Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 25
Parties, exhibits, events and more through March 31
'Blue, Yellow and Green Grasses' is part of an exhibit called 'Grasses' by artist Mary Ott that will be on display starting Wednesday and throughout April at Touchstone Gallery in Washington. Receptions with the artist are planned for April 1 and 10. (Image courtesy of Touchstone Gallery)
TODAY
Caliente Grande is tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) starting at 9 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning the Latin dance party in the main hall. There is a $10 cover charge. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Brightest Young Things presents “A Night at the Newseum II: Way Out of Line” at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. with DJs Nickodemus and Ancient Astronauts. Tickets are $15 in advanced and drink tickets are $4. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.
The New Gay hosts Beat City at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. featuring music from artists such as Joan Jett, Le Tigre, Bloc Party and more. There will also be a giveaway and the winner will get a pair of tickets to see The Raveonettes at Black Cat and a copy of their new record, “Raven in the Grave.” For more information, visit, thenewgay.net.
Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, will be meeting tonight from 8 to 9 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington presents “Pride Night” with a performance of “And the Curtain Rises” at 8 p.m. followed by a post-show cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsoro presents “So You Think You Can Sing!,” a karaoke and dance party, tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with DJ Christy. All participants get a free rail or domestic beer with their first performance. There is a $5 cover.
The “1st Friday of the Month,” a professional women for women social group, is meeting tonight at Beacon Bar & Grill (1615 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Jocks vs. Jocks from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $5 if wearing sports attire, $7 if not. There’s a trophy and cash prizes for the winning team.
Busboys & Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) presents “Wake up and Smell the Coffee!: A Community Gathering on D.C. Voting Rights and Statehood” today at 9 a.m. in the Cullen Room. This is a free event.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F. St., N.W.) presents Bowen McCauley Dance’s 15th anniversary season “Red. Hot. Fabulous.” tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Theater. The show is made up of five different pieces, “Haiku Suite,” “World Premiere,” “Time and Clouds,” “Ozone” and “Telemetry.” Tickets are $36 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) hosts Ladies Night: Coyote Ugly Edition tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring The House Tribe and DJs Tektronics, Mario and Saam and an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m. on the main floor. Get free and reduced admission passes at dcclubbing.com.
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed twice tonight at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 6 and 9 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Tickets are $42. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Congressional Chorus presents “Stompin’ at the Savoy: A 1930s Cabaret Ballroom” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission. Contact Debby McConnell at 202-399-7993, ext. 182 or [email protected] for information.
Sunday, March 27
The D.C. Jazz Jam, a weekly jam free for both musicians and jazz lovers, is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dahlak (1771 U St., N.W.).
Busboys & Poets will be showing the film “The Nine Lives of Marion Barry” tonight at 8 p.m. as part of its “Focus-In! Cinema for a Conscious Community,” at the 5th and K location (1025 5th St., N.W.) and the film “Pushing the Elephant” in the Langston Room at 14th and V location (2021 14th St., N.W.).
Monday, March 28
The GLBTA Resource Center at American University is hosting a workshop entitled “Bisexual 101” today from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mary Graydon Center, Room 247. The workshop will look at issues related to bisexuality as well as bisexuality across cultures and historical epochs and look at some prominent bisexuals. To RSVP, e-mail [email protected] with your name.
SAGE Metro D.C. is holding its monthly meeting tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Professionals in the City and the D.C. Center are hosting a speed dating event for lesbian and bisexual women at Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 11 p.m. Attendees will date for about an hour and then be able to mingle with everyone. After the event, matches can be made online. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit prosinthecity.com.
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, March 29
Out musician Kaki King will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight with Joe Robinson. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
Busboys & Poets (2021 14th St., N.W.) is hosting an open mic poetry night tonight at 9 p.m. in the Langston Room. Wristbands will be on sale in the bookstore for $4 starting at 10 a.m. until they are sold out.
Wednesday, March 30
The reality show “Drag City: D.C.” will be taping a drag show on roller skates tonight from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Temple Hills Skating Center (3132 Branch Ave.) in Temple Hills. The show starts at 8. Admission is $15 with a buffet for an additional $5.
Busboys & Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave.) in Arlington is hosting an organic happy hour today at 4 p.m. featuring Butte Creek IPA Sam Smith Ale cocktails, Eco Mojito Tree-Tini and more.
