Northern Virginia Archives - Page 2 of 3

Fall Strolls – Burke Nursery and Garden Center

Indeed, this October, I have been Octobering more than past years and it has been AMAZING (!!!!). One of me and Papa’s and Rosie’s traditions is going to the local Burke Nursery and Garden Center in Burke, Virginia. Each Fall, Burke Nursery and Garden Center puts on a SHOW (!!!!) with an adorable all things Fall Fall Market, pumpkin patch, and Fall displays with complimentary rides for children. Needless to say, there were SOOO many photo opportunities, too!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

While on our outing to Burke Nursery and Garden Center, I had been reflecting with Papa on how I truly value the family traditions that we do year after year. From going to the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive (here) to see the Fall foliage to visiting Nall’s Produce to an annual Christmas Eve Eve dinner at Mike’s American Grill, traditions truly bring me joy and fulfillment year after year. Every Fall and into the holiday season, I LOVE to switch my activities here and there, but find tons of value in doing some of the same things with the people that I love year after year. Perhaps, some of my love for traditions has to do with the fact that I went to a tradition-centric all-women’s college?! Whatever the case may be, I am grateful for the traditions I take part in each year!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Fall Strolls – Occoquan, Virginia

Growing up, I spent several childhood weekends in the charming town of Occoquan, Virginia. My Dad lived in Occoquan for a few of my childhood years hence the many weekends spent there. Weekends in Occoquan were spent walking my late childhood Yorkie Butters alongside the gorgeous historic streets and alongside the adjacent Occoquan River, getting ice cream at the local ice cream parlors, and dinners and shopping via supporting the local small businesses (which are the only businesses in downtown Occoquan!). Through it all, Occoquan holds a special place in my heart!

Truly, Occoquan is a unique as some may say “hidden gem” in the Washington, DC area – something that I LOVE about it too. At the same time, I truly view Occoquan as such a special place in my childhood and sometimes forget that it is there amongst ALLL that there is to do in my own backyard (something I feel VERY fortunate for!). And, in those few moments that I do revisit the charming town that is apart of my childhood stomping grounds, I am extremely grateful for it. Needless to say, I LOVE that Occoquan is a little oasis amongst the Washington, DC suburbs and hustle and bustle of the area.

One of the biggest things that I have found in strolling through Occoquan, while not as frequent as in the past, is that it’s important for us all to find time to explore places near and dear to our hearts. We must make time for those places that we adore and cherish. Even though, yes, it may be the same place time and time again, it is also going to be great for your mental health, too. I have found this to be true whenever I go to Occoquan and hope that others can do the same with their childhood stomping grounds (if/when able to), too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Summer Strolls – Lake Mercer, Virginia

To celebrate the Summer Solstice, my best friend Haley and I enjoyed a Summer Solstice stroll to Lake Mercer! I recently shared another recent Summer stroll that Haley and I did to Fountainhead Regional Park, which we ALSO loved doing. I am hoping to continue sharing remarks from my local (and even far away strolls with y’all!).

Lake Mercer is a man-made lake on a 154-acre park located just South of the Fairfax County Parkway in Springfield, Virginia. There is a loop that goes ALLL around the lake, allowing for visitors to take in ALLLL of the views of it from every angle. Lake Mercer is BEAUTIFUL, despite its small size and acreage, it is a mighty place to be!

On this Summer Solstice stroll of ours, Haley and I discussed the power of balance when it comes to all of life’s commitments. Both of us were agreeing on the importance of balancing work and other responsibilities with time to take care of ourselves and also enjoy our hobbies. Within this discussion, we truly emphasized the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to our commitments. Personally, I’ve found it a challenge at times to balance it all, but in recent times, I am striving to set more firm boundaries with where I am willing to commit, need to commit, and won’t commit (at least for now). Truly, I have been learning the true importance of boundaries. At the end of the day, boundaries are a gift.

