Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: March 25
Parties, exhibits, events and more through March 31
'Blue, Yellow and Green Grasses' is part of an exhibit called 'Grasses' by artist Mary Ott that will be on display starting Wednesday and throughout April at Touchstone Gallery in Washington. Receptions with the artist are planned for April 1 and 10. (Image courtesy of Touchstone Gallery)
TODAY
Caliente Grande is tonight at Apex (1415 22nd St., N.W.) starting at 9 p.m. DJ Michael Brandon will be spinning the Latin dance party in the main hall. There is a $10 cover charge. Attendees must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Brightest Young Things presents “A Night at the Newseum II: Way Out of Line” at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m. with DJs Nickodemus and Ancient Astronauts. Tickets are $15 in advanced and drink tickets are $4. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brightestyoungthings.com.
The New Gay hosts Beat City at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. featuring music from artists such as Joan Jett, Le Tigre, Bloc Party and more. There will also be a giveaway and the winner will get a pair of tickets to see The Raveonettes at Black Cat and a copy of their new record, “Raven in the Grave.” For more information, visit, thenewgay.net.
Women in Their Twenties, a social discussion and dinner group, will be meeting tonight from 8 to 9 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave.) in Arlington presents “Pride Night” with a performance of “And the Curtain Rises” at 8 p.m. followed by a post-show cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception.
The Lodge (21614 National Pike) in Boonsoro presents “So You Think You Can Sing!,” a karaoke and dance party, tonight from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with DJ Christy. All participants get a free rail or domestic beer with their first performance. There is a $5 cover.
The “1st Friday of the Month,” a professional women for women social group, is meeting tonight at Beacon Bar & Grill (1615 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) is hosting Jocks vs. Jocks from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover is $5 if wearing sports attire, $7 if not. There’s a trophy and cash prizes for the winning team.
Busboys & Poets (1025 5th St., N.W.) presents “Wake up and Smell the Coffee!: A Community Gathering on D.C. Voting Rights and Statehood” today at 9 a.m. in the Cullen Room. This is a free event.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F. St., N.W.) presents Bowen McCauley Dance’s 15th anniversary season “Red. Hot. Fabulous.” tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Theater. The show is made up of five different pieces, “Haiku Suite,” “World Premiere,” “Time and Clouds,” “Ozone” and “Telemetry.” Tickets are $36 and can be purchased online at kennedy-center.org.
Ultrabar (911 F St., N.W.) hosts Ladies Night: Coyote Ugly Edition tonight from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring The House Tribe and DJs Tektronics, Mario and Saam and an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m. on the main floor. Get free and reduced admission passes at dcclubbing.com.
“Shear Madness,” a comedy whodunit, will be performed twice tonight at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab (2700 F St., N.W.) at 6 and 9 p.m. “Madness” takes place in present-day Georgetown, in the Shear Madness Hair Styling Salon. Tickets are $42. Visit kennedy-center.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Congressional Chorus presents “Stompin’ at the Savoy: A 1930s Cabaret Ballroom” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission. Contact Debby McConnell at 202-399-7993, ext. 182 or [email protected] for information.
Sunday, March 27
The D.C. Jazz Jam, a weekly jam free for both musicians and jazz lovers, is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dahlak (1771 U St., N.W.).
Busboys & Poets will be showing the film “The Nine Lives of Marion Barry” tonight at 8 p.m. as part of its “Focus-In! Cinema for a Conscious Community,” at the 5th and K location (1025 5th St., N.W.) and the film “Pushing the Elephant” in the Langston Room at 14th and V location (2021 14th St., N.W.).
Monday, March 28
The GLBTA Resource Center at American University is hosting a workshop entitled “Bisexual 101” today from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mary Graydon Center, Room 247. The workshop will look at issues related to bisexuality as well as bisexuality across cultures and historical epochs and look at some prominent bisexuals. To RSVP, e-mail [email protected] with your name.
SAGE Metro D.C. is holding its monthly meeting tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the D.C. Center (1318 U St., N.W.).
Professionals in the City and the D.C. Center are hosting a speed dating event for lesbian and bisexual women at Chi-Cha Lounge (1624 U St., N.W.) from 7 to 11 p.m. Attendees will date for about an hour and then be able to mingle with everyone. After the event, matches can be made online. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit prosinthecity.com.
Bears do Yoga at Green Lantern (1335 Green Court N.W.) tonight at 6:30 p.m. Class lasts for an hour and serves as an introduction to yoga for people of all different body types and physical abilities. It’s taught by Michael Brazell. For more information, visit dccenter.org.
Tuesday, March 29
Out musician Kaki King will be performing at the Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Ave.) in Alexandria tonight with Joe Robinson. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
Busboys & Poets (2021 14th St., N.W.) is hosting an open mic poetry night tonight at 9 p.m. in the Langston Room. Wristbands will be on sale in the bookstore for $4 starting at 10 a.m. until they are sold out.
