Arts & Entertainment

Deck the halls

Stuck on gift ideas? You can’t go wrong helping somebody give the home a festive flair

Published

13 years ago

November 29, 2012

Erin Durkin

(photo courtesy of American Plant)

Not only can holiday-themed plants bring a room together, plants in the shape of a reindeer cannot go wrong. Like the mossed ivy reindeer from American Plant (5258 and 7405 River Road., Bethesda). They also offer custom holiday arrangements as well as recycled tin ornaments and tabletop pieces (americanplant.net).

Clever items from Home Rule. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

For several different gift ideas or must haves at any party, visit Home Rule (1807 14^th St., NW). From ice trays shaped like the Titanic labeled “Gin & Titonic,” to an owl-themed cheese grater, both priced at $15, these small appliances can become the cutest things in your kitchen. And don’t forget creative Christmas ornaments for $5-$13 (homerule.com).

Home Morter and Pestle set from Good Wood (Blade photo by Michael Key)

No kitchen is complete without beautiful kitchen appliances, like ones found at Good Wood (1428 U St., NW). They sell be Home Kitchen appliances, which include wooden teak mortar and pestle for $37.50, measuring spoons for $25 and olivewood juice press for $24 (goodwooddc.com).

Vintage bar caddy

To take your party to days gone by, you can’t do it without a vintage bar caddy from Foundry (1522 U St., NW) for $209 (foundrybyfreeman.com).

Espresso cups from Millennium Decorative Arts. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Or for colorful pieces such as multicolored espresso cups and a variety of mirrors, visit Millennium Decorative Arts (1528 U St., NW). The espresso cups come in several colors and patterns, for $35 for each cup and saucer. The mirrors come in different styles, colors and sizes for $75 to $125 (millenniumdecorativearts.com).

Vintage and new ornaments at Miss Pixie’s, a winner in this year’s Best of Gay D.C. readers’ poll. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

If you are as excited for Christmas as Miss Pixie’s (1626 14^th St., NW), step in to check out their small vintage ornaments that run from 25 cents up to $5, ceiling ornaments for $30, and even holiday molds for $12-$30 (misspixies.com).

Decorative bowls from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

For classy home décor for any time of the year, go to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (1526 14^th St., NW). Their inventory includes blue tinted glass blows for $50 to $130, decorative table centerpieces for $135 to $175 and ornamental boxes for $85 to $190 (mgbwhome.com).

To get traditional holiday plants or landscapes, go to Merrifield Garden Center (8132 Lee Hwy, Merrifield). Customers can also attend their holiday decorating classes, Santa hours and a Steinbach Nutcracker event (merrifieldgardencenter.com).

Salt-and-pepper shakers from Target. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

If you don’t want to break the bank giving your home a festive flair, Target has plenty of exclusive items that are colorful and inexpensive. Like Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers ($6.99), Christmas tree and Santa candles (various sizes and prices, all under $10), red or green cocktail shakers ($14.99), snow globes ($12.99) or nutcrackers ($12.99) in dozens of styles and more.

Even if you’re not crafty, Micheals (with several locations in the D.C. area) can give your home a ready-made holiday flair with tons of options.

Lemax pieces for village. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Start your own holiday village or give that certain someone who likes retro flair a perpetual gift idea with village scenes and buildings from Lemax. Prices vary, but they almost all light up and will remind you of the train set you spent hours working on as a kid.

Snow angels from Michaels. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Or give a whole room a silvery, wintry Michaels flair with color-themed pieces — there’s everything from Santas, silvery reindeer, sparkly candles, rhinestone-studded mirrors and more. Prices vary. These angels ($34.99) works as table centerpieces, tree toppers or decorative accents anywhere in your winter wonderland.

Mirrors from Christmas Tree Shops. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Want to give something beautiful that’ll actually get used? These body-length wardrobe mirrors from Christmas Tree Shops ($39.99, various locations) come in several finishes and have a lovely Victorian flair.

And speaking of the home, if you and your partner have decided to use your gift money this year into the house, consider new window treatments. Window Wears has Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades and Pirouette Window Shadings on sale through Dec. 15. They’re online at windowwears.net.

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Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

8 hours 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

14 hours 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

Theater

National tour of ‘Gatsby’ comes to National Theatre

Out actor Edward Staudenmayer talks playing the show’s gangster

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Patrick Folliard

Edward Staudenmayer plays Meyer Wolfsheim in ‘The Great Gatsby.’ (Photo courtesy National Theatre)

‘The Great Gatsby’
May 12-24
The National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
$59-$196
Thenationaldc.com

Often dubbed “The Great American Novel” for its depiction of ambition and self-invention alongside the reversals of success, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” says it all in a fast read.

