It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Why spend all your time sitting at your computer choosing amongst the tiny photos only to worry endlessly about whether your packages will be stolen?
Instead, stroll the red-bricked streets of the Hill with friends. Peek through the festively-decorated windows and say hello to the neighbors that keep your favorite local businesses. You can complete all your holiday shopping right here on the Hill and support your neighbors at the same time!
Gifts & Goods
Groovy DC Cards & Gifts (321 7th Street SE, groovydc.com) has it all: home accessories, cards, balloons and gifts from delicate silver candle holders to wipes that eliminate red wine from your smile. They also carry all the tissue, wrap and bows needed to dress the holiday up right!
Flea Market at Eastern Market (200 & 300 blocks Seventh St. SE; 700 block C Street SE) has something for everyone. Kids will see themselves in Jacq’s doll’s; grown-ups will love how they look in jewelry by vendors like Enise or a t-shirt from Hero Heads. Art, finely-crafted furniture, imported crafts and vintage and antique furniture, art, records and clothing —you can find something for everyone Saturday and Sunday at the flea market. https://easternmarket-dc.org/our-outdoor-vendors
Maketto (1351 H St. NE) is a communal marketplace located in Washington DC combining retail, restaurant and cafe experiences. The retail section is a precisely curated mix of international footwear, clothing, accessories, books, and magazines. The goal is to provide a unique and interesting retail experience. Maketteo1351.com
Sanabria & Co The Shop (409 E. Capitol St. NE) is the place to buy the same home goods the Sanabria & Co interior design team uses in renovation and redesign projects. Chosen to celebrate small and ethically-minded businesses, items all coordinate. Each is also designed to be paired with other items. Gift a Jungle and Loom plant with Jaipur Living pot and the Wild at Home coffee table book, or get advice from design staff. sanabriaandco.com
Patrick’s Linen (771 Wharf St. SW) offers everything for the home, from unique, upscale home decor including furniture, fine linens and table top wares to fragrances, shaving products and jewelry. Staffed by owner Patrick Dempsey and his partner Troy Englert as well as their pups Ms. Shannon and Pineapple Jack, Patrick’s is a lifestyle store that offers design services for home and business. shoppatricks.com
With six locations throughout the District, including Union Market (325 Morse St. NE) The Wharf (10 District Sq. SW) and The Roost (1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) Made in DC has a mission: to support DC makers and artists. Shop nearly 5,000 Made in DC products from more than 200 makers including apothecary, apparel, art, furniture, jewelry, home decor and stationery. https://www.shopmadeindc.com/
Steadfast Supply (301 Tingey St. SE) provides a retail platform for independent brands and designers from around the globe to share their goods and their stories with our neighboring communities. You can shop it all and still shop small, from accessories, art and apparel to face masks, jewelry, pet gifts and scarves. Order online and include a complimentary personalized note with your order. steadfastsupplydc.com
Woven History & Silk Road (315 Seventh St. SE) owner Mehmet Yalcin houses around 5,000 rugs of all the five different types in his shop, along with over 200 gift items from along the silk road, from hats, earrings, intricately embroidered boots, tiles and plates as well as bowls in beautiful Turkish patterns. Wovenhistory.com
Books
Capitol Hill Books (657 C St. SE) is more than a witty Twitter feed. The store has three floors of quality used books along with a selection of new titles, first editions, and rare and collectable books. You can shop online, but there are way more books in the store than could possibly be listed on the website. Get the full experience and go in for a visit. capitolhillbooks-dc.com
East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) is an independent, woman-owned and community-focused bookstore for children and adults. In addition to books, they also carry a selection of toys, gifts, art supplies, and bookish items. They also host multiple events. If you provide information and a price point, they’ll choose a box of books for kids and adults. Or make an appointment for concierge shopping. eastcitybookshop.com
at the Wharf location (70 District Sq. SW).
