Arts & Entertainment
‘Orange’ teaser
Alliances deepen on season three which debuts Monday
Taryn Manning and Lea DeLaria in season three of ‘Orange is the New Black.’ (Photo by JoJo Whilden, courtesy Netflix)
Jenji Kohan’s Netflix smash “Orange is the New Black” is back to doing what it does best: character exploration.
Season three opens with a new and (relatively) improved Pennsatucky doing her best to be more respectful of others and less uptight about vulgarity. She’s genuinely trying to better herself, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see her transformation from a villain to someone reformed and compassionate. The season builds from there and the first six episodes suggest this season will be the best, most emotionally complex, season to date.
Thankfully, the Piper/Alex drama resolves fairly quickly and focus pulls away from the two just enough to focus on other, more interesting characters while keeping Taylor Schilling as the top-billed actor. The show is able to remain fresh and captivating by not dwelling on this will they/won’t they pairing.
Litchfield has turned upside down as conditions improve for inmates. Little victories following a bed bug infestation change the attitudes of several inmates, like Red. Because only so much happiness can go around, the prison guards are getting the shaft as a change in ownership of the prison means fewer hours and slashed benefits. The question arises as to who the real prisoners are (hint: still the actual prisoners).
This shake-up is thanks in part to the addition of newcomer Mike Birbiglia’s character, who flawlessly brings a layered, subtle and mysterious performance with each line. The show also welcomes Mary Steenburgen. Like Birbiglia does to Joe Caputo, so does Steenburgen, playing former guard Mendez’s mother, complicate the pregnant Dayanara’s life. Daya, meanwhile, grows more and more isolated as she runs out of options for how to take care of her unborn baby.
Unlike season two, there is no clear primary antagonist. The “Clash of the Titans”-esque struggle between Red, Vee and Gloria has resolved, and each tribe is left to deal with the aftermath of Rosa’s escape and hit-and-run, immortalized with the mic-droppiest of lines: “Always so rude, that one.”
The show has shifted from the man vs. man-style of conflict to man vs. self. Nicky battles her addiction more than ever. Morello is depressed, having lost her job driving the van. Chang, in one of the best episodes so far, struggles with immense insecurities and loneliness. Crazy Eyes refuses to accept the loss of Vee, her mother figure. These and other internalized conflicts become more of a prison for the characters than Litchfield itself, as they fight to free themselves from their masochistic choices.
Tribe members intermix less than they have before, with the exception of Soso, who struggles to find her place in the prison. Even Chang, the other prominent Asian character, does not accept her, as Soso is part Scottish.
However, this racial isolation has given room for new bonds to form, like the budding friendship between Boo and Pennsatucky, which began at the end of season two. The unlikely pairing of the unapologetic lesbian and the religious zealot proves to be among the most delightful relationships of the new season. They help each other accept their past mistakes, learn from them and grow. They’ve each toned down their respective idiosyncrasies and welcome each other as friends and equals. Boo’s intellectualism and Pennsatucky’s emotional side complement each other well and they somehow find within the other a support system.
One of the more heartbreaking character explorations focuses on Marisol “Flaca” Gonzalez (Jackie Cruz). We learn the reason for her teardrop tattoo and the guilt she carries. In one episode, her story comes full circle. The promise of a new job assignment quickly changes from a symbol of hope to one of futility, as she ends up right back where she started before being sent to prison. While others thrive under the new administration, she’s lost her light. It’s a powerful moment for Cruz, who has shown she can dominate a scene just as well as Laverne Cox, who is tragically underused this season.
With each season, “Orange” explores themes surrounding motherhood, and season three is no exception. Can bad actions define a good mother? Can a mother’s best intentions still fail to help her daughter? How does motherhood transcend blood bonds? What happens when we have no parental figures to turn to and we’re left on our own? While conflicts in season three are much more internalized than in previous seasons, they are no less thrilling.
Some of the best bits are tips of icebergs that suggest a much more complex story waiting to be unraveled in a future episode. When the enigmatic Blanca Flores attends the “book funeral” (a necessary book burning following the bed bug infestation), she explains sadly that she prefers reading over living her own life. But as always, when things seem darkest in Litchfield, there’s always hope tomorrow will be taco night.
Out & About
Plan your wedding the LGBTQ way
Washington D.C. LGBTQ+ Wedding Expo scheduled for Sunday
Rainbow Wedding Network will host “Washington D.C. LGBTQ+ Wedding Expo” on Sunday, March 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Guests can meet and mingle with a curated selection of LGBTQ-welcoming wedding professionals from across the region, each ready to help bring your vision to life, and spend a beautiful afternoon exploring everything they need to create a celebration that reflects them.
