Living
A campin’ we will go …
Region offers range of LGBT-welcoming summer kids’ programs
D.C. kids can study art, swimming, dance, sports, technology, cooking, theater and more at the YMCA supper camp program. (Photo courtesy YMCA D.C.)
As the weather gets warmer, summer camps are already preparing for registering campers for their programs. Local camps are offering a wide range of programs from cooking and theater to sports and personal finance to satisfy any child’s interests and needs.
Beauvoir School (3500 Woodley Rd., N.W.) offers summer camp for children ages 3-10. Programs are organized by grade level. Rising pre-kindergarten students are Fireflies, rising kindergarten Blue Jays, rising first and second graders Box Turtles and rising third through fifth graders Brown Bears. Programs include cooking, gymnastics, swimming and Future Millionaires Bootcamp, a program that teaches personal finance, budgeting and how credit cards work. There is also a “Make Your Own Camp” option to combine various programs. There is also before and after camp care available. Prices vary depending on half or full day programs and session dates. For a list of sessions and prices, visit summer.beauvoirschool.org.
Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., N.W.) has an acting conservatory for young actors ages 12-17. Its summer program is an all-day immersion. Morning classes focus on movement, voice and improvisation. Afternoon classes include monologues and scene study from contemporary and classical literature. There are two sessions with a final scene performance at the end of each session. Classes are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Cost is $865 for the first session and $925 for the second session. For more information, visit studiotheatre.org.
The YMCA in D.C. offers wide range of camp programs for children of all ages. Art, aquatic, dance, sports, technology, cooking, theater and more are available. There are also specialty programs including beauty school, creative writing and gardening. YMCA also offers a day and overnight camp, Camp Letts (4003 Camp Letts Rd., Edgewater, Md.), for a more traditional camp experience. Kayaking, horseback riding and other activities are offered. For more details on specific programs and pricing visit ymcadc.org and campletts.org.
DAR Museum (1776 D., N.W.) offers two history-focused five-day camps this summer. The first is Time Travelers, for children ages 9-12. The program teaches about figures of different cultures and genders who had roles during the American Revolution but are lesser known such as Native Americans, African Americans and European men and women who were poets, spies and more. Campers can be a spy for a day and compose poems with quill and ink as well as take trips to local museums. The second program, From Fiber to Fabric, is for children ages 11-14. It teaches about textiles from raw materials to the final product and teaches sewing among other skills. For more information, visit dar.org.
Circle Yoga (3838 Northampton St., N.W.) has Budding Yogis Summer Camp for children. The camp includes mindful yoga and movement, crafts and creative arts, play at the park, group games, camp songs, relaxation and journaling. Campers ages 4-7 have a half-day camp from 9 a.m.-noon for $250 per week. Full day camp for campers ages 6-12 is from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and is $365 per week. For more details, visit circleyoga.com.
TIC Summer Camp has locations across the District, Maryland and Virginia area. Its programs focus on science and technology for children ages 7-15. Technology programs include robotics, filmmaking, digital arts, programming and more. There are also sports programs available such as basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, soccer and more. Each session is $825 with four sessions at each location. For more information, visit ticcamp.com.
Adventure Theatre has a summer musical theater camp for grades one to six at its Glen Echo, Md., location and one for grades six-12 at its Rockville, Md. location. Campers have daily rehearsals in dancing, singing and acting using props and costumes. At the end of the program, there will be a performance for family and friends. Grades six-12 can choose from three courses of study in contemporary, Broadway revivals and Golden Age/MGM. Grades one-to-six sessions are $800 and grades six-12 sessions are $1,200. For more information, visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
Silver Stars Gymnastics has a Silver Spring (2701 Pittman Dr.) location and a Bowie (14201 Woodcliff Ct.) location. They offer programs for children ages 3 and a half-4, 5-7 and 8-15. There are full-day programs from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and half-day programs from 9 a.m.- noon. There are also extended morning programs from 8-8:30 a.m. and extended evenings from 4:30-6 p.m. The programs teach campers gymnastics basics such as cartwheels, jumps, tucks, twists and flips. Tuition ranges from $240-305 with extended sessions adding an additional $25-65. For more details, visit gosilverstars.com.
The Lowell School (1640 Kalmia Rd., N.W.) has summer programs for children rising preschool, rising kindergarten, rising first and second grade, rising third-sixth grade and rising seventh through ninth grade. Younger campers can enjoy programs designed around self discovery and building social skills both outdoors and indoors. Older campers can explore the local city with the “Amazing Race” Game and also other areas with the Get Out! Trips Camp. There are both full-length camp sessions and mini camps. For a full list of sessions and prices, visit lowellschool.org.
