Arts & Entertainment
Best of Gay D.C. 2016: COMMUNITY
Blade readers voted for their community favorites
Best Art Gallery
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
1661 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: The Phillips Collection
Renwick Gallery (Photo public domain)
Best Adult Store
Bite the Fruit
1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Trick Box
Bite the Fruit
Best Car Dealership
BMW of Fairfax
8427 Lee Highway, Fairfax
Runner-up: Audi of Tysons
BMW of Fairfax (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Apartment/Condo Building
Atlantic Plumbing
2112 8th St., N.W.
Runner-up: The Shay
Atlantic Plumbing (Photo courtesy Atlantic Plumbing)
Best Doctor/Medical Provider
Ray Martins, Whitman-Walker Health
Runner-up: Dr. Robyn Zeiger
Ray Martins (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Fitness or Workout Spot
VIDA Fitness
1517 15th St., N.W.
1612 U St., N.W.
999 9th St., N.W.
(A perennial favorite in this category)
Runner-up: YMCA
VIDA Fitness (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Gayborhood
Shaw
Runner-up: Logan Circle
Shaw (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Hardware Store
Logan Hardware
Logan Hardware
1734 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Annie’s Ace Hardware
Logan Hardware (Washington Blade photo by Antwan J. Thompson)
Best Home Furnishings
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
1526 14th St., N.W.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is featured on the 2016 Best of Gay DC cover.
Runner-up: Room & Board
Mitchell Gold, on left, and business partner Bob Williams at their Washington store for an event in 2013. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Best Home Improvement Service
The Organizing Agency
811 4th St., N.W., Suite1013
(Winner of last year’s Best LGBT-owned Business award)
Runner-up: Hourly Husbands
Organizing Agency founder Scott Roewer (Photo courtesy of the Organizing Agency)
Best Hotel
The W
515 15th St., N.W.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: Donovan House
The W Hotel (Photo courtesy of the W)
Best House of Worship
Empowerment Liberation Cathedral
633 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring
240-720-7605
empowermentliberationcathedral.org
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: All Souls Unitarian
Bishop Allyson Abrams of the Empowerment Liberation Cathedral (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Lawyer
Peter Glazer
The Glazer Law Firm
Business attorney
Runner-up: Amy Nelson
Peter Glazier (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best LGBT Social Group
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
Runner-up: D.C. Rawhides
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best LGBT Support Group
SMYAL
Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders
410 7th St., S.E.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: HIPS
SMYAL (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best LGBT Sports League
D.C. Rollergirls
Runner-up: Stonewall Kickball
Teammates on D.C. Rollergirls say the league feels like family.
Founded in 2006, D.C. Rollergirls is centered around the group’s love for roller derby. In addition to games, the team also prides itself on contributing to community service with organizations that promote female empowerment, physical fitness and awareness of issues women, children and families face in the D.C. area.
League president Dawn Sherman, also known by her team nickname Aurora Borey All-Ass, says what makes the team stand out is the diversity of its members.
“We have women from all different walks of life,” Sherman says. “We are an inclusive environment so we have cis-gender women and we are very open to LGBT women. The fact that we all come together for this crazy common sport that we love just makes it amazing.”
Women of all skill levels are welcome on the team especially beginners. JaeLee Waldschmidt, nicknamed Switch Please, says she stepped into the world of roller derby after a friend invited her to a match.
Waldschmidt admits she was clueless and outside her comfort zone.
“My friend was like, ‘You should come watch my team play.’ I was like, ‘Play what?’ ‘Roller derby,’” Waldschmidt says. “I was like, ‘What’s that?’ I watched one of their games and showed up to D.C. Armory like, ‘Where do I get in?’ and my friend was like, ‘The door. You go in through the door.’”
After attending roller derby boot camp Waldschmidt found herself competing on the team.
She encourages other women interested in trying something new to do the same. Try out sessions are open to anyone regardless of experience level. Each Sunday the team has a roller derby boot camp where anybody, with the appropriate safety gear, can learn the fundamentals of roller derby. The next try out date is Sunday, Oct. 23 at the DCRG Warehouse (5706 LaFayette Pl., Hyattsville, Md.) from 12:30-3:30 p.m. The team consists of about 40 players, including dozens of volunteers, beginner boot campers and retired derby members who still like to stay connected.
