Festival & Gig Friends

This our weekly game night event! We start at 6pm so that we can get dinner from Aslin Taproom. Come join us and maybe meet some new friends as we play games ranging from Fluxx to Ricochet Robots to Ticket to Ride to Saboteur to Cards Against Humanity (and many others). Bring your games or try the games that our regulars bring! That pesky covid thing is still around. Feel free to wear a mask. I have extra masks if you don't feel comfortable without one.

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Horror as Queer,”** a look at the influence and depiction of queerness in horror films, with May Santiago, adjunct professor of film studies at George Mason University and producer of the podcast *Horrorspiria.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-horror-queer](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-horror-queer) .] Horror was queer long before both Brad and Janet succumbed to the charms of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show.* In fact, one could make the argument that, for both better and worse, the history of horror films is the history of queers on film. Film scholar May Santiago will do just that, with plenty of vivid examples, in reprising a talk that has earned rave reviews. You’ll learn how queer auteurs such as F.W. Murnau and James Whale were there at the very beginning. Murnau played a central role in the German expressionist movement that gave rise to films such as *Nosferatu*, while Whale left a body of work full of queer codes, including the films *Frankenstein*, *The Old Dark House*, and *The Invisible Man.* From there, Santiago will discuss how the representational codes established by such queer filmmakers were appropriated throughout the celluloid century by non-queer authors who constructed cinematic horror language that used queerness as shorthand for the monstrous. The result was harmful stereotypes of queer people in films and society, with examples being the stoic psycho lesbian trope embodied by Mrs. Danvers in *Rebecca*, the transgender sex-obsessed serial murderer Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s *Psycho*, and the villains of *Dressed to Kill* and *Silence of the Lambs.* Yet, even with these negative portrayals of explicit or implicit queerness, horror cinema’s relationship with queerness and queer audiences has grown stronger with each passing decade, with queer authors and queer audiences reclaiming the monstrosity that created the basis of the horror genre. Santiago will look at how the evolution of horror films coincided with that of queer stereotypes and how queer authors embedded queerness in films that aren’t explicitly queer. Among the questions she’ll tackle: How did we come around to thinking that the Babadook was gay? ? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A frame from the 1920 silent German horror film *The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari* (tint added).

**NEW EVENT!!!** Please be sure to RSVP on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988727222658?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest list. Pink Poodle Club is Spark's weekly Yappy Hour — every Monday on the back patio from 5–7pm. $1 Scooby Snacks for hoomans and $1 pup cups for the doggos. Come join us for a fun and **dog-friendly** gathering! It’s the perfect chance to meet new people, share stories, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with the **LGBTQ+ community**. Whether you're looking to make friends or just hang out, everyone’s welcome. Grab your favorite drink and let’s make some great memories together! This event is free to attend. We hope to see you there. In addition to coffee selections, the venue offers a good food and drinks [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2). We encourage you to register your attendance in advance. We hope to see you there. When you arrive with your dog, order on your own from the [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2). Then meet and mingle with LGBTQ+ folk and their dogs on the back patio. **Metro Directions:** Be eco-friendly. U Street Metro (Yellow/Green line) is only a few blocks away. Take the 13th Street Exit. The venue is adjacent to Crush Bar. This event is a safe space for everyone under the rainbow. Please feel free to invite all your friends to join you there! This event is hosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com)**, Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It now reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com) . Go Gay DC's founder is **[TJ Flavell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/)**. Go Gay DC is on social media: Join the Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC) Like the Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc) Follow on Bluesky [https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/) Follow on X [https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC) Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZG1DTnM0VnJybG83U3FWcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR765Xxf5t8wFzbCac74QNX3p0Bs2oT0drXZoOmLV63J8cURMl3ta5b8iP3ztg_aem_nSdndpxd5-hXJ8myNF2_vQ) Search keywords: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Two-Spirit Straight Allies

