Presented by Safeway, The Best of The DMV is The Washington Informer’s inaugural effort to celebrate the best and brightest across this amazing community we’re proud to call home.
With nearly 1,700 nominations, we were challenged to narrow down dozens of worthy contenders whose categories simply didn’t receive enough engagement to move forward. In the end, more than 15,000 votes were cast — and every finalist earned their place as one of the top three vote-getters in their sub-category by rallying supporters and inspiring enthusiasm throughout both the nomination and voting rounds over several months.
Join us on December 21 for the Best of The DMV Winners Celebration & Fundraiser to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music from Elijah Jamal Balbed and The JoGo Project, sets from BOTDMV finalist DJ Lance Reynolds, and a community-focused program recognizing standout businesses, creators, and organizations across the region.
What we’ve learned from this year’s process gives us valuable insight into what matters most to DMV residents. We’re already planning improvements to make nominations and voting even smoother for The Best of The DMV 2026, ensuring we continue to shine a light on the people, places, and organizations that make this region extraordinary.
If you’d like to get involved in The Best of The DMV 2026, please email bestofthedmv@washingtoninformer.com.
Congratulations again to all of our finalists — we can’t wait to share the winners with you on December 21!
Business & Professional Services
Best Black Tech Company
MPIRE Interactive
Barter Black
NGEN
Best Chamber of Commerce or Business Association
Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (VBCC)
Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (NoVaBCC)
Best Construction and Trade Company
Metro Flooring & Interior Design
Blue Skye Construction
Corenic Construction Group
Best Law Firm
District Legal Group, PLLC
The Law Office of Deborah D. Boddie
JS Proctor Law Firm
Best PR or Marketing Firm
GO PROMOTE YOU, LLC
Manifest Greatness Media
Spotted MP (Marketing + Public Relations)
Best Realtor
Char Taylor
Nikki Thompson
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti
Best Print Shop
Signarama Silver Spring, MD
Global Print Master
Minuteman Press Crofton
Petworth Printing
Best Small Business Resource
Foward Movement Enterprises
MoneyTalks Small Business CoHort
Maryland Women’s Business Center
Best Woman- or Minority-Owned Construction and Trade Business
Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
Corenic Construction Group
Kimo Bentley Aesthetic Clinic
Community, Culture & Heritage
Best Black-Owned Business Overall
The Washington Informer
Heart of the City Candles
Noble Integrative Health | Dr. Tierra Hardin
Best Community Organizer
Ronald Moten
Derrell Simpson
The Baptist Ministers’ Conference for Women, Inc. (Upper Marlboro, MD)
Best DMV-Based Nonprofit
The William O. Lockridge Community Foundation
The Baptist Ministers’ Conference for Women, Inc. (Upper Marlboro, MD)
The StoreHouse
Best Cultural Curator
The Museum
Neverlanding
The Spotlight DMV
Best Business Improvement District (BID)
DowntownDC BID
Anacostia BID
DC BID Council
Best Black Art Gallery
Art of Noize
Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Best Independent Art Gallery
Overdue Recognition Art Gallery
Anacostia Arts Center
Anacostia Community Museum
DMV Pride
Best DMV HBCU
Morgan State University
Howard University
Bowie State University
Best Fraternity Graduate Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Best Sorority Graduate Chapter
Psi Epison Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Laurel/Bowie, MD
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Beta Alpha Omega Chapter – Springfield, VA
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Best HBCU Homecoming
Morgan State University
Howard University
Bowie State University
Best Community-Based Newsletter
The Spotlight DMV
The Washington Informer
The Advoc8te
Places & Faith
Best Park or Nature Trail
Rock Creek Park
Fairwood Community Park
Anacostia Park
Best Farmers Market
Ward 8 Farmers Market
Eastern Market
Black + Forth
Best Sunday Service
Alfred Street Baptist Church
Kettering Baptist Church
Clinton Baptist Church
Events, Entertainment & Nightlife
Best Annual Gala
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
Richard Wright’s Annual Sundress, Sneakers, & Stogies
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Best Cultural Festival
Emancipation Day
H Street Festival
Chuck Brown Day Festival
Best DMV Festival
Capital Jazz Inc.