Another big part of being a D.C. Rollergirls team member is picking a nickname that suits you.
For Sherman the name was all about who she was as a person.
“I wanted to find something that kind of gave people a little glimpse into my life,” Sherman says. “My quirky sci-fi side. Kind of just being a general science geek and my physique. So my name is Aurora Borey All-Ass and that kind of encompasses all those things.”
Waldschmidt chose her name Switch Please, from the character Switch from “The Matrix.”
Feeling comfortable to share parts of themselves with their team is the best part about the league, Waldschmidt says.
“Being a trans woman, it’s kind of hard in this world trying to find a place that accepts you for who you are,” Waldschmidt says. “I mean there are pockets here and there but roller derby was like ‘Alright, cool.’ It was a really empowering opportunity to be authentic and not have to try to conform to people’s expectations of what a man or woman is, to be myself.” (Mariah Cooper)
D.C. Rollergirls (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best LGBT-Owned Business
Capital Center for Psychotherapy and Wellness
1330 U St., N.W.
Runner-up: Town, Number Nine and Trade
Gregory Jones of Capital Area (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Most LGBT-Friendly Workplace
Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Runner-up: Whitman-Walker Health
Human Rights Campaign (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Non-Profit
Whitman-Walker Health
Runner-up: Capital Pride
Whitman Walker Health at the Walk to End HIV (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Pet Business
Metro Mutts
508 H St., N.E.
Runner-up: City Dogs
Best Place to Buy Second-Hand Stuff
Miss Pixie’s Furnishings and Whatnot
1626 14th St., N.W.
Runner-up: Buffalo Exchange
Miss Pixie’s (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Place to Take the Kids
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
(Photo courtesy of the National Zoo)
Best Rehoboth Business
Blue Moon
35 Baltimore Ave.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
bluemoonrehoboth.com
(Also won Best Rehoboth Bar)
Runner-up: Purple Parrot
Blue Moon (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Salon/Spa
Logan 14 Aveda Salon & Spa
1314 14th St., N.W.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: Salon Quency
Michael Hodges of Logan 14 Aveda (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Best Reason to Go to Baltimore
National Aquarium
501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore
(Second consecutive win in this category)
National Aquarium in Baltimore (Photo public domain)
Best Theater
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St., N.W.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: Arena Stage
The Kennedy Center (Photo by Steve via Wikimedia Commons)
Best Theater Production
“Kinky Boots” (Kennedy Center)
Runner-up: “La Cage Aux Folles” (Signature Theatre)
(Photo courtesy Kennedy Center)
Best Vet
CityPaws Animal Hospital
1823 14th St., N.W.
(Second consecutive win in this category)
Runner-up: Union Veterinary Clinic
City Paws (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
To see winners in other categories in the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. 2016 Awards, click here.
Several communities in the region have opted to beat the heat of a June Pride celebration in favor of a cooler affair in the coming months. Here is our list of LGBTQ Pride events scheduled throughout September and October in cities across Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia Pridefest
September 14
12-8 p.m.
Richmond, Va.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
Richmond’s annual Virginia Pridefest will be held at Bon Secours Training Center (2401 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va. 23220) this year with vendors, activities and performances from entertainers including Crystal Waters, Robin S, Tank and the Bangas, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Kennedy Davenport. The event is free.
Following the festival, Godfreys (308 E. Grace Street) is hosting the “After Pride Beach Party” from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. with drag shows scheduled for 9 and 11 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is $5 at the door or $30 for VIP tickets on Eventbrite.
PRISM Pride Festival
September 14
12-4 p.m.
Waynesboro, Va.
Facebook
The Virginia town of Waynesboro is holding its very first Pride celebration downtown (19 N. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va. 22980) on Saturday. There will be vendors, a performance by Shagwüf, interactive downtown bingo and other activities.
Shenandoah Valley Pride
A performance at Shenandoah Valley Pride in 2023. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
September 21
1-5 p.m.
Harrisonburg, Va.
Website | Facebook
The 10th annual Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival will be held at Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Attendees can expect music, drag performances, vendor booths and more.
