This Valentine’s Day, gifting your girlfriends is about intention, joy, and choosing something that feels a little special—but not overly precious. Whether it’s playful, long-lasting, or simply beautiful on a coffee table, here are our top four ways to celebrate the women you love most.

Valentine’s Day used to be simple, but somewhere along the way, the holiday expanded - and honestly, it got better. Enter Galentine’s Day, self-love, and celebrating the people who show up for you year-round. In Old Town Alexandria, that shift feels right at home and one local boutique captures it perfectly: Eliana Curated.

Take a look at this stunning 4-bedroom, 3-full-bath Wellington residence, offering 2,286 finished square feet, that has undergone an extensive and thoughtful renovation, resulting in a home that blends timeless craftsmanship with modern sophistication.

People often ask me, “Is coming to Old Town really worth it for the Alexandria Warehouse Sale?” What they’re really asking is simple: How good are the deals? I’m here to tell you—they’re really good.

If meal prep feels overwhelming before it even begins, your fridge might be the real problem. A cluttered, overstuffed fridge makes it harder to see what you have, what needs to be used, and what’s already past its prime. A few simple organization upgrades can completely change the way you prep, cook, and even snack during the week.

Thirty-six years ago, I attended my first protest. Compared to the horrific events unfolding today, it might seem almost quaint, but as a second-year student at the Corcoran School of Art, it mattered deeply to me and my classmates. We were protesting the Corcoran Museum’s last-minute cancellation of a photography exhibition by Robert Mapplethorpe.

A lifelong Alexandrian, Kendall’s story begins at Belle View Shopping Center, where a childhood favorite—The Virginia Florist—sparked an early love of flowers. That first job grew into a lasting skill she carried alongside a career in accounting and venture capital. Now, with an entrepreneurial spirit and deep local roots, Kendall’s path is coming full circle.

I love to see what other boutiques are doing on social media and, for our events, this research—if I can call it that—is where a lot of my ideas start to take shape. I was watching a story from another independently owned boutique, and the owner was talking about her most worn items from 2025. Two of the items were from AMO, a line we carried many years ago.

Did a move come up when creating your vision board for 2026? If that’s the case, let me give you a look into home sales, the most important step of the process: the sales contract! This is a legally binding agreement outlining the terms of the purchase and will detail the price, contingencies, deadlines, closing date, conveyances, and responsibilities of each party.

True luxury in aesthetics is not about excess—it’s about precision, restraint, and longevity. The modern aesthetic journey is an investment in skin health, balance, and well-being. Through advanced regenerative medicine, expertly placed ‘Tox, and thoughtfully administered dermal fillers; aesthetic treatments can support graceful aging while honoring your natural features.

This month feels like the season of returning favorites. With smaller delivery windows, we love the chance to bring back lines we’ve missed—and Closed is one of them. While it may be known for denim, it was the sweaters, shirts, and everyday essentials that truly won us over this time around.

It was 2011. I was in my mid-forties. I co-owned the first women-owned strength training gym in Alexandria. I was a hard-charged business owner and seeking the title of best mom of twins. Yet inside I was dying. In retrospect, I was giving it all to my work and my kids. Nothing was left for me—and my body—which was still weary from a difficult conception and childbirth experience. And boy, did my body show for it.

Almost everyone can name one teacher they remember. Not necessarily the one with the strictest rules or the most impressive résumé, but the one who made learning come alive. The one who saw something in us before we could see it ourselves.

Kari Ginsburg doesn’t blend in. She has no interest in doing so and doesn’t want you to either. In a world where conformity often feels like the default, her presence and style is bright, intentional, and refreshingly authentic. That same spirit defines her work at Uproar Coaching, where she helps others show up unapologetically as their truest self.

It is hard to believe that 22 years ago I was sitting in my space at 115 South Royal Street, scratching my head and trying to figure out what to do with my extra inventory. I realized there had to be a way to get more people to shop my clearance items. This is literally how the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse Sale came to life.

Mystique Jewelers is opening the doors to something special and offering you early access to a carefully curated selection of fine, designer and high-fashion jewelry at 30% off. This limited preview gives you the first opportunity to discover rare, one-of-a-kind pieces before they reach a wider audience.

Designate a nook in your home for boredom–I did. Not for productivity, not for finishing anything, but for letting your mind loosen its grip. A chair, a lamp, a stack of books—nothing fancy, just comfortable enough to linger.

How do you completely transform a home while adding only 36 square feet on the first floor? In this Convene Architecture project, we did it by moving the existing garage, relocating the front door, demolishing non-functional interior walls, adding windows, and updating fixtures and finishes throughout. Let’s take a tour! 

When clients finally decide to move on, it’s rarely just about the haircut. They’re usually searching for better energy. A calmer space. A stylist who listens. Someone who sees them for who they are now—not who they were five or ten years ago. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Peptides are suddenly everywhere. Wellness conversations. Doctors’ offices. Group texts. And no, they are not new. Bodybuilders have been using peptides forever. The difference now is not who is using them. It is why they are gaining momentum. Peptides work. And recent breakthroughs have made that impossible to ignore.