Moving to a new city often comes with an unspoken challenge: knowing you want community, but not knowing where to begin looking for it. For two years, Old Town Girlies has been answering that silent call for women across Alexandria. What began as a modest Monday night wine gathering hosted by co-founders Hannah Beth Sprouse and Meaghan Pawelczyk has grown into a vibrant, city-wide movement — connecting thousands of women, sparking genuine friendships, and transforming a transient town into a home.

There is a moment in every session when a child stops noticing everything else around them and looks right into my lens. Their sweet face softens, they open up, and suddenly it is as if I can see the whole world through their eyes. Capturing that moment always brings me so much joy, and takes on a whole new meaning when it is the beginning of an oil portrait project.

I love seeing Boxwood after hours. The shop takes on a completely different feeling when the doors are closed, the glasses are poured, and everyone is gathered around the table creating something. This October we have three very different creative evenings planned. Jewelry, flowers, and needlepoint are all on the calendar, taught by three incredibly talented local women we are so excited to welcome to the shop.

The Veronica Beard trunk show is always our biggest event of the year, and I have a feeling this year’s affair will be no different. They really have gone back to their roots with great suits and separates. I asked our resident model, Jen, to help out and called in another familiar face—and another Courtney—to help us out.

Almost everyone who has tried neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau) knows someone who came out feeling “heavy.” The brows sit lower, the eyes feel tired, and the forehead seems to weigh more than before. It’s one of the most common concerns I hear, and even experienced injectors see it. What matters is understanding who’s more likely to experience it and planning around that.

There’s something about fall that makes us want to reset. We reorganize our closets, refresh our routines, and start thinking about the year ahead. But while you’re swapping iced coffees for pumpkin spice lattes, there’s one thing that deserves a seasonal refresh, too: your business finances.

The story of Carlough & Co. began long before we officially opened our doors. My sister-in-law and business partner, Deirdre, and I first met in New York City while earning our master’s degrees at the Fashion Institute of Technology and working in the beauty industry. We quickly became close friends, bonding over a shared passion for art, design, beauty, and travel.

 When I am at market, I always ask my reps, “What is on your personal order?” I figure that is the best way to figure out what will be the popular items of the season. I mean, if the people who work there want it, then it must be good. Nobody knows a collection like the people that see it day in and day out. I thought I would share what my personal order would be for Veronica Beard if money were no object.

A floor plan can tell you exactly how many feet separate one wall from another, but it can't quite tell you what it feels like to stand between them. That's where Walk Your Plans DC comes in. The company uses projection technology to turn architectural plans into a full-scale, walkable version of a future home, giving homeowners the chance to experience their space before construction begins, when changes are still relatively easy to make.

Despite the fact that we have already had two special events this fall, the Ulla Johnson trunk show really feels like the kick-off for the season. Shop this show early for the best selection, with 20 percent off all Ulla Johnson from Thursday to Sunday.

Why what you wear can change how you think, and how to harness that tool. I hear it almost daily, in one form or another, that my outfit is so cool. Whatever room I've just walked into — a courthouse hallway, a Chamber breakfast, a table at brunch, I hear it. And I love it! I grew up with a Mother that always said that dressing the part was half the battle and her sense of style, is quite amazing.

Well, it is time for our two biggest trunk shows of the fall: Ulla Johnson and Veronica Beard. Are you ready? Ulla Johnson kicks it off on Thursday, September 24, and lasts all weekend through Sunday, September 27. They have sent us a great trunk, with lots of items.

This fall, hair color is becoming richer, shinier, and far more personal. We are moving away from dramatic contrast and one specific shade that everyone is expected to wear. Instead, the biggest trends are about enhancing what already works for you, then making it feel more dimensional, intentional, and luxurious.

Three beautifully updated Alexandria homes offer a mix of modern comfort, character, and highly walkable locations. From Old Town convenience to Del Ray charm and sought-after neighborhood living, each property pairs thoughtful renovations with inviting outdoor spaces and easy access to shops, dining, parks, Metro, and D.C.

Few chefs ever get the chance to cook on a national stage, but Leigh Orleans has done it twice. Today, the Hell’s Kitchen alum and Chopped champion has brought her fiery culinary talent and private chef business back somewhere much more personal: right here in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few doors down from where her story first began.

Join 20 stores in Old Town from September 18 to September 20 and explore all they have to offer. Some stores have trunk shows for the weekend, gifts with purchase, or other activities in store. It is a great way to explore new stores or just spend a day strolling the historic streets of Old Town.

One of the greatest gifts of living in a climate with four seasons is experiencing the changes throughout the year. Each season gives us something different, and each one makes us appreciate the next. Maybe it is the cooler, clearer air or the changing quality of the autumn light, but whatever it is, I think we are ready for fall!

Old Town Alexandria is about to host a D.C.-area first: the Old Town Beauty Crawl, a weekend-long celebration of the neighborhood's beauty scene, complete with exclusive promotions, stamp cards, and prizes! Organized by Old Town's own beauty destinations, the Beauty Crawl invites beauty lovers to explore more than a dozen participating shops and salons across the neighborhood, spanning everything from cosmetics and fragrance to skincare, haircare, permanent makeup, and beauty treatments.

This weekend, the Old Town Boutique District is hosting Alexandria Days. I asked my good friend Sarah Akram to pick out her favorite fall looks from my store and model some of them, and all weekend you'll receive a gift with purchase of my favorite items from Sarah Akram Skincare and be entered for a chance to win a $250 gift card to The Hive and a $250 gift card for Sarah Akram Skincare.

A sudden back twinge can trigger instant panic, but your initial reaction may have more impact on recovery than you realize. After more than two decades in the field, Adrien shares how to respond in the moment, what to do in the days that follow, and how your nervous system can influence the healing process.