Arts & Entertainment
Art, books, bar parties, concerts and more make for busy Rehoboth summer
Voices from Stonewall, Best Shots from Africa among events planned
As D.C.’s signature sweltering summer approaches, make plans to take a mini-vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Del. From book signings and art auctions to dance parties, there’s plenty of upcoming events for your ultimate gay beach getaway.
Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) presents its Legends Show every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. The cast will portray legendary singer such as Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Etta James. Each week is a different show with original choreography. Admission is free. For more information, visit bluemoonrehoboth.com.
Blue Moon (35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) hosts Sunday Tea with singer Pamala Stanley every Sunday at 6 p.m. For details, visit bluemoonrehoboth.com.
The Pines (56 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) has Wine Mondays all summer long with wines by the glass half off. For details, visit thepinesrb.com.
Purple Parrot Grill (134 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) has karaoke every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday night at 9 p.m. Every Sunday at 10 p.m. there will be the “Birdcage Girls Drag Show” hosted by Julia Sugarbaker. For more information, visit ppgrill.com.
Diego’s Hideaway presents a Memorial Day weekend party. On Thursday, May 23 from 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. DJ Steve Sidewalk will play music. DJ Riddic and DJ Biff will play music on Saturday and Sunday. For more details, visit diegosbarnightclub.com.
Browseabout Books hosts an author luncheon with “Queen of the Beach Reads” author Mary Kay Andrews at the Crab House (19598 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on Saturday, May 25 from noon-3 p.m. Andrews will discuss her new book “Sunset Beach,” answer questions and take photographs with attendees.Tickets are $55 and include an autographed copy of her book “Sunset Beach,” lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage and a Browseabout canvas tote bag. For more information, visit browseaboutbooks.com.
Browseabout Books (133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) hosts an author signing with Jackson Coppley for “The Code Hunters” on Saturday, May 25 from 2-5 p.m. “The Code Hunters” tells the story of a group of scientists who discover a 10,000-year-old tablet with mysterious codes from the future. They must race from the western U.S. to the Mediterranean to search for missing pieces while being tracked by men who want the codes. Visit browseaboutbooks.com for more details.
CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) presents “Best Shot from Africa,” a photography exhibit, on display from June 8-30. Forty people joined Murray Archibald for safaris in South Africa and Botswana. Every traveler selected their best “shot from Africa” which will be displayed. There will also be a reception with the photographers on June 22 from 1-3 p.m. Proceeds from photo sales will benefit Camp Rehoboth’s arts programming with a portion of proceeds being donated to converge indigenous wildlife that was observed on the safaris. For more information, visit camprehoboth.com.
“Voices from Stonewall,” a theatrical tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, will have performances at CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on Saturday, June 22 at 4 and 7 p.m. The show, written by Michael Gilles and Fay Jacobs, will star Michael and Sally Giles, Eloise Ullman and more as they bring the words of the bar patrons, protestors and the stories of reporters who witnessed the uprising to life. Tickets are $20 and benefit Camp Rehoboth. Visit camprehboth.com for details.
CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) hosts Families Pride Weekend on June 28-30. The weekend begins with Parents Night Out on Friday with babysitting offered by the YMCA. On Saturday, families can enjoy a boat ride, story time from Rehoboth Public Library, beach bonfire and dinner and a group trip to Funland on the boardwalk. Sunday kicks off with brunch, free time to explore Rehoboth, dinner and drag bingo at Camp Rehoboth Community Center followed by an evening trip to Funland. Adult tickets are $50 and include one Camp Families Pride Weekend T-shirt and admission to the family welcome party at Camp Rehoboth, beach bonfire and dinner, brunch at Camp Rehoboth and dinner and bingo. Child tickets are $35 and include one T-shirt and admission to the family welcome party at Camp Rehoboth, beach bonfire and dinner, brunch at Camp Rehoboth and dinner and drag bingo. The boat ride takes place on Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m.-noon. Boat ride tickets are $20 and sold separately. Babysitting provided by YMCA is also a separate fee for Parents Night Out. For more details, visit camprehoboth.com.
The Kinsey Sicks perform at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on Saturday, July 20 at 8 p.m. The Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet’s new musical will delve into Trumpism, racism, AIDS, Bette Midler and more.Tickets range from $35-500 and proceeds benefit CAMP Rehoboth. For more information, visit camprehoboth.com.
Gay Women of Rehoboth meet for coffee and conversation at Java Jukebox (37169 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on Sunday, July 28 from 10 a.m.-noon. This is an open event for attendees to meet other Gay Women of Rehoboth members. For details, go here.
CAMP Rehoboth hosts Sundance 2019: Ultraviolet Disco Day-Glo Sunrise for a two-night event at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth, Beach, Del.) on Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1. The Sundance Auction is on Saturday from 6-9 p.m. There will be an open bar, silent and live auction with music provided by Stephen Strasser. On Sunday, the Sundance, which includes two parties, is from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Open bar runs all night. DJ Joe Gauthreaux will spin tracks for one party. Studio54 DJ Robbie Leslie will also play music for the Sundance Disco Twilight Tea which also starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $90 for both the dances and auction or $50 for one event. Proceeds will benefit Camp Rehoboth. For more details, visit camprehoboth.com.
Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend is at the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center (1 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) is Sept. 19-22. On Thursday, there will be a meet and greet cocktail reception. Tickets are $25. On Friday at 7 p.m., there will be a dance party at the Atlantic Sands Hotel and Convention Center Ballroom. Tickets are $25. Saturday, the group will jump on the bear bus to spend a day at the beach and travel to Gordon’s Pond. Tickets are $25. Saturday night there will be a comedy show ($40) at 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday closes out the weekend with a closing party ($5). A full weekend pass is $115. Details here.
Photos
Center for Black Equity honors leaders, activists at BE. Gala
Miyake-Mugler, Oakes co-host annual awards ceremony
The Center for Black Equity held its annual BE. Gala at Conrad Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Lolita Leopard Miyake-Mugler and Anthony Oakes co-hosted the awards ceremony.
Honorees included journalist and producer Justin Stewart; nonprofit leader Nikki Alexander; HIV advocate Marlene McNeese; the nonprofit organization FreeLux Project; actress Monroe Alise; public health advocate Tori Cooper; Manassas Park Vice Mayor Darryl G. Moore; Rev. Dr. Carmarion D. Anderson; Bishop Steven Sawyer; government relations professional Courtney Snowden; Senior Deputy Director of HAHSTA at D.C. Health, Clover Barnes; and Texas state Rep. Venton C. Jones.
The event was sponsored by Gilead.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Books
In ‘The Lost Brontë,’ a complicated lie can lead to danger
New book features sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist
‘The Lost Brontë’
By Catherine Friend
c.2026, Bywater Books
$22.95/335 pages
Mom always said to tell the truth.
One lie leads to another and another and you have to remember them all until pretty soon, you’re caught. Fibs are hard, mistruths are messy, even little white social lies can destroy trust. Worst of all, as in the new novel, “The Lost Brontë” by Catherine Friend, a complicated lie can lead to danger.
Though Lilianne Loxley was very young when she lost her parents, she understood that her uncle didn’t really want her. As time passed, though, Lily made herself useful to Uncle, writing and signing letters for him and she became a good companion, helping him with his collection of Brontë memorabilia. Uncle was a keen enthusiast.
She had no idea that his obsession was out of control and he was deeply in arrears. The day Lily learned of his debt was the day she learned that he’d agreed to send her to his debtor’s home to work off the money owed.
It was so sudden. One minute, Lily was at Loxley House, happy and loved by Uncle’s staff … and five hours later, she was at Crag Thorn Manor, home of Lord Bexton, who informed her that she’d be working on his ledgers – work that seemed routine, but Lily tackled it.
Uncle always did say she was headstrong.
But would headstrong be enough to survive, when she was restricted from most of the Manor, when she was forced to dine with Brexton and his slimy friend, or – the worst! – when Brexton told Lily that her next task was to forge a letter from Emily Brontë? And then an entire manuscript?
Lily struggled to do what was right. She had to get Uncle out of debt but this last order horrified her. Did she dare refuse Brexton’s orders and commit a crime? It was unthinkable!
The only brightness in the whole situation was Wren, the ladies’ maid assigned to Lily’s room. Wren was adorable with freckles and the sweetest smile. But with everything else happening at Crag Thorn Manner, could Lily act upon her feelings?
This time of year, you may come to crave dark, spooky stories, and “The Last Brontë” fits those needs perfectly with its Gothic deliciousness. Think: Daphne du Maurier-type, stormy-night squirms with a dangerously chaste, sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist for fun.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve read a Gothic novel, you’re in for a nice reminder of why you love them here. You can almost tick off the must-haves: a novel like this is nothing without a foreboding stone manor with damp walls; stone steps to a dank basement; a mysterious portrait; and a nearby bog, and author Catherine Friend gives readers every one of them. You’d be disappointed if there was no ghost, wouldn’t you? Ha. You can practically feel the cold blow through the attic, right? Yeah, it’s that kind of book.
If you’re a fan of the Brontës, you’ll like this novel. If you love Gothic mysteries or Victorian romances, ditto. “The Lost Brontë” is good, no lie.
The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.
Out & About
CAMP Rehoboth Block Party returns Oct. 18
Expect performances, vendors and more at annual celebration
CAMP Rehoboth will host its annual Block Party celebration on Sunday, Oct.18 at 11 a.m. on the second block of Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.
CAMP Rehoboth invites all community members to join in the festivities and to expect magnificent performances and dozens of vendors, including artists, craftspeople, non-profits, businesses, and more.
The event started in 2015 in celebration of CAMP Rehoboth’s 25th anniversary. This year, attendees can expect to shop sea glass art, pottery, jewelry, Pride merch, body care, clothing, and learn more about local non-profit causes and businesses.
Attendance is free. For more details, visit CAMP Rehoboth’s website.
Center for Black Equity honors leaders, activists at BE. Gala
In ‘The Lost Brontë,’ a complicated lie can lead to danger
CAMP Rehoboth Block Party returns Oct. 18
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