Hemphill Fine Arts is one of the few galleries across the city off the National Mall and one of the…read moreeven fewer commercial galleries in DC. Located on 14th St NW in the U Street neighborhood, it's a small gallery in a commercial building open Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM. You can make an appointment or just walk in during those hours. Once they buzz you in, follow the sign to the elevator and take it up a floor or two. Once the elevator opens, you'll see the tall glass door inviting you into space. Before you explore, sign the guestbook, read about the gallery's history, and take a pin (for free!). As you wander through the gallery, you'll see it's really two main rooms and the exhibits change every few months. The exhibit I saw was very modern art forward with perfect lighting making it look good on Instagram. If you're in the area, stop by. It's free and will only take 10 minutes, but it's worth it!

They were in between shows when we came but they still allowed us to walk around the gallery. In…read morebetween shows it was a mess but that is expected. There were only a few pieces displayed but still interesting to analyze. The gallery is easy to miss. I had to walk by a couple times. The door is tiny and you have to buzz to come in. The gallery is spacious and has high ceilings. The atmosphere was welcoming. It was a quick stop and worth it. I would come back for another showing!

The Torpedo Factory is still wonderful as it has been, right on Alexandria's waterfront. We love…read morethe local artist's ceramic workshop. There are 3 levels, and on the ground floor there are models of old torpedos. The rebirth and repurposing of an old factory is very meaningful, as it is now a haven for local artists. However, there was forever a long line to the ladies' room. They should consider renovating the restrooms or expanding them. I understand with old architecture there may be constraints, but given how popular this place is, it is fair to ask.

A nice artist's market situated near the water front. I strolled through a most of the shops,…read moreultimately deciding on something for my girlfriend in one of the shops. The artists in this little shop have a schedule rotation for interacting with customers. The artist I worked with was very nice, and had no problem helping me pick out art that wasn't even hers. My only complaint is that the organization of the shops is a little haphazard, forcing a stroll through all of the shops.

Samantha is amazing!! My mom has gifted me products & journals from her before, and for my…read morebirthday, she got me the calligraphy class! She was so fun, personable, professional, and I learned a lot in the class. I am actually practicing right now, which is what reminded me that I wanted to give a positive review! (Don't judge the picture too harshly...I'm still a beginner!) If you're looking for a gift, thinking of getting something personalized, or wondering if you should take a class, Samantha is your girl!! Thanks again for an awesome class, Samantha.

I hired Samantha from Painted Palettes to hand letter mini pumpkins for a fall themed event and it…read morewas THE HIT FROM THE PARTY (even three months later, in the dead of winter my personalized pumpkin is still going strong and it's so beautiful I do not have the heart to throw it away). Samantha was easy to work with from start to finish and was able to stay professional despite the long lines at the party (I mean, how could you not want something so beautiful as a keepsake?). I could picture using her for corporate events, bridal showers, baby showers and any other celebration that could you a personalized twist. She can write on any material and even engraves on glass! I have not had the chance to check out her Intro to Hand Lettering classes yet but for now, I'll leave it to the pros. Painted Palettes is simply the best!

This amazing Gallery has been serving up classic to unusual art and sculpture for more than 30…read moreyears. I have watched the growth of some DC artists from their initial presentations to the public at Zenith to their place now in the nations White House collection. There is always something spectacular to find in the myriad of forms and styles presented by the owner and curator Margery Goldberg. It's a great place to find gifts or explore beautiful objects, paintings & sculpture of which one will never tire. Arrive prepared to be awestruck.

There's something waiting for you to discover at Zenith Gallery. An incredibly rich, often eclectic…read morearray of work touching on just about every medium. Lots of local artists as well as well-known and international names. Zenith Gallery consists of a house that was been completely filled to the brim with a lifework's collection. Be sure to get a guided tour, and ask about your interests... a lot of work is in storage so it has to be pulled out for viewing. For ourselves, we were captured by a natural woodwork by Bernie Houston, "The Journey." Definitely worth spending a few hours exploring! Enjoy the visit...

I was at a nearby event at one small, woman-owned business, when I was also encouraged to check out…read moreCherry Blossom. I'm glad I did. It's not a big store, but it is packed with journaling supplies, self-restoration tools (e.g., career exploration cards), cars, and items that would make really excellent gifts for family members and work colleagues. I found the perfect card for a friend about to have a baby with the kind of funny note on the front that let's both of us know, I know her. For the BuJo fans out there, the store has a wall of colorful pens and a large basket of different washi tapes plus several kinds of notebooks and journals.

Bought a neighborhood map of Seattle from their shop in the downtown DC Christmas market and it's…read morenow happily hanging in our kitchen. Given how picky we are about art and how long it takes us to get art up, that's saying a lot. The style and colors are perfect and it's a great way to remember other parts of our lives. My only complaint is that they don't have more maps to buy. As somebody who lives in the burbs of DC (I know, judge all you want), I had to pick between DC proper or past cities I'd lived in. It would be really cool to have maps of some of the closer in burbs.

Beautiful! I enjoy visiting the Trisha Adams Gallery and Studio. Her paintings are vibrant and…read morealways make me feel happy. Trisha is a pleasure to talk and helpful when making an art selection or commissioning a custom painting. It's a small space with refreshing light and comfortable seating while you enjoy looking at the artwork. I've bought a couple of her paintings and love them more every time I see them. (Fair warning - they do sell fast. Someone else bought one of the paintings I liked before I decided on it so I didn't delay on the next one.) She works on the paintings right there in the studio so you can see what's about to be ready. The gallery is in the Herndon historic district right next to the bike path. I like to make a day of it and have lunch etc. Because it's open "by chance or appointment", make sure to call ahead using the number on her website ( https://trishaadams.com/ ) to see if she's there. I once called when I realized I'd be nearby and she came right over!

Great family business. I've seen it driving past my husband's work but didn't realize they offer…read moreclasses until I googled. So glad my friend and I came to take a short project class. We really enjoyed ourselves and will be back. Great instruction, designs offered, and value. They also have small gifts up front if you don't have time for a class, but want something hand made locally.

Fiscus Glassworks is a gem in Alexandria. I have now taken all of their classes from beginner to…read morestructure/dimension and design and build. I even entered my pieces I created in these classes at the Arlington County Fair and won the Reserve Grand Champion for my division! I now frequent their studio during open hours with their studio time passes. Brad and Maré are kind, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable! They can help you create patterns and make your stained glass visions come true. Definitely check Fiscus out!

I don't normally write reviews for businesses but I found the customer service and friendliness of…read moreWendy quite noteworthy. The Printer is an earnest, stalwart business of the community that does its job with consistent excellence. Wendy is a great person to work with and super helpful. Go to this place for your special printing needs.

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. I was in and out in 5 minutes for a small but a little…read morecomplicated print job. FedEx turned me away with no assistance but Wendy and her team took the time to understand what I was trying to accomplish and helped me do it. Highly recommend!