Arts & Entertainment
Keep on truckin’
From pork to pizza, city’s mobile restaurants continue to dazzle
The first-ever Washington Blade Food Truck Rally was held last week as part of the High Heel Race and attracted seven of the city’s best food trucks. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The food truck craze that began a few years ago remains in full force and with seven of the city’s top trucks gathered in a 17th Street church parking lot for the inaugural Washington Blade Food Truck Rally last week, it seemed a good time to review some of the offerings.
The rally was part of the 25th annual High Heel Race and drew a large, steady crowd throughout the night. Rather than watch the race, I spent the evening sampling various treats from the vendors.
Mojo Truck EXTRAordinary Sandwiches (@Mojotruck)
You have options at the Mojo Truck, with four basic sandwich choices and three different ways to get those sandwiches. I opted for the pork sandwich with the classic set of toppings, which includes tomato, mozzarella, fried egg and lettuce. (No lettuce for me, however, as I have great disdain for crunchy water.) Growing up Cuban, I always have high expectations for any pork-based sandwich, and the pork on this sandwich definitely held its own. Also, the bread was nice and crispy. The half melted and half un-melted mozzarella was a bit disappointing, though, and I couldn’t find my fried egg anywhere on the sandwich. I was really looking forward to that fried egg.
STIX Grilled Deliciousness (@eatstix)
The bacon-wrapped filet mignon was the first thing that caught my eye here, but I also find it hard to resist Tequila Lime Chicken, which was the second item on the list. Meanwhile, the hubby decided to try the Tomato Caprese with a Balsamic Reduction. And let me say, damn, that is some really good chicken on a stick. It was well-seasoned, well-cooked, and when you add a squirt of lime, that chicken just dances around your mouth, spreading joyful flavors everywhere. I tried some of the Tomato Caprese, something I have never eaten off a stick before, but with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes that explode in your mouth, and that delicious reduction, I would say this is a must try.
Rolling Ficelle (@TheFicelle, rollingficelle.com)
There were so many delicious options listed on this menu. These were definitely sandwiches with style. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and order The DeKooning Ficelle. The DeKooning has roast beef, provolone cheese, crushed cherry pepper relish and light horseradish mayo on fresh Lyon Bakery Bread. The roast beef was tender, there was a sweetness to the cherry pepper relish that matched amazingly well with the meat, and the horseradish mayo added a touch of heat that made me smile. I do love me some spicy! And the bread? Wow, that is some fresh, crispy, perfect bread.
How was I going to top that? Well, I moseyed on over to Porc to see what they had to offer.
Porc: Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (@Porcmobile)
This food truck had a sense of humor. I especially liked the note that suggested the sign was “scratch-and-sniff,” and that you get half-off your meal if you are rocking drag. (I knew I should have put on some high heels!) I debated between the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Smoked Angus Beef Sloppy Joe. But, since they are called Porc, it would be wrong if I didn’t get the pulled pork. So, I stepped up and ordered my second pork sandwich of the night with hot BBQ sauce. This sandwich was good, but not great. The pork was moist and tasty and the bread was soft and fresh, but the “hot” BBQ was not hot at all and left me wanting more flavor.
Next, it was time for pizza. I like to consider myself a pizza expert, being a New Yorker and all.
DC Slices (@DCSlices)
This truck has pretty much what you would expect – a few different slices and some rather tasty-looking fried food. The added bonus for me was the fried pickles on the menu. I love fried pickles. So, the husband and I ordered a cheese slice, a pepperoni slice, and an order of fried pickles. I couldn’t wait to taste the fried pickles. Then, moments later, disaster stuck: they were out of fried pickles. Disappointment rushed over me, but then I remembered I still had two slices of pizza to taste. I bit into the pepperoni slice, and was impressed. The crust was nice, the sauce-to-cheese ratio was correct, and the pepperoni was perfect. Overall, not quite up to New York City pizza standards but some of the best pizza I have had in D.C. The cheese slice was a little underdone, though, leaving the crust a bit soggy, but overall quite good.
Now, it was time for dessert. First stop? Dangerously Delicious Pies.
Dangerously Delicious Pies (@thepietruckdc, dangerouspiesdc.com)
Sweet and Savory pies, with so many options – what is a guy to do? We opted to try three pies, one savory – the “Hot Rod Potato” – and two sweet – the signature “Baltimore Bomb Pie” and the “Apple Cinnamon Chess.” The Hot Rod Potato pie was so rich, with layers of potatoes, cream, cheeses, onions, and (my favorite part) the hot sauce. There was no lack of flavor with this pie, and I was thrilled. The Baltimore Bomb pie was full of Berger cookies. The crunchy chocolaty top of this pie slid right into the rich filling that was lighter and fluffier than you would expect. Finally, the Apple Cinnamon Chess was the best apple pie I have ever tasted. I am bringing this one home to the family for Thanksgiving.
And why not add some ice cream to the pie in my stomach?
