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Deck the halls

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

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holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade
holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

(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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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 14th 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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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 14th 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).

holiday gift guide, gay news, Washington Blade

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 14th 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: The Audacity Brunch

2026 Capital Pride Honors presented at ‘Full Fuchsia’ ceremony

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The 2026 Capital Pride Honors were presented at The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia on Sunday, June 7. (Washington Blade photo by Landon Shackelford)

The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.

(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)

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Out & About

Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves

Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community

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(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.

The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.

This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.

For more details, visit the cemetery’s website

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Out & About

Baltimore Pride is here

Parade, block party, festival planned for Maryland city

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A scene from last year’s Baltimore Pride. This year’s main events take place on Saturday and Sunday. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.

The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.

There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events. 

For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website

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