June is Pride Month and we (meaning me and the DMV) do not celebrate quietly.One of the things I love most about the DMV is that Pride shows up in every corner of our community. You'll find it in restaurants raising money for LGBTQIA+ organizations, in neighborhood block parties, at museums and theaters, on dance floors, at family-friendly festivals, and in the countless businesses owned and operated by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. So grab your sequins and your rainbow flags. Here are just some of the many ways to celebrate Pride this month around the DMV.Pride Events Not To MissThroughout JuneJane Jane | Logan Circle — One of DC's favorite cocktail bars is celebrating Pride and America's 250th anniversary with "No Kings, Yas Queens!" Throughout June, expect Pride-themed décor, limited-edition merch, guest bartenders, Queer Industry Nights, and plenty of community spirit. On June 20, they'll even be serving to-go cocktails along the Pride Parade route. As they say at Jane Jane: No kings. Yas queens. Love, Makoto | Capitol Crossing — Throughout June, the Japanese food hall is offering a Pride Picnic for Two filled with a Rainbow Roll, Kale Soba Salad, Rainbow Vanilla Donuts, and Yuzu Lemonades—perfect for taking to the Capital Pride festivities. The Pride Party Pack swaps the lemonades for Makoto Margaritas or adorable Chika Sake Cups. Plus, throughout the month, Love on the Run's heart-shaped Rainbow Vanilla Donuts will be available individually, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Whitman-Walker. Pride, picnic-style. Unconventional Diner | Shaw — Pride Month is extra sweet at Unconventional Diner. Throughout June, a portion of proceeds from every Rainbow Layer Cake and Cantina Mule sold benefits Whitman-Walker, supporting healthcare, advocacy, education, and services for the LGBTQIA+ community.June 13Pride on the Pier | The Wharf — The Washington Blade's annual Pride on the Pier returns to District Pier with DJs, drag performances, dancing, waterfront views, and plenty of Pride energy. DC Pride Bar Crawl | Dupont Circle — Thousands of revelers hit bars and clubs throughout Dupont Circle for one of the city's biggest Pride celebrations. Pride Family Day | Glen Echo Park — Pride isn't just for the grownups. Families can enjoy arts and crafts, puppet shows, playground fun, rainbow treats, carousel rides, and complimentary aquarium tickets.June 14Gays & Graves | Congressional Cemetery — One of DC's most unique Pride events returns with tours highlighting LGBTQIA+ activists and pioneers, local LGBTQ-owned vendors, community programming, and a wreath-laying ceremony honoring those who came before us.June 17District of Pride Showcase | Lincoln Theatre — Hosted by the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, this celebration marks two decades of LGBTQIA+ leadership in DC with live music, drag performances, spoken word, and community storytelling.June 18Rooftop Pride Pool Party | Penthouse Pool & Lounge, Navy Yard — Kick off Capital Pride Weekend poolside with cocktails, music, dancing, and skyline views while supporting the Capital Pride Alliance.June 2017th Street Pride Block Party | Dupont Circle — One of the city's most beloved Pride traditions. Expect live entertainment, drag performances, food and drink specials, family-friendly activities, and a neighborhood-wide celebration. Capital Pride Parade | Downtown DC — The main event. Floats, performers, community groups, allies, activists, and thousands of spectators celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride and visibility throughout the heart of Washington. GlamFest | Metrobar — Glitter. Drag. DJs. Queer artists. Live performances. Venus | Berhta — This high-energy Pride dance party brings together multiple stages, food trucks, live performances, and an impressive DJ lineup. Pride Drag Bingo Dinner | Unconventional Diner — A special Pride-themed edition of Unconventional Diner's popular Drag Bingo featuring performances, buffet dinner, cocktails, and plenty of laughs.June 20 & 21Pride Brunch at dLeña | Mount Vernon Triangle — Celebrate Capital Pride Weekend while giving back. A portion of brunch proceeds benefits the Latinx History Project, supporting education and advocacy around the Latinx LGBTQIA+ community. Plus, endless plates and free-flowing cocktails never hurt.June 21Capital Pride Concert | Pennsylvania Avenue — Free outdoor performances with multiple stages, nationally recognized artists, and one of the city's biggest Pride crowds.Pride All Year Long: LGBTQIA+ Owned, Led & Community-Focused BusinessesAnd,  while Pride Month is a wonderful time to support these businesses, they're worth visiting all year long. A League of Her OwnAnnie's Paramount Steakhouse (Restaurant)As You Are (Bar)Aveda Salon Spa, Logan CircleBoogy and Peel (Restaurant)Bunker (Dance Club)Capital Candy JarCanino Dog BoutiqueCommissaryCrew ClubCrush (Bar)Dacha Beer GardenDupont Italian Kitchen & DIK BarThe Fireplace (Restaurant)Garlic Girl VintageGreen Lantern (Bar)Hank's Oyster BarHer DinerJane Jane (Cocktail Bar)JR's Bar & GrillKiki (Bar)Knead Hospitality + DesignLarry's Lounge (Bar)Licht Café (Café, Cocktail Bar)The Little Gay PubLogan TavernLost Generation Brewing CompanyLoyalty BookstoreMr. Henry's (Restaurant)Nellie's Sport BarNim AliNo Goodbyes Number Nine (Bar)Pitchers DC Pizzeria ParadisoRed Bear BrewingRelish CateringRepublic RestorativesRevoltShakers (Bar)Shaw's Tavern (Restaurant and Bar)Spark Social HouseSynergy & Serenity (Massage and Wellness)Three Fifty (Bakery & Coffee Bar)Thurst LoungeTrade (Bar)Uproar Lounge and RestaurantVIDA Fitness & Penthouse Pool (Gym+Pool Club)Wunder Garten Happy Pride, DC. Be loud. Be proud. Be kind. And most importantly, show up for one another.

