Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: week of Nov. 19
Events through Thanksgiving day

Friday, Nov. 19
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) will be holding an opening reception today for Body Scapes, an art exhibit by local artist, Bill Travis from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 5.
Lace Lounge (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) will be celebrating its two year anniversary this weekend. Tonight is Pink Friday. There will be a “crazy shoe game” contest, painted body models, surprise open bars and more. Visit lacedc.com for more information.
The 23rd annual Washington Craft Show opens today at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 10 a.m to 8 p.m. This events features 190 of the nation’s top craft artists. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $13 for senior, $8 for students and children under 12 are admitted for free. Kelly Conway, curator of glass at the Chrysler Museum of Art will be leading a panel discussion with Matthew Fine, Charles Savoie and Tim Tate at 1 p.m. Libby Mijanovich will present “Transformation: Creating Contemporary ‘Green’ Art from Vintage Clothing” at 3 p.m.
Erotica Productions and Breeze of “Sex is a Breeze” present “Sexxxhibition: the Medical Fetish Edition” at the Warehouse Loft (411 New York Ave., N.E.) from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased at sexxxhibition6.eventbrite.com. Tickets at the door are $25 for those in costume/fetish wear and $30 for those in street clothes before 1 a.m.
The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) will be holding a workshop for those who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past year today from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop will include discussions of strategies for coping with grief and loss during the holiday season.
The blog True Genius Requires Insanity is hosting “All Girl Everything: A Happy Hour to Support Rock D.C.” at the U Street Music Hall (1115 U St., N.W.) today from 5 to 10 p.m. All proceeds from the bar will go directly to the organization. DJs Natty Boom and vAnniety Kills will be spinning hits by female artists. To find out more about the organization, visit girlsrockdc.org.
DJs K La Rock and Junebullet will be providing music at Wet Girls at Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Rd., N.E.) from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is a free event for those 21 and over.
Women is their 30s will be holding a discussion meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 20
Unity Fellowship Church, D.C. will be having its annual gospel concert, “Sounds of Zion Choir” tonight from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Ave., N.W.). The choir will be under the direction of Professor David Rogers and will feature a special presentation by Johnny Sabbat. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by contacting the church at 202-246-6299 or e-mailing [email protected].
Balls returns to Velvet Lounge (915 U St., N.W.) tonight with Troll Tax, the Coolots, Tayisha Busay and DJs Junebullet of She.Rex, Zack Rosen of Homo/Sonic and Joshua of Gay Bash. Doors open at 9 p.m. and there is a $8 cover. This is a 21-and-older event.
The 23rd annual Washington Craft Show continues today at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. This events features 190 of the nation’s top craft artists. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $13 for senior, $8 for students and children under 12 are admitted for free. Bob Devers from the ceramics department at the Corcoran School of Arts will lead a panel discussion with leading experts in the field of American fine craft at 1 p.m. Nancy Kubale will present “The Human Condition in Clay” at 3 p.m.
Lace Lounge’s (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) two year anniversary celebration continues tonight with the “All Black Everything” Affair. There will be complimentary champagne fountains and dinner buffet. All black attire highly recommended. This event starts at 9 p.m. Visit lacedc.com for more information.
MIXTAPE D.C. is tonight at the old EFN Lounge space (1318 9th St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. MIXTAPE is a dance party for queer music lovers and their pals that features DJs Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer playing an eclectic mix of electro, alt-pop, indie rock, house, disco, new wave and anything else danceable. $5 cover for 21 and over.
Sunday, Nov. 21
Lace Lounge’s two year anniversary celebration ends tonight with “Lyrics and Lace,” an open mic, live entertainment exhibition. Appetizers will be half off and there will be drink specials. The Coolats band will be performing an the show starts at 8 p.m. E-mail [email protected] to perform. Visit lacedc.com for more information.
Cherry Blossom Bombshells and the Scare Force One will be competing today at the D.C. Armory (2001 E. Capitol St., S.E.). Tickets are $12 for general admission, $6 for children 6 through 11, and children under 6 will be admitted free. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advanced. Doors open at 3 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit dcrollergirls.com.
Alvin Jackson, pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, will be a guest preacher at Michigan Park Christian Church (1600 Taylor St., N.E.) today for the 10 a.m. morning worship service.
Monday, Nov. 22
The 2010 annual Electronic Media and Film Fall Film Series presents films about the relationship between math, sciences and storytelling. This week’s film is “Good Will Hunting” starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the Van Bokklen Hall Auditorium at Towson University at 7:30 p.m. This is a free event.
Tuesday, Nov. 23
Paul Oakenfold will be at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight with Chuckie and Nervo. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 930.com.
Nellie’s will be having its weekly “Glee” watch party on the roof deck tonight at 8 p.m. featuring $3 Nellie Beer all night.
Wednesday, Nov. 24
Omega will hosts its weekly pool tournament tonight. First place wins a $50 bar tab and second place wins a $25 bar tab. Shirtless men drink free on both floors from 10 to 11 p.m. The Men of Omega perform at 10 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) will be hosting its weekly karaoke party tonight at 9 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 25
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers will be having its eighth annual “Clear OUT Your Closets” Thanksgiving clothing drive for the homeless and needy. Clothing drop-off is from 10 a.m. to noon today at Rosemary’s Thyme restaurant’s patio (1801 18th St., N.W.). Clothing distribution will be from noon to 2 p.m.
The film “Burlesque” starring Cher, Christina Aguilera and Alan Cumming opens nationwide today.
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)

















Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

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.
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