Wednesday, March 30
The reality show “Drag City: D.C.” will be taping a drag show on roller skates tonight from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Temple Hills Skating Center (3132 Branch Ave.) in Temple Hills. The show starts at 8. Admission is $15 with a buffet for an additional $5.
Busboys & Poets (4251 South Campbell Ave.) in Arlington is hosting an organic happy hour today at 4 p.m. featuring Butte Creek IPA Sam Smith Ale cocktails, Eco Mojito Tree-Tini and more.
Thursday, March 31
Adventuring, a D.C. gay and lesbian outdoor group, will be hosting a cherry blossom evening hike. The group will meet at the top of the escalators at Waterfront Metro and leave at 6 p.m. The only required cost if the $2 trip fee. For more information, visit adventuring.org.
Cherry 2011 kicks off tonight at Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) with a pre-game and pass pick-up with DJ Nick Centrik Purcell from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by Ignition with DJs Randy Bettis and Jason Horswill at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Celebrity News
Brazilian police arrest two men who allegedly targeted Lady Gaga concert
Authorities say suspects wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians
Brazilian police have arrested two people who allegedly sought to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert that took place on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday.
The Associated Press reported Felipe Curi, a spokesperson for the city’s Civil Police, told reporters the men who authorities arrested hours before the concert took place wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians. Civil Police Chief Luiz Lima said the men posted hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants — most of them teenagers, many of them children.”
“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” said Cury, according to the AP.
An estimated 2.5 million people attended the concert.
A Lady Gaga spokesperson told the AP the singer learned about the threats on Sunday from media reports.
“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks,” said the spokesperson. “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Lady Gaga in an Instagram post thanked her Brazilian fans.
“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
“An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world — I know I can’t, but I can say this — if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard,” added Lady Gaga. “You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights — you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”
An estimated 1.6 million people attended Madonna’s free concert on Copacabana Beach last May.
Books
A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat
New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story
‘When the Harvest Comes’
By Denne Michele Norris
c.2025, Random House
$28/304 pages
Happy is the bride the sun shines on.
Of all the clichés that exist about weddings, that’s the one that seems to make you smile the most. Just invoking good weather and bright sunshine feels like a cosmic blessing on the newlyweds and their future. It’s a happy omen for bride and groom or, as in the new book “When the Harvest Comes” by Denne Michele Norris, for groom and groom.
Davis Freeman never thought he could love or be loved like this.
He was wildly, wholeheartedly, mind-and-soul smitten with Everett Caldwell, and life was everything that Davis ever wanted. He was a successful symphony musician in New York. They had an apartment they enjoyed and friends they cherished. Now it was their wedding day, a day Davis had planned with the man he adored, the details almost down to the stitches in their attire. He’d even purchased a gorgeous wedding gown that he’d never risk wearing.
He knew that Everett’s family loved him a lot, but Davis didn’t dare tickle the fates with a white dress on their big day. Everett’s dad, just like Davis’s own father, had considerable reservations about his son marrying another man – although Everett’s father seemed to have come to terms with his son’s bisexuality. Davis’s father, whom Davis called the Reverend, never would. Years ago, father and son had a falling-out that destroyed any chance of peace between Davis and his dad; in fact, the door slammed shut to any reconciliation.
But Davis tried not to think about that. Not on his wedding day. Not, unbeknownst to him, as the Reverend was rushing toward the wedding venue, uninvited but not unrepentant. Not when there was an accident and the Reverend was killed, miles away and during the nuptials.
Davis didn’t know that, of course, as he was marrying the love of his life. Neither did Everett, who had familial problems of his own, including homophobic family members who tried (but failed) to pretend otherwise.
Happy is the groom the sun shines on. But when the storm comes, it can be impossible to remain sunny.
What can be said about “When the Harvest Comes?” It’s a romance with a bit of ghost-pepper-like heat that’s not there for the mere sake of titillation. It’s filled with drama, intrigue, hate, characters you want to just slap, and some in bad need of a hug.
In short, this book is quite stunning.
Author Denne Michele Norris offers a love story that’s everything you want in this genre, including partners you genuinely want to get to know, in situations that are real. This is done by putting readers inside the characters’ minds, letting Davis and Everett themselves explain why they acted as they did, mistakes and all. Don’t be surprised if you have to read the last few pages twice to best enjoy how things end. You won’t be sorry.
If you want a complicated, boy-meets-boy, family-mess kind of book with occasional heat, “When the Harvest Comes” is your book. Truly, this novel shines.
The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat
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Jacob Elordi rides high in ‘On Swift Horses’
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