a&e features
Kristine W.’s triumphant return
Dance diva readies new album, Distrkt C appearance
Kristine W. (Photo by Bobby Black)
Distrkt C Pride
An indoor/outdoor music festival and concert
Saturday, June 10
10 p.m.
Official men’s party of Capital Pride
DJs Jared Conner and Joe Gauthreaux
Grind
Inaya Day
Sunday, June 11
5 p.m.
Outside: disco and classics with Billy Carroll
Concert starts at 8:30 p.m.
Crystal Waters
Kristine W
Kim English
Inside: T dance at 6 p.m. with Roland Belmares
10 p.m.
X Gonzalez
Twisted Dee
Morabito
Amuka
D.C. Eagle
3701 Benning Rd., N.E.
distrktc.com
Many artists who are lucky to chart hits on the Billboard charts at all often see the law of diminishing returns kick in gradually over time, even with consistently good material.
Somehow, though, Kristine W. has managed to maintain a staggeringly impressive record on the U.S. Dance charts. She’s had 14 no. 1 singles over a nearly 20-year period. Of the 19 singles she’s charted there, the lowest she ever peaked at was no. 4. She had another smash last summer with “Out There,” which made it to No. 3.
She’s in D.C. this weekend to headline at the Distrkt C Pride Indoor/Outdoor Festival & Concert. She spoke by phone with the Blade, her first interview with us since 2012, last week, from her home in Las Vegas. Her comments have been slightly edited for length.
WASHINGTON BLADE: How’ve you been?
KRISTINE W.: It’s been a challenging year. It just seems like a lot of people around me are going through some transition. It’s a time of change. It could be life, jobs or relationships. Last year I wrote the song “Out There” which is really strange because now I’m going through a divorce. It’s really strange how I keep writing this music and it ends up being real life. “Land of the Living” was one of those albums. It was like I wrote it then I had to live it.
BLADE: Are the songs more universal than you originally realized or do you have a sixth sense?
KRISTINE W.: I think they’re more universal than I really thought, although my grandfather had this gift of kind of seeing into the future and so did his mother, my grandmother, Elizabeth who I’m named after. I don’t know if I didn’t get some of that too. Sometimes I get certain signs in dreams or I’ll get this really weird epiphany. I fight it all the time but sometimes it just kind of overtakes me.
BLADE: What was your favorite remix of “Out There,” your latest hit?
KRISTINE W: I think the Moto Blanco mix. But I also like the original mix that’s going to be on the album because it takes you on a journey. That album mix as far as watching a crowd having a good time but … at a Pride event, the Moto Blanco mix is so uplifting, you can just see everybody get lifted up from it. It’s a very happy production.
BLADE: Do you collaborate on the remixes at all?
KRISTINE W.: Oh yeah. So many of them have known me enough years that we kind of know each other’s audiences, we play a lot of big events, we know what kind of works, we have personal relationships and it’s very cool. … I try to use the remixes to cover as big of a territory as possible. The Loop Soop version is like a tropical, Miami kind of vibe so that’s kind of like sipping cocktails and chilling at your house. If you pick ‘em right, they can afford you a chance of reaching a wider audience than if you just put out a couple versions.
BLADE: Tell us about your upcoming single “Stars.”
KRISTINE W.: “Stars” is really special. It’s a song I wrote a couple yars ago and kind of sat on but in a strange way, it’s kind of mirroring my life right now and what I’m going through. But not just for me, it’s universal. … Everybody who listens to it it’s like there’s a piece of them in it. You can just see it in their reaction. … We’re working on some really cool remixes of it right now.
BLADE: When will it be out?
KRISTINE W.: We’re shooing for Independence Day but it’s a little crazy right now. We have to get it in the queue. It’s gonna come down to how soon I can get pushed through the line.
BLADE: You were talking about a new album last summer when “Out There” came out. What’s the status on that?
KRISTINE W.: The album is finished. We’re probably going to put out a couple singles, then drop the album or maybe put it on pre-order. We’re looking into that right now. But it’s gonna be amazing.
BLADE: What’s it like? When did you make it and how long did it take?
