Arts & Entertainment
Art & Soul of the matter
New Jersey Ave. gay-helmed spot a culinary delight

Gay chef Art Smith has strong ties to D.C. — his father was a congressional page and his aunt was a Redskins weather girl.
Smith is a two-time contestant on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters,” Oprah was one of his clients and he owns Art & Soul (415 New Jersey Ave. NW). Recently, Art & Soul unveiled a new fall menu, continued to serve “swing state cocktails” and hosted an election night watch party. With so much going on at this Capitol Hill eatery it seemed like the perfect time to pay it a visit.
Smith says a lot goes into planning a new menu.
“My chefs and I talk endlessly about what is fresh and in season and what guests will love,” he says.
The new menu at Art & Soul is the epitome of soul food elevated. Our waiter, Kevin, knew the new menu inside and out and steered us toward some of his favorite items. His suggestions did not disappoint.
We ordered a couple of starters including the soft scotch egg, which was divine; the delicate pumpkin ricotta dumplings; and the shrimp and grits which I didn’t have because I’m allergic to shrimp. The other four diners devoured them immediately though.
For dinner, I had the grilled natural rib eye with roasted mushrooms and sweet garlic marrow butter and red wine jus. If you’re looking for your red meat fix, this is it. If you’re in the mood for fish, try the crispy skin gulf pompano with gulf crab, raisins and brown butter. The Peking duck was cooked perfectly and enjoyed by all but one diner, who insisted he had a pet duck and could never eat his pet.
The red wine glazed beef short ribs were moist and tender and the mashed potatoes were so good I was warding off other diners with my fork. We ended the meal with almost the entire dessert menu on our table; however, the various Art & Soul Baby Cakes were the showstopper. The red velvet was moist and an original spin on the traditional red velvet cake.
This fall Art & Soul has also been featuring election-themed “Swing State Cocktails,” the result of a brainstorming session between Smith, mixologist Ronald Flores and restaurant manager Calvin Hines Junior. When designing these cocktails they, “researched each state because we wanted an element of each drink to be relevant to the state.” Cocktails like the Virginia — gin, viognier and ginger beer; the New Hampshire — filibuster bourbon, pumpkin puree and dolin rouge; and the ever-important Ohio — Wodka, peanut butter syrup and chocolate sauce were available through inauguration day. The most popular swing state cocktail (and Smith’s favorite) was the Pennsylvania — which features house-made peach-infused vodka that is displayed in a mason jar on the bar.
These cocktails were the centerpieces of the election night party. If you wore your “I Voted” sticker, you could enjoy two-for-one swing state cocktails. Plus, every time a swing state was called, patrons could enjoy that state cocktail for 50 percent off for 15 minutes. They didn’t have a Florida cocktail, so nobody had to wait until Friday to enjoy that at half price. The excitement in the restaurant was palpable. People were bustling to see the results and every time a state was called in favor of President Obama, cheers could be heard throughout the room. When asked about the historic wins on election night for LGBT individuals Smith said, “We are headed in the right direction … but it comes down to one thing: there is no room for hatred at the table.”
Art & Soul does not disappoint. Every dish is dynamic but still retains its soul food feel. The wait staff is exceptional and well versed. The “Swing State Cocktails” were creative and delightful; setting this watch party apart from others. Overall, this dinner was one of the best I have had in Washington, not only because the food was excellent, but also because of the impeccable service. Unfortunately, perfection does not come cheap so be prepared to spend a bit more for your meal at Art & Soul, but it will be worth it.

You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.

Friday, June 13
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, June 14
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 16
“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 17
Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Wednesday, June 18
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, June 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
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