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Details
Firehook
Bakery, 106 N. Lee St., (703) 519-8020
Cipollina's, 106 N. Lee St., (703) 838-0000
219, 219 King St., (703) 549-1141
Warehouse Bar & Grill, 214 King St., (703) 683-6868
Caryle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., (703) 549-2997
Gadsby's Tavern, 134 N. Royal St., (703) 838-4242
Ramsay House Visitors Center, 221 King St., (703) 838-4200
Christmas Attic's House, 107 N. Fairfax St., (703) 548-4267
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By
Theodore Fischer, Washington Sidewalk
You
can breakfast on the hoof at the market – muffins, ham biscuits, coffee
and juices abound. Or kill time indoors until Market Square's shops and
attractions begin to open.
Locals like to pore over morning papers with oven-fresh muffins, scones
and coffee concoctions at Firehook Bakery & Coffee House,
fragrant factory of the local chain. It shares table space with Cipollina's,
an Italian deli that does breakfast with hearty permutations of eggs,
bagels, ham and cheese. 219 serves omelets and eggs Hussarde, a
Creole kind of eggs Benedict, on a heated outdoor terrace. The breakfast
menu at the Warehouse Bar & Grill also lists eggs Hussarde plus
New Orleans French toast and a couple of other solid dishes.
After 10 a.m., the environs of Market Square offer distinguished
historical attractions and numerous indoor shopping options. Carlyle
House, a restored 1752 Scottish manor house, and Gadsby's
Tavern Museum, one of George Washington's haunts, are on
opposite sides of City Hall. The Alexandria Convention & Visitors
Bureau, a great source for information about Alexandria and all of
Virginia, occupies the circa 1724 Ramsay House around the corner.
The Christmas Attic's House in the Country, which sells country-
and Christmas-accented gifts and souvenirs throughout the year, is located
on Fairfax Street opposite the entrance to the parking garage. But the
most winsome shops in the neighborhood are on Cameron Street across from
City Hall.
Wise's Tavern, where Washington was first publicly addressed as
president, is today the Blue Cottage, purveyor of "mighty
fine folk art." Old Warsaw Galleries carries the work of
Polish fine artists and craftspeople. La Cuisine supplies
implements for serious cooks.
Gossypia imports comment-inducing clothing from South America and
Asia. Elder Crafters of Alexandria is a lovely nonprofit
consignment shop with items of all types – and especially good deals on
toys – made by professional craftspeople over 55.
If you get really stuck on Cameron Street's charm, you can move into one
of its historical properties. Welch House (303 Cameron St.), a
tavern where the city of Alexandria entertained Washington and that of
late has served as the showroom and residence of Frankie Welch Designs, is
on the block for $898,000.
See also: Alexandria's
farmers' market |
