Go Bananas
<bt>Go Bananas has two locations in Loudoun County and was just named 2008 Retailer of the Year and Small Business of the Year by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Here are some gift ideas:
* For boy gifts, there is Bokenbok, a German-made remote control
building and construction set. Children can create different types of roads, bridges, monorails. The starter kit has vehicles, bridges,
cranes, remote controls, conveyors — everything needed to get
started. Great for future engineers. From $49-$150.
* For girl gifts, there is Calico Critters, families of little animals
with different names and different themes. For girls ages 3-10, you can purchase a townhouse, a cottage or a mansion. The individual family starts at $15; furniture starts at $25; and houses go from $50 to $99 for the mansion.
* Mighty World offers different types of figurine-themed sets. There's rescue, construction, outdoor camping, recreational, a rescue set with a fire engine and ambulance. Figurines with cars and accessories help complete the whole pretend scene. From $25-$50.
Locations: Brambleton Town Center, near the new Regal Cinemas, 42395 Ryan Road, Ashburn, phone: 703-327-1900.
Lansdowne Town Center, 19352 Promenade Drive, Leesburg, phone: 571-333-4514.
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday; and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. Offers online shopping and registry. Go to www.gobananastoys.com.
<sh>Good Shepherd Alliance
<bt>For bargain hunters this holiday season, The Good Shepherd
Alliance thrift stores in Ashburn and Sterling offers many good finds. Whether you're looking for winter coats, clothing, wedding gowns, books, dishes, jewelry, household furniture or textiles, The Good Shepherd Alliance Thrift Store is a great source. This provides revenue for the Good Shepherd Alliance Inc., which provides emergency shelter for the homeless in Loudoun County. Located at 20684 Ashburn Road, Ashburn, and in the Regal Center at Countryside, next to Dominos Pizza, on Route 7.
The store hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The thrift store is
closed on Sunday. Call 703-724-1555.
<sh>Loudoun Academy of the Arts
<bt>Looking to give a gift to the hard-to-please creative-type
individual? The Loudoun Academy of the Arts offers classes in
drawing, watercolor, oil painting, open studio, pastel, sculpture,
printmaking, photography, glass, ceramics, calligraphy, film making,
workshops and children's classes. The Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual art center, which offers fine art instruction, workshops, seminars, and special events for artists of all ages and skill levels. All classes are taught by professional artists who are recognized in their fields. Located at 222 south King St., Leesburg. Call 703-777-8043. Visit
www.loudounacademy.org.
<sh>Celebrate Loudoun
<bt>Featuring locally-produced food, wine, farm-fresh edibles, fiber products, artwork and gifts. Celebrate Loudoun! — a joint partnership of community and rural business groups, encourages people to shop green and buy local. The kick-off event for Celebrate Loudoun! Was held in conjunction with the opening of the Leesburg Winter Farmers Market, Nov. 1. Another event that features local foods, wines, gifts and artwork will take place during Leesburg's First Friday, Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. on the Royal Green, Very Virginia (Pink) Shop, 109 South King St.
Celebrate Loudoun! invites farmers, producers and artists who have locally produced food, wine, gift items and artwork to participate in the special events or work with local businesses to consign items.
Here are some local businesses involved in Celebrate Loudoun:
* American Flatbread – Ashburn Hearth
Southern Walk Plaza, The Broadlands, Ashburn
703-723-7003
Friday and Saturday, 4:30-10 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday, 4:30-9 p.m.
All natural pizza baked in a primitive wood-fired oven — locally
produced ingredients.
* Heritage Farm Museum
21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling
571-258-3800
Call for hours of operation during holiday season
Virginia Finest products are available in the museum's gift shop.
* Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Association
Year-Round Saturday Markets
540-454-5792
Leesburg: Saturdays from Nov. 1-April 25, 9 a.m.-noon, Virginia Village Shopping Center Parking Lot, Leesburg.
Ashburn: Saturdays from Nov. 1-Dec. 20, 8 a.m. noon, Shoppes
at Ryan Park.
Cascades: Sundays from Nov. 2-22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Whitfield
Place, Senior Center.
Meats, cheese, produce, sheep & wool products, eggs, ostrich products, baked goods.
* Bluemont Vineyard, also see listing under Great Country Farms,
18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont
540-554-8439
Wine tasting room and gift shop with antiques and décor items.
* Very Virginia Shop (The Pink Shop)
109 South King St., Leesburg
703-669-1800
Virginia's finest foods and gifts.
* Corcoran Vineyard
14635 Corkys Farm Lane, Waterford
540-82-9073
Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m. and by appointment
Tasting room and special events
* Ellmore's Garden Center
86 North Reid St., Hamilton
540-338-7760
Poinsettias, wreaths, roping and Christmas arrangements
10 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week during the holiday season
* Great County Farm Store & Bluemont Vineyard Gift/Decor Shop
18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont
540-554-2073/540-554-8439 (Vineyard)
Tuesday-Sunday in early November, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Weekends in December
Local meats, syrup, jams, jellies, lotions, soaps, gifts
* Loudoun Nursery Inc.
16463 Short Hill Road, Purcellville
540-338-4635
Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Cut and potted Christmas trees
* Philomont General Store
36550 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont
540-338-5792
Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sundays, noon-5 p.m.
Fine wines, gourmet delicacies, groceries, deli fare and local crafts.
* The Home Store, Ayrshire Farm
1 East Washington St., Middleburg
540-687-8882
Thanksgiving week, Nov. 19, 20, 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Christmas, Dec. 21, 22, 23, 24 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Call for other hours.
Free-range, certified organic and certified humanely-raised and
handled heritage breed turkeys, other meats, gourmet foods.
* Round Hill Arts Center
6 West Loudoun St., Round Hill
540-338-5050
Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; through Nov. 22, gallery hours, Ceramics Exhibit featuring the work of local artists.
Saturdays, Nov. 15 and 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: "Autumn Wonders: A
Showcase of Loudoun Quilters, Weavers & Spinners"
Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Holiday open house featuring
local artists' works, demonstrations and live music.
The center features work of local artists and artisans whose works include hand-crafted jewelry, fine art, photography and music CDs by local artists.