KRISTINE W.: We started about six months after “New & Number Ones” so like mid-2012 we were working on it. We’ve written a lot of songs. I’m thinking it’s actually going to be like two back-to-back albums and not wait as long to put another one out because we have like 15 or 16 tracks total. Then we’re recording naked versions, you know, stripped-down versions of the songs because people really enjoy those. I’ve worked with a lot of songwriters from all over the place. I just finished a song with Chris Cox and Lee Jagger called “Found a Home.” “Next to You” is being produced right now. I think it’s gonna be a little bit different the way we release this next batch of music.
BLADE: Are you of the opinion that the song has to work acoustically first or not necessarily?
KRISTINE W.: Well obviously like with the Chainsmokers, a lot of their songs are just a big, fat hook and then maybe a lyrical a hook. Maybe half a verse or something. They’re not making very complicated songs. They were just on “Saturday Night Live” and were with a band … and I noticed they’d added more structure. For me, it’s better to just write a song. Then if you want to do a stripped-down version, you can. I’m a songwriter, I’m a fan of songs, but I respect the fact that a lot of people have ADD.
BLADE: You were recently named the No. 8 dance artist of all time by Billboard. How did you feel?
KRISTINE W.: I thought somebody had made a mistake at first. It was so overwhelming. I just sat in my kitchen and cried. It was weird but very cool.
BLADE: Is it easier to chart a dance cut if it was a pop hit first or not necessarily?
KRISTINE W.: Everybody’s going to the dance chart now because the pop charts are so expensive to try to compete in. … To get airplay now is just so expensive. It’s like seven grand a week to get into rotation so the labels are all going to the dance club. So that geets really tough too because you have these independent artists like myself trying to compete with the Chainsmokers on the dance chart and every other pop person who’s crossed over, so it’s really crazy right now, really difficult. That’s why so many people you used to see having records, they’re not putting them out anymore because it’s so hard to get a No. 1 or even a top 5 hit now, it’s crazy.
BLADE: How have you managed to keep it going for so many years?
KRISTINE W.: I just try to keep writing good songs and try to work with the best people possible that I can afford (laughs). Just keeping my eye on the songs, focusing on the messages and hoping they connect with people. And also what I said before about the different styles. You might be able to get on a different Spotify list with a Frank Lords Miami tropical mix then you can doing a Hans Milan EDM mix. Now that everything is streaming, Spotify, Pandora, blah blah blah, that’s gonna be the future, so getting on those playlists is no small feat. So you might get on two playlists with two different mixes but the labels are freaking out because they don’t want to spend the money on a bunch of remixes either necessarily. If you’re not friends with these people, like a remix by Ralphi Rosario or whatever is like 10 grand, you know. It’s very expensive. So the labels are stepping back going, “Oh shit.” Ralphi doesn’t kow any of those guys. They’re just suits to him so he can demand whatever. On the flip side, there are a lot of great young remixers who are the future. I know a lot of them and have given a lot of them their shots, like the Perry Twins for example. They did “Be Alright” for me and then they blew up. I don’t want to call myself a major artist, but they needed a big artist to give them a shot. … I tell them if it’s crap, I won’t put it out but if it’s great, I’ll promote the crap out of you in press and everything and tell everyone to hire them. So then you can go back later and say, “Hey guys, you mind doing me something solid,” and they’re like, “Yeah sister.” It’s like a really crazy family.
BLADE: How are your two kids? What’s it like being a mom to two teens?
KRISTINE W.: They’re super cool. I’ve got two great kids. Everybody goes, “Oh, you just got lucky,” but I don’t think it’s luck. I think it’s just trying to be there, you’re annoying as heck. A very wise lady, my mother-in-law who passed away in 2013, she said you better be there because if you’re not, somebody else will be and you won’t be happy with the outcome. I never forgot that.
BLADE: Have your gay fans reached out to you at all since your divorce?
KRISTINE W.: I haven’t really talked about it much. It’s tough enough going through it, I don’t dwell on it. I have to get up there and make the world a happier place one song at a time so I haven’t talked about it too much.
BLADE: Of course a song is gonna sound great on the huge speakers in a big state-of-the-art dance club but people listen on their phones, with these crap ear buds and so on. How do you make something that’s gonna work across the board? Are you conscious of compression without losing fidelity when you record?
