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QUEERY: Jeremy LaMaster

The LGBTQ Life volunteer at Johns Hopkins University answers 20 gay questions

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Jeremy LeMaster, gay news, Washington Blade

Jeremy LaMaster (Photo courtesy LaMaster)

When Jeremy LaMaster moved to Baltimore a year and a half ago, he sought out gay life on day one. His husband, Santiago Alvarez, was starting a post-doc fellowship in allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins and LaMaster was able to find work soon thereafter.

He works as a research program manager for an HIV cohort study at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and volunteers with LGBTQ Life at JHU, headed by Demere Woolway.

On Saturday, the student group will hold a ā€œQueer Takeoverā€ at the John Waters exhibit ā€œIndecent Exposureā€ at the Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets for Johns Hopkins students will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis in the lobby at 10:45 a.m. Look up the event on Facebook for full details or visit studentaffairs.jhu/edu/lgbtq.

At one of the groupā€™s recent events, there was discussion of the limits of meeting other queer folks and networking outside the bar scene. The idea for a museum trip was brought up.

ā€œSince the BMA is currently running a John Waters exhibit, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to create an event that allows LGBTQ youth to socialize ā€¦ while also engaging with a bit of local Baltimore queer history,ā€ the 30-year-old Louisville, Ky., native says.

LaMaster says the event has ā€œtaken on a life of its ownā€ and more queer takeover events will be planned.

LaMaster is full-time on staff but is also enrolled in a part-time MBA program at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Heā€™s studying organizational leadership and wants to explore different opportunities after seven years in academia. He would like to eventually do management and consulting work in the public and non-profit sectors.

LaMaster and Alvarez live in Baltimoreā€™s Canton neighborhood. LeMaster enjoys video games, spending time with friends and napping in his free time.

 

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

Nine years and the hardest person to tell was myself. I grew up very devoted to Catholicism and it was very challenging to get to the place I am now.

 

Who’s your LGBT hero?

Audre Lorde. As someone who identified as capital ā€œBā€ black and capital ā€œLā€ lesbian, her book ā€œSister Outsiderā€ was my first introduction to LGBTQ identity as an intersectional and socio-political identity.

 

What’s Baltimoreā€™s best nightspot, past or present?Ā 

When I first moved here, the Baltimore Eagle was one of my favorite spots; it sort of was a sampling of different styles of gay bars rolled into one. Unfortunately it has since closed.

 

Describe your dream wedding.

Just five people: me, my partner, two witnesses and an officiator on some seaside cliffs somewhere.

 

What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?

Anti-black racism, even though I would argue it is an LGBT issue.

 

What historical outcome would you change?

The genocide of Native Americans ā€” such a devastating loss of culture due to white settler colonialism.

 

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

Beyonceā€™s first surprise visual album.

 

On what do you insist?

A seat at the table for all stakeholders.

 

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?

A meme about Tumblrā€™s new anti-nudity policy.

 

If your life were a book, what would the title be?

ā€œScrew(ed): an Odysseyā€

 

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?

Encourage and advocate for straight people to be LGBTQ.

 

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?Ā 

Pantheism ā€” that everything is somehow connected.

 

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?

Focus on inter-generational work; educate and learn from our LGBTQ youth.

 

What would you walk across hot coals for?

I am a very food-motivated person.

 

What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

That weā€™re immature.

 

What’s your favorite LGBT movie?

ā€œMa Vie En Roseā€

 

What’s the most overrated social custom?

Asking ā€œwhat do you do?ā€ when you first meet someone.

 

What trophy or prize do you most covet?

A Pulitzer Prize in writing (even though I donā€™t write).

 

What do you wish you’d known at 18?

That I was queer. I feel like I missed a lot by trying to be straight.

 

Why Baltimore?Ā 

Work! Johns Hopkins is what brought us.

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ā€˜Funā€™ farewell: an interview with Cyndi Lauper

Pop icon reflects on career as final tour kicks off

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Cyndi Lauper plays D.C.ā€™s Capital One Arena on Sunday, Oct. 27. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

When I did the tally, I realized that, including this one, Iā€™ve had the pleasure of interviewing Cyndi Lauper nine times since 1997. Of course, that doesnā€™t match the number of times Iā€™ve been fortunate to see her perform live ā€“ that would be 12, beginning in 1984. 

And now, as I prepare to see her for a 13th time, itā€™s with a touch of sadness as Lauper is embarking on her farewell tour. One of the best friends the LGBTQ community has ever had, Lauperā€™s multi-artist True Colors Tours, which ran from 2007-2010 and raised funds for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, PFLAG, and HRC, and the subsequent founding of True Colors United in 2008, which continues to help homeless LGBTQ youth, are just a couple of examples of her activism. Additionally, Lauper is a lifetime musical trendsetter. For instance, she recorded a duet with the late Tony Bennett, more than 10 years before Lady Gaga did, as well as released dance-oriented and country music albums, 14 and 8 years, respectively, before BeyoncĆ©. When it comes to her legendary personal style, social media fashion critic Nicky Campbell recently declared Lauper an icon in his review of the 2024 VMA fashions. Now, as we prepare to say farewell to Lauper on the concert tour circuit, she was generous enough to make time for an interview before hitting the road. 

Lauper plays D.C.ā€™s Capital One Arena on Sunday, Oct. 27.

BLADE: In preparing for this interview, in which weā€™re talking about your farewell tour, I pulled out my 12 ticket stubs from your concerts Iā€™ve attended since 1984, beginning with two that year in Boston. Do you remember what that first, headlining tour as a solo artist felt like for you?

CYNDI LAUPER: I just wanted to make sure I had places to go. I wanted the sound to be really great. I don’t know if I accomplished that, but I did have those big speakers that I used to run up on. That’s me! I loved that. Because I saw all those wonderful English groups, the ska bands.

BLADE: You mean Madness and The English Beat and The Specials?

LAUPER: The Specials! I thought they were extraordinary. The singer (Neville Staple), I don’t know where his family was from, I guess he could have been Jamaican English. He was so fierce, singing so great, and he climbed up on top of the speaker and put up his fist and he’s singing his guts out. I’m thinking, ā€œIt’s Mighty Mouse!ā€ When I was a kid that was kind of my favorite show, I don’t know why [laughs]. But it always influenced me, and I remember in ā€™84, ā€˜85 I was still free. When ā€˜86 came then I became a prisoner of the system.

BLADE : Being on a major record label, and all that.

LAUPER: I wasnā€™t allowed to touch anybody. I wasnā€™t allowed to go out to them (in the audience) or have them come to me. It was totally different, and I totally hated it.

BLADE: Did you ever imagine that 40 years later you would be embarking on a farewell tour?

LAUPER: Well, at some point, sure. I think that for me this is the perfect time. Because it’s a kind of bucket list of what I always wanted to do. In the beginning, it was roughneck style. Whatever I could jimmy-rig, I did. When I got to a certain point like we were doing the (live) ā€œMoney Changes Everythingā€ video. I had fantasies of a cherry-picker. Because of our budget, everyone said, ā€œWell, you can’t get a cherry-picker but weā€™ll give you a garbage pail and a pulley system. I thought to myself, ā€œOh no, like Oscar the Grouch?ā€ I had a friend who was a great interviewer, and she used to interview everybody from a garbage pail. So, of course, thatā€™s what my people gave me to go up in the crowd. I thought it was a pulley system. The pulley system was actually 10 men with rope holding it. When I started to shake (while singing), I started to slip out of their hands. They brought me right in. That could have been the reason that the lawyer made me sign my will before I left.

BLADE: Are you planning to sing songs from each of your albums?

LAUPER: I’m really trying. I didn’t get anything from the blues album (2010ā€™s ā€œMemphis Bluesā€) in there because there’s too many songs. I usually get to the point where (I say), ā€œHey, guys, if the visuals look good for this, can we switch the songs?ā€ What I did was I wanted to do visuals (on the tour). I wanted to do performance art. That means you have to be on a click. Like when I went out on the (Rod) Stewart tour and we used the lyric video of ā€œSally’s Pigeons.ā€ You can’t do that and not be on a click, because the guy running visual has to be on the click. If nobody’s together, it’s like, ā€œHey, what the hell now the words are thereā€¦no they’re not.ā€

BLADE: It’s like a badly dubbed movie.

LAUPER: Yeah. But this time I got this wonderful visual director, Brian Burke, who worked for years with the creative director of Cirque Du Soleil, and not having people flying through the air. In the beginning of all that, that was my fantasy! I wanted to fly through the air, and all I got was a cherry-picker ā€” not a cherry-picker, but a garbage pail. It wasn’t going to happen for me. Now, I’m 71! I’m not gonna go flying through the air. It’s a mixture of collabs with artists and art. Art and music. The whole thing is an artist collective, any time you go out on tour. It’s not just you. You’re with other dance artists if you’re a dancer, or you’re with musicians. Or youā€™re with lighting designers, thatā€™s art, too. We did these collabs and I’m excited to present a show like this because it’s something I always wanted to do. Fingers crossed that it all works out. I’m even going to do costume changes this time, which you know I never do because it’s so bothersome. But I can do it in a way now that I’m comfortable with. I just want to be able to do this as a gift to all the people that followed me through all my crazy twists and turns. I did all those twists and turns because I kept hitting brick walls. You keep hitting the gatekeeper, you gotta find your way around that gatekeeper.

