If you've ever bought flowers from a grocery store or florist, you've probably found yourself staring at that tiny packet of flower food, wondering: Does this stuff actually do anything? Or is it just marketing? The short answer is yes—it absolutely works. But perhaps not for the reasons most people think.

As a shopkeeper, I can say with confidence that store owners are ready for these two weekends in August: Virginia Tax-Free Weekend, August 7–9, followed by the Alexandria Sidewalk Sale the next weekend, August 14–16. These two citywide events are a sign that summer is winding down and fall is just around the corner.

While summer may still be in full swing, late August is the perfect time to start preparing your home for the changing seasons. Tackling a few simple maintenance projects now can help prevent costly repairs, improve your home's efficiency, and ensure it's ready for cooler temperatures in the months ahead.

Fabled Ice Cream is a passion project rooted in the belief that good food can tell a story, and good stories make for great experiences. Every pint is handpacked with a premium, locally made ice cream inspired by books and storytelling. Our first two flavors? Jane Eyre Grey (tea with lavender and lemon), and Cliff Hanger (peanut butter with craggy chocolate covered pretzels).

As our family prepares to leave Alexandria after many meaningful years, I've found myself reflecting on how much this city has shaped me. Like many people, I came to the Washington region as a college student expecting to stay only briefly. One opportunity led to another, and before I knew it, years had passed as I built a career, friendships, and eventually a family in this remarkable place.

When I tell people I own a store one of the first comments usually is: I would love to go to market with you. As a store owner, it is the most fun part of the job and also the most stressful. Despite the fact that I have been doing this for 24 years now, I still question myself. Also, as the store grows so do the orders. Which is what you want, but sometimes when I place an order my nerves can take over a bit.

The Patterson Group sat down with local author Christine Gunderson to talk through her latest novel, Behind White Picket Fences, and the real conversations with Alexandria moms that inspired it. Discover the surprising question at the heart of her book — and why she thinks it's one every modern parent is quietly asking.

There is something uniquely empowering about your forties and fifties. Many of us have gained confidence, perspective, and a clearer understanding of who we are. Yet it is also the decade when we begin to notice changes in the mirror that seem to happen almost overnight. Skin feels thinner. Fine lines linger longer. The jawline softens. Makeup doesn't sit quite the way it used to.

Our items on the shelves are starting to dwindle and the Alexandria Sidewalk Sale is around the corner. Despite it being the end, we have more items than we would like to have at this point: over 600 to be exact. So in an effort to move a little more before we start the sidewalk sale in a few weeks, we are doing an extra 20 percent off sale for the weekend.

Summer is officially here, and we asked our Alexandria Stylebook contributors to share the books they can't put down this season — from poolside thrillers to memoirs worth texting your friends about, here's what's on their reading lists right now.

Bangkok is the right city to end a long trip on, and I say that having arrived there at the tail end of two weeks through Vietnam and Cambodia, slightly sun-worn and carrying more silk than I had planned to purchase. The city absorbed me immediately. It is large and loud and relentlessly interesting, and it has good hotels and a food scene that does not require any particular effort to find—that it is restorative in a way that more demanding cities are not.

In case you have not heard yet, I have big news: this is the year we are really changing up our shoe selection. I have been trying to figure out how to bring life back to the shoe section and hoping these new additions do the trick. I tend to pick up new brands based on the theory that if I am paying retail for them at another store for my personal collection, they must be good.

Summer style has a way of making us rethink everything in our closets. Heavy layers disappear, linen takes over, and suddenly the simplest outfits become our favorites. A white button-down, a breezy sundress, denim shorts, or a classic black tank are often all you need. The secret? It's the jewelry.

We just marked all sale shoes, clothing, and accessories to 60 percent off, and there are so many items that I have in my own closet. So I thought I would share my top 10 picks. They're my top picks because I own and wear them—in fact, I've worn all of them this spring and summer.

Built in 2018 and thoughtfully customized well beyond the builder's original plans, this exceptional six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath residence seamlessly blends timeless craftsmanship with today's most sought-after amenities.

After more than two decades of coaching men and women how to feel good in their bodies, I have a different solution for how to get where you want to be…and reveal the fitness goal killer that no one (no one!) is really talking about.

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted and maligned white varietals on the planet. It stems from a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, and the name comes from the hamlet of Chardonnay in the Mâconnais region of France. France and other regions in Europe traditionally name their wines for the region they come from, not the exact grape or varietal.

It started with a simple question: What is that game? At the Waynewood pool, Aaricka Oliver and Jenn Morthole kept getting stopped by curious neighbors peering over their table. That curiosity turned into lessons, the lessons turned into a business, and Mount Vernon Mahjong was born.

I know everyone is sick of hearing about sets, but there isn’t a season that goes by when we don’t have a ton of different options. This summer is no different. There are sets for all occasions, and we keep getting more in every week. The set trend also isn’t going anywhere. I just got back from Resort Market, and it was, once again, all about sets. Read more about that later in Alexandria Stylebook.

The little-known condition called sarcopenia may be one of the biggest threats to healthy aging. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable. Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. While it may be common, it doesn't have to define the second half of your life.