KRISTINE W.: It’s a huge issue and you really have to be conscious of that in mastering so the track doesn’t sound too digital. If everything sounds too teh-teh-teh (makes a thin-sounding percussion effect), you can only stand to listen to it for so long. You just want to turn it off, it’s too much for the ear. All the classic artists, that was all cut on 2-inch tape so it’s all analog which is very warm sounding to the human ear. You could listen all day and love it. But the way we’ve gone digital with everything so you have to really be conscious of that in mastering.
BLADE: What do you have planned for the Distrkt C event? You’re co-headlining with Crystal Waters and Kim English.
KRISTINE W.: Those girls are super cool. I don’t think I’ve ever met Kim English so that will be a thrill. Crystal and I are good buddies so I’m really excited to be spending time with her and getting to meet Kim English because I’ve heard her name for many years now. It’s gonna be great energy, the three of us. It will be fun and celebratory and just making it another great summer. We’re all here and kicking and in the land of the living. We’ll just get out there and make a joyful noise.
a&e features
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars’ cast visits D.C.
8 queens vie for $200,000 prize for charity in new season, premiering May 17
Donning sparkling and star-studded red, white, and blue attire on a gloomy, humid D.C. Monday, the cast of the latest “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season sashayed on the National Mall to promote the reality show’s ninth season.
This upcoming season is different than those in the past — eight queens are competing for a donation of $200,000 for the charity of their choosing, rather than a personal cash prize.
Several cast members noted how it felt important to visit the nation’s capital, being authentically themselves and wearing drag. Nina West, who competed in season 11, likened drag to armor.
“We’re here during a really specific time in history, that’s, I would say, markedly dark,” she told the Blade at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. “And there’s an opportunity, as drag has always done, which is for our community as specifically LGBTQI+ people, to stand in our truth and be wonderful — like guardians and fighters for our community.”
She’s competing for the Trevor Project, which is focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for young LGBTQ people. This season’s pivot to compete for charity made Nina West want to come back on the show for the All Stars season. She’s been offered the spot two times before this, she said, and this twist aligned with what she wanted to do.
Several of the other queens mentioned that it’s an honor to be featured in this season, including season 5’s Roxxxy Andrews. She also competed in two subsequent All-Stars seasons.
She chose the organization Miracle of Love, which provides HIV/AIDS prevention programming and assistance in central Florida. It’s a smaller, more local organization, which is why Roxxxy Andrews chose it. She wants to make its work more nationally known. Also, vying to win during a charity season makes the competition feel more rewarding, she said.
Plastique Tiara of season 11 also noted it’s different competing for charity. She’s competing for the Asian American Foundation, which launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and aims to curb discrimination and violence through education and investments in nonprofits.
“It’s more competitive because then you’re fighting not just only for yourself, but your ideas and the things that you love,” she said.
Vanessa Vanjie of seasons 10 and 11 agreed that competing for charity adds a bit more pressure — she chose the ASPCA. And as onlookers near the Lincoln Memorial took pictures of and with the queens, she said she was relieved.
“I was a little bit worried somebody would yell some slurs at us,” Vanessa Vanjie said. “Nothing happened. Everybody came to take pictures like Santa Claus in the middle of the mall.”
There’s a range of contestants from different seasons for this round of All Stars. Some queens hail from recent seasons, but Shannel competed on the show’s first season. To be a part of this new season is surreal, she said.
She’s competing for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, which she has a close tie to. She’s dealt with anxiety her entire life. The association is focused on increasing awareness and improving diagnosis and treatment.
“I always felt like I just wasn’t normal, sadly,” she said. “And so now being able to be able to do this season and to get back to that organization is like amazing to me.”
Gottmik, from season 13, is competing for Trans Lifeline — a nonprofit providing advocacy, a hotline and grants created by trans people, for trans people. Being able to do drag and give back is the “perfect scenario,” Gottmik said.
Gottmik was the first openly trans man on Drag Race, which was overwhelming when first on the show. Gottmik felt pressure to be the “perfect example,” but later realized that they didn’t have to worry so much.
“I just want to show people that trans people are real people. We can express ourselves however we want to express ourselves, through drag, through whatever it may be,” Gottmik said.
The new season will be available to stream on Paramount+ on May 17.
a&e features
Pride season has begun
LGBTQ parades, festivals to be held throughout region in coming months
LGBTQ Pride festivals, parades and other events have been scheduled in large cities and small towns throughout the region. Pride events around the world culminate in June, but organizers in some municipalities have elected to hold celebrations in other months.