At the same time, I am SO grateful for a friend who also agrees on the true importance of placing boundaries within our lives. Boundaries tell us what’s important to us and give us the opportunity to recharge before conquering all that’s in front of us.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Summer Strolls – Fountainhead Regional Park, Virginia

Welcome to my brand-new series … Seasonal Strolls! In this series, I will be sharing mostly photo diaries and current ramblings from my recent stroll. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing content from my recent local Summer strolls where I take my camera and snap some photos of the surrounding nature (and a few of myself!). Usually, I have gone with my best friend (and neighbor – I feel REALLY lucky in this department!) Haley on walks but plan to do some dog-free on my own, too. Recently, I have been enjoying taking some Summer strolls close to home, but am looking forward to taking some on my upcoming travels, too! I hope to do some more strolls beyond Summer seasons, too!

Haley and I a couple of weeks ago checked out Fountainhead Regional Park located in Fairfax Station, Virginia off of Hampton Road which is directly off of 123/Ox Road. Fountainhead Regional Park offers kayak/canoe access, fishing, and several walking/biking trails. What I LOVE about Fountainhead is the opportunity to do something outdoors that YOU love is there for everybody. Not to mention the fact that the waterfront views are truly breathtaking!

On our Summer stroll at Fountainhead Regional Park, Haley and I discussed the importance of budgeting and strategic ways to save money, especially during the seasons of life that can be more expensive. Haley and I are striving to do things more affordably and even packed a picnic dinner while at Fountainhead, as opposed to getting dinner via carry out or at a nearby restaurant. One of the BEST ways to cut back and save some money is to get out in nature and enjoy a local park. Luckily for us living in the Washington, DC area, there are SEVERAL free admission local parks for us to choose from!

Some of the ways that I am cutting back financially is by opting to take public transportation instead of Ubering places (especially downtown), choosing happy hours and brunch/lunch with friends/family over pricier dinners (however, there is ALWAYS room for an occasional dinner!), shopping online less frequently and less items in my cart (this has been tough at times), cooking more dinners at home, and less frequent trips to Home Goods/TJ Maxx/Marshall’s and the thrift store. There were times post-Fountainhead walk where I had to be transparent with friends and family about where I was willing to spend and where I wasn’t. I felt nervous to do so, but am so proud that I did it and that those in my life truly understood and respected my decisions! In all honesty, cutting back financially takes A LOT of discipline and can be tricky, but in the end, it is worth it to know that I’ll have more money moving forward sitting in my savings account.

Here’s to *many more* Summer (and Fall and Winter and Spring) strolls to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Old Lucketts Store Holiday House 2023

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE a holiday market! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have not feared sharing Christmas content before Thanksgiving. Christmas time brings me SO MUCH JOY, so why not?! Anyhow, I went to the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House last year for the first time ever and LOVED it. And, when I had the day before Veterans Day off at work, I decided to take a solo day to clear my head and check out the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House for my 2nd year on *none other than* opening weekend.

Get your tickets here!

While I will not get into details in this post about the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House (you can read ALLL about it here though!), I did learn a few brand-new facts about it this year! Every year, the Holiday House gets a completely new interior look. I learned that the store owner goes to Atlanta, Georgia’s markets to shop for all-things Holiday House merchandise the week AFTER Christmas. This year, the owner hand-painted some of the wallpaper on the 2nd floor (I forget exactly which wallpaper, though!). Her works have also been featured in several magazines over the years, too. Another important note for 2023 is that the Holiday House IS via ticketed entry ONLY. Tickets this year are $25 excluding taxes and fees. However, I find the ticket price to be SUPER worth it, given the value of literally walking through a Hallmark Christmas movie and Pinterest board and shopping with complimentary bubbly, too!

Now, I will get into the meat of this post by sharing …. Pictures! Let’s take a virtual tour together!

My Favorite Room in the house (!!!!)

After shopping around the Holiday House, I shopped at the Old Lucketts Store, which is open year-round!

& last but not least, the Holiday House’s outdoor decor!

Happy Holiday season, everyone!

XOXO – Katie <3

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4 Hours in Winchester, Virginia

On Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have always seen content pertaining to the stunning town of Winchester, Virginia, yet I hadn’t been. HOWEVER, others’ content on Winchester only made my desires to visit this stunning Northern Virginia town grow and grow. Luckily, when my college friend Carlin started graduate school in Winchester, I was given the opportunity to take a day and visit her there! Carlin and I had a GREAT time catching up and enjoying the gorgeous downtown 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia together on a sunny September Saturday afternoon.

