Just three blocks down King is Century Gallery, the most recent addition to Alexandria’s fine arts scene. Although Century opened its doors at No. 919 only two years ago, there is a definite buzz around town about this gallery, which features contemporary realist painters entrenched in the academic tradition. Director Bruce Allen’s discriminating taste makes Century’s space a feast for the eyes. Standouts include John Morra’s oil on canvas “The Beginning and End” ($9,000), Anne Stahl’s oil and wax on panel “The Marina Project-#3 Gorda” ($4,000), Raoul Middleman’s oil on canvas “End of Summer” ($12,500), Colin Poole’s acrylic on paper “Foothills–Boots in Desert” ($21,000) and John Beck’s oil on canvas “Still Life with Brush” ($10,500). In addition to Morra, Century represents three other members of The Paint Group: Richard Piloco, David Mahler and William Rodgers, who just had a successful one-man show at Century.

Washington Street, both South and North, two blocks down King, is the main thoroughfare for antiques. Walk five blocks to 601 South Washington to Sumpter Priddy’s eponymous antiques shop. Priddy, a scholar of American decorative arts, offers both high-style and country 18th- to early 19th-century pieces from Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas. Although his focus is antiques, Priddy is increasing the shop’s volume of fine art.

Priddy—whose impressive institutional clients include the White House, Colonial Williamsburg and the Philadelphia Museum of Art—moved from Richmond, Virginia, five years ago to capitalize upon Washington, D.C.’s museum traffic. This is typical of most Alexandria gallery and antiques shop owners, who are established high-end dealers who relocated for the town’s charm and to have a D.C. locale without D.C. traffic. Consequently, the savvy clientele who followed have raised Alexandria’s fine merchandise bar. To cater to such discriminating buyers, Priddy offers comprehensive archives to provide original research on each piece. His staffed library, devoted to different artisans and furniture styles, ensures that each piece is fully documented. Prices range from $5,000 to $40,000 and include important pieces such as a circa 1785–1800 desk and bookcase in cherry and yellow pine from Shepherdstown (in what is now West Virginia) and a 27-inch high by 48-inch long walnut dining table, circa 1720–80, from Virginia.

Also on South Washington are Brockett’s Row Antiques and Art at No. 277 and James Wilhoit Antiques at No. 277-B. Brockett’s Row is a dining table lover’s dream. Owner Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein specializes in American and English period dining tables ($5,000–150,000) and chairs as well as regional furniture, parcel gilt mirrors, Chinese export porcelain, fine art and other fine Federal and Regency pieces. Here, you’ll find pieces previously owned by diplomats and embassies. One outstanding example is a 28 ½-inch high, 48-inch wide and 161-inch long American Baltimore Classical mahogany three-pedestal dining table, circa 1815–25 ($78,000).

Celebrating 10 years in Alexandria, James Wilhoit next door specializes in 18th- and early 19th-century American furniture and accessories, such as a Seymour Federal mahogany secretary bookcase in four parts, circa 1805 ($43,500), a transitional Hepplewhite-Sheraton inlaid mahogany and mahogany veneer bowfront sideboard, circa 1810 ($13,500) and a pair of English silver-plated entree dishes, circa 1870 ($985).