Artisphere
DC’s longest-running Yuri’s Night celebration docks once more at its favorite port of call: Artisphere. The evening celebrates the intersection of artsy, sexy, and nerdy and pays homage to the anniversary of the first human spaceflight. Events include space themed burlesque, live music, pop-up art, trivia with a soon-to-be Martian, laser tag, an anti-gravity chamber (moonbounce), celestial costume contests, and a lunar dance party.
An age 21+ event, Countdown to Yuri's Night (C2YN) takes place Saturday, April 11, from 9pm to 1am, at Artisphere.
Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 Door. The event is easily accessible from the Rosslyn metro and parking is FREE. Visit www.c2yn.com for tickets info, artist links, and announcements.
On April 12, 1961, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin embarked on the historic first manned space flight. Every year Yuri's Night parties are held all around the world; it's like St. Patrick's Day for space. Now in its 8th year, C2YN offers an artistic spin on this high-science holiday, recognizing that space exploration is inspiration for everyone.
C2YN will occupy nearly all of Artisphere’s futuristic spaces. In the Dome Theatre, there is both a 9 pm and 10 pm seating for the original sci-fi burlesque show, Space Pirates! Turns out being a "space pirate" is harder than it looks. Hansel-O, Drink Bot, and Number 2 have been adrift since last year, but that all changes when their ship receives a distress call from planet Siren. The unsuspecting crew falls into a very sexy trap. The show features burlesque all-stars Mr. Gorgeous (NYC),Candy Del Rio (DC), The Reverend Valentine (DC), and Melody Magpie (Richmond) with special guest, Mab just Mab (DC). To warm up the audience’s warp drives, surf rockers Atomic Mosquitos will play their infectious tunes sprinkled with the spacey sounds of a Theremin for exciting pre-show sets!
The Ballroom will blast off with the jazzy-ska band Eastern Standard Time. Called one of DC’s Best Bands by The Washington Post, E.S.T. has toured the universe…even traveling as far as Yuri’s homeland: Mother Russia. Space cadets can enjoy their sounds from the dance floor or the reduced-gravity chamber (moonbounce). In between sets, audiences will be treated to NYC’s comedic and sexy hooping wonder Miss Saturn. Saturn often performs with up to 75 hula hoops at a time!
In the town square, Femcee Kittie Glitter will keep the cadets entertained as she hosts Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robot Battlesand an Are you Smarter than a Martian?” trivia contest with special guest Sonia Van Meter, a finalist for the Mars One mission to begin a permanent human settlement on the red planet.
After the live music, DJ P.VO (host of the radio show Hometown Sounds) will embark on a lunar dance party guaranteed to make you attempt a moonwalk.
Throughout the event the atmosphere will be high with costume contests, cash n’ carry sci-fi art show with artworks priced under $500 from, geeky giveaways, photo ops, and even Laser Tag on the holodeck (a-hem, black box theatre).