About Winchester:

Winchester is a Northern Virginia town in Jefferson County, located not too far from the West Virginia border. It is also in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and boosts a rich history, specifically focused on the Civil War playing home to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, and lots of nature and charm, too. Winchester has a lot a rich amount of unique culture with a small town charm. With its location in the Shenandoah Valley, mountains are plentiful and so are vineyards and breweries. For my fellow friends living/have lived in the South, it is important to note that Winchester DOES have a Cookout (!!!!).

Getting There:

Winchester is located about 90 minutes from Washington, DC and 2 hours from Charlottesville, Virginia. It is easiest to drive to Winchester from its closest airport Dulles International Airport located an hour east or its second closest airport Ronald Reagan National Airport located 90 minutes east. The town is located right off of highway I-81. That all being said, Winchester makes for the PERFECT small town day trip getaway, given its location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and proximity to several local vineyards and breweries.

What We Did:

Old Town Winchester – Carlin and I spent most of our time at Old Town Winchester’s open air walking mall, taking in the live music, enjoying the sunshine, and catching up. We started with lunch at Union Jack Pub & Restaurant which was delicious and had a gorgeous bar, before checking out some of the many shops on the same street, including the ultra-adorable Winchester Book Gallery. There was also A TON of super fun live music in downtown Winchester, too, and what I found to be unique is the diverse age range and genders of people playing the music making it so much more charming and wholesome.

Kimberly’s – Just a couple of blocks away from the open air walking mall in Old Town Winchester is the ultra-adorable and VERYYY much a Katie store – LOL! – Kimberly’s. Kimberly’s has two buildings: one which has all-things seasonal, home decor, and Virginia made goods, whether it be plates, magnets, jams, or wine and another with clothing including … Lilly Pulitzer and Barefoot Dreams (!!!). Carlin and I got to meet Kimberly the store owner and buy some Lilly Pulitzer, too. It was just a week after the September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale, which Kimberly’s still had TONS of merchandise marked down from. We also got to shop the 2023 Print with Purpose to support Breast Cancer awareness before it hit the Lilly Pulitzer website. Kimberly’s was definitely a favorite of mine, as I LOVED its super fun Fall decorations, merchandise, and *of course* all-things Lilly Pulitzer!

Handley Regional Library – Looking as if it is a European Opera House, the Handley Regional Library also located in Old Town Winchester is a site to be seen. With free access to all visitors, the Handley Regional Library is absolutely STUNNING. It has a uniquely painted dome which guests can climb stairs to to the top of, alongside functioning as a library to those within the Winchester and greater Shenandoah Valley communities. The Handley Regional Library is TRULY a site to see and definitely worth a visit!

Apples – All across town, there are some super fun painted apple structures representing different aspects of Winchester, including its history and charm. Carlin and I LOVED getting to spot *just a few of them* during our time here in Old Town Winchester.

Wrap-Up:

I truly had an amazing time and a blast here for 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia. I am so blessed to have connected with Carlin during my undergraduate years at Meredith College and to have another friend from Meredith up here in the Northern Virginia area. Carlin is truly a blessing! At the same time, I LOVED getting to explore a bit of Winchester with Carlin and learn more about this beautiful little town located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. And, I definitely want to come back, too, and spend another 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival

Every Spring and Fall, George Washington’s Mount Vernon puts on an incredible wine festival, bringing in several participating wineries from ALLL across Virginia. As fellow Virginia wine (and wine in general!) lovers, my best friend Stephanie and I decided to experience the Virginia Wine Festival ourselves in early October 2023 and we were definitely in for a treat!

About the Mount Vernon Wine Festival: The Mount Vernon Wine Festival is hosted every Spring and Fall and allows guests to sample unlimited wines from wineries all across Virginia at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in the evening. Guests also get a complimentary wine glass to take home, can admire the sunset on the estate’s East Lawn looking over the iconic Potomac River, and can walk through the first and second floors of the mansion. Tickets are starting at around $50 (which is what Stephanie and I both paid) and go up if you choose to purchase a charcuterie board or do VIP seating. Concessions are available for purchase, too. We opted to do General Admission. See more information on planning a visit to Mount Vernon in general and events here.

