Do you chase cool design? I grew up a stone’s throw away from Fallingwater and saw it first when I was seven years old. Back then, I thought someone had made a swinging 70s house. It was cool, but I didn’t quite get the big deal at the time. I recently spent the weekend chasing a bit more of the Frank Lloyd Wright mystique in Western Pennsylvania. 

This summer, I’m recommending you embrace both relaxation and mind-stimulation. A captivating story or inspiring tale can give you just the break you need, whether poolside or tucked into bed. 

In lieu of summer camp for adults and to prepare you and your kiddos for their own amazing camp experience, our stores have decided to spend July bringing a dose of camp to Old Town. We’re calling it Camp Stone Soup!

The Paris Olympics are fast approaching: Friday, Jul 26 - Sunday, Aug 11, 2024, and we have created the perfect list of things to do in Paris between the Olympic festivities.

Ashley’s background has been in surgical medicine for the past 20 years. “I’m an artist, and even though I can’t draw, I can paint your face. I can see the angles of your face, that's what injectable medicine is. It’s not replacing plastic surgery, it’s supporting your face. It’s changing the way your face catches the light.”

Our week in Provence included visiting Cassis, Avignon, St. Remy, Uzes, Nimes and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Our last two days were spent relaxing and taking in the Provence laid back lifestyle. You start thinking – why don’t we live like this in Alexandria?

Imagine this: I find myself at a delightful gathering, when suddenly, I overhear a woman passing judgment on another woman's attire, giggling to her gaggle, “OhMG, she's far too old to be wearing that!”  I then look down at my outfit and start to wonder. Thank goodness my glass of rosé brings me back to my senses. 

I see so many beautiful home transformations—with new concepts from our designers that I could’ve never imagined. I’m very envious because we renovated our home in 2018, and we did it ourselves. I made some choices that weren’t the greatest. I wish we had hired an expert or professional.

Montserrat is truly one of those special places where nature rules and does not look like every other island. It’s the way the Caribbean used to be. Some of the best music was made in Montserrat and you really cannot beat how safe the island is and the kindness of the people.

Every parent has the same story to tell. My child doesn’t like to read, therefore he doesn’t read. That was true for my son, Will. We read together and he enjoyed that, but he didn’t read on his own. Nothing inspired him, until my brother gave him Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants.

We are moving into one of Old Town's most iconic storefronts and I couldn't be more thrilled about the enhanced shopping experience that awaits you in our beautiful, expanded space.

I’m sharing my family’s pizza on the patio night along with some of my favorite resources, and hope it inspires you to enjoy an evening at home. Maybe tinker with a creative tablescape or find a new wine or vase for your flowers…anything that will bring you a little dose of joy.

Making sure your beneficiary designations are up to date is a crucial part of estate planning. I recently needed to update mine due to divorce, but it also gave me a chance to revisit who was the beneficiary of what assets, and put that in line with my overall estate plan

Today, The Spitfire Club is reading with 86 kids a week, 90 mins a week at different sites all over Alexandria that include the Boys & Girls Club on N. Payne Street, John Adams Elementary and Cora Kelly Elementary. The program is for students in first through fifth grade.

“It was my senior year of college when we reconnected. We were all in Old Town the night before Thanksgiving; I was with my Ireton girls and he was with the boys. We hadn’t seen each other since high school. After that, we kept in touch…AOL chat,” she says laughing.

Highlights include a full drink and food menu with shareable plates. Megan shared that we should expect, “a great mix of cocktails – dirty martinis, espresso martinis, sangria and lighter cocktails for the summer.” And of course, plenty of neon, rainbows and iconic art for those photo opps!

Last summer, I set out to reconnect with my love of flowers through visiting several gorgeous flower farms right in our backyard. In addition to soaking in a little country air, the views (and flower smells) were incredible!

Father’s Day is fast approaching (Sunday, June 16th) and we’ve compiled a list of gift ideas, local activities, and weekend getaways to celebrate the fathers in your life. Check it out!

Don prefers to paint live, and not from a photograph. When someone is sitting for him, “the real personality traits come out, and you have to put that in the painting.” A portrait can take up to six months to complete; he’s not churning them out. “The sittings are part of the experience.”

Mystic BBQ is a great spot to grab a drink at the bar, have dinner with family and friends, or even host a private event – it’s that spacious. My husband always jokes that I’m more into the ambiance and vibe than the food, which is true. But both are good at this place – and there’s outdoor seating, too.