Girls Rock! D.C. Camp, an LGBT-run and welcoming camp for budding girl musicians, hasn’t announced its 2015 dates but typically offers July sessions in Washington. Visit girlsrockdc.org for more information.
Georgetown Day School (4530 MacArthur Blvd., N.W.) offers summer camp programs that range from traditional day camp activities to specialty programs such as performing arts, computer programming, science and more. Camps are for children ages 5-18. Specialty camps include Hopper Dance Camp for campers age 5-fifth grade, Science of Rollercoasters for rising third-eighth graders, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company Summer Intensive for Intermediate to Advanced Dancers for rising sixth-ninth graders, Intro to Discuss Camp for grades six through eight and many more. Prices and session times vary. For a complete list, visit gds.org./campsandclasses.
Green Acres School (11701 Danville Dr., North Bethesda, Md.) has various camp programs including Martial Arts, Kreative Kangaroos for rising pre-kindergarten students, Junior Camp for rising kindergarten through second grade students and Senior Camp for rising third-seventh grade students. Activities for each program vary but include cooking and baking, sports, games, bowling and much more. Pricing and session times also vary. For a complete tuition list and session times, visit greenacres.org.
Although it’s not a traditional summer camp, Rainbow Families D.C. has several events throughout the summer including Adventure Theatre, various Pride events in June, Night Out with the Nationals in July and summer picnic in August as well as a camp weekend retreat in September. Details at rainbowfamiliesdc.org.
Real Estate
Convert rent check into an automatic investment, Marjorie!
Basic math shows benefits of owning vs. renting
Suppose people go out for dinner and everyone is talking about how they are investing their money. Some are having fun with a few new apps they downloaded – where one can round up purchases and then bundle that money into a weekly or monthly investment that grows over time, which is a smart thing to do. The more automatic one can make the investments, the less is required to “think about it” and the more it just happens. It becomes a habit and a habit becomes a reward over time.
Another habit one can get into is just making that rent check an investment. One must live somewhere, correct? And in many larger U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, Austin, or even most mid-market cities, rents can creep up towards $2,000 a month (or more) with ease.
Well, do the math. At $2,000 per month over one year, that’s $24,000. If someone stays in that apartment (with no rent increases) for even three years, that amount triples to $72,000. According to Rentcafe.com, the average rent in the United States at the end of 2025 was around $1,700 a month. Even that amount of rent can total between $60,000 and $80,000 over 3-4 years.
What if that money was going into an investment each month? Now, yes, the argument is that most mortgage payments, in the early years, are more toward the interest than the principal. However, at least a portion of each payment is going toward the principal.
What about closing costs and then selling costs? If a home is owned for three years, and then one pays out of pocket to close on that home (usually around 2-3% of the sales price), does owning it for even three years make it worth it? It could be argued that owning that home for only three years is not enough time to recoup the costs of mostly paying the interest plus paying the closing costs.
Let’s look at some math:
A $300,000 condo – at 3% is $9,000 for closing costs.
One can also put as little as 3 or 3.5% down on a home – so that is also around $9,000.
If a buyer uses D.C. Opens Doors or a similar program – a down payment can be provided and paid back later when the property is sold so that takes care of some of the upfront costs. Knowledgeable lenders can often discuss other useful down payment assistance programs to help a buyer “find the money.”
Another useful tactic many agents use is to ask for a credit from the seller. If a property has sat on the market for weeks, the seller may be willing to give a closing cost credit. That amount can vary. New construction sellers may also offer these closing cost credits as well.
And that, Marjorie, just so you will know, and your children will someday know, is THE NIGHT THE RENT CHECK WENT INTO AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT ON GEORGIA AVENUE!
Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with Metro Referrals. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or [email protected].
Some vehicles age quietly — but not muscle cars.
For 2026, the Chevrolet Corvette tightens its focus, fixes one glaring flaw (the previously dowdy interior) and flaunts a futuristic design. The Dodge Charger, on the other hand, is loud and proud, daring you to ignore its presence at your peril.
CHEVROLET CORVETTE
$73,000-$92,000
MPG: 16 city/25 highway
0 to 60 mph: 2.8 seconds
Cargo space: 13 cu. ft.
PROS: Awesome acceleration. Race-car feel. Snazzy cabin.
CONS: No manual transmission. No rear seat. Tight storage.
