In a way, The Wharf is more suited to Maryland’s Eastern Shore than Old Town Alexandria. That’s why regulars love it. Charred beams speak to the building’s Civil War past, but the laid-back Federal-style decor and nautical motif would be at home in Chestertown. Locals have enjoyed seafood and steaks at The Wharf for over 40 years; the menu and decor have been gently updated to keep pace with the times while preserving what makes it special: the food. Regulars say you can’t go wrong with seafood dishes, from she crab soup and shrimp fritters to bacon-wrapped scallops and tender lobster. Nothing is carelessly fried or steamed; textures are light and flavors are delicate.

Lunch maxes out around $15, while dinner entrees top $30. Service is decent and reservations are recommended.

The Wharf
119 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-2836
www.wharfrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-wharf-alexandria

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/bensonkua

An afternoon of creative possibilities awaits at Paint This!, a paint-your-own-pottery studio in Alexandria. Here, budding artists young and young at heart are invited to create their own ceramic masterpiece, choosing from what Paint This! boasts is the most expansive selection of ceramics in the area.

The process is simple: Choose from mugs, vases, plates, piggy banks, cups, frames, figurines, and much more, then settle in for an afternoon of no-pressure painting. After one week, you return to pick up your glazed and fired personalized creation. Better yet, the studio fee is easy on the wallet: just $8 per hour or $12 for an entire day. In addition to ceramics, Paint This! offers DIY mosaics and glass fusion.

Paint This! is open noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays and noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. The studio is closed Tuesdays.

Paint This!
1013 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-7499
paintthis.com/paintthis/Welcome.html
www.yelp.com/biz/paint-this-alexandria

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/marianmansur

Is your kitchen overrun with dirty dishes, loose pot lids, boxes of cereal, and unused utensils? Here are five simple tips to achieve an organized kitchen that looks straight out of a magazine.

1. Make the most of your cabinets. Cabinets are an important part of any kitchen, as they store all of your loose items and keep dry groceries out of sight. Add removable shelving and storage to make your cabinets work for you.
2. Keep the most-used items within reach. Clear the unnecessary items from your countertops and keep only the items you use most, such as a few bowls and plates, basic cooking tools, and maybe a coffee station.
3. Divide drawers. Stop overflowing your kitchen drawers and divide them instead. Simply place drawer organizers inside.
4. Don’t forget about under the sink. Though many of us simply shove cleaning supplies under there, the underside of the sink is actually great storage space. Add a few storage containers or plastic drawers to keep things separated.
5. Maximize odd-shaped spaces. If you have a skinny cabinet or a cabinet in a corner, don’t write it off. Add a lazy Susan to a corner cabinet to keep things within reach, and store flat objects like cutting boards in those ultra-thin spots.

23 Kitchen Organization & Storage Tips [BHG]
26 Kitchen-Organizing Tips from Real Cooks [Simple Bites]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/honorphotobar