Located on the corner of Columbia Pike and Walter Reed (right in front of the Rite Aid parking lot), the Columbia Pike farmers market is petit in comparison to other Arlington farmers markets, but has all the right stuff!  You can get your local produce in one fell swoop from apples to lettuce from 9am to 1pm. The farmers market has other offerings as well, such as local artists and jewelers. You can pick up a birthday present for a friend as well as locally roasted coffee for yourself.

Cheesetique is smaller than its neighbor, The Curious Grape, (it only has about 75 seats) but it also has a bigger focus on cheese, hence its name. Cheesetique is an awesome haven for cheese lovers.  They have everything you can think of cheese-wise on their menu from cheese plates to designer mac n cheese.  Cheesetique also focuses on meats such as sausage and charcuteries that you can get to go from the case at the front of the store.  The store boasts plenty of charcuteries and while you will not see ham hocks curing from the ceiling, you will find a packed display case filled with many different types of meats (as well as cheeses).

The Curious Grape has just moved to a much larger space and just around the corner from the old shop in Shirlington!  The new location hosts a restaurant, wine shop, and full bar (after 5pm).  The inside area is expansive with the bar in the center of the room.  If you're in the mood for a coffee, latte, or iced tea, the Curious Grape's café opens at 7:30 am seven days a week.

Twisted Vines is an up and coming wine bar located on the main drag of Columbia Pike.  Sadly, the bar is not open during the day so you'll have to wait until 4pm to get your wine fix.  Luckily once the clock hits four, it's happy hour time.   Happy hour is from 4-7 and includes $5 select wine by the glass (which changes every week), $3.50 select beers and $6 appetizers.  Twisted Vines is a small bar & restaurant and its menu is small as well, mirroring the space.

In today's interconnected world, we are no longer hampered by geographic constraints.  A massive global infrastructure gives us real-time information.  We are integrated with every corner of the world.  The question begs then, why buy local when we can find the same products and services much cheaper all over the developing world?  The state of Virginia is implementing a buy local campaign to encourage people to buy locally grown produce and other products.  According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia's economy can grow $1.65 billion a year if Virginians spend $10 a week on Virginia-grown foods and beverages.  Arlington, always at the forefront of any movement, has several local farmers markets.