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🎁 Check great gifts off your list
Treat your loved ones to fun, cozy, and personalized picks this holiday gifting season. | Graphic by 6AM City
Looking for holiday shopping inspiration? Our gift guide featuring 90+ picks is here to save the season.
Gifts for students
Local pick:Leuchtturm Notebooks | $26 | These notebooks are perfect for jotting down ideas, notes, to-do lists, or spontaneous bursts of creativity.
Fidget toy pen | $16.99 | A great stocking stuffer, this chromatic, magnetic pen can be stacked into various shapes when it’s not in use as a writing tool or stylus.
Electric sauté pan | $36.99 | A TikTok trending item, this electric mini hot pot is perfect for whipping up noodles, oatmeal, eggs, and stir fries, dorm room-style.
Lap desk | $34.99 | This 4.7-star rated lap desk helps students prop up laptops while reclined — it even has a phone holder.
Gifts for young people
LED dry erase board | $26.99 | Bring coloring time to a whole new level with this magic board that makes any drawing look like a neon sign.
Karaoke microphone | $29.99 | With over 800 five-star reviews, this karaoke mic acts as a Bluetooth speaker, recorder, and voice changer.
Local pick:Art classes | $150 | Kidcreate Studios, located throughout Virginia and Maryland, provides fun and educational art classes tailored just for kids.
Light-up football | $34.99 | Backyard football is now possible at night, thanks to this LED light-up football.
Gifts for pet lovers
Personalized 2026 pet calendar | $23.99 | For that special someone who likes their pet more than people. We don’t judge.
Backseat cover | $32.99 | A safe and easy-to-clean backseat cover for the person who takes their dog with them everywhere.
Local pick:Silly Goose Dog Collar | $38 | This collar is too cute not to include. Covered in playful ‘silly geese,’ it’s the perfect accessory for your furry friend. It’s handcrafted by Luna Blu Creates, a small business based in Arlington.
This Arlington home with four bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half-bathrooms, is on the market for $4.8 million. While the property is minutes from DC, it offers a secluded vibe with a garden fit for your gnomes. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Plan Ahead
The annual Wreaths Across America event is on Saturday, Dec. 13 at both the Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. Visitors will be able to lay wreaths throughout the cemetery — Arlington National Cemetery will open at 8 a.m., and SAHNC will open at noon. (InsideNOVA)
Coming Soon
Maman, a French-style bakery chain, is planning for a December opening in Old Town Alexandria. Construction began at 701 King St., previously Fox Trot, back in September. (ALXnow)
Outdoors
Starting January 2026, the Old Town Farmers Market is getting a new location due to a renovation project at City Hall + Market Square. The new address is the 100-block of North Royal Street + Tavern Square courtyard. Here are additional farmers markets you can check out around NOVA.
Active
Move over, pickleball, there’s a new racket sport in town. Padel is rapidly growing in popularity across the US — a game typically played in pairs that mixes elements of tennis and squash. Want to get ahead of the curve? Check out Padel Up in Sterling and get ready for Epic Padel in Tysons Corner coming spring 2026. (The Athletic)
Eat
Sourdough is the best overall bread to make stuffing, according to the foodie experts at Food & Wine. Chefs cite its versatility and texture as reasons for using it to create the Thanksgiving side dish. Fortunately, there are plenty of great loaves in NOVA.
Arts
When did modern art begin? Well, a new exhibit in London suggests it was earlier than previously thought, with one particular painting creating a whole new potential timeline for the genre. Don’t travel across the pond to find artistic inspiration — check out the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington. (BBC)
Seasonal
We know it’s still November, but we’re starting our countdown to 2026 early with a special deal available only on ourbusiness promo portal. For a limited time, get 26% off all Newsletter Text Ads and Email Banner Ads with code COUNTDOWNTO2026 at checkout.
Fact or Fiction
You can upgrade your bath or shower in as little as one day with Jacuzzi. Fact. Transform your outdated bathroom into a modern sanctuary — now with zero installation cost and no payments + interest for up to one year. Learn more.‡*
The Buy
Knock knock. Who’s there? Surprise … It’s Black Friday savings here a few days early. Don’t wait to shop at the end of the week — check out these three deals now:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The big Thanksgiving question: Does your family lace up for a Turkey Trot, or pop the bubbly for breakfast?
Cast your vote — we’ll share which tradition wins with our readers.
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‡ With purchase and installation of any complete bath/shower system from participating third-party Jacuzzi Bath Remodel dealer in your area (“Dealer”). Offer and options will vary by Dealer/location. Not combinable with other offers. Add’l terms apply. Subject to change. Expires 12/28/25. †Financing offer available through third-party lenders under terms of applicable loan program. No interest for 12 months if paid in full within 12 months. Interest will be charged to you from purchase date if purchase balance is not paid in full within 12 months. Subject to credit approval—not all buyers will qualify. Add’l terms apply. See or call Dealer for details.
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