I am a longtime restaurateur, but I recently opened a retail shop and learned a few things—retail can be tough. This being said, do not be afraid to be the queen of the castle, but be smart and listen to those who have walked the walk.

Our team of lucky booksellers got to take on a fun challenge: Match the cover of a book you’re recommending this summer to an M.M. LaFleur outfit! Here’s what we came up with. How did we do?

There’s a reason the world loves a spritz, it’s light, refreshing and so easy to make. Whether you’re enjoying these by the Piscina “pool”, Spiaggia  “beach”, Terrazza “patio” or Ristorante “restaurant” do as the Italians do and enjoy.

“Coming from Old Town Alexandria, I wanted to open my first restaurant here. Restaurant Eve was born, named for my daughter. I didn’t want it to fail so I named it after her. We were very fortunate, we received four out of four stars from The Washington Post…served two sitting presidents. After Eve, I opened 14 restaurants…”

The heat index keeps on rising, and with it nearing 100 degrees this week, we can’t help fantasizing about an escape to the beach, cool water and summer breezes. Here’s a comprehensive guide to beaches up and down the East Coast with estimated travel time, and recommended places to stay and where to eat.

When our kids were born my husband waxed poetic about family road trips. He longed for the nostalgia of it (clearly, he doesn’t remember pain). On our first road trip with a small child, it didn’t take long for reality to set in. Traveling with kids is hard. For everyone.

I get that right now everyone is all about setting boundaries and saying “No.”  But for some of us, life needs to be about saying YES. I am newly divorced, and I want to be open to new life experiences right now.

Summer in Alexandria can be scorching. Here’s a comprehensive guide to pool memberships in Alexandria, ensuring you find the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the summer sun.

We have all heard the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Pippin Toy Co. wants to be part of your village. To do that this summer we have partnered with OWLS Therapy, a local speech and language therapy practice, to bring you a series of intimate workshops.

“I was having dinner at Landini’s and I walked right past Courtney and her husband. And she stopped me and said, ‘Oh my God, what have you been doing?’ I shared that I was getting my masters in interior design and she said, ‘You’re going to work for me when you graduate.’ Once I moved back here, I reached out to her immediately.” 

Money and dating can be tricky, especially as a financially independent and successful woman. To help take some of the angst out of it, I solicited Erika Ettin’s input. Erika is founder of A Little Nudge, a dating coaching service specializing in online dating.

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.