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Baltimore arts briefs: March 9

‘Blackouts’ author on book tour, Hippo drag show and more

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Author Mark Brennan Rosenberg finishes his visit to the area on a 45-city book tour with a stop in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy Rosenberg)

‘Blackouts’ author plans regional book tour

Openly gay author Mark Brennan Rosenberg brings his 45-city book tour to Baltimore with a visit to The Book Escape (805 Light St.) on March 15 at 5 p.m.

Rosenberg’s tour is to promote his first book, “Blackouts and Breakdowns,” as well as his second book, “Eating My Feelings,” slated for release on April 19.

“Blackouts” includes 11 short stories exploring Rosenberg’s once excessive drinking and the struggles he faced when becoming sober. “Eating” includes 16 essays about his time in fat camp, high school and more.

Rosenberg will also have appearances University of Maryland Bookstore on March 12, Duplex 18 & U on March 13 and Towson University on March 14.

Hippo hosts glam drag show

Josie & the PussyCats presents “A Baltimore BLAST Show” on Friday at Club Hippo (1 West Eager St.).

The show will feature Jada, first alternate to Miss Gay Baltimore; Josie Foster, a promoter for Miss Gay Baltimore; Chi Chi Ray Colby, Miss Gay Maryland America; Sue Nami, former Miss Gay Maryland; and more.

Tickets are $7 and can be purchased by calling 410-274-7118.

Doors open at 10 p.m.

Also at Club Hippo, DJ Jason Royce will be spinning on Saturday.

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Heading ‘Into the Woods’

Center Stage (700 N. Calvert St.) presents “Night Out: Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s retelling of Grimm classics directed by Mark Lamos on March 13 at 6:30 p.m.

“Into the Woods” follows familiar folktale figures such as Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood and more as they try to get home before dark. Danielle Ferland, who originated the role of Red on Broadway, returns to the production as the baker’s wife.

The Tuesday before opening night, “Night Out” is an evening of theater and cocktails designed for the LGBT community.

Tickets range from $10 to $45 and can be purchased online at centerstage.org. “Into the Woods” will run through April 15.

Mink Stole, others at the Patterson

Creative Alliance presents Erin Markey, the Degenerettes, Lexie Mountain and a guest appearance by Mink Stole on Friday at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave.) at 8 p.m.

Markey is a long-time member of the queer performance cabaret, the Charm City Kitty Club. She’ll be performing a variety of things, including excerpts from her newest solo musical project, “The Dardy Family Home Movies by Stephen Sondheim by Erin Markey.”

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for CA members.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit creativealliance.org.

 

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Books

A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

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(Book cover image courtesy of Random House)

‘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.

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Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

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Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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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Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

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Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

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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