***This Reader Reward is no longer accepting entries – See the winner below.***

We're very happy to announce the winner of the complimentary tickets to the Twig's 73rd annual Homes Tour. Congratulations to "mp," who will be traveling up from Richmond with her daughter (and hitting up IKEA too). We can't wait for a new visitor to the Old Town Homes Tour to fall in love with the area.

I want to take a moment today to share a little love story with you that relates directly to a giveaway we're kicking off with today's post.

As you know, Wendy and I are completely and absolutely head over heels in love with Old Town Alexandria. I really never knew it was possible to love a city in this way, and it may be totally cheesy, but we really, truly love our town.

However, every love story has a beginning. Whether it's a first knowing glance, an unexpected encounter, or that wonderful first date that sets you on a path for bliss, the catalyst that kicks it all off is a memory that lasts forever.

In our case, these moments of our blossoming feelings about Old Town, and more specifically with the homes of Old Town, can be traced back to the annual Twig Alexandria Homes Tour in 2002.

This year's event marks the 73rd annual tour and takes place on Saturday, September 27th, and though the list of homes isn't announced until the day of the tour, the highlights of this year's list are enough to entice anyone.

• A home on the National Register of Historic Places, lovingly restored;
• Homes first owned by freed slaves;
• A home first built in the 1700s and one in which today's owners still maintain original features of the home;
• A home that was once a grocery and another that was first a tannery;
• A very small home, built in the 1800s that has been remodeled with impressive creative use of space;
• Two homes whose owners are artists in their own right, displaying their artwork throughout their homes. 

In honor of the event, we're giving away two tickets to the tour courtesy of the Twig (an $80 value). To enter, simply leave a comment on this post with the phase "Touring Old Town" along with something you'd like to see on the tour. One lucky commenter will be selected at random and will be able to pick up their tickets on the day of the tour.

Wendy and I will be attending for sure this year, and it will actually be the 12th anniversary of that first fateful homes tour in 2002 when Wendy surprised me with tickets. It was my first time getting to actually go inside of some of the homes in Old Town, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

We had been walking the neighborhood blocks for two years, but until that day, had only been able to admire the historic residences from the outside. We were getting married in October 2002, and we'd hoped to maybe find a home in Old Town after the wedding, but we really had no idea what to expect from the homes. Rather than going into it blind, Wendy learned of the tour and got a couple of tickets. Granted, we'd be touring many grand homes well outside of our budget, but it was an experience to say the least.

As we walked from beautiful home to beautiful home we couldn't help but to be simply enamored with everything we saw. From the home where George Washington spent his final 4th of July to the stunning restoration of a Captain's Row three story brick Federal that is more than 200 years old.

Little did we know, but one of the homes we visited was in the same block where we ended up buying our Old Town home. We weren't actively looking for houses at that point, but I distinctly remember walking right past our eventual house with a For Sale sign on the front and thinking, "Wow, maybe some day we could live in Old Town too."

There's really no better way to experience the wonderful things the homes in Old Town have to offer than by taking a tour that includes a wide variety of the styles and ages of homes in our area. This is precisely what you get with the homes tour, and the event benefits an organization dedicated to providing financial aid, volunteer service, and support to Inova Alexandria Hospital. It's a win-win in our book.

We hope we'll see you on the tour!

• PRIZE: Two tickets to the 73rd annual Twig Alexandria Homes Tour.
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, September 19th at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Saturday, September 20th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The tickets can be used for entry to the 2014 Twig Alexandria Homes Tour in Alexandria, VA on September 27, 2014, between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “TOURING OLD TOWN”, and tell us a little bit about what you'd like to see on the tour. (One comment entry per person please.) 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to anyone who plans to be in Alexandria, VA on September 27, 2014 and can attend the tour in person.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. If you're interested in learning more about the event and purchasing tickets, you can learn more from the Twig's event website.