Break Out Your Leather, MAL Is Here
It is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday weekend and many of us have Monday off. It is also a weekend of kink with both a leather convention and tattoo convention going on. There are events for those not so adventurous or with kids too and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and Parade will be held on Monday.
Plan ahead if you’re taking the metro this weekend. Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains will run every 20 minutes. Red Line trains will run every 22 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont starting at 10 p.m. Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, Red Line trains between Friendship Heights and Judiciary Square will run every 12-14 minutes from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Mid-Atlantic Leather
Calling all fans of 50 Shades of Grey, which opens in theaters on Valentine’s Day. It is time for the 44th Mid Atlantic Leather weekend, better known as MAL, sponsored by the Centaur Motorcycle Club. Thousands of (mostly gay) people descend on the District for a long weekend of harnesses, chaps, whips and parties. You don’t really have to be into leather to attend. It’s more than fine to go-and-look and dip your toe into the leather world. But be warned: this is not for kids. According to the website, the dress code in the hotel is “Nudity is not allowed in the public areas of the hotel. You are able to walk around the hotel shirtless, in a jock or in chaps with a jock. When dining, your butt must be covered and at least have a vest on. When leaving the hotel, you must have at least a 1 inch strap covering your ass-crack.”
Jan. 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW. Other events take place at the 9:30 Club, Town Danceboutique, Green Lantern, Cobalt and Glorious Health Club. Events start at 3 p.m. Friday and run through 4:30 a.m. Monday. The exhibitor hall (admission is $10 at the door) is open from 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday in case you are opening for some early Valentines Day gifts or to recreate 50 Shade of Grey at home. Click here for the entire schedule.
D.C. Tattoo Expo
More than 160 of the world’s best tattoo artists, including the finest tattoo artists from the D.C. metro area will be at the D.C. Tattoo Expo this weekend. There will be live tattooing and body piercing. If it’s the body art industry, it’s here. A full list of the tattoo artists is here. There will be a tattoo contest at 9 p.m. nightly with categories such as sleeve, back piece, best tattoo of the day (must have been done from start to finish at the expo) and worst tattoo (winner gets a certificate for a cover up). Winners receive plaques. There will also be the Miss D.C. Pin-Up Contest at 7 p.m. Saturday with the winner taking home $500.
Jan. 16-18 from noon-10 p.m. Friday and Sunday and noon-11 p.m. on Saturday at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington. Tickets are $25 a day or $55 for all three days at the door. Children under 12 are free with paying adult and active military members receive a discount.
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Program
Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Anacostia Community Museum celebrates the life and legacy of the enduring civil rights leader in its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Program. This two-hour program, heald at the National Museum of the American Indian, features live performances by the Washington Performing Arts’ Children of the Gospel Choir, the Alfred Kiger Savoy Players and the winners of the 2014 D.C. schools Latin dance competition. Kica Matos, of the Center for Community Change, is the keynote speaker.
Jan. 16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Rasmuson Theater of the National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE! Register for free tickets here.
Ice Yards
Grab your I.D. and your mittens and head down to Ice Yards. Warm up with Absolut snow cones, frosty beer, a ski lounge, ice sculptures, interactive winter-themed video games, virtual skiing and snowmobiling games, outdoor fire pits and hot tubs. DJ Jerome Baker III will spin and Jonny Graves and the Tombstones and Jeff from Accounting will provide live music. Food vendors include TaKorean, 100 Montaditos, Agus 301, Nando’s Peri-Peri and Ice Cream Jubilee.
Jan. 17 from 2-6 p.m. at the Yards, 301 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Hand dancing class and performance
The National Hand Dance Association will present an all-ages hand dance workshop and performance as part of the Humanities, Arts & Technology Festival sponsored by the Humanities Council of D.C.
Jan. 17 from 3-7 p.m. at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center at St. Elizabeths East, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. Admission is FREE!
Step Afrika! Step Xplosion
Step Afrika!, the professional step dance company, celebrates its 20th anniversary with Step Xplosion, a performance features six local step teams. If you’re interested in the history of step dance, a panel will explore the relationship between African-American Greek organizations and stepping.
Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Admission is $25-$35 online or at the door. The panel discussion will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Mansion’s music room. It is free with a concert ticket.
Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and Parade
The Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and Parade in Anacostia. The parade route runs from St. Elizabeths East to Leckie Elementary School and includes the Ballou Marching Band .
Jan. 19 with the peace walk starting at 11:30 a.m. at 2500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE next to the United Black Fund ending at Covenant Baptist UCC, 3845 S. Capitol St. followed by a program at 12:30 p.m. The parade steps off at noon at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE and ends 4201 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Winter Restaurant Week
The Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week kick off Monday with three-course $20.15 prix fixe lunches and $35.15 prix fixe dinners. More than 250 restaurants in the DMV from Purcellville, Va., to Frederick, Md. and everywhere in between are participating including the newly opened Mango Tree at CityCenterDC.
Jan. 19-25 for lunch at dinner at various restaurants in the DMV. Cost is $20.15 for a prix fixe three-course lunch and $35.15 for a three-course prix fixe dinner. You can find a full list of participating restaurants and many of their menus here.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.