Over the last couple of weeks, I have been on a tariff international press tour. Toys have been the biggest topic, but I get to speak about how it affects all our local businesses. I have been interviewed twice and those stories appeared on ABC World News and Good Morning America and NBC Washington and NBC Nightly News. This is clearly a complicated global issue that is getting a lot of attention. I want to bring it to the local level and give it a bit of context.

What’s that old axiom – if you want something done, do it yourself? The retailers in Old Town started Plaid Friday, The Alexandria Sidewalk Sale, The Alexandria Warehouse Sale and Alexandria Stylebook, and now we are adding a new spring event to the mix: The Old Town Spring Fling. There are 30 stores that are participating and each one has a special event or trunk show they’re hosting.

April is hopping right along and Easter will be here before you know it. There are springtime treasures to be found at Red Barn Mercantile, Penny Post, and Pippin Toy Co. Have a look around the shops and find something wonderful help you celebrate the season. Whether it's a basket filled with chocolate eggs, decorative items for the home, or a heartfelt card, these gestures can brighten someone’s day.

We tapped two of our local home and interior experts, Amy Rutherford of Red Barn Mercantile and Kristin Try of Kristin Try Interiors, for tips on how to refresh our homes for spring. If anyone knows how to add a touch of subtle luxury and comfort to our indoor space — it’s these women.

April is National Letter Writing Month! I love all these fun made up “holidays.” They bring so much silliness and joy. Naturally, one of our Penny Post favorites is National Letter Writing Month. It’s an entire month where we get to celebrate writing letters and connecting with our loved ones near and far.

April 9 is Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s Day of Giving where we come together to raise nearly $3 million for organizations serving our most vulnerable citizens. Critical federal funding that our non-profits and schools rely on is being stalled at best, and eliminated at worst. As we see more of our neighbors in need, it’s going to be up to the public sector to come to their aid. This is the perfect time to teach children the joy of giving so others may thrive. 

Next Thursday is Nationals’ Opening Day and Alexandria Little League opens the season that Saturday. To celebrate, on March 29, Red Barn Mercantile will be handing out peanuts and our much better version of Cracker Jacks, streaming games all day, wearing our favorite team’s colors, and hosting Port City Brewing Co. for a tasting of their seasonal sensation ALX IPA.

We’re sharing what we’re loving this spring — from the best patios for al fresco dining to stunning gardens to flower-filled escapes. Our contributors highlighted some of their faves in the DMV and perhaps you can add a few more to your own list!

When I saw Elizabeth’s post: “Styled Looks with Veronica Beard” it hit me – I haven’t done an outfit to room article in a long time, so why not give that a go?!  I took three looks from Elizabeth’s Veronica Beard trunk show and threw together the bones of a room. Just imagine family photos, a collection of artwork, treasures collected over time and you essentially have three outfits to a room.

We’ve begun to defrost. Gardens are beginning to show signs of new life. March promises springtime (cherry blossoms!) and St. Patrick’s Day festivities, both of which stir up visions of GREEN. In the spirit of March, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite green things, and a few rainbows for good measure.

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I LOVE the Oscars. Every year we try to commemorate the occasion in some way. This year we are hosting our first ever Oscar’s Pool! Compete against friends, neighbors, our team, and complete strangers from around the country to win a $100 gift card to one of our three stores.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and now is not the time to skimp on love. Love deserves to be celebrated! All of the love. Romantic or not, love keeps us moving and provides joy in what can sometimes be a pretty tough world. Use this day as an excuse to celebrate the relationships that make your life a bit easier, brighter, sillier, and more meaningful.

Not only does Kristen support events, she supports the local business community by keeping her personal shopping dollars local. She gets that it’s our local business community that makes Alexandria a great place to live; it creates jobs and strengthens our local economy. I asked Kristen to share a few of her favorite picks for this weekend’s Warehouse Sale.

Whether you burn candles all day long or just on special occasions, here are some simple tips to help you care for your candles and make them last longer, burn more evenly, and look even prettier!

We are excited to participate in this year’s Walkable Warehouse Sale on February 1 and 2. That means we’re getting serious about marking things down. All our Christmas – what’s left of it that is! – will be 75% off. Everything that was 30% off will be 50% off and we will be taking new 30% off markdowns. That’s true at Red Barn Mercantile, Penny Post and Pippin Toy Co.! 

The 21st Annual Alexandria Boutique Warehouse Sale returns in a walkable format once again this year! This popular longest-running winter affair will take place over two days the weekend of February 1 and 2, 2025 throughout Old Town.

Get a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle, and write “More” in one column and “Less” in the other one. Then visualize the last year, or the last many years, and ask yourself what do you want more of in 2025. Is it more time with family, more time for yourself, more long walks, more curiosity, or maybe more connection?

We hope you are enjoying the holiday season! If you're still feeling festive and looking for a deal, our Holiday Sale will hit the spot! Holiday items are all 50% off right now. A few exclusions apply, but nearly everything is marked down.

If you’re holiday shopping for someone who enjoys the outdoors – a camper, a hiker, a wanderer, a stargazer, or an explorer of any sort, read on. I hope the guide will simplify shopping for the adventurers in your life and perhaps inspires you to do some exploring of your own!

We love a good tradition. One that makes sense and everyone can enjoy. Now that Old Town has a toy store again, we thought it would be fun to continue Why Not's time-tested tradition of staying open until Midnight the Saturday before Christmas. We’re calling it Midnight Merriment!