Archive for the 'Old Town' Category
The Market Square Shop in Old Town Alexandria
January 27th, 2010 Categories: Design, Old Town
The Market Square Shop in Old Town Alexandria is a tiny jewel box of color and imagination. A favorite among Alexandria insiders, the Market Square Shop engages the senses around that most primal of levels - the home.
Located on King Street just two blocks from the water in the historic Chequire House, the Market Square Shop is filled with beautiful fabrics, traditional home accents, wedding present perfect accessories, lamps, mirrors, and cases of Limoges, Halycon and Battersea boxes, all barely contained in a small, intimate space.
Started in 1955 by Majorie Land, and Joan Leidner Miller, the Market Square Shop was one of the businesses that sparked the redevelopment of lower King Street and Old Town some fifty years ago.
The current proprietor, Bruce Schafer, joined Mrs. Land in 1985 and took over the business in 1995 when Mrs. Land retired. Bruce is also one of my favorite reasons for visiting the shop.
Dry, self-deprecating and disarmingly funny, Bruce is a master of understatement as well as a master of design. He has, seamlessly, maintained the civilized, courteous and gracious atmosphere that was a hallmark of the store from its very inception.
Walking into the Market Square Shop is taking a slight step back in time Bolts of fabric and trim are unfurled one at a time and samples are simply loaned on a signature.
This is not a place to browse for endless hours (it’s not big enough) but if you want informed answers, thoughtful suggestions, personal attention and items selected with a careful eye, then this is the place for you. Oh, don’t bother looking for a Web site though, there isn’t one.
Bruce described his job to me as “translating life into three dimension.” Whether suggesting paint colors and fabric or designing the perfect love seat, Bruce and the magic of the Market Square Shop put into reality what you have only imagined.
The Market Square Shop in Old Town Alexandria is a very special place. I love it and I think you will too
Virginia Amos
Special thanks to my spouse for this personal look at an Old Town tradition.
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Alexandria Real Estate Market Report for Old Town - December 2009
January 11th, 2010 Categories: Market Reports, Old Town
The December 2009 Alexandria Real Estate Market Report for Old Town presents an interesting set of numbers. The number of sales is down 57 percent from December 2008 to December 2009 but sales prices are up 20 percent during the same time period.
Another twist is the average number of days on market (DOM). The DOM is up 60 percent from 61 days in December 08 to 103 in December 09. This can be at least partially explained by two houses that were on the market well over a year and one that took six months to move.
Despite the decline in the number of sales for December 2009 we are encouraged by the rise in sales prices and expect to see it continue into 2010. The numbers below represent sales of single family dwellings, condominiums are not included.
For more detail on any of the numbers in this edition of the Alexandria Real Estate Market Report for Old Town, call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk houses.
Michael
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Diva Consignment Boutique in Old Town Alexandria
January 6th, 2010 Categories: Old Town, Things to Do
Diva Consignment Boutique in Old Town Alexandria is a dream come true for fashionistas on a budget.
Located on South Pitt Street in the heart of Old Town, and just round the corner from the Monaco Hotel, Diva gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘consignment.’
Think Channel, Yves St. Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Prada and Michael Kors.
Owner Cindy McCartney, a striking blonde with impeccable style, was in cosmetic management for years and a self-described ’shopaholic’.
One day she decided enough was enough.
Why not sell and be surrounded by what she truly loved - designer clothes, handbags, shoes, jewelry - and why not recycle the treasures languishing in her closets?
Cindy said she knew from the beginning that she wanted a European feel, she wanted to be in Old Town Alexandria, and her shop would be named for one of her beloved Dachshunds - DIVA!
She got her wish and three years later she is a destination location for many and a happy find for unsuspecting tourists. Not surprisingly Diva was named “Best Boutique” by both Washingtonian Magazine and Northern Virginia Magazine in 2009.
The day we were there the shop was a beehive of activity - just think of playing “grown up dress up” with your girl friends - with Cindy as the consummate hostess.
Consignments are taken by appointment only and held to very high standards. As Cindy noted, her collection is very focused and very special.
So what are you waiting for? Go. Now. Diva Consignment Boutique in Old Town Alexandria.
Michael
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