Arts & Entertainment
Shakeups on the seashore
Summer brings parking changes, new restaurants and more to Rehoboth
Blue Moon (Blade file photo)
Even though Rehoboth Beach is consistently rated by travel guides as one of the nation’s best and most popular LGBT resort towns, it does’t rest on its laurels. As with most years, this summer you will find a number of changes.
Tired of scrounging for quarters in order to park? Beginning May 25, drivers will be able to pay for parking spaces by phones and mobile devices using the Parkmobile system already employed in D.C.
“This will bring Rehoboth Beach into the 21st century, and I think it is a great convenience to the consumer,” says Joe Zuber, owner of Dos Locos.
The Board of Commissioners early this year agreed to change the regulations regarding restaurant and bar patios, writing new regulations to allow establishments with patios to remain open and serving food and drinks until 1 a.m. In September 2010, the city launched raids on establishments that had patios and arrested some owners of those establishments.
Rehoboth Beach has always had establishments that cater to its growing LGBT clientele. From the Blue Moon — now in its 31st year — to the soon-to-open Our Place (Henlopen Junction Mall, 715 Rehoboth Ave.), formerly the site of Nourish, which bills itself as a neighborhood bar that serves comfort food, there is a wide range of establishments to meet everybody’s needs.
Many establishments will offer live entertainment throughout the summer. The venerable Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave.), with its bright new back bar, will continue to host daily shows and Pamala Stanley will again perform from 6 to 8 p.m., from Sunday through Thursday beginning May 27. On Friday night, the Divas will perform their drag show from 9:45-11 p.m. and Saturdays at the same time will see Blue Moon Legends, a celebrity tribute show.
Many LGBT-owned establishments will host regular shows. In town, Aqua (57 Baltimore Ave.), with its scantily attired servers is a great place to be seen; the L Bar (622 Rehoboth Ave.) brings back Mandance on Saturday nights; and Dos Locos (208 Rehoboth Ave.), Cloud 9 (234 Rehoboth Ave.), Purple Parrot (134 Rehoboth Ave.) and Rigby’s (404 Rehoboth Ave.) will also host regular entertainment. Be sure to visit the Parrot’s Biergarten, where the Blade’s 2011 Best Rehoboth Bartender Jamie Romano holds court.
Sole, also on Baltimore Avenue is no more, and will be replaced by a new venture with an unusual name, (a)Muse, which will provide what they describe as locally grown modernized food. Other new additions include Cabo, a Mexican restaurant with rooftop bar and tequileria that replaces Porcini House on Wilmington Avenue; Nage (19730 Coastal Highway) is opening a gourmet deli next door called Root Gourmet. And next door to it will be a new Touch of Italy modeled on the Lewes location and featuring a sit-down restaurant.
There are many LGBT-owned restaurants in town, among them, MIXX, JAM, Eden, Finbar’s, Lori’s and Purple Parrot. And for ice cream you can go to Double Dippers on First Street, opposite of Nicola’s.
Lesbians have no shortage of options for going out. A popular lesbian-owned restaurant, the Seafood Shack (42 1/2 Baltimore Ave.) continues to serve fine food and offer great entertainment. Mikki Snyder-Hall, a resident of Rehoboth Beach notes that, “since 2003 there has been an increase in lesbian-friendly bars and restaurants.”
Among them are Rehoboth Ale House (15 Wilmington Ave.) and Charcoal Grill, which has moved from the same shopping center as Gelato Gal, to the Food Lion shopping center at the site of Zorba’s. Both Frogg Pond (First and Rehoboth Avenue) and Cloud 9 (234 Rehoboth Avenue) are praised by Snyder-Hall as being lesbian-friendly, and Saketumi on Route 1 is also known to have a lesbian following.
In addition to the many eating and drinking establishments, Rehoboth also has one of the few independent LGBT bookstores left in the United States, Proud Bookstore, which has moved to a larger location at the Village at the Sea Shops. Jocques LeClair, former manager of Rehoboth Lambda Rising, said his business “provides an outlet for those who visit Rehoboth who may come from areas that are less friendly to them.” He also promotes local authors and has provided book readings and promotions for LGBT writers. Shortly he hopes to begin a book club.
The only gay-owned coffee shop in town, the Coffee Mill (Rehoboth Mews, 127 Rehoboth Ave.) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Hoda Kotb featured this establishment on the “Today” show and can be seen there on occasion. Expect to see events related to its anniversary.
CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave.) serves as a community center, with information on the LGBT community, a meeting hall and sponsor of several popular summer events. This year the Black and White Beach Ball returns on June 3, with an event to promote local artists. Christopher Peterson, a popular female impersonator, will return for one day only, as Judy Garland, July 28, to benefit CAMP Rehoboth. Earlier that day, Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats will hold its Summer Bash, this year featuring Delaware’s Attorney General, Joseph “Beau” Biden, III. It will be held at Mariachi’s on Wilmington Avenue. The event is called a must stop-by summer event for all of the state’s political leaders, and on July 6, GLSEN will hold a beach party at the CAMP Community Center.
On the second Saturday of each month there is an Art Walk, a tour of the numerous galleries in town. Most galleries have special events featuring numerous local and national artists. There are several other gay-owned galleries in town including Gallery 50 (50 Wilmington Ave.) and Phillip Morton (47 Baltimore Ave.).
Bin 66, a favorite wine shop has wine tastings on Friday evenings at its Rehoboth Avenue location and on Saturday evenings at its other location opposite Spring Lake on Route 1.
Rehoboth offers a wide range of activities, dining options and nightlife. Visit camprehoboth.com or rehobothfoodie.com for updated information.
a&e features
Eastern Shore chef named James Beard Finalist
Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space
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, fuck them and move on.”
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)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
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