Carla Hall, is at the top of her game. But getting there was no picnic. In this theatrical one-woman show, Carla Hall invites you to “strap in” for a wild, hilarious, and emotional ride as she reveals how she learned to embrace her own authenticity, “work her quirk” and finally step into her power. From her Tennessee roots as an awkward theater camp kid, to Howard University, to a stint on the runways of Paris, to her irreverent takes on the confusing expectations of Black excellence, crushing sexism, and the many attempts to erase her uniqueness, Carla has had to battle every step of the way to find her true voice – and wait till you hear it. In this insightful and inspiring World Premiere, Carla reveals the secret ingredients to her greatest creation: herself. This intimate exchange will leave audiences laughing, thinking, feeling and… maybe even discovering a little of their own power in simply being themselves.Carla Hall: Please Underestimate Me runs June 3 – July 12 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD. Tickets are $47-$101 and available online or by calling the box office at 301.924.3400. Discounts are available for groups, seniors, teachers, active military, first responders, and students. Visit olneytheatre.org/discounts for details.Bridging the food and theatre worlds, Honorary Producers for the production include Chef Eric Adjepong of Food Network’s “Wildcard Kitchen,” author, restaurateur, and TV personality Chef Spike Mendelsohn, food and wine publisher Nycci Nellis, Emmy-nominated journalist and producer Erin Como, and Nina Oduro, Co-founder of Black Women in Food. 

Nycci Nellis shared rainy weekend recommendations around the DMV as Memorial Day plans shifted indoors due to the weather. Nycci encouraged viewers to double check outdoor event updates before heading out and highlighted a variety of indoor activities including museum exhibits, theater productions, brunch destinations, and special dining experiences. From the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Spy Museum to shows at Signature Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company, Nycci also shared restaurant pairings and insider dining tips for making the most of a rainy holiday weekend in DC.

Chefs Tiffani Ortiz and Andy Doubrava met at the French Culinary Institute in New York before reconnecting years later on a Malibu farm — living in a teepee, surrounded by wild parrots, discovering a shared obsession with agriculture, sustainability, and zero-waste cooking.But in this episode of Industry Night, the conversation goes far beyond the restaurant.We talk about how their nomadic culinary project Slow Burn — a traveling zero-waste pop-up that carried them through 42 states — shaped every dish now on the menu at The Catbird Seat. How two chefs with no tasting-menu experience took over one of Nashville's most iconic restaurants and earned a Michelin star doing it their way.We also dive into: life on the road vs. rooted restaurant life, fermentation and preservation as philosophy not just technique, building a kitchen culture around empathy and high standards, how to run a restaurant with your life partner without losing your mind, and why great fine dining should never feel stuffy.This is a conversation about restaurants, yes — but also about curiosity, resilience, and what happens when you build a career entirely on your own terms.Listen to the episode here, and watch it all, here.