Velvet Nation
Encyclopedia
Velvet Nation was a gay
dance event that took place at the Nation
nightclub
, formerly known as The Capitol Ballroom, located at 1015 Half Street, SE in Washington, D.C.
The party name was derived from the venue name and "Velvet", an ode to the gay community. This event was hosted weekly on Saturday nights, 388 times over seven years, serving more than 741,000 patrons. The event ended when Nation closed its doors on July 16, 2006. The club was forced to close because of eminent domain
, and the land is now part of the redevelopment program being spurred by the new Nationals Park baseball stadium in the Navy Yard/Near Southeast neighborhood.
Velvet Nation was created and operated by John Guggenmos and Ed Bailey. For many years, it hosted circuit event DJs and talents such as Junior Vasquez
, Victor Calderone
, The Pet Shop Boys, KD Lang, and The Village People. It was also known for its theme events such as Madonnarama, a night of all Madonna
music and video, and its foam parties
.
In Fall 2007, Bailey and Guggenmos opened the follow-up to Velvet Nation, Town Danceboutique, a two-story, 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) gay nightclub
in Northwest D.C.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
dance event that took place at the Nation
Nation (nightclub)
Nation was a live music/club venue, located at 1015 Half Street SE, in the Navy Yard/Near Southeast neighborhood, of Washington, D.C....
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
, formerly known as The Capitol Ballroom, located at 1015 Half Street, SE in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The party name was derived from the venue name and "Velvet", an ode to the gay community. This event was hosted weekly on Saturday nights, 388 times over seven years, serving more than 741,000 patrons. The event ended when Nation closed its doors on July 16, 2006. The club was forced to close because of eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
, and the land is now part of the redevelopment program being spurred by the new Nationals Park baseball stadium in the Navy Yard/Near Southeast neighborhood.
Velvet Nation was created and operated by John Guggenmos and Ed Bailey. For many years, it hosted circuit event DJs and talents such as Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
, Victor Calderone
Victor Calderone
Victor Calderone is a house music producer, DJ and remixer.-History:Raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, Calderone was introduced into New York City's nightlife by his older brother, Cesar, who was very active in the club music business. Calderone began to dabble with turntables and...
, The Pet Shop Boys, KD Lang, and The Village People. It was also known for its theme events such as Madonnarama, a night of all Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
music and video, and its foam parties
Foam party
A foam party is a social event in which participants dance to music on a dance floor covered in several feet of suds or bubbles dispensed from a foam machine....
.
In Fall 2007, Bailey and Guggenmos opened the follow-up to Velvet Nation, Town Danceboutique, a two-story, 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) gay nightclub
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
in Northwest D.C.