Thursday, March 31
Adventuring, a D.C. gay and lesbian outdoor group, will be hosting a cherry blossom evening hike. The group will meet at the top of the escalators at Waterfront Metro and leave at 6 p.m. The only required cost if the $2 trip fee. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Cherry 2011 kicks off tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) with a pre-game and pass pick-up with DJ Nick Centrik Purcell from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by Ignition with DJs Randy Bettis and Jason Horswill at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
a&e features
Eastern Shore chef named James Beard Finalist
Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space
In a small Eastern Shore town filled with boutiques, galleries, and the occasional cry of waterfowl from the Chesapeake, Chef Harley Peet is most at home. In his Viennese-inflected, Maryland-sourced fine-dining destination Bas Rouge, Peet draws from his Northern Michigan upbringing, Culinary Institute of America education, and identity as a gay man, for inspiration.
And recently, Peet was named a James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic – the first “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” finalist representing the Eastern Shore.
Peet, after graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, took a position as sous chef at Tilghman Island Inn, not far from Bas Rouge. Falling in love with the Eastern Shore, he continued his passion for racing sailboats, boating, gardening, and fishing, and living his somewhat pastoral life as he opened Bas Rouge in 2016 as head chef, a restaurant part of the Bluepoint Hospitality group, which runs more than a dozen concepts in and around Easton, Md.
Coming from a rural area and being gay, Peet knew he had his work cut out for him. He was always aware that the service and hospitality industry “can be down and dirty and rough.”
Now as a leader in the kitchen, he aims to “set a good example, and treat people how I want to be treated. I also want to make sure if you’re at our establishment, I’m the first to stand up and say something.”
The Bas Rouge cuisine, he says, is Contemporary European. “I’m inspired by old-world techniques of countries like Austria, Germany, and France, but I love putting a new spin on classic dishes and finding innovative ways to incorporate the bounty of local Chesapeake ingredients.”
His proudest dish: the humble-yet-elevated Wiener Schnitzel. “It is authentic to what one would expect to find in Vienna, down to the Lingonberries.” From his in-house bakery, Peet dries and grinds the housemade Kaiser-Semmel bread to use as the breadcrumbs.
Peet works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen. “I love that our Bluepoint Hospitality team has created welcoming spaces where our patrons feel comfortable dining at each of our establishments. Our staff have a genuine respect for one another and work together free of judgment.”
Representing Bluepoint, Peet has participated in events like Chefs for Equality with the Human Rights Campaign, advocating for LGBTQ rights.
At Bas Rouge, Peet brings together his passion for inclusion steeped in a sustainability ethic. He sees environmental stewardship as a way of life. Peet and his husband have lived and worked on their own organic farm for several years. Through research in Europe, he learned about international marine sourcing. Witnessing the impacts of overfishing, Peet considers his own role in promoting eco-friendly practices at Bas Rouge. To that end, he ensures responsible sourcing commitments through his purveyors, relationships that have helped create significant change in how people dine in Easton.
“I have built great relationships in the community and there’s nothing better than one of our long-standing purveyors stopping in with a cooler of fresh fish from the Chesapeake Bay. This goes especially for catching and plating the invasive blue catfish species, which helps control the species’ threat to the local ecosystem.
Through his kitchen exploits, Peet expressed a unique connection to another gay icon in a rural fine-dining restaurant: Patrick O’Connell, of three Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington. In fact, Peet’s husband helped design some of O’Connell’s kitchen spaces. They’ve both been able to navigate treacherous restaurant-industry waters, and have come out triumphant and celebrated. Of O’Connell, Peet says that he “sees [his restaurants] as canvas, all artistry, he sees this as every night is a show.” But at the same time, his “judgment-free space makes him a role model.”
Being in Easton itself is not without challenges. Sourcing is a challenge, having to either fly or ship in ingredients, whereas urban restaurants have the benefit of trucking, he says. The small town “is romantic and charming,” but logistics are difficult – one of the reasons that Peet ensures his team is diverse, building in different viewpoints, and also “making things a hell of a lot more fun.”
Reflecting on challenges and finding (and creating) space on the Eastern Shore, Peet confirmed how important it was to surround himself with people who set a good example, and “if you don’t like the way something is going … move on.”
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
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