums. Probably.

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FUN | CROSSWORD

DINING IN D.C.

CROSSWORD

CREATED BY MYLES MELLOR This month in our crossword we take a tour of popular D.C. restaurants and foods. You’ll receive a mouth-watering selection of clues that will appeal to your mind as well as your tastes. It’s been created by a top crossword writer, Myles Mellor, who specializes in writing crosswords on themes. Bon appetit!

ACROSS 1. Searching widely for food 7. Got together 10. Songs that “Say So Much” to Sir Elton 11. “I am woman, hear me ___!”

Helen Reddy 12. D.C.’s restaurant awards 14. Not cooked 16. Jungfrau or Weisshorn 18. Large deer for a stew 19. Part of a cry from Scrooge

NOTE: Check districtfray.com for the answer key.

DOWN 2. Pizzazz

24. Biz degree, abbr.

3. D.C.’s newest LGBTQ cafe/bar/dance boutique, four words

25. U.S. Senate ____ soup

21. Corn section 22. Arrange

4. ____light district

23. Popular Korean American supermarket chain

5. It’s checked at club doors

29. Pretty flowery topping for some desserts and salads

6. Salad bar stuff

31. Big coffee pot

7. Union ____, a D.C. food hall with 40+ vendors

32. Derisive cry

20. ____ Kitchen, a D.C. food incubator in Ivy City

26. Check 27. Start!

27. Dolcezza serving

8. Stat for Patrick Corbin

33. ___ tip at a BBQ

28. D.C.’s condiment and a Latin American dance, two words

9. Chesapeake blues

34. Blue Plains in relation to D.C. (compass point)

30. Pumpkin ____

13. Peruvian pollo ___ brasa

35. Dieter’s concern, abbr.

33. Avocado ____

15. ____ Central Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters

36. Screeners at Dulles, abbr.

37. U street restaurant institution, three words

82 | JUNE // JULY 2022

17. Dry martini ingredient 23. Western omelet ingredient

DISTRICT FRAY MAGAZINE is now available at some of your favorite shops and 22 local area Whole Foods. Support local business. Support local journalism. Keep making fun possible.

Byrdland Records 1264 5th St. NE, DC Groom Guy 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW, DC PLNTR 1825 18th St. NW, DC Steadfast Supply 301 Tingey St. #120 SE, DC

Contact andrew@unitedfray.com to explore offering the magazine for sale at your store.

Virginia Arrisueño of Steadfast Supply. Photo by Brandon Chen.

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Jake Wesley Rogers LEADS THE NEXT GENERATION OF QUEER ROCK ‘N’ ROLLERS WORDS BY MONICA ALFORD

IN OTHER WORDS It’s been a busy year for Jake Wesley Rogers. The 25-year-old glam pop artist with three EPs under his belt has been working on releasing his first album, touring with Ben Platt, playing with Brandi Carlile at Elton John’s Academy Awards party and performing on “Ellen.” He’s hitting his stride, leaving the male-presenting constraints of his upbringing in the Ozarks far behind and transforming into a queer fashion icon for Gen Z every time he takes the stage. The well-over-6-foot artist, rocking hot pink hair and ‘80s-inspired glasses when we spoke, spent much of last year performing in a gold suit with wings inspired by stained glass — an “Icarus glam god moment.”

His music, like his style, is unapologetically his own. On his latest EP, “Pluto,” he explores many forms of love with the sagacity of someone with decades more life experience. But he also pays homage to his heroes — Lady Gaga chief among them. He’s a firm believer in pop icon lineage: The way Gaga influenced him is the way Bowie and Madonna inspired her.

The pianist is often described as the next Elton John, and it’s easy to see why. We caught up with Rogers during a rare quiet moment for the rising star, delving into the intentionality of the songwriting process, shotgunning matcha at SXSW and why D.C. will always have a special place in his heart.

District Fray: I was front row at your Cheer Up Charlies set at SXSW and your energy was phenomenal. How was your experience at the festival this year?

Jake Wesley Rogers: I went to SXSW first in 2018 and again in 2019. It was such an interesting marker of time and just how much has changed and evolved. When I was there in 2018, I had a mustache — I still looked fabulous, for sure — but it was a three-piece band and we drove there, and the car broke down.

It was all very high stakes and low budget. Coming back and having a proper headline time and being with the full band with all this new music — and there were people there who knew my music — was really, really fantastic and affirming. Releasing so much music during Covid, the one thing I was always missing was the performance. [SXSW] is just insane. It’s so much energy. You’re always tired and inspired.

I can only imagine. I felt exhausted after a week of just covering the festival.

I always come back from SXSW needing five days to do nothing because you’re performing at midnight or 1 a.m. for four nights in a row. I shotgunned a matcha in a can.

That’s hardcore. What kept you inspired to create during Covid, especially while you were missing the live music element and being able to connect with audiences?

Right before Covid, I wrote the majority of my EP. Two weeks before lockdown, I got a record deal offer. I found for the first few months of [the pandemic], I in no way could or wanted to create. I actually turned to painting. It felt right. It felt safe.