H Street Festival
DC Jazz Festival
Best Event Space / Venue
Songbyrd Music House
The Birchmere
The Lincoln Theatre
Best DJ
DJ Lance Reynolds
DJ Nah Fr
DJ Dirty Rico
Best Live Jazz in the DMV
Mr. Henry’s
Blues Alley Club
The Birchmere
Best Speakeasy
Hill Prince
The Whiskey Bar Anacostia
The Free State Distillery
Best Happy Hour
Daru
The Green Zone
The Whiskey Bar Anacostia
Best Go-Go Band
Rare Essence
Black Alley
TCB
Best Performing Arts Venue
Atlas Performing Arts Center
MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
The Anthem
Best Community Theater
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
DC Black Broadway
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Family, Parenting & Education
Best Family Support Service
Operation Earnies Plate
The iEP Team, LLC
100 Fathers
Best PTA
Eastern Senior High School
Eliot-Hine Middle School
Friendship Public Charter School: Woodridge Elementary
Best Youth Coach or Mentor
Dr. Richard Myles
Selvon Malcolm Waldron
Roman Morris
Best Youth Fitness or Sports Program
Eastern High School Marching Band
2 Fly Boxing Gym
Excel Golf
Food, Drink & Hospitality
Best BBQ
Federalist Pig
DCity Smokehouse
2Fifty Texas BBQ
Best Bakery
The CakeRoom
Baked & Wired
Safeway
Best Black-Owned Restaurant
Ruby’s Southern Comfort Kitchen
DCity Smokehouse
The Strand DC
Best Brunch in the DMV
The Park at 14th
Busboys and Poets
The Strand DC
Best Caribbean Restaurant
Cane
Jerk At Nite College Park
Sapodillas Caribbean Restaurant and Catering DC
Best Carryout
Cafe Curbside
DCity Smokehouse
MLK Deli
Best Late-Night Bites
the DINER
Chicken + Whiskey
Jerk At Nite College Park
Best Local Coffee Shop
Mix and Mingle Coffee Lounge
Grounded: Plant Shop, Cafe, & Wellness Studio
Busboys and Poets
Best Supermarket
Safeway
Best Vegan / Vegetarian Spot
The Land of Kush
Busboys and Poets
ELife Restaurant (Everlasting Life Vegan Restaurant)
Health, Wellness & Self-Care
Best Acupuncturist
Pure Green Dupont Circle
Noble Integrative Health | Dr. Tierra Hardin
Acupuncture by Stephanie Mwangaza Brown
Best Gym
DMV Iron Gym
Her Flex Fitness
9Round Kickboxing Fitness
Best Mental Health Advocate
H.O.P.E. Behavioral Health
Dhyana Parker
Noble Integrative Health | Dr. Tierra Hardin
Best Physical Therapy Clinic
ATI Physical Therapy
The Stretch Loft Lanham
Solace PT & Pelvic Wellness
Best Smoothie / Juice Bar
South Block
Turning Natural
The Waterhole
Best Wellness Spa
Grounded: Plant Shop, Cafe, & Wellness Studio
Salamander Washington DC
The Red Bloom
Holistic Wellness & Cannabis
Best DC-Based Dispensary
Cookies DC
Anacostia Organics
Best MD-Based Dispensary
Ascend Dispensary – Laurel
Mary & Main: A Cannabis Dispensary
Hemp Haven Wellness Center
Media, Creators & Influence
Best Digital Creator
NaturallySunny / Atiya
The Spotlight DMV
B Carter Solutions
Best Community Journalist
The Media Prince
The Spotlight DMV
Kelsey Nicole Nelson
Best Local News Organization
The Washington Informer
Howard University – WHUR-FM 96.3
Listen In With KNN
Best Local Podcast
Listen In With KNN
Partymode Live
Kelsey Nicole Nelson
Best Morning Show
The Good Morning Show WPGC
Howard University – WHUR-FM 96.3
Wake N Bake with BeMo
Best Radio Personality
DJ Lance Reynolds
Kelsey Nicole Nelson
Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead
Style, Beauty & Shopping
Best Black-Owned Boutique
Hush Boutique
Express Yourself DMV
Rent The Dress DC
Best Cosmetics / Beauty Brand
Gabbys World Designs
Skin Beauty Bar
Good Brows
Best Entrepreneur Marketplace
Express Yourself DMV
Black + Forth
Maryland Women’s Business Center Shop Local Bowie Town Center
Best Florist
Flowers By Alexes
Safeway
Lee’s Flower And Card Shop Inc
Youth, High School & College Life
Best Youth Coach or Mentor
Dr. Richard Myles
Selvon Malcolm Waldron
Roman Morris
Best Youth Fitness or Sports Program
Eastern High School Marching Band
2 Fly Boxing Gym
Excel Golf