Shopping in Clinton

Fragrant smoke wafts through the air of the Alhaery family's Cigar Palace, a haven for DC-area tobacco aficionados for more than 15 years. More than 90 brands rest inside humidors, with customers choosing from renowned brands such as H. Upmann, Partagas, and CAO, as well as cigarillos, accessories, and gift sets. Once purchased, cigars can be enjoyed at home or in Cigar Palace's cozy lounge, furnished with leather seats, a poker table, and a flat-screen television.

Diva Boutique thrills savvy fashion hunters with gently used designer apparel, earning the store the title of Best Consignment Shop of 2009 from the Washingtonian. A dachshund mannequin stares benevolently from the 1880s townhome's front window, ushering shoppers inside for an obligatory ear scratch and exploration of the boutique's ever-changing selection. Rack upon well-organized rack of clothes by designers such as Tory Burch, Diane Von Furstenberg, Prada, and Chanel greet visitors alongside accessories and a line of new jewelry designed to compliment the sophisticated stock. Those hoping to consign their own gently used duds can schedule an appointment for staffers to examine the items' condition, determine their sell prices (generally 1/3 to 1/2 of the original price), and assess their intellect with a brief written exam.

When owner Cindy McCartney isn't pampering her beloved pet dachshund—after whom she named her boutique—she strives to make a difference in the world. Recognized for her social activism by Northern Virginia Magazine, Cindy believes in tapping into her inherent "visibility as a retailer to support community causes" such as the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement and the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure.

As every mom knows, kids grow up too fast. And though moms want to keep their kids looking stylish, new clothes only seem to get a few wears before growing limbs necessitate a complete wardrobe makeover. But at 529 Kids Consign, moms can fashionably outfit kids through their growth spurts with gently used baby and toddler from well-known brands such as Ralph Lauren and bumGenius. Mothers-to-be can also find clothes that flatter their budding bellies, ensuring they feel trendy until the stork comes to switch their pile of maternity clothes for its equal weight in babies.

As an AT&T authorized retailer, Wireless Outlet of course can equip customers with smartphones packed with apps and features. But the shop is also big on accessories: car chargers and ear buds make devices easier to use, and cases keep gadgets off of E!'s list of 500,000 Worst-Dressed Phones.

On the showroom floor at Bensons Jewelers, display cases sparkle with diamonds, necklaces, watches, and charms from jewelry makers such as Reed & Barton, Elle, and Breuning. Rings missing gemstones or cursed tiaras in need of de-hexing can turn to the full service repair shop, where a jeweler with 20 years of experience fixes and restores baubles, backing all work with a six-month guarantee.

With four eye doctors in his family, becoming a professional eye-wrangler was a perfect fit for Dr. Neeraj Bindal, an optometrist who combined his medical training with his business education to open A Visual Affair. At two locations, Dr. Bindal examines clients and fits them for contacts, glasses, and bowties mounted on eyelashes. A wide variety of lenses, including ultrathin panes by Zeiss, scratch-resistant lenses, and antiglare lenses nestle into frames by the likes of Lafont Paris, Gucci, and Giorgio Armani.