**NEW EVENT!!!** Please be sure to RSVP on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988727222658?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest list. Pink Poodle Club is Spark's weekly Yappy Hour — every Monday on the back patio from 5–7pm. $1 Scooby Snacks for hoomans and $1 pup cups for the doggos. Come join us for a fun and **dog-friendly** gathering! It’s the perfect chance to meet new people, share stories, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with the **LGBTQ+ community**. Whether you're looking to make friends or just hang out, everyone’s welcome. Grab your favorite drink and let’s make some great memories together! This event is free to attend. We hope to see you there. In addition to coffee selections, the venue offers a good food and drinks [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2 "https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2"). We encourage you to register your attendance in advance. We hope to see you there. When you arrive with your dog, order on your own from the [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2 "https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2"). Then meet and mingle with LGBTQ+ folk and their dogs on the back patio. **Metro Directions:** Be eco-friendly. U Street Metro (Yellow/Green line) is only a few blocks away. Take the 13th Street Exit. The venue is adjacent to Crush Bar. This event is a safe space for everyone under the rainbow. Please feel free to invite all your friends to join you there! This event is hosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com "https://www.gogaydc.com")**, Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It now reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com "https://www.gogaydc.com") . Go Gay DC's founder is **[TJ Flavell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/")**. Go Gay DC is on social media: Join the Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC) Like the Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc) Follow on Bluesky [https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/) Follow on X [https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC) Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZG1DTnM0VnJybG83U3FWcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR765Xxf5t8wFzbCac74QNX3p0Bs2oT0drXZoOmLV63J8cURMl3ta5b8iP3ztg_aem_nSdndpxd5-hXJ8myNF2_vQ) Search keywords: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Two-Spirit Straight Allies

PLEASE READ AS THERE IS AN IMPORTANT RECENT CHANGE for the blind tasting at Maxwell Park only: prepayment will be required to attend. Please note that refunds for cancellations are allowed up to 24 hours before the event start time. (But please cancel as soon as you know.) Please bear with me as we navigate this new process. The real maximum number of attendees will remain at 14, but since the Meetup App won’t let me make it a requirement to pre-pay when you RSVP "Yes," I’m not going to set a cap on Meetup's RSVP list, and we will see how that goes. Because there is No linkage between the Meetup App and Maxwell’s prepayment link, you can’t rely on Meetup's RSVP feature to know if there are still spots available. You will only know with certainty that the attendee cap has been reached if you are rejected while trying to prepay. Here is the pre-pay link: [Monthly Blind Tasting Group 6/1/26](https://www.giftrocker.com/secure/Order/?h=3c253325) Let me know if you have any specific questions. Thank you for your patience as we transition to this new process! Maxwell Park is 4 blocks from the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center. 🍷 RSVP Please: --**If your plans have changed, please change your RSVP to No.** *Note start time of 6:15 PM!* Please plan to arrive on time. 🍷 What is blind wine tasting? In a blind tasting you use your sense of smell, sight, and taste to try to deduce which variety(wine grape) is in your glass. 🍷 Do I need to be a wine professional? Definitely not - this group is experience diverse and we welcome both wine newbies and wine pros (and everyone else in between). 🍷 How does this work? --Please arrive slightly before 6:15pm to grab a seat. --Maxwell Park will serve us two wine flights: 3 white wines around 6:20 pm and 3 red wines around 7:30 pm. Each flight is $20. A 20% gratuity and tax is added to that. Food and other wines are also available for purchase. --We will discuss each flight as a group and try to reach somewhat of a consensus. Then comes the *big reveal* where we discover if our guesses were right. Full vaccination is required, masks are optional. Unfortunately, while we will try to be as careful as possible, we cannot promise that this will be 100% Covid risk free, please keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to attend. Stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid 19. Please keep an eye on this event for possible changes. Hope to see you there ! \~ Linda Lists of possible wines: [White Wine Varieties](https://www.mastersommeliers.org/sites/default/files/ES%20Tast-CMS%20Probable%20List%20of%20Examinable%20White%20Grape%20Varieties-NEW_2015.pdf) [Red Wine Varieties](https://www.mastersommeliers.org/sites/default/files/ES%20Tast-CMS%20Probable%20List%20of%20Examinable%20Red%20Grape%20Varieties-NEW_2015.pdf)

Hello Euchre Enthusiasts – We are back at the [Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub](https://www.irishchanneldc.com/) in Chinatown on 6/1. **Please RSVP to indicate your attendance and HONOR YOUR RSVP**. If your plans change and you are unable to attend, please update your RSVP. Regular no-show or late notices may get you dropped from the group. It is important that we are able to provide an accurate count to the venue and that all people who want to AND are able to attend are able to do so. **We ask all attendees to pay $1 to participate in the meetup.** This money helps maintain our meetup membership & cover various meetup costs that arise. You can pay $1 on Venmo @amanda-uherek, via Pay-Pal, or in-person (please choose paying friend/family not a business, good or service). All attendees are encouraged to support the business. ***REMINDER:*** everyone is responsible for their own tabs. If you have questions / comments / suggestions please message us. We'll have hand sanitizer & decks of cards on hand, you bring the smack talk. Cheers - Amanda

