Lest you think the cherry blossoms haven’t become iconic or their likeness fit for taking home, venture into one of the dozen or so shops at Reagan National or Washington Dulles in the next month. As part of the Airports’ “Cleared for Takeoff” promotion, retailers are getting into the blossom spirit with great deals on fun merchandise.

Pink and white banners and cherry-blossom-adorned tables will enhance each Airport, calling attention to souvenirs ranging from the kitschy to the sublime. Newsstands will offer cherry-printed T-shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry and decorative floral pins you can attach to your carry-on bags. The sale runs from April 8–13 at Reagan National and April 6–12 at Washington Dulles.

Political-satire store America! always gets into the spirit early, with ever-changing cherry-blossom designs created annually by art director Marc Lipkind. Top items in the past have included mouse pads, fragrant cherry-blossom soaps and a bear mascot. Even better? America!’s pink merchandise caters to another pink cause—breast cancer research at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Nina Hyde Center. For the past five years, 10 percent of the proceeds from cherry-blossom merchandise has gone to the center as part of its “Blossoms to Benefit” program. Last year’s donation topped $22,000.

In keeping with the theme, Capital Image will offer blossom-embellished T-shirts and coffee mugs, and bookstores will carry tourist books dedicated to Washington’s springtime splendor. Smithsonian stores in Washington Dulles and Reagan National are reviving jewelry themes from last year’s popular sales and featuring pink pearl bracelets and necklaces. The store will also sell CDs featuring music from the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Good Reads

Be sure to check out Borders, which is moving to a new spot in Washington Dulles in Concourse B (near gate B35). The full-service store will have plenty of photo books on hand to commemorate the Festival.

Also opening in early spring is a new Stellar News, conveniently located next to Borders in Concourse B.

Watch That Sign

As a result of the recent Delta acquisition of Northwest Airlines, passengers looking for Northwest signage at Reagan National and Washington Dulles won’t see any starting in March. Travelers holding Northwest Airlines itineraries should proceed to Delta Airlines for more infomoration and assistance.