For a lovely Christmas immersion experience, a friend and I spent the day at Old Town Alexandria, enjoying the Christmas decor and lights.
Utterly charming me, these flickering gas lamps made the cold, drizzly, winter day cozy.
DOROTHY’S RUBY SLIPPERS
To my complete surprise, one of the first things I saw while window shopping in the historic area was a replica of Dorothy’s ruby slippers at the newest Comfort One Shoes store at 200 King Street.
In 2016, the Smithsonian American History Museum began a kickstarter campaign to restore one of the originals that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz.
Providing prizes for different levels of donations, the Smithsonian awarded replicas of the ruby slippers, of which there were six, for those who donated $7000, which Comfort One Shoes generously provided!
Replicating the original ruby slippers, Randy Struthers used antique shoe lasts from 1936 of white silk faille, lined in white kid leather, that were dyed a dark burgundy.
The insole of the right shoe contains the Innes Shoe Company logo, since they created the MGM versions for Judy Garland.
Again, replicating MGM techniques, to decorate the shoe, French sequins with flaked metallic aging were sewn onto the slippers.
On the bows are custom made rose montee rhinestones, art deco style glass center jewels, and dark red bugle (tube-shaped) beads.
Sequined overlays of silk georgette on the body of the shoe and felt on the soles.
Don’t these shoes just look like Christmas?
MORNING STROLL THROUGH THE HISTORIC AREA
Immersed in all the evergreens and red bows of Christmas, I had fun looking for my favorite!
VIRTUE FEED AND GRAIN FOR LUNCH
Since it was lunch time, we settled on the lovely Virtue Feed and Grain, which my friend heavily recommended.
Ordering a Virtue Burger with a side of duck fat fries, I was curious as to the taste of duck fat after seeing its popularity on Food Network cooking shows.
Wow, that was delicious and exactly what I needed to keep me going in the chilly winter weather.
AFTERNOON STROLL THROUGH HISTORIC AREA
GEORGE WASHINGTON TENEMENT HOUSE
And then we stumbled upon George Washington’s Tenement House!
In 1763, Washington bought one-half acre on this corner of Pitt and Prince Streets for investment purposes.
This house was built around 1780, which cost $73 a year to rent in 1799.
EVENING STROLL THROUGH THE HISTORIC AREA
And then the charm elevated a notch as the sun set and the lights came on.
GEORGE WASHINGTON TOWN HOUSE
In the darkness, we stumbled upon George Washington’s Town House.
After Washington purchased this lot in 1763, his town house was completed six years later.
As a town trustee, Washington conducted much business in town, and sometimes stayed overnight here.
Torn down in 1855, it was rebuilt in 1960, and is now available for the public to rent for their overnight stays.
Next door to George Washington’s town house was this property.
Gadsby’s Tavern where George Washington ate…
Alexandria City Hall…
Alexandria City Hall…
