Majors Sports Cafe 5651 La Centre Ave Albertville MN 55301

Albertville, Minnesota, outlet shopping allows the typical shopper enough store choices to satisfy most.   Restaurant choices vary widely from one mall to the next.  If you drive a short distance away from this mall, you’ll find Majors Sports Cafe.  This sports cafe emphasizes beer, sports, sandwiches, appetizers and burgers.  Bar seating, booths, tables and chairs provide variety for differing seating options especially in the early to mid -afternoon hours before the after work, sports fans, and shoppers arrive.  If there’s a popular game on television, arrive far enough ahead of time to secure a seat.  Sports fans arrive in droves for certain events depending upon the time of year and the sports in season.  Call ahead if you plan on celebrating a sport’s fans birthday to 763-497-7629 or visit http://www.majorssportscafe.com .  Their Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade) won an award from me and their Prime Dip (think French Dip) sandwich ranked high on my list.  Copyrighted 2009 and All Rights Reserved 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Ravens Nest Coffee 254 E Davis St Culpeper VA 22701

Centrally located in downtown Culpeper, Virginia, Raven’s Nest Coffee House offers coffee, assorted coffee drinks, tea, breakfast, sandwiches, pastries, and cobbler.  Their exceedingly clean restrooms impressed me especially for those with a young child or even a baby to accompany them.  Their breakfast casserole and cobblers earn high marks.  Sandwiches also available for breakfast, lunch and dinner as long as supply lasts.  If you are on a strict eating regimen, calling ahead to clarify their sandwiches and any other daily fare might be advisable to phone number 540-827-4185.   Cozy atmosphere with high stools and lower seating options at tables offer enough choice for everyone whether your party includes a baby stroller and/or a walking cane.  Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Knit Happens 127A N Washington St Alexandria VA 22314

When Knit Happens originally opened, all knitters in Alexandria, Virginia, and anyone traveling through the area for vacation or business rejoiced. Enthusiastic teachers and intriguing classes at all levels focus on helping every knitter. Visit their blog at: http://www.knithappens.net for their latest hours. Knit Happens posts Spring/Summer Hours and Fall/Winter Hours on their blog along with a map and a newsletter subscribe option. Reading this blog is well worth your precious time, because they share via blogging new patterns and their experiences with their various yarns. Phone 703-836-0039 for more yarn specific information if you want a certain color and yarn texture. They’re located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. 2009 Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Virginia Wine Experience 826 Caroline St Fredericksburg VA 22401

Wines, wines and more wines cover every corner of this wine shop both upstairs and downstairs on the main level.  They strive to cover price points from affordable to extravagant for their wines both domestic and imported from numerous countries.  If you’re looking for just the right wine for your next party or holiday event, stop by and get their recommendations for the wine pairings to best complement your menu.  Extremely enthusiastic, helpful wine consultants will assist you with picking out the wines for your gathering.  Their phone number is 540-373-8878 , their e-mail address is edwin@virginiawineexperience.com with a website at http://virginiawineexperience.com .  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.  Reach her at 540-903-0212 or by e-mailing sherriebh@yahoo.com .

Bistro Bethem 309 William St Fredericksburg VA 22401

Chicken prepared with the right amount of seasonings served with braised greens atop penne pasta with three cheese sauce.  Every bite delicious and tender.  Homemade bread served with a pastel bread plate in one of these hues: light green, light yellow, or peach.  A balsamic vinegar, olive oil and light spice plate for dipping their homemade bread was served prior to the meal. Their iced tea delights and has no bitter undertones.  To keep  the freshest ingredients on the menu, each menu has a daily date printed on it.  Scallops or another seafood/fish, wild game, poultry, cheese plate, wines, bar drinks, bar seating, appetizers, coffee, and desserts (homemade ice cream and many other treats) worth indulging complete their menu of gourmet offerings for discerning diners.  They strive to buy local ingredients and some items are organic.  For weekends and even during the holidays, consider calling ahead to phone number 540-371-9999 to inquire about reserving a table.  This is a restaurant not to miss whether you’re a local or traveling through town en route to another destination. Bistro Bethem’s website is http://www.bistrobethem.com .

Attentive servers, glowing candlelight at every table,  local art showcased on the light, creamy yellow walls with delicate bronze stripes and sage green trim around the front windows layer beautifully with wood floors laid on the diagonal.  Even their powder room, extremely clean, draws attention to family photographs and magazines on an elegantly decorated table.  Details matter most at this place and great care by chefs, hosts and servers handle the meal preparation and delivery so diners eat and savor their food, drinks, and dessert from beginning to end.  Too bad this experience ends.  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA. Reach Sherrie at 540-903-0212 or sherriebh@yahoo.com .

Gary’s Sandwiches Ice Cream 125 Olde Greenwich #250 Fredericksburg, 397 Garrisonville Rd Stafford VA

Eating at Gary’s reminds me of eating at the fairgrounds or at a 1950’s style eatery with funnel cakes, hot dogs, corn dogs, burgers and fries.  Add to this milkshakes, brownie sundae, malts,  smore’s sundae, floats and ice cream.   In Fredericksburg, their store is located at 125 Olde Greenwich Road, #250, with phone number 540-710-0013.

Once you exit from Interstate-95 at exit 143 at 610/Garrisonville Road (away from Aquia/Route 1/Jefferson Davis Highway), Gary’s Ice Cream will be on your left once you pass through the traffic light at Onville Road where there’s a CVS pharmacy on the corner.  Their Stafford address is 397 Garrisonville Road, Stafford, Virginia 22554 in the Garrisonville Shopping Center along with a car wash.  Bring the family along for dinner and dessert, to celebrate a victorious ballgame or to honor an exemplary report card.  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Preferred Realty, 385 Garrisonville Road, #105, Stafford, VA.

Lydias Monogrammed Gifts 417 William St Fredericksburg VA 22401

Lydia’s Fredericksburg, Virginia, storefront fills the shopper with diverse gift possibilities for men, women, tweens, teens, children and babies.  Lamps, loafers with unique designs, gardener’s monogrammed clogs, bags for travel, everyday purses, baby bags, garment bags that actually fit longer, formal dresses, linens, acrylic and glassware, picture frames, an ideal cosmetics bag that opens to fit your TSA/onboard airline plastic, quart-sized zip lock bag, towels, pajamas, soft active wear jackets, robes, blankets, and the list continues.  Some items in-store have been monogrammed already, so you’ll leave with a gift.  Other items don’t need a mongram.  Their monogram specific items vary anywhere from two weeks to one item taking much longer.  This store has gifts for hostesses, hosts, Hanukkah, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, weddings, Christmas, wedding showers and any other occasion you dream up.    All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Barboursville Gift Gallery Rt 20 Constitution Hwy near Rt 33 VA

Their white road sign intrigued me, so I stopped in this gift shop filled with gifts ideas for you or someone special covering every inch of this store.  Located in Barboursville, Virginia, sitting one mile North of Route 33 on Route 20 on a country lot in a peaceful setting.   A butter churn from Louisa, lamps made of wood, handmade beaded necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, paintings of all sizes in different mediums, vases, and more abound. If you’re looking for a certain type of item(s), call their delightful shopkeepers, Sarah and Ernie Memery at 540-832-3312, for suggestions.

Alpaca yarn skeins, rugs, teddy bears, scarves, mittens, gloves, hats and cards with pictures of alpaca provide unique gift options.  Have you touched alpaca?  It’s so soft and cuddly feeling.  There’s also pictures of a lily and other flowers by the alpaca farm people.

While there I met a painter setting up her collections.  What an honor to meet a painter in person.   Their card says: “many works by local artists and open Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm or by appointment.”

So before your designated driver drives you to Barboursville Vineyards, Horton Vineyards and/or Burnley Vineyards, shop here.

All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.