Around 20+ wineries (each with their own booth) participated at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival, allowing guests to get unlimited samples with admission. Bottles and glasses are also available for an additional purchase at each booth. I ended up doing some Christmas shopping for my family (wine is my best gift for loved one’s – haha!) and got 2 bottles for myself, too. Stephanie and I had an incredible time at each of the wineries that we were able to do complimentary tastings at. Each winery offered a unique flair, some of which’s wine had odes to the winery’s owner’s German, Polish, or Indian heritages. I LOVED getting to try several different unique wines, whether a celebratory, a dessert, or a go-to red or white. The wineries we tried included:

Horton Vineyards – a 3-generation women-owned winery, including the youngest daughter being the youngest woman winery owner in the United States!
Narmada Winery – an Indian-owned winery based near Washington, Virginia that pays homage to both Virginia wine country and its owners’ Indian heritage.
Morais Vineyards & Winery – a stunning winery AND popular Virginia Wine Country venue located in Bealton, Virginia.
Molon Lave Vineyards – the literal sweetest people were at their booth and they had the most Katie pink rose named *none other than* Katie’s Charm (!!!!).
North Mountain Vineyard & Winery – Paid homage to German/Polish heritage with some delicious dessert wines and the sweetest people at their booth as well.
Briede Vineyards – located in Winchester, Virginia with some amazing white wines.

Stephanie and I also were able to put our picnic chairs and blankets down on the East Lawn where we *maybe* spent 15 minutes the entire time we were there. Needless to say, we LOVED getting to sample several different wines from many many many vineyards across the Virginia Wine Country. We prioritized trying different vineyards over touring the mansion and it was for sure worth it and a blast to socialize with the staffers from each winery and other fellow festival guests. We definitely got our money’s worth and we will for sure be back to a future wine festival, too!

As fellow wine lovers, Stephanie and I LOVED getting to make a visit to the Mount Vernon Wine Festival. There are SO many incredible Virginia vineyards that we still have YET to check out. I know Stephanie and I both have our own winery bucket lists, too! I feel beyond lucky to live in an incredible state in the heart of wine country, featuring SOOO many incredible wineries to visit and enjoy some locally made wines at. And, it’s not every day that you get to strike a pose with the President and First Lady (!!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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My New Favorite Washington, DC Area Trail!

Ever since I went on mission trips in high school with my local church, I was a sucker for a scenic view whenever we would pass them! Although back in my high school church years we never really stopped at really any of the scenic views, I always used to love when we passed by them! Up until recently, I discovered a Washington, DC area trail that is pretty much a scenic view at EVERY TURN! And, that trail is …. the Mount Vernon Trail!

According to the National Park Service, the “Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved trail that stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It connects with regional trails, including the Potomac Heritage, Custis, Rock Creek, Four Mile Run, and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails.” It is also a short walk from the Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro stations which are accessible from multiple Metro lines. It is open daily from 6am-10pm and there are several parking spots along different parts of the trail. Papa and I parked at a lot right by George Washington’s Mount Vernon via an offshoot of Route 1. For more information on the Mount Vernon Trail, look no further than here: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/mtvernontrail.htm

Papa, Rosie, and I parked, as I said before, right by George Washington’s Mount Vernon at one of the first pull off’s on the southern side of the trail. We walked not super far on the trail as Rosie aka my dog is a mega barker and guard dog when it comes to bikes and scooter and motorcycles, but the entire time we were there, I was beyond impressed with the trail. The trail’s scenic views at every turn, bridges, and flora, and nature make it worth a stop and a great place to workout while enjoying a great place. I find it super neat that the Mount Vernon Trail goes from George Washington’s Mount Vernon ALL THE WAY to the monuments in Washington, DC. Papa actually biked the entirety of the Mount Vernon trail from Virginia to the monuments years ago – how neat!! At the same time, my Mom has also biked along the Mount Vernon Trail for many of her workouts and LOVES it. Knowing the significance both historically and via the love that my family has for the Mount Vernon Trail makes me want to fall in love with this spot, too.