Politics and Prose (P&P) has three locations, including at Union Market (270 5th Street NE) and at The Wharf (70 District Sq. SW). The DC-based business carries an extensive selection of books for adults and children, games, apparel, gifts and stationary. Staff are known for their knowledge of literature. P&P offers a subscription service that will send customers a book every month. politics-prose.com
Solid State (600 H St. NE) is a full-service general interest bookstore with a deep and diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, as well as gifts curated to appeal to customers of all ages. Solid State Books has an extensive children’s book and young adult section to fully serve the smallest readers. Make it a pit stop —there’s a coffee bar with a selection of pastries, snacks, beer, and wine. Order via phone or visit online: solidstatebooksdc.com
For the Kids
Labyrinth (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) is a family-friendly, community-focused store featuring a wide selection of non-electronic, specialty games, puzzles, and mazes. Pop in for hands-on experiences or to get expert advice from knowledgable staff. Gift-wrapping is available in-store. Or go online to get personal recommendations from the Labyrinth Personal Shopper, or to see lists of top-sellers, stocking stuffers or local designers. labyrinthdc.com
Fairy Godmother Books and Toys (319 Seventh St. SE). For more than 35 years, Roberta and Jack Blanchard have offered a choice selection of books, toys, clothes costuming and stuffed friends. Call or email the shop with requests, be they very specific, such as a teddy bear or more general such as a children’s book for a five-year-old. 202-547-5474 | roblanchard@fairygodmotherbooksandtoys.com
Honey Made (727 Eighth St. SE) is anchored by Viboonrattana Honey’s unique baby, children clothes and accessories brand, Li’l Fishy. She also carries Miss BB, products made by her school-aged daughter. But you can find something for anybody in Honey Made, made by a network of creators and small business owners. It is cheerfully stocked with RBG and DC tee shirts, a selection of women’s and children’s dresses, jewelry, notecards, zippered pouches, wallets, and lotions. honeymadedc.com
Three Littles (1260 Fourth St. NE) was founded on the principal that nothing our kids play with or wear should be made by another child somewhere else. The Union Market District shop carries sustainable, thoughtfully-designed children’s goods designed to stand the test of kids and time. The shop offers a curated selection of necessities and gifts, making an effort not to overwhelm shoppers with things that no one really needs. threelittles.co
The Toy Soldier Shop (503 11th St. SE) is open Saturdays. Choose from several thousand figures displayed in antique showcases. Owner Neil Rhodes does repairs, conversions and original commissions. Toy soldier books, wooden castles and a remarkable selection of original WWI posters round out the offerings. toysolidershop.com
For the Foodie
Hill’s Kitchen (713 D St. SE). Leah Daniels opened this shop that carries everything for the chef more than ten years ago. You can get everything for the cook in this homelike store with knowledgeable staff and extraordinary service. Every product is carefully selected and characterized by excellent design and the highest available quality. Products are listed online, but call or visit to get the full experience. hillskitchen.com
Eastern Market (225 Seventh St. SE) The oldest continuously operating fresh food market in the country offers everything to tantalize taste buds this season. Choose from a smorgasbord of variety: the baked goods at the Fine Sweet Shoppe; artisan cheeses from Bowers Fancy Dairy; Italian chestnuts and persimmons at Calomiris Fruits and Vegetables; Steak from Union Meat or a lobster tail from Southern Maryland Seafood. Don’t forget to get a centerpiece from Blue Iris Flowers! easternmarket-dc.org
J Chocolatier. Jane Morris experimented with chocolate to handcraft the perfect versions of the perfect food, beginning with handcrafted truffles and branching out to bars, toffees, flea de Se Caramel and a fossil bar dusted in 24K gold. The recipe of a historic buildings and heat closed her brick and mortar stores, but you can order online jchocolatier.com. Email from the “contact us” page to arrange pick-up at Groovy DC (321 7th St. SE).
