Latest news with #Shuffled
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Capital Hilton to Host Fifth Annual DC Festival of Magic Labor Day Weekend
Take part in a magic-filled weekend in the heart of Washington, DC with spectacular performances, thematic cocktails, and unforgettable memories WASHINGTON, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This Labor Day weekend from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31, Capital Hilton will once again serve as the backdrop for the 5th annual DC Festival of Magic, where the best magicians from around the country come together to put on performances that are sure to dazzle, enchant, and amaze. Hosted at Capital Hilton since 2019, The DC Festival of Magic has brought together five magicians for an electrifying showcase of mind-blowing illusions, jaw-dropping sleight of hand, and side-splitting comedy. Whether attendees are lifelong magic fans or curious newcomers, they will certainly witness performances that defy explanation and leave the mind questioning reality. The festival is founded and organized by DMV local, Brian Curry, Washington City Paper's Performing Artist of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Milbourne Christopher Award for Mentalism. Curry currently performs his show, The Good Liar at Capital Hilton and The Hotel Washington. This year's full weekend of events includes the following: Friday, August 29 Andi Gladwin: Shuffled | 7:00 p.m. | Ages 15+Kicking off this year's festival is a one-of-a-kind magic show where the audience brings their own shuffled decks, making each performance completely unique. Gladwin takes chaos and turns it into pure astonishment, proving that true magic happens in the unexpected. Saturday, August 30 David Corsaro: Seriously Amazing | 1:00 p.m. | Ages 15+With over 27 years of experience, David Corsaro is one of the most in-demand magicians in the industry. Corsaro is currently a featured performer on Monday Night Magic, New York City's longest-running off-Broadway magic show. Lucy Darling | 7 p.m. | Ages 15+Known as the "Mistress of Magic," Lucy Darling is an award-winning magician known around the world for her wit, charm, and exceptionally good hair. Darling's shows are a wonderful mix of playful, improvisational comedy, hilarious and witty writing, and impossible magic feats. Sunday, August 31 John Reid: Family Show | 1:00 & 3:00 p.m. | All AgesJoin one of New York's favorite family entertainers for an unforgettable experience filled with magic, laughs, and more. Reid, a World Record-Holding professional magician, will have the crowd roaring with laughter and amazement as he harnesses the power of imagination. Eric Jones: Master Magician | 7:00 p.m. | Ages 15+Prepare to be amazed by the incredible sleight-of-hand mastery of Eric Jones. As seen on America's Got Talent and Champions of Magic, Jones has stunned audiences worldwide with his mind-bending magic and impossibly smooth sleight of hand. His performances blend elegance, skill, and pure astonishment, leaving even the sharpest skeptics speechless. For those looking to end the night with a magical nightcap, The Statler Lounge will feature thematic cocktails and casual, tableside magic every night from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a number of featured local magicians. Tickets for individual shows through the weekend are available at Featured Booking PackagesGuests traveling into Washington, DC, can book the Festival of Magic Package which includes two All-access Passes for the Festival of Magic (providing entry to all shows through the weekend, a $190 total value) and two complimentary beverages at the Statler Lounge. Rates for the Festival of Magic Package start at $429 + tax. About Capital HiltonOpened in 1943 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Capital Hilton has a proud tradition of welcoming the world's travelers to Washington, DC for over 80 years. The Capital Hilton has had the honor of hosting presidents, dignitaries, and countless notable leaders alike and is a Historic Hotels of America member hotel. Located two blocks from the White House and National Mall, the hotel is central to top attractions, shopping, dining, museums and historic sites. Visit for more information, and connect with Capital Hilton on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Hilton Hotels & ResortsFor over a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has set the benchmark for hospitality around the globe, connecting people, cultures and communities. Offering striking design and vibrant communal spaces—from buzzing lobbies to lively bars, best-in-class restaurants, and iconic event venues— Hilton Hotels & Resorts is the place to see and be seen in the world's most sought-after destinations. With more than 600 hotels in nearly 100 countries, Hilton Hotels & Resorts is where the world comes together, and travelers are masterfully hosted with expertise and care. Experience a legendary stay at Hilton Hotels & Resorts by booking at or through the industry leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Hilton Hotels & Resorts at and follow the brand on Facebook, X and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Capital Hilton
Miami Herald
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
As Florida curbs LGBTQ rights, queer teens gather for prom at Miami's Vizcaya Museum