Sinplicity Ice Cream (@sinplicity1, sinplicityicecream.com)
I left this truck until last because I was a bit cold, and I didn’t really know what could be so special about ice cream. Then, I looked at the menu. While looking at the menu the lovely woman working the truck handed me a sample cup of hot chocolate, I sipped it, looked up, pondered it, and wondered why I have never had hot chocolate like this before. This hot chocolate with orange and cinnamon is so amazing, it will definitely make you stop for a moment after you taste it.
Then, I ordered my ice cream. I don’t usually like my food touching, let alone mixed together. So when I ordered the Chocolate Chili Pepper Ice Cream, my husband looked at me like I had lost my mind. But I was in love on the first bite: this is what ice cream should taste like. Rich and creamy chocolate with the warm flavors of the chili pepper – it was divine! I had a bite of ice cream and a sip of hot chocolate and repeated this as I walked down to the High Heel Race. I am sure there was chaos around me but I didn’t notice. I was completely enthralled by my ice cream!
Galleries
BMA celebrates enduring influence of Henri Matisse
Exhibit features iconic works juxtaposed with gay artist’s paintings inspired by French legend
The Baltimore Museum of Art is on a roll.
After landing the coveted Amy Sherald “American Sublime” exhibit (through April 5) when the National Portrait Gallery attempted to censor her work, the BMA is debuting a breathtaking and thought-provoking new exhibit, “To See This Light Again” featuring master works by Henri Matisse paired with new paintings by Louis Fratino, who is inspired by the French modernist legend.
Fratino, who’s gay, was born in Annapolis and studied at Baltimore’s Maryland Institute College of Art. As an art student, he found himself spending lots of time in the BMA’s Matisse galleries, the largest collection of his works in the world, encompassing more than 1,600 paintings, drawings, and illustrations. At just 33, Fratino has enjoyed a “meteoric” rise in the art world, according to BMA Director Asma Naeem, who introduced Fratino at an event previewing the exhibit last week. This is Fratino’s first major U.S. exhibition, but he was featured in the 2024 Venice Biennale and his paintings can be found at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and elsewhere.
The exhibit aims to explore Matisse’s lasting influence by juxtaposing his works with Fratino’s.
“It’s the idea that art manifests a kind of attention or a vision for your life, that it can be a beautiful life despite certain circumstances that may be happening around you,” Fratino said in a statement released by the BMA. “In Matisse’s case, he lived through the First and Second World Wars. Painting can confirm that life is beautiful and that it’s worth looking at.”
The influences are apparent, from the use of light and pattern to the choice to focus on everyday objects and subjects. And the exhibit is unabashedly queer with male couples depicted in a couple of paintings. Fratino told the Blade that as an out gay man, it was important to embrace that visibility.
He describes a “joy of looking” at the male form, just as Matisse portrayed female figures that often celebrated the tradition of painting nudes.
In “Tom,” Fratino captured his subject in casual repose that includes a bowl and spoon in the foreground. It is presented alongside Matisse’s iconic “Large Reclining Nude.” Tom’s checkered shirt echoes the blue and white grid background of the Matisse work and both figures are holding casual, relaxed poses.
“Fratino and Matisse: To See This Light Again” runs through Sept. 6 at the Baltimore Museum of Art (artbma.org.)
For Matisse lovers, the BMA has another exhibit debuting March 29 titled, “Matisse in Vence: The Stations of the Cross” featuring more than 80 drawings revealing how the artist “shaped his late‑career masterpiece, the Stations of the Cross mural, for the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France.”
Books
Laverne Cox, Liza Minnelli among authors with new books
A tome for every taste this reading season
Spring is a great time to think about vacations, spring break, lunch on the patio, or an afternoon in the park. You’ll want to bring one (or all!) of these great new books.
So let’s start here: What are you up for? How about a great new novel?
If you’re a mystery fan, you’ll want to make reservations to visit “Disaster Gay Detective Agency” by Lev AC Rosen (Poisoned Pen Press, June 2). It’s a whodunit featuring a group of gay roommates, one of whom is a swoony romantic. Add a mysterious man who disappears and a murder, of course, and you’ve got the novel you need for the beach.
Don’t discount young adult books, if you want something light to read this spring. “What Happened to Those Girls” by Carlyn Greenwald (Sourcebooks Fire, June 30) is a thriller about mean girls and a camping trip that goes terribly, bloodily wrong. Meant for teens ages 14 and up, young adult books are breezier and lighter fare for the busy grown-up reader.
If you loved “Boyfriend Material” and “Husband Material,” you’ll be eager for the next installment from author Alexis Hall. “Father Material” (Sourcebooks Casablanca, June 2) takes Luc and Oliver to the next step. First was dating. Then was marriage. Is it time for the sound of pitter-patter on the kitchen floor?
Maybe something even lighter? Then how about a book of essays – like “The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay” bycomedian and writer Eliot Glazer (Gallery Books, Aug. 11). It’s a book of essays on being gay today, the irritations, the joys, and fitting in. Be aware that these essays may contain a bit of spice – but isn’t that what you want for your reading pleasure anyhow, hmmm?