BLADE: Earlier this year, ā€œLet The Canary Sing,ā€ Alison Ellwoodā€™s documentary about you received a theatrical release. After having your memoir published in 2012, did it feel to you like the documentary was the next logical step, a continuation of sorts?

LAUPER: Well, not for me. I didn’t want to have a documentary. It was the pandemic, and everyone was saying, ā€œEverybody’s doing documentaries now, Cyn! Come on, what are you doing?ā€ I was like, ā€œIā€™m not dead!ā€ Then I started watching documentaries on the streaming services and I saw ā€œLaurel Canyon.ā€ I felt it was an extraordinarily captivating documentary for me because it was the history of music. All of the people and players in that story were very much influential for me as a growing artist, especially in the ā€˜70s. I looked and saw who directed itā€¦

BLADE: Alison Ellwood!

LAUPER: When they came at me again, I said, ā€œI want a film, not a TV special. So, how about Alison Ellwood? She makes films.ā€ She wanted to do it! I think she did a good job. It’s not your typical story. I don’t think anybody’s story is typical. Right? We think we know people but I guess we donā€™t. You think, ā€œIt’s typical! You start a band.ā€ Which is always my theory! If something’s wrong, start a band, start playing out, you’ll feel a lot better!ā€ [Laughs] It doesn’t always go that way.

BLADE: With the end of touring in sight, is there a possibility that you might do more film work for a potential Oscar to complete your EGOT status?

LAUPER: Listen, I happen to love independent films. For that I would write. I wrote ā€œUnhook The Starsā€ for ā€”

BLADE: ā€” the Gena Rowlands movie.

LAUPER: Right! Usually, I like an independent movie because then you get to talk to the director and then you have to understand what their vision is. That’s interesting, because each director is a different personality and a different kind of artist. You have to listen and see what story they’re trying to tell and then have a couple of different suggestions. When we first wrote ā€œWho Let In the Rain,ā€ I wrote it with Allee Willis.

BLADE: Oh, the late Allee Willis.

LAUPER: Allee Willis was a great songwriter.

BLADE: Did you see that documentary?

LAUPER: No, I wish I did because I miss her so much. I guess I was talking to the director, and we didn’t have a band, so I just sang (sings) ā€œThey fall like rain,ā€ and, in between, her dog, Orbit would bark. I was like, ā€œOK, the dog is musical,ā€ and everyone laughed. Then, I described it to the director as ā€œChinese Motown.ā€ That would scare most people. To me, I hear influences of every culture in American music. That’s how I make my music: with different influences. Like cooking, like spices. I feel grateful that I was brought up in New York City because I was exposed to so many different cultures.

BLADE: On a final serious note, when I saw you perform in Boca Raton in 2016 in support of your ā€œDetourā€ album, you asked for a moment of silence to honor Christina Grimmie who had been shot and killed in Orlando the night before. The next morning, after your concert, many of us woke up to the news of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. With those tragedies in mind, and this upcoming election, which is so terribly important, especially for women and LGBTQ folks, is there anything youā€™d like to say to your fans?

LAUPER: Absolutely! There is an organization called Vote411.org. Taylor Swift recently, finally put that up. You go online and you find out all the questions and all the people that are running and what they voted for so that you can make an intelligent decision on who is going to represent you, not them. This war against women has been going on since the ā€˜60s, it’s just been going and going, and we need to stop it because we are half the population. 

As far as the LGBTQ people, you have to vote. You have to be informed. Every time you have to vote, you vote! Don’t say, ā€œOh, it doesn’t matter for this one.ā€ It matters! Because they put laws in there. There are community people that represent you and you need to start on a community level, a grassroots level to ensure that there are people that are going to speak for you as a human being. We are all human beings here. 

As I said, women are half the population and LGBTQ, I venture to bet are a pretty large part, too. This country was founded on the separation of church and state. Separation! I don’t want anybody to have ownership over my body. They say they want local communities in charge but yet they have SCOTUS making federal laws about what you do in your bedroom and what you do with your body and who you are and nullifying families. Oh, I have a lot to say about that. You need to vote! You vote on every voting occasion. You can’t just lie down and get rolled over. This is our country, too. 

And always share your stories. Because people who work with you, that you’re friends with, sometimes they don’t understand. They don’t know. What’s really interesting now, from when we started with True Colors United, I think that people do not understand gender identity, which is a whole different thing. If you want people to listen to you, youā€™ve got to listen to them. Just because they’re different from you, doesn’t mean that you have to be like them. You have to learn on both sides of the fence. Knock the fence down, because we’re all human beings; just everybody’s different, that’s all.

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Christian Siriano on new book, red carpet fashion ā€” and dressing Kamala

Celebrated designer showcases iconic designs for worldā€™s biggest stars

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Christian Sirianoā€™s new book, ā€˜The New Red Carpet.ā€™

After 15 years in the fashion business, Christian Siriano has dressed everyone from Oprah to Gaga and heā€™s celebrating all those memorable years of success in his book, ā€œThe New Red Carpet,ā€ which features photos of his many iconic designs along with anecdotes about the stars who made them famous. 

Thereā€™s Halle Berry, Alicia Silverstone (a Siriano muse), Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, and dozens more. One of his favorites to dress is Janet Jackson. Siriano designed some of the costumes for Jacksonā€™s recent ā€œTogether Againā€ world tour, noting he ā€œbegged her for colorā€ and designed a bright orange jumpsuit so the audience sitting in the back could see her on stage. 

ā€œSheā€™s the best,ā€ he says of Jackson. ā€œI love her dearly weā€™re good friends. My first meeting was surreal and magical but sheā€™s so gracious and lovely and one of the easiest people to work with. We have a blast together.ā€

Jacksonā€™s look featured in the book is from her appearance at the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for which she and Siriano recreated her iconic style from the 1986 ā€œControlā€ album featuring a black pantsuit.

ā€œShe likes to be comfortable,ā€ Siriano said. ā€œI had to make this feel modern but also something that felt of the time, streamlined, and chic.ā€

The bookā€™s title refers to Sirianoā€™s efforts to diversify the red carpet and heā€™s known for dressing full-figured stars, non-binary performers, and others who have been shunned by other designers.

ā€œThis is what I think the new world of the red carpet should be ā€” it feels new and fresh and exciting. Itā€™s not exciting to see the same girl on the red carpet in the same dress. The younger generation gets that as well.ā€

Thereā€™s a pop culture debate right now about the role of luck in advancing the careers of huge stars, thanks in part to the new memoir by Ina Garten, ā€œBe Ready When the Luck Happens.ā€ Garten tells a story of being scolded by Oprah for saying she was lucky in her career; Oprah famously dismisses the idea of luck and says what really happens for big stars is that opportunity meets preparation. When asked what role luck plays in his blockbuster career, Siriano cites his own ā€œbad luck.ā€

ā€œI have a lot of bad luck and crazy things have happened to me and my business over the years that are unbelievable,ā€ he said. ā€œMy team talks about my bad luck. I think that what happens to me is not luck; itā€™s taking opportunities that Iā€™m not afraid of. I go after things that other people donā€™t see as interesting. ā€¦ Billy Porter is a good example ā€“ wearing a gown at the Oscars.ā€ 

After 15 years of A-list success, whatā€™s left for the Annapolis, Md., native to achieve professionally?

ā€œI made a list of people I was obsessed with and wanted to dress and Iā€™ve checked all those off,ā€ he said. ā€œA new singer or actress is always exciting, though.ā€

Today itā€™s more about keeping the business going and taking on projects that are exciting and creative. Siriano has been designing more tour costumes lately, including the looks for Cyndi Lauperā€™s new tour that kicks off this week.

ā€œI would love to do a big ballet,ā€ he adds, ā€œeven if it was no money at all.ā€ 

Siriano has been open about his sexual orientation since he debuted on ā€œProject Runwayā€ back in 2008 and stresses the importance of embracing your identity at work.

ā€œYou have to be yourself,ā€ he said. ā€œI think you cannot do your best work without being yourself. When youā€™re hiding something about yourself you canā€™t do your best work.ā€

And what we Americans are wearing to work has improved, Siriano says, since our COVID-era sweatpants addiction ended.

ā€œWeā€™re in a good place ā€¦ Iā€™ve noticed people are wanting to go out and get dressed up more now. Clothes are emotional for people; you put on a great jacket and it improves your confidence.ā€ 

Siriano is coming to Washington, D.C., on Monday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. for a book talk at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). Tickets start at $25 for the in-person event or $12 for virtual access. Go to sixthandi.org for more information. 

Heā€™s comfortable in D.C., having dressed politicos in addition to Hollywood stars. Siriano dressed Vice President Kamala Harris for last yearā€™s State of the Union address ā€” ā€œa beautiful burgundy suitā€ that sheā€™s worn again. Heā€™s excited about the upcoming election.

ā€œI think itā€™s really exciting for Kamala being a powerful woman, it would change so much. Iā€™ve loved dressing her. Itā€™s a historic moment. I hope we get to make more for her.ā€ 

Christian Siriano will be in D.C. on Monday, Oct. 21. (Photo by DFree/Bigstock)
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Best of LGBTQ D.C. 2024

The Bladeā€™s annual review of your favorites in food, nightlife, and more

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Once again the Blade is proud to celebrate the best in our local community, from activists to pizza. 

