NoVA shopkeepers reveal the hot items of the season. —Nicole Bayne & Susannah Black
Rust & Feathers
known for vintage and antique furnishings and accessories
Owner Sydney Figert recommends the antique coffee mills she finds at local auctions and flea markets. Not just for decoration, “people use them … people are really going back to the fresh ground” way of preparing coffee, says Figert. Antique kitchen scales are also popular this season but mostly for show: “I don’t think people actually use them as a scale” but they make for a beautiful and unique decoration, says Figert. / 14928 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg
The Clifton Wine Shop and Tasting Room
known for wine, beer, gourmet cheeses and hand-crafted items
Owner Lucinda Lawson thinks the wooden hand-turned salad bowls by Shenandoah-based artist George Van Dyke would make a great gift. “He will literally pick up a piece of wood off the side of the street and turn it into a work of art,” says Lawson. “You can use the big ones for salad, and the little ones for, well, anything.”
Lawson also likes the French press coffee beans and espresso-infused dark chocolates made in partnership by Commonwealth Joe and Kingsbury Chocolates & Confections. / 7145 Main St., Clifton
(If you’re hungry while shopping in Clifton, Lucinda Lawson suggests heading to Cupcaked for sticky buns in the morning, or the chocolate salted caramel cupcake.)
Fair Trade Winds
known for fair trade home goods and food
“It’s not like straight Hershey’s chocolate,” says owner Paul Culler, of fair-trade chocolate bars from Theo Chocolate in Seattle. “Theo Chocolate is the only bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer in the U.S.” and get their beans directly from the Ivory Coast.
Theo also makes a wine pairing kit and a beer pairing kit which includes chocolates and tasting suggestions, though no alcohol. / 10420 North St., Fairfax
Appalachian Spring
known for American-made craft items, jewelry, kitchenware
With almost 20 years managing the Reston store, Liz Gardner expects the Lazy Susan from Treestump Woodcrafts to be a popular gift this year. It’s “turquoise-engraved, amazing and beautiful. Every artist tries to do something unique and different. (Treestump) has done this and it works,” says Gardner. / 11877 Market St., Reston
Made in Virginia Store
known for baked goods
Owner Kathryne Mitchell expects Virginia-grown peanuts from Plantation Peanuts, Hubs, Virginia Diner and Peanut Shop of Williamsburg to be big sellers. “Once you taste Virginia peanuts, you never go back to Planters,” says Mitchell. Her favorite is the Made in Virginia store brand chocolate-covered peanuts from Plantation Peanuts. “They aren’t clusters, they are individually chocolate-wrapped peanuts. You can’t get any better than that.”/ 920 Caroline St., Fredericksburg
Maple Avenue Market
known for local produce and pantry items
“This is not on anybody’s store shelf,” says owner Sara Guerre, of Deepa Patke’s cranberry-orange and ginger chutney. “It’s local and handmade, with hand-grown spices. She makes all her items with ingredients as locally as she can find them.”
There’s also Betty Jane’s Sweet Delights peanut brittle, available only during the holiday season. / 128 Maple Ave. E, Vienna
Opera House Gift and Gourmet
known for wine, craft beers, coffees, teas, cheeses, nuts, jams, chocolates
Owner Jan Alten expects chocolates by Norman Love Confections to be the hot item this season. “The absolute beauty of them makes them almost too pretty to eat … they look like jewels,” Alten says. Alten’s favorite flavor is passion panna cotta, although peanut butter is the best seller. / 9126 Center St., Manassas
(If you’re hungry while shopping in Manassas, Jan Alten suggests: Katerina’s Greek Cuisine for the avgolemono, a lemon-infused chicken soup with rice.)
Red Barn Mercantile
known for kitchen and entertainment pieces, home decor and accessories
Owner Amy Rutherford expects Brooklyn-based blogger Karen Mordechai’s first book “Sunday Suppers Recipes and Gatherings” to be a popular gift this season for its beautiful photographs, combined with fresh and interesting recipes. / 1117 King St., Alexandria
(If you’re hungry while shopping in Alexandria, Amy Rutherford suggests Nickell’s and Scheffler for a roast turkey sandwich: “They roast all their meats in house, so you can’t go wrong.”)
Urban Pantry
known for wines, cheeses and a café
“We can’t keep anything our baker creates in stock,” says creative director Erin Pedati. Her favorites are the cowboy cookies (oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips, coconut and raisins) and pecan bars, both with a shelf life of about a week. Pedati also recommends Gordy’s Pickle Jar sweet pepper relish and Agent Marmalade strawberry-balsamic preserves, both D.C.-based and under $10. / 2121 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington
Very Virginia Shop
known for gourmet foods, local farm products, peanuts and souvenirs
“You get all the natural stuff and none of the yucky stuff,” says store owner Sola Erickson Pallotta, for a stocking-stuffed with Good News Granola from Virginia-based Hudson Henry Baking Co. For wine lovers, Pallotta recommends a mini bottle-shaped “Virginia is for Lovers” wine key, “perfect for opening Virginia made wines and beers.” / 16 S. King St., Leesburg
(December 2014)