Finally, the Chevrolet Corvette feels as good inside as it looks flying past you on the freeway. That’s thanks to the classy, completely redesigned cabin. Gone is the old, polarizing wall of buttons in favor of a sleeker, three-screen cockpit. There’s a large digital gauge cluster, a wide infotainment screen angled toward the driver, and a marvy new auxiliary display. Everything is modern and a bit glitzy — but in a good way.
Fit and finish are higher quality than before, and the controls are more intuitive. Chevy’s Performance App is now standard across trims, offering real-time data for drivers who enjoy metrics as much as momentum. And the new interior color schemes, including slick asymmetrical options, let you express yourself without screaming for attention—confidence, not obnoxious bluster.
As for handling, the steering is quick and sure, body control is exceptional, and acceleration is blazingly fast. A mid-engine layout also delivers sublime balance.
Three trim options, including the V8-powered Stingray, the E-Ray (also with a V8 but paired with electric all-wheel drive), and the Z06 and ZR1 variants for racing devotees.
(Note to self: For a truly mind-blowing experience, there’s the new 1,250-horsepower ZR1X all-electric supercar that goes from 0 to 60 mph in less that 2 seconds and is priced starting at $208,000.)
Yes, the ride in any of these Corvettes can be firm. And visibility is, well, rather compromised. But this supercar is a total Dom, not a timid sub. Think Alexander Skarsgard in “Pillion,” and you get the picture.
DODGE CHARGER
$52,000-$65,000
MPG: 16 city/26 highway
0 to 60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Cargo capacity: 22.75 cu. ft.
PROS: Choice of gas or EV power. Modern tech. Spacious cabin.
CONS: No V8 engine (yet). Soft steering. Less-than-lithe cornering.
Everything old is new again for the Dodge Charger. The automaker initially was phasing out gas-powered models in a shift to electric vehicles but then quickly pivoted back to include gas engines after yo-yo regulatory changes this year from, well, the yo-yos in the White House.
Powerful twin-turbo engines in the R/T and Scat Pack trims produce up to 550 horsepower. These models come standard with all-wheel drive but can be switched to rear-wheel drive for classic muscle-car antics when the mood strikes you.
At the same time, Dodge still offers the electric Charger Daytona, delivering up to 670 horsepower and ferocious straight-line acceleration.
The Charger’s aggressive design, massive digital displays and practical hatchback layout carry over, reinforcing its ability to be both a performance diva and everyday companion. With the larger-than-expected storage space, I appreciated being able to fit a boatload of groceries in the trunk during a Costco run.
New wheel designs, paint choices and trim variations help you visually distinguish between gas and electric Chargers. But no matter the model, each one feels decisive and deliberate on the road. Commuting in stop-and-go traffic during rush hour is fine, but this street machine excels at high-speed cruising on the freeway.
The turbo six-cylinder engine delivers muscular torque with less drama than the old V8s, but still with plenty of urgency. The electric Daytona version is a different kind of thrill, with its instant, silent thrust that feels like it could almost launch you to the moon.
Steering is stable but not exactly crisp, and the Charger’s weight makes it less lithe—and lively—than other muscle cars, especially when navigating tight corners.
But that’s just fine with me. Like Bea Arthur as Dorothy in “The Golden Girls,” this no-nonsense muscle car is proud to be big, bold and brassy.
Real Estate
Top buyer-friendly markets for the LGBTQ community
Home should be a place where you can be fully yourself
Buying or selling a home is one of the most meaningful financial and emotional decisions a person can make. For LGBTQ+ individuals and families, that journey can also come with unique considerations — from finding truly inclusive neighborhoods to working with professionals who understand and respect who you are.
The good news? Across the United States, there are increasingly buyer-friendly housing markets where LGBTQ+ home buyers and sellers can find opportunity, affordability, and community. When paired with the right representation, these markets can offer not only strong financial value, but peace of mind.
For more than 30 years, GayRealEstate.com has been the leading source of LGBTQ+ real estate representation, helping LGBTQ+ buyers and sellers connect with vetted, LGBTQ+ friendly real estate agents who understand the nuances of fair housing, legal protections, and inclusive service.
Below, we explore top buyer-friendly markets for the LGBTQ+ community, along with practical tips to help you navigate the process with confidence.
What Makes a Market Buyer-Friendly?
