Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Dec. 31

Events through Jan. 8

Published

13 years ago

December 30, 2010

New Years Eve Parties

Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half St., S.W.) New Years Eve party tonight will feature a cash balloon drop, party favors and a free split of champagne.

Lace Lounge’s (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) New Year’s Eve party “Midnight Kiss” is tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. There will be a complimentary breakfast buffet and champagne and a cash drop at midnight. Pre-sale ticket holders will get express VIP entry. Pre-sale tickets are $12 and can be purchased at lacedc.com. Tickets at the door start at $20.

Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) presents New Years Eve tonight with two parties. DJ Melissa will be in the main arena with Michael Brandon with Caliente in the east wing lounge. There will be complimentary champagne and assorted party favors. Cover charge is $15 and doors open at 9 p.m.

Eatonville Restaurant (2121 14th St., N.W.) presents “A New Orleans New Year’s Eve” tonight with two dinners. The first beings at 6:30 and features a three-course dinner. The second seating begins at 10 p.m. with a four-course meal, champagne toast, party favors, live jazz and the official ball drop on the big screen. Tickets are $39 for the first seating and $59 for the second. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit eatonvillerestaurant.com.

Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) New Year’s Eve Country Masquerade Ball will begin at 8 p.m. There will be dancing, party favors, a balloon drop, midnight champagne toast and more. Cover is $10. For more information, visit RemingtonsWDC.com.

Wicked Jezabel presents Wicked New Year’s Even Bash tonight starting at 9 p.m. at Second Chance Saloon (5888 Robert Oliver Place) in Columbia with an opening performance by Triple Goddess Tribal Middle Eastern Dance. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at wickedjezabel.com. Ten percent of the ticket sales will be donated to the Mautner Project.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) will have a New Years Eve party starting at 10 p.m. Djs BacK2bACk will be counting down the top 10 video of 2010 and Tatianna of RuPaul’s Drag race will perform live in the drag show at 10:30 p.m. X-Faction and the Ladies of Town will also be performing live. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advanced at Universal Gear or online at groovetickets.com and at the door.

Ultrabar D.C. will having a New Year’s party tonight at 10 p.m. with six bars, four DJs, a champagne toast at midnight, buffet, midnight balloon drop, party favors and more. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at ultrabardc.com.

The Lodge will have a New Year’s Eve party tonight from 7 to 2 a.m. There will be a best dressed contest with cash and bar tab prizes, champagne fountain, party favors and more. Tickets are $25 for two or $15 per person in advanced until Dec. 27., $30 for two or $20 per person at the door. and can be purchased at thelodgemd.com.

Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1104 H St., N.E.) and Jimmy Valentines Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Rd., N.E.) will be hosting a “Double Whammy,” with a sponsored shuttle service between the two bars every half hour and drop-offs at Union Station starting at 12:30 a.m. Attendees must be 25 or older. An open bar ticket with access to both bars is $90 and access to either one bar is $25. Tickets are limited.

A few of Andy Warhol's cheeky variations on 'The Last Supper' are on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of 'Warhol: the Last Decade.' (Image courtesy of the Andy Warhol Museum)

Friday, Dec. 31

Special Agent Galactica with Christopher Wingert starring in “The Only Gal in Town,” will be at go mama go! (1809 14 St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. The show will feature songs written by or made famous by Stephen Sondheim, Quincy Jones, Ray Stevens, Richard Rodgers, Ann-Margaret, Dust Springfield, Mary Rodgers, Cy Coleman and more. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at ganymedearts.org.

BYT presents DJs and beer tonight from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Bohemian Caverns entertainment/hospitality complex. DJs Chris Burns and friends will be on the second floor in LIV Nightclub. A dozen local bands will play cover songs on the first floor in Hominy and Homo Erectus DJs and friends will be in the Gay Jamboree Opium Den with Stalactights in the basement. Early bird tickets are $55. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.

The American City Diner (5532 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) will be showing the film “Dr. Strangelove” starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott tonight. The movie starts at 8 p.m. The full menu will be available. Admission is free. For more information, visit americancitydiner.com.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) is hosting “Warhol: the Last Decade,” an exhibit featuring more than 50 large-scale works that marked Andy Warhol’s last decade. This is the last stop of a national tour. Some of the works shown include fright wig self-portraits and three variations on Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission ranges from free for children 5 and younger to $15 for adults. For more information, visit warhol.artbma.org.

Four college football bowl games will be on today at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) today: the Meineke Car Care Bowl with South Florida and Clemson starts at noon. The Hyundai Sun Bowl with Notre Dame and Miami starts at 2 p.m. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl with George and UCF starts at 3:30 p.m. and the Chick-fil-A Bowl ends the night with South Carolina and Florida State at 7:30 p.m. and DJ Wesley D will be playing music and videos all night.

Saturday, Jan. 1

Homo/Sonic is tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) featuring DJs Natty Boom and Zack and Michael of the New Gay. This is an event is all ages and has a $10 cover.

Johnny Vicious will be at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 10 p.m. The cover charge is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after.

Refresh is tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonesboro. Drink specials include $1 Busch Light cans and $5 XXL ReFresher all night long. There’s a $5 cover before 11 p.m. and $8 after.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will be performing at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 930.com.