One of the things that I plan to do during peak cherry blossom season this year (which will be March 25-29, 2023!!!!) is to visit the cherry blossoms along the Mount Vernon Trail. Apparently, the Mount Vernon Trail is a GREAT place to see the cherry blossoms *without* the crowds of the Tidal Basin! Recently, I have been looking up places to see the cherry blossoms that don’t come with the crowds and lack thereof of personal space, so this trail favorite of mine will fit the bill.

A MAJOR perk of living in the Washington, DC area is the plethora of trails, parks, and scenic views that have some sort of historical and/or national significance and are FREE to all who visit and use them. The affordability and lack of money that it costs to visit some extremely notable sites is one of the reasons why I LOVE the Washington, DC area and city for others to visit, too. The Mount Vernon Trail is just one of MANY examples of affordable/free places to see in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at Muse Paintbar!

As an early Galentine’s celebration, me and one of my best friends Brianna and I went to do a wine & design to commemorate the occasion. I posted about our fun experience and final product on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!) just last week as apart of my 14 Days of Pink fashion challenge. I had a BLAST getting to create a painting of my own from scratch with the help of a painter guide, catch up with Brianna, and enjoy some refreshments at none other than Muse Paintbar – a premier wine and design bar in the Washington, DC area.

I have ALWAYS been a sucker for a Wine & Design type of experience! A fun fact about me is that I planned a Cupcakes and Canvases wine and design-like experience when I was in college on my then-dry college campus my Freshmen year of college. It was *actually* the first-ever college event that I planned. I have many many many fond memories of my Cupcakes & Canvases event, especially the painting part of it and the openness for pure creativity, so I *HAD* to take on the opportunity to do another wine & design event when Brianna suggested it!

About Muse Paintbar: Muse Paintbar strived to become the place to go for painting and sipping upon opening their first location back in 2012. There is an open bar at EVERY studio for you to enjoy drinks and food as you paint. One thing that I LOVE about Muse Paintbar is that it is a female-led business that currently employs over 300 creative-minded individuals. A quote that I just adore from their website is: “while we’re passionate about bringing art to our communities, we don’t take ourselves too seriously around here. No matter if you’re hanging with us virtually, or in our studio, we will be there for you every step of the way.” Currently, Muse Paintbar has public classes on their website that people can sign up for with others in their local communities along with the option to host a private event/party there, too. In 2020, Muse Paintbar launched virtual painting classes to generate more access to all, especially with COVID-19. And, Muse Paintbar invites their guests to get creative and unplug from their day-to-day lives. Also, if you decide to frequent Muse Paintbar, you can sign up for their Rewards Program to earn points. Read more on their website here: https://www.musepaintbar.com/

Muse Paintbar Locations: Currently, Muse Paintbar is primarily located along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. They have locations across Virginia, the National Capital Region/Washington, DC area (there are around 5 near me!!), New York, and New England. If you don’t see a location in your city, then look no further than their virtual classes where painting supplies get sent to your house your scheduled painting class. See ALL locations here: https://www.musepaintbar.com/locations/

As for planning our Paint & Sip experience, Brianna and I headed to the Muse Paintbar website to pick out a design. On the site, you can select the Studio of your choosing and pick a design that you want to paint given a date and time that works for you and your crew. Since we are Washington, DC area locals who are both SUPER girly, we picked the cherry blossom trees along a foggy scenery. It was such a girly and perfect addition for both of our apartments, too! When you register for your Paint & Sip Experience, you pay upfront per person and can specify your group of people that you’re attending with to help the studio staff out and others that may register at different times than you in your crew. Brianna had been to Muse Paintbar before and spoke VERY highly of her experience, so I knew I was in for a treat!

When Brianna and I arrived to our local Muse Paintbar studio, we were greeted by one of the staff members who checked us in and sat down in our pre-assigned seats. Each group had a section of their own upon checking in (this is something that you can specify via your group members when you register for your event!). We, then, grabbed some refreshments as we got there a bit early – all Muse Paintbars open to the public pre-events about 30 minutes beforehand! – and grabbed our aprons and got ready to paint. The studio had paintings done by the studio guides – most of whom are artists themselves – and GREAT music playing. A fun fact about me is that I am a sucker for art, specifically paintings, so it was fun for me to admire all of the artists’ creations!! I LOVED the music and the atmosphere, as the entire studio was simply good vibes ALLLL around.

