The “Shop-Local Workout,” Holiday 2025 edition

Tomorrow: Enjoy the Thanksgiving spread. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday: Walk it all off. It’s time for Forest Hills Connection’s very own Thanksgiving tradition: the Shop-Local Workout.

We’ve been updating and resharing this 2012 article by Editor-in-Chief Marlene Berlin every year since then. It’s a shopping-and-walking tour hitting routes and businesses in Van Ness, Forest Hills, Chevy Chase, Cleveland Park and Tenleytown.

by Marlene Berlin

Those who know me best know I hate to shop. So you might wonder why I am writing about holiday shopping. I do hate to shop in large department or big box stores. They overwhelm me. My favorite type of shopping is only a walk away.

I like supporting the local shops. All you need is a backpack with one or two reusable bags and off you go on a pleasant shopping excursion. You don’t have to walk, but it’s healthier and much more fun.

Forest Hills to Van Ness or Forest Hills to Chevy Chase

Some of the best shopping for the holidays is right here in the Forest Hills neighborhood. The 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue (and most blocks on our walking tour) are good places to pick up gift cards from local restaurants. They could even be a future present to yourself.

But first we’ll head to Politics and Prose. There is nothing I enjoy more than browsing through books for friends and family, and the store’s 2018 expansion opened up more shelf and floor space for all sorts of gifts for adults and children, including jigsaw puzzles.

A display devoted to puzzles at Politics and Prose.

Across the street, Italian Bar usually carries a selection of Italian-made snacks and other items good for small gifts or stocking stuffers.

From here, you could continue north to Chevy Chase, or head south to the Van Ness commercial strip.

Southbound shoppers will find opportunities to shop for the foodies on their list. If you stayed on the east side of Connecticut, you’ll first reach Shemali’s Market at Connecticut and Albemarle Street. In addition to ready-to-eat and heat-and-eat foods, the Van Ness outpost carries Lebanese, Turkish and Greek sauces, spices, teas, syrups and other dry goods perfect for a gift basket.

Across the street, Bread Furst is another haven for cooks and bakers, and great place to grab a sweet (or savory) treat to fuel you as you walk.

At Bread Furst: Dish towels, ceramic berry baskets, cookbooks by Joan Nathan (a neighbor) and more.

Next, consider stocking your friends’ or your own bar cart with mixers and libations from Calvert Woodley Fine Wines & Spirits and Van Ness Wines and Liquors.

If your walk-and-shop trek happens to occur on Saturday, December 14th, you’ll run into the Van Ness Main Street Holiday Pop-up market at 4340 Connecticut. The market, open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature more than two dozen made-local vendors.

(Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.)

For those trekking north from Politics and Prose, Chevy Chase is a treasure trove of locally owned and operated shops. Around the corner from Starbucks on Livingston Street, you’ll find Park Story. The store sells women’s shoes and apparel, jewelry and home accessories, all made or designed locally or by independent brands.

Park Story at 3813 Livingston Street NW

Then, round the corner back to Connecticut and check out the women’s activewear at Core 72. Next, pop into the Chevy Chase Arcade to peruse the records and books for sale at Art Sound Language.

On the next block is a longtime holiday shopping stop: Child’s Play, for the kids and game-loving adults on your list.

You’re not done yet. Hang a left from Connecticut Avenue onto McKinley Street to visit June B Sweet gourmet sweets, and Chevy Chase Stationery, partyware and gifts.

Then, it’s back to Connecticut Avenue, and a stop just for the movie buffs in your life: Avalon Theater, a wonderful neighborhood institution. Purchase a few gift cards.

Finally, you’ll head north to Northampton and Ramer’s Shoes, another great shop for anyone shopping for kids. You don’t have to worry about getting the right shoe size – pick out one of the colorful umbrellas hanging festively from the ceiling.

I think that’s enough for one day. Whether you’re in Van Ness or Chevy Chase, sit down at one of the local restaurants and treat yourself. You’ve earned it.

Forest Hills/Van Ness to Hillwood Museum and Cleveland Park

This walking and shopping excursion features more walking than shopping.

The first destination is the Hillwood Museum shop. You can either take the more direct route of Connecticut Avenue to Upton Street, which terminates just north of the Hillwood entrance on Linnean Avenue. Or, you can take a less-traveled path, starting at the Soapstone Valley Trail. Until the Albemarle Street entrance reopens, you can pick up the trail at either Audubon Terrace or Windom Place. Here’s a map that shows the trail entrances and the route, which also takes you by Peirce Mill.

Once you’ve finished shopping at Hillwood (don’t forget the members discount), head back to Peirce Mill, then continue across Tilden Street and past the Rock Creek Picnic Grove #1 parking lot and bathrooms. Soon you will see the Reservation 630 Trail. The trail leads to Connecticut Avenue. From there, Cleveland Park is another 5 to 10-minute walk.

Shops in Cleveland Park that are worth the hike include Femme Fatale DC and Town Jewelers. (At Town Jewelers, appointments are recommended, so plan to get in touch before you arrive at their door.) Or consider stopping in at All Fired Up to make a gift.

North Cleveland Park to Tenleytown

This route can either begin at Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness Street (more direct!), or at Connecticut and Tilden Street (more cardio!). In both cases you’ll head west on the cross streets.

The Tilden route continues until about 250 feet beyond the intersection with Sedgwick Street. To your right, you will find a bank of 98 steps (yes, I have counted them) leading to International Drive.

In case you were wondering why this is the cardio workout route, you’re going up those steps. At the top, marvel at your fortitude, then head to International Drive. Hook left and follow the street as it sweeps by a bunch of embassies to Van Ness Street. (map). From there, take another left and walk to Wisconsin Avenue.

On the southeast corner of Van Ness and Wisconsin is Sequels. It is a consignment shop located in an apartment building and packed to the gills with stuff. They often have some funky jewelry.

Next, head north on Wisconsin to Tenleytown Ace Hardware, a employee-owned member of the national Ace cooperative. I love hardware stores, and you really can find unusual gifts. How about a double jumbo inflatable snow tube?

Just up Wisconsin, Middle C Music is a don’t-miss for the music lover in your life. It has sheet music, gifts and musical instruments you could give as gifts. How about a recorder or a ukulele? And a few lessons?

Continue north on Wisconsin to check out Tennis Zone Plus. This shop supplies gifts for tennis players, but also everything you need for squash, badminton, racquetball and pickleball.

If you are looking for pet gifts or a pet to adopt, try the PetMac pet store on Fessenden just west of Wisconsin.

Your final stop in this journey is York Flowers, just north of Fessenden.

York Flowers at 5023 Wisconsin Avenue

It has plants, flowers and arrangements that you can peruse in person, or order online. They also have a holiday catalog and their own delivery service, which ensures your order gets handled with care.

After that? Well, it’s time to head home to put your feet up and relax. Frankly, I have worn myself out just thinking about all this shopping.

What did we miss? Tell us about your favorite holiday and everyday shopping experiences… just a walk away.