Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: April 8
Parties, dances, support groups and more through April 14
Friday, April 8
Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, will be meeting tonight from 8 to 9 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
BYGays AllCity Happy Hour is tonight at U Street Music Hall (115A U St., N.W.) from 7 to 10 p.m. with a performance by Jessica 6 and DJs Bill Todd and Tight Fang. This is a free event.
The annual Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce awards dinner is tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Park Hyatt Washington (1201 24th St., N.W.).
DJ Seth Gold is spinning at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight with BacK2bACk providing music and videos downstairs. Doors open at 10 p.m. For attendees 21 and older, the cover is $5 before 11 p.m. and $10 after. For attendees 18 to 20, the cover is $10 all night.
The Washington Ballet will be performing Le Corsaire, an adventure of “pirates, pashas and the slave girls who love them” at 8 p.m. in the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets range from $20 to $125 and can be purchased online. For more information and to get tickets, visit kennedy-center.org.
Busboys and Poets presents “The 11th Hour” Poetry Slam hosted by “2Deep” The Poetess, tonight from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Langston Room at Busboy & Poets’ 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). There will be two rounds of poetry and the audience will choose the winner. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door.
Saturday, April 9
Blowoff, a dance party featuring gay DJs Bob Mould and Richard Morel, will be at 9:30 club (815 V St., N.W.) tonight. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at 930.com.
Jacob Nathaniel Pring presents “Come Out of the Shadows,” tonight from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.). Part of POZ D.C., this is a monthly party for those who are HIV positive.
Ten LGBT groups are co-hosting “Grandson of Mega Party Game Night” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Bailey’s Pub in the Ballston Common Mall (4238 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington. You do not have to be a member of any of the groups to attend. This is a free event. For more information, visit dcicebreakers.com.
“Nine on the Ninth” open mic poetry presents Rachel Eliza Griffiths hosted by Poet in Residence Derrick Weston Brown at 9 p.m. in the Langston Room at Busboy & Poets’ 14th and V streets location (2021 14th St., N.W.). Griffith’s newest collection of poetry, “The Requited Distance,” was just released in February. There is a suggested donation of $5 for admission.
D.C.’s Different Drummers will be performing its spring concert, “A Country Portrait,” tonight at 8 p.m. in the auditorium at the Columbia Heights Educational Center (3101 16th St., N.W.). Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. There will be another performance Sunday at 3 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit dcdd.org.
Burgundy Crescent Volunteers will serve as balloon wranglers in the National Cherry Blossom Parade today from 7:30 a.m. to noon on the National Mall. E-mail [email protected] if interested in volunteering.
The Polaroid Retrospective II, an ongoing exhibit dedicated to the world of Polaroid and instant film photography, is on display at the Lamont Bishop Gallery (1314 9th St., N.W.) from 7 to 11 p.m. A few of the artists included are Alan Campbell, Jati, and Jillian Pichocki.
Sunday, April 10
The fourth annual National Rainbow Seder is tonight at 5 p.m. at the Human Rights Campaign (1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). It will be led by Rabbi Toby Manewith of Congregation Bet Mishpachah. Tickets are $36 for general admission and $24 are DCJCC members, student, seniors and those with limited income. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit washingtondcjcc.org.
Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., N.W.) is hosting an artist talk/coffee and cake today from 2 to 4 p.m. with Janet Wheeler and Mary D. Ott, whose exhibits, “Nests with a Twist” and “Grasses” respectively, are on display through May 1.
The D.C. Jazz Jam, a weekly jam free for both musicians and jazz lovers, is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dahlak (1771 U St., N.W.).
Monday, April 11
The D.C. Lambda Squares is hosting an Intro to Modern Western Square Dancing and Open House Pizza Party tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Scott Hall at the National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.).
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, April 12
A fundraising Bingo event will be held at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to help Jason Clauson reach his fundraising commitment of $3,000 for the 10th annual AIDS/Lifecycle cycling tour from San Francisco to Los Angeles this summer.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance will hold a membership meeting tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive (1201 17th St., N.W.).
D.C. Bi Women is having its monthly meeting tonight from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the upstairs room of the Dupont Italian Kitchen.
Wednesday, April 13
Rainbow Response is holding its monthly meeting tonight at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 8 p.m.
Politics and Prose Bookstore (5015 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) is holding the first meeting of its newest book group, Lez Read, tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the discount bookroom downstairs. The first group up for discussion is Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith.
Thursday. April 14
Washington Wetskins Water Polo is having a happy hour at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. $1 from every Nellie beer sold goes to the Wetskins. For more information on Washington Wetskins, visit wetskins.org.
There will be a town hall discussion on LGBT targeted hate crimes and bias crimes in Washington, D.C., tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of the Frank Reeves Building (2000 14th St., N.W.) Representatives from GLLU, the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and community organizations including Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence are expected to be in attendance.
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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