Since moving to the DMV I have been trying to get out more and explore. I wanted to try this place…read morefor so long and just finally had my first experience. I want to kick myself for letting it take this long. It is always so vibrant here, tons of people coming and going. Ample parking, both on and off street. A bunch of outside seating and just a crowd that is happy to be here. Then, inside, get ready for a sensory overload. All the aromas from all the different stalls will make you second guess where you will grab some grub. Then you might also want to graze...err, I mean browse on what to take home. I love exploring this place. I wandered around for quite some time until I zeroed in on where to eat. Even though this place is always so busy, it feels intimate enough to be alone in a sea of people. With that, I give you review 4400!

Union Market has been a highlight of my DC trip! Such an awesome little space with tons of…read moreexcellent food vendors to choose from. We decided to do our own little food tour within the market and sample some bites from a few stalls. We tried: 1. Masala dosa from Sambar & Spice. This may have been one of the best dosas I've ever had, and I'm not exaggerating. So epic! A must try, 2. Chicken dumplings from Laobun - soft, freshly prepared and melt in your mouth good. Also affordable! 3. Fish tacos from the famous seafood spot. These were sadly my least favorite item on our little food tour, the slaw was overpowering but if removed the pan seared fish was flavorless. 4. Wrapped up with some matcha and iced coffee - can't go wrong with those. Enjoyed browsing the little artisan stalls as well. An amazing stop on my trip to DC!

It was fun for the kids. Different things to do. All the rooms had some type of "bubble"…read moreaffiliation. Rubber and metallic balloons in rooms with colored lighting allowed for a fun experience. There's also a room with mirrors that make for a fun experience. There's also a huge ball pit which the kids really liked.

Disgusting . I thought this was going to be similar to the one in Chicago, the Balloon Museum, but…read moreit was nowhere near that level. For the look and quality of this place, the tickets should honestly be free. Every room felt extremely cheaply made and poorly maintained. The bubble room didn't even have the bubble machines working when we went. The ball pit room smelled like rancid kids' feet and just felt dirty overall. The entire building felt cheap and underwhelming. It was a complete waste of our money and time, and we were in and out within 25 minutes. I absolutely do NOT recommend this place. Extremely embarrassing for an attraction that charges people to come experience it.

A nice little holiday pop up near Union Market with unique clothes, jewelry, and home goods. There…read moreare signs in front of the market announcing Brief Assembly and the address, but unless you know to look for it, you won't stumble across it. The space itself in one of the storefronts near the market is very nice--bright, modern and airy. It's very spacious and items are spread out and well merchandised. The store reminds me a lot of Salt and Sundry inside Union Market, except Brief Assembly has fewer items, but does carry clothes and leather goods like purses, satchels and backpacks. All of the items are boutique, but not all are made in DC. There are some cool clothes from a New York designer--sleek black pants made out of some sort of neoprene combination--but they're pricey. The pants were about $180. Definitely worth a stop in to browse. Nice jewelry selection, plus books and pottery to offer gifting options that aren't mass produced.

Stumbled upon this place when I came to Union Market. It's a really cute pop-up with products from…read moresmall businesses from around the country. It's definitely a pricy place, but they have some cool items. The store associate that was there was super nice and friendly. Worth checking this out before the pop-up closes in a couple months!

First time at this market and LOVED it! The vendors are so friendly and I definitely stimulated the…read morelocal economy (read: spent way too much) during my visit. There really is something for every price point and I saw plenty of vendors for home decor, clothing, crocheted pieces, historical pieces, etc. There was even a table for free appraisals! Will DEFINITELY be back!

From the owner: Named "Best Flea Market" in Virginia by Domino Magazine! The Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market occurs…read moreonce a month, always on the second Saturday, in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, VA. The parking lots of 1804 & 1900 Mt. Vernon Avenue are filled with vendors of antique, vintage, thrift, artisan, clothing, homegoods, and more. We also feature local bakers and coffee roasters, and weather-permitting we have adoptable pets from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Our market is all year 'round but we do cancel (and do not reschedule) for inclimate weather.

I went to the Poppir Place pop up shops for the first time today. They have a couple of different…read moresmall business pop ups there, including a florist, a cupcake shop and a natural juice shop. It is worth the visit. Stop by and support local small businesses.

From the owner: Shop and explore in DC's first co-retailing store. We are host to a rotating roster of pop-up shops…read moreand a premium raw juice bar.

