Whether you dread the summer months and steamy discomfort (yep, that’s me), or you love the summer (because free vitamin D?), or you are indifferent and maybe just tolerate it as the gateway to autumn (the clear winner of Mid-Atlantic seasons) - something we can all look forward to is Planner Season! 

August 3rd is Stationary Store Day!! Mark your calendars now and make your plans to be at Penny Post early. Last year, we had a line of about 40 people strong as soon as we opened the door. When I say our paper people are serious about paper, I’m not kidding. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

When our kids were born my husband waxed poetic about family road trips. He longed for the nostalgia of it (clearly, he doesn’t remember pain). On our first road trip with a small child, it didn’t take long for reality to set in. Traveling with kids is hard. For everyone.

We have all heard the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Pippin Toy Co. wants to be part of your village. To do that this summer we have partnered with OWLS Therapy, a local speech and language therapy practice, to bring you a series of intimate workshops.

When we last met, I had signed a lease and was ready to get busy building. We had about a decade of experience with toys, but with what did we want to fill our store? The first decision we made was an easy one. No licensed merchandise.

In lieu of summer camp for adults and to prepare you and your kiddos for their own amazing camp experience, our stores have decided to spend July bringing a dose of camp to Old Town. We’re calling it Camp Stone Soup!

While we've been cruising around Old Town – walking, shopping, attending openings – we’ve also been checking out each other’s nails. We asked our contributors to share the summer hues they’re loving; see if any of these shades work for you.

Every parent has the same story to tell. My child doesn’t like to read, therefore he doesn’t read. That was true for my son, Will. We read together and he enjoyed that, but he didn’t read on his own. Nothing inspired him, until my brother gave him Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants.

To kick off this summer and celebrate the passing of another school year, we’re throwing a little party at Pippin Toy Co. on June 12 from 1pm to 4pm. The fun will start with crafting and milk and cookies.  

Shopping for a dad can be tricky, particularly if said dad insists he needs nothing. If this sounds like a dad you’re celebrating this Father’s Day, it’s your lucky day. We’ve worked extra hard this year to bring in some gifts that will not disappoint.

New furniture is an investment, and it takes time to find the right piece. There are lots of things to consider – and one of the most important is whether you want to slipcover or upholster. I’m sharing the pros and cons of each to help you make that decision.

Let’s face it, Old Town is weird. The sizes of rooms are odd and nothing is standard. If the rooms aren’t too small, they are too big for an average size rug.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite mom-pleasers from Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post that the moms in your life will love.

Instead of bourbon and brats for men to shop for the women in their lives, we are doing milk and cookies for kids to shop for the mothers in their lives. It’s a kiddos-only party!

We have a great lineup of fun things just for kids. Considering our clientele, we broke up the fun just a bit, with plans geared toward younger children in the morning and slightly older kids in the afternoon.

It was a dark day in Alexandria when Why Not? announced their closure. I mean, what is Old Town without a toy store? 

Started in 1974 in Alsace, France, Staub makes heirloom quality cookware durable enough to last a lifetime in every home cook’s or professional’s kitchen.  It’s often compared to the more well-known Le Cruset, but in our book, Staub edges out the competition for many reasons.