The Events at the ClubHouse
The club offered two private membership parties: Friday nights, known as ZEI, were predominately for a non-gay crowd. Saturday night parties, known as Vibrations, focused on a gay and lesbian membership. Tuesday night parties were offered for non-members. Ladies Night Only Dances (NOD) were originally scheduled on Thursdays but later moved to Wednesdays. Thursday evenings became a special night for the Epicurean Brothers social club event. Sunday evenings offered special events (such as the Cabaret evening shown on the July 1981 calendar (right), gospel and more.
The ClubHouse regularly celebrated holidays and anniversaries. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve were extravagant parties. The club's annual May anniversary saw celebratory parties for both the Friday and Saturday night memberships, followed by the annual Children's Hour party later in the month on Memorial Day weekend. Some events required less casual dress, such as for the Easter fashion show for which invitations cautioned against Levis and tennis shoes.
The club offered special trips to other clubs such as Odells in Baltimore. Return visits from members of these club exchanges were noted on the monthly schedules provided to members.
Saturday night, Vibrations, club card
The annual Halloween party was a costume extravaganza. There were prizes for best costume and members paid a discounted admission price.
As outreach to the wider community and in celebration of the club's opening on Mother's Day weekend, The ClubHouse offered an annual Mother's Day event. The evening opened with champagne and a buffet dinner, followed by a special show. Members and guests were invited to bring their mothers to the celebration.
The ClubHouse quickly became one of the must see stops on the nation's list of clubs, famous for its world class house/dance music and its state-of-the-art sound and light system. Popular entertainers often stopped by the club while in Washington, DC. Among those visiting The ClubHouse were Sylvester, Jennifer Holliday, Phyllis Hyman, Martha Wash, Bobby Thrust, Fonda Rae, and Jocelyn Brown.