Woman and minority owned and operated!…read more Ms. Bianca was such a pleasure to meet as I eagerly explored her shop located within Savor. She has a variety of bath and body products, jewelry, candles, t-shirts and hats (most with the logo Black Excellence), and other little trinkets and accessories all made by local DMV artists and curators...AMAZING!! Her personable nature and through knowledge about each items was fantastic...and I look forward to purchasing from her in near future, particularly the sugar scrubs and shea butters. Overall, yelp peeps, I highly recommend checking out Curated DMV!!

From the owner: Local handmade products read more

Highly recommend for gift shopping, a fun store to stop by with friends, and honestly a place with…read moregreat vibes all around. Nice variety of goods like snacks, rings, vintage items, home decor, clothing - there's even craft classes! Employees are all super nice and I just bought a new ring from here that I love and will wear every day.

This is a lovely, unique store with all kinds of fun, quirky items to explore! From vintage…read moreglassware and clean beauty to funky clothes and locally made art, Femme Fatale is wonderful for finding that gift that no one else will have thought of. Friendly, welcoming service too, and I thought prices were fair.

There is only one reason to go here - you are a Hello Kitty fan or you know one. They have some…read morelimited merch, but the only food available is a large cookie or a set of three smaller cookies. When we visited, the trucked had haphazardly dumped empty cardboard boxes all around the truck which looked really trashy.

It's all about Hello Kitty! My first encounter with this van/truck was out in CA, and it was a…read morepretty pleasant experience! This pop-up is hard to miss, as you see the bright pink truck. Currently, the vehicle and the tent is located near DSW. The menu seems to be super limited, only offering water bottles, the petit fours, the pocket pies, and the cookies. You can also purchase apparel, such as shirts, and mugs. There was literally a long line, wrapped around the Pentagon Row; some fans came with their Hello Kitty paraphernalia, such as towels, umbrellas, and head gear. +super limited cafe menu +friendly staff

Are you patriotic but want something just a wee bit more local? Do you need a wine stopper or…read morecoaster with the District on it? Or a fridge magnet with the flag? This is the place to go for DC themed home goods and wood souvenirs. There are also non-DC themed items, but I'm biased and hope this place takes off. Jimmy Mann is at Eastern Market on the weekends near the northeast end of the market. I purchased a fridge magnet and it's very high quality (cute wood on water resistant felt).

I recently got a chance to sample Black Pearl Tarts at an event that I attended and what can I say…read more-- I'm hooked! Everything is tastier when it looks good and is bite sized and this my friend is a check, check and a check! The owner elevates tarts into one sophisticated bite using seasonal ingredients and beautiful flourishes like sprinkled covered marshmallows or edible flowers. If sugar ain't your thing you can check out their savory flavors as well -- sweet potato hummus? Yes please! The crust is hearty and the perfect foil to the sweet, sweet insides. Perfect for cocktail parties and they take orders online so you never have to talk to a human person (sorry, I'm an anti social hobbit who just wants to live on tarts). Definitely check this local business out!

Black Pearl recently provided red wine and fruit compote tarts topped with sweet goat cheese and…read morepoached pears for an event I attended. I was stunned. It's actually worth talking about their appearance before I get to the experience of eating them: On the table, their products look elegant--striking without being intrusive or gaudy. They set a great mood. These are some of the best-presenting tarts I've ever seen. I can't vouch for their full line of products, as the only tart on offer was the Mulled Fruit & Goat Cheese, but it was shockingly well-thought-out: Every texture at play in the tart--firm, crumbly shell; jammy compote; smooth sweet cheese; crisp poached pears--kept its distinct profile throughout the evening. Coming to them later in the night didn't result in a soggy crust, limp fruit or runny compote, and the textures recombining in your mouth were a delight. Of course texture doesn't mean much if it isn't backed up by flavor, and so I saved the best for last. As I mentioned above, it's obvious that everything about this dessert was carefully considered, and considered with excellent judgment, at that. Every element was in balance, announcing itself clearly on the tongue without overwhelming the other notes: The mild cookie-ness of the crust, the deep mulled wine in the compote, the sweet tang of the goat cheese--this was a joy to eat. Full disclosure: Black Pearl is operated by Christina Marie. I do know Christina personally--we have a number of close mutual friends, though I don't know her terribly well. I'm writing this review because Black Pearl is a local start-up whose food really impressed me, not as a personal favor to someone I know.