Every spring, I pick up my camera and head to a place that has shaped my family in more ways than I can count: Aldersgate Day School nestled in Fort Hunt, where my boys spent some of their earliest, happiest years. This year marks our Sixth Annual Aldersgate Portrait Project and years of capturing genuine, full-hearted smiles from the kids in our community, and giving back to the school that gave so much to mine.

We think a great new bag is the perfect gift—it always fits. So, we decided to help with Mother’s Day shopping by having a little bag sale. Starting Thursday, May 7, through Sunday, May 10, we are marking all bags down 30 percent. We have all shapes and sizes, so there is something for everyone.

The espresso martini is everywhere right now. At The Parlour, we have our own version that I’d put up against anyone’s: shaken hard, served in a little English teacup, crowned with a dusting of gold flake. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’re the main character. Because, darling, you are.

Now that spring is here to stay, it's the perfect time to reset your mudroom.  This will help routines run more smoothly and help get your family out the door quickly and easily every morning!

Mother’s Day shopping can feel surprisingly hard: what do you give the woman who has given you everything—and insists she “doesn’t need a thing”? The answer this year is simple: jewelry she’ll fall in love with the moment she opens it.

Big news, friends! Starting May 16, Red Barn Mercantile, Penny Post, and Pippin Toy Co. will be home to an Inciardi mini print vending machine. If you haven’t heard of Ana Inciardi yet, you’re in for a treat. Her bright red machines work just like a classic vending machine. Instead of snacks, you get a beautiful, handmade mini linocut print for just one dollar.

One thing I can tell you after many trips around Asia is how to Asian Spa. I just got back from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and oh my gosh the spas! Now, there are some nuanced differences from an onsen in Japan, a spa in Thailand and those here in Northern Virginia, but here is a ritual guide of steps you can use for your visits at home or abroad that has you covered!

For years, adding a guest house, garage apartment, or in-law suite meant navigating zoning hurdles, public hearings, and strict local rules. In many cases, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) were allowed in theory but difficult to actually build. That’s about to change.

Walk into any gym or scroll through five minutes of fitness content online and you're instantly confronted with choices. Dumbbells here, kettlebells there, a barbell rack in the corner, and someone in the back swinging what looks like a bag of sand….? I’m here to provide some clarity and encouragement.

If you haven’t heard, we are hosting a Lizzie Fortunato and Ann Mashburn trunk show starting Thursday, April 30, through Sunday, May 3. On May 1, the Fortunato sisters will be in the store from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Lizzie and Kathryn will be here to answer all your questions about how to build a “neckmess” and what the inspiration was for their Spring 2026 collection.

Thirty-five years ago, I opened the doors of Mystique Jewelers right here in Old Town Alexandria with a simple mission: to be part of life's most cherished moments. Since that day, I have had the incredible honor of being a part of your proposals, anniversaries, and most cherished family milestones. To celebrate, we’ve made May one of our most exciting months yet.

This is a big week at The Shoe Hive. We have two big trunk shows for Ann Mashburn and Lizzie Fortunato, as well as Made to Order shirting with Ann starting May 1. You really don’t want to miss out.

Over the past year, interest in Korean lash lifts has grown significantly, with searches across the U.S. rising sharply. But what’s more interesting than the numbers is why. Because this isn’t just about a new technique or trending service. It reflects a larger change in how people want their beauty routines to fit into their lives.

For nearly four decades, Reunions has been a light-filled gift shop tucked in the heart of Alexandria where generations of shoppers have come to get gifts for all of life’s events. For new co-owners Molly Merbeth and Blaire Bartlett, it is also where they grew up, in different ways and at different times in their lives, but where they mutually found a home.

Have you ever seen the Lizzie Fortunato Instagram posts or emails and thought, "I wish I could layer necklaces like they do"? Maybe you have hoped that one day they could actually help you with your "neckmess." Well, Friday, May 1 is your chance to do just that, with the one and only Lizzie Fortunato herself. 

Tucked away on nearly one acre of lush, mature landscaping, is a remarkable residence that offers a quiet, peaceful lifestyle that feels worlds away from the city—yet is only minutes to Old Town Alexandria and Downtown Washington, DC. The setting evokes the calm and privacy of the countryside, while daily conveniences, dining, and cultural destinations remain effortlessly close.

You might not think of wine or the wine industry when you think of Earth Day, but the wine industry is one steeped in protecting the planet and the environment. In fact, most of the wineries I represent in my shop are focused on this ethos. Choosing wines made with environmental stewardship in mind is one of the most delicious ways to celebrate Earth Day, and at Wine Gallery 108, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

It is time for our second shoe event of spring, and it is everyone's favorite shoe line: FREDA SALVADOR. The reason FREDA is the “it” shoe brand right now, in my opinion, is that the designs somehow manage to be classic but fashion forward at the same time. The other important thing is that they are so comfortable.

Every year around this time, I find myself returning to a quiet tradition: painting flowers for my mother. I can’t say exactly when it began. It likely grew out of those early handmade gifts we all remember, macaroni necklaces, construction paper cards, and small tokens of affection made with more sincerity than skill. Over time, those simple gestures evolved into something more lasting.

It’s no coincidence that Mother’s Day arrives during this season. Like spring, it’s less about extravagance and more about intention. It’s a time to celebrate the people who make our lives feel like home. So join us at Patina for a special Mother’s Day celebration full of gifts, discounts, and light bites!