Arts & Entertainment
Luck at the last minute
If you held off on your shopping but still want to salvage the holidays, take our list with you and hit the streets of D.C.
This is it! Christmas is less than two weeks away and you’ve been procrastinating while the rest of America has been buying all the most popular gifts off the shelves. Do you feel the pressure yet? Lucky for you, we have a list of gifts and places that not only will solve your shopping problems, it will also provide you with distinctive gifts you can’t find anywhere else.
Items from Mutiny (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Let’s start with some small yet fancy stocking stuffers. Redeem (1734 14th St. NW) carries the brand Mutiny that has many such unusual gifts, including Brummell Shave Crème for $18 and D.S. & Durga Colgne for $98 (redeemus.com).
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Pulp (1803 14th St.) has several was to dress up a gift. Their cards are $2.50 to $6.50 and the have amusing cigar boxes with phrases such as “Yummy Pharmaceuticals that will Please You” for $20. As a small gift they also have liquid soaps with names like, “Maybe You Touched Your Genitals” for $12.99 (pulpdc.com). Gay-owned Pulp also has some of the best gift wrap paper you’ll find anywhere in Washington.
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Want to give a gift but also send a message in a cute and subtle way? Get your loved ones Cesare-fragrance in the shape of little men for your car and wardrobe for $10 at HomeRule (1807 14th St. NW, homerule.com).
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
If you want your loved ones to relax this year, get them Blithe and Bonny Grapefruit Bath Salts for $19, their brand of Eucalyptus Hand Cream for $21 and their Goats Milk Soap and Hand Soap for $10 and $17 respectively at GoodWood (1428 U St. NW, goodwooddc.com).
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
To decorate any home get “Marine”- or “Fresh Cut Gardenia”-scented candles for $55 at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (1526 14th St. NW, mgbwhome.com). Definitely more on the high end side of things, this classy gay-owned furniture store also has plenty of accent items that make ideal gifts.
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
For stylish and necessary gifts for her, visit Zina Boutique (1526 U St. NW) to see their scarves for $19 and purses for $60 (zinaboutique.com).
In order to ship your cookies in Christmas fashion, go to Millennium Decorative Arts (1528 U St. NW) to check out their Christmas tins for $12 (millenniumdecorativearts.com).
Flowers on Fourteenth (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
You can never go wrong with flowers, especially from Flowers on Fourteenth (1712 14th St. NW). This gay-owned business offers special holiday bouquets from $40 to $120 (flowerson14th.com).
In a town like Washington, it’s never hard to find quality gifts even at the 11th hour. Check out the decent-sized collection of books at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café in Dupont Circle (1517 Connecticut Ave., NW) for just about any current best seller. It’s not an exclusively LGBT shop, but it’s definitely stocked with gay sensibility. And the food’s great (kramers.com).
Studio Theatre (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Studio Theatre (1501 14th Street, NW) always has an interesting production in the pipeline. Three-play package deals start at $99 and make great gifts for the theater lover (or anyone!) on your list (Studiotheatre.org).
Pleasure Place (1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW) is also a sure-fire bet. We won’t go into details other than to say it’s worth a visit (pleasureplace.com).
And local artist Margret Kroyer has many one-of-a-kind art pieces for sale. Check her stuff out at m-kroyer.com.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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