Pride in the region has already begun with last weekend’s Mr., Miss, and Mx. Capital Pride Pageant held at Penn Social as well as Roanoke Pride Festival held in Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Va.
Below is a list of Pride events coming to the region.
MAY
Capital Trans Pride is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St., N.W.). The website for the event advertises workshops, panel discussions, a keynote address, a resource fair and more. transpridewashingtondc.org
Equality Prince William Pride is scheduled for 12-4 p.m. on May 18 at the Harris Pavilion (9201 Center St.) in historic downtown Manassas, Va. equalityprincewilliam.org
D.C. Black Pride holds events throughout the city May 24-27. Highlights include an opening reception, dance parties and a community festival at Fort Dupont Park. The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (999 9th St., N.W.) is the host hotel, with several events scheduled there. dcblackpride.org
NOVA Pride and Safe Space NOVA will hold NOVA Pride Prom from 7-11 p.m. on May 31 at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Va. The event is open to all high school students throughout the region, regardless of identity, from rising ninth grade students to graduating seniors. novapride.org
Capital Pride Honors will be held on May 31. The Capital Pride Alliance has announced on its website that nominations are open for awardees. The Honors celebrates excellence in the LGBTQ community and its allies. capitalpride.org
JUNE
Downtown Sykesville Connection is sponsoring Sykesville Pride Day in downtown Sykesville, Md. on June 1 from 12-4 p.m. downtownsykesville.com
Reston Pride will be held at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, Va. on June 1 from 12-6 p.m. restonpride.org
Fairfax Pride, hosted by the City of Fairfax and George Mason University, will be held at Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Va.) on June 1 from 5-7 p.m. The event will include children’s activities and more. fairfaxva.gov
OEC Pride celebrates Pride with “art, dance, education, and fun” in Old Ellicott City. The OEC Pride Festival is held along Main Street in Ellicott City, Md. on June 1 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. visitoldellicottcity.com
Annapolis Pride has consistently drawn a giant crowd for a parade and festival in the quaint downtown of the Maryland capital. “The Voice” star L. Rodgers has been announced to headline the 2024 festival. The parade and festival will be held on June 1. annapolispride.org
The Alexandria LGBTQ+ Task Force Alexandria Pride is scheduled to be held at Alexandria City Hall from 3 – 6 p.m. on June 1 in Alexandria, Va. alexandriava.gov
The Portsmouth Pride Fest will be held at Festival Park adjacent to the Atlantic-Union Bank Pavilion in Portsmouth, Va. on June 1 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. portsmouthprideva.com
The Delaware Pride Festival is a free event scheduled for June 1 at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.The event is billed as family friendly and open to people of all ages and sexual orientations. delawarepride.org
The City of Rockville is hosting Rockville Pride at Rockville Town Square (131 Gibbs St., Rockville, Md.) from 2-5 p.m. on June 2. The free event features live performances, information booths, and children’s activities. rockvillemd.gov
Equality Loudoun is hosting the ticketed Loudoun Pride Festival from 1-7 p.m. on June 2 at Claude Moore Park in Sterling, Va. The event features three stages, a “#Dragstravaganza,” a kid’s zone, an alcohol pavilion, a food hall and more. Tickets $5. eqloco.com
Culpepper Pride is slated to be held at Mountain Run Winery in Culpepper, Va. from 12-6 p.m. on June 2. The theme this year is “True Colors.” culpeperpride.org
The Southwest Virginia Pride Cookout Community Social is planned for 2 p.m. at the Charles R. Hill Senior Center in Vinton, Va. on June 2. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Capital Pride kicks off with the RIOT! Opening Party at Echostage starting at 9 p.m. on June 7. Tickets run from $27-$50 and can be purchased on the Capital Pride website. The event is set to feature Sapphire Cristál. capitalpride.org
Pride events continue over the weekend of June 8-9 in the nation’s capital with the Capital Pride Block Party featuring performers and a beverage garden, the massive Capital Pride Parade, Flashback: A totally Radical Tea Dance to be held at the end of the parade route, and the Capital Pride Festival and Concert. Visit capitalpride.org for more information. Other Pride events planned for the weekend in D.C. include a number of parties and the unforgettable (and free) Pride on the Pier & Fireworks Show at the Wharf sponsored by the Washington Blade from 2-10 p.m. prideonthepierdc.com
