Some wonderful shopping destinations, where attendees can search for everything from original artworks to edible goodies, reside in Northern Virginia’s meetings-friendly locales.
In Arlington is Pentagon Row, an outdoor shopping/dining complex situated across from the Pentagon that features a Virginiariety of merchants ranging from Sur La Table, which also offers cooking classes, to Capital Teas.
According to Cara O’Donnell, public relations manager for Arlington Economic Development, Pentagon Row also has an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, an eclectic lineup of restaurants and a large outdoor plaza that hosts gatherings and concerts when it’s warm outside and an ice rink during the winter.
Also in Arlington is the Village at Shirlington, a European-style promenade featuring the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre and a great Virginiariety of restaurants. Shopping opportunities here include everything from the Ah Love Oil & Vinegar shop to Hardwood Artisans, a purveyor of handmade furniture, and Cheesetique, where attendees will find all sorts of cheese and wines.
Located in Alexandria is the Old Town Boutique District, which was named one of the D.C. region’s top shopping destinations by both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
The district boasts an intriguing mix of independent galleries, boutiques, vintage shops and national retailers where, according to Claire Mouledoux, director of communications for Visit Alexandria, visitors will find high-end fashions, artisan jewelry, home decor and more.
Also in Alexandria is Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former World War II munitions factory that today houses 82 art studios and more than 160 visual artists working in mediums ranging from painting and ceramics to printmaking.
Attendees can stroll through the center to see artists at work and along the way they can purchase unique keepsakes and artworks to take home.
A similar venue called Workhouse Arts Center, a former historic prison that is now home to nearly 100 artists-in-residence, is located nearby Fairfax in Lorton, Virginia.
The gift shop at the center is an ideal place to find truly unique and handmade gifts created by artists working in pottery, watercolor, textiles, glass-blowing and more, according to Ali Morris, destination marketing manager for Visit Fairfax.
Also located near Fairfax is McLean, Virginia-based Tysons Corner Center, one of the largest shopping centers in the country that’s flanked by Tysons Galleria, a high-end luxury-brand shopping destination that’s known as “Rodeo Drive of the East Coast.”