Sweet Crimes Gluten Free Bakery (1239 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) The standard at Sweet Crimes bakery is to make goods that don’t taste like they’re gluten free. Choose from cakes, cookies, pies, donuts, buns and breads. The shop also carries coffee, sandwiches and soups, and Khachapuri, a Georgian cheese bread, catering to a lunch crowd that is rarely accommodated. Give someone a treat that tastes the way they remember it. Pre-order online, or pop a gift card in someone’s stocking. sweetcrimes.com
Hill’s Center Cookbook For the 140th Anniversary, Hill Center gathered more than 140 recipes from friends, neighbors, teachers, chefs and volunteers who have helped define the landmark building on Capitol Hill. Get recipes from Michelin-starred chefs like Gerard Pangaud and Aaron Silvermen. Make Cambodian soup from a recipe from ABC Pony’s Erik Bruner-Yang. To purchase a copy of “A Taste of Hill Center,” visit www.hillcenterdc.org/product/cookbook/
For the Fashionista
Paris Bleu (321 Seventh St. SE, 2nd Fl) stocks accessories such as Italian leather bags, patterned wool gloves, silk scarves and jewelry as well as gifts appropriate for hosts such as candles, fine soaps and towels. Items are found in New York, San Francisco and Italy; but most of the pieces, like proprietor Christine Arnold, come from France. Prices range from $8 for a pear-shaped candle, gift wrapped in a small bag and tied with delicate ribbon and sprigs of flower, up to a few hundred dollars for an Italian leather handbag. 202-644-6575 | parisbleudc@gmail.com
A Ma Maniere (1214 H St. NE) offers luxury men’s street style. From the French for “my way,” the boutique is designed to represent and inspire a fashion forward clientele deeply-rooted within their community. Shop everything from $50 t-shirts to a $5,000 NASA Balenciaga jacket, the shop serves everyone from shoppers turning in off H Street to rap musicians by appointment. a-ma-maniere.com
Kashmir (750 C St. SE) fashionable, but not trendy, Kasmir focuses on chic, modern and classic clothing designs and features the finely-embroidered coats and jackets they are known for. Staff will help find the perfect gift, or co-ordinate a wardrobe. kashmirboutiques.com
A Beautiful Closet (20 District Sq. SW) owner Pamela Sofola has met most of the people who make the timeless pieces featured in her boutique at the Wharf. Find casual and evening wear, jewelry, hats shoes and bags or the gown for your next gala. Shop in store or online abeautifulclosetdc.com
Boutique on the Hill (208 Second St. SE) carries casual and professional selections for women as well as attire for the casual woman, from dresses, suiting, handbags and accessories. Services range from personal shopping and styling to closet organization and purging. The entire staff is committed to meeting the needs of all women and assisting a friend or partner in selecting a gift. theboutiqueonthehil.com
Experiences
Classes. Help artists budding and seasoned build on their talents with a class from Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Classes are available in arts, ceramics, photography and dance. chaw.org. Or do you have a budding dancer? Studio One Dance (511 11th St. SE, studioone-dance.com) offers creative ballet to kids from 2 to eight years. Joy of Motion Dance (1333 H St. NE; joyofmotion.org) offers hip hop, jazz, modern and tap dance students starting at 2 years old.
Health and fitness. Strength and flexibility are gifts of health. Sport & Health (sportandhealth.com, 315 G St. SE) offers gift memberships, personal training packages and spa services. Boutique fitness studio Jade Fitness (1310 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; jadefitnessdc.com) offers small group and 1 and 1 training and studio fitness and yoga classes.
Want a flexible gift? Hot Yoga Capitol Hill (410 H St. NE, hotyogacapitolhill) offers an all-inclusive new local student special to local residents, from pilates and yoga to fusion for kids and adults. District Flow Yoga (410 Eighth St. SE, districtflowyoga.com) offers outdoor classes in Lansburgh and on Recreation Pier, with unlimited memberships, single classes and intro specials.
This year support your local stores instead of lining the pockets of a zillionaire. After checking off everyone on your list, stop with friends to share a glass, then head home to do some wrapping with your packages safely under your arm and your heart warmed with the joy of the multiple ways you can give —and give back to your community.