Pride in the ‘Peake will be held at Summit Pointe (580 Belaire Ave.) in Chesapeake, Va. on June 9 from 12-5 p.m. The family-focused Pride event does not serve alcohol, but will feature community organizations, food trucks and more in a street festival. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Celebrate with a drag show, dancing and a lot of wine at Two Twisted Posts Winery in Purcellville, Va. for a Pride Party from 2-5 p.m. on June 15. twotwistedposts.com
Baltimore Pride holds one of the largest Pride parades in the region on June 15 in Baltimore. (2418 Saint Paul St.). The parade concludes with a block party and festival. Pride events are scheduled from June 14-16. baltimorepride.org
The fourth annual Catonsville Pride Fest will be held at the Catonsville Presbyterian Church (1400 Frederick Rd.) in Catonsville, Md. on June 15 from 3-6 p.m. The event features a High Heel Race, pony rides, face painting, local cuisine and more. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
The Ghent Business District Palace Shops have announced a Ghent Pride event from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on June 17 at the Palace Shops and Station (301 W 21st Street) in Norfolk, Va. ghentnorfolk.org
An event dedicated to celebrating the elders in the LGBTQ community, Silver Pride is scheduled for June 20 at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Location and more information to be announced soon. capitalpride.org
Visit the Hampton Roads PrideFest and Boat Parade for a truly unique Pride experience along the Elizabeth River. The full day of entertainment, education and celebration will be held on June 22 from 12-7 p.m. at Town Point Park (113 Waterside Dr.) in Norfolk, Va. hamptonroadspride.org
Frederick, Md. will hold its annual Frederick Pride Festival at Carroll Creek Linear Park on June 22 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Entertainers include CoCo Montrese of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” frederickpride.org
The fourth annual Pride at the Beach is scheduled for 2-10 p.m. on June 23 at Neptune’s Park (3001 Atlantic Ave.) in Virginia Beach, Va. The event features entertainment, community vendors, beachside DJ sets, food trucks and offers a “perfect conclusion to an unforgettable Pride weekend.” hamptonroadspride.org
Winchester Pride will hold its Mx. Winchester Pride Pageant at 15 N. Loudoun St. in Winchester, Va. on June 23 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door. winchesterpride.com
The organizers of last year’s inaugural Ocean City Pride with a “parade” along the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md. have announced that they will be organizing a return this year with events from June 28-30. instagram.com
The third annual Arlington Pride Festival will be held at Long Bridge Park at National Landing (475 Long Bridge Dr.) in Arlington, Va. on June 29 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. arlvapride.com
FXBG Pride is holding its annual community Fredericksburg Pride March on June 29 from 10-11 a.m. at Riverfront Park (705 Sophia St.) in Fredericksburg, Va. Speeches begin at 10 a.m. and the procession starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Salisbury Pride “90’s Edition” is scheduled for 3 – 7 p.m. on June 29 in Downtown Salisbury, Md. Magnolia Applebottom is listed as the headliner and grand marshal. salisburyprideparade.com
The 2024 Suffolk Pride Festival is scheduled for Bennett’s Creek Park in Suffolk, Va. on June 30 from 12-7 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.
Expect music, entertainment and drag performances in the picturesque mountain town of Cumberland, Md. at the Cumberland Pride Festival on June 30 from 12-4 p.m. at Canal Place. cumberlandpride.org
Montgomery County’s annual Pride in the Plaza will be held on June 30 from 12-8 p.m. at Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Md. liveinyourtruth.org
JULY
The sixth annual Westminster Pride Festival is scheduled for downtown Westminster, Md. on July 13 from 12-6 p.m. westminsterpride.org
Hagerstown Hopes is holding its annual Hagerstown Pride Festival in Doubs Woods Park (1307 Maryland Ave.) in Hagerstown, Md. on July 13 at 11 a.m. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.
The Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will be held on July 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with other Sussex Pride events scheduled throughout the weekend of July 18-21. sussexpride.org
Us Giving Us Richmond hosts Black Pride RVA in Richmond, Va. with events on July 19-21. ugrcrva.org
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.”
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