With nearly 5,000 nominations and 35,000 votes, this was the biggest year yet for our annual friendly competition, our 23rd year organizing this contest. Stephen Rutgers coordinated the voting; Michael Key coordinated the photos. This yearā€™s contributing writers are: Lou Chibbaro Jr., Chris Kane, Kevin Naff, Joe Reberkenny, Tinashe Chingarande, Clinton Engelberger, Erkki Forster, Joey DiGuglielmo, Evan Caplan, and Patrick Folliard.

This yearā€™s Local Hero Award, which is the only award voted on by Blade staff, goes to the tireless June Crenshaw, a ubiquitous presence in our local community who does life-saving work. 

Local Hero: June Crenshaw

Those who know June Crenshaw describe her as a fierce advocate for the safety and empowerment of LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness.

Since 2016, Crenshaw has served as executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, a D.C.-based nonprofit organization providing support and services for homeless LGBTQ youth in the D.C. metro area.

The Alston Foundation says in a statement that under Crenshawā€™s leadership, the organization provides two to six years of shelter, case management, connection to medical and mental health care, development of life skills, and employment and school support for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 and 24.  

ā€œSince joining the Wanda Alston Foundation, June has significantly increased awareness of the prevalence of homelessness among LGBTQ youth and the trauma they experience,ā€ the statement says. ā€œShe tirelessly fights for resources to be allocated to programs that create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness,ā€ it says.

ā€œShe educates, trains, and motivates her staff and volunteers to ensure a consistent vision and optimal organizational performance,ā€ the statement continues. ā€œShe has tripled the organizationā€™s budget and, after 13 years of operations, opened the second location and a Counseling Center that focuses on supporting queer folks impacted by Intimate Partner Violence,ā€ it says.

Crenshaw took on additional responsibilities in 2022 when a D.C. Superior Court judge appointed the Alston Foundation to serve as the cityā€™s receiver for the LGBTQ community services center Casa Ruby, placing the Alston Foundation in full control of the operations and finances of the then faltering Casa Ruby, which has since ceased operating.

Meanwhile, in addition to her role as executive director of the Alston Foundation, Crenshaw also serves as co-chair of the organizing committee for World Pride 2025, the international LGBTQ Pride celebration that D.C. will host, and which will take place May 23 to June 7, 2025. 

ā€œThose two things keep me very busy,ā€ Crenshaw told the Blade. ā€œBut I continue to be engaged with the community advocating around resources for queer organizations to be able to serve and support our community members. So, real strong advocacy around the D.C. budget and making sure resources come to organizations like the Wanda Alston Foundation, but other organizations as well.ā€

A native of Oklahoma, Crenshaw earned a bachelorā€™s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa in 1984, the year she moved to D.C. where she became involved in a wide range of endeavors in both nonprofit organizations and the business world.

She worked from 1989 to 1994 as a supervisor for research for the D.C.-based firm Washington Service Bureau, Inc., before working from 1994 to 2012 as a supervisor and later as project manager for Coventry Healthcare, Inc., a Bethesda-based national health insurance company that became part of the Aetna health insurance corporation.

Among her many involvements with nonprofit organizations, Crenshaw has served since 2007 as chair of the board of directors of the Rainbow Response Coalition, a D.C.-based coalition of local LGBTQ groups that provides training and education to address the issue of intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ community.

She served as chair of the board and board member of Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C. LGBTQ supportive healthcare provider from 2006 to 2016, and as a board member of the Whitman-Walker Foundation from 2017 to 2022.

From 2013 to 2020 she served on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, the nationā€™s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. And from 2007 to 2015, she served on the Advisory Board for the D.C. Mayorā€™s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

ā€œAlthough Iā€™m no longer on board of the Human Rights Campaign, Iā€™ve stayed very involved in a lot of the work thatā€™s done there,ā€ she said regarding her current endeavors. ā€œIā€™m hoping to participate in the get-out-the-vote initiative and to make sure that Kamala Harris becomes our next president and threats against our community are minimized,ā€ Crenshaw said. (Lou Chibbaro Jr.)


FOOD & DRINK  

Best Coffee Shop: Tatte Bakery & CafƩ

tattebakery.com

Multiple locations

After snagging the Editorā€™s Choice award two years running, Tatte now claims the Best Coffee Shop spot. Boston-based Tatte blanketed D.C. with its Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts, pastries, and coffees beginning in 2020. There are now more than a dozen around the DMV, serving seasonal brunches, craft drinks, and a welcome spot for people watching and catching up on emails.

Editorā€™s Choice: Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar


Best Outdoor Dining: Le Diplomate

lediplomatedc.com

1601 14th St., N.W.

(Photo courtesy of Le Diplomate)

Snagging several Best Brunch awards and winning the Editorā€™s Choice for Best Outdoor Dining last year, ā€œLe Dipā€ has myriad fans for all meals. Its American take on a Parisian Bistro has proven popular over the past decade, now a cornerstone of the 14th Street corridor. Beloved for its bread basket, meaty cheeseburger, mussels, and more, its outdoor sheds took over an entire half-block of 14th Street, now a permanent fixture from which to view passersby while sipping aperitifs.

Editorā€™s Choice: Hankā€™s Oyster Bar


Best Restaurant: Tabard Inn

tabardinn.com

1739 N St., N.W.

One of the oldest hotels in Washington, D.C., the Tabard Inn opened in 1922 in the style of an English manor and has been oozing charm ever since. While not gay-owned, itā€™s become a welcoming gathering space for LGBTQ locals and visitors, owing to its geography in Dupont Circle, eccentric nature, somewhat hidden locale, and diverse staff and clientele. The restaurant, started as a tea room, is full of art and warmth, and places a focus on Mid-Atlantic cuisine.

Editorā€™s Choice: Pineapple & Pearls


Best Brunch: Perryā€™s Drag Brunch

perrysam.com

1811 Columbia Rd., N.W.

Celebrated for its long-running brunch (and winning the title in 2021), Perryā€™s Drag Brunch is raucous and fabulous. Hosted only on Sundays (two seatings), this event treats guests to eclectic food like eggs, yakisoba, tater tots, and tiramisu. Perryā€™s recently picked up a new chef, Masako Morishita, who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Emerging Chef. The restaurant also just debuted a Japanese breakfast.

Editorā€™s Choice: City Tap Dupont Drag Brunch


Best Local Brewery: Red Bear Brewing Company

redbear.beer

209 M St., N.E.

Having taken home Best Brunch, Best Neighborhood Bar and Best Local Brewery awards in the past, this year, itā€™s back to win the Local Brewery award. This gay-owned venue in the District hosts drag shows, trivia, and stand-up performances, among other events. It pours beers with suggestive titles like ā€œHefe Donā€™t Preach,ā€ ā€œOktoBEARfest,ā€ or ā€œTall, Dark and Nutty,ā€ to name a few. Its festive drag brunch, running monthly, pulls out all the stops with its themes, like Broadway, Chromatica Ball, and goth. Desiree Dik serves as host.

Editorā€™s Choice: DC Brau


Best Local Distillery: Republic Restoratives Distillery

republicrestoratives.com

1369 New York Ave., N.E.

(Photo courtesy of Republic Restoratives)

Winning this title in 2021 and 2019, Republic Restoratives is women-owned, community-led, and made in the District. Republicā€™s vodka, Civic Pride, was created out of frustration with popular brands co-opting the rainbow flag while also supporting organizations or efforts that directly harm LGBTQ people. It recently created and then quickly sold out bottles of ā€œMadamā€ a bourbon-rye whiskey on whose label VPOTUS Kamala Harrisā€™s smiling visage is featured.

Editorā€™s Choice: Cotton & Reed


Best Burger: Dukeā€™s Grocery

dukesgrocery.com

Multiple locations

The 2021 and 2023 winner, Dukeā€™s Grocery serves burgers with a British accent. With locations in Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Navy Yard, and Foggy Bottom, this restaurant serves guests hearty portions of bar food. The burger has landed it on a whole bunch of lists, from Zagat to the Washington Post. Besides its famed Proper Burger, it also has a salmon, Impossible, and Wagyu burger. The Dupont location was closed for a year, undergoing a renovation, and recently reopened to royal fanfare.

Editorā€™s Choice: Lucky Buns


Best Ice Cream/Gelato: Jeniā€™s Splendid Ice Creams

jenis.com

Multiple locations

August or December, Jeniā€™s is known to cause pedestrian traffic backups on the busy 14th Street thoroughfare because of lines out the door. Jeniā€™s Splendid Ice Creams has a ā€œuniquely smooth texture and buttercream bodyā€ in fanciful flavors like birthday cake and fruit crumble. It scooped up the award last year and the year before, as well. There are locations in Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Navy Yard, Yards Park, and McLean.

Editorā€™s Choice: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream


Best Pizza: Andyā€™s Pizza

eatandyspizza.com

Multiple locations

Slicing and saucing in the New York tradition, Andyā€™s Pizza serves up pizza from stone ovens crafted from long-fermented dough, Wisconsin mozzarella, and California tomatoes. Andyā€™s boasts seven spots across the area, including one in Shaw near popular gay bars. Options include flavors like pepperoni and white sauce, but the whole pies come in a range of options, including a Buffalo crispy chicken and a vegan pie with plant-based cheese.

Editorā€™s Choice: We the Pizza


Best LGBTQ-Owned Business: KNEAD Hospitality

kneadhd.com

Multiple locations

KNEAD founders (Photo by Connor Studios)

Gay couple and business partners Michael Reginbogin and Jason Berry co-founded KNEAD Hospitality & Design in 2014. The restaurant group has birthed eateries like Mi Vida, Gatsby, Succotash, and several others. ā€œWe want people to eat with their eyes,ā€ said Berry in a 2021 interview with the Blade.

