Arts & Entertainment

Calendar: Sept. 7

Parties, exhibits, concerts and more through Sept. 13

Published

13 years ago

September 6, 2012

The piece ‘Light on Tree Cluster’ is one of many pieces by Rosemary Luckett being exhibited at Touchstone Gallery. (Courtesy of Touchstone Gallery)

TODAY (Friday)

The opening reception for exhibitions “Color Grids” by Charlie Dale and “Seen/Unseen” by Rosemary Luckett at Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW) is tonight at 6. Dale’s pieces include a series of geometric abstract paintings. Luckett’s exhibition includes monotypes and sculptural works. For more information, visit touchstonegallery.com.

Town (2009 8^th St., N.W.) hosts Bear Happy Hour tonight from 6-11 p.m. This event is for people 21 and older. No cover. For details, visit towndc.com.

Phase 1 has its weekly dance party with DJ Jay Von Teese tonight starting at 7:30. Cover is $10. For more information, visit phase1dc.com.

The Bachelor’s Mill (1104 8^th St., S.E.) is having its happy hour tonight starting at 5 p.m. All drinks are half off until 7:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., admission is $10. The dance floor opens at 11 pm with DJ Tim-Nice and DJ Cameron. For details, visit thebachelorsmill.com.

Saturday, Sept. 8

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) offers free HIV testing today from 4-7 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

The D.C. Center Women hosts Brush N Blush tonight at 7 p.m. at the Center. The night include drinking wine, eating a choice of food and have local artists lead attendees through the steps of creating a featured painting. The cost is $64 per person and includes art instruction, supplies and a $10 donation to the Center. The event is located at 3210 Grace St. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Gay and Lesbian Night at Kings Dominion, in benefit of Brother Help Thyself, happens tonight at 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The night will begin as other guests are leaving the park. Ticket costs $34 in advance and $36 at the gate. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Sunday, Sept. 9

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) holds its weekly Martini Sundays and Homowood Karaoke tonight at 10 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Monday, Sept. 10

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) hosts its Martini Monday tonight at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge and martinis are $5. For more information, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its HIV+ Newly Diagnosed Support Group tonight at 7. It is a confidential support group for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV and the group welcomes all genders and sexual orientations. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Tuesday, Sept. 11

D.C. Bi Women meets tonight at Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17^th St., NW) in the upstairs room at 7. This group is free. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Green Lantern (1335 Green Court, N.W.) hosts its Safer Sex Kit-packing program tonight from 7-10:30. The packing program is looking for more volunteers to help produce the kits because they say they are barely keeping up with demand. Admission is free and volunteers can just show up. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) hosts its Flashback dance night with DJ Jason Royce starting at 10 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) holds its Coming Out-Women support group tonight at 7 p.m. This is a 10-week confidential discussion group for women who are exploring their interest in other women. It’s open to all women regardless of age or experience in the coming out process. Registration is required to attend. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 12

Whitman Walker Health (1701 14^th St., NW) hosts its Gay Men Over 50 group tonight at 6:30. It is a confidential support group for men who are entering a new phase in their lives. Registration is required. For details, visit whitman-walker.org.

The Big Gay Book Group meets tonight to discuss “Wll Grayson, Will Grays” by John Green and David Levithan tonight at 7. They meet at 1155 F St., NW Suite 200. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit biggaybookgroup.com.

Janet Al-Hussaini, Master Food volunteer, shares creative ways to prepare dishes for varied diets from the Middle East tonight at Fairlington Community Center Kichen (3308 S. Stafford St.) at 6:30. Attendees will learn to make stuffed grape leaves, shape kibbeh and varied forms of phyllo. Cost is $30. To register, email [email protected] or call 703-228-6417.

Fairlington Community Center Kitchen (3308 S. Stafford St.) offers classes about food preservation for summer and fall produce this afternoon starting at noon. Cost is $20 and they ask attendees to come with cash or check made out to “Arlington Extension Fund.” They also ask for attendees to bring aprons, dish towels and cloth bags. To register email [email protected] or call 703-228-6417.

Lamda Bridge Club meets for duplicate bridge tonight at 7:30 at the Dignity Center (721 8^th St., SE). No reservations needed and newcomers are welcome. For more information, visit lambdabridge.com.

The D.C. Center (1318 U St., NW) hosts lesbian author Margaret Mann, a former D.C. resident, as she reads and signs her recent book “A Dramatically Different Direction” tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In a wheelchair since a 1997 health scare with a broken blood vessel on her spinal column, Mann writes of how she went on with her life despite the obstacles.

Thursday, Sept. 13

Burgundy Crescent, a gay volunteer organization, volunteers tonight for Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE) at 6 p.m. Volunteers will help in food preparation and package groceries. Group size is limited to 10 per shift and the positions fill quickly. For more information, visit burgundycrescent.org.

Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W) is hosting its weekly Best Package Contest tonight at 9 p.m. There is a $3 cover and there are $2 vodka drinks. Participants in the contest can win $200 in cash prizes. The event is hosted by Lena Lett and music by DJ Chord, DJ Madscience and DJ Sean Morris. For details, visit cobaltdc.com.

Whitman-Walker Health holds HIV testing at Glorious Health Club (2120 West Virginia Ave., NE) tonight at 10. For more information, visit whitman-walker.org.

Celebrity News

Brazilian police arrest two men who allegedly targeted Lady Gaga concert

Authorities say suspects wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians

Published

2 days ago

May 5, 2025

Michael K. Lavers

(Screen capture via AP YouTube)

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

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2025

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Random House)

‘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.

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

5 days ago

May 2, 2025

Michael Key

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)