Set against the excesses and energy of the Roaring Twenties, “The Great Gatsby,” novel and now the same-titled hit Broadway musical with a jazz/pop original score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, tells the story of Nick Carraway and his friendship with Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic millionaire intent on reuniting with ex-lover, Daisy Buchanan.

It was during a four-month 2025 run in Seoul, South Korea, that out actor Edward Staudenmayer first played the show’s heavy, Meyer Wolfsheim, a gangster who helped Gatsby make his murkily acquired fortune. As Meyer, Staudenmayer opens the second act with, appropriately enough, “Shady.”

Now three months into a year-long North American tour, the show is poised to enjoy a brief run at Washington’s National Theatre (5/12-5/24).

While putting on his eyeliner prior to a recent Wednesday matinee at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre, the upstate New York-based actor shared about Gatsby and a life in theater.

WASHINGTON BLADE: Despite your good looks and terrific voice, you’re rarely the leading the man. How is that?

EDWARD STAUDENMAYER: I’m definitely a character man. I’ve been painting lines on my face to play old men since I was in high school. I was the youngest freshman in college playing old Uncle Sorin [in Chekhov’s “The Seagull”].

There have been many villains. Some darker than others. Meyer Wolfsheim is a very bad guy, but he doesn’t haunt me once I’m offstage. I play a lot of pickleball.

BLADE: Is it true that like so many of Fitzgerald’s characters, Wolfsheim is famously based on someone the writer encountered in life.

STAUDENMEYER: That’s true, Wolfsheim is pretty much a direct portrayal of real-life mobster and 1919 World Series fixer [Arnold Rothstein].

BLADE: When did the 1925 novel first surface on your radar?

STAUDENMAYER: Like many of us, I was assigned “The Great Gatsby” in high school. It was short, and filled with sex and illicit activities. I thought it was great. Definitely wasn’t a Judy Blume novel.

Interestingly, the book wasn’t originally a huge a success for Fitzgerald, but because it was about war and having the girl at home, they gave it to GIs leaving for WWII. After returning, a lot of those guys went on the GI Bill and became English teachers. They assigned the book to their students.

BLADE The idea that the book’s first-person narrator, Nick Carraway, is gay and enamored with Jay Gatsby is long discussed among readers and scholars. Does the musical touch on that?

STAUDENMAYER: Yes, there’s conjecture about Jay and Nick, and it’s implied in our show. It’s also implied about Jordan Baker, Jay’s fleeting romantic interest. Ultimately, she’s a confirmed bachelor, and a professional golfer who only wears pants.

Our performers are really good. Josh Grasso who plays Nick is fantastic. I’ve had to stop watching him in his last scene; it’s not good for Meyer Wolfsheim to take his curtain call crying. Our Gatsby, Jake David Smith, is good too. He’s gorgeous like Superman and sings like an angel.

BLADE: Do you ever imagine backstory for your characters whose sexuality is undefined?

STAUDENMAYER: I do, but not with Wolfsheim. I don’t see it. I’m trying to be as butch as possible with this ruthless killer.

BLADE: Have you had to do that in your career?

STAUDENMAYER: For a long time, I wore a mask to hide my gayness. I worked hard on being believable, that I was into the girl or that I was a tough guy.

It’s a different world now, and it’s so refreshing to be around the younger actors today; they’re remarkably open and comfortable.

BLADE: What was your coming of age like?

STAUDENMAYER: I played high school football in Palm Springs [he chuckles, alluding to the arid gay mecca], and I was pretty good too. But much to the chagrin of my parents and coaches, I quit the team to act in our senior year play. My super butch dad played semi-pro football and he was an ex-cop. I’m named after him. While I didn’t become my dad, I’ve played him often on stage. He was a true Gaston [the bumptious rival in “Beauty and the Beast”]. And like Gaston, he used antlers in all his interior decorating.

BLADE: Did he live to see your success in theater?

STAUDENMAYER: He did. Life was challenging growing up but the last 10 years of his life we couldn’t get off the phone with each other [his voice catches with emotion]. He accepted me entirely, and we became very close.

BLADE: Looking ahead, is there a part you’d especially like to play?

STAUDENMAYER: Like all baritones I’d love to play Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” I’ve come close but it hasn’t happened yet. There’s still time.