Arts & Entertainment

Fast and fuel-friendly

Sometimes eco green is worth a little more wallet green

Published

13 years ago

March 14, 2013

Joe Phillips

Lexus ES 300h

Finally, fuel-sippers can be fun, fast and fashionable cars. For a price.

Sure, hybrids cost much less now. And diesels offer plenty of bang for the buck, saving lots of pennies at the pump.

But luxury is still luxury. And sometimes being green is worth a bit of extra green — from your wallet, that is.

Lexus ES 300h
$40,000
Mpg: 40 city/39 highway
0-to-60 mph: 8.1 seconds
Cargo space: 15.2 cubic feet

No longer a gussied-up Camry, the ES is as large as Toyota’s flagship Avalon. That’s a good thing, because cargo room here is only average (thanks to the battery pack in the trunk). Yet this hybrid is only $3,000 more than the traditional gas model, and that won’t be hard to recoup if gas prices keep inching up. A “sport” mode adds zing to the plush ride and handling, eliminating any land-yacht feel (though you definitely won’t confuse this with a taut BMW). There are plenty of spiffy high-tech features, as well: lane-departure warning system, adaptive cruise control with pre-collision alert and blind-spot warning system with rear-traffic alert. Along with the iPod/USB interface, there’s also iTunes tagging. As one of the few hybrid sport sedans on the market, the ES is a good overall package, mixing fuel economy, reliability and luxe features with a very affordable price.

VW Touareg Hybrid

VW Touareg Hybrid
$62,000
Mpg: 20 city/24 highway
0-to-60 mph: 5.8 seconds
Cargo space: 64 cubic feet

The ill-fated Phaeton was VW’s dismal attempt to out-luxe the high-end automakers. Lately, the automaker has been blasted for going too far the other way, with too little content in its base models (to make them more affordable and increase market share). Yet VW’s sweet spot has always been the ability to churn out mid-priced, full-featured vehicles. Most have been fuel-efficient, especially the TDI diesels. And now VW is offering hybrids, such as the Touareg. It’s surprisingly quick, though the diesel model has more torque, gets better mileage and costs about $16,000 less. Still, the hybrid comes fully loaded, with a heated steering wheel, power liftgate, LED taillights, rear-parking sensors/camera, premium stereo and a large, eight-inch touchscreen nav system. There’s plenty of cargo space, too. And the fit and finish inside is top-notch — another reason why VWs are considered (in a very good way) the poor-man’s Audi.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Porsche Cayenne Diesel
$56,000
Mpg: 20 city/28 highway
0-to-60 mph: 7.4 seconds
Cargo space: 62.9 cubic feet

Why do fools fall in love? Because they test-drive a Porsche without looking at the sticker price. Sure, the base Cayenne Diesel — under $60,000! — seems like a bargain. The dark metallic paint is sparkly and stunning. And the stylish and form-fitting seats are like something out of a Bauhaus catalog — with plenty of legroom and headroom, even in back. Despite all the naysayers, this crossover accelerates, corners and brakes like a true racecar. Plus, the cabin is so soundproof and the audio system so pristine, it’s easy to feel like you’re in box seats at Lincoln Center. Even the ignition switch — located to the left of the steering wheel — is quirky-chic, not quirky-weird. But then comes reality. All those options (like heated/cooled seats, the height-adjustable chassis, even a nifty compass in the center of the dash) add another, gulp, $40,000 to the price. Expensive, yes. But for eco-conscious drivers with almost $100,000 to spare, the Cayenne Diesel is a seductive and enchanting ride.

Related Topics:Cayenne Diesel ES 300h hybrids Lexus Porsche Touareg Hybrid Volkswagen

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Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

Published

21 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Michael Key

'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP