Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: July 27
Parties, events and concerts through Aug. 2
‘Calendar Setting’ by David Alfuth, a piece on display now at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)
TODAY (Friday)
Khush DC, D.C.’s South Asian LGBT community group, presents “Queer India: Through a Play and Short Films” tonight at 7 at the SEIU Conference Center (1800 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). The play is “Ek Madhavbaug” and two short films “Breaking Free” and “Night is Young.” Admission is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker Health has HIV Testing at Town Danceboutique (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight from 8-midnight. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) has its happy hour tonight starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $15, and after 11 p.m. admission is $3. The party includes a pool, video gaming system and card tournaments. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., SE) holds the benefit “Campocaro” in benefit for one of its regulars, Carolina Alcalde, who was injured in one of this month’s storms. Cover is $10 and there are $3 drink specials. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Special Agent Galactica continues her happy hour run at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave, NW) tonight at 6. Admission is free and features full food and drink menu. The music includes songs by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks and Ray Stevens. For details, visit pinkhairedone.com.
Saturday, July 28
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, N.E.) at 8 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Tonight is the last night to catch Beat on the Bard Theatre Company’s “Nevermind the Bollocks, Here’s a Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Warehouse Theater(645 New York Ave., N.W.) at midnight. Tickets are $17. For more information, visit warehousetheater.com.
Town Danceboutique (2009 8th St., N.W.) holds its “Dirty Pop” party with DJ Drew G tonight at 10 p.m. Cover is $8 before 11 and $12 after. Drinks are $3 before 11 pm. The drag show starts 10:30. For details, visit towndc.com.
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW) holds its “Tainted Love: ‘80s Dance Party” starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $5. For more information, visit greenlanterndc.com.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) presents “The Nighttime Adventure Society” tonight at 9. The musical group has been featured on NPR, Delta radio and in a commercial for Sally Hansen. Tickets are $10. For details, visit blackcatdc.com.
Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) opens at 5:30 this evening with a pool, video gaming systems and card tournaments. The dance floors open at 11 p.m. Admission is free until 9 p.m. and is $10 after. For more information, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Phase 1 (525 8th St., SE) holds its party “Pop Rocks” with DJ LS tonight starting at 7. Cover is $10. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.
Sunday, July 29
Today is the last day to catch Touchstone Gallery’s (901 New York Ave., N.W.) two exhibits: “3D Collage the Adventure” by David Alfuth and “Being Affected” by Charles St. Charles. Alfuth’s artwork are surreal 3-D collages consisting of newspapers, cloth, pressed flowers and other flat objects. St. Charles’ exhibition portrays faces with various reactions to shared circumstances. The exhibit is free. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.
GLOE Youth & Family holds its third event in its LGBT Life Planning Series, which features experts to help navigate issues and laws LGBT people face at various stages of life, today at 2 at the Washington, D.C. JCC (1529 16th St., N.W.). This event is focusing on family building, in which experts will discuss options for LGBT families interest in having children. This event is free but a $5 donation is suggested. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Monday, July 30
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.
The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8th St., S.E.) offers half price drinks all night long, a free pool and NFL, NBA and NCAA games will be on the flat screen TVs. Dance floor opens at 10. Admission is free. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.
Banana Café (500 8th St., SE) has its open mic night from 7 p.m. to closing. Admission is free and there are $3 mojitos after 7:30 pm. For more information, visit bananacafedc.com.
Tuesday, July 31
Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, NW) hosts the weekly Safer Sex Kit Packing Program tonight at 7-10:30 p.m. Currently, the program is producing 1,500 kits a week and organizers would like to double this output. For details, visit thedccenter.org.
Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14th St., N.W.) holds its Coming Out-Women support group tonight at 7 p.m. The group is free but registration is required. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) presents its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 1
Joseph’s House (1730 Lanier Place, NW), a community care for homeless men and women who are dying, hosts a free tour and breakfast this morning at 10:30 a.m. Attendees should RSVP by emailing [email protected] or by calling 202-328-9161. For more information, visit josephshouse.org.
Bookmen D.C., a men’s gay literature group, discusses Maureen F. McHugh’s science fiction novel “China Mountain Zhang” tonight at 7:30 at the Tenleytown Public Library (4450 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.). It is a free event and all are welcome. For details, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Thursday, Aug. 2
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers today for GLBT Arts Consortium and CHAW’s presentation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta “The Gondoliers” tonight at 6:30 p.m. Duties include box office, concessions and ushering. The performance is at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St., S.E.). For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) presents its weekly Best Package Contest tonight at 9 p.m. There is a $3 cover and there are $2 vodka drinks. Participants in the contest can win $200 in cash prizes. The event is hosted by Lena Lett and music by DJ Chord, DJ Madscience, and DJ Sean Morris. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
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, fuck them and 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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