Editorā€™s Choice: A Tour of Her Own


Best Local Winery: Chester Gap Cellars

chestergapcellars.com

4615 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630

Located in Virginia, a small estate winery located outside Front Royal, Chester Gap is gay-owned and welcomes LGBTQ visitors for valley vistas and vintages. The owners ā€” Jeff Seese and Travis Patton ā€” also have an AirBnb so you can stay the evening, enjoy the fully stocked kitchen and outdoor fire pit, and wine at all hours.

Editorā€™s Choice: District Winery 


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Best Drag Queen: Destiny B. Childs 

Destiny B. Childs came onto the local drag scene in 2003 performing at a variety show. In 2003, as manager of Freddieā€™s Beach Bar, she was drafted into drag duty as hostess and show director for Freddieā€™s Follies and soon after started performing at Ziegfeldā€™s. 

She holds many pageant titles including Miss Zodiac 2005, Miss Freddieā€™s 2006-2007, Miss International Gay Rodeo 2007, Miss Gaye USA 2008, Miss Gaye America D.C. 2008, Miss Gaye Universe 2011 and Miss Ziegfields 2016.

Sheā€™s also been a longtime mainstay as hostess of the Capital Pride concert and has been in the Imperial Court since 2011, holding the title ā€œfirst empress.ā€

Childs (Ric Benavides outside drag) says she ā€œworks hard to ensure all members of the Imperial Court feel welcomed, safe, and loved.ā€

Runner-up: Bombalicious Eklaver 


Best Drag King: King Molasses

In a Vox explainer video, King Molasses described themselves as ā€œthe sweetest, stickiest drag king youā€™ll ever meet.ā€ Molasses fuses different elements of traditional Nigerian fashion with a southern cowboy aesthetic to deliver electric performances that leave guests salivating for more. Follow him on Instagram for more. 

Runner-up: King Flirty Xperience


Best Transgender Performer: Indiana Bones 

Indiana Bones describes her drag persona as ā€œvery femme, very pop star-esqueā€ and ā€œan extension of my femininity.ā€

Known outside drag as Adriana Emilia, she says, ā€œI love looking and feeling beautiful while lip syncing to the main pop girls.ā€

Bones, a trans woman, performs all over the D.C. area including Wednesdays at Kiki, weekends at either Nellieā€™s drag brunch or City Tap House Dupont. Sheā€™ll also be at a new venue HER Diner. She has been in the hospitality industry for about a decade but is ā€œtaking a breakā€ from it now and performing full time. 

ā€œThank you D.C. for loving me,ā€ she says. 

Follow her on @theonlyindiana on Instagram for show times and dates. 

Runner-up: Brooke N Hymen


Best Drag Show: Freddieā€™s Follies 

freddiesbeachbar.com

Freddieā€™s Beach Bar

555 S. 23rd St.

Arlington, Va.

Freddieā€™s Beach Bar is the place to be for the gays who love happy hour. Along with amazing food and drinks, the restaurant also offers vibrant karaoke nights, piano nights, and thrilling games like beach blanket bingo. Anyone whoā€™s been there can attest to Freddieā€™s being the place to be after work, blazer off, tie untied, heels exchanged for flats.

Freddieā€™s hosts various drag shows each month. The main event is Freddieā€™s Follies every Saturday night at 8 p.m. The current cast is Destiny B. Childs, Sasha Adams Sanchez, and Monet Dupree. 

Editorā€™s Choice: SHOOK at Shakerā€™s


Best Local Artist presented by Wild Side Media: Keyonna Jones 

Washington native Keyonna Jones is passionate about art, community advocacy, and entrepreneurship. With a background in journalism and a masterā€™s degree in science management, she brings a distinct lens to her work. 

As the founder of Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, Jones has been instrumental in bringing new and necessary artistic experiences to the East of the River community in D.C. She also serves as board chair of The Creative School, showcasing her commitment to youth, education and creativity.

Jones, a lesbian, is also a skilled tattoo artist, published fashion stylist, talented photographer, graphic designer, and gardener.

Runner-up: Haus of Bambi


Best Live Music in D.C. presented by Wild Side Media: The Anthem

901 Wharf St., S.W. 

(Photo by Jordan A. Grobe)

Since opening its doors in October of 2017, The Anthem has earned its place among the DMVā€™s best music venues.

Located on the Wharf, the cavernous 57,000-square-foot venue, which cost $60 million to build and has a movable stage and backdrop that allows capacity to vary from 2,500 to 6,000, is not intimate. Far from it. Itā€™s big with shows ranging from seated to general admission. Entrance lines can move swiftly or slowly. But once in, the space offers good acoustics and decent sightlines, and there are lots of clean bathrooms and multiple bars for drinks and food.

The Anthem adds a vibrancy to the Waterfront. Itā€™s Metro accessible and has lots of nearby, but pricey, parking. Upcoming acts include Latto, Zayn, and the B-52s who are slated to perform on Halloween night.

Editorā€™s Choice: 9:30 Club


Best Theater presented by Wild Side Media: Kennedy Center

Kennedy-center.org

2700 F St., N.W. 

For many DMV residents, the historic Kennedy Center serves as a portal to the performing arts. The Center presents diverse artists, including numerous LGBTQ voices, across all of its programming, whether it be theater, opera, dance, the symphony, comedy, hip hop, or jazz.

And the Social Impact division recently had SMYAL as one of its Culture Caucus members. And lately the Center has even been hosting drag brunches at its Roof Terrace Restaurant. The Kennedy Center made its public debut on Sept. 8, 1971, with a gala opening performance featuring the world premiere of a Requiem mass honoring President Kennedy, a work commissioned from the legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Its vast interior spaces include the Eisenhower Theatre, Opera House, Concert Hall, and assorted smaller venues.

Its Broadway Center Stage series brings some incredible Broadway talent, including fabulous queer stars, which currently includes Beanie Feldstein, Noah Galvin, Kevin McHale, and Nina White in ā€œThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.ā€

Editorā€™s Choice: Arena Stage


Best Live Music Outside of D.C.: Wolf Trap

Wolftrap.org

1551 Trap Rd. 

Vienna, Va.

(Photo courtesy of Wolf Trap)

Set on 117 acres of rolling hills and forest in Vienna, Va., Wolf Trap ranks high for outdoor entertainment.

Arvind Manocha, the out president and CEO of Northern Virginiaā€™s Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for more than a decade, understands his platform and what comes with it. For him that means promoting diversity and queer inclusion.

Over the past two years, Wolf Trap has presented ā€œOut & About,ā€ an annual two-day outdoor music festival spotlighting LGBTQ artists and vocal allies. With the new musical event, Manocha and his programming team are coalescing entertainment and visibility.

Featuring big queer names like Brandi Carlisle, Rufus Wainwright, and Be Steadwell, etc. Comfortably out for some time, Manocha regularly attends Wolf Trap performances and donor events with his husband Gideon Malone. And for some pre-Valentineā€™s Day fun, Titus Burgess, the queer comedian, singer, and actor who is best known for his role as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix series ā€œUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,ā€ is booked for Feb. 12.

Editorā€™s Choice: Merriweather Post Pavilion


Best Theater Production: ā€˜Macbeth,ā€™ Shakespeare Theatre Company

Shakespearetheatre.org

610 F St., N.W.

(Photo by Marc Brenner)

If there was a hot ticket in D.C. last season, Shakespeare Theatre Companyā€™s (STC) ā€œMacbethā€ was it.

Among the Bardā€™s shortest and most popular tragedies, ā€œMacbethā€ typically comes with a built-in audience. But in directing the classic, STCā€™s artistic director Simon Godwin didnā€™t take any chances. He packed the production with talented star power including stage and screen star Ralph Fiennes (ā€œThe English Patientā€) as the eponymous Scottish general and Olivier Award-winner Indira Varma (ā€œGame of Thronesā€) who played the monumentally ruthless Lady Macbeth.

Prior to coming to Washington in April of 2024, the greatly anticipated production enjoyed successful runs in Liverpool, Edinburgh, and London. Here, STC took its contemporary and satisfying take on ā€œMacbethā€ to a former BET soundstage in Brentwood, transforming the massive empty space into a war-scorched set perfect for scenes both large and intimate.

Editorā€™s Choice: ā€œFat Ham,ā€ Studio Theatre


Best LGBTQ Bar: Crush Dance Bar

crushbardc.com

2007 14th St., N.W.

Although Crush is one of the newest LGBTQ bars in the district, the weekly line around the block shows weekend after weekend that the 14th Street dance bar is the place to let loose, enjoy a cocktail, and live out your dancing queen fantasy. Its walls covered with nostalgic posters of pop divas and vinyl records of the latest playlist mainstays show that Crush is a sanctuary of dance. 

The two floors boast three bars, a large rooftop patio, and a room that tributes dancing’s greatest invention since surround sound: disco balls. Its list of signature cocktails includes the Kamala Kolada, Miora RosĆ©, and ever-popular orange and grapefruit crushes. 

Its owners Stephen Rutgers and Mark Rutstein, who formerly operated the Cobalt Dance Bar, have come together to ā€œcreate a new entertainment space that bridges the gap of labelsā€ in the nation’s capital.

Editorā€™s Choice: Little Gay Pub


Best Bartender: Ben Oursler, Annieā€™s 

anniesparamountdc.com

1609 17th St., N.W.

