date | Jackie Tara

Bryan and I have emphatically decided to spend holidays doing something fun together instead of exchanging gifts. Although he cheated on Vday with a bottle of bubbly and a box of Sugar Shack donuts [best boyfriend ever!], we had an awesome Valentines Day date the weekend before at Union Market, one of our go-to spots for a relaxing day close to home.

It was super grey and rainy, but Union Market has great indoor space and surrounding shops, so we plopped down at Rappahannock Oyster Co. for a delicious sampler platter before doing a little exploring. We visited our favorites, like TaKorean [snack #2 of the day], Salt & Sundry, and Peregrine Espresso, but we also discovered the new Cotton & Reed rum distillery around the corner. If you’re in the DC/VA area, you must check it out! Their cocktails are great, their bartenders are friendly, and the light-filled space is cozy and inviting.