Girls Club JUNE 3rd WEDNESDAY “Weekly Run” @Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) Washington, D.C. LADIES THIS IS A VERY RUNNING GROUP, PLEASE RSVP! Let's meet from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd for “Weekly Run” @Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) in -Washington, D.C! This is a very popular run! PLEASE RSVP! We need RSVP 48-hours before the event to get a head count! We will all meet at 6:30PM at the Smithsonian for our weekly run! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Must be Ages: 20s-30s \*\*REQUIRED\*\* RSVP Here! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Join Meetup Club Here: [https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/](https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/) Girls-Club-20s-30s What: Weekly Running! Where: Smithsonian Metro (Mall Side) Washington, D.C. When: Friday, JUNE 3rd, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Train stations: Orange Line & Silver Line & Blue Line (Smithsonian Metro Train Stop) \*Mall Side SUMMER is ALMOST HERE!!! CHEERS!!! :)) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*Disclosure\*\*\*\*\*\*\*If it rains, we will reschedule for the following week!

**{[Update]}** **The 5th Annual Woodmoorstock!** **This year brings us 60+ bands (classic rock, alt, funk, jazz, bluegrass, punk, metal) on 14 stages throughout the neighborhood. Woodmoor is a beautiful neighborhood that puts on this event for the community. Bands, food trucks and booths, and adult beverages from my favorite local brewery, Denizen's.** **The schedule** [Woodmoorstock Lineup ](https://www.woodmoorstock.com/lineup2026) **Interactive map** [Woodmoorstock Interactive Map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1HarfBqQ3Qi4d8hXjlFDIGM-m1vtZYkw&usp=sharing) **Info is also available on their facebook or instagram pages.** **I posted a pic of my tentative schedule of bands I want to see but make your own or just wander around without one. A fun time is guaranteed!** **Some parking is available at the elementary school/park parking lot but neighborhood street parking is easy to find.** **Stuff to bring-** **- lightweight foldable chair** **- hat** **- water** **- sunscreen & bug spray**

Sandman Sleeps is coming to DC June 4th & it’s going to be THE show to kick off your summer!! Join the crowd at Pie Shop & also do some good. PunkItForward.Org will be donating $5 for EVERY ADVANCE TICKET SOLD to DC Migrant Mutual Aid, so grab those tickets NOW: ✨🎟️✨👉 https://www.pieshopdc.com/shows/astronaut-class-w-sandman-sleeps-gigi-marie-04-jun Meet this killer lineup: Astronaut Class (alt rock with an astro twist) Space-based rockers, Astronaut Class, have come down from orbit with their debut album in hand. After years of playing together in various groups, longtime friends and crew mates Sean Lazer (vocals/drums), Zach Bogley (guitar), Jake Rohme (keys/vocals), James Bartolotta (bass), Chase Illig (guitar), and Harrison Fletcher (drums) have joined space-forces to create the universe's first interstellar band. Sandman Sleeps (dreamy indie alt rock) Sandman Sleeps is an indie/alternative rock band blending dreamy textures with atmospheric guitars, a tightly woven rhythmic pulse, and emotionally grounded songwriting. Formed in Nashville by sisters Cristina Peck and Alex Peck, the band later expanded with Zack Jones, shaping a more cinematic and immersive sound. Gigi Marie (garage glam punk) Gigi Marie is “DC’s favorite red head rock n roller” according to DC radio DJ Reddy Kilowatt!! A finalist for two Wammie Awards this year for Best Punk Song with “Miss Black Lagoon” and Best Rock Album with “All Things Night & Beautiful”, she’s thrilled to be bringing her Garage-Glam-Punkette attitude to Pie Shop!

