Arts & Entertainment
Baltimore arts briefs: events through Nov. 22
Chef Anthony Bourdain makes appearance, Trans Day of Remembrance and other Baltimore events
Chef Bourdain at the Hippodrome
Hippodrome Theatre (12 N Eutaw St.) presents an evening with Anthony Bourdain in his tour “Guts & Glory” tour Saturday night at 8.
Bourdain is an internationally renowned chef, author and television host. His most recent culinary-themed graphic novel “Get Jiro!” is on the New York Times bestseller list. The night includes stories about his life’s work and travels, which includes a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Tickets are $55-$150. For more information, visit france-merrickpac.com.
Trans Day of Remembrance on Tuesday
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a national event honoring lives lost to anti-trans violence. (Washington Blade file photo by Henry Linser)
The First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Charles and Franklin St., Baltimore) holds a service for the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
The day was started in 1998 with the kick off of “Remembering Our Dead” to commemorate the murder of Rita Hester who was killed for being transgender. The day has been extended to memorialize everyone who has been killed out of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
The day is to help raise awareness to the prejudices transgender people still face. For more information, visit firstunitarian.net.
Frontrunners have Saturday meet planned
Baltimore Frontrunners and Walkers run on Saturday morning at 8:45 starting at Panera (3600 Boston St.).
The organization is a running and walking club for LGBT runners and friends. They welcome runners and walkers of all levels, including any four-legged friends who would like to join the run.
The route for the run will include going to the Inner Harbor World Trade Center or the Maryland Science Center. Afterward, the group reassembles for brunch at 10.
This event is free. Direct inquiries to [email protected] or call 410-662-2887. For more information, visit baltimorefrontrunners.org.
Bump, set, spike with Charm City
Charm City Volleyball is hosting social play for volleyball players of all levels Wednesday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Royal Recreational Center (137 McMechen St.).
The group is an LGBT volleyball organization. The weekly social play is to promote volleyball in the community. Charm City Volleyball hosts competitive events and social clinics.
The sessions are $3 each and $30 for the fall season. There are discounts for students. For more information, visit volleybaltimore.org.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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