You’ll know you have arrived at John Waters’ Christmas party when you see the wreath of thorns.

Ricky the doorman — he’s worked this party for 25 years — will not let you past the heavy wooden door unless your name is on the list. You might be able to bring a plus-one. But only one. Waters does not like strangers snooping around his home in Tuscany-Canterbury.

Politicians, actors, old neighbors from Reservoir Hill, childhood friends from Lutherville, sexy bartenders and waiters and party kids are on the list. Of course, all the Dreamlanders, the core of friends who made Waters’ films, are there. So are some of the parolees Waters taught while they were in prison.

Once a former convict and the judge who sent him to jail stood around the banquet table together.

(Click here to read the rest of the story at The Baltimore Sun’s site.)