Tag Archives: Del Ray Variety

Nov 30, 2013

Where Should President Obama Shop?

There’s been talk of the Obama family getting out to do some holiday shopping on Small Business Saturday in the neighborhood. There are lots of places on the Avenue to scoop up great items for Sasha & Malia who are quickly growing before our eyes from adorable kids into beautiful young women! But what about the younger kids and babies on the Obama’s Christmas list? Well no need to fret POTUS! We’ve got you covered!

Del Ray Variety will be celebrating Small Biz Saturday with some special treats for their customers. Fill your FREE “SHOP SMALL” reusable tote bag & receive 10% off EVERYTHING in your bag! (Limited to first 20 customers. Must ask for bag at front counter.) They will also have a rainbow loom kit giveaway! Receive one entry per person with any purchase, the drawing will be held at 8:30pm (don’t need to be present to win). Plus, browse 100’s of new holiday items – gifts, outdoor lights & décor, games & more and receive personal shopping advice on the best gifts.

At The Purple Goose they will be offering all clothes on Sat. for 30% off! Purple Goose is an amazingly unique children’s boutique with the best fashions, accessories and toys for newborns through age 14.

Obama will probably sigh in agreement that alas his girls have outgrown Bellies and Babies Consignment Boutique but perhaps this is the perfect spot for friends and family members with newborns. This fantastic upscale consignment boutique also carries new popular retail baby items such as Ergo Baby Carriers, Alden & Anais Swaddlers and hand-made baby gifts. There’s always a terrific selection of consignment clothing for kids from newborn to around age five or six.

POTUS won’t want to miss Kiskadee for a great gift for Michelle. Their selection of boutique designer women’s clothing is amazing. But there are also some adorable gift items for kids that can be found upstairs! Kiskadee has been my neighborhood go to for the best fashions and accessories.

My all time favorite gift buying spot in Del Ray is Show of Hands. Show of Hands showcases a diversity of local artists by providing them with a venue to showcase and sell their unique, handcrafted artwork. There’s something for everyone on your list including your Del Ray Baby!They will have their seasonal promotion “Spend $100 and get $10” cards. For every $100 spent in the shop they will give you a $10 gift certificate. The cards are available until December 31, but the great thing is the $10 gift certificates never expire.

Not sure what to give? Chocolate is always the answer! My babies have loved picking up sweet treats from Artfully Chocolate as long as they can remember! Artfully Chocolate is the area’s first cocoa bar with a vibrant and colorful art gallery. They feature artisinal chocolates and sweet treats that everyone will savor.

Oct 24, 2013

Del Ray Halloween Parade 2013

This coming Sunday is the Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade to be held on October 27th at 2 pm. In past years, more than 5,000 have participated in this annual event which included over 2,000 children, special dignitaries and elected officials; over 50 pets in Halloween costumes; and 25 decorated strollers.

The parade begins at 2 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreational Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb.

This year’s parade will feature awards for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Judges include elected officials & City Dignitaries. Awards will be given out at a brief ceremony following the parade, along with refreshments (hot dogs donated by 7-Eleven, cider, and cookies) and goodie bags for the children (including as long as they last, healthy bags that will not have any candy). Entertainment will be provided by the popular band Mars Rodeo and again this year thanks to the Alexandria Jaycees there will be games and activities for the children. They will take place at the Mt. Vernon fields immediately following the parade. The Parade and all activities are free!

***This year, please note that there is a major change for Stroller Entries for both registration location and judging. Based on feedback from parents, judging for the Stroller Competition will be done prior to the parade. Stroller entries must register by 1:30 pm at the corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and E. Howell – look for long string of orange balloons & signs. Once registered, strollers will line up on Howell to be judged prior to participating in the parade. Please allow extra time to get to the judging area by 1:30 pm especially if your entry is difficult to maneuver or if you are a large group. There is no fee to register and there are lots of wonderful prizes donated from our local businesses. Categories are: “Creative”, “Humorous”, “Best Group or Family”, “Less is More” and “Overall”.

Registration for Pets begins at 1:30 pm on Mt. Vernon south of E. Howell Ave. look for signage to register your pet. Categories include: “Creative”, “Team”, “How Could You Do This to Me” & “Best of Show”.

There is no registration required for children and families that march in the parade – they should gather at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte.

Del Ray Variety Store will be offering parade day face painting from 10:30 and 1:30pm and sidewalk sale.

Happy Doh Lucky will be handing out free samples in front of the Purple Goose. Happy Doh Lucky is a really fun, soft moldable dough that encourages children to make their own play! The company is run by a local mom and sold online and at the Purple Goose.

After the parade from 5 pm to 8 pm, for the 7th year, families can enjoy a Spooky Bean Halloween Haunted Graveyard and Belmonster Zombie Decontamination Zone (free!) and will be located next to Bean Creative at Mt. Vernon and E. Del Ray Avenue. The front part of the Haunted Graveyard is open to younger children but the back portion is recommended for a more mature audience.

