Don’t save all your shopping for December 23rd on Amazon Prime! Purchase sentimental gifts at these markets and boutiques to prove you don’t suck at gift giving make a thoughtful statement. Luckily, Washington, D.C. has plenty of festive options for unique Christmas shopping — here are our top picks.
Capital Collection Of Holiday Shops – Junior League Of Washington
The Junior League of Washington, a female non-profit organization that works towards educating volunteers and general advocacy in the D.C. community, hosts an annual fundraising bazaar. From November 18th through the 20th, Union Market hosts thousands of shoppers perusing through the creations of local artisans and public donations; all proceeds are funneled into the D.C. community. They also host special ticketed events, such as candy cane cocktail night, mimosas and monograms brunch and Santa Paws (have your furry friend photographed with him!).
From November 25th – December 23rd, the annual holiday market will deliver merry creativity to the District each day. The event will feature approximately 150 exhibitors, ranging from local artisans selling crafts to glass making exhibitions and fine art prints. Find unique, intimate gifts for the loved ones in your life this season. The pop-up ‘shopping village,’ as organizers refer to it, will create a cheerful wonderland outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The official visitor center markets a myriad of collectible historic items. This is where to obtain the annual White House Christmas ornament; each year, the White House Historical Association designs one collectible ornament to commemorate a past president, and 2016’s is Herbert Hoover. The store also serves as a museum with model replicas of the White House; if you can’t manage to book a coveted tour, this is the consolation prize.
The District’s favorite indie music venue, Black Cat, hosts an annual Christmas time garage sale. The sale is ideal to score a unique gift for all the music lovers in your life. Vendors at the market are primarily local record shops, and The Black Cat sells rare merchandise of famed artists that have performed there — including items of the Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl, who owns the club. The Black Cat goes commercial on December 18th.
This neighborhood bookstore is beloved by District residents. The Obamas have frequented here during the holiday season, seeking out gifts for their teenage daughters. With over 100,000 titles, Politics and Prose is a printing press that helps local authors self-publish and sells a myriad of literary merchandise. During the holidays, the bookstore is decorated spectacularly and sells a variety of festive decor and intimate gifts.
Eastern Market, one of the world’s liveliest and most diverse marketplaces, acts as the glue of a community; it has brought local farmers and artists business for over a century. The inside food vendors operate daily, while an adjacent outdoor arts and farmer’s market occurs every Saturday and Sunday. During the holiday season, local artisans craft spectacular pieces, and DMV farmers sell Christmas trees.