They Cupid Shuffled. They whipped and nae-nae'd. They shook it like a Polaroid picture. But this was not a regular prom: it was an extravaganza on a terrace overlooking Biscayne Bay. On Saturday night, the gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens were taken over by LGBTQ students from around Miami — about 96 in total — for the first prom ever held at the iconic waterfront estate. The theme: 'Into the Garden.' They wore everything from purple corduroy pants and platform sneakers to baby blue ball gowns that matched the evening sky above Biscayne Bay. Many had never seen Vizcaya before. The estate was built in the early 20th century by James Deering. Paul Chalfin, a queer artist, helped build the villa. Chalfin lived with his male partner on a houseboat docked at the property. For Artemis Cruz, 17, who just graduated from José Martí MAST, the night was more than a party. 'I'm pretty excited because it's kind of history,' he said. 'This is the first time I had a big idea and it came to fruition,' said the student, who was one of the students who came up with the idea for the prom. Cruz said he had once gone to a queer prom at a library. 'It was 'eh,'' he said. He skipped his school's prom because he didn't feel comfortable in that environment. Cruz was not the only one who was excited to have prom at such an iconic location. 'I wasn't ready for this much amazement,' said Nicole De Souza, 18, who arrived a bit late, not knowing how beautiful Vizcaya would be. 'It's so pretty! I love it! I wish I wore my actual dress. It's like a dream come true!' De Souza, who just graduated from Pompano Beach High School, wore a floor-length teal sequin gown. But it wasn't enough. She wished she wore the quinceañera-style ball gown she wore to her school's prom. Ludwin Arauz, 18, who just graduated from Felix Varela High School, was close to having gone to high school and never attend prom at all. 'I never cared for it… but, this place is actually insane, I've never seen anything like this.' The 'queer prom,' as students were calling it, was organized by Safe Schools South Florida, a nonprofit founded in 1991 to support gay students. Historically, the organization would provide teacher training's, work with individual schools' Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, and host an annual empowerment day — where students would get a permission slip to leave school and attend a district-wide event with games and motivational speakers. School buses provided by the district would transport them. But now, nearly all of Safe Schools' programming happens outside the school district's purview. Since the passage of Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act — or the 'Don't Say Gay' law — signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, Miami-Dade schools have largely stepped back from visible support for LGBTQ students. Even a symbolic resolution to recognize LGBTQ History Month was rejected by the school board for the past three years. The state has imposed restrictions on classroom discussions of gender and sexuality, and banned access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors. Yariel Genao, a junior, had planned to arrive in style — but had a mishap. 'So I was in the car, and when I got out, I felt my sole touch the floor — oh no…' His gold heels had broken completely. He entered Vizcaya with bare feet and his shoes in hand. 'I don't know how I am going to tell her,' he said of the friend he borrowed them from. At the green screen photo booth in the plant-filled courtyard, Jessica Lam, a trans woman who 'has been a member of the community before there was a community,' was running the booth. She listed off the backdrop options: 'You can be in outer space!' she said, or, 'You can go to Paris.' The group chose the flaming background. 'Act like we're burning!' said one friend. Lam texted them the photo. As they laughed at the photo, one friend joked, 'Us going to hell after going to queer prom.' Latisha Buffenoir, 18, showed up with a group of 10 friends, all picked up in a black car provided by the event. She wore black pants, dress shoes, and a vest. Her date, Abigail Chico, wore a petticoat, corset, and lingerie top — all in the style of the Gilded Age. Her friend Evelyn Ventura wore a corset her mom got her from Spain. The music was handled by DJ Citizen Jane, an openly gay DJ who kept the dance floor full with a mix of Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, and throwbacks from the 2010s. Although the music was a bit too loud for some students, who wore earphones and earplugs. 'It's loud, but yay gay people!' said Lin Sutton, a home school student who brought a small notepad and was sketching the architecture of the building as they waited for the dinner banquet portion of the event to begin. 'I'm just grateful for this to exist,' said Sutton. At the end of the event, they crowned nine students Kings, Queens and Monarchs, using a sound meter to measure which contestant received the most enthusiastic response. The 'monarch' category was created to provide a category for non-binary students. 'We are not banging our head against the door, we are going to do things without the school boards help,' said Scott Galvin, the executive director and former elected official. 'Yes, it was a heavy financial lift to go to Vizcaya, but I wanted to do it there because other queer proms are at an Elks Lodge or a library. I wanted these kids who are not being celebrated as much right now, to have a first class prom experience.' 'That is pure queer joy,' said Harold Marrero, the chief operating officer for the organization, watching the students dance after they finished their dinner. He added the event was a testament to the fact that 'we are not going to hide, go back in the closet or go underground, and we are going to enjoy the freedoms we have worked so hard to obtain.'