Sunday, Jan. 2

The Kinsey Sicks will be performing “Oy Vey in a Manger” today at 3 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. at the Theater J in the Washington DCJCC’s Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater (1529 16th St., N.W.). Tickets range from $35 to $60 and can be purchased by calling 800-494-TIXS or visiting boxofficetickets.com.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) will be holding its first free family Sunday of the year today from 2 to 5 p.m. This week’s activity is making “magical mobiles.” All materials are provided.

Monday, Jan. 3

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) will have its volunteer night tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The National Portrait Gallery is showing an exhibit that focuses on sexual differences in the making of modern American portraiture. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” is the first major museum exhibit of its kind. The museum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

Join Burgundy Crescent Volunteers to help pack safer sex kits from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at FUK!T’s new packing location Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct., N.W.

Nellie’s (800 U St., N.W.) will have drag bingo featuring Shi-Queeta-Lee tonight at 8 p.m. and Beat the Clock happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 5

“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 8 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive) will have a collection tour today at 2 p.m. showcasing art that inspires contemplation.

Thursday, Jan. 6

The Lincoln Center Theater presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” today at the Kennedy Center opera house (2700 F St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $150 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.

Friday, Jan. 7

The Dance Party will be at 9:30 Club with Wallpaper, K-Flay, Ra Ra Rasputin and lowercaseletters at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at 930.com.

The D.C. Center will have its monthly open mic night tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and performer can sign up until 8. This night will feature the work of the Brother Tongue Poetry Workshop participants.

Saturday, Jan. 8

The NSO Teddy Bear Concert: “Fancy That!” will have three performances of a one-woman show with NSO violinist Marissa Regini today at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 5 p.m. in the Kennedy Center’s Family Theatre (2700 F St., N.W.).

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop will hosts its fifth annual photography exhibit and reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at CHAW (545 7th St., S.E.) featuring works from local and regional artists. Admission to the opening and exhibition is free and will continue until Feb. 4.

Sports

Bisexual former umpire sues Major League Baseball for sexual harassment

Brandon Cooper claims female colleague sexually harassed him

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Brody Levesque

Arizona Complex League game in 2023. (YouTube screenshot)

A fired former umpire is suing Major League Baseball, claiming he was sexually harassed by a female umpire and discriminated against because of his gender and his sexual orientation.

Brandon Cooper worked in the minor league Arizona Complex League last year, and according to the lawsuit he filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan, he identifies as bisexual.

“I wanted my umpiring and ability to speak for itself and not to be labeled as ‘Brandon Cooper the bisexual umpire,’” he told Outsports. “I didn’t want to be labeled as something. It has been a passion of mine to simply make it to the Major Leagues.”

But that didn’t happen. Instead of being promoted, he was fired. His suit names MLB and an affiliated entity, PDL Blue, Inc., and alleges he had endured a hostile work environment and wrongful termination and/or retaliation because of gender and sexual orientation under New York State and New York City law.

“Historically the MLB has had a homogenous roster of umpires working in both the minor and major leagues,” Cooper claims in his suit. “Specifically, to date there has never been a woman who has worked in a (regular) season game played in the majors, and most umpires are still Caucasian men. To try to fix its gender and racial diversity issue, defendants have implemented an illegal diversity quota requiring that women be promoted regardless of merit.”

Cooper claims former umpire Ed Rapuano, now an umpire evaluator, and Darren Spagnardi, an umpire development supervisor, told him in January 2023 that MLB had a hiring quota, requiring that at least two women be among 10 new hires.

According to the suit, Cooper was assigned to spring training last year and was notified by the senior manager of umpire administration, Dusty Dellinger, that even though he received a high rating in June from former big league umpire Jim Reynolds, now an umpire supervisor, that women and minority candidates had to be hired first.

Cooper claims that upon learning Cooper was bisexual, fellow umpire Gina Quartararo insulted him and fellow umpire Kevin Bruno by using homophobic slurs and crude remarks. At that time, Quartararo and Cooper worked on the same umpiring crew and being evaluated for possible promotion to the big leagues.

This season, Quartararo is working as an umpire in the Florida State League, one of nine women who are working as minor league umpires.

Cooper said he notified Dellinger, but instead of taking action against Quartararo, he said MLB ordered Cooper to undergo sensitivity training. According to his lawsuit, he was also accused of violating the minor league anti-discrimination and harassment policy.

Cooper’s suit says he met with MLB Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Billy Bean — who the Los Angeles Blade reported in December is battling cancer.

The lawsuit says at that meeting, Bean told the umpire that Quartararo claimed she was the victim, as the only female umpire in the ACL. Cooper said he told Bean Quartararo regularly used homophobic slurs and at one point physically shoved him. He also claims that he has video evidence, texts and emails to prove his claim.

But he said his complaints to Major League Baseball officials were ignored. His lawsuit said MLB passed him over for the playoffs and fired him in October. He said of the 26 umpires hired with Cooper, he was the only one let go.

Through a spokesperson, MLB declined to comment on pending litigation. Quartararo has also not publicly commented on the lawsuit.

a&e features

Eastern Shore chef named James Beard Finalist

Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Evan Caplan

Chef Harley Peet works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen.

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.”

Photos

PHOTOS: Night of Champions

Team DC holds annual awards gala

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2024

Michael Key

Team DC President Miguel Ayala speaks at the 2024 Night of Champions Awards on Saturday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)