Winchester Pride
A scene from last year’s Winchester Pride at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
October 5
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Winchester, Va.
Website | Facebook
The sixth annual Winchester Pride festival is being held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (901 Amherst Street, Winchester, Va. 22601) on Saturday, October 5. The event is free.
An afterparty is scheduled for the evening at The Monument VA in downtown Winchester (186 N. Loudoun Street) with doors opening at 8 and a drag show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased here. The afterparty is 21+.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
October 5
2 – 6 p.m.
Havre de Grace, Md.
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram
The sixth annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 in Havre de Grace, Md. at Concord Point Park (701 Concord Street). The event is free and family-friendly with live music, drag performances, food trucks, vendors and artists.
Laurel Pride
October 12
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Laurel, Md.
Website | Facebook
The third annual Laurel Pride will be held on Saturday, October 12 at Granville Guide Park (8300 Mulberry Street) in Laurel, Md.
SWVA Pride Fest
October 12
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Salem, Va.
Website
Southwest Virginia Pride (SWVA Pride) will be held at Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Boulevard) in Salem, Va. on Saturday, October 12. There will be live music, entertainment, vendors, a family zone and a petting zoo, among other attractions at the free event.
TriPride
October 12
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Bristol, Va.
Website | Eventbrite
The TriPride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 12 at Cumberland Square Park (200 Lee Street) in Bristol, Va. The event is free, but tickets from Eventbrite are required for entry. There will be live performances, vendors, food trucks, health services and more as the “tri-cities” of Bristol (Va.), Kingsport and Johnson City (Tenn.) celebrate the LGBTQ community. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Pride Franklin County
October 13
12 – 5 p.m.
Chambersburg, Pa.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Pride Franklin County is being held at Wilson College (1015 Philadelphia Avenue) in Chambersburg, Pa. on Sunday, October 13.
Pride Southern Maryland
October 13
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lexington Park, Md.
Website | Facebook
The seventh annual Pride Southern Maryland will be held on Sunday, October 13 at Lexington Manor Passive Park (21675 South Coral Drive) in Lexington Park, Md. The event will feature live performances, drag, a dedicated kids zone, speakers, vendors, food trucks and more, according to organizers.
HoCo Pride
October 13
12 – 4 p.m.
Columbia, Md.
Website | Facebook
The fifth annual HoCo Pride — Howard County Pride — is scheduled for Sunday, October 13 at Marriweather Park at Symphony Woods (10431 Little Patuxent Parkway) in Columbia, Md. You can expect live performances, vendors, food trucks, community information and family-friendly fun at the park on Sunday.
Staunton Pride
October 26
12 – 5 p.m.
Staunton, Va.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Staunton Pride is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at the GHP Bandstand Area (600 Chruchville Avenue) in Staunton, Va. Expect live performances, vendors and more.
The Human Rights Campaign held its National Dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 7. Speakers included Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and HRC President Kelley Robinson.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting
It is time to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ DC! You nominated and now we have our finalists. Vote for your favorites in our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC categories through September 23rd. Our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on October 17th and our special issue will come out on Friday, October 18th.
Thank you to our sponsors: ABSOLUT, Crush, Infinite Legacy & Wild Side Media.
VOTE BELOW OR BY CLICKING HERE!
ARE YOU A BEST OF FINALIST? DOWNLOAD ASSETS HERE!
Harris puts Trump on his heels in high-stakes debate
D.C. officials monitoring Mpox outbreak in Africa for possible local impact
LGBTQ Venezuelans face unprecedented persecution after disputed election
Pride in the fall
Lesbian couple murdered in South Africa
2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting
Tim Walz celebrates Shepard family in HRC National Dinner speech
Explore new venues, productions during D.C. Theatre Week
Sustainability and smart home technology
Winsome Earle-Sears announces 2025 Va. gubernatorial campaign
-
Arts & Entertainment2 days ago2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting
-
Politics3 days agoTim Walz celebrates Shepard family in HRC National Dinner speech
-
Theater4 days agoExplore new venues, productions during D.C. Theatre Week
-
Real Estate3 days agoSustainability and smart home technology