It makes sense that a restaurant like Annieā€™s Paramount Steakhouse with such an vaunted history in Washingtonā€™s LGBTQ scene would have the most voted for bartender, and this yearā€™s honor goes to Ben Oursler.

Oursler has helped Annieā€™s stay the special LGBTQ institution D.C. queers have loved for decades by slinging drinks and smiles to everyone who comes in. His infectious attitude and spirit help make Annieā€™s a place of year-round celebration. 

Runner-up: Jared Keith Lee, Crush


Best Local DJ: DJ Matt Bailer

If you have visited any gay bars over the past few years, thereā€™s zero chance you havenā€™t seen, heard, and danced to the musical stylings of DJ Matt Bailer on the dance floor. Bailer effortlessly mixes the trendiest artists, like Chappell Roan, with classic hits like ā€œYMCAā€ to create a sound that is uniquely Bailer. 

It is hard to stand on the sidelines of the dance floor as his funky beats interlock with tried-and-true staples that get not only the dance floor jumping but the whole bar. His non-stop schedule is a testament to not only his dedication to the craft, but also to the D.C. LGBTQ communityā€™s desire to dance to his mixes. You can find DJ Matt Bailer at a range of spaces including the 2024 voted best LGBTQ bar Crush, Kiki, Pitchers, and the wildly popular ā€˜90s dance party Peach Pit at DC9.

Runner-up: DJ Heat


Best Neighborhood Bar: Number Nine

numberninedc.com

1435 P St., N.W.

With two floors of comfy seating, handsome bartenders who remember your order, and polished vibe, it makes sense that Number Nine was voted best neighborhood bar. The bar being a hot spot for Stonewall sports events, their collection of non-stop iconic music videos, and daily two-for-one drink deals keep the crowds coming. Donā€™t forget to grab a mint Lifesaver (and copy of the Blade) from the giant bowl out front before you sit down, sip, and relax with your friends for the night. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Larryā€™s Lounge


Best Happy Hour presented by ABSOLUT: Crush Dance Bar

crushbardc.com

2007 14th St., N.W.

Newcomer Crush made the Bladeā€™s Best Of list twice this year. The barā€™s fun nostalgic dance theme gets people in the door, but the happy hour is what keeps them there. Each weekday from 5-8 p.m. Crush offers $7 premium drinks, $9 craft cocktails (including their namesake Orange Crush), and half-priced draft beers. 

Editorā€™s Choice: JR.ā€™s Bar & Grill 


Best Outdoor Drinking: Little Gay Pub

thelittlegaypub.com

1100 P St., N.W.

D.C. may not be known for our year-round perfect weather, but the queer community in the city has always fancied outdoor spaces that offer comfortably cute places to sip and share with friends. Logan Circleā€™s Little Gay Pub was voted this year’s best outdoor drinking spot as it has an enclosed awning, picnic tables with rainbow parasols, and iconic red telephone box mural that makes the bar impossible to miss. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Kiki


Best LGBTQ-Friendly Bar: Dacha Beer Garden

dachabeergarden.com

1600 7th St., N.W. and 79 Potomac Ave., S.E.

Although not owned by a member of the LGBTQ community nor officially a gay bar, you will consistently see groups of D.C.ā€™s LGBTQ community hanging out at Dacha Beer Garden drinking boots of beer and enjoying a selection off the beer gardenā€™s extensive menu. With its giant murals of gay icons Elizabeth Taylor at the Shaw location and Jackie Onassis in the Navy Yard spot, it’s easy to see why gay, straight, and everyone in between can find something they like at Dacha. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Stoneyā€™s 


Best LGBTQ Bar Outside the District: Freddieā€™s Beach Bar

freddiesbeachbar.com

555 23rd St. S 

Arlington, Va.

It is difficult to talk about the LGBTQ bar scene in the DMV without mentioning Freddieā€™s Beach Bar in Arlington. Freddieā€™s has been a staple LGBTQ bar in the area since it opened more than 20 years ago. Serving classic cocktails and a full menu, its famous Sunday Buffet Brunch, and daily events including drag shows, bingo, and karaoke, it makes sense that Washington Blade readers voted Freddieā€™s the best ā€œLGBTQ+ but straight friendly restaurant and barā€ outside of the District. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Baltimore Eagle


nga.gov

6th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W.

(Photo by jiawangkun/Bigstock)

The National Gallery of Art earned the title of Best Museum this year, taking the title from the National Air & Space Museum. Home to more than 150,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings, the gallery showcases masterpieces by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, as well as the only Leonardo da Vinci painting outside of Europe, alongside contemporary art. Moreover, the gallery features an impressive collection of works by queer artists, including Ellsworth Kelly, Zanele Muholi, and Andy Warhol, which you can explore with a 45-minute self-guided tour. The galleryā€™s stunning architecture ā€“ā€“ with one building in neoclassical and the other in modern style ā€“ā€“ is worth the visit alone. Admission is free, and unlike the Air & Space Museum, advance ticket reservations are not required.

Editorā€™s Choice: National Museum of African American History & Culture


COMMUNITY

Best Local TV/Radio Personality: Kidd Oā€™Shea

At 16 years old, Good Morning Washington (GMW) co-host Kidd Oā€™Shea would make fake radio shows in his bedroom he would later play for his friend on a cassette tape during their drive to school.

Now, heā€™s the winner of the Washington Bladeā€™s Best of LGBTQ DC Local Radio/TV Personality award.

ā€œI am so lucky to be able to do what I get to do, and to be able to do it in this city,ā€ Oā€™Shea said. 

Oā€™Shea has been a co-host and travel correspondent for GMW on ABC7 for nearly 10 years. His bright energy and passion for visiting new places have made him a television and radio staple for the D.C. community.

Britt Waters, a GMW co-host and the recipient of this award last year, has known Oā€™Shea for 10 years and has worked with him for three.

She said the recognition was long overdue given how much the community adores Oā€™Shea.

ā€œI may have won last year, but I think my mom voted for Kidd last year,ā€ Waters said. ā€œThat just shows you how lovable he is.ā€

Before Oā€™Shea came to D.C., he worked in radio in his hometown of Milwaukee.

He initially dreamed of being on broadcast news as a teenager, and would record segments with his friends who owned camcorders. After meeting a neighbor who was a local TV news anchor, Oā€™Shea was advised to get his start in radio ā€“ā€“ and thatā€™s exactly what he did.

ā€œI literally picked up a phone book and looked up small radio stations, and there was one about 45 minutes from my parentsā€™ house,ā€ he said. ā€œIt was a polka country music station that played gospel music Sunday morning at 7 a.m.ā€

He worked a 1-7 a.m. shift at that station for three months, but ultimately decided he was ā€œready for the big city.ā€ Oā€™Shea called a Milwaukee radio station and got his start pushing buttons and answering phones but eventually worked his way up.

Oā€™Shea said heā€™s grateful to be pursuing a career where sharing your personal life is encouraged. He joked that he talks about his partner of five years ā€œevery other sentenceā€ to his GMW co-hosts, but said heā€™s excited to work in a space where he can be open.

ā€œComing up through radio, thatā€™s really how you make that connection is being honest and open,ā€ he said. ā€œIf I met you at a bar on a Friday night, I would tell you the same story that I tell you the next morning on the radio or TV.ā€

Oā€™Shea has been a visible presence for the LGBTQ community since he first opened up about his identity on air on a Milwaukee radio show he co-hosted called the Kidd and Elizabeth Show.

After former President Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage in 2012, Oā€™Shea casually offered his thoughts on the endorsement ā€œas a gay manā€ with his co-host Elizabeth Kay.

ā€œListeners were like, ā€˜I think Kidd just said he’s gay,ā€™ā€ he said. ā€œThat was a really important moment in my career, because while I wasn’t hiding it, I was still not revealing completely who I was. And once I did, people understood my relationship better with my co-host.ā€

Shortly after that segment, a 17-year-old boy called into the show to get advice about coming out to his parents.

The next day, the boy called back to tell them he did it and everything went great.

ā€œ[Itā€™s worth it] if just one person feels more comfortable by waking up and seeing me on television and being like, ā€˜Oh, I’m not alone, I’m not different,ā€™ā€ Oā€™Shea said. ā€œI think that visibility is just so important.ā€

Waters said Oā€™Shea and the GMW teamā€™s appeal to the community that people see on screen is what they see in real life.

Waters said she was nervous to meet Oā€™Shea for the first time 10 years ago, as she assumed he would be a ā€œbuttoned-up entertainment reporter.ā€ But when she got to know him, she realized he was authentic and attracted to the simple things in life.

ā€œYou give him vodka soda, the same meal every week at Annie’s and a good conversation,ā€ Waters said. ā€œIt’s crazy, because he travels the world and gets to do all of these different excursions and experiences for the show. But I think he values being with us most and in our community in D.C., having a good time.ā€

Itā€™s the vibrant and supportive D.C. community that Oā€™Shea said keeps him grounded in the area.

ā€œAfter moving here and finding great friends, a great community, a great job and supportive coworkers ā€“ā€“ I’m going to keep riding this one as long as I possibly can,ā€ Oā€™Shea said. (Clinton Engelberger)

Runner-Up: Chuck Bell, NBC4


Best LGBTQ Event: Capital Pride 

capitalpride.org

2000 14th St., N.W.

