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.

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.

Timing Homebuying Decision Relocation Commuters Retirees Telecommuters Job Transfers Sluggers Stafford Orange Fredericksburg VA

How do you (I) time my/our home buying decision to take the best advantage of the real estate market? The answer depends upon many factors. If you are relocating to Stafford, Prince William, Fairfax, Orange, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington, Fredericksburg, Stafford, Quantico, Virginia, from another county you might be waiting on a job offer, for the school year/semester to end, to receive an admissions decision from the college or university of your choice, to get an answer on an internship, for a large work project to be completed, for your company to sign off on your job transfer to another locale, and/or for a family member to medically stabilize so he/she can be moved to your area.

When you are relocating and have lived in your home for thirty years and your house is paid off, then you have a lot of flexibility. Plus you might have the ability to choose a less expensive area to live and/or to downsize your home square footage if you have retired to keep your fixed income and total yearly housing budget costs down. There are factors such as how close/far do you wish to live near key friends and family members. Sometimes your decision involves moving a family member to live in your home and you need an in-law/relative suite sometimes with a small kitchen, bedroom and bathroom possibly on the main floor of your home you’re considering buying or with elevator access if living in a condo, high rise or town home. Also, will this additional household member need transportation to/from social activities such as a small bus/van, a local city/county bus, taxi, or do they need transportation with wheelchair access, lift or a ramp since he/she walks with a cane or a walker. Is adult daycare available in the community you’re considering moving to or another option for field trips, classes, and friendship at a local community center or even at one in a neighboring city/county that might have better choices for your loved one.

If you are working at a fixed location and telecommuting is only available once a week, then your moving decisions will be dictated by how many minutes/hours you are committed to driving daily to reach your workplace. Many people decide I won’t live beyond this street intersection on this road because it takes me this many minutes to reach here in rush hour traffic including commutes by train, metro, walking, and driving to/from a slug/carpooling lot.

Are you making your decisions with a roommate(s) or life partner? Are you married? If yes, does your spouse also work outside the home or does he/she stay home with kids and work in a career from home? Also, are kids/relatives kids such as cousins, nieces, and nephews involved in your life either on a monthly, weekly or daily basis? Is there a child custody arrangement that requires you to live within a certain number of miles of your ex-spouse? All of these factors need to be considered carefully before making any home buying decisions.

All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed Virginia real estate salesperson at Keller Williams Preferred Stafford, VA. Text/Call 540-903-0212.

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.

Carytown Teas 24 South Nansemond St Richmond VA 23221

Inviting, cozy, and an unassuming elegance encompass the Carytown Teas storefront.  Their sand-colored toile wallpaper in their restroom is lovely and classic.  A couch for sitting and sipping their teas is located along one wall.  This place smells fragrant and the taste of their teas are fresh and involve all of your taste buds.

If you prefer or live outside of the area, their website store (http://www.carytownteas.com) allows for easy ordering and they have e-mail (sales@carytownteas.com ) and phone number (804-358-8327) contact information for any questions.  Pictures and tea descriptions assist you in finding the best selection for you or your gift recipients.  Tea accessories are also available to order online.  There are black, green, mate (yerba), oolong, rooibos, pu-erh (means matured according to their tea list), tisane, and white teas to choose from instore and online; variety abounds. Last I read, all of their teas were organic and fair trade.

When ordering loose leaf teas, order some paperlike tea bags (usually two sizes) and a steeping ball option.  This way your loose lead teas can still be portable in the paper bags put inside a small, reusable, sealable container or brewed at home with a steeping ball.

If you enjoy adding soy milk, organic milk, almond milk, rice milk or cream to your tea of choice, ask if the tea blend you’re ordering will curdle or not.  It’s not enjoyable to have this happen.  With rooibos and green teas a lot of times there are all sorts of other flavors (especially citrus flavors such as lemon) added that might cause your tea to curdle.

If you take any herbal, vitamins or prescription medications, consult with your health care practitioner(s), doctor(s), nutritionists and/or pharmacist(s) before deciding on any item to supplement/change your eating and nutritional plans.  I’m not a doctor, herbalist, nutritionist, pharmacist or medical practitioner of any kind.  Any tea you try or order for yourself or anyone else is at your/their own risk.  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, Virginia.