There will be a relaxed, self-guided look at the Watergate’s spaces and amenities, savor signature cocktails and delicious tasting samples, and connect with other couples who are on the same journey.
Visit Eventbrite to reserve a spot.
Friday, February 27
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga and Drag Bingo will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour Meetup” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, February 28
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community 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.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black lesbian. You do not need to be a member of the Beta Kappa Chapter or the Beta Phi Omega Sorority in order to join, but they do ask that you either identify as a lesbian or are questioning that aspect of your identity.Send an email to [email protected] to receive the zoom link.
Sunday, March 1
LGBTQ+ Community Coffee and Conversation will be at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is for people looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ community. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, March 2
“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 information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Tuesday, March 3
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, March 4
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. 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 www.thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more information, email [email protected].
Thursday, March 5
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
a&e features
Transmission DC breathes new life into a storied sound space
A fresh home for boundary-pushing culture on H Street
Late last year, phoenix-style, a fresh home for boundary-pushing culture arose on the H Street corridor. Transmission DC – a queer, trans, and POC-owned, operated, and centered community-focused venue – powered on in the former home to the Rock & Roll Hotel (famously, not a hotel, but very much rock & roll). Transmission (1353 H St., N.E.) arrives secure in its mandate – or even birthright – to provide a place to celebrate creativity and music through a lens of inclusivity and respect.
Transmission’s team brings experience, but also representation. Owners/partners Kabir Khanna (who is also programming director), Katii B, Ellie McDyre, and Kelli Kerrigan together previously managed 618 productions, a venue in Chinatown, crafting “some of D.C.’s freakiest parties, raves, and mosh pits” they note.
They packed up operations last fall to a space curated specifically for D.C.’s underground music and culture scene, building their efforts in Chinatown to bring in more fans in queer and POC circles.
Transmission, Khanna points out, is built on DIY values. In the music scene, DIY means that promoters and organizers – often disconnected from the mainstream and part of marginalized communities – build shows and programs collaboratively, but independently from institutions, supporting each other as smaller, independent venues close. Here, Transmission aims to ensure that those putting together these underground inclusive shows have a more permanent and stable home, can have access to resources, and can provide more sustainable income to artists. “We’re trying to get more people to support and enjoy the music, and also give artists and organizers within the DIY community more structure and a larger cut,” says Khanna.
Khanna also notes that Transmission operates “under the principles of safety, inclusivity, and respect.” McDyre added that even at venues that claim inclusivity, that statement might not take place in practice. We’re “not just pitting up a rainbow flag,” says McDyre, but as some of the owners are trans and POC, audiences can see themselves reflected at the top.
Much like the DIY nature of the music community, the Transmission owners brought a DIY ethos to turning around their space.
In March 2020 – the height of COVID lockdowns – Rock & Roll Hotel suddenly shuttered, though not due to the pandemic; instead, the venue claimed that decreasing sales and increasing competition led to the closure. For 14 years, it was the central spot for cheap beer and lesser-known and celebrated acts. The space stood vacant for more than five years, until Transmission turned the power back on.
“When we got into the space, it was effectively abandoned for years,” says Khanna. “There was a ton of mold, and paint primer covering all surfaces. It was nearly falling apart.” Khanna noted that many music venues like this one, regardless of how well it was maintained, “get the shit kicked out of it,” given the nature of shows. The team called in mold removal contractors, ripped up most of the floorboards, and started fresh.
Transmission’s first floor is styled as a stripped-down black box: the better to take in the music. “It’s minimal on purpose to act as a canvas for set design and music,” without a specific aesthetic, says Khanna. Moving upstairs, the second floor has been opened up, removing some walls, and now has a larger dance area than the first floor. Beyond the first two performance levels, and a holdover from Rock & Roll Hotel, is the rooftop. Though without a stage, the rooftop space is filled with murals splashed across the walls, with a full bar. Transmission’s current capacity is 496, but the team is looking to grow that number. Transmission will also leverage the full kitchen that Rock & Roll Hotel operated, bringing in Third Hand Kitchen to offer a variety of food, including vegan and vegetarian options.
Khanna pointed out an upcoming show reflective of Transmission’s inclusive ethos: Black Techo Matters on Feb. 27. The event is set to be “a dynamic, collaborative night of underground electronic music celebrating Black History Month.” Khanna says that techno came from Black music origins, and this event will celebrate this genesis with a host of artists, including DJ Stingray 313, Carlos Souffront, and Femanyst.
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