Jul 17, 2009  |  By: Staff & Wire Reports  | COMMENTS     

Remember that old Janie Fricke song "Take Me Like a Vacation"? OK, don't worry. Nobody else does either. But take our word for it — it should be the theme song for this week's "staycation" edition. The concept is easy — you need a break but you're broke. So you stay in town. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy some D.C. area fun. It ain't Fiji or the French Riviera, of course, but that's not the point. Your staycation is the perfect chance to do all that stuff you only think to do when you have guests in town. So take D.C. like a vacation and use our proudly unscientific lists — we gave you seven ideas in 12 categories in random order so you'd have one for each day of the week — to get started.


Take me out to the ballgame

Organizers expect 2,000 LGBT fans for Monday’s game. Night Out at the Nationals has become a summer tradition for many local LGBT residents, and the fifth annual event is Monday.

This year’s game against the New York Mets, which has a 7:05 p.m. start time, will feature the Gay Men’s Chorus singing the national anthem, and former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall, who was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” will throw the first pitch.

“This is the third year we’ve had someone from the community throw out the first pitch, and given how current the issue is in the news, we’re excited to have him participate in the game,” Greg Diamond, Night Out at the Nationals coordinator, said.

Hall, major gift officer and information systems manager at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, became a plaintiff in SLDN’s constitutional challenge to the military’s gay ban.

“I was excited when I found out they wanted a veteran and someone kicked out under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Hall said. “It’s great to be the one to represent the 13,000 people kicked out and the 65,000 that are currently serving in the military right now.”

A group from SLDN attended Night Out last year.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I think people have stereotypes that gay people, especially gay men, don’t do sports, but it’s a lot of fun to go out and see that we really do enjoy baseball. And it’s a good activity to do with all your friends.”

Diamond said the Nationals extended discounted tickets for the night and promote the event on their web site.

“The Nationals are excited to host the fifth annual Night Out at the ballpark,” Stan Kasten, Nationals team president, said via e-mail. “The event has been a great success since its inception and has continued to grow year after year. We are pleased with the participation from the local community and look forward to another wonderful evening at Nationals Park.”

Other Major League Baseball teams hold gay nights, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants. Diamond said that the Nationals have the largest gay night, drawing about 2,000 last year.

“The Night Out is just intended to be a great community building event to bring lots of people out from the community to enjoy a night of baseball,” Diamond said. “There’s a lot more participation by community partners this year, organizations and businesses that are helping to promote the event.”

One of these partners is Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W. Its owners are hosting an after party at the bar when the game ends.

Night Out at the Nationals
Monday  • 7:05 p.m.
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St., S.E. • $14-$20
Tickets available via www.teamdc.org or at Lambda Rising Bookstore, 1625 Connecticut Ave., N.W. and Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St. N.W.

Head to the Tidal Basin to see great views of the Jefferson Memorial. (Photo by Amy Cavanaugh)