Arts & Entertainment

D.C. is home to rich array of spring events, farmers markets

Published

15 years ago

March 18, 2010

In addition to the exhibits, films, books and other cultural happenings profiled in this issue, there are many more events coming this spring to D.C. Below are some of the highlights, including a guide to area farmers markets.

MARCH 25-APRIL 4: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to the Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA, 703-993-3000, patriotcenter.com.

MARCH 27: The 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held between March 27 and April 11. This year’s festival marks the 98th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees by the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, D.C., in 1912. Saturday, March 27: Family day & opening ceremony presented with the National Building Museum, 401 F St., N.W.

APRIL 3: Legendary comedian Carol Burnett performs “Laughter and Reflection” at Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave., 410-685-5086.

APRIL 8-11: CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Fest, multiple locations in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Visit camprehoboth.com for details.

APRIL 22: Sixth & I Historic Synagogue presents “An Evening with Kevin Smith,” director of popular films “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy.” 600 I St., N.W., 202-408-3100, sixthandi.org.

APRIL 25: Gospel Across America, a weeklong tribute to gospel, comes to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St., N.W., kennedy-center.org, 202-467-460.

MAY 15: Yoga on the National Mall, led by teachers from the DC Yoga Week studios, SW corner of 15th Street and Constitution, 1-5 p.m.

MAY 21-23: It’s the cellar-dweller rivalry as the Baltimore Orioles come to town to face the Washington Nationals.

MAY 22-23: WalkingTown D.C. offers free walking tours in neighborhoods across the city. Visit culturaltourismdc.org or call 202-661-7581 for information.

MAY 23: Mid-City Artists’ Spring Open Studios, Dupont & Logan Circles. Nearly 40 local artists open their homes and studios to showcase their work to the public. Visit midcityartists.com for details.

MAY 28-29: “A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor” at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, 703-255-1900, wolf-trap.org.

JUNE 12-13: Third annual Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor, National Harbor Marina, Pier and Awakening Plaza.

JUNE 17: Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat perform at Wolf Trap, wolftrap.org, 877-WOLFTRAP. Tickets $35-50.

JUNE 17-20: Buddhafest, a film festival featuring eight films and related talks by meditation experts, is held at American University. Visit american.edu/cas/katzen for details.

Farmers Markets:

14th and U Farmers Market
14th & U streets, N.W.
May-November
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Adams Morgan Farmers Market
18th St. & Columbia Road, N.W.
301-587-2248
May-December
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Chevy Chase Farmers Market
Lafayette Elementary School
Broad Branch and Northampton streets, N.W.
304-229-7222
May-November
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Columbia Heights Community Marketplace
14th & Irving streets, N.W.
202-232-7503
May-October
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market
1500 block of 20th St., NW
between Q Street & Massachusetts Avenue
(in the Riggs Bank parking lot)
202-362-8889
January-March: Sundays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
March-January: Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Eastern Market
7th Street between C Street
& North Carolina Ave., S.E.
202-544-0083
Year round
Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Foggy Bottom Market
I Street between New Hampshire
and 24th Street, N.W.
May-October
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Georgetown Market in Rose Park
26th & O Street, N.W.
202-333-4946
April-October
Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m.

H Street Market
625 H St., N.E.
May-November
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon

Historic Brookland Farmers Market
10th & Otis streets, N.E.
202-526-4848
May-October: Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
June-October: Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
3200 Mount Pleasant St., N.W.
202-234-0559
May-December
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

New Morning Farm Markets
Sheridan School, 36th Street & Alton Place, N.W.
814-448-3904
June-March: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
June-September: Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Open Air Farmers Markets
Oklahoma Avenue and Benning Road, N.E.
(RFK Parking Lot No.6)
202-388-5388
May-December: Tuesdays, Thursdasy, & Saturdays, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
January-April: Thursdays & Saturdays only

Penn Quarter Freshfarm Market
North end of Eighth Street, N.W.
(between D & E streets)
202-362-8889
May-October
Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Farmers Market
Whitten Building Parking Lot
12th Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
800-384-8704
June-October
Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

U.S. Dept. of Transportation Farmers Market
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
(Navy Yard Metro)
202-366-8932
May-November
Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Ward 8 Farmers Market
Old Congress Heights School
Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Alabama Avenues, S.E.
202-561-8204
June-November
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Books

A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

Published

16 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Random House)

‘When the Harvest Comes’
By Denne Michele Norris
c.2025, Random House
$28/304 pages

Happy is the bride the sun shines on.

Of all the clichés that exist about weddings, that’s the one that seems to make you smile the most. Just invoking good weather and bright sunshine feels like a cosmic blessing on the newlyweds and their future. It’s a happy omen for bride and groom or, as in the new book “When the Harvest Comes” by Denne Michele Norris, for groom and groom.

Davis Freeman never thought he could love or be loved like this.

He was wildly, wholeheartedly, mind-and-soul smitten with Everett Caldwell, and life was everything that Davis ever wanted. He was a successful symphony musician in New York. They had an apartment they enjoyed and friends they cherished. Now it was their wedding day, a day Davis had planned with the man he adored, the details almost down to the stitches in their attire. He’d even purchased a gorgeous wedding gown that he’d never risk wearing.

He knew that Everett’s family loved him a lot, but Davis didn’t dare tickle the fates with a white dress on their big day. Everett’s dad, just like Davis’s own father, had considerable reservations about his son marrying another man – although Everett’s father seemed to have come to terms with his son’s bisexuality. Davis’s father, whom Davis called the Reverend, never would. Years ago, father and son had a falling-out that destroyed any chance of peace between Davis and his dad; in fact, the door slammed shut to any reconciliation.

But Davis tried not to think about that. Not on his wedding day. Not, unbeknownst to him, as the Reverend was rushing toward the wedding venue, uninvited but not unrepentant. Not when there was an accident and the Reverend was killed, miles away and during the nuptials.

Davis didn’t know that, of course, as he was marrying the love of his life. Neither did Everett, who had familial problems of his own, including homophobic family members who tried (but failed) to pretend otherwise.

Happy is the groom the sun shines on. But when the storm comes, it can be impossible to remain sunny.

What can be said about “When the Harvest Comes?” It’s a romance with a bit of ghost-pepper-like heat that’s not there for the mere sake of titillation. It’s filled with drama, intrigue, hate, characters you want to just slap, and some in bad need of a hug.

In short, this book is quite stunning.

Author Denne Michele Norris offers a love story that’s everything you want in this genre, including partners you genuinely want to get to know, in situations that are real. This is done by putting readers inside the characters’ minds, letting Davis and Everett themselves explain why they acted as they did, mistakes and all. Don’t be surprised if you have to read the last few pages twice to best enjoy how things end. You won’t be sorry.

If you want a complicated, boy-meets-boy, family-mess kind of book with occasional heat, “When the Harvest Comes” is your book. Truly, this novel shines.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2025

Michael Key

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.