Gorgeous bookstore! Spent a good half hour browsing there this morning, and could've spent many…read moremore. Beautifully organized, colorful, and decorated space offering a wide variety of books, local gifts, and artisan goods + crafts. I bought "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi thanks to the thoughtful "staff pick" recommendations they have on little notecards for various reads around the store. They even have a dedicated children's area with a little play space for kiddos, and a cafe serving up baked goods and beverages for purchase. Highly recommend visiting this local neighborhood gem.

This was my first time at a book signing and it will absolutely not be my last. Solid State Books…read moreis a pretty decent sized bookstore on H street near the Whole Foods and Black owned. On a Thursday evening it was very easy for me to find parking right up front and pay the meter for an hour. The event started on time and we were able to do a Q&A with the authors (who are now NY best sellers, woot woot). After the Q&A we all stood in line to get our books signed. Everything was well organized so the line went by quickly. Kristely at the front desk was super helpful and also helped me out with a glass of wine. This will definitely be my new hangout spot to come and enjoy a drink while I indulge in a new book or two. Thank you so much Solid State for a memorable experience.

The greeting cards are a cut above. Cards of all types are primarily what I've purchased for the…read morepast 2 decades from here. I appreciate their DC-focused offerings; there's lots of choices that feature art work or photos of iconic DC spots that are hard to find elsewhere. The stationery is quality stuff. Groovy has staying power because of understanding their niche market.

This is a really cute small business! I visited on a Tuesday afternoon because I was in need of a…read morethank you and I was nearby running errands. I decided to stop in and received a warm welcome! They had cards and small novelty gifts for just about any occasion, balloons and gift bags. I almost got a few of the sarcastic magnets by the checkout but decided to stick with what I came for. I would visit again in the future if I'm nearby.

Appointed is a woman-owned local business out of Ivy City. Out of an old factory, they make their…read morenotebooks from the space and maintain a small shop where you can buy notebooks, journals, calendars, etc. They even have a notebook bar where you can custom make a notebook. The paper and books are quality!

I've been an Appointed customer for a while, but I usually buy their products online or at other…read morelocal gift shops/stationery stores. They have now opened up their own storefront next to their office, complete with a "Notebook Bar," but there is little reason to buy the products here instead of another store, unless you are in immediate need of a notebook while in Ivy City (but at that point, just go to Target, unless you are really want something fancy). They do have a small selection of items from other companies, but none of it is must have, unless you must have $20 paper clips. A selection of items at different price points would be nice. I booked an appointment at the Notebook Bar (with a giftcard that covered most of it). I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was pretty underwhelming. You just fill out a form and watch someone build it for you. I guess I would have liked to have been a part of the building process somehow. I have more fun buying their products off the shelf from cooler stationery stores. I did build a "half and half" notebook, which maybe is supposed to be something special. It was just lined paper in the front, then dotted grid paper in the back, which is essentially two different notebooks, so I might as well buy them separately elsewhere. My favorite part of the whole experience was the plastic button envelope that protected my notebook. In short, products are great and the staff is nice, I am just unlikely to visit this specific store in the future. It's skippable, especially if you don't live in the area.

Capitol Hill Books is an institution which is simply which I just enjoyed visiting there and…read moreroaming around, experience their wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling books. However, their pricing was just a bit annoying to me. Almost every used paperback was at least $7.50, even if in fact the book when priced new, was less than that. For that reason and what I was looking for, it just did not seem worth it. I usually just get paperback books between $2-$4, read them, and then place them in a Little Free Library. Nevertheless, Capitol Hill Books was still a great time for a visit and to just be around books.

Cute cozy bookstore near the Eastern Market that's floor-to-ceiling with books! You'll feel…read moreenveloped by them, which for most book-lovers, is a welcome feeling. In the front you'll find the current bestsellers and staff picks, which is what we putzed through during our visit. However, there are shelves upon shelves categorized throughout the space that you could spend hours going through. We came as a group of 3 and were chatting about the books displayed, but got the sense that they'd prefer we not talk out loud here. Great spot that's a neighborhood staple!

Toscana Market, located in La Cosecha at The Square, offerings sandwiches, pastas, and cooking…read moreclasses. We tried some of their sandwiches on focaccia bread and their pastas to share. The place was bustling, but the staff were friendly and were readily available to assist. The space is bright and fun to just peruse; we were interested in signing up for their classes in the future as get-togethers. +sandwiches +pastas +cooking classes offered +friendly staff & service +located at The Square

Little gift shop with what you'd expect to find. T-shirts,…read morepens, glasses, mugs and bags. Personally I'd not buy anything now. However, when my daughter was in grade school we stopped in and she bought some trinkets like pens, pencils, pins and magnets. The employees are efficient and nice. Definitely a place for kids on school tours to hit up.

Every time I go on lobby trip to D.C., I buy items at the gift shop. The selections are many, plus…read moreI feel patriotic buying there. I have even placed orders by phone from California. Plan on visiting again next year.

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!

We came on a rainy Saturday morning. There was a good crowd but lines moved pretty quick. There was…read moreplenty of seating, even for a group of seven. I tried two restaurants, one Hawaiian/Filipino and the other Vietnamese. They were both delicious and no notes. I wish I had more time to explore this place because my first impression was so positive! I definitely plan on coming back when in the area!

Perfect weekend shopping area! Lots of vendors to shop at. From vintage to DIYs, the selections…read moreare endless! I love coming here with my best friend to see what we can spend our money on LOL Hungry? Don't worry! Plenty of restaurants and food places to choose from.

PSA: the bountiful market you see in the photos pertains to the weekend only…read more During the week, the place is rather dead with a limited amount of vendors in the building (mostly butchers). Probably not worth your time.

Cutest and most chic boutique ever! I picked up a few prints by a DC artist and jewelry. The owner…read morewrapped everything so nicely for me. Highly recommend if you are looking for a gift, home decor, or jewelry. Everything was so unique yet sophisticated.