Whatā€™s D.C. without Capital Pride ā€” the crown jewel of all Pride events in the nationā€™s capital? Not only does this yearly event attract tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world, it is a celebration of the color and vibrancy the D.C. LGBTQ scene has to offer. And 2025 promises to be the biggest year yet for Capital Pride as the city prepares to host World Pride, which is expected to bring 2 million visitors to D.C. in May and June.

Editorā€™s Choice: Pride Run 5K 


Best Pride Outside of D.C: Baltimore Pride

baltimorepride.com

One of the buzziest events of the summer, Baltimore Pride is a showcase for the beauty of Baltimoreā€™s LGBTQ scene. It features a parade and festival with plenty of diverse vendors and a less corporate vibe than many other urban Pride celebrations.

Editorā€™s Choice: Annapolis Pride


Best Clergy: Bishop. Thomas Wieczorek

(Photo courtesy of Wieczorek)

Thomas Wieczorekā€™s popularity as a longstanding clergy member and priest with the D.C.-based affiliate parish of St. Maryā€™s National Catholic Church of North America prompted his fellow priests and bishops in 2022 to elect him as an auxiliary bishop.

Rather than a breakaway version of the Roman Catholic Church, Wieczorek describes the National Catholic Church of North America as an independent Catholic Church that ordains married, LGBTQ clergy and ā€œwelcomes and affirms ALL to the table.ā€ He holds a weekly virtual church service via Facebook Live to meet the needs of what he calls an active community that offers sacraments including baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, and marriage.

He also notes that his wide-ranging ā€œchapters in lifeā€ include being a newspaper reporter, police officer, fire chief, public safety director, and city manager. As if that were not enough, he is an owner and partner in a consulting firm that assists local governments with public safety issues throughout the U.S. and Canada and is the father of two and grandfather of seven.

Runner-up: Rev. Ashley Goff


Best House of Worship: Sixth & I 

sixthandi.org

600 I St., N.W.

This historic synagogue is a non-denominational, non-membership, non-traditional Jewish congregation. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the city and is well-known for hosting many lectures, concerts, and art exhibitions for the general public.

Editorā€™s Choice: Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. 


Most Committed Activist: Rayceen Pendarvis

Rayceen Pendarvis has once again been selected as Most Committed Activist in the role of longtime event moderator, emcee, entertainer, and LGBTQ rights advocate. Pendarvis became a well-known and admired figure in the local LGBTQ community as host of the ā€œAsk Rayceen Show,ā€ a live monthly variety program that had a 10-year run from 2012 to 2021.

Pendarvis has also served as an elected D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and has hosted multiple fundraisers, Pride celebrations, arts festivals, talent shows, fashion shows, and other events. In June of 2021, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Pendarvisā€™s accomplishments that it said made D.C. a better city. And that same year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a mayoral proclamation recognizing the contributions of Pendarvis and the ā€œAsk Rayceen Show.ā€

Since 2014, with the help of associate Zar, Pendarvis has been the lead public figure in the organization Team Rayceen Productions, which organizes a wide range of LGBTQ community events, many of which are broadcast live on its YouTube channel.  

Runner-up: Ashley Smith


Best D.C. Public Official: Christina Henderson

D.C. Council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large) has been an outspoken longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community since first winning election to the Council in 2020 as well as in her prior work as a D.C. government official and as Deputy Chief of Staff for former D.C. Council member David Grosso, who was also an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights.

 In her role as chair of the Councilā€™s Committee on Health and as a member of the Committee on The Judiciary and Public Safety, Henderson has backed legislation and policies supportive of LGBTQ issues. She received a +10-candidate rating, the highest possible rating, from the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance in her 2020 election campaign, and a +8.5 GLAA rating in her re-election race this year, a rating that GLAA has described as very good.  

As she has in past years, Henderson marched in this yearā€™s Capital Pride Parade and participated in a Capital Pride ā€œKick Offā€ ceremony.

Runner-up: Japer Bowles


Best Daytrip: Annapolis

Next time you need a quick getaway, check out the endless activities in Marylandā€™s charming capital city on the Chesapeake. 

Check out the famous historical landmarks like the Maryland State House and St. Anneā€™s Church. Explore the plethora of antique shops like Blue Crab Antiques and West Annapolis Antiques. 

And you canā€™t visit without indulging in seafood dining spots like Cantlerā€™s and Oā€™Learys Seafood. There are also several gardens and parks, like Broadneck Park (613 College Pkwy.) or the Chase Home Garden (22 Maryland Ave.) where you can unplug and enjoy a stroll.

Editorā€™s Choice: Harpers Ferry


Best Local Professional Sports Team: Washington Spirit

washingtonspirit.com

(Photo courtesy of Washington Spirit)

D.C. is a sports city, home to many teams that play hard to earn their touchdowns, homeruns, and goals. This year Blade readers voted the Washington Spirit, our premier professional womenā€™s soccer team, as the best local professional sports team. The incredible team is currently ranked second in the NWSL and has consistently supported local LGBTQ groups, like SMYAL. The Spirit understands the importance of playing hard and LGBTQ representation in sports.

Editorā€™s Choice: DC United


Best Amateur Sports League: Stonewall Bocce 

stonewallbocce.leagueapps.com

Logan Circle., N.W.

(Photo by John Jack Photography; courtesy Stonewall Bocce)

A first-time winner in this category, Stonewall Bocce has grown from 80 members in its 2011 debut season to more than 780 players today. The league combines friendly competition with a strong commitment to the local community: As part of the nonprofit Stonewall Sports, Inc., the leagueā€™s mission is to donate 80 percent of its profits to local organizations that support those in need. Each of the 58 teams ā€“ā€“ sporting witty names such as My Bocce My Choice, Son of a Bocce, and Ball Me Maybe ā€“ā€“ gets to pick its own charity to support. Games are held every Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at Logan Circle and happy hour socials are regularly hosted at local spots.

Editorā€™s Choice: DC Gay Flag Football


Best LGBTQ Social Group: Gay Menā€™s Chorus of Washington 

gmcw.org

1517 18th St., N.W.

More than 250 voices strong, the Gay Menā€™s Chorus of Washington delivers electrifying performances that blend song, dance, and storytelling. Featuring three vocal ensembles, a youth chorus, and a dance troupe, the group has become a staple of the music scene in D.C. and beyond. As part of the ā€œEquality Tour,ā€ the chorus has spread the message of ā€œequality, dignity, and justiceā€ in cities across the country. In 2025, the GMCW will host a two-week International Choral Festival for World Pride, in which choruses from across the U.S. will join GMCW for ā€œpop-upā€ concerts at various venues near the National Mall. Donā€™t miss their upcoming fall cabaret at the Keegan Theater on Oct. 19, or catch the always popular Holiday Show returning on Dec. 7. 

Editorā€™s Choice: DC Gay Girls Plus


Best Non-Profit: SMYAL

smyal.org

SMYAL remains a cornerstone for LGBTQ youth in the D.C. area. Through its after-school programs, counseling services, and development opportunities, SMYAL provides queer and trans youth with safe spaces to express themselves, find support, and build community. In addition, the organization awards $35,000 in scholarships to students each year and also provides vital education and training for adults working with LGBTQ youth in schools, housing programs, local government agencies, and hospitals. SMYAL has pioneered innovative initiatives, including its Youth Housing Program, which is the largest LGBTQ youth housing provider in the DMV. This program offers more than 55 residents LGBTQ-affirming care and personalized services designed to help them achieve sustainable independence. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, SMYAL continues to empower LGBTQ youth, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to thrive.

Editorā€™s Choice: Capital Pride Alliance


Best LGBTQ Community Center Outside of D.C.: CAMP Rehoboth

camprehoboth.org

37 Baltimore Ave. 

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

CAMP Rehoboth is an invaluable LGBTQ+ community center serving southern Delaware and beyond that is committed to fostering inclusivity for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Founded in the 1990s as a response to backlash against growing queer visibility in Rehoboth Beach, the organization has since become an essential force in building a safer, more accepting community. Describing itself as ā€œan oasis and a voice for members of the LGBTQ+ community,ā€ CAMP Rehoboth continues to look ahead with its strategic plan, ā€œPride in Progress,ā€ which focuses on expanding its programs and services beyond Rehoboth Beach to maximize its impact. The center has also published Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, a free monthly newsletter chronicling LGBTQ+ life in the area, since its founding. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Pride Center of Maryland


Best Local Website/Social Media Account: Washingtonian Problems

From challenges on the Metro to crime in the DMV, local elections, and cool things to do when youā€™re entertaining out-of-town guests, Washingtonian Problems spotlights the best ā€” and, often, the worst ā€” that our Nationā€™s Capital has to offer.

Editorā€™s Choice: Queer Talk DC


BUSINESS

Best Local Businessperson: Freddie Lutz, Freddieā€™s Beach Bar

Freddie Lutz, the owner of Freddieā€™s Beach Bar and Restaurant in the Crystal City section of Arlington, Va., since 2001, has been recognized as a leading figure in support of the LGBTQ community and community business development in the section of Arlington where Freddieā€™s is located known as National Landing.

In 2018, Lutz opened his second business in Crystal City, Federicoā€™s Ristorante Italiano, which is located on the same block on 23rd Street as Freddieā€™s Beach Bar and in the same building in which the iconic CafĆ© Italia was located and where Lutz began his career in the restaurant business in the 1970s as the Maitre’d. In October of 2021, Lutz opened a Freddieā€™s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Lutz has referred to Freddieā€™s in Arlington and Rehoboth as ā€œstraight friendlyā€ gay bars, where he has said everyone supportive of the LGBTQ community, especially those considered allies, are welcome. The entertainment offered at Freddieā€™s, including karaoke, drag bingo, and highly popular drag shows, have drawn large crowds. Also drawing crowds have been the LGBTQ community events such as fundraisers that Freddieā€™s has hosted.    

