A Frugal Girl’s Day in Old Town Alexandria - Magnolia

Expensive restaurants and high-end boutiques can muffle Old Town Alexandria’s charm for a struggling college girl like me, but knowing where to go in its cobblestoned sea of retail makes all the difference. While Old Town’s waterfront is touristy, especially during summer months, the Torpedo Factory is a great destination to view local artists' work.

 

 

The Torpedo Factory is just that—an old torpedo factory from 1918 that used to manufacture and maintain torpedoes. The industrial style of the factory transitioned perfectly for individual art studios. The Torpedo factory houses more than 80 art studios with more than 150 artists working out of it. And best of all, entrance is free. Due to its proximity to the waterfront, one might think it’s an expensive tourist trap, but there are some original pieces for under $30 by my favorite artists.
 

Ileen Shefferman creates colorful ceramics and jewelry with polymer clay and Venetian glass beads. Based out of McLean, Virginia, her colorful compositions have been featured in Creative Clay Jewelry and Ornament Magazine. I snatched up some earrings for under $30:

 

These would make a great gift for mom, grandma, etc.

I can’t visit the Torpedo factory without stopping by the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery. I love how Potomac Fiber Arts conducts educational programs in everything from weaving to dying wool. After scanning the gallery (some quilts can get pretty pricey), I found this charming colorful cuff for $30. 

I love the bright purple and pink.

I also stopped in a studio that I had never been in before, but couldn’t find any business cards. Anyway, I bought some one-of-a-kind bottle cap pins for $8. They are so cute and quirky.

I loved the old cigar box displaying the pins.

Browsing through art galleries made me want some caffeine. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I naturally went to Scout Mob (an excellent app for those in the DC Metro area) and found a place that I had never tried before called Killer ESP (Espresso, Sorbet, Pie).

There’s nothing that delights me more than trying a new coffee. Killer ESP serves Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon, and it’s buzzing with caffeine. I had the four-shot espresso drink (of course!) with skim milk ($4.25) accompanied by a Nutella-stuffed chocolate croissant (less than $3). The croissant was pretty standard, but good. The coffee, however, was otherworldly. It was smooth and tasted like the perfect Italian espresso drink. It was by far the best espresso I’ve tasted in Old Town.

 

I noticed a strange contraption on the counter once I finished my delectable drink. Turns out, this is how they slow drip their iced coffee. It’s very concentrated so that it doesn’t get watery when the ice melts, and drips slowly through the fresh coffee grinds.

 

Naturally, four shots of espresso wasn’t enough caffeine for me, so I decided to drink some iced coffee. It was hands down the BEST iced coffee I’ve had this summer! In addition to wonderful espresso, they also serve Julia’s hearty empanadas for under $5, both sweet and savory pies from Dangerously Delicious Pies, and in-house sorbets with fresh, fruity flavors.

If you’re feeling artistic while on a budget, check out the Torpedo Factory and wash it down with a creamy cup of espresso at Killer ESP.

What’s your favorite frugal experience in your city?