But okay, let’s say you want something with a little more heft to it. How about a biography?
Look for “Transcendant” by Laverne Cox (Gallery Books, June 9), or “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This” by Liza Minnelli (Grand Central Publishing, March 10), and “Every Inch a Lady” by Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell (Amistad, July 14). Keep your eyes open for “Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge” by Harvey Brownstone (ECW Press, May 26) or “The Double Dutch Fuss” by Phill Branch (Amistad, June 2).
Then again, maybe you want some history, or something different.
So here: look for “Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession” by Antonio Pagliarulo (Weiser, June 1) for a little bit of faith-based gay. Music lovers will want “Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000” by Barry Walters (Viking, May 12). Activists will want “In the Arms of Mountains: A Memoir of Land, Love, and Queer Resistance in Red America” byformer Idaho state Sen. Cole Nicole LeFavour (Beacon Press, May 26).
And if these books aren’t enough, then be sure to check with your favorite bookseller or librarian. They’ll have exactly what you’re in the mood to read. They’ll find what you need for that patio, beach towel, or easy chair.
Music & Concerts
Gaga, Cardi B, and more to grace D.C. stages this spring
Shake off your winter doldrums at a local concert
D.C. shakes off its winter blues this spring as the music scene pops off. We all know the big star is coming: Lady Gaga will perform at Capital One Arena on March 23. But plenty of other stars, big and small, will grace D.C. stages, including many LGBTQ and ally artists.
March
3/15, 9:30 Club, St. Lucia – Indie electronic music project known for its synth-pop sound, which blends ‘80s influences with electronic and indie rock elements.
3/31, Lincoln Theatre, Perfume Genius – Indie/pop singer/songwriter Mike Hadreas, also known as Perfume Genius, has toured with a full band, but he is stripping things back for this tour.
April
4/8, Capital One, Cardi B. Cardi B, from New York, unapologetic and proud, is the first solo female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. This year, she’s on her Little Miss Drama Tour, in support of her second studio album, “Am I the Drama?”
4/13, Lincoln Theatre, The Naked Magicians. Australia’s The Naked Magicians are two performers who deliver live magic and laughs while wearing nothing but a top hat and a smile.
4/18, Capital One, Florence and the Machine. Longstanding indie rock back from Great Britain, much-loved for lead singer Florence’s powerful vocals. On their Everybody Scream Tour.
4/16, Capital One, Demi Lovato. Singer/songwriter from Texas, who came out as nonbinary, is traveling on her “It’s Not That Deep Tour.”
4/21, The Anthem, Calum Scott. Platinum-selling gay singer/songwriter Calum Scott released his latest project, Avenoir, last year. Scott rose to fame in 2015 after competing on Britain’s Got Talent, where he performed a cover of Robyn’s hit “Dancing on My Own“.
4/26, Atlantis, Caroline Kingsbury. American queer pop musician from Los Angeles. She released her debut album in 2021, and has two additional EPs. She’s played Lollapalooza 2025 and All Things Go 2025, as well as gone on a co-headlining U.S. tour with MARIS. Shock Treatment is her latest EP.
4/26, Anthem, Raye. This bisexual artist, known for her current chart-topping “”Where Is My Husband!” single, blends pop, jazz, R&B, and more.
4/30, Union Stage, Daya. This bisexual singer/songwriter is on her “Til Every Petal Drops Tour,” touring the album of the same name that was released last year.
May
5/1, The Anthem, Joost Klein. Eurovision comes to D.C. in Joost Klein: Originally a Youtuber, he was selected to represent the Netherlands at Eurovision in 2024 with his song “Europapa.” He released a new album on New Year’s Day.
5/1, Fillmore, MIKA. MIKA is on his Spinning Out Tour. Born in Beirut and raised in both Paris and London, MIKA sings in multiple languages and has co-hosted Eurovision.
5/7, 9:30 Club, COBRAH. Clara Christensen, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, record producer, and club queen, making electronic dance music.
5/19, Atlantis, Grace Ives. New York-born singer/songwriter, known for her high-energy synth/electronic, bedroom-pop-style music.
June
6/2, The Anthem, James Blake. English crooner got big from his self-titled debut album in 2011. He won two Grammys and just released his 7th album,Trying Times, in March.
BMA celebrates enduring influence of Henri Matisse
Gay Venezuelan man ‘forcibly disappeared’ to El Salvador files claim against White House
Trump proclamation targets trans rights as State Dept. shifts visa policy
Adolescentes trans en Ecuador podrán cambiar datos en su cédula, pero con condicionamientos
Gay Cameroonian immigrant will be freed from ICE detention — for now
Trump will refuse to sign voting bill without anti-trans provisions
Man stuck in Lebanon as Iran war escalates
Owner of D.C. gay bar Green Lantern John Colameco dies at 79
PHOTOS: ‘Defrosted’
