Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Aug. 24

Parties, concerts, exhibits and more through Aug. 30

Published

13 years ago

August 23, 2012

‘Dreamer,’ a painting by John Gascot, one of 38 artists whose work is being exhibited now at Touchstone Gallery. (Image courtesy Touchstone)

TODAY (Friday)

Whitman-Walker Health holds HIV Testing at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Town (2009 8^th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for people 21 and older. There is no cover charge. For details, visit towndc.com.

The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8^th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour tonight starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $15 and after 11 p.m. admission is $3. The party includes a pool, video gaming system and card tournaments. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington,VA) presents “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” tonight at 8 p.m. The show tests morals and demonstrates media sensationalism as a television watchdog seeks to shut this brothel down. Tickets range from $87-$93. For more information, visit signiture-theatre.org.

Cirque du Soleil continues its tour of their new show “Totem” tonight at 8 p.m. at the Plateau at National Harbor (201 Harbor View Ave.). The D.C. Center is giving out free tickets to members of the Friendly Visitors Program. In order to be eligible for a free ticket, contact Karim at [email protected]. For more information about the show, visit curquedusoleil.org. For details about receiving tickets, visit thedccenter.org.

Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW) hosts 38 artists for the rest of the month of August. The gallery is holding this exhibition in order to shed light on unknown artists in a top-notch gallery and exposing these new works to collectors. The show is up until Aug. 30. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.

We Were Kings performs tonight at the 9:30 club (815 St., NW) at 7 p.m. D.C.-based artist Nate Ihara made this solo project into a group effort. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit 930.com.

Saturday, Aug. 25

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, is helping in food preparation and packing groceries for Food and Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE) today. For more information, visit foodandfriends.org.

DJ Matt Bailer performs at Town (2009 8^th St., N.W.) tonight at 10. Bailer is known for being a indie-pop-electro DJ and is well known throughout Washington. Cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $12 after. There are $3 drinks before 11 p.m. For more information, visit towndc.com.

Positive Women Making Positive Choices pairs up with the D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) tonight to host the LGBT Youth Movie Night starting at 6. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Potomac Nationals host Gay Pride Night tonight at 6:30 at Pfitzner Stadium (7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, Va.). The Nationals take on the Frederick Keys and post-game activities include fireworks, tennis ball toss and kids run the bases. Tickets are $9. For details, visit thedccenter.org.

Sunday, Aug. 26

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke. Karaoke starts at 10 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Monday, Aug. 27

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) is hosting its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is now cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8^th St., S.E.) is offering half price drinks all night long. A free pool and NFL, NBA and NCAA games will be on the flat screen TVs. Admission is free. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

Dead Can Dance performs tonight at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna) at 8 p.m. The Australian duo, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, draw their influences from Greek, Italian, Turkish, Irish and Arab musical traditions. Tickets are $30-$45. For more information, visit wolftrap.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 28

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its Coming Out-Women support group tonight at 7 p.m. This is a 10-week confidential discussion group for women who are exploring their interest in other women. It is open to all women regardless of age or experience in the coming out process. Registration is required to attend. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit packing program tonight from 7-10:30. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) hosts its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health provides HIV testing this evening at Miriam’s Kitchen (2120 West Virginia Ave., NE) beginning at 4 p.m. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Wednesday, Aug. 29

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St.) presents Caddywhompus, a New Orleans-based band, tonight at 6. Members describe their sound as “experimental noise pop.”

This event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

The Lambda Bridge Club, a gay group, meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8^th Street, S.E., across from the Marine Barracks) for duplicate bridge. No reservations are needed and newcomers are always welcome. Visit lambdabridge.com if you need a partner.

Thursday, Aug. 30

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) is hosting its weekly Best Package Contest tonight at 9 p.m. There is a $3 cover and there are $2 vodka drinks. Participants in the contest can win $200 in cash prizes. The event is hosted by Lena Lett and music by DJ Chord, DJ Madscience and DJ Sean Morris. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

The Kennedy Center (2700 F St.) presents Zongo Junction, a burgeoning Afro-beat group, tonight at 6 p.m. The group blends West African rhythms, funk, jazz and soul. The 12-member band has toured throughout the East and West coast. Their inspiration is Nigerian superstar and activist. Fela Anikulapo Kuti. This event is free. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Books

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

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

Published

6 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(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.

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2025

Michael Key

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)

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

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

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

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.