It still felt like an expression of something. After about six months, I was ready to piece together the EP that became “Pluto.” It was a funny time because I was living in Tennessee, so I would come to L.A. pre-vaccine and have 14 masks on and be locked down for 10 days before I could record. If you wanted to create during that time, if you wanted to work with people, you had to really want to because you’re risking a lot. It was all very intentional, which I appreciated because I think I create best when it’s with people I really trust and not just with Photos by Se Oh.

random people I’ve been thrown in the room with. I’m grateful for that.

Have you shared your paintings with the world yet?

One of the main ones has become my logo for all the performances and album art. The dove has become a central symbol for me, my music and my fans — I call them little doves.

It’s all become part of it and really inspired some songs, too. It’s hand-in-hand.

You are often described as the next Elton John. How does that land with you? Is that an accurate representation of who and what you’re trying to embody through your sound, stage presence and general ethos?

A year ago, I left Nashville and went to New Orleans and became friends with Jake Shears, who is in Scissor Sisters.

People on TikTok, before I met Elton or he heard my music, were saying, “This reminds me of Elton John.” And Jake was saying that when he started writing music, he had never really listened to much Elton John, but he played a song for his mom.

She said, “Oh, this reminds me of Elton John.” His theory is that with music like Elton and Queen and Bowie, there’s this current. It’s this kind of queer rock ‘n’ roll energy and it flows through them. And Jake was saying, “I think it flows through us, too.” That really made me feel good because it’s less of a “There can only be one gay piano player with glasses” and more of this lineage that began before us and will continue, and I feel that. I am so honored to be compared to someone like Elton because he represents so much. [Elton] represents freedom and art and beauty and rock ‘n’ roll and power and love. I’m happy to represent something that means something to someone, and then also where I’m doing my own thing. And if people want to see that, they can see that.

You’ve had a lot of exciting opportunities in the past few months, including performing “Lavender Forever” on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and sharing the stage with Brandi Carlile during Elton John’s 30th annual viewing party for the Academy Awards. How are you feeling about all this success?

It’s f—king awesome and dreamlike. I’ve found that I love outside validation, but it makes me forget that I have to validate myself, too. That’s the give and take with positive things and change happening: enjoying it and loving it, and also not letting it define who you are. And most importantly, not letting it get in the way of the art you’re making. I think the reason why these things are happening is because I spent time making this art, so I’m in this place where I’m like, “Okay, I’m working on the first album while all of these things are happening. How do I find the space to do both?” I’m also really trying to be intentional about the creation, too, because I’m an artist. If I stop making art, I just become an influencer and I don’t particularly want that.

You have an incredible eye for fashion and seem to transform into a new persona for each show. What is your artistic process for putting together a look?

It’s a lot of dreaming up. It’s a lot of sketching. I always have my journal with me. If I have an idea, I’ll just sketch it out or be like, “Suit with wings — gold.” The past year or so, I’ve been able to meet some really incredible designers and tailors and people who can actually make clothes, which blows my mind.

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What would a dream collaboration be for you?

One of my dream ones is happening this fall [on tour] and that’s all I can say.

Stevie Nicks, for sure. I want to meet her, but I think it would blow my mind a little too much. She’s been my number one since I was 14, 15. And Lady Gaga. I would love to do something with those two. And I would love to have coffee with Patti Smith. I don’t know if that’s a collaboration, but it feels sort of like one.

I don’t know how to sew. I love feeling like the superhero version of myself onstage, and the costume in many ways makes the superhero. In the movies, when they put on the costume — when Peter Parker finally gets the Spider-Man costume — that’s when it all molds together. I feel the same way with performing.

What new look are you working on now?

I have this really distinct vision of a space suit that’s white and puffy — like a space suit with bell bottoms. I’m working on that in my brain.

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I feel like everything with Patti is a collaboration.

I’m sure you’d walk away with gorgeous poetry in your journal. On a final note, do you have any favorite memories of visiting or playing music in D.C.?

I love D.C. I really do. I’m not just saying that because you asked. Some of my first shows were with Sofar Sounds. I did a little Sofar tour in 2018 and for the first stop, I drove from Nashville to D.C. This was about a week or so after I wrote one of my songs called “Jacob from the Bible.”

The first room I played it for was in D.C. It was really special for me because it was one of the first times I sat down to sing a song that felt really vulnerable and really like my story. I’ll never forget that room because everybody was so eager and receptive to hear it. I realized songs can be a portal that people can connect to their story. I was raised in the Bible Belt and I’m gay, and my first boyfriend’s name was Jacob, too. The song is a gay love story through the lens of the story of Jacob from the Bible. That was one of the first moments where I realized the more specific and authentic you are, the more other people feel they can be. I will truly always remember that, so thank you, D.C. I can’t wait to come back with a full band and sing that song again — maybe in a full circle moment.

Learn more about Jake Wesley Rogers at jakewesleyrogers.com and follow him on Instagram @jakewesleyrogers.

ILLUSTRATION BY E$

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Follow E$ on Instagram @theedollarsign.

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