Virginia Stores and Shopping

Winesett Nursery's blossom-strewn wonderland helps gardeners transform patches of dull dirt into bastions of greenery. Frond fans can load up on starters of annuals ($2.69+) or grab a ready-to-inhale hanging basket of blooms ($15.99+), and gallon perennials, including favorites such as Russian Sage, May Night Salvia, and Ice Plant ($7.99), quench gardens' thirst for fresh foliage. Those looking to beautify the lawn after its recent eel problem can find flowering shrubs such as Spirea ($19.99), Indian Hawthorn ($22.99), and Loropetalum ($24.99), and homeowners in search of a High Plains feel can paint the whole house red with a drift rose ($24.99).

The knowledgeable team at Jerry’s Artarama stockpile a vast selection of art supplies for amateur and professional projects. Staff members roam the store answering art questions and help track down hard-to-find supplies for any medium including wrapped canvases and invisible ink. The onsite custom-framing shop outfits works in traditional wood and aluminum frames with a variety of matting options to enhance and preserve enveloped images. The emporium also hosts workshops throughout the month to develop oil- and watercolor-painting techniques, as well as demos to meet and learn from instructors in a more informal setting.

Open seven days a week, Seashore Bikes & Fitness caters to a cyclist's every whim. Rows upon rows of mountain, hybrid, BMX, and children's bikes await to grace walkers with newfound mobility, with models from brands such as Jamis and Free Agent. For those who are already married to the cycle of their dreams, the shop ensures no anniversary is forgotten by stocking shelves with a wide range of cycling parts and accessories, ranging from replacement seats to UVA- and UVB-blocking shades from Serfas. They also provide expert tune-up services to help keep bikes in top working condition and singing on key.

Inside The Hookah Place Smoke Shop's lounge, tendrils of smoke curl to the ceiling as patrons exhale mint-, peach-, or strawberry-flavored smoke. At the front of the store, the shop sells Alsakher and Starbuzz cigars, in addition to colorful hookah pipes, assorted tobacco products, and bottled smoke to use in disappearing acts.

Though the laughs and smiles were what inspired the opening of Smash Elite Entertainment PhotoBooth, the business is anchored in more than just fun and games. Each booth is equipped with top-of-the-line technology, including an external monitor and a DNP Fotolusio or Fujifilm sub-dye printer that can print photos onto 4”x6” cards within 8–14 seconds. The booths also offer 40 different strip layouts, customized logos, and an automatic share option that loads photos onto social-media sites as they are taken.

Like the olive in a martini or the MSG in Funyuns, accessories are more than a simple garnish on your fashion plate: they're the essential spice that kicks couture into gear and makes even last night's wrinkled dress look stylish today. Whip your toes, wrist, collarbone, and elbow nook into shape with today's Groupon: $25 get you $50 worth of shoes, handbags, and jewelry at ShoeFly, the award-winning house of accessories that area shoppers voted Best Indie Shoe Store and Best Boutique for 2009. Though your Groupon is not valid for online purchases, you can get your hands on sale items and style-savvy finds at any of ShoeFly's convenient locations in DC, Arlington, and Bethesda. Stuff your sartorial stockings with today's Groupon or grab a pair of Fryes to stuff your stockings into.In 1798, a young American named Wilton Chamberlain invented what closely resembles the modern shoe, made out of ultra-plush designer leather and fastened with rope made from copper pipe. As Wilt invested more time perfecting the shoe, he began experimenting with designer fabrics and alchemy, eventually creating expensive shoes that could be worn to galas, balls, and outdoor rock concerts.