By Adrienne West
The town of Washington, Virginia, is the first of the 28 Washingtons in the United States and was planned out by George Washington himself in 1749. While the star attraction for years has been the famous Inn at Little Washington restaurant, there other wonderful eateries that bring attention to detail and farm-to-table ingredients to every plate. Main Street is full of shops where you’ll discover that ideal piece for your home or that hard-to-find gift.
9:30 a.m. Start your day like the locals do with the substantial country breakfast rib-eye at The Country Cafe, a homey spot that specializes in “down-home cooking” and Southern hospitality.
Once you’ve grabbed some coffee to go, continue on Main Street to start your shopping just steps away. Find the perfect painting to hang in your home at the Geneva Welch Gallery featuring original works by the namesake artist, or perhaps you’ll find that statement piece for your dining room at R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery, voted “2013 Best Gift Shop” by Virginia Living Magazine.
1 p.m. With all that shopping, you’ll be ready to sink your teeth into the Cobb salad or French dip sandwich at Tula’s off Main, a quaint cafe that prides itself on using fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers. Finish lunch with a mimosa and continue your purchasing promenade.
2 p.m. Browse through vintage pieces and décor at Rare Finds, and then revel in the wide range of porcelain figurines, vintage furniture and Chinese artifacts at Antiques at Middle Street. Then go to JPC Designs for handcrafted custom wood furniture and accessories for your home in both modern and rustic designs.
4 p.m. Treat yourself with a stop at Wine Loves Chocolate for a daily wine tasting, or fill a box with their artisan truffles, handmade from fair trade cocoa beans.
5 p.m. Reserve seating at The Theatre at Washington for a recital by world-renowned pianist Mikhail Yanovitsky and lyric soprano Galina Sakhnovskaya on Saturday, Jan. 30.
7:30 p.m. Round the evening out with dinner at Foster Harris House, featuring a prix fixe menu that varies weekly and showcases locally sourced ingredients offered up in their intimate 10-seat dining room.