A buyer-friendly market isn’t just about lower prices — especially for LGBTQ+ home buyers. It often includes:
- Increased housing inventory (more choices, less pressure)
- Slower price growth or stabilized pricing
- Greater negotiating power for buyers
- Established or emerging LGBTQ+ communities
- Local protections and inclusive policies
- Access to LGBTQ+ friendly real estate agents and resources
Markets that combine affordability with inclusivity can be especially attractive for first-time gay home buyers, same-sex couples, and LGBTQ+ families planning for long-term stability.
Top Buyer-Friendly Markets for LGBTQ Home Buyers
1. Austin & San Antonio, Texas
Once known for extreme competition, many Texas metros have shifted into more buyer-friendly territory due to increased inventory.
Why it works for LGBTQ+ buyers:
- Strong LGBTQ+ communities, especially in Austin
- More negotiating leverage than in prior years
- Diverse neighborhoods at varying price points
Tip: Texas does not have statewide LGBTQ+ housing protections, making it especially important to work with an experienced LGBTQ+ friendly realtor through GayRealEstate.com.
2. Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio cities continue to attract buyers looking for value without sacrificing culture or inclusivity.
Why it works:
- Lower median home prices
- Growing LGBTQ+ populations
- Strong healthcare, education, and job markets
These cities are particularly appealing for LGBTQ+ buyers relocating from higher-cost coastal markets.
3. Richmond, Virginia
Richmond has become a standout for LGBTQ+ home ownership thanks to affordability, history, and progressive growth.
Highlights:
- Inclusive local culture
- Buyer-friendly price trends
- Walkable neighborhoods popular with LGBTQ+ professionals
4. Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota
The Twin Cities consistently rank high for LGBTQ+ quality of life and legal protections.
Why LGBTQ+ buyers love it:
- Strong anti-discrimination laws
- Stable home values
- Excellent resources for LGBTQ+ families
Minnesota offers one of the safest environments for LGBTQ+ home buyers and sellers navigating the real estate process.
5. Jacksonville & Tampa Bay, Florida
Florida remains complex for LGBTQ+ buyers, but some metros still offer strong buyer opportunity.
What to know:
- Increased inventory = more negotiating power
- Coastal lifestyle at lower cost than South Florida
- Local LGBTQ+ communities continue to grow
Because statewide protections vary, partnering with a GayRealEstate.com LGBTQ+ friendly real estate agent is essential.
Finding LGBTQ-Friendly Neighborhoods
Not every “affordable” neighborhood is inclusive — and safety, comfort, and belonging matter.
When searching for LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhoods:
- Look for visible LGBTQ+ organizations, events, and businesses
- Research local non-discrimination ordinances
- Ask your agent about lived experiences, not just statistics
- Talk to neighbors and local LGBTQ+ groups
Agents in the Gay Real Estate Network often provide insight that listing data alone cannot.
The Importance of LGBTQ Real Estate Representation
While fair housing laws exist, LGBTQ+ housing discrimination still happens — sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly.
Working with an LGBTQ+ friendly real estate agent helps ensure:
- Respectful communication
- Advocacy during negotiations
- Awareness of legal protections
- A safer, more affirming experience
GayRealEstate.com has spent over three decades building the most trusted network of gay realtors, lesbian real estate agents, and LGBTQ+ friendly real estate professionals nationwide.
Legal Protections Every LGBTQ Buyer and Seller Should Know
Federal protections now include sexual orientation and gender identity under the Fair Housing Act, but enforcement and local laws vary.
Before buying or selling:
- Understand your state and local protections
- Know how to document discriminatory behavior
- Work with professionals who take advocacy seriously
- Use trusted LGBTQ+ real estate resources
GayRealEstate.com agents are experienced in helping clients navigate these realities with confidence.
Tips for LGBTQ Home Buyers & Sellers
- Get pre-approved early to strengthen your buying position
- Interview agents and ask direct questions about LGBTQ+ experience
- Don’t ignore your instincts — comfort matters
- Plan long-term: community, schools, healthcare, and protections
- Use LGBTQ+-specific resources rather than generic searches
Buyer-friendly markets create opportunity — but representation creates security.
Whether you’re a first-time gay home buyer, a same-sex couple relocating, or an LGBTQ+ seller preparing for your next chapter, choosing the right market and the right representation makes all the difference.
For over 30 years, GayRealEstate.com has been the trusted leader in LGBTQ+ real estate, connecting buyers and sellers with professionals who understand the importance of inclusion, advocacy, and respect.
Your home should be more than a place to live — it should be a place where you can be fully yourself.
Scott Helms is president and owner of Gayrealestate.com.
Convert rent check into an automatic investment, Marjorie!
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