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.
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).
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.
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).
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).
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.
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).
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 (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: Shenandoah Valley Pride
LGBTQ celebration held at Turner Pavilion in Harrisonburg, Va.
The 2026 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival was held at Turner Pavilion in Harrisonburg, Va. on Sunday, Sept. 20.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
















Whitman-Walker Health held the 40th annual Walk and 5K to End HIV at Anacostia Park on Saturday, Sept. 19.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



















Photos
PHOTOS: Wanda Alston Foundation Fall Reception
LGBTQ youth services organization honors Robert White, Japer Bowles, Washington Capitals
The Wanda Alston Foundation held its Fall Reception at the Penthouse Rooftop at The Wharf on Friday, Sept. 18. Honorees included D.C. Councilmember Robert White, Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs Japer Bowles, and the Washington Capitals. Rayceen Pendarvis served as the emcee and entertainment was provided by the Thomas Circle Singers.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)





















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