Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: June 1
Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through June 7


k.d. lang and her band the Siss Boom Bang, play Wolf Trap again this year. They’ll be there Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy Wolf Trap)
TODAY (Friday)
“Auntie Mame” screens on the Lunar Lawn this evening at the Hillwood Estate (4155 Linnean Ave. NW) for the Dina Merrill Film Program’s Divas Outdoors event. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the film screens at 8:15. Tickets are $15 or $10 for college students and children ages 6-18. For more information, call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.
Town (2009 8th St NW) hosts the Pride Guide Party tonight with the Blade. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the drag show starts at 10:30. Tickets are $5 from 10-11 p.m. and $10 after 11 for guests 21 and over, and are $10 for guests 18-20 all night. For details, visit towndc.com.
Aaron Myers and the Black Fox Lounge Jazz Ensemble perform tonight at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. NW) for the DC Jazz Festival: Jazz in the ‘Hoods event from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Capital Pride hosts its annual women’s party this evening in partnership with LURe and B.O.I. Marketing and Promotions at Phase 1 (525 8th Street, SE) from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. There is a $10 cover charge benefiting Capital Pride. For more details, visit phase1dc.com or capitalpride.org.
Saturday June 2
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents “Heart Throbs,” a high-energy tribute to male singers, boy bands and teen idols, at the Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University campus (730 21St Street NW) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $13-$50 and can be purchased online at gmcw.org.
Eatonville (14th & V St. NW) has a Queer Southern Brunch plus Southern Poets Reading from noon-2 p.m. today as part of the Capturing Fire Queer Spoken Word Summit and Slam. The brunch is $25. For more details, visit thedccenter.org.
Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, helps Food and Friends with food preparation and grocery packing today. The volunteer group size is limited to 10 per shift and will fill quickly. Donuts and coffee will be provided at 8 a.m. and the group will start working at 8:15. If interested in volunteering, email [email protected] and visit foodandfriends.org or burgundycrescent.org for more information.
Sunday June 3
Phase 1 (525 8th Street, SE ) hosts performances by Benny Ninja and The i-Vogue Dancers during its “Everything” party tonight from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $10. For more details, visit phase1dc.com.
The second annual Drag Ball Game Charity Fund Raiser (1625 P street NW) for The D.C. Center is today from 3 to 6 p.m. Capital Pride suggests a $5 donation, which includes entry to the game, one raffle ticket and after party admission at Cobalt (1639 R Street NW). For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Pariah, a film about a teenage African-American woman’s lesbian identity and her rocky relationship with her family, screens this evening from 7-9 p.m. at Busboys and Poets (5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD). The screening is free. Visit thedccenter.org for more details.
The Latino GLBT History Project presents D.C. Latino Pride: La Misa, a bilingual Catholic-Episcopal church service with Rev. Joseph Palacios at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Parish Dupont Circle (1772 Church St. NW). The service is from 7:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit capitalpride.org or email David Perez at [email protected].
Monday June 4
The Washington Jewish Film Festival and GLOE (GLBT Outreach & Engagement) screen “Melting” Away tonight from 7-9 p.m at the D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th Street, NW). The film is about an Israeli family’s rejection and later acceptance of their transgender daughter. A discussion on identity will follow the screening. Tickets are $11 and $10 for seniors and students. Visit washingtondcjcc.org or capitalpride.org for more information.
Joshua Morgan in partnership with theatreWashington hosts Music of the Night this evening at Town (2009 8th St. NW) from 7-11 p.m. The event includes performances by Joshua and his talented friends and sing-a-long opportunities for guests. Admission is $20 and benefits Capital Pride. For more information, visit capitalpride.org.
Cobalt has a 21+ Martini Monday night at 10 p.m. tonight. Martinis are $5 all night; admission is free. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.
Tuesday June 5
The annual Capital Pride Interfaith Worship Service is this evening at 7:30 p.m. at Luther Place Memorial Church (1226 Vermont Avenue NW). LGBT activist Dana Beyer is the guest speaker. The service features a performance by the Rock Creek Singers, a chamber ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. Visit thedccenter.org for more details.
Human Rights Campaign Equality Forum (1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW) presents Women’s Spoken Word tonight from 7:30-9 p.m. All attendees are encouraged to express themselves through monologues, poems, songs and other performances in this open mic event. Admission is free.
Wednesday June 6
Lesbian singer k.d. lang, the legendary creator of alternative-country and winner of four Grammy awards, performs tonight with her band The Siss Boom Bang and special guest Jane Siberry at 8 p.m. at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Road Vienna, Va.). In-house tickets are $45 and lawn tickets are $25. Find out more information and purchase tickets online at wolftrap.org.
The Lambda Social Bridge Club meets at 7:30 p.m. this evening at the Dignity Center (721 8 St. SE). A partner is not necessary to participate and players typically play 20 hands of bridge. For more details, visit lamdabridge.com or call 301-345-1571.
Bookmen D.C., an informal men’s gay-literature discussion group, discusses John Waters’s memoir “Role Models” at 7:30 p.m. tonight. All are welcome to join the group at the Tenleytown Public Library (4450 Wisconsin Ave NW). For more information, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Thursday June 7
Cobalt (1639 R St. NW) hosts its weekly “best package contest” tonight with hosts Lena Lett and Ba’Naka. Participants in the exhibitionistic contest can win up to $200 in prizes. Tickets are $3, and 21-and-older attendees can buy $2 rail drinks from 9-11 p.m. Visit cobaltdc.com for details.
Harris Face, an alternative folk guitarist and singer, performs this evening from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. NW) with an opening performance by Wendell Kimbraugh. Tickets are $5. For more information, visit blackfoxlounge.com.
Town (2009 8 St. NW) hosts D.C. Latino Pride: La Fiesta tonight from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. The night includes captivating performances and an all-night dance party. Admission is 18-and-up with ID; a $5 cover will be donated to D.C. Latino Pride. For details, visit capitalpride.org or towndc.com.
Members of Burgundy Crescent volunteer today for Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based LGBT advocacy organizations, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St. NW). Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve alcohol, replenish appetizers and clean up the community center. Black pants and a white shirt are the preferred attire. To participate, visit burgundycrescent.org.
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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