Local
New Rehoboth restaurant launches ‘Let’s Make History’ campaign
Pines owners seek old photos of beach town for display
‘We have a very thoughtful and unique vision for The Pines’ said Dane Wilfong, its executive chef. (Photo courtesy The Pines)
The Pines, a soon-to-open new restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, has launched its “Let’s Make History” campaign, which calls on the community to submit photos of their favorite memories of Rehoboth.
These photos can range from landscapes, old family beach houses, images of downtown, family photos or anything historic. The Pines is looking for 200+ photos for the campaign.
The Pines is slated to open in the fall in about six to eight weeks. Taking over the space that used to be home to Hobos on Baltimore Avenue, the renovation of the restaurant has been a big undertaking but is moving along quickly now. With the renovation moving into the interior, The Pines decided to launch the “Let’s Make History” campaign and plans to use the photos submitted by the community to display in the restaurant. The name of the restaurant as well as the concept for it were inspired by the history and hospitality of old Rehoboth. With this campaign, The Pines is looking to remind visitors of what Rehoboth was like.
Tyler Townsend and Bob Suppies, the owners of the restaurant, said they wanted to pay homage to Rehoboth Beach as it’s a place where so many visitors have created lasting memories.
Townsend told the Blade back in June that the biggest challenge he sees to finding success with The Pines is just carrying out his vision. Townsend is confident that the restaurant will be successful, expressing that his dream for the restaurant is to create the best place for diners to have a good time and make happy memories. For its cuisine, The Pines is looking to create a modern style by mixing classic Rehoboth dishes with a twist from executive chef Dane Wilfong.
“We have a very thoughtful and unique vision for The Pines. The town of Rehoboth is currently filled with great food and lots of love, but I feel we can set ourselves apart with an upscale city approach to our tavern concept, while still being able to realize what makes Rehoboth so great to so many,” Wilfong told the Blade in June. “We hope to utilize our local resources from farms, orchards, growers and captains for our entirely from scratch fresh take on tavern cuisine.”
Suppies and Townsend are planning to use some of their own personal photos but are keeping them as a surprise for their guests at the restaurant. They expressed that they are planning to be involved in the community to support Rehoboth Beach in many campaigns similar to “Let’s Make History,” however, they are keeping future announcements similar to this one under wraps.
“The response has been amazing. We have received dozens, and it has been really moving to see all the memories and to read the stories behind them,” Townsend said of the photos they have received so far. “Rehoboth Beach has created lifelong memories and still continues to do so. We are very excited about this campaign and look forward to sharing as many photos as we can get.”
Photos can be submitted by email to [email protected]. The Pines requests that submissions include name, contact info, a short description and year if possible.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
District of Columbia
Laverne Cox, Reneé Rapp, Deacon Maccubbin named WorldPride grand marshals
Three LGBTQ icons to lead parade
WorldPride organizers announced Thursday that actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, powerhouse performer Reneé Rapp, and LGBTQ trailblazer Deacon Maccubbin will serve as grand marshals for this year’s WorldPride parade.
The Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealed the honorees in a press release, noting that each has made a unique contribution to the fabric of the LGBTQ community.
Cox made history in 2014 as the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for her documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed seven young trans people as they navigated coming out.
Rapp, a singer and actress who identifies as a lesbian, rose to prominence as Regina George in the Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” She reprised the role in the 2024 film adaptation and also stars in Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” portraying a character coming to terms with her sexuality. Rapp has released an EP, “Everything to Everyone,” and an album, “Snow Angel.” She announced her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” on May 21 and is slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds.
Deacon Maccubbin, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Washington’s LGBTQ+ history, helped organize D.C.’s first Gay Pride Party in 1975. The event took place outside Lambda Rising, one of the first LGBTQ bookstores in the nation, which Maccubbin founded. For his decades of advocacy and activism, he is often referred to as “the patriarch of D.C. Pride.”
“I am so honored to serve as one of the grand marshals for WorldPride this year. This has been one of the most difficult times in recent history for queer and trans people globally,” Cox said. “But in the face of all the rhetorical, legislative and physical attacks, we continue to have the courage to embrace who we truly are, to celebrate our beauty, resilience and bravery as a community. We refuse to allow fear to keep us from ourselves and each other. We remain out loud and proud.”
“Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional. But most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest,” Rapp said.
The three will march down 14th Street for the WorldPride Parade in Washington on June 7.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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