Treat your loved ones to fun, cozy, and personalized picks this holiday gifting season. | Graphic by 6AM City
What do a literary quote clock, three pounds of salt, and a duck lamp have in common? They’re all in our holiday gift guide. Happy shopping.
Gifts for holiday parties and gift exchanges
Local pick:Locally made honey from Hall’s Honey Farm | $10+ | This spot in Centreville is open every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering various types of honey in differing sizes.
Monopoly Deal | $7.99 | This fun + family-friendly gift is a fast-paced version of the classic game.
Three pounds of really good salt | $49.95 | This one is sure to get some strange looks, but its silliness and sheer practicality might make it the most memorable gift at the party.
Local pick:Virginia Monthly Coffee Club | $60+ | For the coffee lover who seems to have it all, this gift offers a chance to discover new and exciting blends they might not have experienced.
Olive oil mister | $9.99 | A handy gift they can use to turn oil into a fine mist or a steady drizzle.
Towel warmer | $150.99 | The only thing better than a warm shower is emerging from said shower with a hot towel.
Gifts for book lovers
Local pick:Take a Chance On Me: Book Bundle | $25+ | Pick a price point and genre at Bards Alley in Vienna, and a personal shopper will hand-select books tailored to your preferences.
Literary quote clock | $209 | Why tell time the normal way when you could use 13,000 curated literary quotes?
Plants in the Park | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Metropolitan park, Arlington | Free | This event features fun and easy plant-related activities hosted in partnership with PlantHouse.*
December is here, and so is holiday pop-up bar season. Explore these 15 spots across NOVA and DC. I’m especially excited for the festive glassware — including a moose-shaped mug — at Honor Brewing Company, which has locations in Fairfax and Sterling. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Mansion Monday
We’ve all got that loved one who is especially hard to shop for. Enter: our Gift Guide, full of ideas that even the pickiest person will love. Stumbled into a little more cash in 2025? This extravagant home in Great Falls would make for a holiday season to remember.
On This Day
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, leading to her arrest. It was an act of bravery now considered one of the pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement. If you’re looking to learn more about African American history, check out the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. (National Constitution Center)
Kids
$28,330. That’s the annual cost of raising a child in Virginia in 2025, according to new data from Visual Capitalist. But when it comes to family fun, the best things in life are still free — including these 16 no-cost activities across NOVA.
Gallery
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” as the old adage goes. That means Time Magazine’s best 100 photos of the year could fill an encyclopedia. If you’ve taken a photo of NOVA that you love this year, reply to this email and send it in — we’d love to share your best snaps.
Holiday
Is “All I Want For Christmas Is You” already on repeat in your household? A new Finance Buzz study deemed it Virginia’s most popular Christmas song. Whatever your playlist looks like, consider this your reminder to queue up something cheerful on the way to NOVA’s holiday happenings.
Read
The winners are in for the 2025 National Book Awards. This year’s top fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult literature, and translated works were all awarded for their excellence. Whichever pages you’re turning at the moment, we think the best place to enjoy a good read is in the great outdoors. (NPR)
Community
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on our Job Board + get connected with local candidates in no time. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
December is officially here. Have you seen our Plan Ahead guide for the month? Check it out to stay on top of all the events happening throughout Northern Virginia.
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