As for the painting part of it, I found it to be fun and open to interpretation for each person who was there. I LOVED how interactive the experience was and fun our studio guide was. I was able to be creative and have fun in my own way. At the same time, I really enjoyed being guided through the process by someone who has an artistic background because, well, I lack artistic ability (LOL!). My studio guide Taylor actually mentioned that she has her own shop, too, where she sells her artwork! My favorite part of the whole painting experience was getting to add the petals to my cherry blossom trees, as it was ALL THINGS PINK.

I am SO excited as I am adding some more wall art to my walls to add my brand-new canvas to my wall. Not only does this canvas take a pretty place on my apartment walls, but it also commemorates a fun night with a great friend and great vibes all around. In the future, I definitely would love to attend another event and perhaps even on a solo date, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Northern Virginia Spots: Virtue Feed & Grain

Growing up, my family and I have enjoyed many meals at Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Not only is it an easy walk from Metro and *just* a block away from the iconic King Street, but it also has served many great memories, meals, and scenic Washington, DC area views for me and many others over the years. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have posted a bit about my GREAT experience a few weekends ago having brunch at Virtue Feed & Grain. And, today, I am going to share some more about Virtue Feed & Grain!

Getting there: The address for Virtue Feed & Grain is 106 South Union Street. Virtue Feed & Grain is located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia just miles South of Washington, DC. Old Town Alexandria is a popular spot for many Washington, DC tourists and area residents, alike. It’s easiest to get to Virtue Feed & Grain by either driving or taking the Metro to the King Street station which is on both the Blue line and the Yellow line. From Metro, it is about a 30 minute walk to Virtue Feed & Grain, however, DO NOT FRET as it is an easy AND scenic walk directly on King Street and then a block over to South Union Street. You can also drive there and park at one of the parking garages alongside King Street and near the Old Town Alexandria’s well-known Torpedo Factory, which will usually come at a price tag that may be hefty. Personally, I choose to Metro to Old Town to get in some extra steps and avoid the rather stressful-to-me driving through King Street.

About: Virtue Feed & Grain is named after its roots – an 1800’s feed and grain warehouse. The warehouse has since been transformed into what it is today: an iconic Old Town Alexandria restaurant located along the Potomac River waterfront. My best friend Haley and I recently dined upstairs and could see the iconic Potomac River waterfront, with views of nearby Washington, DC and National Harbor, Maryland and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, from our seats. Virtue Feed & Grain is a two-story restaurant and bar with its interiors offering an exposed wood backdrop and the menu remains true to its local Washington, DC area digs while adding in an eclectic charm. One unique fact about Virtue Feed & Grain is that its interiors represent its history as an 1800’s warehouse along with recent times’ history as it has high-water stains from Hurricane Isabel back in 2005. Currently, Virtue Feed & Grain is led by Executive Chef Aldo Avilez. For more information on Virtue Feed & Grain, look no further than here: https://virtuefeedgrain.com/

In recent times, my best friend Haley and I dined for brunch at Virtue Feed & Grain. She got the french toast and I got the Chesapeake Benedict. For me to stay that the food was delicious would be an understatement! I also have LOVED the vibes of the interiors of Virtue Feed & Grain. The service was great, too. Not only do you see iconic waterfront and Old Town Alexandria views, but you also get to enjoy the historically gorgeous interiors. I was in awe at the gorgeous interiors of this restaurant and *of course* snapped a few photos!

When going to Virtue Feed & Grain, I definitely suggest making a reservation as it can get busy on the weekends. When I booked Haley’s and I’s reservation the day before we went, there was only one time available on Saturday morning (aka the jackpot for us!). And, after your time dining at Virtue Feed & Grain, I highly recommend enjoying and wondering the gorgeous streets and shops of Old Town Alexandria. To me, Old Town Alexandria can sometimes feel like a hidden gem in the midst of all that Washington, DC has to offer. It is a place that I have been learning more about most recently and striving to visit more.

Here’s to many more memories being made in an iconically historic restaurant!

XOXO – Katie <3

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