Arts & Entertainment
Calendar for April 16
Friday, April 16
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network sponsors its annual national Day of Silence at thousands of schools to raise awareness about anti-LGBT bullying. Visit dayofsilence.org for information.
Premiere of “Back Room” at Motley Bar (upstairs at EFN Lounge), 1318 9th St. N.W., from 11 p.m.-3 a.m.. It’s unexpected, underground and uninhibited. It’s a nod toward the old, with an eye toward the new.
Trailer Park Dance Party every Friday upstairs at the Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W., starting at 9 p.m. The Trailer Park Dance Party features the one and only “Mama” and A-Ron.the.DJ
Insult comic Lisa “the Queen of Mean” Lampanelli performs at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore at 8 p.m. Call 410-783-8000 for tickets, which cost $36.75.
The Whitman-Walker Clinic HIV Mobile Testing Unit will be at Club Fuego, 1818 New York Ave., NE, 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Gay District from 8:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, a weekly, non-church affiliated discussion and social group for GBTQ men between 18 and 35. The group meets at 1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W. For more information, email [email protected].
Friday Night Erev Shabbat Services, 8:30-10 p.m., Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. Friday Night Services are followed by an Oneg Social. Please use the Q Street entrance.
Saturday, April 17
DJs Matt Bailer and Shea Van Horn present MIXTAPE at The Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. N.E., from 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Note: Party starts at 10:30 this month.) $5 Cover. 21 and over. Specials: $5 Red Bull Vodka & $3 Miller Lite
One Trans Show: The MANgina Monologues Starring Riki Wilchins from 9-10 p.m. Cost: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Visit http://www.washingtondcjcc.org/ for more info.
EQUALICON: FROM MARCH TO MOVEMENT, Mid-Atlantic LGBTQI Activist and Educational Conference, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., All Souls Church (2835 16th St. at Harvard Street, N.W.). Brought to you by Full Equality Now DC, free with suggested $10 donation. Presentations and workshops to include Grassroots Organizing for Full Equality, Civil Rights History, Transgender Politics, International LGBTQ Rights, Students Fight Back, Direct Action and Civil Disobedience, and National/Local Legislative Updates. Social mixer, held nearby, starts at 5:30 p.m. For more info or to register, go to FENDC.org or call 202-290-7078.
Philip Doyle & DJ Hector present: Fuego Reincarnated at Club Fuego,1818 New York Ave, N.E., from 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m.
Jell-O Wrestling returns to EFN Lounge, 1318 9th St. N.W. Anyone can enter the tournament. Win cash and prizes or just roll around with hot boys in your underwear. The wrestling starts at 9 p.m.
R&B soul singer Angie Stone plays the Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, at 8 p.m. Tickets range $27-57; call 410-685-5086. On Sunday, Stone takes her show to the Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va. Call 703-549-7500 for tickets.
Join the DC Cowboys starting at 10 p.m. at the Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court, N.W., for their fun, sexy, late-night “After Dark Party” featuring shirtless Cowboys, live underwear auction, free giveaways, Jell-O shooters, and more.
Capital Pride Winds and Concert Band performs at 8 p.m. (and Sunday at 3 p.m.) at the Cafritz Auditorium at Bell Multicultural High School, 16th and Irving, N.W. (two blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro). The program, Shades of Blue will include Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with guest pianist AnnaMaria Mattolla, Grainger’s “Children’s March” as well as Frank Ticheli’s “Amazing Grace” and “Blue Shades”. Tickets $20 adults/$10 students and senior citizens; tickets available at the door or online at dcdd.org.
Sunday, April 18
The Victory Fund holds its 10th annual Champagne Brunch to celebrate the accomplishments of LGBT elected officials. This year’s event features lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker, gay Rep. Barney Frank and includes a tribute to gay D.C. Council member David Catania. Tickets $150, 11 a.m. at the Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Event is sold out; e-mail [email protected] to be added to the waiting list.
DC Ice Breakers Men’s Singles Party w/Co-Host Burgundy Crescent Volunteers at ACKC Cocoa Bar, 1529C 14th St., N.W. (next to Universal Gear). Mark your calendars for this special event as the DC Ice Breakers team up with Burgundy Crescent Volunteers for a social event just for the single guys. Meet single men from DC Ice Breakers and Burgundy Crescent Volunteers from 6-8 p.m. RSVP through the DC Ice Breakers (or Burgundy Crescent Volunteers) Facebook page, or just show up.
Monday, April 19
The DC Center, 1810 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C., invites bears and their allies to join in for Bears do Yoga from 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, April 20
Drag Bingo at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St., N.W., hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, starting at 8 p.m. Free to play, lots of cool prizes.
Wednesday, April 21
Capital Pride Interfaith Service planning meeting, 7 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St., S.W.
The Tom Davaron Social Bridge Club will meet at 7:30 p.m., at the Dignity Center 721 8th St., S.E. (across from Marine Barracks). No partner needed. Visit lambdabridge.com; click “Social Bridge in Washington, DC”
POZ Wednesdays from 8 p.m.-12 a.m., upstairs at the Green Lantern, 1331 Green Ct., N.W. DJs C-Dubz, Keith Hoffman, Jason Horswill & T-N-T Music Factory rotate. $3 Grey Goose from 9-11p.m.
Thursday, April 22
The DC Center will screen Lydia Douglas’ 1998 documentary “Nappy” at 7 p.m. The film tells the story of 14 black women and girls who choose to stop straightening their hair and “go natural.” “Nappy” explores the often complex relationship between black women and Western ideals of beauty. The screening is free and open to everyone. The DC Center is located at 1810 14th St., N.W.
GLOV will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the DC Center, 1810 14th St., N.W. The group’s regular meeting time going forward will be the fourth Thursday of each month. The primary mission of Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence is to work to reduce violence against LGBT people. For more information, e-mail infoglovdc.org.
Celebrity News
Brazilian police arrest two men who allegedly targeted Lady Gaga concert
Authorities say suspects wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians
Brazilian police have arrested two people who allegedly sought to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert that took place on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday.
The Associated Press reported Felipe Curi, a spokesperson for the city’s Civil Police, told reporters the men who authorities arrested hours before the concert took place wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians. Civil Police Chief Luiz Lima said the men posted hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants — most of them teenagers, many of them children.”
“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” said Cury, according to the AP.
An estimated 2.5 million people attended the concert.
A Lady Gaga spokesperson told the AP the singer learned about the threats on Sunday from media reports.
“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks,” said the spokesperson. “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Lady Gaga in an Instagram post thanked her Brazilian fans.
“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
“An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world — I know I can’t, but I can say this — if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard,” added Lady Gaga. “You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights — you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”
An estimated 1.6 million people attended Madonna’s free concert on Copacabana Beach last May.
Books
A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat
New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story
‘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.
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)
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