🎉 DC Ravers Project Glow Afterglow Happy Hour 🎉 Project Glow 2026 may be over, but the memories, favorite sets, and new discoveries are still fresh. Join DC Ravers for a relaxed happy hour at Cuba Libre in Penn Quarter as we reconnect after an incredible festival weekend. Whether you attended one day, both days, discovered a new favorite artist, met up with fellow members, or missed Project Glow altogether, everyone is welcome. This is a chance to connect with fellow EDM fans, share experiences from the weekend, and continue building the DC Ravers community. Festivals are amazing for music, but they aren’t always the easiest places to get to know people. Between multiple stages, conflicting set times, large crowds, and long days, many of us only had a chance to say a quick hello before heading off to the next set. This happy hour gives us a chance to slow things down and connect. We’ll be talking about: 🎶 Favorite sets of the weekend 🎶 Biggest surprises and discoveries 🎶 Funniest festival moments 🎶 Artists we’re excited to see again 🎶 Upcoming shows, festivals, and events 🎶 Ideas for future DC Ravers meetups Most importantly, we’ll be meeting fellow ravers, making new friends, and strengthening the welcoming and inclusive community we’re building together. 📍 Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar 📍 Penn Quarter, Washington, DC 🚇 Easy walk from Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro 📅 Thursday, June 4 🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 🌱✨ Some of us will have sprouts, kandi, and wristbands, so we will be easy to find. 😅😀 See everyone there! 🎧✨ Note: While we’ll be sharing our Project Glow experiences, this is an independent DC Ravers community event and is not affiliated with or officially sponsored by Project Glow.

Calling all adults to come out and play! Let's enjoy it as a group! ["Let's Play America"](https://letsplayamerica.org/) is a non-profit based in Takoma Park that promotes play and playful activities for both kids AND adults. This is their annual free "Adult Play Day" with lawn games, board games, team trivia, the live Takoma Park band, food truck, drinks, and much more, including me leading a little Laughter Yoga :) Let's meet up and enjoy the festivities together! The event runs from 4-7 and I plan to be there from 4-6. Please share your cell number with your RSVP so we can find each other and plan when/where to meet. Hope to see you there!

These are really nice concerts, outdoors when possible. They do a great job finding amazing talent. And it's free. **[Will Kimbrough](https://www.willkimbrough.com/)** is a renowned Nashville-based singer-songwriter, an uber versatile multi-instrumentalist, a musicians musician and was named the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year in 2004. **Sign up [here](https://www.hillcenterdc.org/event/american-roots-concert-series-will-kimbrough/).** Known for his fluid, expert guitar work, he is considered a staple in the Americana music scene and a frequent collaborator with artists like Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Shemeika Copeland, Todd Snider, Steve Forbert and more. He is recognized for his prolific work as a session musician, a Grammy winning producer, adorned with many more awards and accolades and often called the hardest working man in Nashville. Will is the longtime lead guitarist for Emmylou Harris and a member of her esteemed Red Dirt Boys. Kimbrough’s twenty year songwriting relationship with Jimmy Buffett culminated in Buffett’s swan song, “Bubbles Up” and Will still plays with Jimmy’s Coral Reefer Band. After the loss of two of his closest musical partnerships in the last year, Jimmy Buffett & Todd Snider, Will’s is on tour honoring these special relationships, with a delightful tribute sharing how music, stories and songs bring us together rather than tear us apart.

**Girls Club JUNE 5th FRIDAY Happy Hour @Boulevard (NEW)-CLARENDON** LADIES THIS IS A VERY POPULAR HAPPY HOUR, PLEASE RSVP! Let's meet from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm on FRIDAY, JUNE 5th for Happy Hour @Boulevard New Restaurant in Clarendon! This is a very popular happy hour. PLEASE RSVP! We have a table reserved under the name “Brooklyn” Please ask the host to find us! Let’s get acquainted! Cheers! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Must be Ages: 20s-30s \*\*REQUIRED\*\* RSVP Here! \*\*REQUIRED\*\*Join Meetup Club Here: [https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/](https://www.instagram.com/arlingtondcgirlsclub/) Girls-Club-20s-30s What: Happy Hour Where: (Boulevard "NEW RESTAURANT") **2915 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201** When: FRIDAY, JUNE 5th 6:30pm - 0:00pm Train stations: Orange Line & Silver Line (Clarendon Stop) Happy Hour Menu: [https://boulevardva.com/menu/](https://boulevardva.com/menu/)

Let's stroll the artists' booths and enjoy some of the festival's opening day! The Columbus Art Festival features a wide and vibrant range of visual art from local and national exhibitors, plus, live music, and all kinds of food and refreshments, along the waterfront downtown. (The featured painting is by Columbus Arts Festival exhibitor, Joe Engel - joe-engelart.com)

Westerville Pride Festival Sat\. June 6\, 2026 \| 5 PM \- 8 PM If you're thinking of attending, or being a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, visit our website at https://www.westervillequeercollective.org/pride for more information! Location and other info will be announced soon :)