Among the many honors and awards received by Lutz and Freddieā€™s Beach Bar was the 2017 Arlington County Human Rights Commissionā€™s Human Rights Award honoring Freddieā€™s for its ā€œoutstanding accomplishmentsā€ in advancing human rights.

 “I’m extremely proud of what I’ve done at Freddie’s, with all the diversity and the accolades,” Lutz told the Blade. “But I’ve always felt like I left my heart at Cafe Italia and now Federico’s.”

Runner-up: Russwin Francisco, Bite the Fruit


Best Medical Provider: Whitman-Walker Health

whitman-walker.org

Multiple locations

Whitman-Walker Health has been serving D.C. since 1973.

Named after Walt Whitman, who once lived in Washington, and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a physician who worked in D.C. during the Civil War before she became a womenā€™s rights activist, Whitman-Walker was one of the first organizations to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the city. 

Whitman-Walkerā€™s mission has expanded to include legal services and general medical and dental care for LGBTQ Washingtonians and the cityā€™s residents as a whole.

Editorā€™s Choice: AIDS Healthcare Foundation

The Blade also acknowledges AIDS Healthcare Foundation for its continued work in D.C. and around the world.


Best Lawyer: A.J. Singletary

(Photo courtesy of Singletary)

A.J. Singletary works on clean air and climate law, policy and transactions as a lawyer with Van Ness Feldman. 

He represents renewable energy developers, power plant operators, vehicle and engine manufacturers, policy institutes and related clients on matters including strategic direction related to environmental law and policy, air quality permits under the Clean Air Act, regulation of vehicle emissions, new and existing climate change laws and regulations and offshore wind development.

Singletary, whoā€™s gay, is also a mental health advocate and shares his experiences being bipolar and sober to reduce stigma around mental health. 

Runner-up: Amy Nelson


Best Dentist: Dr. Gregory Martin, DDS 

gregorymartindds.com

5454 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.

(Photo courtesy of Martin)

Dr. Gregory Martin and his team are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, heard and valued. They deliver dental care comprehensively, scientifically, and cosmetically to focus on the mouth/body connection at every step. 

Dr. Martinā€™s comprehensive approach offers a full complement of modern, digital and precise dentistry adjacent to a complete suite of pioneering state-of-the-art medical grade aesthetics ensuring that oral health and confidence always goes far beyond the smile. Heā€™s openly gay. 

Dr. Martinā€™s office offers free tattoo removal for all patients, one of many extras available. Dr. Martin is a native to the D.C. area and a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

Runner-up: Dr. Rob McKernan, Big Gay Smiles & Whitman-Walker Health


Best Private School: Barrie School

13500 Layhill Rd.

Silver Spring, Md.

(Screen capture of Barrie School via YouTube)

Barrie School bills itself as a ā€œprogressive independent school that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation and responsibility through innovation in learning.ā€

With students starting at 3 months of age through grade 12, the Silver Spring, Md.-based school features a 45-acre campus that boasts an ā€œextraordinary learning environment integrating local, national and global educational opportunities.ā€ 

Editorā€™s Choice: Burgundy Farm Country Day School


Best Real Estate Agent: Stacey Williams-Zeiger, Zeiger Realty

zeigerrealty.com

10300 Sweetbriar Pkwy 

Silver Spring, Md.

(Photo courtesy Williams-Zieger; background by Michael Key/Washington Blade)

Zeiger Realty real estate offers brokerage services in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. This award-winning company doesnā€™t only buy and sell houses, itā€™s committed to building a welcoming community. 

Runner-up: Taylor Carney, Compass


Best Real Estate Group: Bediz Group, Keller Williams

bediz.com

1918 18th St., N.W. 

Bediz Group is a team of nine real estate agents with Keller Williams, one of the largest realty firms in the DMV. This firm is no stranger to five-star reviews and awards for its exceptional work. It offers a comprehensive suite of real estate services and is here to assist sellers, buyers, investors, tenants, and landlords. 

Runner-up: Jenn Smira Team, Compass


Best Med Spa: ProMD Health

promdhealth.com

1003 K St., N.W.

(Photo courtesy of ProMD Health)

This spot provides anti-aging treatments, Botox and hormone therapy for patients in the D.C. area. This place is a state-of-the-art medical facility specializing in non-surgical aesthetic treatments and procedures to help patients look younger and feel younger. Whether your goals are prevention, treating a skin concern, looking like you did 10 years ago, or feeling like you did 10 years ago, ProMD Health has something for everyone.

Editorā€™s Choice: Honey Skincare Studio


Best Hotel: Conrad

conradwashingtondc.com

950 New York Ave., N.W.

(Photo courtesy of Conrad)

A self-described ā€œunexpected urban oasis,ā€ this hotel is where you go to experience modern luxury in D.C. With an art-forward approach to contemporary luxury, Conrad invites guests to experience D.C. through the lens of a local resident of the District and enjoy the culture and color that makes our nationā€™s capital one of the most incredible cities in the world. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Eaton DC


Best Tattoo Parlor: Tattoo Paradise

tattooparadisedc.com

2444 18th St., N.W.

This popular tattoo spot has been serving the D.C. area since 2003. The artists here pride themselves on providing exceptional tattooing and body piercing services. The team consists of skilled in-house tattoo artists combined with a roster of talented guest tattooers from all over.

Editorā€™s Choice: Fattyā€™s Tattoos 


Best Adult Store: Bite the Fruit

btfonline.store

1723 Connecticut Ave., N.W.

The age of pleasure never ends and where else to grab the best tools than here? Bite the Fruit is a peerless adult boutique shop of provocative apparel and sexual furnishings. As the store itself says, ā€œPlay like nobody’s watching!ā€

Editorā€™s Choice: Whatā€™s Your Pleasure D.C.


Best Car Dealership: BMW of Fairfax

bmwoffairfax.com

8427 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA

Looking for a sleek, classy car thatā€™ll get you all the compliments? BMW of Fairfax has got you covered. Not only do the car dealers here provide great customer service and help you find the car of your dreams, they have access to Sonic’s nationwide inventory of new and pre-owned BMWs so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Editorā€™s Choice: DARCARS


Best Fitness or Workout Spot: VIDA Fitness

vidafitness.com

Multiple locations

(Photo courtesy of VIDA Fitness)

With amenities like private personal training sessions, classes taught by nationally accredited coaches, state-of-the-art equipment, and the exclusive Penthouse Pool, Vida Fitness is understandably one of the DMVā€™s most known gyms. Vida Fitness is more than just a gym; it’s a community hub for LGBTQ individuals looking to stay active. Its inclusive environment and regular LGBTQ-friendly events make it a standout spot for fitness and social connections alike.

Editorā€™s Choice: [solidcore]


Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace: Whitman-Walker Health

whitman-walker.org

1525 14th St., N.W.

Whitman-Walker Health, the 2023 winner of the ā€œMedical Providerā€ category, is not only dedicated to patient care but also to the well-being of its employees. Located at Logan Circle, the organization is a pillar in D.C.ā€™s LGBTQ community, known for offering stigma-free healthcare and legal services. As one of the first organizations to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the city, Whitman-Walker continues to lead through the Whitman-Walker Institute, which emphasizes education and advocacy, while housing a research center pursuing breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention. Employees receive a generous benefit package that includes tuition reimbursement, continuing education funds, and domestic partnership benefits.

Editorā€™s Choice: Stratus Firm 


Best Home Furnishings: Miss Pixieā€™s 

misspixies.com

1830 Columbia Rd., N.W.

Whether youā€™ve just moved to D.C. and need to furnish your apartment or youā€™re searching for that perfect addition to your ā€œwhatnots,ā€ Miss Pixieā€™s is the go-to spot. The home furnishing store is packed with chairs, tables, couches, bookshelves, paintings, vases, photos, magazines, offering anything ā€œVictorian to yesterday with a bit of midcentury and shabby chic thrown inā€ that might fancy up your living quarters. This year, Miss Pixieā€™s relocated from 14th Street back to Adams Morgan, a return to the neighborhood where it first opened shop in the late 1990s. Miss Pixieā€™s keeps its 34,000 followers on its Instagram page happy with a steady feed of unique finds ā€“ā€“ whether itā€™s a framed map of Rehoboth Beach or a charming table-and-chair set for your balcony. Items are affordably priced and new treasures arrive every Thursday and Friday. 

Editorā€™s Choice: GoodWood


Best Pet Business or Veterinarian: City Dogs

city-dogs.com

1832 18th St., N.W.

Whether your furry friend needs a quick haircut, a fun day at daycare, or an overnight stay while youā€™re away, City Dogs has it all covered. Locally owned and operated, City Dogs offers a loving, cage-free environment with experienced staff. Their services include grooming, daycare, and boarding, with convenient drop-off and pick-up options. Daycare is especially helpful for new puppies and recently adopted rescue dogs, with City Dogs providing attention and socialization while youā€™re at work. Dogs are grouped by size and play style, with smaller, gentle pups and seniors in one room, and larger, more energetic dogs in another, ensuring a safe and playful experience for every pet.

