Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Events through Nov. 15

Parties, concerts, exhibits and more for the coming week

Published

12 years ago

November 8, 2012

Erin Durkin

‘Palace of Tears II Revisited,’ by artist Peter Karp, is on display now at Studio Gallery

TODAY (Friday)

The Speakeasy Shorts Film Challenge begins tonight at 7 at the U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.). The challenge lasts five days to write, shoot and edit a film based on eight local storytellers. Tonight is the first night the filmmakers will be learning which story they are assigned after the storytellers regale the audience. The competition ends Nov. 16 when they reveal their films. Tickets are $20 per show or $30 for both shows if they are purchased online. For more information, visit speakeasydc.com.

The Bethesda Art Walk is this evening from 6-9 p.m. Seven galleries and studios will be participating in the walk: Artworks (7740 Old Georgetown Rd.), Consider it Done (7806 Old Georgetown Rd.), Gallery B (7700 Wisconsin Ave.), Interiors of Washington (7944 Norfolk Ave.), L’Eclat de Verre (7015 Wisconsin Ave.), Upstairs Art Studios (4948 St. Elmo Ave.) and Waverly Street Gallery (4600 East-West Highway). For more information, visit Bethesda.org.

Special Agent Galactica welcomes special guest Barbara Papendorp, French chanteuse and cabaret artist, to her happy hour show at Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) tonight from 6-9. Music includes pieces by Pat Benatar, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Sinatra and Ray Stevens. Admission is free. For more information, visit pinkhairedone.com.

Town (2009 8th 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 $10. The dance floor opens at 11 with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

Phase 1 (528 8^th St. S.E.) has its weekly dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight starting at 7:30. Cover is $10. For more information, visitphase1dc.com.

Saturday Nov. 10

Studio Gallery (2108 R St., NW) hosts the opening reception for the show “Revisit: The Inconstancy of Being” in honor of Fotoweek DC 2012 today at 4 p.m. Fotoweek D.C. celebrates the art of photography, and the show features 10 prominent photographers. The artists revisited their oldest pieces giving them a more modern twist. For more information, visit studiogallerydc.com.

The opening reception of the exhibition, “A Quiet Field of Surfaces” happens tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Adah Rose Gallery (3766 Howard Ave., Kensington). The show features art by Jessica Drenk and Brie Husted. For more information, visit adahrosegallery.com.

Sunday, Nov. 11

Church of the Holy City’s “Music with the Angels” series, along with the D.C. Chamber Music Players chamber Orchestra, presents a Veterans’ Day Concert this afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Holy City (1611-16^th St., N.W.). For more information, visit churchoftheholycity.org.

Lambda Sci-Fi meets this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at 1425 S St. N.W. All LGBT science fiction, fantasy and horror fans are invited. For more information visit lambdascifi.org.

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.

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers this morning for D.C. Central Kitchen (425 2^nd St, NW) at 9 a.m. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

Monday, Nov. 12

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visitcobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It’s 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.

Tuesday, Nov. 13

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.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Big Gay Book Group meets tonight at 7 p.m. at 1155 F St., NW, Suite 200. They will be discussing “Querelle” by Jean Genet. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com.

Lambda Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 pm at the Dignity Center (721 8^th St., SE). Newcomers are welcomed and no reservations are needed. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.

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.

Thursday, Nov. 15

The D.C. Center’s Center Women presents Beaujolais Nouveau, a celebration for the new wine harvest, at Gallery plan b (1530 14^th St., NW) tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Beaujolais Nouveau is a newer red wine made in the Beaujolais region of France. It is very popular and is fermented only a few weeks before being released. Tickets start at $15. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its gay men over 50 support group this evening at 6:30 p.m. The group is for gay men entering a new phase of life. Registration is required to attend. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

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.

Books

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

New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story

Published

2 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.