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.

Aroma d’Italia Gelateria Cafe 155 National Plaza National Harbor MD 20745

Their menu alone impressed me with its breadth and its depth.  Gelato, coffee and espresso drinks, frappe blends, hot chocolate, Mighty Teas (real tea), smoothies, kid’s menu, and other dining options homemade croissants, muffins, scones, biscotti, soup, and salads (tuna, caesar, Greek, Lombardi). Their paninis melt while you eat them provide options for different eaters (three cheese grilled cheese, turkey with provolone, lettuce, tomato, bacon, garlic spread and balsamic vinegar called Aromimax, tuna, and Toscano is a vegetarian option with red peppers, eggplant, artichoke hearts, red onions, mushrooms, greens, tomato, basil, pesto, provolone and balsamic vinegar; wraps also available.

Personal pizzas served on lavash flatbread provide another option for customized dining at reasonable prices. Cheese pizza costs $5.85 plus $.65 per topping (grilled chicken, pesto, red onions, pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, tomato, and green peppers) before tax.   Aromi d’Italia provides excellent food at fair prices with gracious staff, indoor and outdoor seating.  Their phone number is 301-839-3492, fax number is 301-839-3493 and website is located at http://www.aromicafe.com .

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

Cakelove 160 National Plaza Dr National Harbor MD 20745 DC VA

For those people who love cakes and prefer “cakes (baked) from scratch” and cupcakes in various flavors with smooth, creamy, and just the right amount of sweetness and tartness mixed in, then Cakelove is the place to order your next birthday, wedding, anniversary, Thanksgiving, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah and baby shower cakes for special occasions.  Then whenever you need something sweet yourself, drive, metro, walk,bike or hail a taxi over to a Cakelove store or to the Love Cafe.

There are  locations in: Washington, DC at 1506 U Street, Love Cafe at 1501 U Street NW in DC, 935 South Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring, MD, 4150 Campbell Avenue in Arlington, VA, Tysons I Lower Level in McLean, VA at Tysons Corner and this location in National Harbor, MD.  For the latest location information, including hours of operation and cake flavors available, please visit their website at: http://www.cakelove.com .  Last visit I paid $5 for one slice of moist, slightly spicy carrot cake with the most perfect frosting but keep in mind prices change.   In case you’re a red velvet cake fan, Cakelove bakes red velvet cakes.  Cakelove’s National Harbor store with a few tables with chairs inside is small but their cakes are unlike anything you’ve ever tasted unless you’re related to or friends with a pastry chef. When visiting their National Harbor location, remember parking on the street is not recommended since their security force diligently checks their parking meters and writes tickets.  There are two parking garages and then you won’t need to keep checking your watch to avoid a ticket.

Obviously if your only objective is to pick up a cake, then on-street parking might work, but be forewarned about the parking tickets.  Also, I’m unable to visit just one place at National Harbor.   Walking over to the water leads you to spectacular views of the Potomac River.  Then there are other shops including Godiva for chocolate lovers and even a beach with large sculptures for the kids to climb on (at their own risk of course). National Harbor truly embraced the idea of a place for all people to gather together in larger, public spaces but also in separate, smaller spaces to spend time with people they love both indoors and outdoors.

All Rights Reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.

Graces Mandarin 188 Waterfront St National Harbor MD 20745

Red, gold and many other textures and colors in this restaurant are a feast for the eyes.  Their plentiful meals feed your stomach. I just missed out on their lunch menu, so I paid dinner menu prices.  Honey chicken cost $22.00 as of the summertime with rice included.  If you’re on a budget, call ahead 301- 839-3788 and find out at what hour their lunch menu prices end so your party plans accordingly.  Was it worth $22 plus tax and tip for a splurge meal?  Absolutely.  Two diners might prefer splitting an entree especially if one of you is a light eater who also wants dessert.

Servers bring a hot towel for every guest to wash your hands.  I wish more restaurants followed this practice.  It was an elegant touch to an already relaxing meal.  If you’ll have the opportunity to be there for a meal on weekends or during holiday times, call ahead about reservations policies.  A baby shower, wedding shower or even a birthday party would be lovely here.

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