Editorā€™s Choice: District Dogs


Best Alternative Transportation: Metro

wmata.com

Thanks to its exceptional Metro system, D.C. is one of the few cities in the U.S. where you are able to live comfortably without a car. The Metro is fast and reliable ā€“ā€“ you usually donā€™t wait longer than 10 minutes for the next train ā€“ā€“ and itā€™s incredibly user-friendly. Stations are not only clean but also feature the iconic concrete arch, with warm, calming lighting enhancing your commuting experience. Itā€™s easy to travel across the greater D.C. area: You can get from Nationals Park to U Street, or from Arlington to Dupont Circle, in under 20 minutes. And for areas not directly served by the MetroRail, the extensive MetroBus network provides excellent connectivity. This combination gives D.C. one of the best public transportation systems in the country. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Capital Bikeshare


Best Salon/Spa: Logan 14

logan14salonspa.com

1314 14th St., N.W.

After eight consecutive wins in this category, Logan 14 was voted Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace in 2023, but it reclaimed the Best Salon/Spa title this year. Logan 14 offers a wide range of beauty and wellness services, describing itself as ā€œa sanctuary in the middle of busy Washington, D.C.ā€ About 75 percent of its clientele identifies as LGBTQ, and it is staffed by passionate beauty professionals skilled in haircuts, coloring, bridal services, rejuvenating massages and skincare treatments. The medspa features other options such as Botox, fillers, and laser hair removal. Logan 14 exclusively uses Aveda products, due to its environmentally conscious manufacturing. With a focus on inclusivity and exceptional service, Logan 14 continues to be a beloved destination for beauty and wellness in the heart of the city.

Editorā€™s Choice: Salon Quency


REHOBOTH BEACH

Best Rehoboth-Area Bartender: Doug Moore, Starboard

thestarboard.com

2009 DE-1

Dewey Beach, Del. 

Anyone whoā€™s been to the Starboard in Dewey Beach knows Doug Moore, the ever-smiling, energetic bartender and first-time winner in this category. 

Moore, whoā€™s gay, has worked at the ā€˜board for 17 years, starting in 2007 in the gift shop, then moving to serving, then to bartending. He helped to open the Shark Tank, the Starboardā€™s year-round bar located at the front of the sprawling complex, in 2008 and says that since then, ā€œcrushes have taken over.ā€

He has seen a lot of change in 17 years as the area has become ā€œa lot more year round down here, which we love. People are moving here and retiring here so itā€™s amazing. More people are discovering what a great destination the Delaware shore is.ā€

The other big change Moore has seen came in his personal life. Heā€™s now nearly five years sober and serves on the board of Attack Addiction, a non-profit that works to de-stigmatize substance abuse.

Moore, who recently turned 40, is single, lives in Rehoboth, and enjoys beach volleyball. He grew up in Bear, Del., and graduated from the University of Delaware. He says he enjoys seeing Rehoboth gay guys migrating to Dewey Beach; he works five days a week, so stop by and say hello.

ā€œWe are come one come all at the Starboard,ā€ he enthuses. ā€œYouā€™ll see everyone from six-month-old babies to a group of gay guys for Sunday brunch to bikers next to nuns next to senior week partiers. We put on a good time and everyone is there to have fun.ā€

Runner-Up: Zack West, Nalu


Best Rehoboth Drag Queen: Magnolia Applebottom

Magnolia has quickly become an iconic figure on the Rehoboth nightlife scene, winning this category multiple times, including last year. She is a tireless performer, taking the stage at venues across Rehoboth Beach and even across Delaware. At Diegoā€™s she presides over the popular Splash party, which took this yearā€™s award for Best Rehoboth Drag Show. In addition to her inventive costumes and witty banter, Magnolia sings live, which has endeared her to audiences all year long. In addition to her regular duties at Diegoā€™s and Blue Moon, sheā€™s headlined Salisbury Pride for three years and co-headlined a terrific show with pianist Nate Buccieri in Milton, Del., this summer.

Runner-up: Roxy Overbrooke


Best Rehoboth Drag Show: Splash Party with Magnolia Applebottom at Diegoā€™s 

Diegosbarnightclub.com

37298 Rehoboth Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Magnolia extends her winning streak to this category, edging out the competition, which is stiff in Rehoboth. Whether sheā€™s celebrating Pride or covering Whitney Houston and getting the customers dancing, Mags gives it her all and Rehoboth readers have responded with two resounding wins this year.

Editorā€™s Choice: Drag Brunch at the Pines 


Best Rehoboth-Area Live Show: Pamala Stanley at Diegoā€™s 

 Diegosbarnightclub.com

37298 Rehoboth Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

What can we say about Pamala Stanley that we havenā€™t said before? The Blade crowned her ā€œQueen of Rehobothā€ years ago for a reason. Sheā€™s played multiple venues in town over the years but her latest residency at Diegoā€™s feels like a return to the good old days of the Blue Moon, with its indoor-outdoor stage, room for dancing, shirtless shot boys, and over-the-top party vibe. She packed Diegoā€™s all summer with her longstanding Sunday night dance party and added a Broadway piano show on Monday nights, both of which will continue through the holidays. Pamala is true talent, wowing crowds with her voice and somehow managing to remember the lyrics to everything from Janet Jackson to Johnny Mathis. We simply canā€™t imagine the town without her. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Games with Magnolia at Blue Moon


Best Rehoboth Outdoor Dining: Purple Parrot

ppgrill.com

134 Rehoboth Ave. 

Rehoboth Beach, Del. 

The gay-owned Purple Parrot celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and it remains a local institution. The bar and restaurant, which serve American cuisine with a beach flair, have always focused on being a welcoming space for all. Co-owner Hugh Fuller told the Blade earlier this year that this is one of the reasons why the restaurant has had such a lasting impact. 

ā€œBack in the ā€˜90s when we first opened up, the amount of straight crossdressers that would come were like, ā€˜Oh, are we allowed to come in? Are we welcomed into a place like that?ā€™ And we were like ā€˜Everybody that walks on this planet is welcome here!ā€™ā€ Fuller said. ā€œThose are the kinds of things, you know, where people just felt comfortable. They would get stared at out on the street, but inside they would walk around and feel like they were in their own skin. It was just really cool to see.ā€

The menu includes crab cakes, burgers, quesadillas, and more, along with special prime rib and German cuisine nights. The vibe is decidedly beachy in the Biergarten with sand, an outdoor bar with a roof covered in flowers, and umbrellas.

Editorā€™s Choice: Aqua 


Best Rehoboth Coffee Shop: Crystal Restaurant

37300 Rehoboth Ave., Ext. 1

Rehoboth Beach, Del. 

Crystal is a new winner in this category, beloved for its diner vibe and affordable, delicious breakfasts, the perfect hangover cure after a long night next door at Diegoā€™s. You can certainly pay more for a satisfying plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns, but why would you? Locals and tourists alike have been flocking here for years for the food, service, and coffee and the Bladeā€™s readers have finally taken notice.

Editorā€™s Choice: Rise Up 


Best Rehoboth Restaurant: Blue Moon

Bluemoonrehoboth.com

35 Baltimore Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

This category has grown more competitive in recent years with the arrival of The Pines, Drift, and Bodhi Kitchen, all within a stoneā€™s throw of the iconic Moon. The proprietors of Second Block Hospitality Group, which owns those three popular spots, even won Restaurateurs of the Year from the Delaware Restaurant Association earlier this month. But the Blue Moon is standing strong and is beloved by Blade readers for its longevity, year-round entertainment, and, of course, its food. The popular Tasting Tuesday returned last month and runs through the off-season, offering discounted three-course dinners with wine pairings. Sunday brunch remains among the best in town. A visit to Rehoboth simply isnā€™t complete without a stop at the Moon.

Editorā€™s Choice: Henlopen City Oyster House


Best Rehoboth Real Estate Agent: Lee Ann Wilkinson

Leeanngroup.com

16698 Kings Highway A

Lewes, Del.

(Photo courtesy Lee Ann Wilkinson)

This category was closer than in recent years, but Lee Ann Wilkinson stays on top for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year. Maybe we should name this award after her? 

Wilkinson, of Berkshire Hathaway, earlier this year celebrated a major industry award after being named No. 1 in total sales volume for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Network. Sheā€™s an LGBTQ ally and the Blade profiled her in May. She told us then, ā€œI grew up coming down for the summer until my family moved here full-time from Norristown, outside of Philly. We had businesses and family in Rehoboth. I think Rehoboth has always been gay-friendly. We never thought about it. My grandfather had a house in Rehoboth before I was born. The gay population was always welcome.ā€ 

Three of Wilkinsonā€™s four daughters work for her and she told the Blade she has no plans to retire anytime soon. So we could see the family in this category again.

Runner-up: Andy Staton


Best Rehoboth Business: Diegoā€™s 

Diegosbarnightclub.com

37298 Rehoboth Ave.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Diegoā€™s pivoted during COVID and added an expansive outdoor bar area that has proven exceedingly popular with LGBTQ crowds. Owners Darryl and Joe Ciarlante-Zuber opened in 2018 and have done an exceptional job of programming the non-stop entertainment, including drag shows, world-renowned DJs, and the aforementioned Pamala Stanley. The bartenders are always welcoming and efficient, keeping the large crowds satisfied. Diegoā€™s has become the go-to place for late-night dancing and remains popular at happy hour and, of course, on Sundays. 

Editorā€™s Choice: Aqua Bar & Grill

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