Jul 31, 2013

First Thursday- Did you know?

Tomorrow, August 1st from 6-9 p.m. is First Thursday – Did You Know

The Del Ray Business Association will be sharing interesting facts about local businesses and Del Ray through a scavenger hunt and educational demonstrations. For the Scavenger Hunt, pick up the clues and map at 6pm at the Farmer’s Market. Find the answers by visiting local businesses and their tables along the Avenue. Seichou Karate, Del Ray Variety, Rich Rosenthal Brincefield Manitta Dzubin & Kroeger, A Shot in the Dark, The Plannery, Nanny Next Door, Jason Fuchs of Wells Fargo Advisors, Del Ray Artisans, and Sediment Press will be participating.

Mount Vernon Community School will be the featured non-profit of First Thursday and will have a booth at the Farmers Market. At the booth you can:
■Purchase MVCS t-shirts
■Sign up to join/renew your PTA membership
■Drop off “Boxtops for Education“
■Register your Giant, Target, Safeway and Harris Teeter cards so MVCS can earn money with each purchase
■Get the latest on the MV Big Flea and other PTA programs and activities
■Learn how to become a community partner
■Donate school supplies

There will also be demonstrations at the Farmer’s Market Lot starting at 6:30 Turn Your Favorite Bar Soap Into A Liquid Soap (Truly Life) 6:45 Karate Student Demo (Seichou Karate) 7:15 A Skit (Del Ray Variety)

Many businesses will have tables set up along Mt. Vernon Avenue. Many will have fun activities and demonstrations. Get your face painted at Nanny Next Door’s table near A Show of Hands. Watch Meghan from A Shot in the Dark demonstrate the rule of thirds at A Shot in the Dark’s table near the Farmer’s Market.

Jun 05, 2013

First Thursday – Dog Days of Summer

UPDATE

After being postposed on June 6th and 13th, it looks like third time is a charm and First Thursday will happen on June 20th!

Today is Del Ray’s First Thursday. Come out from 6-9pm along Mount Vernon Avenue and join friends and neighbors for lots of fun! Businesses will be open late and there will be fun activities for people and dogs.

The business association hasn’t released much information about the evening but here’s what I’ve gathered that local businesses will be doing:

Del Ray Variety store will have Alexandria Police K-9 Unit demonstrations in their parking lot. Our premier sponsor The Little Gym of Alexandria at Van Dorn will also outside w/ interactive activities for the kids! The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be ccollecting pet supply donations in the store.
The Animal Welfare League will be set up at Mt. Vernon and E. Oxford Avenues with staff and adoptable animals. Pet photographer Jeanne Taylor will be taking pictures of dogs outside of A Show of Hands that will be available for sale.
Want to take a break and get a tasty bite to eat that kids and adults will love? Cheesetique will have live jazz all night.
Upcycle Creative Reuse Center is moving to Del Ray at 1712 Mt. Vernon Ave.! Stop by and make an UpCycled dog toy for your special pooch. They are also collecting towels, blankets, bath mats and more for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
Free face painting at Bellies and Babies
Homeward Trails & Operation Paws for homes will be along the 2500 block of Mt. Vernon Avenue in front of the Mt. Vernon Community School at ‘Rescue Row’ with dogs that are up for adoption.
The Little Free Library stewards and friends will be at Bean Creative helping out the Alexandria Library folks with a readaloud of Martha Speaks, which will be available in the LFL at the corner of Windsor and Dewitt afterwards

Mar 22, 2013

Del Ray Variety is ultra kid friendly!

I knew from following Del Ray Variety on Facebook that they were going to be carrying toys in their store but after stopping in for a quick shopping trip on their first day open, I’m blown away but what a great resource this will be for parents! Not only do they carry the typical baby care items, but they also have multiple isles of toys, crafts, stickers and candy. My kids have been begging us all week to take them down the avenue after school to pick up a ‘special’ treat. We told them that we would go on Friday. So today, we can take them to the new variety store and let them pick from the ‘penny candy’ selection. I also snagged a couple of things for crafting with the kids over the weekend, including yarn and sheets of felt. I found shoe laces for my son’s tennis shoes and was thrilled to see that they carry a nice selection of standard and mylar balloons, something that I’ve really missed having on the avenue since Artfully Paper left the neighborhood.

Next weekend Del Ray Variety will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 30th from 10am-12pm. As part of the festivities they will have facepainting, food, giveaways and lots of fun!

Regular hours will be:
Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Del Ray Variety is located at 203 E Custis Ave., Alexandria

*UPDATE*

After being postposed on June 6th and 13th, it looks like third time is a charm and First Thursday will happen on June 20th!

UPDATE