Arts & Entertainment
Best of Gay D.C. XIII: Community
Winners from the Blade’s readers poll
To see the winners of the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. readers poll in other categories, click here.
Best House of Worship
Foundry United Methodist Church
Lou Ann Sandstrom, left, and Kathleen Kutschenreuter at their wedding recessional at Foundry United Methodist Church on Sept. 28, 2013. (Photo by Paul Morse Photography; courtesy the couple)
1500 16th St., N.W.
202-332-4010
Runner-up: Metropolitan Community Church of Washington
Best Home Furnishings
Miss Pixies Furnishings & Whatnot
Miss Pixie’s (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1626 14th St., N.W.
202-232-8171
Runner-up: Room & Board
Best Hotel
W Hotel
W Hotel (Photo courtesy of the W Hotel Washington, D.C.)
515 15th St., N.W.
202-661-2400
Runner-up: Hotel Palomar
Best Art Gallery
Winner: Phillips Collection
The Phillips Collection (Photo by Max Hirshfeld; courtesy Phillips Collection)
1600 21st St., N.W.
202-387-2151
Runner-up: Corcoran
Best Non-Profit
Whitman-Walker Health
Whitman-Walker Health CEO Don Blanchon (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
1701 14th St. N.W.
2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. S.E.
202-745-7000
Runner-up: SMYAL
Best Salon/Spa
Bang Salon
Bang Salon (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
1612 U St., N.W.
202-299-0925
Runner-up: Logan 14 Aveda
Best Fitness or Workout Spot
Vida Fitness
Vida Fitness (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Locations vary
Runner-up: CrossFit DC
Best Theater
Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center (Photo by Steve via Wikimedia Commons)
2700 F St. N.W.
800-444-1324
Runner-up: Studio Theatre
Best Theater Production
“Avenue Q” (Olney Theatre )
Runner-up: “The Lion King” – Kennedy Center
Jason Loewith, right, with Bobby Smith in rehearsal for ‘Avenue Q.’ (Photo by Sonie Mathew; courtesy Olney Theatre Center)
Often described as Sesame Street meets “Rent,” “Avenue Q” is an angsty, coming-of-age comedy set on a city block inhabited by slutty, shy, straight, gay, and monstrous Muppet-like puppets, and the grown up child actor Gary Coleman imagined as building super. Olney’s terrific take on the delightfully raunchy Tony Award-winning musical was helmed by out artistic director Jason Loewith and featured a top notch cast including Sam Ludwig, Rachel Zampelli, and Stephen Gregory Smith. (PF)
Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd.
Olney, Md. 20832
Best LGBT Sports Team
Washington Generals D.C. Gay Flag Football League
Runner-up: D.C. Front Runners
Washington Generals (Photo courtesy Washington Generals)
Washington Generals, part of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League, made it to the Gay Bowl last year. They lost the championship but the team was welcomed back to this year’s Gay Bowl. The team includes both straight and gay members. (MC)
Best LGBT-owned Business
EatWell Restaurants
Runner-up: City Dogs Daycare
Josh Hahn and David Winer of EatWell (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
EatWell is a restaurant management company committed to providing quality food and exciting environments. The company owns and operates a private farm in La Plata, Md., that provides produce for the company’s five restaurants: Commissary, Grillfish, The Heights, Logan Tavern and The Pig. (SMH)
Eat Well Restaurants
202-332-3710
Best Comedy Club
D.C. Improv
1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
202-296-7008
Runner-up: Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
Best Rehoboth Business
Purple Parrot
Runner-up: Blue Moon
Purple Parrot (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
It’s not easy to sustain bar and restaurant success over more than 15 years, but Purple Parrot owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts have managed to do just that by continually reinventing the space and improving on an already good thing. Last year brought a smart renovation of the front bar. The newer Biergarten in back has grown more popular over the past couple years, with standing-room-only crowds in summer. In addition to the food and drinks, there’s entertainment, including drag shows, karaoke and performances during Jazz Fest Weekend and other special events. Jamie Romano and the rest of the staff work hard to keep customers happy and coming back year-round. (KN)
Purple Parrot
134 Rehoboth Ave.
302-226-1139
Best LGBT Social Group
Stonewall Sports
Runner-up: NOVA Pride
Stonewall Kickball All-Stars Game (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Stonewall Sports, an LGBT and ally sports organization, does more than just play. In addition to its leagues, which include bocce and kickball, Stonewall Sports also gives to charities like the DC Center and SMYAL. (MC)
Stonewallsports.leagueapps.com
Best Pet Business
City Dogs Daycare
Runner-up: City Paws Animal Hospital
City Dogs Daycare (Photo courtesy of City Dogs Daycare)
Located between Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan, City Dogs Daycare provides daycare, boarding, training, and grooming for all dogs over 10 lbs. Staff keep the dogs in their care constantly engaged. Grooming services are new for City Dogs and began earlier this month. (SMH)
City Dogs Daycare
1832 18th Street, N.W.
202-234-WAGS
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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