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 .

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.

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.

Blackstone Coffee Company 10341 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Every time I visit here, I leave with new knowledge.  To continue my learning, I typed in their website: http://www.blackstonebeans.com

and saw a slide show on coffee roasting then read about various types of coffee under their beans headline. The personalization available at an independent coffee shop brings new meaning to the word community; you’re not just another customer.

Blackstone Coffee Company now has homemade Moon pies in two flavors. I chose their biscotti(almond; other flavors available individually or in gift packs), but Blackstone Coffee Company also carries cinnamon rolls, muffins and other treats to add a good mix to your freshly roasted coffee drink or tea of choice.

On Sundays, their store opens at 8am and closes at 2pm, so while you’re making a stop at the grocery store across the street for the milk you ran out of at breakfast, stop and indulge in a coffee drink and sweet as a treat. Other Days Hours: Monday through Thursday from 6am-3pm, Friday from 6am-7pm, and Saturday from 7am-5pm. Their phone number is 540-710-7577. (In case their hours have changed, please call their store directly.)

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

Sheraton Four Points New Carrollton MD 8500 Annapolis Rd 20784

Imagine ordering from their breakfast menu (french toast with bacon or another selection) and sipping on coffee or tea after a  peaceful night’s sleep in one of their rooms with wood floors, safe large enough to hold your laptop, large tv, comfortable upholstered chair, and well-appointed bathroom with red and white-striped baskets underneath the sink on a shelf holding your rolled up towels.  Add to this free parking, their variety of relaxing, public seating arrangements downstairs in the lobby with a tv, bar and a dinner menu.  Their food and drinks are paid in addition to your room charge, but their prices were more reasonable for the area.  Their staff from management to housekeepers, waitresses and front desk staffers were pleasant with good senses of humor-how refreshing.   Their phone number is (301) 459-6700.

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

Carytown Burgers Chicken Salads 3500 1/2 W Cary St Richmond VA 23221

After visiting Carytown Teas, eat a meal at Carytown Burgers and Fries next door.  Order downstairs then walk upstairs and find a table or eat outside with their patio heaters and wind-covered space.  Take away and delivery to certain areas are also options.

Eleven chicken variations, BLT, BBQ, Fired Cod, Fish and Chips, Grilled Cheese (two kinds), twenty-five burgers, vegetarian options (garden, black bean, mock chicken nuggets, portabella with/without brie, six hot dogs, fries, tator tots, onion rings, potato salad, cole slaw, mozzarella sticks, soup, five salads, homemade chili, sodas, milkshakes, cheesecake, cake, cookies, and kid’s baskets round out the menu.  I’m impressed with their variety of menu offerings for a burger joint and their 1/3 pound Angus burgers.  Prices as of a recent visit (everything is a la carte) were up to $7.29 per item for a “Barnyard Brawl with Chicken tenders, egg, bacon, and white American.”  Their hot dogs start at $2.79 and run up to $5.74 for a “corn dog meal with two corn dogs and fries.” Homemade Chili runs $3.99, cobb salad with bacon, blue cheese and guacamole costs $6.29 and their milkshakes are $2.99 and $3.69.  Prices listed are before taxes and tips to drivers/servers.

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