STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

lynnie · Chanel

dc girls- shopping in arlington?

lynnie · Chanel

oh, also dinner recommendations would be nice too. Not too fancy, but good food and a nice atmosphere. I'm going with a special male friend

dc · Dooney & Bourke

Hi Lynnie -

For boutiques, also check out South Moon Under (same shopping center as Free People) and All About Jane (across the street from Container Store, same general area). Over on Wilson Blvd you might check out Shoefly for shoes.

As far as food, there are a few places to try. Steer clear of blah chains like Cheesecake Factory and La Tasca/

Tallulah - just a bit down Washington Blvd at Washington and Pershing - is new and trendy and might be fun.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=entertainment/profile&id =1085648&typeId=2&type=restaurants

A place I really want to try is down the hill in between Clarendon and Rosslyn and is called Mediterranean Cafe (1713 Wilson Blvd). From the street the sign looks sort of weird and hand-painted, but I looked through the window up close and it looks really groovy. It used to be called Cafe Poulet and the food is Mediterranean & middle eastern. A place called Ray's The Steaks is really highly recommended if you eat meat - same little shopping center.

I also like to have a cozy little dinner at Iota Cafe (which is attached to an excellent music club). It's on Wilson Blvd in between Whitlow's and Whole Foods.

I also enjoy the greek place (Aegean Taverna) and Little Viet Garden for Vietnamese, if you're into ethnic food. Both are in Clarendon near all that new stuff (i.e. cheesecake factory, etc) Neither are fancy at all - I just like them.

-- Edited by dc at 14:24, 2005-01-03

DC Shopper · Dooney & Bourke

Hey Lynnie - you'll be right in my 'hood! The Free People store is brand new, I've been in once but didn't have much time to check it out. Def. check out South Moon Under, two or three stores down, as dc suggested. There is also a $$$ boutique called All About Jane across the street, up the block from the Taco Baja. They have some cute things. Overpriced, but cute. There's also a cool and moderately priced shoe store called Shoefly about a block or two away. It's on the other side of Whole Foods from the Free People store, next to an artsy gift shop and a used cd place. She has some unique stuff there. For dinner, I really like Harry's Tap Room, which is across from the Cheesecake Factory. The service tends to be kind of slow, but if you sit in the room with the fireplace, it's a pretty romantic and cozy setting. It's casual but elegant and the menu has a range of prices. Oh, here's the website: http://www.harrystaproom.com/index_flash.html - I didn't know they had a $3 bar menu for happy hours!

The restaurants dc mentioned are good too, though the Mediterranean Cafe and Ray's the Steaks would be a longer walk from where you are shopping(it's about 1/2 mile down the road from where you are shopping, maybe?). There are two other good restaurants in that same shopping strip, an authentic Mexican place called Guajillo, and an Italian-ish place called the Village Bistro.

Iota is a cute intimate setting, more casual. The Boulevard Woodgrill is an okay choice if Harry's is full. It's right on Wilson Boulevard, directly across from the Market Commons (the shopping center you'll be at).

Have a good time, tell us if you end up getting anything good.

-- Edited by DC Shopper at 14:55, 2005-01-03

ayo · Coach

for places to go and hang out I would also throw in Gua Rapo..

it's a cute little place with live latino music....

I recommend Harry's Tap Room also...I was there just last week..good food and pretty cute..

if you get dessert you have to try the berry crisp...it is wonderful! Have fun..

lynnie · Chanel

ooo thanks so much girls! I'll let you know how it goes.